Seventy-five women met at the Paradise Valley church on March 9 for fellowship, communion and spiritual feasting. This annual mini-retreat came together because of the planning by Margaret Haney, women's retreat coordinator, and her team, Kim Delgado, Barb Ullibarri, Heidi Haney and Tracy Haney, all of Flagstaff; and Terry Palmer of Prescott.
The theme for the seminar centered on this quotation from an unknown author: "God can do wonders with a broken heart — if we give Him all the pieces."
Comments were extremely positive. "I attend every year," stated one lady, "but this year has been even more special than others. There is a Spirit here that is almost tangible. I hate to see the day come to an end."
Keynote speaker for the day was Dorothy Valcarcel, who gave three presentations: "Chipped, Cracked and Cured – Becoming God's Crucible;" "5 Steps to a Transformed Life – As Told By Five Girls Who ‘Got It!'" and "And the Stone Was Rolled Away!"
Valcarcel has experienced firsthand what it means to be "chipped and cracked." Life as she knew it changed dramatically when a drunk driver hit her car head-on as she and husband Jim were returning from a business trip. This near-death experience was crushing. They wondered if anything good could come from it.
As the years have passed, the Valcarcel's lives have been committed to sharing hope and healing for others who are suffering, broken and bruised by life's experiences. They found that God can take the broken pieces and mold them into useful vessels for His service.
Dorothy authored The Man Who Loved Women, a collection of true stories about 18 New Testament women and their relationships with Jesus. The book is being used in church groups, women's groups and book clubs all over the world. It's a soft cover, so the book is allowed into prisons, giving women hope during the most difficult days of their lives. The study guide is included, giving them two books in one. Find out more at TheManWhoLovedWomen.com.
Valcarcel has created a free daily devotional website, TransformationGarden.com. Launched in 2007, Transformation Garden is read by thousands of women in more than 60 countries. It received one million hits during its first year and is on pace to surpass that in 2008.
This year's focus in Transformation Garden is studying every woman in the Bible, from Genesis through Revelation, with two questions in mind: "Why did God include this woman's story?" and "What can I learn from her as a woman living in the 21st century?"
The website also offers an opportunity to submit prayer requests and to join a prayer circle.
Adventist Book Center Manager Judy McGee provided a supply of Christian literature and music, which made it very convenient for the ladies attending the mini-retreat to purchase Spirit-filled materials to take home for further study and enjoyment.
The annual weekend women's retreat will be Oct. 10 to 12 at Camp Yavapines in Prescott. Clarissa Worley Stout will be the featured speaker. For more information, contact Margaret Haney at 928-774-9553 or flamingomargee@yahoo.com.
