Spiritual Growth Coordinator Updates

As the Spiritual Growth Coordinator of Las Misiones District, my yearly event, "A Time Apart" was held on March 18, 2023. It was a Spiritual Growth Retreat from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at Coker UMC. We had a total of 49 ladies who attended the event. It was a blessing to present this event. It was also wonderful to spend time with the United Women in Faith of Las Misiones District.

I attended the ZOOM training from the Program Resource Book in February 2023. I also used a book from Cokesbury entitled: Tending Body, Heart, Mind & Soul: Following Jesus in Caring for Ourselves by Mary Jane Gorman. The theme was "Soul Care - Reconnecting With Our Sacred Bodies." We also worshipped with prayers, songs, and a breathing exercise to get us centered in our time together. We had a beautiful liturgical dance presented by Debra Lee and Bernice Jackson from Bethel UMC. We were blessed by their ministry.

We learned that it is easier to worship when we take care of our "souls." We need to tend to our spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental health needs. Do we? Sometimes we don't.

Take care of yourself: body, mind, and spirit. Get sleep, exercise, take vitamins, eat well, drink water, go to the doctor, read the bible, laugh, take a walk, nurture friendships and family, take a break, read a book, pamper yourself, always pray, listen to worship music, go to bible studies, worship with your family, observe the Sabbath. Take a nap!

I am praying for you. Please pray for me.

Respectfully submitted, Alicia Leyva

United Women in Faith Spiritual Growth Coordinator Las Misiones District