Mission U was held at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL from July 11 to July 14.
10 women from our unit attended.
We registered quickly when we arrived.
Many books were brought to be donated to Cornerstone family Ministries.
Food items were also brought.
Women United for Change was one of the studies.
A nice display about the study in the learning center.
Practicing Resurrection was the other study.
Other displays on this study.
Our dorm was Nicholas.
Dr. Brandon Boyd and Leah Meyer lead us in singing at the morning worship and the evening plenaries. She is a great song leader and has a beautiful voice. They were a great addition to each session.
Several of us were in Sandra Barton's class on Practicing Resurrection. We had class for two hours each day. We saw interesting videos and had great discussions.
We had breakfast, lunch and dinner together.
Cathy Stone from Cornerstone Family Ministries shared about how the programs at Cornerstone helps to stops the School to Prison Pipeline.
During the Plenary on Friday evening there was an anointing ritual.
The evening ended with a vigil, Lights for Liberty. We were praying for the immigrant children that are being held in a detention center away from their parents in Homestead, Fl.
The plan was to walk but the weather was stormy.
Janet covered up her wheelchair.
Linda worked on the craft. Cutting the sleeves off the T-shirt.
Made fringe on the bottom and tied knots. A way to make a bag with no sewing.
Our finished bags.
Tours were given of the Frank Lloyd Wright buildings.
His water Dome looking towards the Annie Pfeiffer chapel.
The Annie Pfeiffer Chapel was the first Wright building to be constructed.
Inside the Chapel.
The William H. Danforth Chapel is the smaller building.
There are almost a mile of covered walkways. The supports suggest the orange trees that were on the campus.
The campus is very beautiful and is a bit hilly.We did a lot of walking throughout the day. Shuttles were available for those who needed a ride. It was quite challenging for those in wheelchairs to get around.
Saturday ended with a birthday bash.
All the district officers from each region in the state marched in.
The children lead the celebration on stage. It was nice having the children take part, since they are the future. From K to 8th grade there were 55 children.
Our present members were recognized for their years of being United Methodist Women. Diane has been a member for 50 years! One woman attending had been a member for 70 years.
The host for the birthday celebration.
These two young ladies had lovely voices.
We even played a party game. Can you figure out what this says? Hint think 150 years ago.
What great choreography these four girls had as they did an interpretive dance.
A skit called the Harvest is Ready.
The older students did a song with a good positive message.
Not only the youth participated, but this woman sang an amazing song she wrote about UMW history to the tune of Oh Susanna.
What would a birthday party be without singing Happy Birthday? So we did it four times. It was also song in Creole, Korean, and Spanish.
And then there was cake.
It was quite a party.
After our final class on Sunday we had a worship service. We were challenged to do as the woman with the alabaster jar did when she anointed Jesus.
The service ended with communion.
Think about attending Mission U next year for it is a wonderful experience.
