Linda Welander, Dottie Mathias, and Janet Blume attended the first session and Yvonne Lorah, Pam Anders and Evelyn Rose attended the weekend.
Pamela Davis, Dean for Mission U welcomed us.
Assistant Dean, Kenya Monroe.
The Mission U leaders putting leaves on the tree, sharing who we can be together.
The evening Plenary. Stressing how important it is we stay connected and grow together.
This song was played and song,
as the girls did an interpretative dance.
At 14 she did a great job of answering the question Who Can We Be Together?
Her cousin at age 10 also boldly responded.
Didn't just let the youth share. A 92 year old grandmother was to answer the question, but she had a dinner date with her granddaughter. Action speak louder then words.
Paulet Monroe led us in song.
The first Legacy Walk was introduced.
At 8 o'clock Tuesday morning we walked around the grounds.
There were Bible verses to read all along the route.
Mary McLeod Bethune statue made history on Wednesday as the first Black person to have a state-commissioned statue in the U.S. Capital's Statuary Hall. Mission U has been held at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach in years past.
There was a good presentation about the rebranding to United Women in Faith by Judith Pierre-Okerson.
Managing change is a process.
We are still part of UMC, our purpose statement, 5 channels of giving, organized structure, constitution and bylaws, mission focus and social justice.
Cathy Capo Stone shared about Cornerstone Family Ministry.
Started in 1892. Eliza Wolfe pleaded with the Women's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church (UMW/UWF) to form a mission school for immigrants living in east Tampa.
The Covenant they have between the United Methodist Women, National office and National Mission Institutions.
Cathy explained how they are funded.
They now own the property.
Ways we can support them.
Take a field trip and visit.
Each evening ended with a gorgeous full moon. Unfortunately Dottie locked herself out of her room taking this picture. She was very grateful to the kind staff coming to unlocking her door.
Wednesday morning Danny Davis spoke at the closing plenary before we had communion.
A few stayed for Ubuntu, an afternoon of service. The edges of blankets were woven together. The blankets were blessed at the end of Mission U and presented to Cornerstone. 
Dottie has two finished.
Paulet Royes-Neal was Linda's, Janet's and Dottie's instructor. There were 4 classes.
We looked at Luke 13 and talked about the parables and had good discussion about who can we be together. Some of the thoughts we came away with were: We are like a fig tree maturing at our own rate. Don't give up on people until you have given them time and tools to succeed. We are all sinners, unique and forgiven. Compassion, Judge not. Be aware of others. Take action whenever the situation calls for it. Love first.
Pam Anders, Yvonne Lorah, and Evelyn Rose at the end of Mission U standing in front of the tree full of leaves with participant's spiritual gifts written on them. A great tree can grow from a tiny, tiny mustard seed.
