This month I officially began my training to be a Shop Manager at the Weekend to Remember. Over the last several years, I’ve had opportunities to serve in the shop as a helper or volunteer. Now, I will be able to manage and train the volunteers in the shop at our Weekend to Remember getaways. I am excited because this will give me the chance to interact with our guests who are seeking resources to continue their growth after the event ends. People seem more hungry than ever to connect more deeply with each other and God. This will give me many opportunities to encourage and give hope to those who are hurting or struggling in their marriage or relationships. 

Here are two comments from our most recent event in Charlotte.

“We were encouraged to see our strengths and honestly saw how well we are doing. I was encouraged to be reminded that God can use even our suffering and grief as a couple to bring life to others and future generations. We just lost our baby boy last month so having this time to see our strengths as a couple and how much we are already leaning on each other and God has been encouraging to me" We are realizing how God gifted us to one another. It was not an accident or a mistake. We are beginning to reconcile our dreams for our marriage, family, and purpose. Wife, married 9 years 

"We are realizing how God gifted us to one another. It was not an accident or a mistake. We are beginning to reconcile our dreams for our marriage, family, and purpose." Wife, married 24 years

During my first “training” to be a Shop Manager, I interacted with a hotel staff member Billy and I had met a day earlier. We invited her to come check things out and even step in to hear a session. When she showed up in our shop area, I briefly spoke with her and then let her browse on her own. I could tell she was curious and asked if she had any questions.  She said our books were “interesting”. She has a boyfriend and said he would never consider such an event, wasn’t religious at all and she was fine with that. She is an only child and her family is pushing her to get married, but she wanted to know how you really know when you meet “the one”. I encouraged her not to rush into marriage with him if she had doubts and shared with her the Biblical focus of marriage that we discuss at our event. Our conversation continued for several minutes, and then she said she needed to get back to work.

Later that evening, I shared about this interaction with another staff member. The very next day that staff member told me the prayer team received a prayer request through the prayer boxes distributed throughout the hotel. The prayer request was “for God to give me a godly boyfriend”. I don’t know if the request was from that young lady, but I pray she was impacted in the short time we had together. I am praying God draws her to Himself and she meets a godly young man. Would you pray God is glorified in the conversations I will have with people, and that He will give me the words to say? 

• • • • • • Housing update: We’ve been told lots in a new subdivision may open up the first or second Saturday of April. We will draw a ticket and that’s our place in line and wait to see if a lot is available. Please pray for God to make a way if this is what He has for us. 

          • Praise and gratitude for the hospitality and patience from our landlords—sister and brother-in-law—as we wait for a house. 😊

          • Pray for our next four events for this spring. Two of those are training events for Angie and the last one will be her first solo event as Shop Manager.

This spring we have 46 events scheduled, check the website for the locations and current information. Register now for the spring events - call us today for discounted registration.

• • • Anchorage - Marriott Downtown - April 8 - 10

    • Indianapolis - Marriott Downtown - April 8 - 10

    • Reston - Hyatt Regency Reston - April 29 - May 1

More event locations and information at familylife.com/events.