The women awoke in the darkness of the pre-dawn morning.  They gathered the spices they had prepared and crept through the silent streets to the garden tomb.

There – expecting a tomb officially sealed – they found a tomb burst open, with heaven’s energy!  Empty of the body they so earnestly sought!

They expected soldiers who they would have to bribe to gain entry to embalm the body that was so precious to them.  But instead, a silent garden met their furtive glances and the stone – doorway size – stood ajar – allowing entry and EXIT!

As they came closer, brilliance beyond daybreak and sunrise struck their anxious faces.  Two angels sat – on the place where 36 hours earlier His body had been laid.

In voices sounding human yet resounding with the echoes of eternity, they asked:  “WHY ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD?”

Could this be?  His body not stolen away by vandals as they suspected?  But a miracle of renewed life and resurrection to that bruised and battered body they had come to honour?

“He is not here!”   “He is risen!”  With those words the angels shouted the echoes of angelic voices over Bethlehem’s fields 33 years before!

“Go tell His disciples” – news too good to hold to themselves!

Back through the quiet streets they ran!  Cloaks flapping, feet flying, hearts racing – hands pound on barred and locked door where His disciples huddled inside in fear and despair!

Peter and John ran ahead back to the tomb with the breathless women following.

They too saw the empty tomb – the wrappings for His body neatly folded.  They too saw an angel who directed them to go back home to Galilee where Jesus would meet them later.

Everyone rushed out of the garden – eager to share the earth changing news!  Only Mary remained.  Kneeling and weeping.  How could it be – had His body been stolen away?  Her heart was overflowing with the pain of the past few days.

When she heard a step behind her, she thought it was the gardener and out of her bruised and aching heart came the request:  “Sir, if you know where His body is, please tell me so I can go and see it”?

Then to her ears came the sound of the voice she loved so well!  With tones of clarity, she heard Him speak her name – “Mary”.

Her heart leapt!  It was her Lord – He was alive!  He was there beside her in the garden!  He Himself gave her the task to go and tell – to proclaim “JESUS LIVES”!

 DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY!  LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!

Hallelujah!   The Lord is risen – He is risen indeed!

Written March 31^st, 2013

Before the sunrise service at Spring

In the darkness of a predawn Toronto.

Caught on the tracks in Andhra Pradesh, India.

This load of rice drove onto our side of the road to try to beat the train across the tracks. We needed to get past him in order to get off the tracks before the train came!

There was a lot of yelling, a little backing up (but he was afraid he would lose the whole load into the ditch), and finally enough maneuvering that our van and the one behind us could squeeze over the tracks before the passenger train whizzed by!

Another adventure on Indian roads…they truly are shared spaces and drivers show amazing patience with each other!

It has been a full two months:  ten days of wonderful relaxing vacation in Florida with my friend Fay and then surgery to get my Right Knee in working order – repairing a torn meniscus.

Now I am heading into a busy stretch – two workshops are planned for Ontario, 5 in Texas and finally the Convention for the Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec at the end of April.

If you are interested in learning more about the Groups of Hope program, or of having the opportunity to be in several sessions yourself, plan to register for the workshop that will be held on:

APRIL 12, 2013 FROM 0930-1530

100-304 THE EAST MALL, ETOBICOKE.

COST:  $40.00 WITH LUNCH INCLUDED…THE HANDBOOK WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE.

REGISTER AT:  www.baptistwomen.com or call Kristi at:  416 622-8600 ext. 304

I took this picture when in Mistissini, Quebec in the summer – out picking wild cranberries.  they tasted wonderful when cooked with wild blueberries!

I have wonderful memories of friendships made and healing shared.  May you take time this Christmas – before and during and afterwards – to be still and know how much God loves you!

It is just two weeks from tomorrow that we will be leaving to fly to India to mentor the Groups of Hope.  The team of 5 of us would appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we travel, work together and explore ‘incredible India’.

Blessings and love…

I am busy preparing for the trip to India from January 7-29th with four women – three from the Maritimes and one from close to Toronto.  I know we are going to learn so much and come back with friendships deepened and enriched in so many ways!

I am thinking this morning of the gift my sister Ruthie has given me.  She has Down’s Syndrome and her joy in life and her sense of humour as well as the wonderful artistic ability she has in colouring are things that touch my heart and I am so grateful!  As she struggles now with Alzheimers those gifts are treasures each day!

We celebrated her gifts with an art show three years ago – and the memory still brings her great joy!

May you take time this Christmas to celebrate the gifts that family and friends have given you through their love and their presence in your life!

I am currently in Winnipeg visiting friends from Bolivia and travelling farther west to Swift Current, Saskatchewan with two good friends who are of First Nation origin.

In Swift Current I will participate in a weekend Mission Conference.  I am looking forward to sharing and getting to know people in the Baptist Church there and in having my two friends travel with me.

The India Team has come together – there are five of us who will travel together, on January 8th to Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.  We will return on January 29th after facilitating several workshops and meeting with friends from former years as well as new participants.

Please pray for Kathy S., Pat S., Kathy M., Muriel B., and myself as we prepare for what God has planned for the three weeks in India for us and for those whom we meet.

I will be the leading a Retreat north of Toronto with the women from Calvary Baptist Church on the weekend of November 9-11th.  I know the time will be enjoyable and that God will meet us we share together and enjoy the grounds and facilities of the Ganaraska Forest Retreat Center.

The five days in Nashville, Tennessee were wonderful!  Great opportunities to meet Baptist women from across Canada and the states who are committed to service – to a closer relationship with God and who are excited about learning more and growing as Christian women.

I had several opportunities to introduce the Groups of Hope- through two workshops and through many informal conversations.

 Meeting Spanish speaking sisters from Texas was very special- I look forward to connecting with them again in 2013.

Returning to the full glory of fall in Ontario has been awe inspiring – the incredible beauty of the colours and vistas takes ones breath away!

]]> http://groupsofhope.wordpress.com/2012/10/29/nashville-blessings/feed/ 0 groupsofhope Session with Hermanas de Texas http://groupsofhope.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/what-a-weekend/ http://groupsofhope.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/what-a-weekend/#comments Mon, 01 Oct 2012 22:21:28 +0000 groupsofhope http://groupsofhope.wordpress.com/?p=579 ]]> Just returned from an awesome weekend.  It began with Friday lunch with a cousin I had not been in touch with for many years.  It was so good to sit and chat – remembering the family history and seeing how our lives have been on a parallel trajectory.

Then I spent the evening with the visioning team of CBWOQ leadership.  We all felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, as we spoke about how we wanted to open ourselves to God.

Saturday morning I headed to Glenelg Center Baptist Church for the Owen Sound Association meeting.  It was so good to meet the 42 women and to share in two of the sessions of the Groups of Hope.

Sunday I was at Strathaven Baptist Church – what a gorgeous drive – through the autumn glory.  the presence of God in the service was wonderful and I left there around 1 pm – very tired after sharing four times on the weekend, but so aware of God’s energy and blessing.

Tomorrow I will be heading to Nashville Tennessee, for the North American Baptist Women’s convention.  I will present a workshop twice and have the opportunity to introduce the program for the first time to my sisters in the United States.  I will have Spanish and English Handbooks for them to see and to make use of for a donation to the ministry.

The team that will be traveling to India is forming up – we hope to be able to purchase the tickets for the four or five of us who are going,  by next week.

It is an exciting time – to see the seeds of the Groups of Hope spreading and the interest in the program growing.

If you want to follow our activity and be able to pray for us knowledgeably, you can do that through the following blog:  http://cwiq.wordpress.com

1.  A group of 12 women from Ontario and Quebec will travel 20 hours from Toronto into northern Quebec to take part in a Women of Hope week in the Cree community of Mistissini from August 16th to the 28th.  We are taking manicure supplies, crafts and lots of love and affirmation for women and teens.  Each day from Monday to Friday we will plan to have a session of the Groups of Hope program – inviting participants to receive God’s healing and hope in their individual lives.  We expect to learn a lot – and to get to know the women and teens – and we are very excited!

2.  On January 8th, 2013 I will head once more for India to mentor the Groups of Hope.  I am looking forward to having several people join me on this trip.  It will be opportunity to see first hand how the Groups of Hope is impacting women and men, as well as to grow in our relationship with God and with each other.   If you feel led to be part of this trip, which will return to Toronto January 29th, you can find more information about it through CBM – http://www.cbmin.org or by Emailing me at faith.holwyn@gmail.com.

3.  October 2-7th I have been asked to lead two workshops at the North American Baptist Women’s convention in Nashville, Tennessee.  I look forward to sharing about the program and to having the Handbook available in Spanish and English so that those who are interested can start to use the program in ministry.

4.  The fall promises to be busy with several opportunities to share at ‘Fall Rallies’ for Baptist women.  I have been asked to go to Swift Current, Saskatchewan to share at their Mission Conference.