Trip for Another Women's Seminar

This year’s trip for a women’s seminar in the town 430 miles away was more comfortable than the trip I took there last year in a bumpy bus showing sensual videos.  This time I cruised down the recently improved highway in my air-conditioned pickup, listening to Christian music and sharing fellowship with two of my closest brothers in Christ, Jeremias and Stélio.  I picked them up at 6:00 on Thursday morning, and by 6:00 that evening we had arrived at Pastor Artur’s home.

Exhausted after a full day behind the wheel, I went to bed early. Artur’s wife Sara did her best to reduce my discomfort due to the heat, mosquitoes, and lumpy mattress, and I slept decently until my alarm sounded.  At 5:00 am, I left with a youth named Armando to bring eleven women and six young children from 40 miles away into town for the seminar.  The round trip took three hours and made good use of the new benches in the bed of my truck, under its canopy, as pictured here.

By 9:15 on Friday the women’s seminar was beginning, with conversion as its theme.  First Stélio preached on what conversion isn’t, to dislodge false assurances of salvation based on works.  Jeremias taught on what conversion is, how it happens, and the fruit it bears.  Stélio returned to speak on what someone who wants to be converted should do.  Then a crew of young men served beans and rice to us and the 120 attendees from eleven churches.

After lunch, I confounded the ladies with my testimony of being a loyal church member for decades before my true conversion to Christ.  Jeremias and our host Sara oversaw group debates on case studies with reporting in the general session.  Finally, I presented Scriptures on the woman’s role in the family, church, and society.  Next came hours of leisurely conversation and dinner.  That night, exhausted once again, I slept for nearly eleven hours.

On Saturday morning, I drove the group from 40 miles away back to their home community.  Upon my return to the city, my companions and I spent that afternoon in delightful fellowship with our hosts, outdoors with a refreshing breeze.  At church on Sunday morning, Artur preached on John 17, then the congregation discussed his sermon in small groups.  On Sunday afternoon we lingered in conversation for hours, then the men hiked to the river while the ladies rested.  Finally, after dinner, singing, and a devotional message from Jeremias, we retired for the evening, rejuvenated by our weekend with friends and ready for our drive home on Monday.