The MTW Asia/Pacific Area retreat in Malaysia was this week
(and a bit of next, hence the same theme for two weeks). The term retreat comes with two
distinct and opposed meanings for me.
First is the idea of escape or holiday, as this retreat was intended to
be. There is also the idea of
running away, retreating from battle or an enemy. The theme of retreat was deliberately chosen for that very
reason and to be a reminder to rest and not to be running away.
When
I left for Malaysia I had a 1,000-page book, fully loaded, fully charged iPod,
and a big bottle of SPF 50 in my suitcase. I was fully prepared for a week of resting, relaxing, and
retreating alone, poolside. They
were the first things I unpacked upon getting to the resort and the last things
I put back in my suit case when packing up at the end of the week. The battery on my iPod was still fully
charged and I was no further into my book than I was before.
What
I discovered this week is regardless of retreating, or battling, it’s the people
we do it with that is important.
At the area retreat I was able to meet tons on people on the field and
from the home office. The
teaching, sessions, activities and worship that had be planned and organized
for us were great, but it was the fellowship that happened between those events
that was of most value to me.
That made my time a retreat a time of rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation
compared to the running away kind of retreat.
Here are some of my sweet friends from all over AustrAsia in Malaysia...
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| Dr. Kooistra (the boss of all MTW) Joy and I loving the pool |
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| Shopping buddies |
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| Erika, Joy and I, aka the cool room |
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| Singles gang |
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| Beers in Kaula Lumpur with Steve |
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| If a picture is worth a thousand words this one is Anna Karenina! |
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