This afternoon, the attendees started to arrive, all 79 of them! 

Amy is returning for her second Thrive retreat. Her first one was also in Cape Town, in this exact same hotel in 2015. She was relatively new on the field at her first retreat but now is a nine-year veteran. Her first retreat was fun, exciting, and especially important because she met other women who encouraged her that her “first-year” feelings of loneliness, homesickness, and strangeness were very normal. What a gift that was!

Since that time, she has learned the importance of self-care in preventing burnout and increasing longevity on the field. She has seen firsthand how other women sacrifice unendingly and continue to give even when they have nothing left to give. Many of these women end up leaving the field for this reason. She is looking forward to the next few days of beautiful surroundings, Bible teaching, great food and fellowship, and maybe a new haircut!

Val has been living in a grass hut with semi-nomadic tribes in Uganda since 1992. These are violent warring tribes, not with spears, which might be what first comes to mind, but with machine guns. She's been working as a veterinarian (think cows and goats) and promoting peace and Jesus. Life in her region is further complicated by famine. Death surrounds her. Nonetheless, 4 new churches have been planted. Val is looking forward to the renewal that comes from fellowship with other Christian women.

This is why Thrive exists - to lift up and encourage women so that they will have what they need to continue the good work that the Lord has called them to. Please join us in praying for them.