WOMEN'S RETREATS AS GOD OPENS THE DOORS

From Nancy Campbell...

It has been a blessing to not only encourage women through the magazine, but through speaking. We have taken ABOVE RUBIES teams to many towns and cities of Australia and New Zealand and USA. However, we have found the greatest blessing of all are Camps or Retreats where women can come aside from all the pressures that surround them and be encouraged and taught in God's ways for a whole weekend.

The ABOVE RUBIES Camps that have been held in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA have powerfully ministered to many women, changing their lives and setting them free into a new dimension of motherhood and wifehood.

TASMANIA CAMP REPORT

The Tasmanian Above Rubies Ladies Retreat was a resounding success. The theme for the weekend was "Treasures" and was based on the scripture "Where your treasure is, there your heart is also" - Matthew 6:21.
At the start of the weekend we were all given a piece of "gold" (a smooth river stone) and were asked to bring it to every meeting and take care of it. When all pieces of "gold" couldn't be accounted for at the meetings some of the excuses given were "I lost it!", "I forgot it!", "It was stolen!".
We were also asked if we really thought this was a piece of "Gold". Some of the answers were "No way - it's just a rock!", "It has the potential to be gold!", "It is definitely gold!".
God revealed to us that the pieces of "gold" we were given represent us. Firstly, God doesn't "lose" us or "forget" us or let us get "stolen" - we are so precious to Him. Secondly, how we see ourselves. Some of us saw ourselves as "dirty river stones", others as "having potential", and others who were secure enough really did see ourselves as "definitely gold".
We were shown just how much God treasures us, each one of us - unconditionally. And how special we are and how we should view ourselves as Princesses of the King of Kings - for eternity!
Using the "Ruby" as a comparison to ourselves we were also shown how special we are as Proverbs 31:10 women. There are so many similarities between rubies and ourselves as we strive to become the women God intended us to be. We both must be "found", "chiseled and ground", "refined", "chosen", "placed in a setting", "beautiful" - just to name a few.
During the course of the weekend we were also given practical advice on how to treasure our Husbands and our Children. Many women hungrily devoured this information and took it home with them to put into practice. Some are seeing results in their homes already!!
One other important thing we learned was that the things we treasure today (for example our homes) may not be the things we treasure tomorrow. Life's experiences determine our treasures. These things can be taken away from us and cause us to rethink "What is it that I truly do treasure?" Sometimes we need to be broken before we can be fixed.
Many thanks to Delwyn and to Val for imparting their wise words upon us during the weekend. You were a true blessing to everyone who attended. May God bless you both as you continue to minister to women throughout Australia and across the world.
- Susanna Hobson


It is an ABOVE RUBIES camp tradition that women share their testimonies of what God has done in their lives during camp. These are what I'll share in this report:

The Word Of Their Testimony - Tasmania

'I have hope again' 'I have a fresh perspective; He (God) has a purpose for my life. He can now do whatever it takes...I have a fresh vision that it's going to be worth it.'

A young woman who was widowed last year: (Val washed her feet as a symbol of God's love.) She said: 'I had a lot of anger and hurt. Now I have an amazing trust. My life has been changed. I have let go of the hurt and will now trust God.' (I saw this lady several days after the camp and she was radiant! (A vast transformation from the women I met at camp before God touched her heart).

'I asked my self 'What am I doing here?' I had drawn the line at having only two children. I'd never thought about asking God. Now it's in God's Hands. I had never before understood my complete work as a mother. I had my career and was planning on going back to it. But now I desire, yearn to be a Godly mum. My number one role is to get my children to know Jesus.'

'I crossed the line from fear to freedom. I will now let my husband lead.'

Another woman asked if she could be anointed with oil by Val. She asked that it be poured all over her. An alabaster box was broken and she was anointed as requested. She said 'I had felt rejected and hurt by God, now I have let go and I feel a burden lifted off my. Now more than ever I am stepping out in faith.' Val then gifted her a broken alabaster bottle.

'I have been inspired.'

'I have realized that we don't plan our lives, but God plans them for us.'

'I have been recommending women go to Above Rubies camps for years but this is my first one. I have been broken and now God can do whatever He wants with me and my family.'

'I was full of selfish ambition. I now want to serve my husband. Its now His way. I am dead.'

'I have learned to be gracious to my children, and to be my children's friend.'

'I am a single girl (a Uni student). This camp has been such a blessing. I know we were created for families.'

VICTORIA CAMP REPORT

Dear Ladies,

Well, after many months of preparation, prayer and expenditure of energy, the Above Rubies Camp has come and gone. How do you convey to others, what a special and remarkable time, the Lord allowed us to share and experience?

For me, personally, leading up to the camp, was quite business like and it wasn't until the week before, that God spoke to me and told me that the camp was for me too, not just to work, but to experience His love and work in my life.

I was blessed to be able to take my daughter, Selena, my best friend Julie and another friend Debbie and her daughter Becky along. They were faithful helpers all weekend and I am so glad that God provided the means for them to come.

Friday was preparing the hall and bedrooms and the 2 girls had a lovely time putting the gifts on the ladies beds, greeting guests and hostessing. We had 68 staying Friday night plus 11 babies. For me, it was a chance to finally meet the ladies, of whom many I had spoken with or corresponded with for so long. What a joy. Of course, the best part was meeting Val again after 10 years and my dear friend Delwyn after many years as well. How amazing it is when we are sisters in Christ, it was like we had only seen each other yesterday!

Each session began with praise and worship, which always set the tone for the evening.
Val spoke Friday evening and shared about her life and testified to God's faithfulness and strength through difficult times. I'm sure we all related to her gentle and motherly approach. We had our first taste of camp food for supper - we were in for a treat!!!

After a late night of "girly" talk, C.C's and chocolate, (don't tell my children) I awoke with a massive headache and headed down to the prayer meeting. What a wonderful time of fellowship and touch of the Holy Spirit as each lady poured their hearts out to the Lord. A great way to start the day.

I had to be organized ready for day visitors. By lunch we were expecting 117 at camp. Some had not even registered, and others who changed their minds from coming Friday night, had decided to return for Saturday.
Val and Delwyn both spoke in the morning session. Val, again, sharing form her heart and Delwyn, a little more formal, presenting a memorable talk on the 17 facets of Rubies. It was just amazing to hear why God chose to use that particular gem to compare women to rather than a diamond.
During one particular more intimate aspect of Delwyn's talk, I took the 32 young girls between 9-19 out and we made "princess bracelets" while I asked questions and we all got to know each other. I can't remember when I had so much fun. These girls where just so precious.

Lunch was yummy (again!!) and I went to prepare the afternoon session. I presented a discussion for mothers and daughters entitled "Beautiful Girlhood". It was based on Proverbs 31. The aim of this workshop was to look at the issues many young girls face on the journey from girlhood to womanhood. It was a wonderful time, with the majority of the girls participating and affirming each other and the path that God has ordered for them.
The rest of the afternoon was free time, or Delwyn had also organized video presentation of the Channel 9 "Sunday" programme documentary on women and fertility.

Saturday night was eagerly awaiting us. I knew that Val and Delwyn wanted a time of ministry. By 8.00, after Val spoke, I felt (dare I admit) a little disappointed that I hadn't heard anything new and that maybe I wouldn't be touched in any new way.

( A little background to feeling like this........ I have never been "slain in the spirit" in any spectacular way, or had any great prophesy spoken over me, and have often felt a little left out when others around me get that "touch " from God. God has surely spoken to me in His "still quiet voice" but I always felt that if only God would "zap" me, then all my problems would go away. )

Back to Saturday night. By 8.30, there was not a dry eye in the house and God had spoken to me and touched me in a way I had never expected. He showed me things, deep, deep things, that have never been spoken. How does one explain this? I know that for each women there, it was something completely different. For some it was marriage issues, others, problems with children, the loss of a child, the inability to have another child, or just the need to be broken. This was the theme of the night. We must be broken before we can be fixed. Val asked us to step over a line ( a long piece of red string across the front of the hall) to symbolize that we were prepared to give God those things that we were holding on to. Were we prepared to step over the line and allow God to have ALL of our lives. For me, it wasn't anything specifically to begin with. I just knew I needed to show God I was serious about Him. Once I crossed the line, there it was, clearly before, me, my need to be broken. God showed me that a hardness had developed in my life and I was afraid of being moldable for Him. Afraid of being weakened, vulnerable, soft. My friend Julie felt the need to take a hammer (metaphorically) and smash away the hardness. Interestingly, Delwyn had a verse for everyone at the camp and for me the Lord gave her the word "Dynamite". That's what God needed to break through my shell.
It was a long, hard night for many, as Val and Delwyn prayed and ministered restoration, love and hope to the many women who had laid their lives down for Christ.

After a late night of chatting (and more chocolate!!) I was late for prayer meeting and the ladies were in the full swing of praying for our husbands. This was an awesome time as I presented my own husband (who has Kidney disease) to the Lord. The incredible sincerity with which those ladies prayed , as we held hands and lifted up to God the marriages was precious.
I still had my headache and the ladies prayed for healing. My tight neck softened and the headache left after 24 hours.

For the morning session, Delwyn felt the Lord had said to trim down her message on "Treasuring our Children" to allow for more ministry. I would love to hear the full version of this wonderfully encouraging talk. Again, Val was Spirit lead to minister to a particular lady and wash her feet. The morning continued to be about being broken before we can be healed and fixed and this proved to be the catalyst for another outpouring of emotion, as God worked deeply in the hearts of so many of us who had been feeling unloved or unlovable. After morning tea, it was a time for ladies to share their testimonies about how God has worked in their lives and what He has done over the weekend. Again, not a dry eye in the house, as precious woman after precious woman, opened her heart to share. We went through a lot of tissues in 2 days!!! The morning ended with Val praying over all of the pregnant ladies and then all of the young girls that were there.

For me personally, I am still a bit stunned at the things that God revealed to me over the weekend. They were things that I would never have thought something worth dealing with, or were so deep that I hadn't even realized that they were hindering my growth in Christ and my abilities as a wife and mother. I saw wounds healed, relationships restored, hope renewed and the "peace which passes all understanding" minister to myself and many others, in a real and I firmly believe, enduring way.

When I arrived home, my husband, parents and children had worked hard in the garden and did a bit of a "backyard blitz" and created a rose garden, vegetable garden and cottage garden. My baby had slept through the night and there was peace. Mike said that I should go away more often and has remarked at my "glow".
I feel special and loved.

It is difficult for many of us to get away to camps like these. I certainly have never entertained the thought of being able to leave all of my children, just to go to a camp. But the Lord opened the door for me and if it is His will, He can for you.

Please pray for the Above Rubies Ministry, the Keepers At Home Ministry and Val and Delwyn, as they give so much of their time and energy to strengthening marriages and families in this nation.


Blessings

Cheryl Jandesu

The Word Of Their Testimony - Victoria

'A month ago I'd never heard about Above Rubies. ...I didn't feel loved, I felt like a dirty rag. God showed how much he loved me. While Val was washing my feet I saw a vision of myself in a white, pure, royal wedding gown.'

'God spoke to me through Delwyn's message about being a ravishing wife. I have repented for 25 years of failing to be the wife God wanted me to be.'

'God has shown me the Father's heart. This weekend has been 'More of Him and less of me'. I just want to surrender everything to God.'

'I was forsaken by my Mum and Dad but this weekend I have been reminded that I can not be taken away from God's love.'

'God is mending me.'

'When I got married I didn't love my husband. After this camp, I am going home to love my husband.'

'Thank you to all those who prayed.'

'Val said 'We can't be fixed until we are broken'. I realized I was limiting God to how much I'd trust Him. Now my attitude is 'Though He slay me yet will I praise Him.' 'I no longer want to be a 'grumpy Mum, I am now an ex-grumpy Mum!'