Even a dyed-in-the-wool, deep-in-the-heart-of -Texas girl like me has to admit that you’ll never see a view like this in the entire Lone Star State:
And that, my friend, is the view I and the women of Mission Hills Church, Littleton, Colorado, woke up to each morning at the Mission Hills Women’s Retreat. Can anybody say, “GLO-ry to God”?
This past weekend, Shanda and I traveled to Colorado to join Janet Carter (the Women’s Ministry Director at Mission Hills Church) and 150+ awesome Colorado sisters for a real Rocky Mountain high at the Trail West Lodge in Buena Vista, Colorado, where I taught You Glo Girl!
Mission Hills retreat leaders, Janet Williams and Marsha Shaffer, and their creative, hard-working, pray-heaven-down retreat team planned and led an exceptionally glorious retreat — and they just about spoiled all of us rotten, too. 
For Shanda and me, it’s always so beautiful to see how God orders our steps at retreats like these and provides divine appointments. On the very first night at the very first meal, we sat down at what appeared to be a random table . . . until we saw the name tag of one woman who was already at the table. It was Renee Finneman — one of our Priority Partners! Until that night, we’d never met Renee. But God knew we needed to, so He led our steps straight to her table. What sweet fellowship we enjoyed with her!
The Mission Hills Women’s Retreat sessions were a wonderful blend of fun door prizes, silly-and-serious skits, heart-lifting worship and praise, and how-to-get-your-glo-on Bible teaching.
Saturday afternoon, Shanda and I joined a friendly group of Mission Hills sisters for a hike along an Aspen-lined trail through he mountains.
Gorgeous!
Some women are magnets — you’re instantly drawn to them. Take, for instance, the magnetic mother-daughter duo of Carmen Cruz and daughter Mabelissa Acevedo. These two drew Shanda and me in the moment we met them. Carmen’s a Mission Hills girl (with a birthday coming up), and Mabelissa flew in from Florida to join her for the retreat (and a little birthday celebrating, too).
Heidi Johnson and Leah Fen graciously served as our sound and Power Point girls each session and blessed me so much. Here’s Heidi and me:
And on the very first night at the very first session, I met Valerie Collinsworth on the front row. I love front-row girls, and that’s where Valerie always sits ever since she gave her heart to Jesus a few months ago. What a blessing it was to hear her testimony!
Mission Hills own Hannah Sifers led us in worship and praise throughout the weekend. I loved the combination of old and new songs she used. But I especially loved This is My Father’s World and hearing the story Hannah shared about her mother singing hymns over her as a child at bedtime. Melted my heart and made me want to do my own season as a young mother all over again.
But the greatest high of my Rocky Mountain weekend with the women of Mission Hills occurred Saturday night as Jane Romberger, pastor’s wife, led us in communion. It was a Spirit-filled, God-glorifying evening as we gathered to remember Jesus, His sacrificial death, and our salvation. Thank You, Lord!
This retreat marked my “second missionary journey” with the women of Mission Hills Church. I enjoyed my first retreat with them a couple of years ago (and yes, I admit, I sure would love a third). But the fact that God blessed me with their sweet fellowship not only once but twice? Well, that’s what I call a real Rocky Mountain high!
With love and prayers to all of my Mission Hills glo girl sisters,
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NASB
