Women at the Well
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up"
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11
South African sunsets are awesome with all their glorious fiery colours glowing in the sky - an experience never to be forgotten. For Bethany and myself, this was our first time in South Africa, and what better place to begin our trip than at a 'Women at the Well' retreat! We didn't know anyone beforehand, but by the end of the weekend, we felt like we'd been well and truly absorbed by everyone's openness and warmth.
'Women at the Well' is a sisters' retreat which has been running for the past two decades, held annually across the country, in various locations and seasons. This year it was held in Hopefield (approx 75 miles north of Cape Town) next to a beautiful nature reserve - the peace and tranquillity of this location really added to the weekend. These retreats offer respite for sisters and interested friends of all backgrounds to come together and share their burdens and experiences. For many of the ladies, this was respite they might not otherwise get throughout the whole year, so this opportunity to both give and receive support and encouragement is very important to all - a chance to gain spiritual strength to take back to their families at home.
The overall theme this year was "Seeing God in our everyday life" - we shared readings, thoughts and discussions about how we can see God in the elements, in our relationships, and in the highs and lows of life. We also took away lessons from birds and considered the Godly transformation of a butterfly.
Everyone's passion for singing and dancing was evident in this beautiful culture, and we were quickly absorbed into an atmosphere of joyfulness as we gathered around the fireplace to sing songs of praise in the evening. My favourite song was "Bind us together with cords that cannot be broken" where everyone stood in a big circle and clapped hands with each other in a pattern whilst singing along.
The weekend was made extra special by all the handmade gifts which sisters had lovingly prepared before the gathering. There were several moments when you'd hear someone squeal with excitement, over a handmade bag full of goodies which had been left on their bed or a packet of planting seeds with a Bible verse attached found at their place during a mealtime. Something which really stood out to me was the generosity and thought put into all of these beautiful gifts.
I also loved how everyone was so willing to mix with all ages - building up friendships with both young and old. The weekend was accommodating for all sorts of interests and hobbies. One of our ladies led an arts and crafts session for us, where she patiently taught us how to make macrame for hanging plant pots - this took lots of concentration and gave us all a good laugh. Fitness sessions during the cool of the evening were also lots of fun, with quite a multicultural flare! Line dancing, Israeli dancing and even the Scottish cèilidh were given a whirl. If anyone felt like having some quiet time, there was an opportunity to curl up next to the fireplace and pour over a communal puzzle. We also had free time to explore the surrounding area - coming face to face with a zebra through the garden fence was quite a highlight!
The reflection session at the end of the weekend was an incredibly powerful and moving experience. I was impressed by everyone's willingness to be open and honest with everyone in the room, sharing stories about their journey of finding the Gospel and how they have held onto their precious hope even in the most trying of circumstances. We also had some fun working together to create group skits, demonstrating practical examples of how we can bring joy and thankfulness into family life, even when things become so busy. It has been a true privilege to meet these sisters and friends and hear all their stories and experiences!
By Sis. Ruth Legg