Spiritual Benefits of Hosting a ProNica EventFrom: Kathy Hersh Subject: Spiritual Benefits of Hosting a ProNica Event Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2010 I wanted to share with you the wonderful uplift our meeting recently experienced by hosting ProNica's November board meeting. I had suggested to ProNica that they resume their practice of having board meetings around SEYM rather than just in St. Pete. I thought it would help reacquaint long time Friends with the work and the new Nicaraguan partners and introduce ProNica to newer Friends who may not get to YM events to hear the presentations and see the beautiful crafts whose sale supports the efforts. When ProNica asked if Miami would host the board meeting, I asked Peace and Social Concerns and then Business Meeting if it was felt that we could do this. Our attendance is shrinking and we "faithful few" (a Hildegard Herbster favorite expression of mine) are feeling our age and limited resources. But we said "yes," knowing that it would take a lot of us working together to pull it off. What I am writing to tell you is not how we helped ProNica raise over $1700 over the weekend and introduced dozens of potential new supporters to the organization. What I want to testify to is the blessings to our meeting that hosting the meeting and fundraiser bestowed on us. The Miami Peace Center paid for Lillian to join us for the weekend and her witness was, as ever, incredibly powerful. A friend of mine saw a mutual friend, a Nicaraguan, tear up her check after Lillian spoke and write a new one for double the amount so moved was she to hear how ProNica is helping save Nicaraguan women's lives through providing pap smears, feeding the children of the poorest of the poor in the La Chureca dump in Managua, helping rescue children who have been abandonned to the streets of Managua, and providing opportunities for North American youth to witness the daily struggle of poor people to feed their families. From a spirited work day to get the meeting house and grounds ready for "company," to the fellowship of working together to feed and house the ProNica board members, to seeing our meeting house lit up and lively with a wonderful evening event, we felt a deep spiritual glow at worship the next day. Lillian spoke at our meeting for learning and she and several board members joined us for worship. Talk about a gathered meeting! So, dear Friend, I want to share this with you in your capacity as a co-clerk of SEYM's Worship and Ministry Committee. We have seen how we can rally when we are charged with the spirit of living our testimonies by taking action. We were united in doing something to take away the occasion of war and the suffering caused by it. Please feel free to share this with other members of the committee in the interest of energizing our meetings. Love....Kathy Kathy Hersh Close-Up Productions 305.667.6779 www.closeupproductions.com "Be the change" ---Gandhi |