The Adventures and Benefits of Being Two Team Co-Captains in Training

The opportunity to support the MSIA events in San Diego, CA, presented itself when two Beloved Ministers from our community moved across the country for their new adventure. They had done a beautiful job supporting these events for years and we wish them the best!

The events had already been approved and scheduled. The first event was a day long workshop on Saturday entitled “The Upper room”. It was facilitated by Leigh Taylor-Young. Sunday was the monthly MSIA Minister’s Meeting in the morning followed by a community sponsored lunch. In the afternoon was a wonderful Open Seminar with John Morton. The blessing was that the Traveler participated in all three events.

All of the events were held at the home of Ron and Tracy Bernstein. They are exceptionally gracious hosts and their beautiful home was like being at a retreat. The “Casa de Luz” was filled with so much loving and Light! The home, the events and breaking bread together allowed us the experience of being a close family.

Never having been Team Captains, we fumbled through this learning experience with laughter, joy and gratitude. Our main intention was to hold the Light and serve the Traveler and our community. We did that and found it both rewarding and uplifting. A major benefit was the recognition that it was a way to give back to the Traveler and MSIA for all the classes and events we have taken over the years. Our awareness through the process was it takes a village of assistants to create a space for others (and ourselves) to experience clearing, transforming, upliftment and gratitude.

So off we went with lists (thank you Ron and Tracy), Zoom meetings, contacting possible assistants and working with our community PTS Rep Sharon LaPaglia who handled the registration and publicity. We discovered the need to be flexible! One of our greatest learnings was to be in a consciousness of allowing Spirit to work through us and guide us. It was wonderful watching the unfoldment as our fellow assistants stepped up to the plate and soared, even with new unfamiliar tasks. We truly became a team with loving service as its focus. No matter what, we did our best to make it work!! Thank you to all of you! We couldn’t have done it without you!

A large part of our success as a team was the presence and support of NOW Productions. Their professionalism, loving, Light, and willingness to serve and assist us was truly breathtaking. Not many of us in MSIA have any idea how hard they work, we sure didn’t. They were role models; and we were willing to learn. Thank you, Roger and Margarita!!

We also learned a great deal from Ron and Tracy. They are exceptionally hard workers with strong intentions of serving the Traveler and our community. That clear intention also created the attraction of bringing both participants and assistants from other MSIA communities down to join us in San Diego so they too could receive of the blessing of these events in person.

We as an assisting team worked hard, starting with the setup on Friday. An example of their blessings and how they go the extra mile was when Tracy served us dinner around the dining room table at the end of the long day. We were tired, hungry and ready to go home. However, Tracy had something in mind. She knew intuitively that a supper featuring her famous chili and a family atmosphere was what we needed to complete the day. We held hands, said grace, enjoyed the meal, shared laughter and joy and left renewed. Driving home we knew without a doubt why we were doing this. We loved each other, the Traveler and the teachings.

OUR PRAYER IS that other ministers throughout MSIA open to the possibility of serving, especially in new unexplored roles. In the beginning we didn’t know what we were doing or getting into. While there were some challenges, with a strong clear intention to serve we learned it was possible to overcome obstacles, succeed and create events that were rewarding and uplifting. We’ve heard J-R share with us on many occasions the idea that with the willingness to serve and do comes the ability to do.

Here are some highlights from the events:

The Upper Room turned out to be a Peace Awareness Training! What a gift. It was heartwarming to see everyone partnering up and participating, even the assistants joined in. John took questions at the end. Everyone loved that!

The ministers meeting on Sunday was led by our board vice chairman Teri Breier. Leigh led us in a beautiful Planetary Blessing. John shared vulnerably from his heart and experiences as both a human, a Minister and of course the Traveler.

Then we all gathered in the kitchen to join hands, to bless each other and our lunch which was provided by the San Diego community.

The afternoon Open Seminar by the Traveler provided an even greater opportunity for all people, both in MSIA and newcomers, to receive the blessings offered by the Traveler and our church. John was at his best!  A special treat was five-year old Huxley Schwartz joining his first live event to meet the Traveler. He watches John and Leigh daily with his dad. He was so excited and we realized that a new generation was being formed. God Bless Us All. We just happened to be sitting in front of Huxley (at the back of the room) as we were chanting. Hearing this angelic child chanting the Ani Hu brought us full circle to why we were led to step forward to being Co-Team Captains in Training. We invite you to do the same in some form of service. The Blessings truly already are!

Donna Walton (at left) and Cindy Norton

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