{"id":7006,"date":"2004-06-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2004-06-30T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/archives\/7006-msias-family-retreat-at-lake-arrowhead-the-first-event-of-the-conference-of-service-2004"},"modified":"2004-06-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2004-06-30T07:00:00","slug":"msias-family-retreat-at-lake-arrowhead-the-first-event-of-the-conference-of-service-2004","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/archives\/7006-msias-family-retreat-at-lake-arrowhead-the-first-event-of-the-conference-of-service-2004","title":{"rendered":"MSIA’s Family Retreat at Lake Arrowhead \u2014 The First Event of the Conference of Service 2004"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Article Click here to view the photo slideshow from MSIA’s Family Retreat 2004<\/a><\/b>.<\/p>\n

Sixty eager participants traveled to MSIA’s Lake Arrowhead property on the weekend of June 25-27 for this year’s Family Retreat, which happened to be the first event of the Conference of Service. <\/p>\n

The weather was picture perfect, and the Arrowhead property was beautiful, even with some of its trees cut down. Karen & Richard Powell were the facilitators guiding the retreat this year. <\/p>\n

Parents enjoyed an hour of spiritual exercises together each morning while the assisting team entertained the kids. There was something for everyone, with art projects, hiking and volleyball games. <\/p>\n

Gabe Marvis says the volleyball games were the best part of the retreat for him. Tasha Marvis said “even the food was really good.”<\/p>\n

A highlight of the retreat was a visit from our Beloved Traveler, John Morton, who answered questions and shared his loving with all. <\/p>\n

Here is a poem about the Family Retreat by Sara Grace Powell<\/b>:<\/p>\n

beginning. beginning
with the tangled mess of roads
we inch forward toward our goal;
a tangerine sky set before us.<\/p>\n

the stars can be seen through the trees,
glinting off of yellow eyes.
backing up blindly, we have arrived.
in bed i lay.<\/p>\n

middle. middle of the retreat,
retreating from life.
here i sit looking upon the sun sneaking through the cracks
in the trees.
pebbles crunching,
cries of joy.<\/p>\n

end. end of it all.
no regrets, completed, just fine and dandy.
i’ll see you all later, the end was complete.<\/center><\/p>\n

Read more articles from the Conference Of Service 2004:<\/strong><\/p>\n