Joy writes from her heart stash of memories!!
Say what? 12 years but really 25? What are you talking about you may be thinking. Let me explain.
For fear of making this a post that will be too long - I will try to sum up the last 25 years in one or two sentences per year
2000 - God spoke these words to me "create a place where women can go to just be". I heard him but was not sure exactly what that would look like.
2001 - my journal is full of the ways God continued to speak through dreams I got at night, through impressions and through hearing him speak to me, and also to me through a friend Lynda who said that "God is going to do something for his glory but he is going to use you. All I can say is you better fasten your seatbelt." I left my 25 year career working my last day as Daycare Director Dec 31, 2001 never to look back. We formed a board for the ministry
2002 - I applied for Charitable Status for the ministry, and got it without any problems. I was called into pastoral ministry by our Church in the interim Associate Pastor role. Ministry perked on the back burner but our ears were tuned to His voice on it
2003 - God made it very clear I was to apply for the permanent position. I was very confused because the ministry was perking on the back burner. I did not have seminary - but God spoke, and I obeyed.
2004 - I was asked to let my name go forward for the pastoral role. I was nominated in with the 93% vote which God had given me the number the summer of 2003. I asked God to make it clear what He was doing with me, and the ministry. In one week I was the recipient of a prophetic dream and a prophetic vision.
2005/2006 - I loved pastoring in our home church.
2007 - God gave me a picture. It was of a cake. A hand had a knife and was running around the edges. My pastoral advisor asked me if I thought God was gently removing me. I believed He was and that the ministry burner had been turned up.
2008 - I spoke with my friend Louise Sinclair Peters while in Thailand on a mission trip. I told her I felt God was turning up the heat on the retreat vision. She encouraged me to connect with Steve and Evy Klassen of The Mark Center in Abbotford, BC. This was a big year of expectation for us. A mission trip, an engagement of our daughter, our 50th birthdays, expecting the birth of our first grandbaby, and our 30th anniversary. It was the year of our biggest sorrow as our little grandson Jay Benjamin was born silently, beautifully perfect. Only God understood. Our kids went away and God gave them something for the vision of ministry. It resonated strongly with us. Alvin and I went and retreated at The Mark Center and were encouraged by the Klassen's during our visit with them. We had more vision on moving forward.
2009 - we bought the land. $124,900 marked to 119,900 to 114,900 and we offered 94,900. Three hours later I received the call that said they didnt like our offer but they liked what we wanted to do with it, and it was ours for 94,900. I resigned as Pastor effective mid Sept. We hosted a "Come Walk and Pray" event at our land in September as we wanted the land rained on with prayer! Lots of people attended. In fall we planted a row of evergreen saplings from a Manitoba ditch into our new land.
2010 - spring, our house sold and we in June began to build the shop. We moved from Anola July 31st, 2010 and moved into our kids loft. The house build began in October.
2011 - the build continued. It was a long build as Alvin and Josh and Michael built on the days that Alvin and Josh were not at the firehall. We lived in the top of the barn and loved every moment!! It remains one of the best years of my life!
2012 - In September we moved into our house and began "basement dwelling" lol ... and finished up the finishing touches/decorating etc. My girls gave such incredible insight and support as we dreamed how the rooms would look. Audrey (Ashley's friend) also gave some great advice.
2013 - our dedication was mid March, aprox 13 years from the time God spoke. Our house was full of people celebrating God's goodness with us. Our opening date was April 1 and our first booking was a group of pastors from Kilcona Park Alliance Church for a day leadership retreat. Ministry began. I had no clue if people would come, or how many. All I knew is when God calls, He never hangs you out to dry. We were personally invested as well as financially invested in the building of our home/barn etc. We were doing this unlike anyone had (at least to our knowledge) and I realize if I knew how hard it would have been in every which way, I may not have been so obedient. I am thankful for the years it took to build as I saw how God called Alvin into the ministry as well.
2014 - 2019 - people came. We did not advertise other than through word of mouth, Facebook and Instagram. We believed God would bring those who would or should come. Every year we grew in number of people attending - day retreats, overnight retreats, leadership retreats, mother/daughter retreats, elders/pastors/lifegroup retreats. We built it and they came. 2019 (if I recall correctly) saw us host about 330 people in the year of 2019.
2020 - Covid hit and everything came to a screeching halt. We had to cancel the fundraiser a week before it happened. All bookings were cancelled. God spoke in a mighty way to me within the first month of silence and said He wanted me to bring things back to our first call as it had morphed into things that we did not need to me. He wanted this to be a place of retreat - where people could come and rest and spend time in the presence of God. To be still. I heard him speak that morning.
2021 - we did our first virtual fundraiser and delivered so many pizza kits to people! It was amazing and a huge success. We began with retreats again, but board chose that we open and take people who were doubly vaccinated. I have some lung issues so I appreciated the concern of the board and my family. However this decision was a tough one, and there was some really harsh emails that I received and some judgment calls as to whether I was really doing what the LORD wanted me to do. Of course that was hard to receive, but we believed we were doing what God was saying.
2022 - our second virtual fundraiser. We carried on with more retreaters coming, but definitely not like before.
2023 - regainding momentum although it is very slow. However we see how God is bringing new people here, as well as regulars. We are thankful. We did a hybrid event - celebrating 10 years!! We delivered about 10 desserts and hosted about 100 people. It was small, intimate and a success in that we celebrated well! We also resumed our Advent Walk-Through with about 70 people.
2024 - momentum is growing, but still no where close to the amount of people pre covid. However we have had more people coming during the week. We had our 11th Anniversary fundraiser with Steve Bell as our special guest and it was beautiful! We had about 200 people in attendance. Great desserts, wonderful music and fellowship. We were so blessed as a board, ministry and all who attended. We also hosted our annual Advent Walk-Through with about 75 in attendance. It always serves to be a wonderful time of reflection.
April 1st, 2025 - Happy 12 years Women Refreshed at the Well. Up to this point we have hosted individuals (both singly retreating men as well as women which is our first call) and also we have hosted couples, and also Bible Studies with a group fo 8-10 women in attendance. While we are not "full" which would mean 5 rooms booked 7 days of the week, we have enjoyed the gentle quiet pulse of having people come, often they may be here alone. We had one woman here 4 nights, and she enjoyed that. Mostly people come for 1-2 nights, and some only for the day retreat. So in the 3 months, we have hosted about 75 people. We have also hosted some neighbours who have just heard about what we do! God continues to share the vision. So we are 12 years in operation but 25 years since God began to speak .... and one thing we know for sure, is that He does continue to speak to us.
Thank you for your love, support, prayers and financial support as well. Words are never enough! We give God the glory!
