SUMMER 2006 It is convention time! It is that time of year that many districts are getting ready for their conventions. As young women getting involved with LWML, this can be a wonderful opportunity to learn so much more about this organization. The Leader Development Committee prays that as you attend your convention and maybe even take part in the YWR program your district has, that you would grow in your relationship with Christ. We also pray that this is an opportunity for you to "glean" from the women who have been a part of LWML. We can learn so much from these mentors and women of faith. Please be sure to share the Impressions Newsletter with the young women at your conventions. Maybe even share it with all the women at your convention so they know what LWML is doing for the young women in our churches. God Bless each of you in your continued service to LWML. FROM THE HEART OF A YWR When I was originally selected to be the SD District YWR to the 2003 national LWML Convention in Oklahoma City I was pretty "green" in the ways of LWML. All I really knew about LWML was that mites were given to missions and that the members had circles and Bible studies. I can't explain the door that was opened to the world and work of the LWML at Oklahoma City. It was amazing to me that all these women who were involved in this organization and that they all gave mites to make the goals of the national LWML become a reality. I knew I wanted to do more to help the mission of this organization and to involve more young women in the effort. The transition from YWR to South Dakota's VP of Servant Resources wasn't one that I really planned. When I was asked if I would consider the nomination for the position of VP of Servant Resources, I was currently serving as secretary for our zone and the Servant Events Co-Chair for our district convention. These two responsibilities allowed me to serve the Lord in new and different ways. I was then elected to serve as the district VP of Servant Resources. The help I received from other women in the LWML during all of these different positions has been and still is amazing. It is possible to not really know what you are doing and still feel confident that you will do the right thing when you have such a wonderful support system to work with. The best thing is that all of these LWML women were once new to the LWML as well, and so they understand the questions I have and are more than willing to help in any way possible. When the Leader Development Committee asked me how I had made the transition from YWR to VP of Servant Resources I honestly didn't know what to tell them. It turned out to be a transition that was made possible through the support and understanding of all the members of the LWML, and I thank them for giving me the opportunity to serve our Lord in this way. Kelli Anawski, South Dakota VP of Servant Resources DEVOTION Prayer: Father God, you have promised your protection, guidance, and salvation. Open our minds and hearts as we read of Your goodness and mercy. In Your name; Thy will be done. Amen Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name, lead and guide me. Psalm 31:3 A developing infant cannot feed, walk, speak, and do many other life skills without nurture and guidance from his/her parents or another adult. Likewise, without nurture in God's Word, a child will not grow spiritually, physically, or emotionally to be a Christ-centered caring and loving adult. We never really grow up and gain a peaceful maturity until we reconcile what God says with how we live our lives and trust Jesus Christ as our Savior and Parent. Too many of us wait too long for that time to come. I look back on my growing up years and I always knew my Savior, but I didn't really know what it meant to give my life completely over to Him until I was about 32 years old. Since then, the difficult times seem easier. I realize the Lord will never give me anything greater than He can handle. We will not fall for, "Thy Word is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path" Psalm 119:104. I encourage you to live your life knowing that you will always have the Lord acting as a rock and fortress in times of need. Commit yourself to Him, as He has committed Himself to you. Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are our rock and our fortress. Help us lean on You in all humility and confidence, knowing that You are always there to pick us up and see us through times of peril and difficulty. We praise Your holy name; Thy will be done. Amen Written by Willa Brinkmeyer, North Platte, Nebraska DID YOU KNOW LWML has a League Pledge. In fervent gratitude for the Savior's dying love and His blood-bought gift of redemption we dedicate ourselves to Him with all that we are and have; and in obedience to His call for workers in the harvest fields, we pledge Him our willing service wherever and whenever He has need of us. We consecrate to our Savior our hands to work for Him, our feet to go on His errands, our voice to sing His praises, our lips to proclaim His redeeming love, our silver and our gold to extend His Kingdom, our will to do His will, and every power of our life to the great task of bringing the lost and the erring into eternal fellowship with Him. Amen. PRODUCT PROMOTION Designed for You This is a great resource that will serve as an easy tool for designing a new LWML group or redesigning an existing group. This would be very helpful for a group of young women ready to start their own group. It includes a Bible study and sections on assessments/surveys, visioning, models, implementation ideas , bylaws, and evaluation. This packet is reproducible and can be used as one unit or as individual sections. Check it out in your LWML Catalog in the "Helping You to Serve" section, page 23. (Item # 20210) UPCOMING EVENTS ROCK! Rest On Christ the King. Be sure to check out the information on the LWML Web site about the 32nd Biennial Convention in Sioux Falls, SD. The dates for the convention are June 21-24, 2007. LWML EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Be Your Sister's Keeper ­ Be a Mentor! Have you ever thought about being a mentor? I know, you think a mentor has to be an older woman like a mother, an older relative, etc. Webster's Concise Dictionary of the English Language defines a mentor as, "A wise and trusted teacher, guide, and friend." Young people can be that type of person. There's nothing in there about age. So, what's involved in mentoring? The mentors in my life have been loving and caring women, and the following are some qualities I have seen in them. One thing to remember is to keep it to your self. When someone comes to you for advice or just to talk, don't call your girlfriends and share what you've heard. Yes, I know you may get the urge to tell someone, but don't! Pray for strength instead. Have you ever said, "I want to be like her when I grow up."? I have, and I still do. Present yourself in such a way that you set a good example. Be the good person that you are. You can mentor just by being yourself. Be an enabler. Make it happen for someone. My mentors have encouraged me to do things I never thought I could do, and they convinced me that I could. Sometimes you'll have to nudge a bit-fear and self-doubt are fierce captors-but your love, support, patience and prayers will work wonders. Is that hard? No. Okay, you might be thinking, "I don't know enough to be a mentor." Yes, you do. Nobody knows everything, and no one can be all things to all people. Just do what you know how to do. If someone asks you about something with which you are unfamiliar, tell them that you don't know, but that you will find out. If it is something with which you are uncomfortable, say so. And remember, pray for and with others. That's the best kind of mentoring you can do. Janis McDaniels LWML Vice President of Gospel Outreach