March 2005 "You are the salt of the earth ... You are the light of the world let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:13-16 NIV) It is by God's will that the above Scripture was selected as the 31st Biennial Lutheran Women's Missionary Convention theme. It is by God's will that YOU were selected to be a Young Woman Representative. Being a YWR is a privilege, allowing a young woman to experience the LWML at its finest. It is the LWMLs objective at convention that all Understand what it means to be salt and light. Joyfully praise their Father in heaven. Show the love of Christ to others through good deeds. We are praying for YOU, the YWR! You are the salt and light of the world. By prayer and the Word, keep Christ and His sacrifice close to your heart and soul. Blessings, LWML HOPE Committee FROM THE HEART OF A YWR With great joy and excitement, March 1st 2005 has arrived. Registration for the 31st biennial LWML convention has officially opened. Do you have your registration form filled out? In 1998, my goal was to run a Christian household, be a devoted Christian wife, raise Christian children and be a Christian friend to those I met. Taking time away from family I thought would hinder this goal. There was no time for anything else. My schedule was packed! From my first LWML district convention, to after my first national LWML convention, my goal in life has been slightly altered. The introduction to LWML through the YWR program has added so much meaning and purpose in my personal journey with Jesus. I never realized how much joy and how much fun my Christian journey would be. I still have struggles, but they are not mine to deal with alone. I place them at the foot of the cross and continue on with my lightened load. Little did I know that the only way to be a devoted Christian wife, run a Christian household, and raise Christian children would be to focus on myself and my Christian walk. My goal today is simply to be a Christian. The deeper my relationship is with Christ and the more I strive to serve Him, the more my family, friends and community benefit. By staying in the Word and desiring to serve the Lord with gladness, my life began to blossom. His schedule, not mine, became manageable and enjoyable! LWML events-from society to national-reiterate and clarify His words written for me. LWML friendships are the mortar of the very foundation I build upon. LWML prayer partners bring peace and hope to my sinful world. LWML laughter brings incredible joy of being so alive and so loved in this journey to eternity. I praise God daily because of my YWR experience. The light shines brighter upon my paths with every Bible study, meeting, zone rally, and convention. As I fill out my registration today, I pray for God's continued guidance for my LWML sisters and our mission goals. I pray for the YWRs from the past 30 years who proudly serve the Lord with gladness. I also pray for the 2005 YWRs. I pray the Holy Spirit will once again touch their lives as it has so many before them. I may not know their names, but I know Someone who does. As I take a look at this new path-in-depth Bible Studies, new mission goals, speakers with messages of hope, exciting music, servant activities, and LWML sisters in Christ heading to Florida, I finally pray for God's blessings to be with my family June 16-19, 2005. I'm not taking time away from my family. I'm making time for a faith lift. The only way to tell and show them I love them is to personally cultivate what has been planted within. Come and glorify His name! Learn what it means to "Live Joyfully as Salt and Light" in Tampa. April Sekutera, Nebraska District South 1999 Minneapolis YWR HOPE Committee Y & W & R = FUN IN FLORIDA! What is a YWR? A young woman representative selected by her district Lutheran Women's Missionary League to attend a national LWML Convention. Y-Why you might ask? The YWR program has given younger women (usually between the ages of 26-35) an opportunity to see missions, service, and friendships in the LWML in a unique setting. You also experience worship with thousands of other LWML women, who find service to their Lord through the LWML a life-enhancing experience. W-What will it be like? Each attendee probably has a different story of what meant the most to her. Some YWR's come with some knowledge or involvement in the LWML. Others come having attended their district convention, while a few YWR's are experiencing a convention for the very first time. It is busy, you will get little sleep, but you will find that is not a significant issue, because you will have the opportunity to hear tremendous speakers, enjoy great entertainment, hear from missionaries who serve in the field and are home on furlough. You will hear how LWML "mites" helped bring God's love and message of hope through speakers from recent LWML mission grants. You will enjoy fellowship and learning time together, you will sit in the delegate section of the convention hall, you might be participating in the YWR servant activity on Wednesday evening or Thursday (depending on your arrival time), you are invited to join me for an early Saturday morning Joyful Jaunt-mission pledge walk along the bay and we will enjoy lunch together on Saturday noon. The convention will include singing led by a song leader who will energize you. You will also be participating in processions with your district president and a mission banner procession exclusively for YWR's! You will see yourself on the BIG screens and be introduced to the convention assembly. You will experience the joy of being salt and light! R-Are you ready? When you receive your registration confirmation (beginning in April), you will receive a Joy-votion. This is a mini-meditation written especially to prepare our hearts and minds for convention. Read the preparation ideas, use the prayer and realize God has specifically planned this for you! Study the information that the HOPE Committee sends you prior to the convention and participate in all the activities of the YWR program. Ask questions, find a mentor in your local congregation, contact your district president or someone on the HOPE Committee for answers to anything you want to know! I look forward to meeting you in June! I also look forward to seeing many of the past YWR's in Tampa because I know each of them have a story to tell you about their experience as an official "Young Woman Representative". Enjoy this opportunity God has chosen for you-realize He has called you by name to be in Tampa June 16-19, 2005 where we will celebrate at the 31st biennial convention of the LWML the opportunity we are given to "Live Joyfully as Salt and Light". Serving Him with joy, Linda K. Reiser, LWML President ATTENTION PAST YOUNG WOMEN REPRESENTATIVES!!! The HOPE Committee encourages you to contact us to assist in greeting YWRs at the YWR Welcome table Convention attendees at the YWR Convention Exhibit If interested, please contact Gayla Gastler at gastler@adams.net. Your support is greatly appreciated! 30 YEARS OF YWR! At Tampa, the YWR program will be celebrated! All past YWRs are encouraged to visit the HOPE Committee Exhibit so we may recognize your service as a former YWR! Be a V.I.P. by receiving a hand-salt treatment and be ready to place your name in lights! TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE IMPRESSIONS Sign up for e-News to continue receiving Impressions by e-mail! 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