On Thursday, in between conferences, we had a great time hiking in Grayson Highlands State Park.
I can’t tell you how refreshing it was to be out there in the woods!
God blessed us with a beautiful breezy day and I sort of felt like I was walking inside a beautiful painting. One of the highlights of the day was just spending more time with the others in our group. We don’t always have much time to talk while running the conferences.
It was so beautiful Lauren just couldn’t quit hiking –even after her shoes wore out!
It was fun to get acquainted with the friendly free-range ponies in the park. They were so cute.
After we were all tired and hungry, we enjoyed a great lasagna dinner out on the Stam’s back deck. The Stams are the family who hosted both the Strong in the Lord Conference and the Radiant Purity Conference (which I’m going to post about next) in Bristol. They have a wonderful family and we so appreciate all the sacrifices they’ve made to bring these conferences here!
Praying with our group of leaders before the conference starts.
Girls and mothers arriving
…picking up their name tags…
…and gathering for the main session.
Throughout the conference we go back and forth between the main sessions and small group times. The groups have names such as “Stars”, “Fireflies”, “Flashlights”, etc.
“What was your favorite part of the conference?” I often ask the girls. “The skits!” they often reply with a little grin and twinkle in their eye. 
We use the skits to reinforce what we’re teaching. This skit is called “The Conscience Skit” and teaches the importance of confessing your sin and keeping a clear conscience.
The “CBN Broadcast Skit” 
We concluded the conference with candles and encouraging the girls to “…Let Your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and praise your father in Heaven…!” (Matthew 5:16)
“How should we arrange these signs so the girls can find their small group rooms easily?” “Should we put it there?”
“Or should we put it here?”
“Oh, this is so confusing!”
After dinner and a time of music, my dad shared with everyone the three major world-changing events of history. Can anyone guess what they are? I know, you’re probably wondering how he narrowed it down to “three”. It’s not a major war, not electricity, not the automobile, or anything like that.
One of our new friends had a good time trying the harp.
Yu Chen and Stephen
