Letters

Urgent prayers requested for son of Phil and Vicki Boileau

Phil and Vicki have sung at our retreat many times. Phil wrote the words to the song Lutheran Woman.

• April 16, 2008
• March 4, 2008
• February 9, 2008
• February 8, 2008
• February 4, 2008

Thank-yous

April 16, 2008
Thank you from Phil and Vivki Boileau

April 16, 2007
Thank you from Seminary student John and Melissa (Fillner) Munson.

April 24, 2007
Thank God for this miraculous news from John and Melissa.

May 1, 2007
Thank you from the Spevaceks

Munson Thank-you Letter

April 16, 2007

Dear friends from the Today's Christian Women's Retreat,

These past couple months have been extremely difficult for our family. We never expected that at this point of our life we would be facing the battle of cancer. And it is never easy to temporarily say goodbye to your mother and friend. But as difficult as these last months have been for our family, we never expected to be lifted up and sustained by such Christian love as you have shown us. We have spent the last week trying to think of a way to show our thankfulness for your Christian love you gave us through the gift you sent to us through the offerings from your retreat. There is no way to do so, except to say, "Thank you." Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for lifting us up in your prayers to our heavenly Father's throne of grace as we face these new challenges of cancer in our life.

While these last months have been difficult and the coming days and monts still very uncertain, our Savior has wiped away our tears and silenced our fears with his sure promises that sustain us now and will continue to sustain us untill we reach our heavenly home. And at the times we feel as though our world is crumbling around us, God reminds us through your Christian love and support that we are not alone in this struggle. But most importantly, God reminds us in His Word, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Nothing can separate us from God's love, not now, not ever. May God always be praised!

With thankful hearts,

Jon and Melissa Munson, and Family

Munson Email

April 24, 2007

Dear family and friends,

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's might hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:5 Even though the Apostle Peter was writing to readers under different circumstances, I have learned over these last months a little more what Peter meant. There are many things in life I do not understand. Two such things are the hows and whys or cancer and the other is God's grace. Today was such an occasion. You prepare yourself for the worst, but then when the doctor gives you the exact news you were looking for, you are that much more amazed and humbled. The result of last week's CT scan showed that everything was absolutely normal. There was no evidence of cancer. No evidence that the cancer had spread anywhere or was present anywhere. The lymph node, that was suspected to be the start of another tumor, is now perfectly normal again. Melissa and I certainly have spent the afternoon giving thanks to our heavenly father.

We still, of course, have to finish these last two treatment cycles. But now they are precautionary to make sure that all the cancer cells are destroyed. We finished the first day of the 3rd of 4 cycles today. We now only have 7 days of treatment left. We will be doing the 4th cycle in 3 days instead of 5 to give me a few more days to feel better for Call Day and Graduation from the Seminary at the end of May. It will be the same weekly dosage, just condensed into 3 days instead of a little smaller dosages throughout 5. After that, in our doctor's words, you will be done. For that, we truly give thanks to our great God. Melissa and I would like to thank you for your thoughts and prayers. And we continue to ask for your thoughts and prayers as we finish this battle and for God's strength to bare the effects of the treatments. And we would like to thank everyone for all the emails of encouragement and comfort from God's Word throughout all this. Even though, it is nearly impossible to respond to all of them, please know that they mean so much to us, more than you may ever know. With thankful hearts for all that God has done, Jon and Melissa

Thank you from the Spevaceks

Dear Members and Committee of the Today's Christian Women's Retreat,

Thank you very much for your support to our family. That was so thoughtful of you and we appreciate it so much, expecially since we know how many other people and missions are also in need. It is very humbling to know there are so many prayers for us. We are especially thankful for that!

It is only by our dear Savior's grace that he has healed our dad and sister and has answered our prayers. This all helps us keep in mind "the big picutre" of eternity - as we live our lives here on earth. It is only temporary. We look forward to our reunion with all our loved ones and our Lord!

May the Lord bless your ministry!

Letters Received After Past Retreats

These excerpts are from Steve and Karen Kehl's 2004 Christmas card:

From my house to yours: Thank you for keeping us in your hearts and ears, etc. You will always be with me. I'm not able to do all I used to, but I am looking for my next link in His patient purposes. At least I'm not the missing link.

"HARK, Some Christmas BARKS"

Many...many trees in Eden's park
Yet no tree named...had Christmas bark
Groves start to grow and forests filled
God showed to all...just what He willed

God's children played in so much dirt
Deep down, God's will felt so much hurt.
So he cleaned the earth with one big flood
But saw good through sacrificial blood.

So Steve picks weeds each day a new
Feels rainbow colors...red, yellow, blue
All friends and family do pitch in,
So he floats and trusts...someday he'll grin.

Ruff, Rough barks Karen to the year
Yet always shows her love career...
Survives at home and on courts with rackets
And sends her children their own love packets.

Now Christmas bark in every home
Tells all wher'ever they may roam
God in times past or time present
Protected us when Christ was sent.

The tenor or elevener in the Artesian WELS,
Steve Kehl

The Artesian WELS music is available when you register online.

April 1, 2004

Dear Today's Christian Women's Retreat,

There would be no ministry; our faith would be in vain, if it were not for the empty tomb.† What peace we are able to celebrate again this Easter season.† Because of Christ's resurrection, Wisconsin Lutheran Child and Family Service has a mission and a ministry.

It is our mission to provice:

• Christ-centered, Scripture-based counseling services.
• Christ-centered, Scripture-based, family, church and community focused leadership training.
• The highest quality Christian care for the aging within a skilled nursing facility.
• The highest quality Christian care for the aging within a community based residential facility.
• A gathering place for Christian nurture and renewal through education, devotion, recreation and relationship building.

We express our sincere thanks for the generous support of this vital ministry, reassuring God's troubled people that Christ is risen - He's risen, indeed!

Thank you so much for allowing us to share information about our minstry with you!

Serving the Lord on your behalf,

Pastor Richard G. Raabe
Associate Executive Director

This letter was†sent by a member of Grace Ev. Lutheran Church, St. Joseph, MI following the receipt of the 2004 gift from the retreat of a little over $4,000.00 toward the childcare of the Rosenbaum children.

To the Ladies attending the 2004 "Today's Christian Women's Retreat":

Gratefully acknowledging and thanking you for your kind expression of sympathy, your generous act of Christian love as a memorial gift to honor the memory of Renee Rosenbaum.

The extended family of Pastor Glenn Rosenbaum greatly appreciates your kindness and thoughtfulness as you reflected on your retreat theme "Jesus is the Light of the World."

Countless expressions and prayers have been said from the East Coast to West Coast and from abroad.† Blessings have been evident as we see the results of comfort and healing.

Renee would have been pleased and humbled to witness the overwhelming support shown to her family.

Your display of Christian charity through your material gifts and prayers is also evidence of your Christian faith.

God's blessings to all of you.

May 7, 2002

Dear Participants of the Christian Women's Retreat

We want to say "Thank You" for the money gift. It is overwhelming to receive such a generous gift. I am comforted when I think a group of 500 people gathering together around the Word and praying for the success of mission throughout the world, including our efforts here at Sure Foundation Lutheran Church. I wish I could have been there personally to meet you, and wish I could personally thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and generosity.

The latest news from Sure Foundation is our plan to remember the events of September 11, 2001. We are coordinating an effort of the 6 Tri-State Area (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut) churches to reach out with the hope and healing of God's grace extended to all people through Jesus. Please keep these efforts in your prayers.

Thank you again for your generosity, your prayers, and your faith!

In Christ's Service
Pastor Steven Gabb
Sure Foundation Lutheran Church

The Schroeders
David and Karen, Carl and Jeff
2607 Fielding Lane #103
Waukesha, Wisconsin 53188-1457
(414) 542-9648 - schrofam@execpc.com

May 5, 1999

Dear Women's Retreat Participants:

Greetings in the name of Jesus! What an unexpected and pleasant surprise to “hear” from the participants at the women’s retreat in Michigan. Your act of love and concern warmed our hearts, and your generosity helped ease the daunting task of shopping for an equipped, full-size van for our family. The gifts of $5465.00 are a significant contribution toward such a vehicle. Thank you.

I know Sarah shared some of our story with the women at the retreat. Without a doubt, it has been, and continues to be, an interesting story. Little could we imagine, eleven years ago when Carl was born, what our family would be at this time. It's humbling and reassuring to know that God has His arms around us and knows His plans for each of us and those we have opportunity to contact. Through the frustrations, heartaches, tears, and plain tiredness, it continues to be an awesome joy to watch God achieve His purposes through our children. As parents, that is no small reward.

Please pass along our sincere thanks to the families who shared their prayers and gifts with us.

May the Spirit fill all our hearts with the love of Jesus and the power to share that love at every opportunity.

In His grip,
David Schroeder