By Jenny King

originally posted May 15, 2009

You know how they (you know, "they") always say, "A tired volunteer is a happy volunteer." I found this to be true this week. I returned from the Women's Retreat on Wednesday exhausted.

Each year, the Family Advocacy program hosts a retreat for women from our program. The retreat offers these women a few days at Camp Andrew Jackson in McKee, KY, for spiritual and emotional rejuvenation. This year we had around 50 who were able to attend. The Family Advocacy staff pitched in and organized glamour shots, bingo, bible studies, devotional and inspirational speakers, and outdoor activities. The women were so excited about socializing and re-connecting with women in their region! And it was so awesome to see them praying and worshipping together...

Everything about the retreat went smoothly, which is a testament to planning and working together as a team, as well as God's hand in blessing our time (the weather was beautiful, despite the flooding and tornadoes we had last week). This year I volunteered to organize the food....this meant planning the meals, shopping for groceries, and organizing cooks for the kitchen. I am so thankful for the companies who donated food and drinks (and door prizes and goody bags, mostly from Operation Sharing, CAP's warehouse of donated goods) and to all those who helped in the kitchen. Looking back at the week, I think what stands out the most is the countless offers I had of people asking to help or lending a hand without anyone asking them. And the reward of the women being so thankful and complimentary of our gifts and hard work.

Jenny King is a long-term volunteer in CAP's Family Advocacy program. She lives in Rockcastle Volunteer House.