Considering that there were 1,400 first timers all wearing the
“blue ribbon” on the registration tag, the Blue Card in hand was the passport to
the First Timer’s Luncheon with President Linda Reiser. In our group of five two
fortunate holders of those were Kamla Lalsingh and myself.
Cheerful and hospitable volunteers directed us to round tables,
pre-set with boxed lunches and goodies to take home. The centerpieces
depicted the theme and emblem of the convention. We enjoyed sharing our
experiences and meeting others from the various states and a fellow New Yorker
who also sat at our table. Everyone was glad that they had attended the
convention and happy about their participation in the LWML.
President Reiser welcomed us and encouraged each one to be bold
in taking on a position within her organization. She suggested that we seek out
opportunities to serve. We can approach the President of our group to learn of
vacant positions or to offer service where we have an interest or may be needed.
She shared some of her challenges as president. Always relying
on the ROCK, the source of her strength, she was able to overcome difficulties.
Support of family and friends held a large part of her success. She told us of
her nomination experience about being locked in the bathroom and remembering the
advice of her Mother to yell. She shared the story with the rest of the
convention later that day.
We were excited that we also had a photo-op. While my mother and
Kamla’s sister Shantie, who was visiting from Guyana, were not in the photo, my
sister Lynette, visiting from Georgia managed to have the President’s arm on her
shoulder. She happened to come by with a camera at the last moment– that’s my
Angel sister!
We were so richly blessed be a part of the convention
and to attend the luncheon. We had the opportunity to meet with President Reiser,
to share with her our connection to Nebraska, to tell her that we had seen her
on the local news, and to thank her for all she had done. It was a most
wonderful and memorable experience for us and thanks to Maureen, our President
for getting us two passports!
Yours in Christ,
Eunice Bailey, Immanuel, Whitestone
Pictured l to r: Kamla Lalsingh, Eunice Bailey,
Lynette Kowlessar, LWML President Linda Reiser
******************************************************************************************
WHAT A FELLOWSHIP, WHAT A JOY DIVINE? by Kamla Lalsingh
I began packing for the LWML convention in South Dakota two
weeks prior. I packed and repacked in anticipation. My cousin and I attended the
Atlantic District retreat at Tuscarora, PA, and from then on we had great
aspirations of attending the upcoming LWML convention to be held in South
Dakota, June 2007.
As we arrived at the LWML Convention Center, we were greeted by
many, many pleasant people, by God’s people, many of whom had beautiful
pins, name tags, or badges to show the state from where they came. We showed off
our big red apple, thanks to those who had prepared them. A few of the ladies
had on a beautiful sailor collar, with the following embroidered message –
“Follow me to Portland, 2009”. This caught my eyes, and I was impressed. I
thought they were advertising some sort of attraction in SD, until I really
realized the importance of their sailor collar. Good idea, it was impressive.
We pondered on the thought of being among 5,000 people. I
thought that I would have been stuck to my cousin, Eunice, but in fact, we were
both stuck on Ms. Struck. We were stuck on the warmth and love that filled the
convention center, the singing of hymns and choruses, the beautiful music, the
meaning of how strong the “ROCK” is (which could not have been removed from the
pulpit as one of the groups tried to do in their skit, “Christ the Rock”. “What
a fellowship, what a joy divine?”).
It was wonderful to have worn the purple tee shirt so proudly
displaying the LWML emblem, to be part of the “blue moving sea” on Saturday as
we ran the miles around the court, then to wear the khaki shirt with the ‘ROCK’
posted boldly on the breast pocket. As you can see, we did not need to pack too
much!
As first timers, we were privileged to have lunch with the LWML
President, who is from Nebraska. Guyanese have strong allegiance with Nebraska.
A few of our first Lutheran Missionaries and Pastors who went to Guyana came
from Nebraska. We had a lot to share with President Linda.
A few of the New York girls hung around enjoying the fireworks
and the fresh SD air on Saturday evening. We were able to share some of our joys
and sorrows, and wished that more people would come out to share our excitement
and blessings. It was a great experience. We remembered all of our friends who
could not have been there and made a mental note about inviting others to follow
us to Portland in 2009.
For our friends who could not have been there, I would like to
leave with you the following, “What would I do if I have the time?” Think about
it. “What would I do?”, “If”, “I have the time.” And so do you. Follow me to
Portland, Oregon, in 2009, you will be stuck on Ms. Struck.
Kamla Lalsingh
Whitestone, New York.
