Women's Conference Fun

A pano of our room, typically a school classroom.

The big group meeting tent(s)

Before Easter El Padre cared for the older children so that I could travel to the women's conference for 4 days. I was able to go to the conference two years ago and although it was difficult experience because it was such basic living and I was lonely, I felt like it was an important experience. Last year the conference conflicted with one of the CHE training events and I was not able to attend it. 

The kitchen! Beautiful! 

The daunting factor for me this year was taking Easy Teasy with me. Looking back I think what was the big deal? But all the unknowns of heat, sleeping outside, carrying water, using a bucket for cleaning bottles and diapers, filtered water, and caring for a baby 24-7 in the desert seemed very daunting to me. I wondered why do these women love coming to this conference when the accommodation is so, so basic and the schedule exhausting?

The unfortunate part is that with Easy Teasy I wasn't able to hear all the speakers in the tent meetings, but what I did hear and had the chance to dance to was enjoyable. Having the baby along gave me a lot more to talk about with the women and everyone loved talking to him and holding him a bit.

These are our hotel rooms, dining rooms and a bathroom on the 

end. Each room hosts about 30 women for sleeping and eating.

I thoroughly enjoyed sleeping outside in the bush with a mat and a mosquito net under the stars. Surprisingly, it did get very chilly in the early hours of the morning. I also enjoyed meeting so many women. I enjoyed meals with the women from my church. And I enjoyed a few conversations with my children and husband at home.

It is always good to take a step out of routine and reflect on life. During this time I spent some time reflecting on these women. I have so much to learn from them. Our country has been ranked as the least livable country in the world, but these women cannot be summed up in these statistics. The women are filled with so much joy and love of life (see video below).

Certainly more 'unusual' animals around the conference.

Can you see the camels?

Many of these women use a large percentage of their yearly income to come to the conference. The conference connects and bonds the women together from all across the country. Travel here is expensive. But if the women buy tickets to the conference, they can see all their friends from all over the whole country for the cost of the one ticket. This way women from the far west are friends with women from the far east of the country.

I started comparing it to the conference that I have gone to since childhood - New Wilmington Mission Conference. When I go I get spiritually refreshed, I see my friends from all over the country, I get to meet missionaries from all over the world, I live without some of the conveniences from home, and I always go home very, very tired from long, fun days. Through those eyes I was able to see why the women love coming to this conference each year. 

I am glad that I was able to go and I hope that I will be able to attend again next year.

-- La Maestra