My Windermere Experience
Last year, Windermere celebrated 50 years of ministry. We are collecting and sharing memories of your experiences here. Whether you visited or worked at Windermere, we would like to hear from you. Please email your thoughts to windermere50@windermereusa.org. Thanks for joining us in this time of reflection and celebration.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
My Windermere Experience
Rowena Mueller
First Baptist Church of Farmington
I would like to tell you of my first visit to Windermere. It was in 1959. I was the Director of YWA (Young Women Auxiliary) now known as Acteens. I was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lemay, in St. Louis County. There were 15 girls in our group and they were so excited to be going to their first retreat at Windermere. It would be a new experience for all of them. There were only about eight who were able to go on this first retreat. We took the wrong route that first trip and arrived very late that night. We were assigned to cottages (the first ones built), four to a room. Our two daughters stayed at those same cottages attending GA camp. It was a small distance to walk to the dining area and conference rooms, but we didn’t mind. To see the beautiful grounds and surroundings had the group excited and ready for swimming and boating, but we were informed that early morning devotions would be at 7:30 down by the lake. It was a rewarding experience that we attended every morning.
We truly enjoyed having the missionaries from different countries and learning greatly when attending the conferences from all the experienced leaders. One of our girls later became a missionary, and other girls became leaders in the local church. We truly enjoyed the good music and always the wonderful food! The girls were a lively group and full of fun, such as locking me out of my room each evening or putting balloons under my bed! I, as a leader, had to go along with their fun, that was part of the game!
The time has passed quickly over the years, and many beautiful changes have been made at Windermere. I am planning, once again, if it is God’s will, to return one more time to that beautiful place. May God bless the work at Windermere and congratulations on your 50 years!
First Baptist Church of Farmington
I would like to tell you of my first visit to Windermere. It was in 1959. I was the Director of YWA (Young Women Auxiliary) now known as Acteens. I was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lemay, in St. Louis County. There were 15 girls in our group and they were so excited to be going to their first retreat at Windermere. It would be a new experience for all of them. There were only about eight who were able to go on this first retreat. We took the wrong route that first trip and arrived very late that night. We were assigned to cottages (the first ones built), four to a room. Our two daughters stayed at those same cottages attending GA camp. It was a small distance to walk to the dining area and conference rooms, but we didn’t mind. To see the beautiful grounds and surroundings had the group excited and ready for swimming and boating, but we were informed that early morning devotions would be at 7:30 down by the lake. It was a rewarding experience that we attended every morning.
We truly enjoyed having the missionaries from different countries and learning greatly when attending the conferences from all the experienced leaders. One of our girls later became a missionary, and other girls became leaders in the local church. We truly enjoyed the good music and always the wonderful food! The girls were a lively group and full of fun, such as locking me out of my room each evening or putting balloons under my bed! I, as a leader, had to go along with their fun, that was part of the game!
The time has passed quickly over the years, and many beautiful changes have been made at Windermere. I am planning, once again, if it is God’s will, to return one more time to that beautiful place. May God bless the work at Windermere and congratulations on your 50 years!
posted by Windermere50 # 2:00 PM 
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