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.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
My Windermere Experience
Edna A. Speidel
St. Louis
I remember the first time I attended a conference at Windermere. It was the summer of 1959. Windermere was brand new to Missouri Baptists. Most of us didn't even know what it was. I was leading a Young Women's Auxiliary group at the time. I heard about the new "camp grounds" at the Lake of the Ozarks. I wanted to take my group of girls there. I didn't even know how to drive at the time and I had three small children of my own (all girls). I managed to find friends to take care of my three girls and another friend who was willing to drive us from Dexter, Mo. to Windermere. We were "loaded to the gills." I think there were five or six of us plus all our luggage, plus food in one car. I remember rounding the bend as we entered the Windermere grounds. We were astonished at the beauty and luxury of it all.
I returned to Wnderemere with young women or girls every year thereafter for about 20 years. My own daughters went to GA camp there many times and my oldest daughter worked there one summer while in high school. I had learned to drive when my youngest daughter was about three years old, so I then could take the girls myself. Sometime during those years, we moved to Cape Girardeau, and I still took girls to camp at Windermere, and would sometimes go to the WMU conferences myself.
The most memorable event I remember was one year, when we had a candlelight service out on the parking lot by the auditorium. Some missionaries spoke and then a candle was lighted and placed beside a globe on a raft and sent out into the waters as we all lit our candles and sang "So Send I You." That made a lasting impression on me. I have been active in missions organizations and activities ever since. Now my youngest daughter is a career missionary in the Media Center in the MAC region. I remember the night she was appointed was a definite highlight of my life. We sang "To God Be the Glory" at the close of the service and that is what I truly felt in my heart.
I can hardly believe it has been 50 years. CONGRATULATIONS WINDERMERE!!! May you continue to serve Him until He comes again!! God Bless!
St. Louis
I remember the first time I attended a conference at Windermere. It was the summer of 1959. Windermere was brand new to Missouri Baptists. Most of us didn't even know what it was. I was leading a Young Women's Auxiliary group at the time. I heard about the new "camp grounds" at the Lake of the Ozarks. I wanted to take my group of girls there. I didn't even know how to drive at the time and I had three small children of my own (all girls). I managed to find friends to take care of my three girls and another friend who was willing to drive us from Dexter, Mo. to Windermere. We were "loaded to the gills." I think there were five or six of us plus all our luggage, plus food in one car. I remember rounding the bend as we entered the Windermere grounds. We were astonished at the beauty and luxury of it all.
I returned to Wnderemere with young women or girls every year thereafter for about 20 years. My own daughters went to GA camp there many times and my oldest daughter worked there one summer while in high school. I had learned to drive when my youngest daughter was about three years old, so I then could take the girls myself. Sometime during those years, we moved to Cape Girardeau, and I still took girls to camp at Windermere, and would sometimes go to the WMU conferences myself.
The most memorable event I remember was one year, when we had a candlelight service out on the parking lot by the auditorium. Some missionaries spoke and then a candle was lighted and placed beside a globe on a raft and sent out into the waters as we all lit our candles and sang "So Send I You." That made a lasting impression on me. I have been active in missions organizations and activities ever since. Now my youngest daughter is a career missionary in the Media Center in the MAC region. I remember the night she was appointed was a definite highlight of my life. We sang "To God Be the Glory" at the close of the service and that is what I truly felt in my heart.
I can hardly believe it has been 50 years. CONGRATULATIONS WINDERMERE!!! May you continue to serve Him until He comes again!! God Bless!
posted by Windermere50 # 2:00 PM
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