Women Restored! Conference UPDATE following the Branson Conference (Feb. 19-21, 1999)

Hello! Shalom! Yes, we are still here! We've just been busy getting lots of things in place, cleaning up after the conference in Branson (WOW! WAS IT GOOD!), and getting ready for passover! I hadn't forgotten you, really I hadn't! I will be sending out two UPDATES this time. This one on the Women Restored! Conference and one with the latest conference information. Some dates have changed and been added, so you will want to read over that information soon.

I am writing this while Tom is punching and binding 200 haggadahs. He prayed this morning, "Oh, Lord! Deliver me from bindage!" Its that time of year, and we do the "Great Table Waltz" in the basement. Ah, one and a two! Have haggadahs going out to a Lutheran church in Alaska, a Church of Christ in Oklahoma, an Assembly of God church in Missisippi, and some other ones here and there around the country. WOW! God is really pouring out His Spirit on people all around the world! Drop me a line and tell me if you are doing passover. I love a good testimony, dont you?

The Women Restored! Conference was tremendous! One husband was heard to say, "MAN! That was the BEST $100 I ever spent on my wife! THANKS!" And yes! We are doing it again! This time we are going to Omaha, Nebraska! Sue Mackrill at Sword of the Spirit School in Omaha has been gracious enough to let us use her school for the conference. Several other locations around the US and some from overseas have asked us to consider coming to do a Women Restored! Conference in the future. The question is always, "So what do we need to do a conference in our area?" The answer? Prayer and lots of it! Sue's group has committed to daily prayer before the June 3-6, 1999 date. If you will pray, then HE will provide for the conference. Our second need? A building and a group of volunteers that will help us. I will have to co-ordinate the conferences, so please realize that there are certain things that I have to see personally onsite before the conference, so know that I have to come to visit ahead of time, too. I love working with a group of volunteers, so just know that we'd have a good time doing a conference if we came to your area. My locals tell me that I am easy to work with, too. I was so proud of them in Branson. All of my locals came! Everyone of them! I introduced them and they all stood up! I chuckled as even my friend Carol Jontra who had her gall bladder out just a week before (the big cut) made it! It was quite nice to see all of my friends from across the country, too! And we even had 6 ladies from England fly over! They loved it!

I laughed after we got home when my friend Gayle called me after she got home from the conference! It took us 2 hours to unwind on the phone after the conference and she had spent 5 hours on the phone the night before telling someone else about the conference! Over and over I heard the same thing from others that attended! They had an incredible time and their relationship with the LORD and their family was enhanced!

I want to share a few testimonies from the Women Restored! Conference attendees. I will also post some of these on the website as an encouragement to others when they come to read about the Omaha Conference.

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Audio and Video (VCR and PAL FORMAT) tape ordering information is posted at http://www.haydid.org/women.htm at the bottom of the page with the testimonies.
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Dear Cheryle,

Thank you for the note. When I received it I was in the middle of preparing for our families first (small) sabbath.

I thought I would share with you the things that meant the most to me at the conference and that I came home with.

1. Dinner is now a sacred (set apart) time for our family. No interruptions will be tolerated.

One of the speakers spoke briefly about the dinner hour being a set apart family time and the difference it had made for her family. My heart was stirred when I heard this. My husband recently received a promotion, which has resulted in more work, and I am teaching 2 classes at church, along with home schooling. So we manage to stay somewhat busy, and our dinner hour reflected the rush. My youngest daughter commented tonight how much she was enjoying "our long dinners" because" we get to talk about alot of things".

2. I loved everything that Robin Scarlatta shared. Especially concerning the Biblical holidays. My husband and I have been stirred in this area a couple of years before but could find no hands on practical information. What Robin shared and her book were our answer. As a result we will celebrate Passover in our home for the first time, and we hope to celebrate the other feast this year as well. This last Wednesday, I began teaching our children's expressive worship class about Passover. They all loved it and said so!

3. I have often wondered about the symbolism and meaning behind the ceremony of Sabbath. I so appreciated and was blessed by what you taught and shared on the Sabbath. It is my goal to have Sabbath on Friday evenings. We will not be able to implement the full ceremony yet. My husband needs to study those notes. However, what we have done is set aside Friday evening as Family time and study time. I know the Lord will add to us the fullness of this wonderful ceremony in His timing.

Thank you for being obedient to the Lord and making the sacrifices required in order to bring the conference into fruition. I know there were countless seeds planted in peoples lives and that there will be a harvest to be reaped even in the future.

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And another:

I so loved that conference. The Lord spoke to me so clearly. I learned more about Him, His Word, and who I am than I have in the 14 years I have been a Christian. I came home excited! I could talk of nothing but God and what He did all the way home(11 1/2 hours). I was on fire. I got home and

landed in mud. My insides are screaming to be let out and there is no one to hear. Well I suppose, in all honesty, that is not totally true. My family listens, but with the ears of someone who wants to know what mom is going to make them do now. My husband looks at me like a cute little kid who needs to be humored with their new toy. My friends are excited for me that I have had a "God experience". My 11 year old daughter was so excited about celebrating the Sabbath. It has always been her dream for us to fancy up the dining room and have a special meal where everyone has to sit together. It's not enough. I want to be around others who are excited

about God. I have wanted this for as long as I have been a Christian.

People who can be as honest about their love and excitement of Who He is as they are about their favorite football team scoring. Do you know what I mean? I guess this isn't the type of testimony you wanted to hear. I will gladly share with you some specifics of the conference.

First of all, I prayed and prayed that the Lord would just show me His truth. I don't want to be deceived in any way when it comes to Him. People are so easily led by their emotions and I don't want to be one of them. I have never thought of God as a dramatic God. He isn't in the storm, or the fire, or the earthquake, but in the still quiet voice. Women in their desire to want to control things tend to control men and take away their roles in society, leaving them to feel less of a man. Don't delete this message yet, I am going somewhere with this. I am beginning to see that I

have been deceived. I love the Word, but it sometimes seems confusing. I have always told my children to never believe what man says but to check the Word. Yet some areas are so clouded. God began speaking to me through y'alls lips. He quoted prayers, word for word, back at me that I had prayed

years ago. I believe the first time was Jimmilea (I know I spelt the name wrong, sorry). The Word was revealed to me in a way that I knew, in my spirit, was right. One time I was praying, Lord I want so much for You to use me, help me to be one of Your prayer warriors. And then that girl, who

has started the school in the parking lot, got down from where she was speaking, walked right up to where I was sitting and said, "We're prayer warriors aren't we?!" These were only two of many, many experiences that I had at the conference. Saturday night, my friend and I were on our knees

praying, for about an hour, while the Lord was doing surgery on all His dear ones. Later we found out that we were praying the exact same prayers. The main idea was Lord I'm not leaving here until You talk to me! We were both

answered, in totally different ways. I wanted to understand more of what was going on up front. I believe all that the Word teaches, yet some times I don't understand. My friend and I were alone in our room up until this time.

When we got back to our room their was someone else in our room. Neither one of us knew at the time, why, when the conference was almost over why they would move someone from one room and into ours. Anyway it was obviously God because He used this woman to help me to understand what had

happened that night. She started off by saying that she used to be very concerned with being led by emotions. She always thought that stuff was all dramatics. God is so good. I want to shout His name from the roof tops. I want to dance and sing His praises. But I don't want to be alone. I want

my husband to be saved! I want my church to see Him and get excited about Him!

You know what happened to me this weekend? Years ago I met Jesus. This past weekend I met God! I learned that the Old Testament is not just a book of true stories, but they are also a book of instructions. I have never thought of Jesus as a Jew. When I was in the military, I traveled around

the world. One time, I was in Belgium, this man came up to me and said you Americans are so arrogant. What do you mean, I asked. He said, when we come to your country we need to learn your language. When you come to our country we have to learn your language. We are an arrogant people. We have been adopted into a family and have denied their heritage. I also learned that women share a role in the church. At first, when I read the outline of what was going to be taught, red flags went up. What is this, some sort of feminist movement using God to promote their purpose. The Lord showed me that I have been deceived! I have fought hard and long against women's rights movements. I felt that women were the cause of the lack of respect that the rest of us receive. And I still believe that to a certain extent. Women who try to be men. I now understand that we are equal, but just as a man cannot give birth, I believe there are some things that women should not try to do. I'm not quite sure what those things are but God is still teaching me. I just wish I was somewhere where I could continually be taught this stuff. I feel like a baby Christian all over again.

Well my husband just got home from work so I better go. Keep in touch, PLEASE.

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And another testimony:

Hi Cheryl, I hated to leave conference. I wish we have more time and more days. The weekend was not enough. Now, we are home... kind of sad. There is no one here for my family can share Sabbath with, celebrate the High Holy days with, dancing with, worship with and studying with.

Cheryl, it was my first time to see you and your husband to do the Sabbath. It was so beautiful. I felt very comfortable at conference and it felt right. Before I came to Missouri, I was unsure if we are doing the right thing in our home and after the conference was over, I did not feel regret for the way we do it at home. I am very thankful that my husband found the hebrew root and shared it with us.

And later she wrote:

Hi You are not going to believe what I did last night. David and I went to a friend's house for Bible study. I asked them permission-- if they wouldn't mind-- if I demonstrated the Sabbath and lighting the candles. They did not mind at all, so I did. I was really nervous and my hands were shaking when I lighted the candles. I goof up with my signing haha (The writer is deaf.) I hope they could understand me. I gave them a gift; the book you wrote "Sabbath: the Light is Messiah". (I would like to order two more books.) We are planning to go to another friend's house next week Friday, I would like to have the books mailed here before Friday so I can give them the gift. Maybe I might have to demonstrate it again. I sure hope they will use your book and hope they will keep the Sabbath of their own style someday. They may use your book for while till they get to know it well.

I am glad I did this and hope I will do more for other friends. I might like do this more often but I know Lord will guide me in the way to show Deaf people.

(The previous writer was a deaf lady that we needed the interpreter for. That testimony is incredible in itself! Our deaf friend ,Nancy, was provided with an interpreter named Vicki. Vicki is married to a man, Jamie, that did the video taping for the conference! WOW! They weren't planning on getting blessed, but they both were! Vicki and the other interpreter, both had 4 year degrees in Bible and told us that they had not been taught this method of Bible study in all of those years. They were excited about the things that they were learning! Nothing spoke louder than Vicki interpreting while wiping the tears from her face! I don't know how many people commented on her weeping and how blessed they were she wiped the tears from her face! Vicki and Jamie continue to be blessed even after the conference while they edited the videos. They will be working with Jimmilea and her school in the days ahead. A precious couple!)

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And here's a good friend writing from Texas:

My husband took me to lunch and we were talking about our favorite love.... Jesus and we felt so much better. There is so much that I learned this weekend. A lot about myself as a female, but a lot about the relationship that Jesus desires with us. I told Steve that I wasn't going to worry any more about the fact that I am female if the Lord is telling me to tell someone something. In love of course, but speaking the truth. Regardless of if the person is a man or a woman. Steve said that if Deborah had worried about such things that Israel would have had a much more difficult time.

I am reading Jimmilea's manuscript. Did you know that I had bought one? It was the only book splurge that I made. I figured that I would be able to get the others from you later when I had more study time, or money hehehee. (Jimmilea's manuscript is $12 and can be ordered by calling 918-330-0493. The title is WOMEN RESTORED! It will soon be published.)

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And here's another one from Texas:

It's interesting that you mention the Couples Restored! conference. Gary said to me Saturday evening before service, "What they need to have is a Couples Restored! conference." I guess we weren't the only ones hearing that message.

If there is anything we can do to assist, please do not hesitate to contact us.

(There are others that feel that a Couples Restored! Conference may be in the offing. That is why the conference in Omaha will include Dr. John Garr and possibly others. We were very blessed to have couples present and we know that other men will be wanting to come in the days ahead. A real restoration in the home can happen at these conferences. Its not just for the ladies.)

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Greetings Cheryle!

Thank you for the wonderful update. It was a pleasure meeting with you at the conference this past week-end in Branson. I gleaned some important information from your speakers and their topics as well as enjoyed being with my best friend, without the interuptions of family surrounding us. We had some wonderful Scripture studies in our room together late into the night, enjoyed the wonderful people who served such scruptious meals, and also being able to meet such a diverse group of women.

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And from South Dakota:

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING! The conference was wonderful. Your presentations were a blessing and, of course, Jimmilea's and Judith's I just ate up. What a "feast of fat things, of wine on the lees" (spiritual nourishment)! The music and dance were such a refreshing and sublime worship! And I appreciated having all Dr. Lindsay's family with us as well as the presentations Saturday afternoon! It is truly a treasure to the church to have the heritage continue in that family. I also appreciated the brief contributions of Dr. Garr and Sue Mackrill. I want to hear more of them. I did not get to hear much from Robin but I hope to hear more in the future, because I know she has made and is making a significant and important contribution to education. I was glad to have the tables from the various ministries. May the Lord bless you for all your efforts in putting the conference together.

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And from Oklahoma:

Cheryle:

You ask for a letter from us at the Women Restored Conference. Such an appropriate name to call it "Restored." I just knew; that if I could get there; that it would be the lid on the pot (so to speak). Especially after the earlier week I'd had. I feel the conference was personally for me. Thank you so very much for making it happen and that I got to come and be a part of most of it. I know something like that was a big undertaking and expense but if all lives were touched like mine, it will be a far reaching result that will outweigh the investment. There has been a restoration with my girls and I know that at this midnight hour on my finances He will see me through. The promise of " I will never leave you nor forsake you" has come back to me so many times since that Sabbath service.

I have been refreshed and restored! Thank you and Shalom!

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A girl I work with asked me about the conference, and I told her I could only come up with one word - Holy. I've never been to a conference like that. Cheryle, I don't know how to tell you how blessed we were. It was just over the top. Next year I will have several others with me. Bless you, Bless you, Bless you. Love and Grace,

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Thanks for all your work this weekend. Wow! THere were alot of beautiful women there. I sure enjoyed meeting some of the other women.

THe gals from your group were precious and Lisa, my roommate, and I were a *match made in heaven*! :~) I hope you rested from the weekend. THanks again for your servant's heart in doing all that work.

It was fun to hear the reports on the way home from the gals in the van on the drive back to Omaha about how God ministered to each woman in a different way. THey were planning the conference in Omaha all the way back!

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Dear Sisters,

I was able to attend the Women's Restored Conference over the weekend in Branson, MO and meet Robin and the other main speakers. I have several highlights from the weekend, but just to mention a few:

1) On Saturday afternoon we had a special session for homeschooling Moms and Robin shared abit about her current curriculum and what will be published this summer.I enjoyed that since I am new to the home schooling scene. One thing that she said that really struck a chord was something like 'it doesn't matter how much knowledge your children have.

What matters is their heart and their knowledge of GOD'. I liked her emphasis on the scriptures.

2) It was only four months ago that God brought us into the Jewish roots of our faith, so I was really absorbing the "Jewishness" of the weekend. THey had special singers and dancers on Friday night for the Sabbath service. I would encourage you to attend a Messianic Service if you haven't ever seen the praise and worship dancers or heard the shofar blown or sang some of the Jewish songs. It sure added a whole new dimension to my concept of heaven's praise and worship the first time I experienced it.

3) The closing service of the Sabbath, called Havdalah was very special also. THere is a blessing promised in Lev. 23 for those who observe the Sabbaath and we sure have experienced it in our home. There is an excitement for Friday to come and even my two-year-old asks when we sit down to weekday meals, "Candle, Mommy?" THe whole time is a special closeness with Adonai and your family. At the Havdalah service they had us walk under a "chupah" (a canopy where the bride and bridegroom stand during their wedding service) and touch the fringes or tzit-tzit. (like the woman who had the issue with blood touched Jesus' fringes) THis cemented the fact that we are Messiah's bride and there is healing in HIS wings.

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(This was written by a friend that is Lutheran...) The Women Restored Conference was a life-changing event for the Midwest. I know this because it did in fact change my physical and spiritual world. I don't believe that anyone at that precious event will ever be the same again. God was in our midst from the opening song on Friday through tearful farewells on Sunday.

God touched us, he held us and I even experienced a kiss! At one point in the Friday evening service the spirit of God was in the room and my sister and I experienced a silencing. We couldn't hear the music but saw the musicians playing their instruments. We couldn't hear the singers but their mouths were moving. The only sound was a movement, a non-noise, a breathing. Towards the end of this special time we both heard a voice whispering in Hebrew over and over (El Shaddai)"My Lord" and "Jesus" (YESHUA).

At that moment I began to praise God, thank God, welcome God. But I stopped when it occurred to me that he'd heard me pray this before, that I was being repetitive. I tried to think what I could say that would express how I felt without saying the same things again. I knew there was nothing that I could say that he didn't already know, hasn't already heard. The out of my mouth came the simplest form of worship. So simple that it surprised me. I said "I love you." Instantly there was a rush through my body as if the spirit of God had literally passed through me and as a gasped and caught my breath again I was kissed on my cheek. The kiss was so soft, tender and precious.

It brought to mind the first kiss of my infant daughter with the love, understanding, and wisdom and care of my father. Never before have a had such a closeness with the Lord.

The messages were amazing. The speakers were touching our spirits. We were protected for three days from the outside world and were fed in God's tender mercies. There were multi-level healings from the conference, my relationship and love with and for my sister as we saw each other for the first time as sisters in Christ. When she returned home, her son, who suffers from behavioral problems caused by food allergies, was healed. She has only seen one bad day since the conference and we're all sure that for that one-day he was just being a 10-year-old boy.

My oldest daughter wrote a book for a school project that turned out to be emotional therapy and a healing experience for all of us as it dealt with my father's sudden death and God's walk in our lives.

I've experienced a new strength with my friends and co-workers that have mended relationships. And this is just the tip of iceberg. The blessings have come in so many ways and are still coming. Praise God.

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(Here's a note from another Lutheran....) It has been two weeks since the conference & I am still processing everything I heard, saw, felt, learned, etc. What a blessing it was. I really enjoyed the fellowship with other Hebraic Rooters, hearing what the Lord has been telling them &/or having them do, and how they have been blessed by seeking a close relationship to God. I received some confirmations that my prayers are on the right track (in line with God's will) and that I am to continue them. I also enjoyed meeting people I have heard about, talked with by e-mail, or read their books. The shopping was also great -- it's a good thing I could put all my dirty clothes in a laundry bag, because I filled my suitcase with books and tapes!

It was the first time for me to hear praying in tongues and to participate in being "slain in the spirit." Wow! I'm still thinking about all that happened when I was slain. I came home revitalized and recommitted to my marriage and family. I found that I could not raise my voice at my son, even when I was perturbed. Miracle of miracles, he was obedient without the yelling. In fact, I haven't raised my voice in anger/frustration since. I also felt more affectionate toward my husband and able to see that cooking/keeping the house clean are ways to serve God through serving others. We began having "family night" on Friday evenings with candles and special prayers. (My family is very opposed to Sabbath, but they love "family night.") I've also been calmer and kinder to my co-workers and students. However, I felt that I should be firmer with my students and it has worked well.

In my devotions lately I have been studying about developing a personal relationship with God -- what a "coincidence" since that was a main emphasis of the conference. I feel like I've fallen in love with God, my husband, and my family all over again.

I'm looking forward to attending another conference. Thanks a million!

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One thing that we heard from one woman was that she was going home to invite her husband back to her bed after 5 years of sleeping in separate bedrooms. She wept as she told me of her love for her husband that had been restored.

Another woman told me that she finally had the courage to seek a safe house for her and her small children as her husband was abusive. She hadn't had the courage to seek counseling before. A friend had insisted that she come with her, and had even paid her way to get there. She knew now that God loved her enough to open her eyes for her protection. She'd been in and out of the hospital many times with "accidents" that were really cover ups for her abusive husband. She'd seen Godly marriages all weekend and loved seeing how our husbands respected us and treated us "like queens." She suddenly realized that it was possible to be in love with your spouse and not live in fear. She'd burst into tears during the Havdalah service when Bob Coker came up on stage and gathered his wife, Michele, under his prayer shawl after she had danced to "Until I See You, LORD." She realized that God had a plan and a design for marriage, and that she wanted HIS Plan in her life, too.
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So, now you know that it was life changing! God is doing a major restoration and we hope that you will pray for us in the days ahead. Omaha may be just what your family needs this summer! Check out the site at http://www.haydid.org/women.htm If you can't come, maybe you will pray for the families that do come, and you might consider sending in a scholarship for someone that might need to come but can't afford it.

Shalom in HIS Mighty Name!
Cheryle Holeman