“Praise God from whom all blessings flow” was my response at our Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 11, 2008, when I was elected President of the Louisiana Conference United Methodist Women for the year 2009. To God be the Glory for all the things that He has done and because we know that God is good ALL the time. I am truly honored to serve out the last year of Harriette Elrod’s term as president of the UMW for the year of 2009. I want to thank the United Methodist Women for the confidence that you placed in me by electing me as your president. I am look- ing forward to serving you as your presi- dent and I also look forward to us continu- ing to move the United Methodist Women forward together. United Methodist Women, we know that we can make a difference. We MUST make a difference; we have done so in the past, we are doing it now and we MUST continue to do it because we still have work to do. So I challenge us to continue our legacy of powerful women who over- came real limitation and took the church to a new place. We know that it want be easy, but with God’s help, we are up to the chal- lenge. I am well aware, that I did not get to where I am by myself. First and foremost, I thank God because He is the head of my life and I give Him ALL the thanks and praise. Secondly, I have been especially blessed to have work as vice president with two of the finest Christian Women, Lueburda Myers and Harriette Elrod. Both of these ladies have had a positive impact on my UMW journey. I have learned to much from them and I have considered it my privilege to have served with them. We have chosen as our theme: “Resurrection Women, Living Simply to Resurrect the Earth”. When God made the earth, He said it was good. We know that God gave man dominion over the earth, but that we have not done a very good job of taking care of the earth. But UMW, we will lead the world in restoring the earth as we have been leaders in so many areas in the past. How will we Resurrect the Earth? We will Resurrect the Earth through PRAYER. II Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” United Methodist Women, this is our answer. Let us PRAY this PRAYER and then move forward to live out this prayer to begin to Resurrect the Earth. There are some IMPORTANT DATES for 2009 that I would like for you to mark your calendar NOW. They are: Spiritual Retreat - Friday, February 20 - Saturday, February 21, 2009 at the Wesley Center; School of Christian Mission - Wednesday, July 22 - Saturday, July 25, 2009 at the Wesley Center; Annual Meeting - Friday, September 18 - Saturday, September 19, 2009, New Orleans. We will provide additional information in future LA Now’s and district newsletters. I would like to close with a poem that was given to us at DELT by Chairperson Dolores Giles of the Baton Rouge District. It is called, “As A Seed Becomes A Vision”. God has planted a precious seed Deep within our hearts The seed of a future vision That He wants to impart As we are quietly being prepared To fulfil that which He’s given We must gently nurture the seed Until the full grown vision God then begins to open doors Little by little as we are led So each opportunity we have in Him Is leading to what lies ahead Then just at the time God chooses We walk into what He has called So we can be a blessing to others Sharing the love of the Lord Poem by: M.S. Lowndes In His Name, Edna B. Hickman 5 NOVEMBER 7, 2008 Louisiana Conference UMW Special Section The Acadiana District UMW Mini School of Christian Mission was held on August 16 at the UMCOR/Sager Brown Center in Baldwin, La. The Mini School is a Districtwide event, intended to introduce our UMW Mission Studies for 2008, and to provide resources needed for these studies to local UMW units. Rev. Clifton Conrad, pastor of St. Mark United Methodist Church in Opelousas, gave us an overview of the spiritual growth study, “I Believe in Jesus.” Rev. Kathy Howell, pastor of Palestine United Methodist in Ball, presented the study on Israel/Palestine, with analysis of the ongoing struggle between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. She used slides of Israel and Palestine to help us understand the ongoing conflict. Corine Paulk, a member of the Houma Indian tribe, presented the study on Native American Survival, from the perspective of a Native American. She brought a display of Houma Indian crafts and culture. Study books and resources were available for sale. Refreshments for the meeting were pro- vided by UMW members from Mason United Methodist Church in Berwick. The 2008 Mini School was an informative and enlightening overview of the Mission Studies available to United Methodist Women in 2009. Edna B. Hickman A message from La. Conference UMW President-elect Edna. B Hickman Monroe District UMW takes mission trip to the UMCOR Sager Brown Center Seven UMW members from the Monroe District volunteered at the UMCOR Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, La., packing relief items. The group is pictured, left, holding some of the 25 sweaters and 140 school bags donated by the group. Shown holding the items are Jane Ellett, Debbie McLemore, Jesse Klett, Sandy DeCelle, Jo Traweek, Georgie Lee Roberson (District President) and Margie Harris. Above, Sandy and Jesse are pictured packing and sealing boxes of relief items that will be shipped from the depot. Acadiana District UMW holds Mini School of Christian Mission at UMCOR Sager Brown Center By Joyce Thibodeaux, President Acadiana District UMW Corine Paulk Rev. Clifton Conrad