The Feast of Tabernacles (or Sukkot) is the culmination of all the appointed times set out by God in the Scriptures. It is to the other festivals what the Sabbath is to the other six days of the week. It is a prophetic picture of the coming kingdom. It foreshadows the great celebration when the entire world will live in peace and brotherhood under the reign and rule of the righteous Messiah King.
The commandment to move outside of one's comfortable zone and live in a booth is meant to remind us that God is our provider, sustainer and protector. On the cycle of sanctification, sukkot is an annual opportunity to revel in God's goodness and take delight in our redemption.
So, this year we took up a temporary dwelling in Missouri at the Windemere Baptist Conference Center for a Sukkot conference and gathering that was being hosted there. It was a great time of fellowship, worship and teaching. We caravaned down with a family from Michigan that we met about a year ago, and we shared what turned out to be some very close quarters. Thankfully, we all get along almost supernaturally well...so the kids and the adults enjoyed themselves immensely.
Moo can't stand to open her eyes in the sunlight. I don't know what to do with her, short of making her wear a welder's mask...but that might interfere with picture taking.
Here are the Olson kids...each of them sweeter than the next. From left to right in back, is Benjamin, Heidi and Jonathon. In front with my girls is Zechariah.
Okay, now we are getting into some pictures of our...well...I would say cabin, but they were more like REALLY small dorms. We had a door that separated the two rooms between our families, but often times one or more of us would be over on the other side. David and my husband had a great time of study and discussion. They really enjoy one another, and spend a good amount of time laughing when they are together.
Ah, our fine dining room...which is an arm's length from our bed, the girl's bunk beds, our bathroom (which you could bump your head and/or knees when using the potty), and our neighbors. Oddly, we already are looking forward to next year. Okay, Steve wants a different mattress next time. Silly guy thinks that the 150 year old mattress may have made him feel a little sick after a handful of nights. I just told him that all that mold, dust, mildew, etc. would build his immune system. He's not buying it.
Mealtime. Who needs television when you can watch the Olsons eat?
The highlight of the accommodations for my girls--besides playing with the Olson kids non-stop and until 11:00pm every night--were the bunk beds.
1 comment:
I remember Windemere from my childhood. It was our Baptist retreat. We spent a week there as a family when I was a young teen in more rustic accommodations - log cabins. I was so embarrassed once when the toilet overflowed after I used it. A man had to come unstop it and clean up. Embarrassing!
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