"This has been one of the best conferences I've been at in years!"
"I loved having the Healing Hearts missionaries here with us."
"What a relaxing and fun conference!  It's been good to laugh together."
At the beginning of the week, I felt such nervousness and trepidation to have this Joint Conference.  So many details to remember and coordinate. So many people coming together from both our mission organizations.  Walter and I both wondered why we thought this was a good idea!
But once the first day was over and the event was rolling, we could get into the groove.  All the details I had worried about fell into place.  Everyone who were asked to help out did!  Each session got better and better.
This may seem shallow but the highlight to me was the Talent Show on the final night.
You know why?
Because it was two hours of folks from both NCEM and Healing Hearts who stepped forward to sing, share a joke, do a goofy skit or show a Powerpoint of nature and landscape scenes.  There was laughter, fun, joy and vulnerability.  To me it was the true testimony that we were having fellowship with each other.
Oh, don't think I didn't see the treasure of worship together.  Or value the prayer times in small groups.  I was ministered to by my husband's messages on Equip, Empower, Encourage and Establish - our 4 E's theme of vision for the ministry.  But seeing folks enjoying one another meant the foundation of faith and fellowship had been laid and now they were moving to the next level of intimacy in Christ.
To be honest, before the conference started, I was looking forward to it being over!  But Friday afternoon, as we pulled away, I felt a genuine sadness as I knew we wouldn't see some of these folks for a year.  All the work in planning and preparation had produced a wonderful gathering and God did meet us. 
The next such event will be in 2021 when we celebrate NCEM's 75th anniversary.  This was just a practice run for what will be even bigger!