I had read somewhere that you have a special desire to minister to middle-school age girls. Recently, my niece who is in college and wanting to go into full-time youth ministry had the idea to create a Princess Conference. Specifically geared to pre- and early teens, she with 8 other young women planned a 3 day retreat to remind girls they are truly princesses - "bought with a price, redeemed and rescued from sin, loved dearly and destined for glory." These girls had various talents - speaking, pastoring, organizing, drama, singing, playing instruments, etc. and were wanting to use their gifts to serve their little sisters in Christ. They planned for months, pre-purchasing space at a cabin and sent letters, emails, made phone calls and basically drove everyone crazy with this desire of theirs. I have to admit, I wasn't convinced it would fly. There are just so many things to compete with a young girl's time and this was their first attempt at something this ambitious. The time came for the weekend and no one showed up. In faith, each of the nine girls went to the retreat center convinced God would provide. Little did they know, His plans were that they would spend the time away from school, family, local church and other responsibilities and focus entirely on Him. Each one came back from the weekend a different soul than had went. Here are a few comments from letters they wrote to no one in particular but delivered to me (since I told them I would cover their costs).

"I have been so rejuvenated."

"We continued anyway, in spite of what we thought might be disappointment ... Our hearts and souls were stripped, our faults bare in broad daylight. ... What was said was exactly what I needed."

"Even if no girls attended this Princess conference this year, the nine Princesses that were here and brought their gifts were loved and healed by Jesus Christ this weekend."

"... my husband has not found a new job, we are not able to pay our bills. ... I have been in ministry for 15 years. This year has been my lowest year ever. Even though we were prepared, He did not send girls. He knew that we what we all needed, especially me, was not to feed others, but to be fed."

"I had been discouraged by the lack of participation from the young girls we wanted to minister to, but the Lord kept telling me there was a purpose in coming. In faith ... I believed my Father and came. What an amazing time..."

"I really had no idea what to expect. Things definitely didn't turn out how I thought they might ... it was even better."

"My heart found its way back to the source of life, its true love, my one desire, passion, and only satisfaction."

"(I had) fears that I would slip into a deep depression and feel like a failure ... that the conference was a waste. How very wrong I was!"

"We are all princesses and deserve nothing more and nothing less. Praise God!"

Nicole, in one of your songs, there is a line that says "Would you like to trade your failures into victories, like piles of ashes into piles of gold" and I cry almost every time I hear it, because like these young women, I am afflicted with an over-achiever personality. On the outside, people will say we get so much done, but on the inside, we think whatever we get done is not enough. To an over-achiever, victory is never attained and we have nothing but piles and piles of ashes. But I know that I can Come to Him, who has rest for the weary and has a victory beyond comprehension. It sounds as though these nine women also know that, but as time moves on and the days of this weekend are only a memory, its important to have reminders like the words in your song to keep running the race.

I know you are busy working and serving God, but is there any way you could send them a note of encouragement. And put up a prayer for these women made in the same mold as everyday people like you.

Yes, praise God for the weekend of healing these young women had. Who knows, it may very well be a first step in a far-reaching ministry devoted to the young girls in this area. It might not. Either way, they know God is there. And thank God they have people like you to remind them in sometime subtle but extraordinary ways that they are truly a princess of the King of Kings.

Like I said, I just thought you might like to know ...

Don't forget me.