Hesston College hosts second SisterCare event

By Kristin Troyer – Horizon Editor-in-Chief

We may have just come back from fall break, but Hesston women could use some stress relief and a home-cooked meal. At least that’s what the organizers of SisterCare thought.

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Naomi Wright, Rachel Brown, and Karen Penner participate in conversation at the SisterCare seminar. Photo courtesy of Mennonite Women USA by Marlene Bogard

So on Oct. 22, around 40 students gathered at the Dyck Arboretum for SisterCare, seminar sessions focused on personal healing, celebrating God’s grace and responding more confidently and effectively to the needs of others. 

This event consisted of devotions led by Marlene Bogard, executive director of Mennonite Women USA, conversations about social media led by Kristin Troyer and Marissa Hochstetler, a time for stress relief with choices such as listening to poetry,  lessons on mindfulness, beading, or walks around the arboretum. Lehman led a session about having healthy boundaries, and Joanna Pinkerton, a free-lance artists and Hesston College alum, led the women in meditative art.

“My favorite part was the spiritual doodling,” freshman Kate Kilmer said. “I found it very relaxing and it was a good time to think about God by being creative.

The women were treated to homemade lunch and were joined by several local women for a time of more conversation.

This seminar was different than last spring’s. In March, Bogard put on much of the seminar straight from the SisterCare handbook, but the majority of the planning for this year was done by an on-campus planning team consisting of students, student life faculty, and local pastors.

“Our hope was to create an event that was unique and relevant to Hesston College women,” Julie Lehman, campus counselor and member of the planning committee, said. The planning committee took into consideration evaluations after last year’s event and input from the student planners to try to create a meaningful event that focused on topics important to the women on campus.

“It was nice to be able to forget about stress in my life for a little while,” sophomore Emma Schrock said. “And it was meaningful to spend time with other women.”

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