Unity Conference 2005 ~Poem~ by: Martha Holsti Does a tunic, modesty make? “Come to Kenya,” said Peter who came with Jake. Don’t            to mask your pain. The New Covenant contains The Old again. Marriages contracted.  The New Moon sighted. Everyone was included.  No one was slighted. Eating healthily was easy, also – In charge of the meals were Ruth and Joe. Would more wives be better?  Would less wives be best? Points to ponder as you try to get enough rest. “The True Bread of Heaven” was proclaimed by Don. His Sunday morning message didn’t allow us to yawn. Sam was here for the 21st year Keeping the Unity Conference in Super High gear. Chuck kept the music a treat for the soul We all learned a lot.  We all became more whole. Take care as you leave.  Please come back next year. It won’t be in Cisco; but it will be somewhere. Strive for unity.  Fast and pray. We’ll see ‘you all’ another day.   Unity Conference Review Submitted by: Martha Holsti      Mark and I went to the Unity Conference in Cisco, Texas.  It took three days down and five days back.  We stopped two nights at Fort Smith, Arkansas on the way back at Mike Mastropolo’s to load a 1970 Dodge Dart that Mike gave Mark. (It took the better part of a day to load it.)  This (going by Arkansas) also made the trip back, longer.      We took an old mattress that daughter-in-law, Melanie, had gotten at the Salvation Army for $35 for the whole bed.  We threw it onto the car carrier on the way down, and on the way back,  slept on it on the ground at night.  We never got rained on once and the temperature was in the 70º every evening.  During the day we had rain and the mattress got soaked three times, but the wind and subsequent hot temperatures- in the 90’s- dried it out before each night.  We took our food, too.      The Unity Conference was great!  We stayed with Voy and Sue.  It was wonderful to see all the brethren again.  Mark gave a report on his trip to Kenya and I, along with Bill Stubbs, got to tally and give the report on “What do we believe?”, a questionnaire made up by Sam Graham and given out the 1st day.  The comments were of course the most revealing part.  Some of the questions were:  How do you feel about abortion, stem cell research, gay marriage, running for political office, serving in the military; the age when one should participate in Passover emblems, and when one should be baptized, and is a New Moon a Sabbath Day?      During the conference there were discussions on modesty of dress, marriage plurality, calculating the feast days, contractual marriage, what part of the Old Covenant is still in effect?, using prescription pain killers, and keeping in contact with the brethren.      In reference to Matthew’s talk on modesty: My sister-in-law’s brother and his wife lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for about 12 years. The women where they were, were not allowed to leave their houses without their burqa on – covered from head to ankle.  Now what shows when you’re covered from head to ankle?  The hands, wrists, feet and ankles.  These women have devised a way to make their feet, ankles, hands and wrists alluring to the opposite gender, which they wish to attract.  They get TATOOES of intricate, lacy, beautiful designs on those parts that show (Their fingers palms and hands, toes, feet, ankles and wrists.) You cannot legislate modesty.  It must come from the heart.  I have seen people in shorts who are modest while other women prove you can be covered and still act alluring or provocative or immodest.      In reference to Jake’s talk about visiting other believers and other assemblies: Mark and I visited Chris and Hector Castillo and family in Sterling, Illinois for Pentecost.  His children gave up their bedrooms for us and slept on the floor in their parents’ room for the duration of our stay.  Mike Banak took us to ‘the farm’ at Salem Acres to visit the assembly there.  We also visited the assembly in Chicago.  I was expressing my appreciation to Hector for him and his family and friends’ efforts put forth on our behalf and telling him how much we enjoyed being with them being as I live where there is no assembly. “Oh Martha,” he said “You don’t know how much it means to us – to our family,   to our assemblies to have you visit us.   We get at least as much out of it as you do.  So go.  Don’t be intimidated by the thought of putting people out.  They may just be waiting for your visit. Jake said we all have the same needs.  It’s true.  We all want to be seen, to be heard, and to be touched. So touch somebody’s life today.  Listen to someone.  Really look at someone today.      In reference to George’s sermon on the old and new covenants: The Old Covenant used dead sacrifices. Under the New Covenant, we are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice. Praise Yahweh!