Commissioned to Serve: the First Annual Certificate Celebration

(0:00 - 0:10) Okay. All right. Welcome, Harold. So glad you're here. Hi, Laurel. How are you doing? I'm good. (0:11 - 0:22) It's great to see you again. It is really great to see you. And I got an email from Donna, one of the women training in the program, that she had reached out to you and I was glad to hear it. (0:23 - 0:26) Yeah, she's great. Very nice email. I really appreciate it. (0:27 - 0:52) Well, she's a real networker. And I'm really grateful that you were open to letting people reach out to you. So thank you. Yes. And I see Liz, one of my friends and not blood related, but related through marriage. One of my favorite people who has prayed for me for so many years. (0:52 - 1:20) So I'm glad you're here. And Liz and Elise and Jeanette all live within a really close distance to each other in Washington, D.C. So that's very exciting. Yes, Arnie, so glad you're here. And Carol, I saw you come in earlier and I hadn't said anything yet. But so glad you're here. See a few more people joining and then we'll get started. (1:23 - 2:40) And there's Scott. He just sat down. Great to see you. I hope that by watching the videos, the training and certified doulos are beginning to recognize some familiar faces. I know one or two other people that have been contributors are planning on joining. And I know that a few people who do have their certification or are currently training that I'm going to list today are not able to come today. But this is so far a really great turnout. So and I'll do a quick introduction. I'm not sure if everybody has met my husband, Ed. Everybody would be happy if you came and sat beside me. So we had a lot of fun yesterday. I'm working with a team to help with social media. And so the hardest part for me is the videos. And so Ed and I, I set up a little podcast area and recording area in the corner and we recorded some videos. So I hope you guys will be able to see those soon and share it around on the Internet so we can continue to grow this program. (2:42 - 2:45) All right. Good evening, everybody. Lydia. (2:48 - 6:38) Wow. What beautiful faces. I am so happy you're all here. And hey, Lisa. Lisa and Elise, we just signed the agreements last night and this morning. So they are certified. Wonderful. All right. So I think we're going to go ahead and get started because I really want to keep this to 45 minutes. And I know Harold has to leave a little early. And once we're finished, if anyone wishes to stay around and visit a little bit, we can we can work we can work that out for sure. So welcome. It is November 15th and we are at the first annual certificate certification for the death and resurrection training program. I know. Thank you all. I mean, everybody that's that's a part of this call has contributed, has trained, has has been a prayer warrior. We're doing great. And I'm going to announce 29 names today of people who are certified and about eight more that are actively training. And then there are more enrolled in the program that they I I believe they will finish. But life sometimes gets in the way of online training, believe it or not. Things get busy and sometimes you have to put it aside and and come back. But but this is a wonderful community. And through the live training classes that we have and the collaboration that's made possible through the training platform, convene communities and through the International Fellowship Cafe, there is a multiple there are multiple ways to come in and get and get reconnected. So those are great. Matt, who is the founder of convene, would have loved to join and say a word today. But he is a pilot on the side and he's flying today. So he is not able to be here. But I would like to just start by sharing a little bit about this training program. This is being recorded. I will use it as a way for people to to gain interest if they're looking for more information. But what is the Death and Resurrection doula training program? So simply, it is a end of life doula training program, but it's the first and only Christian end of life doula training program in the world. So in 2019, I trained to be an end of life doula. The course was great. The woman who trained me has a tenure in hospice care and oncology nursing. And she did a really great job teaching me everything I needed to know to be prepared to spend time with someone at the end of their life. So her practical skill training was really strong. As a strong Christian, I was concerned with the new age spirituality that was wrapped through her program. So I said to myself, well, I think there will be a market if I take strong training for the practical skill and I infuse that with Christian doctrine. And so I've done it. I did go to seminary to prepare myself better for developing a curriculum and leading that. But I've also invited other professionals to come in and help me build some of the content that you've studied. So we're going to go through those introductions in just a minute. But what's required for certification? Two modules. The first module is theology and practice. It's 12 experiences, which convenes name for lesson. (6:38 - 9:18) And then the doula practitioner training is also 12 experiences. And that's the second module. So taking each module gives you a certification. End of life doula care is not regulated. You do not have to be certified in order to start your business or go into a ministry in this role. But it's encouraged because it produces a standardization for a scope of practice. And it's very important that we stay within those limits for our protection as well as for the people that we're serving. So end of life doula is a non-medical resource. So we cannot even administer the hospice medications. We cannot put band-aids on. We can't treat wounds, any of that. That does not fall within our purview. But there is so much holistic support, even physical, that an end of life doula can provide through touch and care and compassion and helping with comfort care plans. And in the Christian realm, that's going to include spiritual care through prayer and scripture reading and song. So there's so much that an end of life doula can do. And how can we serve in our community? So when you train in my program to be an end of life doula, you may desire to go start a business and have private practice, or you may desire to be a volunteer or see if you can get engaged in your church. There are so many options, but we can find ourselves working inside someone's home. We may serve inside a hospital. We may get connected to a hospice agency, and we can also serve through our church. So part of what we do is educate. So educating inside of our communities of the perils that we're facing at end of life, I want to say, in the United States. But I know that Brenda is here from Canada today, and medical aid in dying is a big issue there and continuing to grow into a larger issue. So there are perils around this world. Everyone that I speak to from different English-speaking countries at this time, medical aid in dying is at the top of the list of concerns, and end of life doulas are a familiar word inside of these English-speaking countries as well. (9:18 - 11:43) And what's happening now is that there are training programs that are actually helping end-of-life doulas get associated with the process that families go through when an individual would like to choose medical aid in dying. And doulas are actually being trained not only to help them navigate the process, but the doula can mix a solution, put it on a tray along with a little bowl of sorbet and maybe a vase of flowers and take that into a bedroom where someone is prepared to ingest that solution. So that's too far, in my opinion, and this program educates you very well on what's happening with medical aid in dying and the truth of God's grace and love and our hope. And so we're doing something differently. But let me start by introducing our program developers who are here. And not everybody was able to make it, but Lisa and Scott are here from Phoenix, Arizona. Lisa is a hospice nurse, and she has created three of our experiences. We learn about hospice care from Lisa and just the dying process and for the doula comfort care that we can provide. So she has written three great lessons and teaches those lessons through video and they're very, very good. The quizzes are a little hard, but they are very, very good. And it's good that we're challenged. And then Scott, her husband, is a chaplain, among other things, but he has given us two great hour-long videos on grief care and the death vigil. And actually, Scott connected with me through LinkedIn, and then I shared something about needing a hospice nurse, and he so happily introduced me to Lisa, and they have become very, very good friends and colleagues and prayer warriors. So I thank you. Do you want to take a second to say hello? Absolutely. Absolutely. Hi, everyone. So good to see you all. (11:43 - 21:01) Congratulations. This is just an exciting, exciting day, and I'm thrilled to have a small part in it. I met Laurel through my husband right after I actually had a conversion experience coming back to my faith, which I left for some time. I was wandering in the desert for quite some time, and I was trained also in a secular program as a doula when I was more in new age practices myself. And having had that conversion experience and coming back to Christianity, meeting Laurel not too long after that, it was just God's providence, in my opinion, and such a blessing to get involved with the Death and Resurrection Doula Program. And, you know, honestly, as a nurse and as a doula and as a Christian, to really recognize the importance of what she's doing and what she's created here, the first worldwide program. Like, this is small right now, but my vision and what I see is this is going to get very, very large and is very important in terms of who we are as image bearers and children of God, who we are here on earth, but very much, not more important, but very important, where are we going? Where are we going from here when we die to be life eternal with God? So, I'm happy to be involved in creating part of the curriculum. Mine was more focused on clinical things. Even though doula is not medical, it's important that we as doulas understand the medical things. We understand hospice care, what they do, how we might be interacting with them while we're working with clients, as well as understanding disease processes and what death and dying will and can look like, depending on how someone is dying. So, those are really important things. I hope that it has been helpful and God bless all of you on this journey as you enter into the world, whether a volunteer or starting your own business. Very exciting. And thank you, Laurel, for including me and allowing me to walk beside you as a prayer warrior, as a sister in Christ, and as a colleague, too. Yeah, I think I would just add, you know, before I share a little bit, like what Lisa said, one of my mentors said once, the way you stay out of trouble is you stay in your lane, right? So, knowing what a death doula does and what they don't do. So, that means understanding, you know, these other people. I think I just want to celebrate you, Laurel. You know, my seminary, the motto was scholarship with a shepherd's heart. And I think you bring those two things together in this amazing way. I mean, from the first time we connected, you know, I could tell that you were intellectual and brilliant, but that you just had this like amazing heart at the same time and how you held those together. You know, some people, when you bring your ideas and your vision, you know, you're always wondering, are they going to get me? Are they going to judge me? Like, there's never been that dynamic between Laurel and I. Like, she's always interested in others. She always wants to grow. She wants to refine her craft. It's just really beautiful to see how the Lord's worked in and through you. And you're talking about it getting big. Like, I'm just amazed at all the people on the screen compared to when we started. And so, I just, you know, really like want to honor your vision and how you responded to the Lord to like, step out into the unknown. I mean, that's so often to move from vision to action is like the longest step. Like, so many people have creative ideas, but they can't ever, you know, pull the lever. And you did. And I just want to celebrate that and celebrate all you that have trusted, you know, not just in her scholarship, but in her heart for this really important work. And I'm honored that through the technology of something like LinkedIn, we were able to connect across the country and not be afraid of that. Sometimes that's a little bit edgy, right? When you're meeting people that you don't know, but it's really just created a lot of beauty and a lot of fruit. So, yeah, thanks for inviting me in. Well, thank you for that, both Lisa and Scott. And actually, I did. I did take the risk and fly across country and stay with you guys. And we started building Module 2. And she's such an easy guest. Like, it's so beautiful. Yeah. Such an easy guest. Well, and Harold, I want to get to you next, because I know you've got to jump out in just a minute. But Harold Braswell is a bioethicist and a, I'm about to say physician, but I know that's not the right word. But he's a scholar and he's a professor at St. Louis University, and has written a fantastic book. And I know most everyone here is familiar with it. It is The Crisis of U.S. Hospice Care, Family and Freedom at the End of Life. And I actually read, was reading an essay in a book when I was in seminary, and it mentioned Harold Braswell's name and a research project he did that's listed in this book. But he worked with a group of nuns in Atlanta and saw how they were caring for the dying that were falling through the cracks, particularly because hospice care, which is regulated by Medicare and has the hospice Medicare benefit, leaves a lot of people without the resources that they need, not intentionally, but that's how, where we've arrived. And so Harold's book is fantastic. I wish that Miles from, Miles Glatzner from New Mexico was here today. I don't think he can make it, obviously, because I don't see him here. But he has started a home just like this. It's called Nora Home. And he has two women training in this training program. But they are in a medical aid and dying state and one of the most liberal medical aid and dying states. And at their home, they do not, if you want medical aid and dying, you can't die in Nora Home, but they are making an impact. And Miles is a believer, he's a Catholic, but he says that really, that those who have come to be volunteers are non-Christians. And he's just amazed to see what the Lord is doing through it. But Harold, thank you so much. And I would love to give you a minute if you would like to say hello. Yeah, I'll probably take slightly longer than a minute. I've known Laurel for a while, actually, since shortly after my book came out. And really when this project was really just getting started, what you've done. So it's incredible to be invited to be on the call today. I apologize for having to leave early. I'm actually in the parking lot of my children's Hebrew school. I'm not Christian, I'm Jewish, and I'm secular. I'm not religious. I just want to clarify that. So it might seem strange that I'm here, but I have had transformative experiences with Christian healthcare and specifically end-of-life care practitioners. And I think one thing that perhaps I could do is, I understand that there's a specific aspect of your work that's for Christians, but I think it's incredible if people could come to meet Christianity through compassionate, use that word compassion, Lauren, compassionate Christian healthcare providers. It's very different than the Christianity that you hear on the radio, that you see people who use Christian symbols, but sometimes seem to lack that compassion. And when you see that compassion and you see people like the Hawthorne Dominicans, giving everything to people who really are quite abandoned in our society, it changes your whole life, professionally for me and personally as well. And so I celebrate you all. I celebrate this program. It would have been important five years ago. I think, since Laurel has brought up medical aid in dying and the Canada situation, I think that the capacity for growth of this program has actually increased exponentially for a number of reasons. One thing I just want to draw everybody's attention to, the Atlantic Monthly in October, which is not a Christian magazine, okay? It's just a regular American magazine, actually had a very extensive feature piece on medical aid in dying in Canada that was quite critical of it in a way that you wouldn't really see normally in the media. (21:02 - 23:07) And this is a magazine you could get in your dentist's office. It's just a normal magazine. So it doesn't surprise me that more secular people or non-Christian people are getting involved in the compassionate work of end-of-life care. And I think there's a lot of really important alliances that can grow. And I'm happy to be here and yeah, just to be here with you all. Thank you. I think that article is called, Is Canada Eating Itself? Is that the one you're talking about? And it was- Killing itself. Canada is killing itself, yeah. Yes. So I have that link and I will find it and pop it in the discussion board for the training for anyone who wants to read it. Yes, thank you for that reminder. The Atlantic, actually, you shared a few other articles with me, Harold, over the years, and they've been doing a lot of good reporting on this and what is, like there's, we're just, we're taking it too far. And even if people wanna have some liberal ideas, it's taking it way too far past what's reasonable for human beings who want freedom. So thank you. Well, I don't think Miles could make it and Darlene, who did a wonderful lesson on just the basics of estate planning. So the doulas are familiar with some of these words. We do not do medical care. We do not give legal counsel, but you will hear these words that families often have to use in conversation. So it's good to be educated. So let's move into, I'm gonna read through our certificate lists and also include a group that is currently training live. They can talk a little bit about what's coming up next year, which is right around the corner. All right. So, okay. I'm gonna begin from the beginning. (23:07 - 25:13) So the first list of names is from 2024, and I'm gonna read their states. It's interesting, I think, to hear where people are. And I grouped people in, you know, in their kind of groups in states. And I do receive those messages on Instagram that are requesting a certified death and resurrection doula. They want a Christian. And, you know, sometimes I can give them a name of someone nearby. I did just last week, which is exciting, but we need to continue to fill out our cities and our states because I want to say yes every single time. All right. So I'm gonna read through a list of names and also their state. So Darby, Calicut from Alabama, Emily Johnson, Alabama, Rebecca Justin, Alabama, Tina Reeder, Alabama, Tara Morrow, Arizona, Naomi Bjorgen, California, Jill Nguyen, Colorado, Anne-Marie Hemphill, Minnesota, Darlene Westinghouse, New York, India Rice, Ohio, Julia Rupp, Ohio, Bonnie Slavin, Ohio, and Bonnie's here. Wonderful. Mindy Moore, Tennessee, Melissa Zaitlow, Ohio, Amanda Currence, Alabama, Sydney Holliman, Alabama, Katie Scott, California, Lydia Chin, Georgia. Lydia is here. Lisa Douglas, Indiana. Lisa's here. Malia Ives, Minnesota. Malia's here. Kim Lindsey, New Mexico. Kim's here. And her sister is training. Julie McElwain, Virginia, Mary Walton, Virginia. Mary is here. Oh, wow. That is amazing. (25:14 - 25:23) Yay. Elyse Clare, Washington, DC. And Elyse is here. Jeanette Corley. Hi, Jeanette. Good job, Jeanette. (25:23 - 26:43) She's here. Terri Albrecht. I don't know if Terri made it. I don't think I see Terri. Okay. She's in Wisconsin. Michelle Key from Texas, Brenda Fox, British Columbia, Canada. And Judy Kerwin, Ontario, Canada. Brenda is here. Yes. Okay. So, let's take a minute and just say, wow. That was 29 ladies I mentioned. The word doula often is cited to say it means a woman who serves. Yes. All women that I listed, I have had a couple veterans, male veterans, enter the training program. They have not finished. But the rising rates of suicide are on their minds. And what they've said to me is the end of life for a veteran is unlike the end of life for another person. And so, they really feel called to be there with them. And Scott is a veteran as well. Thanks, Scott. Thanks. Are we frozen on your guys' screen? No, now we're not. (26:43 - 26:46) Oh, now we're back to normal. Good. Thanks, whoever said that. (26:47 - 27:08) So, let me read a few more names here that are actively training. And by actively training, I mean they're actually coming biweekly to a live training either in Module 1 or Module 2. Module 2, Liz Jentz. Joyce Van Doon, she is from Australia. (27:10 - 27:17) Peterson, who's here today. Right there, her name says Carol. Denise Rager. (27:18 - 27:25) Taylana Darby. Taylana's here today. Donna Squelia, she is not here today. (27:25 - 30:54) Allegra Hinden, not able to be here. Kathy Hensler, she's here today. And I've got Joyce listed again from Australia because she's enrolled in both modules right now and going back and forth. So, thank you to that list of names as well. And Kim, you have made a note to us about your sister. Yes, you are from Arizona. And actually, Arizona... Oh, I said New Mexico. I'm so sorry. Thank you for clearing that up for me. Arizona, Ohio, and Alabama have a a considerable number of people who have been in this program. And it's interesting, a lot of the names I listed from Alabama, they all work for a hospice in Mobile, Alabama, which is really awesome. And I believe I'm going to visit there soon in the spring and talk more with them about what we're doing. So, that's very exciting. And the Arizona, New Mexico area has, particularly Arizona, has Kim and her sister Karina. And then that's where Scott and Lisa are. And we have Tara, who's not here. But we also have someone who entered the program for Arizona, and she hasn't finished. But this is cool. Several people from California as well. So, Scott, would you pray for us and pray for this training program? Yeah, what I put together was, if I understood you right, I hope I'm in the right ballpark, is a prayer blessing for those that, you know, if you will, been commissioned in this area. Does that sound good? All right. Let us pray. Lord God, giver of life and the one who receives us at our final breath, we thank you for these your servants who have completed this death doula formation and now step into this sacred work of accompanying your children at the end of life. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon them. Grant them wisdom to listen well, compassion to stay present in difficult moments, and the strength necessary to offer calm and steadiness when others feel afraid. Bless their hands to bring comfort, bless their words to bring peace, and bless their heart to remain open, grounded, and rooted in your love. Lord Jesus, you who embraced death and transformed it by your resurrection, and you who walked with the suffering and welcomed the dying, make these your servants a sign of your mercy. May their presence be a quiet light in places of pain and a reminder that no one passes from this life alone. Sustain them in their work, renew their compassion when it feels depleted, and anchor them in your peace. We ask this in the name of the one true God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen. Thank you. (30:56 - 32:52) Well, before I move into the last section, which is to talk about what's next, I just want to give a couple minutes for anybody to say something. I don't want it just to be all about me talking. It just usually happens. But please, let's take a little bit of time if anybody wants to come off of mute and share something that's on your mind. I would like to. I just also just want to say thank you, Laurel, for the vision and your courage to follow through with that vision and to lead us. I had never even heard of an end-of-life doula until 2023. And when I finally heard that this whole realm of care existed, it was on that same day I was doing a Google search, and I found you. And you were just launching that year, I think. And it was just such a confirmation for me that this was a path. I didn't really know where I was going or what this was about, but I just thought I need to do this program for continued discernment of figuring it out as I go. And that's exactly what this course has been for me. There are so many things now that I see and understand and don't understand that I would have never even—you don't know what to ask until you see the questions before you. And so I just want to say thank you for this whole new realm that this has opened up. And I'm excited for the church that I'm a part of and how it is helping us move further along in these conversations and in care for others and end-of-life. (32:52 - 33:42) So I just want to say thank you, and I've been so encouraged. Even if I haven't worked with you all live, I've seen faces and read your stories, and I just feel so connected to all of you, even if we haven't been on videos face-to-face. I'm just so thankful for the community that I've found here also. So thank you. Thank you, Elyse. And I remember our first conversation when you called me, and it was empowering to me. So I thank you very much, and I've been able to be at your church and meet your beautiful family and have lunch, so I appreciate that too. So thank you. Elyse? Oh, you're— How about now? Yeah, I can hear you. (33:42 - 33:51) Okay. Congratulations, everybody. I'm so grateful for this entire experience. (33:53 - 34:36) When I first discovered the program, I was in the process of grieving the loss of my husband and wondering what my purpose in life was, because I had been his 24-7 caregiver for five years. And when I found this, I really felt that pull, that tug on my heart, that this is what God was calling me to do. And the longer I've been involved, the more I've felt that, and more confirmations have come to— Sorry, I have background noise here. (34:38 - 35:06) The confirmation that this is definitely the calling for my life. And then when Laurel said, graduation is on November 15th, this is the four-year anniversary of when my husband went to heaven. So I knew that was the final confirmation that, yes, this is what I'm supposed to be doing, and maybe even Steve giving his blessing as well. (35:07 - 35:11) So I'm very excited for the future. Thank you very much. Stop it. (35:13 - 35:44) Thank you for sharing that, Lisa. I would like to also say thank you, Laura. I really enjoyed the class. I learned a lot. I wish I would have known a lot of these things before. Donna told me all about the class, and we were interested. So we're trying to move forward, but I met a lot of people. I really enjoyed everybody, and I hope we will stay connected. And again, I appreciate everything that you did, and also your husband. (35:45 - 35:55) Oh, well. I appreciate him too. Oh, there's Darlene. (35:57 - 37:05) Hey, Darlene. Hey, Darlene. Let me get this video on. Oh, here I am here. Sorry about this. I had five o'clock in my brain. I suddenly looked at my calendar and realized I'm late. So I'm so glad I'm here in time to catch up with you guys. I'm glad you're here too, and this is a perfect time to pop in. I did already read through the names of those who are certified, but I recorded this. So I'll make sure you get a copy, and glad you're here. And I announced you as an estate planning attorney who has done a great service to our training program by providing just some fundamentals on estate planning that will be caught up in a little bit with our families. So thank you. Good. If people do have questions, because I know that was a very basic introduction, and I've learned a ton more even since then. So I want people to know I'm available. Well, we should maybe have you back to the Fellowship Cafe. It's a little an hour to throw some hard questions at you. (37:05 - 37:09) Yeah. That'd be amazing. We'll talk about it. (37:10 - 37:30) Well, thank you so much. And actually, I met Darlene, I think I had trained to be an end-of-life doula, but we were both living in New York and met through a mutual friend. And we got together, and we're like, what is the Lord going to do with our vocations? And so we found a place to tag team. (37:31 - 37:51) So excited about this. Yeah. All right. Does anybody, before I move into what's next and spend about seven minutes on that, see if anybody has last things they want to add or say before we end today. Yes. Mary. (37:52 - 40:37) Well, I just wanted to say thank you so much for number one, being my friend. And number two, showing me how much more there is to God than I already knew. And also, as the other girl had said about knowing your purpose, because I was going through that myself and I said, there's no way I'm doing enough for the Lord as much as He's done for me. And I just felt like that my ultimate goal on this earth is to let the Lord lead me to lead people to the Lord, because I don't want anybody to go to hell. And He don't send us, we send ourselves. But I also want to hear, well done, my good and faithful servant when I get to heaven, because that is so important to me. And I've just learned so much, Darlene. I see you on my screen right now and I wrote down everything you said. So I got like four pages of stuff just in case I don't want to go to jail. So I figured I better write all that down. But I'm just, I'm so excited, a little nervous about starting my own business. I don't know how many people on here are doing that, but I'm really excited about that. A little apprehensive, but you know, the Lord's leading me through it. He brought me through it. Your encouragement, Laurel, has helped me so much. And I've actually tried to, since the beginning of this, I've tried to start talking a little softer because I'm such a loud person. I even recorded myself this morning and my son said, okay, that's it. That's what you need right there. You don't need to sound like an old person. You just need to talk a little softer. So I'm doing that. So I just want to tell everybody, great job for whatever reason that we all did this. My little grandson just said, amen. I got to tell y'all this quick little story. He has my phone the other day. He's flipping up. He's flipping up. And I said, Cooper, you can't keep doing that because you're cutting people off. It's calling me. It might be Jesus calling me. So the next time the phone rang, he looked at me just as serious and showed me the phone. He said, is it Jesus? I said, I said, well, it's not Jesus. He said, well, is it mommy? I said, no, it's not mommy either. (40:37 - 40:51) Go ahead and swipe up. So anyway, I just am so excited and appreciate everybody's input and everything for this. And I just know the Lord's going to bring us all together. (40:51 - 44:14) And when we all get to heaven, we'll have things to talk about when it comes to this, that maybe we missed during it. And I also expect to see Ed on TV. So how about that? Oh, Mary, thank you. And as I roll into our final section here on what's coming up next, and believe it or not, we're at the end of 2025. And there are some great developments that are coming up. But I want to just encourage you all that if you feel nervous, everything I've seen, every conversation I've had with you, even though sometimes the responses are anonymous, but there are some required things you've also had to send me. All I see is everyone being very capable and very well prepared. So I'm pleased that I've been able to provide that. But beyond that, it's you. So I know for many, jumping online for a new platform is a lot. And you did it, you did it. Everybody can do it, you have to put your head down, you have to stay dedicated, but you can do it. So speaking of platform, convene is launching a new interface, the goal is a February, late February online training opportunity, the platform, I should be able to train on it at that point, and should be able to build on it in January. So we really are getting there. A lot of the changes are actually happening because of our community, we have, you know, gone through a full training program, I have certified people, there's been a lot of feedback. And, you know, Matt stayed very integrated with, you know, what I'm doing. And I've asked him a lot of questions. And so many of the changes or upgrades, I don't know what to call them. But they are suited just for exactly what we're doing. So and part of that is that it's hard to train online. So they are really trying to make it a better, friendlier place to arrive and, and, and see your training without getting, you know, rid of some of the great capabilities, which is community and collaboration, something I've heard a couple times today. And so it is it, the platform gives us a way to connect not just inside our cities, but around the world. So so what's what's coming up and 2026, I am going to add a new track, it's going to be a volunteer track. So instead of putting volunteers and professionals in the same track, the volunteer track is going to be be abbreviated. And I'm going to be get I'm going to move from live throughout the week to a, like weekend training. And that's going to incorporate both those who want to be volunteers as well as those who want to do the professional track. So but that'll kind of be like a shot in the arm versus, you know, it's taking me six months to attend live classes. (44:14 - 57:09) And I just don't have, you know, that many Monday nights free. But so we will continue on the professional track with the with the weekly gatherings through mentorship. And so those who are in this training program and who finish all three modules, they can be a mentor, and it's a paid opportunity. So I'm actually going to focus more on these, they're going to begin quarterly, I hope to move them to monthly, I hope to eventually have some in person around the country. But these these live events and Lisa is going to teach with me. So Lisa will be live teaching. Myles Glatzner from New Mexico is going to talk about how he formed a Nora Home and what he's seeing with medical aid and dying, we're going to focus on five wishes, and they're actually going to give a presentation, someone from five wishes. And we are going to I'm going to incorporate doulas, I want you to share your story. And we're going to have some breakout sessions. So there it's it's gonna, I think this is the next step for growth. And so the first one will be the it's kind of the second weekend of March, although it feels like the first weekend of March, because I think March 1 might be a Sunday, but convene is launching that training the last weekend of February. So we'll be, you know, sort of hopefully exploding onto the scene with with with a new new way forward. I will keep you updated of all these things as they progress. But you know, how can you get involved? Really, if you finished your training, you have a couple of ways to stay in touch, definitely the International Fellowship Cafe. We're here every week on Monday, I have started an evening cafe once a month. On the first Thursday, it's 730. I hope to continue to grow this cafe through, you know, adding more cafe times, subjects, Donna's not here today, but her real niche is going to be single seniors. And, you know, another real niche would be caregivers. So if we can, can, you know, start some cafes that draw the attention of people in that demographic, I think that'll be great. You know, doing them online is fantastic, because you can, you know, join from anywhere, local cafes inside a church community room or a senior community room are also great. So growing that into to put our attention there, I'm forming a nonprofit for the International Fellowship Cafe, it's going to be a way to have scholarships, not only for people who want to train, but for people who need doula services. I want doulas, if they would like to be a professional, to be able to be paid. And if we need to help with some, you know, some additional scholarship dollars, so you don't have to offer a sliding scale, I would like to be able to have the resources to do that. So that should really be growing in 2026. So keep that in your prayers. The other way to stay connected is through the professional route of joining the Collaboration Association, that is the alternative for us as death and resurrection doulas, instead of NIDA, which is the National End of Life Doula Alliance, the more time I spend watching the secular programs, the more I see that they are they are anti God, I can't speak, you know, any more, like loudly about that, I wish I could be nicer, but I cannot be and, and so this is our opportunity for a resurrection hope movement. So a resurrection hope movement, and so we can focus on that inside the secular programs, there is not room to proclaim that Christ is Lord, and that there is only one Lord. So we're doing that here. So the Collaboration Association is really going to be a huge part of training and getting doula certified, we're going to work on, you know, onboarding for the new platform, writing our stories and creating story experiences, building our ministries, just some of the fine business details, how are you doing it, you know, Bonnie has been fantastic. She's come around twice already as a mentor, and she'll be a mentor again this month, just showing some of the tricks of the trade that she's learning through putting herself out there to be a death and resurrection doula. So I think the power of growth and sustainability is that everybody that wishes to coming and giving something back as we grow this movement. And I, you know, believe in for profit businesses, I am really for you as I am for me, and for, you know, the people in our communities to receive great services, and we're going to make it happen. So that's kind of what's coming up. If you ever have questions on how you can get involved, stay involved through those two routes, let me know. Don't forget that if you sign up to be, you know, have like the referral setup, if you bring someone to the training, I do give referral payments for that. So all of these are intended to be methods of growth, not confusing, but helpful. So always just ask me questions about any of those things. Well, does anybody want to wrap up with a question or a comment? Yes, Scott. Um, yeah, more of a comment. And you might already I don't want to be presumptuous, you might already be on top of this Laurel. But you know, separate from being a chaplain, I started a private practice a while ago, and it became real clear to me really quick, that I'm not a businessman. I'm an entrepreneur, I find myself an entrepreneur, but most of us filler types, like we're not business people. And so I mean, some of you here might be so I don't want to be presumptuous on that front either. But that can be some of the biggest challenge is like, like, how do I make myself known for those that are doing things professionally. And then the other piece is the struggle to own one's value. And not just own it, like existentially, but own it monetarily. And I if it's not already in the community, or if it is, maybe it's something that could continue to be emphasized is how to come together and experience the benefit of synergy. So not everybody has to feel like they're trying to figure it out in their own silos. But like you can maximize where people are getting breakthrough where I just think, again, Laurel, you're probably already doing this, but I, I just can't say how many times I feel like I'm just wandering out there trying to figure out the newest thing. And if I had a community that was trying to help with that, too, I don't have to create everything from scratch, you know, at least might have something that that I don't or you know what I mean, just like how to pull those resources. You were gonna say something, Lisa? Anyway, that's, that's my comment. Well, I remember, Scott, when I came out to Arizona, we talked a lot about this, and you, you, I'm grateful. I was underselling myself so much. It's so easy to do. I honestly say it's still one of my, my biggest struggle struggles is to own my value. And, and that's the intention of the Collaboration Association. Okay, you know, that's what made me think of it. Yeah, yes, is, is that we can show what, you know, what's working, you know, through through mentorship, let me help you show you what worked for me. But even more than that, so becoming a mentor gives you the ability to give back, you know, through the Collaboration Association, me compensating that, but it's also teaching their doulas how to leverage the the convene platform, we're going to have a doula directory. And basically, every doula can have their own website on there. And so, so I'm just going to use Bonnie as an example, because I think she's okay with that. And I've already talked about her, her mentorship strengths a minute ago, but she can, you know, through we're calling them storefronts, you know, through her storefront, she can sell items. So something she's working on right now is some documents that doulas may want to buy and use for their clients or encourage their clients to buy them, because if they're logged into convene, because they're accessing, you know, the doula, they've hired their storefront, they can just go right over to Bonnie's and buy her packet of organizational documents. And Bonnie has a real strength towards, like, simplification of things. And so she's working on some client forms and something like that. So it's, it's, it takes a lot of pressure off of me, you know, I'm, I'm supplying a great curriculum. And if everyone brings in their strengths, it's sort of like a franchise in some some sense, but everybody benefits. And, you know, you can even do the referral program through the storefronts, too. If, if Bonnie's got, you know, a 10 hour doula package, and, and, you know, I know someone in Ohio near where Bonnie lives, who's looking for a doula, I can send them there. And perhaps Bonnie wants to give me, you know, 5% of that or something is a little is a little kickback and thank you. So we have so many opportunities. What, Malia, so great to see you. What is our heart, our biggest hang up right now is, is waiting on that new platform. And so in 2026, I think through the Fellowship Cafe, and through the Collaboration Association, we're going to be unrecognizable from where we are right now. So that's the hope. That's the prayer. So I thank everyone for their dedication and hanging on. And that's, that's what you got to do. Things take time and they take work, but there's, there's so much benefit that comes from that. So don't undersell yourself. There's a difference between underselling yourself and making your, well, I should say there's a difference between like someone not being able to afford it and you feeling that you're not valued, right? We want to make that work. You don't want to turn someone away, turn someone away, but to say, well, I'm not valuable because you can't afford my services. Like that's the easy route to take is, well, I have nobody can afford it. So I'm going to have to lower, lower my cost. But there, there are ways around that. And I do talk about it in Module 3. So again, Module 1 and Module 2 are required. At this, at this point, if you would, Module 3 is not required. The Collaboration Association is not required. If you would like to move on, you know, I think they will really, really benefit you and you will learn a lot about the professional side. Next year with the volunteer track and the professional track, it will all be required and it'll be one training package. But there'll be a little bit of a, like, we have to grow into that as we move over to the new platform. So, Carol, are you leaving? Okay. Great to see you. We will wrap up. We're right at an hour. So thank you, everybody. You want to close? Sure. Ed's going to close us out in prayer. Did you tell them about my new job yet? No! I've been thinking about myself all day. You want to share? So you guys, I'm going to join all of you in end-of-life care. I've been hired by Medi Hospice here in Charlottesville to be their music therapist. So I start December 1st. So pray for me. And I said, drop my car. Laurel thinks she's getting new clients. (57:10 - 1:00:23) No, this is great, guys. You guys, you know, I think what Harold said and what Scott said are true. You know, this is a, there's a crisis in America. I know my mother, Laurel, and my story started with the care of my mom. And, you know, my mom's in a facility about 45 minutes away from us. And I was there about two or three months ago when she had first got in. And I asked one of the nurses there, I said, so are you guys staffed correctly? And she said, no. You know, and she said that they're very understaffed. So all of these state-run institutions, the private pay institutions, they're all made to make money and they're very underfunded. And the need for what you guys are doing is, you know, on a volunteer level and a professional level is so, it's such a needed thing that I think that the only way that it's ever going to change is if the church, the body of Christ in general picks up the ball and does something. Because it's the only way we're going to change the way we treat elderly people who are dying and younger people when they're dying too in our country. It's just kind of nobody wants to deal with that. It's not a glamorous thing, but I commend you guys, all of you for being a part of the training and for the calling. Lisa, your story brought me to tears. You know, I can't imagine losing your spouse and then, you know, everything that goes along with that. And then also feeling your calling from that, you know, that God brought you to, you know, a ministry. That's amazing. I pray that God blesses you in it. So let's pray. Excuse me, before you close in prayer. I'm sorry. My name is Lucretia Davis and I want to congratulate everybody on this fantastic program and a special congratulations to my sister in Christ, Jeanette Corley. It has been wonderful. I learned a lot and really my hat's off to all of you. Continue what you're doing and growing. And I know everything is going to work out okay, because I feel what I've seen and heard that God is in this and he has your back. So thanks again. And I didn't mean to, you know, butt in before the prayer. That's the encouragement of the body right there. You all have a great day. (1:00:23 - 1:02:54) We'll receive that well. Thank you. Let's pray. Precious Lord God, we just thank you for today. We thank you for all that you do, God. I thank you for each one of these individuals, God, that have felt the call to be a part of this body, God, this body that ministers in a way that it's a dark place, God, where people at the end of their life a lot of times feel no hope. We know our hope is found in you, God, in the resurrection of the living Savior, God. And we thank you for Laurel. We thank you for what you've done in her life, God, for calling her to train, God. And we praise you for the knowledge you've given her, for the ability to just press on, God, through all that she's been through. I pray for each one of the people in this course, all these names that she said, God, that your blessing and your hand would be upon them, God, that you send them out into the world, that you would order their steps, that you go before them and take them into the places that you want them to be in, God. We know that your army is there, God, and we're a part of that army, God. And we just praise you for all that you're going to do, Lord, and how you're going to direct each one of our lives and our steps. And we just praise you for what is to come, God. And we pray that even though that sometimes that the darkness seems overwhelming and that the world seems like that it's winning, God, and that Satan is controlling things, that we know that you've won the battle for us, God. And we praise you for that, Lord. We just ask your blessing on this ministry. We bless this community, God, this body that you've brought together, Lord. And we just praise you for all that you're going to do in Jesus' precious name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Good to see everyone. Thank you all. I can't wait to see you. Thank you, everyone. Cafe, collaboration, training. Okay. All right. (1:02:54 - 1:03:04) Love you all. Have a great weekend. Enjoy Thanksgiving, everyone. Thank you too. Bye-bye. Bye. Very good. Appreciate it. Mm-hmm. (1:03:05 - 1:03:10) Good stuff. Great. That was awesome.