David and Carol Berg, of Minneapolis, began their time in Arizona hiking the red rocks of Sedona, then they attended a week of Lutherhostel at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree, and returned to the famous red rocks for the Sedona film festival.
This was the first time they attended the Lutherhostel retreat. They were so pleased with the experience, they are planning on attending again.
Carol said, “For me, the highlight of the retreat was Dr. Diane Jacobsen’s sessions exploring the Biblical theme of Water is life … Water is death.” The subject is particularly relevant for Carol because of contemporary water issues and her concern, as a public health nurse, about water and health needs. Prior to working in public health positions in Minnesota, she worked in nursing education and community health for the Malagasy Lutheran Church (through the ELCA) for ten years in Madagascar. She continues to volunteer periodically in Madagascar where serious water challenges are being addressed.
Asked what he was hoping for at the retreat, David said, “My expectations weren’t well defined but I wanted an experience that would stretch me and that happened.” David was born on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in South Dakota and started the Native American studies program at South High School in Minneapolis where he taught and coached for 13 years. David then served as a chaplain at Lutheran Deaconess Hospital and Fairview-University Medical Center for 30 years in adolescent chemical dependency/mental health followed by palliative care chaplaincy. David said he especially enjoyed and benefited from conversations on meaningful subjects with other retreaters.
Both Carol and David thought that the retreat’s worship sessions were exceptional and inspiring. They were familiar with the worship leaders, Mary Preus and Tom Witt, and they like Mary and Tom’s energetic style of leading and involving the group in contemporary songs and traditional hymns.
Carol has been retired for two years and David retired seven years ago. They are taking full advantage of “third chapter” opportunities to learn and grow mentally and spiritually.
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