A Review of the 2021 Arizona Conference, Received on the Feastday of St. Kosmas

A Review of the 2021 Saint Kosmas Conference in Arizona, received by our organization on the feast of Saint Kosmas:

With much hesitancy, we booked our place in the 2021 Saint Kosmas Orthodox Education Conference. “Our children are older...and so indifferent. They’re probably not going to meet anyone their age…Who are we kidding? We’ve never really homeschooled the right way, much less in a truly pious Orthodox manner…We really have no business being there.” These were some of the thoughts that recycled through my mind. How wrong I was to have entertained such tormenting notions! I could write three separate essays: one on the terrific accommodations at the Gold Canyon Golf Resort, another on the wonderfully prepared Lenten meals, and yet a more elaborate description of the UN-BE-LIEVE-A-BLE and PRICE-LESS lectures. The entire conference turned out to be an incredible experience of encouragement, recreation, recalibration, conviction, and tremendous joy. I was especially delighted to visit each one of the vendors; so powerfully equipped! In the end, the children had a fantastic time. On the drive back to Los Angeles, the children expressed that this conference is the place they found true, life-long friends. I was blown away but didn’t show it; I just thanked God. If you think this conference is not for you, you’re wrong! This conference is for everybody, and as a former LAUSD middle school teacher, I mean EVERYBODY! As I write this, there are three teenagers checking in on me, inquiring if I’ve yet signed us up for the 2022 conference. Now that’s an endorsement if I ever saw one! My deepest appreciation goes out to all the unseen hands that make this super-production happen. Thank you!

Claudia Zait