Should receiving a gift hurt so bad?

 A month ago my daughter and I were visiting with friends and the ladies asked if my daughter and I would like to go to Living Proof Live with Beth Moore October 29 to 31.
I asked what it was about and who this person was.  They told us all about it and encouraged us to come. I asked how much it was going to be and it was well over $100.00 per person plus food and on top of the 100 mile drive to Spokane and 100 miles back every day.
I said we would love to come but would of needed much more time to save for such a venture.  (LIKE A YEAR)  The friends then offered to let my daughter and I come and fill in the last two spots they had at no charge.  All we would need to do was pay for our food.  All the other costs were taken care of.
I accepted thankfully and was looking forward to going.

EVENT DETAILS

Featured Guests Registration Info Requirement Info Schedule Location Info More Info Back To Top
	Living Proof Live with Beth Moore Spokane Arena, Spokane, WA Friday, October 29, 2010 - Saturday, October 30, 2010 Featured Guests Back To Top Beth Moore is a speaker and author of best-selling Bible studies and other books for women. Beth is a woman of purpose, preparation, prayer, and passion. It's apparent in everything she does, from teaching her weekday class at Houston's First Baptist Church to speaking to the thousands of women who attend her Living Proof conferences each year. Read more about Beth... Travis Cottrell and praise team are musicians from the Nashville, TN, area. Travis is a contemporary Christian singer, arranger, and worship leader. He uses a blended style of worship in leading churches, student conferences, and events such as Living Proof Live with Beth Moore. Some of Travis's recent musical projects include Jesus Saves: Live, the 3:16 Worship Musical, The Lamb Has Overcome for Living Proof Live, and the live worship project Alive Forever. He and his wife Angela, who often ministers with him, are also songwriters. For more information about Travis visit LifeWay's Travis Cottrell page. Travis is accompanied by the "praise team," an awesome group of singers and musicians, all immensely talented, serving out their passion to worship the Living God. Registration Information Back To Top Register by Phone: Call LifeWay Events Registration toll free at 800.254.2022 Register by Fax: Fax your information to: 615.251.3730. Register by Mail: Mail your information to: Living Proof Live P.O. Box 24001 Nashville, TN 37202 All seating is general admission, $60.00 per person. ASL interpreting available for the deaf / hearing impaired. Wristband(s) are mailed to each registering individual or group to be worn for admission to the event. Cancellation Policy If you wish to cancel your registration 30 or more days before the event, you will receive a refund of 50% of your conference fees (does not apply to lodging charges). There is no refund if cancellation is received less than 30 days before the event. We encourage you to take advantage of the ministry opportunity to transfer your registration to another person, or you may apply your registration to another similar LifeWay event. Videotaping Policy During this event, LifeWay will be videotaping, audio taping, and photographing. Most likely, you will be filmed, recorded or photographed as part of the audience or individually. By your attendance, you are granting your permission to be videotaped, audiotaped, or photographed for commercial purposes and agree to the following:  being recorded, filmed, videotaped, or photographed by any means; commercial or any other use of your likeness, voice and words without compensation; specifically waving all rights of privacy during the videotaping, filming, recording  or photographing and release LifeWay Christian Resources from liability for loss, damage, or compensation from the commercial or other use of your likeness, image, voice or word; compliance with all rules and regulations of LifeWay for this event. ATTENDEE HOTELS RESERVATION & CODE ROOM RATE DISTANCE TO VENUE INCLUDED Red Lion Hotels - Spokane 303 W North River Drive Spokane, WA 99201 800-733-5466 Code: LifeWay / Living Proof Live $129.00 across the street Overnight Parking is $7 shuttle service to airport, high-speed wireless Holiday Inn Express Downtown Spokane 801 N Division Spokane WA 99202 888-465-4329 Code: LifeWay / Living Proof Live $109.00 3 blocks Parking, breakfast buffet, concierge shuttle to/from event venue. Fairbridge Inn Express 211 S Division Spokane WA 99202 888-271-4190 Code: LifeWay / Living Proof Live $89.95 .5 miles Deluxe breakfast, internet, parking The Davenport Hotel & Tower 10 S Post Street Spokane, WA 99201 800-899-1482 Code: LifeWay / Living Proof Live $150 for Tower Deluxe only < 1 mile Wireless local calls and wireless internet, 2-mile radius town car service. Comfort Inn - University District / Downtown 928 E 3rd Ave Spokane, WA 99202 509-535-9000 Code: LifeWay / Living Proof Live $89.00 1.5 miles 20-item Breakfast, parking & airport shuttle Stratford Suites, 11808 W Center Lane Airway Heights, WA 99001 509-321-1600 / Code: "Living Proof Live / LifeWay" $99 to $105 9 miles Full kitchen, Airport shuttle, Free Laundry Facility, wi-fi / phone calls (US) Requirement Info Back To Top You Lead: Pre-Conference is a training event designed to help you effectively reach and disciple women for Christ. The focus is life-changing discipleship that leads women into a life that reflects Christ... through their thoughts, words, and actions. Come as a woman who is seeking how God would want to use her to lead women in the church, or bring your womens ministry team for leading-edge training in spiritual growth, discipleship, evangelism, missions, and prayer. Dream Gods dream for the women of your church. We can, with the Holy Spirits leadership, begin and continue to build a balanced ministry with women in today's culture that has eternal value. Under the leadership of our LifeWay women's specialists and ministry multipliers, your entire team can get motivated, inspired, and encouraged in their ministry to women after attending YOU LEAD. For more information, see the You Lead: Pre-Conference page. Schedule Back To Top Friday 6:00 PM Doors Open 7:00 PM Event Begins 9:30 PM Dismiss 7:30 AM Doors Open 8:30 AM Event Resumes 10:00 AM Break 10:30 AM Event Resumes 12:00 PM Event Concludes Location Information Back To Top Spokane Arena 720 West Mallon Avenue Spokane, WA 99201 Map Link: Spokane Arena For More Information Back To Top Contact LifeWay Registration at: Telephone: 800.254.2022

LOOKS LIKE A GREAT EVENT DOESN'T"T IT?


As the time of the event neared I messaged my friends who invited us to come about departure and suggestions on what to bring along.  
No one answered.
I then called and left messages once a day for the last four days.  
No call backs. 
I knew from hearing another friend who did not know I was invited talk about the event that they all were leaving early this morning for Spokane and that no one had bothered to let us know.

I was struck dumb!  What should I have done different?

When we give such a gift is there a responsibility for the person receiving to make more of an effort to receive?


I could really use some input on this.