FLORIDA — As the Billings Ovulation Method® is an international method with experts in many parts of the world, the United States affiliate (BOMA-USA) frequently brings in speakers from other countries for their conferences.
Despite the stiff cost of airfare, thanks to the generosity of one of their board members, Dr Lek-Lim Chan of Kuching, Malaysia and Gillian Barker of Melbourne, Australia who were two of this year’s featured speakers. Dr Pilar Vigil of Santiago, Chile, an international speaker, was the third.
This year’s BOMA-USA conference took place over the first weekend of June at the Tampa Airport Marriott Hotel in Florida. Attendees travelled from 22 states across the United States, three providences of Canada and the islands of Trinidad and Tobago to update themselves on the latest science and methodology of the Billings Method™.
Some of the feedback included, “It was challenging – in a good way. New information / science gives me new talking points with my clients.”
Following the conference, Dr Chan was invited to give a Billings Method™ teacher update for the Diocese of St Cloud in Central Minnesota. Known for its strong history of teaching the Billings Ovulation Method® during marriage preparation and having a reputation for being one of the best programmes in the United States, Dr Chan willingly agreed to spend a day with the teachers.
Longtime BOM teacher, Cathy Bahmer said, “It was wonderful to hear from a speaker of his caliber here. He reiterated much information that we already have but at the same time clarified some things that can really help us help couples. This method is really for everybody, not just Catholics. It’s just that our faith enhances and encourages it.”
Diocesan NFP Coordinator, Sheila Reineke said, “We are seeing more irregular cycles, more infertility than we have in the past for various reasons; contraceptive use, nutrition, lifestyles, and what Lek-Lim shared will help us to better serve our clients.”
Reineke added, “Natural family planning (NFP) allows us to develop our virtue and trust in God’s plan for our lives. I think this is very important in today’s culture where it’s often the ‘my way or the highway’ attitude. NFP also allows us to respect the laws of nature and cooperate with the design of our bodies.”
Susan Ek
Today’s Catholic Vol.28 No.5 August 2016
