|
GC Women's Ministries Newsletter January 2000 EDITORIAL | NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF. . . | Archives | About WM Newsletter |
|||||||
WM - Literacy Project in Cambodia Motivating People: Let People Know When They Do Something Right Cooking School for Those Who Can't Cook
News from the World of Women's
Ministries is Director & Editor: Ardis
Stenbakken You may contact the Editor by writing: Ph: 301-680-6672
|
Women's
Ministries Literacy Project Begins in Cambodia Since visiting Cambodia in 1995, it has been Ardis Stenbakken's dream to see Women's Ministries literacy projects started in Cambodia. "I met church leaders and pastor's wives there who could not read. I knew we had to do something," she says. Such a project takes both money and leadership. In 1998, the women of the Georgia Cumberland Conference asked for a project idea. Stenbakken suggested Cambodia and the women at their retreat gave a generous offering. The project was on its way. About the same time, Linda Bauer arrived in Cambodia and voiced an interest in making a literacy project happen. Money that had been given by Adventist Laymen's Services and Industries (ASI) for another project was made available. (When personnel becomes available for that original project, the money will be replaced.) In March, 1999, Ruth Colvin, founder of Literacy Volunteers of America and a great friend and supporter of Women's Ministries literacy projects, conducted a training session for teachers in Cambodia. Pov Sovanny was one of those who attended the training in Siem Reap. Sovanny returned to Phnom Penh and began a class for five ladies in the church who could not read. These ladies became Christians four years ago. They attended Sabbath School and church each week but, unable to read, were bored and frustrated.
There are now five ladies teaching in four different provinces. Another teacher training session is taking place with eight more ladies learning how to conduct classes; two ladies will be working in two new provinces. Bauer says the greatest part of the program is that the books used contain portions of the Bible. This is a great evangelistic tool for reaching out to neighbors, family members and friends. One of the students is a cook at the Adventist Phnom Penh Elementary School and she has been seen reading the bulletin boards. She has a great big smile on her face and you can see she feels good about herself. Mrs. Rorn, a widow with four children, attends one of the literacy classes. After attending for several months she can read and write."I feel so fresh," she says. Her daughter is studying at Mission College in Thailand. Her mother wrote to tell her about the literacy class. Her daughter was so surprised and couldn't believe that is was actually her mother writing as she knew her mother could never read or write before. What happiness there is in that family now! "Now I am dreaming of the same thing happening in Pakistan, Stenbakken says. Birthe Kendel, WM director in the Trans-European Division, will be moving there next year when her husband takes over as union president. "I know Birthe could make great things happen there too. There is a huge need, both in the church and the community," notes Stenbakken. If you would like to participate in either of these projects, contact Women's Ministries. Both of these areas are in the 10/40 window, the focus of church outreach in the next few years. Motivating People
-- Let People Know When They Catching people "doing something right" is motivating. Employees thrive on approval and recognition. But many managers have difficulty being positive. "What's there to praise? They wonder. Consultant Tom Payne suggests this exercise to enhance your own awareness of another person's strengths: Whenever you are waiting in a public facility, such as an airport or a train station, or you're walking down a busy street, notice the individuals passing by and think of something good you could say about each. Perhaps you will notice someone's straight posture, another's stylish clothes, or someone else's brisk pace. Conduct the same exercise in your workplace. It focuses your attention on all there is to commend. "When you look for strength," says Payne, "you will see strengths." When you see them, let those people know. Incidentally, this works for family members, churches, and friends, too. Your New Pryor Report: Managers Edge. SOURCENOTE: Tom Payne, From the Inside Out: How to Create and Survive a Culture of Change, (1993) Performance Press of Albuquerque, 1200 Lawrence Ct., Albuquerque, NM 87123-1905, $14.95 Cooking School for Those Who Can't Cook I received an e-mail and article from my daughter, Rikki. She said, "Women's Ministries ought to do this! You could enroll people from villages and start with a small prayer/Bible verse. It's a great opportunity for the women to make connections with others when they would not normally go to a Bible study." She pointed out this could break down prejudice and make connections. And what was it she was saying we should do? Cooking schools. We often have cooking schools for those who want to learn vegetarian cooking, but what about those who can't cook at all? Rikki attached an article from the Times of Zambia; it told about a man who was planning to leave his wife because of her terrible cooking. Orphaned as a child and raised by her grandmother, Theresa cooked just like her grandmother. And many other women. When Theresa found her husband was going to leave her for another woman who could cook, she pleaded for a second chance and joined a woman's club, the Chikuse Area Development Project supported by the World Vision Zambia. "Each week women, with backgrounds similar to Theresa's, from various villages gather under a tree to listen to two homecraft instructors talk about cooking methods they had never thought possible. The impact was almost immediate." Theresa learned not only how to cook, but how to bake and sew. And they lived happily ever after. Or at least Theresa's husband is no longer wanting to leave her. And Theresa is now in leadership in the development project, helping other women and working in small enterprise development. I think Rikki is right this project could work. - Ardis Stenbakken
Have you thought about a support group or special ministry to the women in your church who live with chronic illness or pain? Or to those who serve as care givers to these people? One in three people in the United States has a chronic illness and 26 million live daily with chronic pain. Internationally, statistics would be about the same. This is often a time when they are looking to the church for support. A recent study showed that 49% of women who were diagnosed with cancer responded by becoming "more religious." Suppose your church would set up a program where someone would come in to be with the ill person once a week so that the care giver could have some time off? Maybe even attend church? Or a women's support group for care givers? Or a Bible study group? If such a ministry were extended to non-church members in the community, think of the impact that would have! A resource: Rest Ministries, Inc., P O Box 502886, San Diego, CA 92150 or check them out on the web: restministries.org Another resource for care givers: The Resourceful Caregiver. Order by calling the National Family Caregivers Association at 1-800-896-3650.
|
||||||
