GC Women's Ministries Newsletter                                                             September 2001

Moving!!! A word that can bring fear to the most courageous women. Yet for many of us it is something we have done over and over again. This move however has been one of the most challenging for my family and I, but with God's help and the prayers of friends and family, both in the US and back home in Trinidad and Tobago, it is one that we will survive.

Coming to America has been filled with joy and sorrow. Joy at the opportunity to work for God in a wider field, the chance to be nearer to family and friends and sorrow at leaving one's home and family behind. Yet change is an inevitable part of life. So many of us wish we could just live our lives from day to day without any major upheavals. But change does come.

Change!!! A word that brings fear to the most courageous of people. Change is not something we accept readily but it is also not something we can avoid. When I think of Women's Ministries I think of change. And for many persons it has been welcomed and for some dreaded.

For women who were content to sit on the pew and be ministered to, it has meant standing and becoming ministers. For women who were drowning in problems and privation it has meant hope and joy. For women who were searching for an identity in this world it has meant finding their place as daughters of God. And the list goes on.

In the Caribbean Women's Ministries came at the right time and has swept through our union on wings of prayer. God has used all who were willing and receptive to His leading to bring joy and spiritual renewal to many lives - male and female. It has meant change for so many people. Some of the change has been easy and exciting but some has been hard. The battles have been fought, mostly on our knees, and most have been victorious in Jesus.

But we have just begun. You see change, though much resisted, must take place if battles are to be won. Women preaching the Word, ministering to those in need, discipling new members, organizing seminars for personal development and all the other areas we are involved in is all part of us fulfilling our mission as a church. Every member of the body of Jesus must be involved.

As with moving, Women's Ministries has meant new direction, new challenges, adjustments, learning to be pliable, changing our vision and focus and learning to rely on Jesus to be our guide. Without the help of friends to help us with a move it would be almost impossible. Finding a new home, bank, family doctor etc. would be such a struggle. Well in Women's Ministries we have had to learn to depend on Jesus to guide us through unchartered waters. He has helped us find a place in fulfilling the mission of our church, opened doors for our service, provided funds for our programs and most importantly inspired women with a vision of what we must accomplish for Him, each other and our church.

Oh, the challenges and obstacles will always be there but the victory is assured. So, I take heart in knowing that someday soon my family and I will have settled into our new life in the US, and things will not seem so strange or intimidating. And that gives me courage for Women's Ministries. Change will come and in the case of Women's Ministries it has come. It is one change I have welcomed and rejoiced in. What about you? Are you still trying to settle into Women's Ministries, or have rejected it entirely. Don't worry, it's not too late to change. Join us in this new and exciting ministry to women and families as we surrender our wills to God's leading and enjoy a fuller life. - end

News from the world of . . .

South Pacific Division:
Creating Love was the theme of the South Queensland Women's retreat and every decoration, meeting, prayer time, and special focus, was centered on that theme. There was also a beautifully decorated prayer room. Kay Kuzma was the speaker; about 400 attended on Sabbath, many coming to a retreat for the first time, and many were non-Adventist.

One woman, from an abusive childhood and marriage, said she cried and laughed the entire weekend and went home with renewed courage and confidence in the Lord, of whom she had lost sight.

Southern Africa Union:
At the time of the Celebration of Women held at the General Conference Headquarters in March, an offering was taken for several projects. No project was designated for Southern Africa but $92 in donations were given for that union anyway. Ivy Petersen, the director for Women's Ministries reports how she is using that money, which exchanged for 734 Rand. "Patricia Fillies is a 35 year old church member living in Bloemfontein. She has a husband, three children, a BA degree, and is studying for a diploma in social science. In 1997 a social worker friend asked her to care for an orphan with AIDS. Three months later, the child, whom she had grown to love, died in her arms. More followed. She now has 22 AIDS orphans, 8 of whom have been diagnosed HIV positive (the rest are still uncertain) in her small township home. She has her eye on a property near the SAU headquarters that would be ideal for her project and give space to take in more children. It costs R90,000 but she is convinced the Lord will open the way for her to get it."

Petersen writes, "I heard about her and invited her to attend our WM Advisory in May and to tell her story. Two weeks before the Advisory she had a mastectomy, and the cancer is still far from gone. She had now lost all her hair after chemo. Her story is so bright and inspiring and we were all deeply touched.

"She receives no welfare help whatsoever because the children do not possess birth certificates. I don't know how on earth she manages. A local newspaper and television have told a bit of her story. I passed on the $92 and she thanked us profusely."

If you would like to help with this project, or any other that you read about in these newsletters, you may send your contribution here to the GC Women's Ministries. You will be sent a tax deductible receipt and 100% of your money will go to that project.

Southern Asia Division:
Shirley John, a student at Spicer Memorial College, wanted to get involved in some sort of project. She worked with Falvo Fowler, director of Family First Educational Trust as to the best plan. She decided to make available the Malayalam translation of the book Steps to Christ in HTML format. Remarkably, she learned the program and typed the book in just two months. You may access it through www.tagnet.org/familyfirst/malayalam.