WoW: Women of the Word

 Sarah:

On Saturday the women had a women's conference at the BMS base called Women of the Word. The men met with some local group leaders to encourage and support them. It was a blessing for the team to not have to travel today and we had time this morning to start the day with our own Three Thirds meeting after a yummy breakfast of toast, butter, jam (which is more like jelly), bananas (in season and locally grown) and cold porridge (surprisingly good!).

We prayed together and read the passage about the Ethiopian official who Phillip helped to understand scripture (Acts 8) after which followed some really interesting discussions. We each reflected on our time yesterday and what we had learned from our visits to the village with some sharing they'd felt really humbled by the simplicity of life we saw but also the respect we were shown. The passage encouraged us all to be ready to give answers to anyone who asks or needs the gospel explaining, believers and non-believers alike. I was particularly challenged by Phillip's obedience when he was told to go he went. My action point was to share my testimony again today which I later had an opportunity to do with an amazing older lady called Dorothy. 

The women's meeting supposedly started at 11 but actually began more like 11:20 as timings seem to be a lot more flexible here. I led us in worship with one song that we sang in both English and Bengali. And then Nicola, Su and Tracy became Mary, Martha and Jesus in a drama as Jane read out the story. They acted it out very well, using a sweep from our room and pans from the kitchens! We then played a few icebreaker games which definitely woke everyone up - some women were super competitive and there was a lot of laughing!

Saba shared a word about the simplicity of prayer: many people were moved and encouraged to be honest and direct with God as he knows our needs and desires. One lady shared later with me that she was particularly encouraged when Saba shared the blind man's story where Jesus asks, "What do you want?" and he responds, "I want to see." She was telling me what she would say if she had just 60 seconds to talk to Jesus. Jodie shared from Romans 8 about how we are children of God and can come to him as daughters in prayer. God's love for us enables us to be filled with courage and pray boldly. I shared a 10 minute talk on how the spirit leads us in prayer. When the enormity of a situation feels too big to have words to pray, the spirit speaks through us! Gill shared before lunch too how we are masterpieces and we can let him define us instead of so often letting our environment shape us. Lots of people related to this and we had a really moving time of prayer in response.

On a side not the homemade biryani for lunch was amazing... And we had our first sighting of a man!  

In the afternoon the women continued the meeting but we went into smaller discussion groups to read the Bible, Big Life style! The three thirds model asks 4 main questions of the scripture (What do you like? What challenges you? What does this say about God? What does this say about people?). I loved sitting with the women and hearing such inspirational stories and amazing reflections on prayer. One lady was facing abuse from her neighbours and family at home for being a Christian but was holding tight to Jesus through prayer. I really enjoyed being involved with this community today, it was such a privilege to worship together, to pray together and have a laugh together. I felt really connected to the women in the room and have been particularly inspired by their commitment to Jesus, to prayer and to each other in hard times. What a day!