EBWU Committee meeting in Malta, March 2014

Synnove AngenSynnove Angen

In March 2014, EBWU committee members came from different places in Europe to meet on the island of Malta.

Malta is a southern European country in the Mediterranean Sea. The country covers just over 316 km2, making it one of the world's smallest and most densely populated countries.

Malta has a long Christian legacy, according to tradition it was brought to the island by the Apostle Paul himself. In the Bible we can read that Paul when he was being taken to Rome to be tried as a political rebel, the ship carrying him and 274 others was caught in a violent storm, only to be wrecked two weeks later on the Maltese coast. All passengers were saved. The site of the wreck is known as St. Paul’s Bay and is marked by a statue on a very small island off the coast in the bay.

St. Paul's bay with statue on the island that Paul shipwrackedSt. Paul's bay with statue on the island that Paul shipwracked

In Acts. 28.1- 2 we can read: Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness… We had the same experience of kindness! Our Maltese friends arranged it so that we could live and have our board meeting in a church/ fellowship-place in the midst of Mosta, nearby their church. In every break we enjoyed going into the garden looking at and smelling (and for some sampling) the fruit of the lemon trees; it was really exotic for several of us!!

Some of the participants of the meetingSome of the participants of the meeting

It is always a joy meeting the sisters in the committee, after only communicating on email for several months. Having the opportunity to talk together, pray together, share joys and sorrows with each other, sharing the contact we have had with dear sisters around Europe and praying for individuals and for the various women’s unions we represent, is a wonderful blessing. The on going civil war in Syria and the political challenges in Ukraine were in a special way these days lifted up to our Lord in prayer. “Lord, in every need let us come to You with humble trust saying, Jesus help us”

EBWU committeeEBWU committee

Saturday we had the privilege of meeting some of the local Christian women. We were welcomed into a room decorated in spring colours of green and yellow. One of the youths in the church, had made and put cards with Bible verses on every table in the room. On the card lying on my table, she had taken the text from Isaiah 43.19: “See, I am doing a new thing, now it Springs up.” Another table was decorated with a beautiful bouquet of yellow lilies and it was set up with cakes and goodies that we ate while we small talked with the local women. We exchanged personal information and several of us got new Facebook-friends during the meeting.

After a time of small talk we sang praises to the Lord and all we members of the Committee introduced ourselves, told some small personal stories or shared some Bible verses that have a special meaning in our own lives. Finally our president Aniko Ujvari held a devotional from Acts 16 where she spoke about Lydia, the first woman convert to Christianity in Europe, of how she opened her mind, her heart and her home, and was used by God.

We are pleased and greatful for having this opportunity to meet the local Christian women, in different age groups, experiencing that God is working amongst the Maltese people and learning about some of the work they are doing.

We thank Sylvia Caruana and her husband reverend Edwin (in The Evangelical Baptist Church of Malta) for planning our stay, helping us with practical matters and giving us a sight-seeing tour around the island. May God richly bless their work amongst the Maltese people.

 

Synnove Angen, EBWU committee member