Trust the Lord and do good - EBWU mini conference in Prague

This text from Psalm 37:3 was the theme for the Western European Conference held in Prague October 13-15. Several of the committee members had arrived already earlier that week at the beautiful buildings of the IBTS to dot the last it's and to finalise the preparations of the programme.

We also did some work in the cellars of one of the buildings, where the archive of the EBF is situated. Our women's work also can make use of this possibility. Several historical papers went through our hands and we tried to make some kind of order in them. We labelled them and left it to a volunteer from Great Britain who is working on this project to make it into a real archive.

It was good to have some time to work together before the participants came. Although a lot of preparations had been during our last committee meeting and by email, there are still items that come up the last minute, last changes have to be made and being on the spot helps to do this work.

When the start of the conference on Friday is getting close and we're getting nervous we realise that now we have to start using the theme also for ourselves; We have to trust the Lord and do good.

60 Women from Europe arrived at the IBTS and one woman from South Africa, our world president Dorothy Selebano.

As usual it is a feast of recognition when we greet each other. I always consider this as one of the wonderful mysteries of women's work. Of course, through the years, you get to know several of the women you meet. But even in those who come for the first time we can see our sisters.

In the programme each union could share the joys and sorrows they face. What impressed me most is that in spite of the fact many of the western European unions worry about whether there is a future for women's work it doesn't paralyse them in doing good. So many people and projects are being supported by prayer, help and finances. The support for mission work is still one of the biggest goals of women's work.

Maybe we should focus more on the "Trust the Lord". Dorothy Selebano led the workshop with this title. She also stressed this message in her Bible study, using many examples from her personal life. Her message and her personality worked very inspiring.

In her workshop, Dagmar Kersting, made us aware of the fact that in our busy and full lives we should take and make time to be quiet and listen to What God is telling us.

We have been creative too and made small boxes. Margun led this workshop. During the service on Sunday morning the words of encouragement which had been written earlier were divided to be put into those boxes. In due time we could collect more of those words and this box may become a real treasure box.

And it was not just these written words that made us feel encouraged by the time we returned home. Once again we have felt how valuable it is to meet each other, to share what is in our hearts, to sing and pray together and to pray for each other.

Janny Kingma

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