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Dear Sisters,
I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ! May His grace and peace be with you!
This
is the first time we meet in this magazine after Dalfsen, The
Netherlands. I hope those who were there still have great memories from
this meaningful time. We were refreshed by our Source of Inspiration -
Jesus Christ - and continue to live with Him and for Him.
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| Livija Lame |
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I
am grateful to God for all of you and for your ministry among women in
your own countries. With awe, I received an invitation to serve you as
President of EBWU Executive Committee. When I think about the future,
that has already started, and how I see my place or my mission in this
ministry, I would like to encourage women in committees and countries
to use their gifts and talents for the glory of God, for His kingdom,
to create a safe place where each could be accepted and loved. I am
grateful to the Lord for every sister from the Committee they are so
gifted and godly women. Together as a team, we can serve the Lord and
be a blessing for each of you, dear sisters, in your countries.
As we continue to pray each Monday for all countries we kindly invite
you to join us to pray together, on that day each week. When we receive
information from you, your countries, or see information on TV, we will
try to pray for more of you. My prayer is that we would be more mission
orientated women whose hearts cry for unsaved people and whose minds
work hard to think about new ways to reach women for Christ – to
use old and new strategies. Lord, give us such hearts!
As a representative from Europe, I have to take a part in WD Executive
Committee. In July we met in Prague and during the meeting spent a lot
of time completing our Strategic Plan for the next five years (if you
want to know more details, please let me know, I will send by email:
livija.lame@lbds.lv . We were also planning for our Conference in
Hawaii on July 24-27th 2010, immediately before the World Congress
28thJuly-1stAugust. Lorraine Walker, President of SWP, is the Programme
Committee Director.
Planning is in process and we are excited about women who will attend.
Perhaps it is time to start planning and to put money aside and to pray
for this big event. Please keep in prayers WD Director, Patsy Davis,
she had a serious back surgery at the end of October and is now in the
difficult recovery period. After Executive Committee meeting in Prague
was BWA Annual gathering.
Soon after again Prague – at the end of August 28-29 we had our
first EBWU Committee meeting. First of all, we had time to get to know
each other. The sisters from the committee are wonderful, gifted,
godly, busy women:
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(click to enlarge)
Wies Dijkstra from The Netherlands, Member,
Susanna Mefford from Spain, Member,
Margaret Brown from Scotland, Member,
Aniko Ujvari from Hungary, Secretary,
Elisabeth Vekas from Romania, Treasurer,
Livija Lame from Latvia, President,
Margun Warem from Norway, Vice - president.
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EBF
General Secretary, Tony Peck welcomed us to the EBF family and invited
us as EBWU to join in the big Baptist event, Amsterdam 400 in July
2009. He introduced us to the work of EBAid, as we are involved in some
aid projects. Their wish is to coordinate the groups who are in charity
work, being sensitive toward people in need. We spent some time praying
and talked about our vision of our ministry for Europe and worked some
plans out.
We want to continue our project against trafficking of women. Susana
and Margun have some experiences in their countries of this and they
are going to continue with this work. We decided to work through
various areas. We divided all countries among 5 sisters of the
committee. Aniko and myself will be in touch with all of you. We want
to keep closer relations with you, to know more and to pray more for
you. Don’t be surprised when you receive the letter from sisters
of our Committee, some of them have written already. Margaret and Wies
are very enthusiastic to work with N&V. Please, send any materials,
articles, testimonies to Margaret and Wies. In spite of economical
problems in Europe we want to make closer ties and relations with you,
to encourage and support. Our next committee meeting will be in spring
in Yerevan, Armenia, where we will also share in a women’s
conference. Please pray for us.
At the beginning of October I had the privilege to visit Poland and take part in women’s conference with the topic "Let’s start rebuilding! And they got ready to start work" (Neh.2:18).
A new Committee was elected during the conference; it gives hope to see
how the younger generation continues women’s ministry. It
was encouraging to see how much Ewa is loved among her people in her
own country, too, not only in Europe. Pray for this new Committee! |
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A
month later in November just after the Day of Prayer I had the
opportunity to visit Bulgaria. In Sofia their women’s conference
was held, their theme being, "The power of God's Word" (Psalm 119:105).
It is a great encouragement to see how people are committed to
God’s work. Here also a new Committee was elected. Didi Oprenova
as a women’s leader leads Bible study for young girls, for young
women with children, and seniors, too. Didi and her husband Teo are
pastoring a church in Sofia; they - as a couple - are a good team for
church ministry. They have constructed an Educational Centre, where
they will have enough space for the different church activities. Now
they are in a church building that is too small for their congregation,
for different activities. Let’s pray for them and for financial
means to finish this big project! Pray for their new Committee!
I want to give you some words for the coming season: Are you severely
troubled right now? Are you afraid and confused by waves God allows to
enter your life? Then look up and receive the quiet contentment of the
Lord Jesus.
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you..." (John 14:27)
On behalf of the European Committee it is that peace I wish you and
your beloved ones at Christmastime and during the year 2009.
Livija Lame
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