“That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building.” Ephesians 2:19 The Message
“You (women) were deliberately created by God to bear His image… knit together in your mother’s womb… He who knit you, loves you. You are precious in His sight and nothing on earth can take that away. No wrongdoing, no suffering, no mistreatment can erase those truths about you. You may experience abuse, be ignored, but He sees you. These truths cannot be undone because they are eternal truths.”
Several times a year, Women in the Window hosts a “Gather and Grow” Seminar to provide training on a topic that informs and empowers all our WiW ministry partners across the globe. In May our Gather and Grow featured the highly esteemed, Dr. Diane Langberg as she spoke on two topics, “Woman, Beloved of God,” and “Care for the Caregiver.”
This time, I had the privilege of listening to Diane with the Yazidi women in Iraq, as she said, “God not only created you, but He wants you. Nothing can remove or destroy that truth.”
The young Yazidi women who have experienced the rage of ISIS and the torment of a culture that cheapens their value to external and fleeting beauty, were deeply moved by Diane’s message. They sat silently listening and connecting the truth she brought us with the Truth of God’s Word we learned earlier that very day as we unpacked the chapter, Beauty that Lasts, from Essentials. Her words nourished and transformed their souls with hope.
Listen to this testimony from our ministry partner, Nada Haddad, of NEO Women, regarding the incredible transformation experienced by our Women in the Window Essentials training and Gather & Grow seminar with Dr. Diane Langberg:
One of these young women came on the first day with a very sad face. At the end of the retreat her face started to shine, and we could see the smile on it. She even styled her hair and applied some make up. We learn that if we give the girls around us a small glimpse of hope, their lives can change dramatically.
June heralds World Refugee Day (June 20th) and International Widow’s Day(June 23rd) and provides a wonderful opportunity for each of us, and all of us collectively to communicate this very same message to the refugees and widows served by WiW all year long.
We recently completed an Advocacy Training with South Sudanese women refugees on Bidibidi Refugee Settlement in Uganda. And a micro-business training for widows in the Horn of Africa. See more of their photos below.
Recognize and embrace this truth: you are beloved by God. Allow this truth to penetrate your soul, and energize your life to give, go and serve this Savior with Women in the Window:
“You were deliberately created by God to bear His image… knit together in your mother’s womb… He who knit you, loves you. You are precious in His sight and nothing on earth can take that away.”
Yours because I’m His,
Kim
P.S. Jackline Odhiambo, Founding Director of Nyanam International will be here in South Florida the last week of July. Interested in meeting Jackie? REPLY to this email and we will send you specifics of her visit! HOPE to see you soon!!
