UMCN Women's Fellowship Meeting
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Pearl writes about the obstacles the women in Nigeria endure to study and praise God. What faith and love they show. May we remember them and not complain when we endure some inconveniences to serve the Lord. Pearl writes:
"A couple weeks ago the UMCN Women's Fellowship had their annual meeting at Zailani, which is less then an hour from here. There were easily 5000 to 10000 women there all seated in the shape of an open square. In other words, it could be described as a square stadium with a large open space in the middle for activities. Chuck thinks the open area in the middle was about the size of a small baseball field one might use for kids. They had put many poles into the ground acting as uprights. Other poles were lashed to them to form the support beams for the roof. The roof itself was made of the grass mats that they use around their compounds-probably 2-3000 mats. I would suppose the depth of each side was 20-30 ft. My guess is that the length of each of the three sides was about 100 ft. The fourth side is where the speakers and more "important" people sat and was not as big. They had an occasional light strung throughout. There was also an amplification system. A small generator was used for both systems. I don't think most of the women could have heard anything without it. This was held at the local primary schoolyard.
The women slept in the school buildings on the floors or outside on the ground. Esther, the lady who works for me, stayed the whole time-Wednesday evening to Sunday around noon. They not only took their clothes, but also their food. If they had babies on the breast, they took them too. The opportunists took advantage of the potential market. The merchants did not waste their time in being there because the women bought food, drinks, trinkets, or books, etc. Those women endured many hardships to be there.
Though the harmattan was heavy and blotted out the worst of the sun, it was still very hot and dusty. I was filthy and sweaty after just one day. Just think, these women traveled many miles by public transportation, slept on the floor or ground, had to cook food, had little access to water, cared for little ones, and endured the heat and dirt.
The positive side is that they got to hear preaching, sing songs, put on skits, listen to singing groups, have singing competitions, have wonderful Christian fellowship with each other, and encouragement. The theme for that time came from
Proverbs 3:3-4. "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man." NIV.Someone even composed a song using those words. These meetings in Nigeria got their start by a few women going camping for a time of spiritual reflection. Whoever did it did a marvelous thing. May God be praised!”
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