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Big on Servanthood
by Nancy Dunbar
It has been a desire of mine for a few years to do something for the women and women leaders in our district, especially the pastor's wives. Until now, I never had the resources or extra help to make it happen. “With All My Heart” was much more than just the week’s theme as several capable, loving North American women gave of themselves to women in Ecuador.
The 5-woman VISA team from Crossroads Community FMC, Rochester, NY, was here for eight days in March. We’ve never had a team from that far east, and we’ve never had a team of all women before. It was great to see Ruth, Dianne, Ellen, Ginny and Luanne interact with the women and the Ecuadorian women enjoy being on the receiving end of ministry. The team lost a day in Houston, then spent the night in Guayaquil before actually arriving on Wednesday the 8th ... the same day we had our first tea planned for the south Quito FMC!! I was busy baking Jell-O cakes and frosted heart cookies, had purchased the cream cheese, cucumbers and lunch meat for cheese/meat rolls and cream cheese/cucumber triangle sandwiches, and tuna fish to top crackers. They liked the food ideas (whew!), but I told them I felt a bit like Saul going ahead with the sacrifice instead of waiting for Samuel's presence ... since I was using their team funds! After a fast orientation around our dining table we worked on the final preparations, organized craft supplies they'd brought, ate a quick sandwich lunch, and headed out the door to south Quito, an hour away - not forgetting to pick up some homemade appetizers on the way! It was a beautiful success, as was each of the three teas that followed. Many women who attended the teas were first-time visitors.
It was a full eight days. In addition to hosting a tea in each of the four Quito churches, we had a women's leaders retreat Friday night through Saturday night. This included bringing women in from two other provinces where we have FM churches. It gave them the opportunity to share their hearts with one another in large and small group moments. Both tears and laughter were shared there, and it was a beautiful success. When it was time for the team to leave, I felt like I was saying good-bye to friends I'd just met at summer camp. It really was a great, if busy, time. They were a perfect fit for the ministry they had and drew me in as part of their team. Their personalities were such an asset, and they ranged in age from 40s to mid 70s. They also ranged in years-knowing-the-Lord from about two to 60 years, with each one using a specific area of giftedness to bless others. I managed not to cry but did have that WOW feeling as I looked at the women at the retreat and realized what the Lord had done through this special VISA team who were spunky, sweet and big on servanthood. Thank you, Lord, for servants like these!
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