Woman of Vision from North Carolina Speaks in World Vision Staff Chapel

You never know what God has in store!

Carolyn Hudson, a member of the Charlotte chapter of Women of Vision, spoke today and inspired the entire World Vision staff, at their weekly chapel services.

Carolyn visited Guatemala with Women of Vision, and, found her life changed forever by what she witnessed there. Specifically, Carolyn visited women whose lives had been greatly improved, due to a micro-loan. Micro-loans enable hard-working women (and men!) to start businesses that sustain their families and greatly enhance their quality of life.

How might the Lord use YOU one day?
How do you HOPE he uses you?

HOTM Lesson Two - Group Study Questions

Lesson 2: The Curtain that Veils Poverty
Considering our world today. . ..

The San people are descendants of those who lived in what is now South Africa and Botswana. They are the original human inhabitants of the sub-Saharan Africa.

The San were hunter-gathers, and some of them still survive in small numbers in the Kalahari Desert. They are small in stature, their skin is brown, and they use unique ‘click’ languages.

In response to hearing the gospel story, a San woman sitting around a campfire in the Kalahari Desert said she felt it is possible that God would let His Son die for a white man and maybe for a black man, but she could never believe God would allow His Son to die for a San woman. In her marred image, she saw herself as having no value and had no idea why she had been created. She was twisted by the ‘poverty of being.’ This state of mind and heart can become permanent.

Questions. . .Comments?
1. What might have influenced this woman to see herself this way?
2. What do you think it means by the ‘poverty of being?’ Can that happen in America?
3. What do you think is needed to help someone recover from this kind of poverty?
4. Is there a story in the gospel that you would like to share with this San woman to help her understand God’s love for her?

Rani Hong: Sold Into Slavery at the Age of Seven

Chapter members are looking forward to a meeting with Rani Hong this weekend, to discuss the participation of Rani and Trong Hong, in our upcoming:
Find Your Voice....Break the Chain
Conference on Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery.

Rani was kidnapped and sold into slavery, in India, at the age of 7.

Meanwhile, at the age of 9, Trong was recruited to become a child soldier in Vietnam.

Unthinkable??? Absolutely.

Yet it did happen, and, still happens today.

We must DO SOMETHING.

Join us in Gig Harbor on June 5th, to hear Rani & Trong's stories, and, learn about these issues, and, arm ourselves with ways to take action.

Read the full bio for Rani and Trong Hong, and register for the conference at: www.wovsps.org.

April Devotions: Inspired by Leeland - "Follow You"

This is our prayer, for each of us, for each of you. How fitting that this video happens to focus on the beautiful people of Cambodia, the very country we seek to impact with our support for micro-lending projects, which enables women and men to support their families and avoid the dangers of human trafficking and child slavery.

We closed our April leadership meeting with this beautiful song.

HOTM Lesson One - Group Study Questions

Welcome to those of you who are participating the Heart of the Matter study group this spring!

Here are some questions for reflection, from Lesson Number One: Imitating Christ

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  John 13:34 (NIV)

We all know this verse. It is probably one of the first verses we memorized as a child. Wow…it is so much easier to memorize than live it out! As the study guide mentioned, it is easy to love those around us, but what happens when we are asked to widen the circle of our loving relationships to strangers in our communities and people we’ve never met? Or harder yet. . . those who have different views than us!

Please pray through this scripture this week and see what God is saying to you in regards to loving your neighbor. As the study mentions, the command Jesus gave His apostles makes it clear that we are not only to love, but love as Jesus loves us. This is someone who washed feet as well as sacrificed his life.

Let’s share our thoughts on the following questions:
1. Who is my neighbor?
2. What does loving them look like?
3. How do I respond?

"Give Mommy a Break!" Service Opportunity, Saturday May 8th

Local Service Opportunity with Network Tacoma
Saturday, May 8, 2010, 9am - Noon
SPS Chapter partners and friends are invited to participate in a local service opportunity! We will be serving coffee, tea, muffins and bagels to moms and kids involved in the Network Tacoma program. We will then give the moms a break by providing babysitting for the children until noon.

RSVP's are requested to participate in this activity. Please indicate whether you can participate for the entire morning, or if you prefer to take a 90 minute shift starting at either 9am or 10:30am. If you wish to carpool, please indicate that as well.

Location: Network Tacoma Offices, 5435 South M Street, Tacoma  MAP

Registration Now Open! Find Your Voice...Break the Chain -- Human Trafficking Conference

The Women of Vision South Puget Sound Chapter, with support from Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church, is pleased to announce that Registration is Open for its first ever conference. Please join us, and please spread the word!! 

Find Your Voice...Break the Chain

A Conference on Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery
www.wovsps.org

(Click on image to enlarge)

Booths/Registration opens at 8:00am, with program starting at 9:00

Cost is $40, including boxed lunch

Program ends at 4:15pm, with information booths staying open until 5:00