Be Courageous and Grateful

For almost two years we, Angelika Pfaller, director of the Women's Ministries department of the North German and South German Unions, and Gabi Waldschmidt, her assistant, had been planning and organising a weekend for women of all ages in Friedensau. Heather-Dawn Small, Director of the Women’s Ministries at the General Conference, was invited as speaker. She very much wanted to visit the women in Germany and especially the women in the North German Union. Everything was prepared, the guest house was reserved to capacity, so that some participants had to look for more accommodation in the surrounding pensions and hotels. We expected 120 women. A blessed, successful weekend with Heather-Dawn awaited us. It was to be a weekend of encounter with God, as well as a weekend of meeting old and new friends.
Exactly today, May 16, we would have celebrated the Sabbath together in Friedensau. But how quickly such a tiny little virus can unhinge everything, and suddenly all plans are disrupted! We received many sad mails after the cancellation of the weekend.
So it is all the more wonderful that, thanks to modern technology, we had the opportunity to spend time together today. Via Zoom, Heather-Dawn, Dagmar Dorn (Director of the Women's Ministries Department at EUD), Marion Graser (translator), Dany Canedo (director of the Women's Department in the Mid-Rhine Conference, this time responsible for technology) and Angelika Pfaller, sitting in their living or study rooms, met for a video conference. Women and also some men from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and even Norway joined in, so that we were a group of at least 60 people who met to listen to Heather-Dawn's presentation.
Her message – “Be Courageous and Grateful| Eucharisteo = Thank You” - hit exactly the mark in the current situation of the Covid 19 pandemic and our restricted life due to it. Heather-Dawn spoke, among other things, about the fact that we are special to God (Psalm 139:16), that we are not alone (Zephaniah 3:17), that the pain will pass away (1 Peter 5:10) and that what awaits us is worth every tear (Revelation 21:3.4) and that Jesus will return (Revelation 22:20). Her words of encouragement were received with gratitude and joy by those who listened to her. This was also expressed in retrospect in the feedback by mail and telephone as well as messages on Threema and WhatsApp. Many women would like to see such video meetings more often. It was nice to be so close despite the physical distance and to get involved in the love and goodness of God together. Thanks to all for being there. Angelika Pfaller