A weekend for Russian-speaking women has been offered by the Central Rhenish Conference for over 10 years. Now, the Baden-Württemberg and Bavarian Conferences have also set out to make this special time available to more women. And what a blessing it was!
Every woman can probably relate to what went through my mind when I thought about leaving my family alone for a weekend and going away. Cleaning the house, doing laundry, preparing dinner, laying out clothes for the Sabbath, baking for the summer festival, and finding a substitute for the children's Sabbath school - the list seemed endless. As a mother, wife, and active church member, there is a lot to do every day, and you always want to give your best for your family, church, and community. You often forget about yourself. Time with God is often postponed or remains at a child’s level.
I often think of a quote from Ellen White: "Provide Laborsaving Facilities—In many a home the wife and mother has no time to read, to keep herself well informed, no time to be a companion to her husband, no time to keep in touch with the developing minds of her children. There is no time or place for the precious Saviour to be a close, dear companion. Little by little she sinks into a mere household drudge, her strength and time and interest absorbed in the things that perish with the using. Too late she awakes to find herself almost a stranger in her own home. The precious opportunities once hers to influence her dear ones for the higher life, unimproved, have passed away forever.” (Ellen G. White, Adventist Home p. 23)
There are many Ukrainian church members in our church in Nuremberg Marienberg, and so I was asked to pass on flyers for a women's weekend to Russian-speaking women. I was not thinking about participating myself as I had too much to do with my responsibilities in the church. But a friend encouraged me to finally take time. Once everything was settled at home, we got in the car and drove off, still in disbelief that we were going. When we arrived at the venue in Michelsberg, we ran into many familiar faces we hadn't seen for ages. Even on the first evening, there was a loving, sisterly atmosphere and the language spoken was almost exclusively Russian.
The speaker, Elena Yakovenko, has been living in Bad Bergzabern since the beginning of the war and has supported many families in difficult situations. Her presentations were not typical speeches - she led us to find our own answers through questions and practical examples. Topics such as anxiety, health, and practical tips for marriage and family were discussed. There were workshops on topics such as intestinal flora and detoxification as well as creative activities. Sharing about faith and leading others to God also played a role.
During these three days, I recharged myself physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I gathered a lot of inspiration and ideas to implement in my marriage, family, and church. At this point, I would like to address the husbands: Support your wives in taking time for themselves and renewing themselves spiritually. Even a small positive change can have a big impact on your marriage, family, and church.
According to a report by Eva M.