About the Trip
On September 11, 2018, Joan Borg, Marilyn Haase, Sarah Pooler, Melanie Myatt, Caryl Weinberg and Sharyn Wilson-Woods will travel to Johannesburg, South Africa to be part of the Tumekutana 2018 Gathering. The theme of the gathering is: "Woman you are the Image of God."
In this blog, one of us will be posting each day to help you journey along with us.
In this blog, one of us will be posting each day to help you journey along with us.
Scroll down to join us on our journey!
Visit the Tumekutana Website for More Information about Tumekutana
Pray along with us by downloading our prayer requests: HERE
Where are we staying?
eMseni Conference Center, Johannesburg, South Africa |
It’s been a joy filled day of making new friends while getting ready for delegates to come. Many of the delegates will be arriving overnight. And more will come tomorrow. All of them need your prayers for the Lord’s presence as they leave their families and churches. We have had the disappointment of learning neither the Rawandan nor Sudanese women could get visas. And our sisters in DR Congo have been told to come back on Monday- which is still time for most of the conference. Monique from DRC is to be honored. Out President Bridget arrived today not feeling well, and may have malaria. Please pray for her healing. It seems there are many obstacles. But God has a plan and is faithful. We are waiting on God to do more than we can ask or imagine.
Tumekutana
Day 4
Joy in Fellowship
Today was a very full day. Getting organized for registration took longer than we thought, but our day was filled with joy. At breakfast, we circled up with the Methodist Christian Men’s Group to sing grace with the women who had arrived throughout the night. Those moments of joy continued with new meetings, reunions of friends from across Africa and the world. The colors of the dresses were spectacular and the smiles were magnificent. Clearly the joy of the Holy Spirit was evident.
We had the joy of presenting the Executive Committee with crosses handmade in the Chicago Area. They boldly reflected the theme “Woman You are the Image of God”. The women were overjoyed.
All the delegates were overwhelmed with receiving the Africa Bible Commentaries in many of their own languages. And of course they loved, as they always have, the bracelets from Jill that we were selling at church all summer to raise money for Tumekutana.
After dinner, we kicked off the conference with an overview of the events for the coming week. We will have many joyful experiences together. Finally, we closed the night with the joy of worshipping together in beautiful song, singing of God's amazing grace and peace.
Please pray for continued joy and peace for all the delegates as we settle in to our week's activities.
Today was a very full day. Getting organized for registration took longer than we thought, but our day was filled with joy. At breakfast, we circled up with the Methodist Christian Men’s Group to sing grace with the women who had arrived throughout the night. Those moments of joy continued with new meetings, reunions of friends from across Africa and the world. The colors of the dresses were spectacular and the smiles were magnificent. Clearly the joy of the Holy Spirit was evident.
We had the joy of presenting the Executive Committee with crosses handmade in the Chicago Area. They boldly reflected the theme “Woman You are the Image of God”. The women were overjoyed.
All the delegates were overwhelmed with receiving the Africa Bible Commentaries in many of their own languages. And of course they loved, as they always have, the bracelets from Jill that we were selling at church all summer to raise money for Tumekutana.
After dinner, we kicked off the conference with an overview of the events for the coming week. We will have many joyful experiences together. Finally, we closed the night with the joy of worshipping together in beautiful song, singing of God's amazing grace and peace.
Please pray for continued joy and peace for all the delegates as we settle in to our week's activities.
Day 5
The Tumekutana Conference of 2018 is well and truly underway. We gathered together this morning to attend church in South Africa. Half of our women attended Light of Hope Church, a Uniting Reformed church in Southern Africa; the other half attended another Uniting Reformed Church.
We sang, danced, sang, worshipped, sang, danced, and heard powerful and uplifting messages about honoring the image of God in us by doing the work God has given us to do, even if we feel inadequate or if others do not support us.
We sang, danced, sang, worshipped, sang, danced, and heard powerful and uplifting messages about honoring the image of God in us by doing the work God has given us to do, even if we feel inadequate or if others do not support us.
After a quick lunch, the women dressed in their native clothing. We marveled at the diversity of beauty, color, strength, and joy evident as the women gathered for pictures and for our opening procession.
An award-winning choir from the Light of Hope church led us in singing (and dancing, of course!). We were inspired by the words of the President of Tumekutana, Rev. Dr. Bridget Ben-Naimah to think about the ways we can be empowered by the statement, “Woman! You are the Image of God!” The President of the African Community of Reformed Churches (ACRC) promised us the support of the men of the ACRC in changing the environment so the women of Africa can feel liberated. Our main speaker for the week will be Najila Kassaab, President of the World Communion of Reformed Churches and Director of the Christian Education department for the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL). She gave us a taste of what we will be learning more about this week: as a church we need to be united and uniting, working together by the power of the Holy Spirit. Finally, our keynote speaker built up all of us by highlighting the attributes of God that are shared by women and challenged us to use our SHAPE (Spiritual gifts, Heart, Ability, Personality and Experiences) for God’s glory and to change the world.
Please continue to pray for the delegates to be inspired and empowered by the messages and experiences of the conference so they can go back to their respective countries and continue to do God’s work. They face many difficult situations both within and outside their churches. Pray that they can carry the message they receive here to make positive changes to improve women’s lives.
Please continue to pray for the delegates to be inspired and empowered by the messages and experiences of the conference so they can go back to their respective countries and continue to do God’s work. They face many difficult situations both within and outside their churches. Pray that they can carry the message they receive here to make positive changes to improve women’s lives.
Day 6
Today we took a field trip to the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. Although our time was unfortunately short, we were able to witness the scope of the history of apartheid in South Africa. As happens all over the world, greed and abuse of power led to violence and subjugation of the worst sort. We watched a disturbing film about the horrific tyranny over others simply because their skin was a different color.
After a little shopping and supper, we had an opportunity to debrief what we had witnessed. Many women shared personal stories of abuses they and their families had experienced personally.
Pauline from Zimbabwe shared about how people had to choose if they wanted their arm chopped at the wrist or the elbow. She described the desperate state of orphans in her country. Recently in the news was an 11-year-old boy who had been abandoned and was looking for someone who would care for him.
Mercy from Kenya described the struggle of her parents who had to be held in a detainment camp because of their work in the resistance. Mercy was born and raised for her first few years in the detainment camp. Her whole life she wondered about the bitterness of her mom. After her experience at the museum, she could understand why her mom was so sensitive to any sign of disrespect or prejudice. Mercy challenged us to consider that those who are bitter or angry may have gone through terrible circumstances like her mother. We need to respond to those who are bitter and insulting with love and compassion because we do not know what they have suffered in their past.
Najila from Lebanon reminded us that the violence of the film is similar to what is happening even now in Palestine and Israel. There is violence on both sides. We need to be aware of the abuse, psychological and physical that is happening even now around the world. We need to rise up to work for justice in whatever ways we can, in the context we are in. We also should not overlook the importance and significance of prayer. Just as the widow petitioned the judge day after day, we must include prayers against the injustices in the world every day when we pray.
We closed our evening by joining hands together in unity and singing, in both French and English, “We are One in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, we are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, and we pray that all unity may one day be restored. And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they will know we are Christians by our love.” Never have we heard this song sung so powerfully and emotionally.
Please pray for the women as they continue to struggle with their emotional responses to the museum experience. Pray for wisdom and understanding as we begin to delve into the Bible and an exploration of what it means for us, as women, to live as the image of God. Pray that all of us will be motivated by what we learn, to go home and make powerful and significant changes for the glory of God.
Pauline from Zimbabwe shared about how people had to choose if they wanted their arm chopped at the wrist or the elbow. She described the desperate state of orphans in her country. Recently in the news was an 11-year-old boy who had been abandoned and was looking for someone who would care for him.
Mercy from Kenya described the struggle of her parents who had to be held in a detainment camp because of their work in the resistance. Mercy was born and raised for her first few years in the detainment camp. Her whole life she wondered about the bitterness of her mom. After her experience at the museum, she could understand why her mom was so sensitive to any sign of disrespect or prejudice. Mercy challenged us to consider that those who are bitter or angry may have gone through terrible circumstances like her mother. We need to respond to those who are bitter and insulting with love and compassion because we do not know what they have suffered in their past.
Najila from Lebanon reminded us that the violence of the film is similar to what is happening even now in Palestine and Israel. There is violence on both sides. We need to be aware of the abuse, psychological and physical that is happening even now around the world. We need to rise up to work for justice in whatever ways we can, in the context we are in. We also should not overlook the importance and significance of prayer. Just as the widow petitioned the judge day after day, we must include prayers against the injustices in the world every day when we pray.
We closed our evening by joining hands together in unity and singing, in both French and English, “We are One in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, we are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, and we pray that all unity may one day be restored. And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they will know we are Christians by our love.” Never have we heard this song sung so powerfully and emotionally.
Please pray for the women as they continue to struggle with their emotional responses to the museum experience. Pray for wisdom and understanding as we begin to delve into the Bible and an exploration of what it means for us, as women, to live as the image of God. Pray that all of us will be motivated by what we learn, to go home and make powerful and significant changes for the glory of God.
DAY 7
You may remember that our theme this year is “Woman: You are Created in the Image of God.” The theme comes from Genesis 1.26. Today we spent time studying this passage more deeply, and we also put on our theological hats by learning a theology of male and female created in the image of God.
The Rev. Tseganesh Ayele from Ethiopia taught us about the value and importance women have as creation in the image of God. Women and men are both given authority over creation, and this authority should not be taken away because it is given by God.
Dr. Ini-Dorcas Dah is the first woman in her country to receive a PhD. She published _Women Do More Work Than Men: Birifor Women as Change Agents in the Mission and Expansion of the church in West Africa_. She reminded us there is no inequality regardless of culture and background. When we accept the gospel and adopt it as our lifestyle, we include both women and men at all levels of leadership in our society, our churches, and in our homes.
The Rev. Tseganesh Ayele from Ethiopia taught us about the value and importance women have as creation in the image of God. Women and men are both given authority over creation, and this authority should not be taken away because it is given by God.
Dr. Ini-Dorcas Dah is the first woman in her country to receive a PhD. She published _Women Do More Work Than Men: Birifor Women as Change Agents in the Mission and Expansion of the church in West Africa_. She reminded us there is no inequality regardless of culture and background. When we accept the gospel and adopt it as our lifestyle, we include both women and men at all levels of leadership in our society, our churches, and in our homes.
Some women brought goods and crafts from their homes to sell at a miniature marketplace. This was a way for them to raise money for women back home, or to support themselves for the cost of Tumekutana. It was fun to see all the different projects that women collected to share with us.
Caryl and Joan also had the opportunity to meet briefly with Mukululi and Maude Ncube. It was a wonderful reunion with our dear Missions partners. Mukululi and his wife Maude serve with International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. Having served in his home country Zimbabwe for the past several years, he moved to Swaziland once month ago to start student work there. He is asking for prayers for the development of the board and for being able to reestablish connections with the University of Swaziland. Maude and the children will finish the school term in December, and then move to Swaziland.
Caryl and Joan also had the opportunity to meet briefly with Mukululi and Maude Ncube. It was a wonderful reunion with our dear Missions partners. Mukululi and his wife Maude serve with International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. Having served in his home country Zimbabwe for the past several years, he moved to Swaziland once month ago to start student work there. He is asking for prayers for the development of the board and for being able to reestablish connections with the University of Swaziland. Maude and the children will finish the school term in December, and then move to Swaziland.
We closed the night with a time for prayer for each region of Africa. Central Africa prayed for the problem of a culture that always puts women underneath men, including within the church. Polygamy is also a problem here. East Africa decried the violence against women that is still happening, including human trafficking. South Africa also struggles with violence against women, as well as violence in schools. The spread of disease, particularly cancer, is also a problem here. Finally, West Africa asked for prayers to deal with religious extremism, cultism, human trafficking and violence against women.
As you can see, the women come here carrying heavy, heavy burdens for their communities and their countries. Please pray for them to be able to return home with hope and a sense of empowerment. Give us all wisdom to consider ways to make changes for the good and for God’s glory.
As you can see, the women come here carrying heavy, heavy burdens for their communities and their countries. Please pray for them to be able to return home with hope and a sense of empowerment. Give us all wisdom to consider ways to make changes for the good and for God’s glory.
DAY 8
Today we had the pleasure of welcoming the Rev. Phumzile Mabizela. She is a the Executive Director of the International Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV/AIDS. She gave us a rousing inspiration to reconsider the story of Queen Vashti and Queen Esther in light of the problem of violence against women. She challenged us to reflect on our role in the perpetuation this type of violence.
As she explained, women need to be in their own safe space to be able to fight for themselves. Some women simply are not in an environment in which they can fight for themselves, and these are the women who need us to speak for them. Even in churches of the United States, we usually speak of physical violence against women,.
As she explained, women need to be in their own safe space to be able to fight for themselves. Some women simply are not in an environment in which they can fight for themselves, and these are the women who need us to speak for them. Even in churches of the United States, we usually speak of physical violence against women,.
After lunch, if you can believe it, we had an opportunity for more shopping. This time we visited a local shopping mall and found that stores were very similar to what we have in the United States. H&M, McDonalds and Woolworths were some familiar signs we saw, although, here, Woolworths is more like Macy’s than a Five and Dime store!
One of the important tasks for the women of Tumekutana is to come up with a “testament” for women to take with them. This document reminds the women of the purpose and the goal of Tumekutana, but also provides challenges and tasks for the women to accomplish when they return to their respective churches and countries. The women hold this document in high regard, so they spend a lot of time on word smithing. After their work this afternoon, we are closer to having a testament to which all women can commit.
One of the important tasks for the women of Tumekutana is to come up with a “testament” for women to take with them. This document reminds the women of the purpose and the goal of Tumekutana, but also provides challenges and tasks for the women to accomplish when they return to their respective churches and countries. The women hold this document in high regard, so they spend a lot of time on word smithing. After their work this afternoon, we are closer to having a testament to which all women can commit.
We ended our evening with a delightful interview of the Rev. Najila Kassab by the Tumekutana president, Rev. Dr. Bridget Ben-Naimah. Najila described her journey toward ordination in Lebanon. She was the first woman to receive her preaching license. After her ordination in March 2017, she became the president of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. She has been a frontrunner for creating a place for women to take leadership within the church of Lebanon and in the World Communion of Reformed Churches.
Pray for the women of Tumekutana as they continue to work on the testament that will provide accountability for the next three years. Pray for God’s comfort and peace as the women prepare to return home after the final day of our conference tomorrow. Pray for God to strengthen them for the work that God calls them to do.
Pray for the women of Tumekutana as they continue to work on the testament that will provide accountability for the next three years. Pray for God’s comfort and peace as the women prepare to return home after the final day of our conference tomorrow. Pray for God to strengthen them for the work that God calls them to do.
DAY 9
Our gathering today is was bittersweet, as we knew it was our last opportunity to be together. Once again, the Rev. Najla Kassab taught us about a biblical perspective of woman as the image of God.
She challenged us to consider our value as women in God’s image. This is not just a value that comes from looks or function, but an intrinsic value, like clothing that is of more value because it has a designer label.
She reminded us that the image of God within us is not static, but dynamic. We strive every day to grow more towards the image of God, as a goal to which redeemed humanity is moving.
The blessing of having Rev. Kassab was that she gave everyone the blessing of hope. She said, “If we don’t have food, we can live 10 days. But if we don’t have hope, we die today.” Many women repeated this to each other throughout the day.
She challenged us to consider our value as women in God’s image. This is not just a value that comes from looks or function, but an intrinsic value, like clothing that is of more value because it has a designer label.
She reminded us that the image of God within us is not static, but dynamic. We strive every day to grow more towards the image of God, as a goal to which redeemed humanity is moving.
The blessing of having Rev. Kassab was that she gave everyone the blessing of hope. She said, “If we don’t have food, we can live 10 days. But if we don’t have hope, we die today.” Many women repeated this to each other throughout the day.
Our attire for today was in black. This was part of our commitment to stand against all kinds of gender-based violence by joining in the worldwide movement, called Thursdays in Black. We are hoping that many of us might also join that movement at home
After the African women accomplished a lot of business, including the election of members of the steering committee, we closed Tumekutana 2018 with a service and communion administered by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Peter Langerman, Moderator of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.
After supper, we celebrated with grateful hearts and joyful spirits. Each region performed a dance, song or reading, all of which was accompanied with a great deal of laughter. Sharon wrote a song celebrating Tumekutana, sung to the tune of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” which everyone thoroughly enjoyed!
The women of Tumekutana have been significantly impacted by this year’s conference. Thank you for your support, your prayers, and your love for these women you may never have met. God’s work has been done here this week, thanks in part to you!
DAY 10
We awoke to overcast skies that matched our overcast hearts as we said goodbye to new friends and beloved sisters in Christ. And yet, there were rays of hope.
We tied up loose ends and made plans for the next Tumekutana to be held in Cameroon in 2021.
And so many prayer requests have been answered this past week. If you remember from the list we enclosed in the bulletin, we prayed:
We tied up loose ends and made plans for the next Tumekutana to be held in Cameroon in 2021.
And so many prayer requests have been answered this past week. If you remember from the list we enclosed in the bulletin, we prayed:
- That every country invited would have at least one representative at Tumekutana. Every country that came had at least one representative; most had two, and some had three.
- That every woman who has apples for a visa receives one. Unfortunately, South Africa would not grant a visa to two countries, so we were not able to have our Rwandan sisters and our Sudanese sisters join us.
- For God’s protection over the Executive Committee members and each delegate. Praise God, everyone arrived safely and in relatively good health.
- That God continue to provide for the financial resources needed. There are still some bills to be paid, but it seems as though there will be a bit of money left to help start off Tumekutana 2021.
- That God would thwart any obstacles raised by governments, individuals, or principalities. Multiple people had visa difficulties that delayed some arrivals, and, as mentioned, some delegates were unable to enter South Africa, but many difficulties were overcome, thanks to the tireless and hard work of the Executive Committee.
- That each speaker be anointed by the Holy Spirit to speak deeply into the liv s of the women attending. These speakers spoke mightily and powerfully to the women, both challenging and encouraging them in their various ministries.
- That each woman leaves the conference with the assurance that she reflects the image of God. The women had an amazing opportunity, that doesn’t happen often, particularly in their respective churches and cultures, to come and be affirmed in her work and worth as a reflection of God’s image.
- Pray for God to be glorified in every aspect, and for each woman to see God’s hand at work. As we sang multiple times throughout the week, to God be the glory, great things he has done!
After TUMEKUTANA
Typically after Tumekutana, we hear from women who have returned home. We thought we’d share with you some of what we hear.
We as the First Presbyterian Evanston group, left the center where the conference was held, a week ago last Saturday. Most of the women had left the day before on Friday. Monique Misenga from DR Congo, was one who had stayed late on Friday to help the Executive Committee of Tumekutana debrief. From there she went to visit her mother who was living in Johannesburg. Her mother had not been well. It was just about three days ago that we learned that her mother passed away while Monique was there with her. We had prayed and worked hard to get Monique to South Africa. And we persisted despite the timing that seemed to make the situation impossible. Clearly though, God had a purpose in bringing Monique to South Africa beyond our own limited reasoning. He gave her the precious time with her mother that couldn’t be substituted.
We had honored Monique for her leadership of Tumekutana during the conference. That joy and surprise was wonderful to see on Monique’s face. We know she must be sensing great pain in her loss now though.
Please pray for Monique as her mother’s body is to be returned to DR Congo today, with the funeral to be held tomorrow. May the Lord provide for any financial burden that this will place on her family. And may the Lord use all our prayers to bring comfort to Monique and her family, (here in the U.S. and in Africa) and May God give them the hope and peace that comes with the Lord’s presence with them.
We as the First Presbyterian Evanston group, left the center where the conference was held, a week ago last Saturday. Most of the women had left the day before on Friday. Monique Misenga from DR Congo, was one who had stayed late on Friday to help the Executive Committee of Tumekutana debrief. From there she went to visit her mother who was living in Johannesburg. Her mother had not been well. It was just about three days ago that we learned that her mother passed away while Monique was there with her. We had prayed and worked hard to get Monique to South Africa. And we persisted despite the timing that seemed to make the situation impossible. Clearly though, God had a purpose in bringing Monique to South Africa beyond our own limited reasoning. He gave her the precious time with her mother that couldn’t be substituted.
We had honored Monique for her leadership of Tumekutana during the conference. That joy and surprise was wonderful to see on Monique’s face. We know she must be sensing great pain in her loss now though.
Please pray for Monique as her mother’s body is to be returned to DR Congo today, with the funeral to be held tomorrow. May the Lord provide for any financial burden that this will place on her family. And may the Lord use all our prayers to bring comfort to Monique and her family, (here in the U.S. and in Africa) and May God give them the hope and peace that comes with the Lord’s presence with them.