“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry” (Psalm 34:15).
Women to Women about Mission (W2W) is an event that one cannot leave without knowing that our God is calling and transforming lives even in the remotest parts of our planet. It is an opportunity where women can share stories and insights from their mission journeys.
The 2024 theme wove together stories of how the eyes of the loving Father sees the unseen and the forgotten, and sends a child of His to show tangible love and kindness in Jesus’ name. We were challenged to consider whether our vision of God, His Word and the World was slowly becoming distorted. We were reminded to ask God to help us to gain a clearer focus or a broader horizon, even a fresh vision of Him and his redemptive plan.
Lara’s Story
Imagine you belong to a central Asian family, living in a small smoky room with your husband and young family. Your extended family are all poor, and since you have failed to produce sons, you are barely even noticed. Some friends of Jesus give you a surprise birthday party, baking you a cake. This first act of kindness you have ever experienced makes life seem brighter. Then, your husband comes to faith through a dream, and you want to know more. Your joy bubbles over when you discover that there in your smoky room, God sees you! You – always unnoticed – have been seen by the God of all. You cannot help but share this news with boldness, and even your children share it at school.
This was one scenario that Lara shared as she challenged us to think of a time when we felt that God had seen us and held us, and to understand that in times when we feel forgotten or invisible, God sees us, knows us, comes to us and acts for us. Lara turned our eyes to Scripture, highlighting two women whose lives were turned from rejection to redemption. Hagar (Genesis 16) was a tool to be used. She became a problematic tool that needed to be removed. She was a nobody. Except to God! God met Hagar in her distress, and she exclaimed, “I have now seen [El Roi] the One who sees me.” The Lord of all the earth saw a fleeing slave girl. Almost 2000 years later, He showed up again, this time to a Samaritan woman by a well (John 4). He came to meet her, talk to her, and open her eyes as to who He was. She then rushed back to tell everyone she knew, ‘Come and see this man! He saw me, knew all about me and talked of amazing things with me.”In both of these situations, God saw them. He stepped in to their circumstances and acted on their behalf. He is a personal God. He showed up!
Lara’s ministry on home soil seeks to build tangible relationships, mainly with women who remain behind closed doors. The work is slow but significant. Partnering with Hands and Feet has opened up avenues to meet women and their families, many of whom are new to our shores and are struggling to understand how their new country operates. Lara’s motto: keep showing up, keep drinking tea, keep pointing to Jesus. She reassures these women, “God sees you. He comes to you in this new place where you are living.” Lara’s challenge to us: God sees to save. We’re saved to serve – to serve the God who sees. How will we serve?
Margaret’s Story
Imagine being unseen in your country’s eyes; a citizen without identification. Child number two in a nation with a one chid policy. Your mother, however, was being transformed…
Lilly always felt different, unloved. She started attending a group and discovered she was loved. Finally, she had found a place she could fit in. Her husband started attending too, because he could see the difference in her. When she became pregnant with their second child, she kept him, because she trusted God saw her in her troubles. That child could not attend a local school but was accepted by followers of Jesus. Years later, he was offered a scholarship in the West. Requiring identification, he was finally provided with an earthly identity. This was a joyous moment but didn’t surpass the knowledge that this family already had a citizenship in heaven! Living a ‘visible fruitful life’ places followers under extreme scrutiny. ‘God’s joy is our strength’ is this mother’s testimony. He sees her, knows her and acts for her.
Margaret encouraged us with 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him,” challenging us to seek out the irrelevant ones so they become relevant, being loved by us and God.
Belinda’s Story
Imagine going shopping and always being stared at. Stared at because you are a large family and have children of differing skin colours. Today, however, you are receiving more attention than usual. Some people are even smirking. It isn’t until you get home that you realise why. One of your children, unbeknownst to you, has stuck a Guinea Fowl feather in your head!
This was one of the stories Belinda shared via digital presentation, highlighting that we don’t need to approach God with a large ‘feather’ trying to be noticed. He sees us in our inconspicuous moments. Knowing that El Roi sees us personally brings a refreshing perspective shift to living life. Belinda shared that her present ministry of supporting her husband and caring for their large family – including homeschooling the kids – is rather a hidden season. She honestly highlighted that it is often easier to have a visible ministry to show obedience, rather than living out obedience within the four walls of a home. Belinda encouraged us that it is exactly these hidden seasons that God uses to meet us – to prompt us to seek Him out (Psalm 27:8) – with the assurance that He sees these hidden moments. Belinda shared how these everyday, ordinary moments are also seen by others. Having gone shopping one day alone – a rare privilege – a man from the bakery approached her. “Are you the woman with all the children?” “Yes,” came the curt reply, as she hoped to continue shopping in peace. “Where are they? I just love watching you all. You can see that you all really love each other.” This was a reminder to Belinda that if we are walking in the Father’s love, we will not just be another face in the crowd. She challenged us to love like Him and to live lives of obedience that are transformed by His loving gaze.
Larelle’s Story
Imagine living in a concrete jungle, just one among seven million people. Despite your old age, life’s circumstances and rising costs of living have forced you to collect cardboard to survive. You are unnoticed, then Covid strikes. Meanwhile, a group are praying, “Open our eyes, Lord. Who do you want us to see?” One day, you are noticed – a tangible gift of love, a kind word – you have been seen!
This is part of Larelle’s story, being used by God to shine His love to those forgotten. Shine Hong Kong kits provide gloves, hand sanitiser, band-aids, muscle balm and other items. They are a practical gift to let these vulnerable ones, unseen by the busy world, know that they are seen, valued and loved by the Father. Larelle herself, through her journey, is learning to keep her eyes fixed on her Heavenly Father, who has a fatherly heart of love. Larelle challenged us to stop and to ask God, “Who do you want me to see and love?” To go out and give someone a taste of who our Heavenly Father is provides them with a glimpse and taste of heaven.
No One is Unseen
Hearing the amazing testimonies of how our God is at work in His world was both encouraging and challenging. No one is forgotten by God. No one is unseen. True, in rare cases God may call people through dreams, but in most cases, he has left the Great Commission to those with hands and feet. May we go unconditionally, love tangibly and see others through the eyes of our Heavenly Father.
A highlight of W2W is singing and fellowshipping over lunch. Many thanks to Mueller Community Church for hosting us and ministering to us through music. Special thanks to the women from Kuraby CC for the hours of making jam and crafts to support women in mission.
By Wendy Strachan & Gabrielle Wetzel
