June 6, 2024

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In life we all go through difficult times. It’s like a roller coaster where we go up and down. This is how I felt many years ago. I was going through a low process in my life, that it was difficult for me to see that God was with me, taking care of me, and at the same time sending me "a Ruth.” 

What is it to be “sent a Ruth?” 

During my process, I felt in my heart to read the book of Ruth. However, because I was going through a difficult time, I didn’t quite understand what God was telling me. The book of Ruth didn’t make any sense to me. Her story wasn’t my story at all. It wasn’t until maybe a year later that we had a Bible study, and we also read the book of Ruth. While we were reading it together, God spoke to me again. That’s where I understood: It wasn’t about Ruth, it was about Naomi. 

In chapter one of the book of Ruth, Naomi went through difficult times. She lost her husband and two sons. She was all by herself. When arriving in Bethlehem, a woman exclaimed, asking if it was Naomi. By hearing this Naomi replied, “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” 

Why would Naomi change her name?

It was because of the way she was feeling. Don’t you feel this way sometimes? Or maybe you have other overwhelming feelings. There are processes in life that make us feel empty like Naomi. Naomi was grieving. Maybe you also know the loss of losing a loved one. Maybe you are grieving another loss. There could be many reasons: moving to a different place, going through a health issue, or difficult times with family. 

As women, we go through a lot, but I can tell you, God is with us. God never leaves us alone. Yes, at the moment of grieving, sadness, and hard times, we may not feel God’s presence, but God is there with us, holding us. In the moments where we cried, God is wiping our tears. 

God gave Naomi a lovely daughter-in-law who chose to stay with her. In the middle of difficult times and grieving, she had someone to be there with her, taking care of her, and to be on her side. That’s the way God loves. God was there for Naomi through Ruth’s choice to stay. God showed Naomi enduring presence. God told her, I’m here with you, you’re not alone, and I love you. 

Do you have “a Ruth?”

Do you have someone who stands by you to listen to you and take care of you? You may not have recognized them yet. In Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) God says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” We don’t need to be afraid, because God is with us. God is giving you strength and helping and upholding you with a righteous right hand.

Isn’t this wonderful?

I can imagine God holding you and me in God’s hands. Just believe it! YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Look around you, see who is that “Ruth” who has been by your side. That’s God, telling you, “I love you,” “I’m here with you,” “you’re not alone,” and “don’t fear, my daughter.” 

I want to tell you, you’re not alone going through this. There are many of us who are going through a process. Coming before God and putting everything in God’s hands will help us go through this. God also works through people who choose to walk by your side. Naomi felt she didn’t have anyone, but she did. She didn’t lose everything. She gained a new relationship with Ruth, and she was blessed by having Ruth on her side. 



I pray to God that if you’re going through difficult times, you can feel God’s presence, God’s peace. I pray you can see you’re not alone. I pray you have someone who is by your side, walking with you, praying for you, listening to you, or just being there for you. Amen. 

Nelly Moran A.

MW USA Northwest

Regional Representative

Join us September 20-22 for spirit-filled worship, relaxation among friends, trails to wander, and water to rest by. MW USA is delighted to be planning a time of connection and gathering for this year's Women's Retreat at Camp Friedenswald in Cassapolis, MI. It is a tradition of the Central District Conference, but it is open to ALL women.

You are invited to retreat into the wilderness and immerse yourself in sisterhood. We hope you'll bring your friends, your mothers, and your daughters. Together we'll renew our energy and commitment to living like Jesus and sharing God's love in community.

Camp Friedenswald is committed to ensuring that everyone who wants to participate in their programs can do so, regardless of financial ability. They offer scholarships to anyone who has the need for it. If you feel you would benefit from this opportunity, please indicate your need on the appropriate form when you register online. 

Don't forget to email us images of the worship visuals in your sanctuary! And look for our social media posts with this tag: #CelebratingWorshipVisuals. We are celebrating the diverse and creative ways we visually set the tone for worship!

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The Exodus texts can help us think about how God relates to empires. In Abundant Liberation, our latest woman-authored Bible study guide, Samantha Lioi points to Exodus 12 and Ezekiel 33 to explore our part in today's empires. 

“Yet, we who recoil from a powerful person’s ways, speech, [or] comfort with violence also participate or are ensnared in structural racism, and also live lives shaped by—and at some level sustained by—the violence of the United States.” 

“It is essential that we call evil by its name... and place ourselves, yes, our bodies beside other bodies who bear the brunt of the prevailing evils of our day.” 

“At the same time, rather than respond reflexively to the “other” who does not speak for us, whose behavior violates our deepest loves and hope, we might instead grieve...We can recognize that good and evil exist within us as well. We may choose to grieve the diminished humanity in those who are destroying other human beings along with the good earth, and forfeiting their own souls in the process.” 

“We can see that this diminishes all of us.” 

This excerpt comes from the reflection section in chapter 5. In each chapter, the reflection precedes discussion prompts and follows full scripture citations (used with permission) from The Inclusive Bible: The First Egalitarian Translation. Samantha concludes each chapter with a prayer in poem.

May coming together in study remind us that we are all connected.

Maria Cristina Vega Oviedo is an International Women’s Fund (IWF) scholar studying at SEMILLA in Guatemala. She says her studies are enabling her to develop the gifts God has given her to serve.

At a recent Movement of Anabaptist Women doing Theology from Latin America (MTAL) gathering in El Salvador, Sister Maria set aside time to write to us about the impact of your IWF donations. A special thanks to Linda Shelly at Mennonite Mission Network for coordinating, translating, and delivering these notes to better connect us.

"Sobre los estudios en SEMILLA, han sido de mucha bendición en mi vida, ya que me han ayudado en el conocimiento y seguimiento a Jesus, poniendo todo en práctica en nuestras comunidades de fe. He sido bendecida desde mi transformación al conocimiento de la palabra al igual con mi familia y amigos en la fe. Esto me ha ayudado a servir en las áreas que el Señor me ha dado como don de poderlo desarrollar. No tengo palabras como sentirme agradecida por todas las bendiciones recibidas."

"About the studies at SEMILLA, they have been a great blessing in my life, since they have helped me to know and follow Jesus, putting all this into practice in our communities of faith. I have been blessed in my transformation through the knowledge of the Word as well as with my family and friends in the faith. This has helped me to serve in the areas that the Lord has given me as a gift to be able to develop. I have no words to express how grateful I feel for all the blessings received."

Being an MW USA donor makes a way for women to find their prophetic voice and find each other for embracing the whole world in God's mothering love. That is the love of one from whom we are born and the One in whose image we are created. It's the nurturing, embracing, exuberant love of aunties, mentors, daughters and dear friends. And where the world knows this love, people find unconditional belonging, satisfying joy, and lasting peace.

The ways of MW USA involve learning, supporting, listening, sharing, and caring. We learn with each other by gathering around women-authored Bible Study Guides. We support women across the world studying for spiritual leadership with annual IWF Scholarships. We Choose Sisterhood by listening to those who are different. We share our own story by engaging in Coffee and Conversation and writing for the Women's Voices blog. And we care for ourselves and each other through international Sister Care gatherings.

We love in these ways to make as many ways as possible for all to know God's love. Donating makes a way.

Mennonite Women USA

www.mennonitewomenusa.org

office@mwusa.org

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