in lieu of this week's ykylimw moment and the reason why I didn't have one last week....
I give you pictures from last week's United Methodist Women training seminar. Women from all three of the UM churches here participated and it was a wonderful time of fellowship, discussion and dreaming. The seminar was focused on preparing the women to begin their own UMW groups at the individual churches.
Mongolian women inspire me each and every time I get the chance to hear their stories, share in daily life and spend time playing, laughing and being silly with them.
Even stinkin' adorable babies got in on the action.
Joy.
Praise.
Before I moved here, I met with a professor who has spent a lot of time studying Mongolia in his field of work. He told me all sorts of things that were helpful, that prepared me for all sorts of logistics and practical things and cultural differences. But one thing he said in particular has stuck with me, like an echo that comes back every once in awhile and brings me further into reflection.
He said that while it may appear that Mongolian men have the power in society, everyone knows it's the women who really hold everything together. They are the strong ones. The ones with power. The ones who pick up the pieces.
That is a generalization. It is a generalization that comes from all sorts of social and cultural issues that impact families and men and women and children here. It is a generalization that I cannot adequately begin to address the truth (or not) of in one blog post. Or two. Or four.
But his words have stayed with me as I have heard life stories and struggles. They have stayed with me as I have admired these women's fierceness and strength and grace and dignity. They have stayed with me as statistics and numbers about alcoholism and abuse and poverty have ceased being numbers and become people. People I know. People I love. People I cook with and coo over babies with and sing with and laugh with.
It is a story of men and women. It is a story of brokenness. And healing. Of hurt. And of hope.
There is so much to say about this. But what sticks out to me today, after listening to these women's voices raised in discussion and planning and prayer last week?
...is their beautiful strength and courage.
He said that while it may appear that Mongolian men have the power in society, everyone knows it's the women who really hold everything together. They are the strong ones. The ones with power. The ones who pick up the pieces.
That is a generalization. It is a generalization that comes from all sorts of social and cultural issues that impact families and men and women and children here. It is a generalization that I cannot adequately begin to address the truth (or not) of in one blog post. Or two. Or four.
But his words have stayed with me as I have heard life stories and struggles. They have stayed with me as I have admired these women's fierceness and strength and grace and dignity. They have stayed with me as statistics and numbers about alcoholism and abuse and poverty have ceased being numbers and become people. People I know. People I love. People I cook with and coo over babies with and sing with and laugh with.
It is a story of men and women. It is a story of brokenness. And healing. Of hurt. And of hope.
There is so much to say about this. But what sticks out to me today, after listening to these women's voices raised in discussion and planning and prayer last week?
...is their beautiful strength and courage.
1 comments:
人有兩眼一舌，是為了觀察倍於說話的緣故。.........................
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