As I write this article more than 5 million people in the world have contracted the coronavi-rus (COVID-19), over 320,000 have died as a consequence, and over 2 million have recovered from the illness.

I used to track the numbers daily via the website https://www.worldometers.info/coronavi-rus/ but got tired of what I saw. Now I do it once a week, and even then the numbers are mind-boggling. Each number represents a person. And each person is a member of a fam-ily. Regardless of how many people have been infected with the virus, everybody on this planet has been affected in one way or another.

For me, if it were not for COVID-19, I would right now be in Israel, walking in the footsteps of Jesus. Where would you have been, and what would you have been doing? Are you disap-pointed or grateful for the change in plans?

As countries are easing restrictions imposed to curb the spread of this virus, I am very grateful for the way we as a family and workplace have fared, as well as the whole country of Australia. We have recently crossed one milestone – 100 people have died in Australia in total from COVID-19. The same day Italy was reporting its first day when less than 100 peo-ple had died in a day! Two very different realities.

I am amazed at the creativity that rose to the surface during this difficult time. In this news-letter, we will share with you some ways that women have been able to help others and what principles that we embraced during the pandemic need to continue in our life after the pandemic is over.

Where would you have been? BY DANIJELA SCHUBERT

ADVENTIST WOMEN IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC

EDITION 20/6JUNE 2020

Women’s Ministries leaders and women pastors throughout the South Pacific Division have been busi-er than ever during the lockdown. It has been a chal-lenging time. Many people have lost their jobs because businesses have lost customers. Parents have had to become teachers to their school children on top of do-ing their jobs from home. The list of changes, frustra-tions and adaptations is lengthy. But two months into this new reality, we have learned that we can do it, that there are different ways of achieving results, and that perhaps we now want different results altogether.

Here's an incomplete list of how ministry has adapted during this time:

More phone calls – since church members, friends or neighbours could not meet face to face, more phone calls were needed to help people cope with isolation, depression, and to simply keep in touch. It was a good opportunity to call those who have not been coming to church too.

Online Bible studies – via Zoom or phone using It Is Written Bible study guides, the Truth Link Bible study guides, The Book of Matthew study.

Online forums – Zoom was the word and the platform! There were church meetings, prayer meetings, planning for worships, board meetings, sharing testimonies, etc.

Small groups – every church member linked within a group of 10 people who keep in touch, encourage each other, and pray with each other. Each group leader looks after 10 people only. Care team leaders discuss online what the needs are and plan activities according-ly. Some needs are met through care packages linked with ADRA and delivered to those requiring help in the community.

Online baby showers – check the separate article.

Funeral – to support the grieving family and show re-spect to the deceased, the church members stood at the allowed distance on the road near the church as the hearse passed by.

Upskilling women to use technology – teaching them to use Zoom, YouTube, Facebook, eGiving, WhatsApp, Viber, Instagram, etc.

Videos – for many it was a new way of connecting with other women. Some women leaders were exhausted after take #12, but they have done it!

Bible reflection from the gospel of John – daily video production shared on Facebook for church mem-bers and the wider community.

Video resource for June 13 Women’s Ministries Emphasis Day for Australian Union Conference – a collaboration of all women’s ministries leaders.

Online children’s bedtime stories – reading C.S. Lewis’s stories chapter by chapter.

Reaching specific language people groups – Lives-treamed preaching in Victoria reached and engaged more than 4,000 Karen and Burmese people around the world.

Exercise sessions – with the online leader while each person follows the instructions in their home.

Cooking classes – through pre-recorded videos, pic-tures with instructions, sharing ideas and tips online.

Prayer meetings – where people join via Zoom or telephone.

Decorations – Lights featuring the words ‘Hope Lives’ were hung on a fence to encourage neighbours and passers-by.

Domestic Violence help – a video addressing domes-tic violence aired on Hope Channel Fiji to reach the Fiji-an community. It was prepared by Women’s Ministries directors and Family Ministries directors.

Gifts for neighbours – gifts with necessities were dis-tributed to church neighbours. They featured a gift card and Easter reading guide to learn more about Jesus and the meaning of Easter.

Children’s Bible studies – with lesson contest through Messenger.

Adventist Youth program – every Sabbath involving young people linked via Zoom, engagement through Kahoot! and other online tools.

Discovery Bible Reading – small groups throughout Papua New Guinea reading the Bible and organising small groups using this tool.

We share this list to thank you for all your hard work, and also to spark new ideas of how

you can reach others.

WOMEN LEADERS IN LOCKDOWN BUSIER THAN BEFORE THE LOCKDOWN by Danijela Schubert

Yes, you can have a baby shower online. Here’s how Women’s Ministries leaders have organised this fun time together.

A Zoom meeting is scheduled with all who want to support a moth-er-in-waiting.

One lady goes shopping to buy gifts while the other ladies contribute money.

Several activities are arranged to happen during the baby shower:

1. Catch up time between women and the mother-to-be.

2. Playing games. Some examples: Estimate the price of an item. Guess whether the baby is going to be a girl or boy, the birth date and weight. Run around the house to find a teddy bear/blue item/ large spoon… and the first person back to the screen with the item is the winner.

3. Baby shower cake. Nappies, tissues and other baby gifts are assem-bled with a teddy bear on top. All gifts must be collected on time and packed to look like a big cake. The pregnant woman cuts through the ribbon and opens “the cake” during the baby shower.

4. Pregnancy journey. The expectant lady shares her journey. Others listen and give tips and advice or show understanding and offer encour-agement. Depending on the size of the group it can take quite a bit of time.

5. Affirming the mother through prayer.

6. After the baby is born – organise another Zoom meeting to catch up. Each person can wear a blue or pink ribbon/clothes, depending on the baby’s gender. Winners of the guessing activities from the baby shower can be announced. This is another time of encouragement and affirma-tion.

BABY SHOWER ONLINE

EVENTS CALENDAR

2020

(POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19)

JUNE• 13 June

Women's Ministries Empahsis Day

JULY• 31 July-2 August

Australia GSC Breathe Women's Conference

AUGUST• 22 August

End It Now! Emphasis Day

SOS DONATIONSThe Women’s Ministry Scholarship Program is a global initiative designed to equip women as leaders in their fields of service by assisting with the cost of tertiary educa-tion. Our goal is to build up the church globally by empowering and equipping women.

Find out more: https://women.adventistchurch.com/scholarships/

Donate Now: https://scholarshipping-our-sisters.raisely.com/

A few weeks ago, I received a call to help people in Pakistan who had nothing to eat. Because of the lock-down imposed in the country they were unable to go out and work. If they had any financial reserves, these quickly disappeared. Many people live from day to day. They work today and with what they earn they can feed the family that day.

I could not ignore such a call. I sent some money which helped several families. About A$20 can feed a family for 2-3 weeks, depending on the size. Then the alarm was raised again. More families were without food. I sent some money again, but the need was greater than I could meet. I talked with my work col-leagues to ask for advice and a few of them decided to help personally. Join-ing forces meant more funds were now available and it was decided to make parcels with necessities bigger so they could last 3-4 weeks. Togeth-er with funds received from another benefactor, enough supplies could be purchased to make a little food bank for future needs. Since then several Muslim families have also knocked on the door of our Seventh-day Advent-ist Christian pastor and were blessed with basic necessities that their Chris-tian neighbours also received.

These gifts are greatly appreciated and have made a huge difference to families in dire circumstances.

FOOD FOR FAMILIES IN PAKISTAN by Danijela Schubert

The moment you taste fear, focus on the good news that you’ve just seen the

territory where your faith is about to grow.— Christine Caine

We are here to help women reach their potential!

Discipleship Ministries - WomenSouth Pacific DivisionLocked Bag 2014Wahroonga NSW 2076 Australia

Postal AddressLocked Bag 2014Wahroonga NSW 2076 Australia

General Conference Womens' Websitewomen.adventist.orgSouth Pacific Division Women's Websitewomen.adventistchurch.com

ContactDanijela Schubertdanijelaschubert@adventist.org.au

Shaylee Walshshayleewalsh@adventist.org.au

SPD Womenspdwomen@adventist.org.au

RESOURCES

AFTER THE PANDEMICDo you have a list of things that you would like to be different at this time?

I would like to go to church again, to hug friends, to attend a concert, to travel freely. What about you?

I read a thoughtful list which I recommend to you. José Cortes Jr, an Associate Director of the Ministerial Association for the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, shares his list of things that need to continue post-pandemic. Please read his article at http://www.nadministerial.com/stories/the-pandemic-needs-to-go-but-these-need-to-stay.

WOMEN'S MINSITRIES EMPHASIS DAYJUNE 13, 2020This year we are focusing on love, God’s love. Not only for you and me but also God’s love working in and through our lives. Heather-Dawn Small has produced a resource packet and a pre-recorded sermon you can play for your women for this ser-vice.

Heather-Dawn Small's sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPScGRvaK94

The online resource packet: https://women.adventistchurch.com/events/

The Australian Union Conference (AUC) has also produced a ser-mon you may want to share with your women. It is comprised of the SPD, AUC and Australian Conference Women's Ministries Leaders.

AUC Women's Ministries Leaders Video: https://disciple.org.au/resources/emphasisday2020/

#weRtheChurchMAY 22-23, 2020If you watched this program with the rest of the South Pacific Divison and want to see it again or if you missed out, you can find the links to the Friday night and Sabbath programs below.

Friday Night: https://vimeo.com/423516215

Sabbath Morning: https://vimeo.com/423923124

Sabbath Afternoon: https://vimeo.com/423821172

Vimeo showcase: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7185755