Oh, the Joy when we put our Hands to Work

The opening of the year 2020 has been an eruption of changes since January 1st. It has been a series of surprises from people, to places, to possibilities.

We have lost several loved ones, friends, acquaintances, and leaders that we are still surprised they are no longer here with us.

We have experienced total disruptions domestically and globally dealing with an unseen health enemy, COVID-19. We closed churches, schools, malls, theaters, barber shops, beauty salons, small business operations and some doctor's offices.

They told us to go home, shut the doors and do not come out until they say it is safe to do so, unless you must go out! And most of us did as we were instructed.

In spite of all of this, the possibilities of 2020 have been amazing. We have been able to touch the lives of people who were doing well on January 1st but found themselves desperately needing help by May 1st. We have been putting in work.

Possibilities have been with people!

Many churches have been giving and helping families. Churches like Embry, Allen Chapel SE and Silver Spring, Ward, Pilgrim, Campbell, New Hope, Jerusalem, Union Bethel both Randallstown and Brandywine, New Liberation, Bethel Dale City and Adams Inspirational, to name a few.

We have been delivering hot meals to strangers (Jesus calls them our neighbors), providing groceries on church parking lots and keeping our food pantries open because food gives out for some households before the first of the month.

Bishop James L. Davis and Mother Arelis Davis added to the giving to people in need by providing 1,500 gift cards to the Washington Conference. Many of these cards were distributed during the Mother’s Day Weekend. It was unbelievable to see the Area Chairs and Local Presidents reaching out to people who need just a little hope.

Possibilities are endless!

We have also been making phone calls, checking on church members, face timing on Zoom with our family members and friends and sewing face masks. The Washington Conference Branch WMS has purchased face masks and they are available to any church that needs them.

We have been cooking our own food, tidying up our clothes closets and getting to know our family members again. But many have been home alone, wondering about the future and how all of this might turn out.

There are several answers and they are all scripturally based:

Psalm 27:14 - Wait on the Lord and be of good courage and He will strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say on the Lord.

Psalm 56:3 – When I am afraid, I put my trust in you, oh Lord.

Psalm 118:8 - It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man.

Psalm 55:22 – Give your burdens to the Lord and leave them there.

Hebrews 13:5 - I will never leave you nor forsake you!

Mother Arelis Davis reminded us recently of a couple of reliable songs of years gone by, but they are still relevant today:

I will Trust in the Lord, I will Trust in the Lord, until I die.

Jesus Loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so!

If you can just hold on to those two songs and the Word of God, you will make it through this crisis and will be able to tell the story in years to come.

I've got a feeling that everything is gonna be alright, because this too shall pass!

Jeanette S. Hite, President

Washington Conference Branch

Women's Missionary Society