Columbia-Willamette Women of Vision

March 2023

How often do we have the opportunity to gather for a few hours on a Saturday morning to be with women who are looking forward to seeing each other and to learn more about the projects that our WOV Chapter embraces and supports? I am looking back on the recent morning of March 11 at Journey to Hope! What a great morning to have in our hearts, to learn more about Kenya Big Dream, Emergency Response, and Christian Discipleship in Central America. We heard the stories, listened to the statistics, and saw videos and pictures taken recently on the Honduras Vision Trip in mid-February. Thank you, to all who helped organize the event and all who were able to attend!

Vision Trip team shown with Jorge Galeano (center),

World Vision National Director, Honduras and Guatemala

In the last two editions of the enews, we asked you to pray for the WOV Honduras Vision Trip, February 13-17. Thank you for your prayers! I and three others from CWWOV were on that team, and we were joined by other women from the Austin, Texas and Charlotte, North Carolina WOV Chapters. The Christian Discipleship project we visited in Honduras for three days is being implemented in Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. There are many complicated issues in this region dealing with generational violence, and World Vision is working with churches to reach out with a life-changing program called Raising Children with Tenderness. The work is transformational!

Norman and Steven taught a lesson from Joshua. Steven and his family.

During the Journey to Hope morning, I shared a scripture that I’d like to now share with all of you. 

Joshua 3:3-4 describes the scene when Joshua and the Israelites camped at the Jordan River for three days. Officers came through the camp and said:

3 ”When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God,

and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out

from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go,

since you have never been this way before."

In Honduras, our team was taught a lesson from this scripture by two 15-year-old boys. Their families are in the Raising Children with Tenderness program and are learning new behaviors and skills. Part of this program is also learning how to share what they learn with others. The lesson from Joshua was that God is our tender Father who will show us which way to go in all circumstances. 

Bus to Tenderness

The truth of this scripture was relevant when Joshua was on earth, it is relevant in Central America as parents and children change their focus to tenderness over violence, and it is relevant to you and me as we live in our changing world. We need to follow the word of the Lord our God so we know which way to go because we have never been this way before.

I hope to see you at the Share the Light Gala on April 16! (See details below.)

May the Lord richly bless you,

Ann Zelenka

CWWOV Co-Chair 

Share the Light Gala 2023

April 16, 2023 at 5:30 in the Evening

Multnomah Athletic Club, Portland

Please join us to enjoy socializing with fun people, a delicious dinner, special music, a fresh new raffle concept, and a message from guest speaker Margaret Schuler, World Vision Chief Impact Officer and Senior Vice President, International Programs. It's going to be a fantastic evening—and all of it is planned to bring life, hope, and a future to children around the world.

If you have any questions, please contact Kelley Wong, Event Chair, at kelleyjwong@aol.com or 503-701-2832.

Prayer Requests

Pray for the thousands of people impacted by the recent horrific earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

Pray for an end to ongoing conflicts like those in Ukraine and Syria

Pray for refugees who are fleeing danger, leaving so much behind

Pray for the Raising with Tenderness classes in Central America to end a culture of violence

Pray for the families in Kenya, especially the girls, to have a brighter future without FGM and child marriage

Pray that many will come to Share the Light on April 16

About Us

Women of Vision is a volunteer ministry of World Vision that cultivates dynamic partnerships resulting in significant investments of time, talent, and treasure in support of World Vision’s work, facilitating transformational impact in the lives of the poor and our supporters in the name of Christ. Please partner with us! Click here to learn what that means and update your commitment for this new year (or for the first time).

The Columbia-Willamette Chapter of Women of Vision supports World Vision's work in Kenya, Central America, and areas around the globe struck by disasters. We also volunteer at many local organizations to help the disadvantaged in our own community. Please read about this work on our website.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.