What does it feel like to visit Ukraine for the 11th time?
Margaret Gibb, Executive Director of Women Together, made her 11th trip to Ukraine in May 2019 and says, “It was as exciting as my first trip in November 2010 because in every trip, I see more amazing things happening with women. We are now positioned to do more!”

Mary Carr, Prayer Coordinator at Bethel Church Sarnia, Ontario, joined Margaret. Together they experienced the warmth and hospitality of Ukrainian people and enjoyed quality time with the Women Together teams in various cities in Ukraine.

Upon arrival in Kyiv on May 16, WT Ukraine coordinator Veronika Nuzhna and husband Oleg met Margaret and Mary at the airport. Their first stop of ministry was in Kryvyi Rih at a dynamic church called House of Bread, where Women Together hosted a women’s conference.

The creative and inspiring Women Together team in Kryvyi Rih has a deep heart for women and knows how to plan a top-notch conference. Excitement was high as women came from many different areas of Kryvyi Rih, the longest city in Europe, with a total area of 410 km2. The Women Together conference was dynamic, as women responded to the ministry of the Word and nailed their prayer concerns on a cross. Who could ever forget the sense of God among the women?

Zhovti Vody, a unique Ukrainian city, was the next place of ministry. Margaret and Mary were more than welcomed by one of their host church’s key pastoral teams—Lena and Igor Muzichuk. (Aside from being a busy pastor, Igor is also a bee-keeper!) To meet the WT leadership team in Zhovti Vody and enjoy a lunch meeting with pastor’s wives from the area was a wonderful experience. Margaret and Mary met many courageous women with incredible stories. The WT evening gathering was filled with JOY!

In Poltava, WT held another women’s conference, had an amazing WT team strategy meeting, and celebrated God’s goodness on Sunday morning at the Good News Church, encouraging the congregation to live in expectation of what God will do.

Women Together’s 3rd Connect Leadership School was held in Radomyshl’ near Kyiv, a beautiful setting for a week-long gathering. Over 60 women who all serve in some leadership capacity came from 15 cities and 22 churches. Topics covered included Being Unstoppable in the Calling of God, Working with People, Building a Team, Creating Unity. The women loved the interactive sessions and the Connect booklet. They were eager students and said that they will use the notes to teach the women in their churches.

WT Ukraine leader Veronika Nuzhna and 3 WT teams in 3 cities are doing an amazing work in Ukraine. And there is more to come!

Instead of eating chocolate on Valentine’s Day this year, three women boarded a flight to Bogota, Colombia! Heidi McLaughlin, Carol Ann Hurtubise, and Margaret Gibb represented Women Together (WT) for two weeks of ministry in three Colombian cities: Bogota, Chiquinquira, and Bucaramanga. Stepping away from the cold Canadian winter was good for the soul—Colombia welcomed the Women Together team with warm summer temperatures and a display of nature’s brilliant and beautiful colors. It was a photographer’s heaven!

The people of Colombia are warm, friendly, and very family orientated. “We are family” was repeated, lived, and practiced in every church the team visited. From the first speaking assignment to the last, the team felt like they were part of a family.

Heidi, Carol Ann, and Margaret spoke in churches and at a leadership conference for pastors. They also had the great privilege of speaking to over 1,200 students in two schools. What a great opportunity to watch an assembly of students in school uniform walk into an auditorium ready to listen to God’s Word!

Another opportunity came in Bucaramanga, where the team had the privilege to speak to 300 social workers and psychologists who serve over 5,000 families. Heidi, Carol Ann, and Margaret were the first foreigners to speak to this assembly of women.

They provided encouragement, affirmation, and inspiring words from Scripture to help the social workers see their God-given purpose and impact on lives. The friendship and spiritual connection with the audience—not all believers—was truly God at work!

Many “God-moments” stand out from this journey to Colombia: traveling with two incredible translators, experiencing church in a courtyard under a huge tree, meeting and praying with refugees from Venezuela, attending a church/community centre grand opening, and experiencing vibrant Colombian worship. (Can they ever sing!)

And who could forget eating chicken and potatoes with plastic gloves?

We are invited back for 2020 with many opportunities to pour into the lives of leaders, students, and women! And we are ready!

Colombia is an amazing and beautiful country! Christians in Colombia have a passion for the Lord and a passion to see their nation come to the Lord. What an amazing opportunity we have to join Canada and Colombia together in prayer for both nations.” – Carol Ann Hurtubise

The landscape beauty of Colombia is surpassed only by their music and powerful, heartfelt worship. The people don’t just sing the words; they pour them deeply into their hearts. Then it makes them clap, dance, and enjoy the presence of God.” – Heidi McLaughlin