International President trip to Girls Brigade Pacific
On the 30th December 2011, Girls Brigade International President Ruth Chikasa and her daughter Ruth set off from home in Zambia to join in with some GB Pacific events. On this page, we'll be keeping up with Ruth and Petra and sharing some of their travels.
Meet Petra
My name is Petra Chikasa. I am 20 years old. I am the youngest child of two. I have a 24 year old older brother by the name of Caleb. I live with my Mom, Ruth, and my dad Abraham.
I am a 3rd year Law student at the Cavendish University of Zambia. I am very excited to be travelling to the Pacific to share this amazing experience with new friends and amazing girls. I am looking forward to learning new things and how GB is in other places. I really can't wait
Meet Ruth
Ruth lives in Lusaka, Zambia with her husband, Abraham and two children, Caleb, 24 and Petra 20. As International President, Ruth brings a combination of vibrancy, maturity and enthusiasm to the ministry of Girls’ Brigade.
In both her professional and ministry work, Ruth believes that each person has God given potential and, with a little help, we can give hope to our societies and communities.
Update One: January 1st 2012, Auckland
Ruth Chikasa
Hi folks.
Petra and I arrived in Auckland December 31st at about 23:45 hours, after flying from Lusaka to Joh’berg (2 hrs) Jbg to Sydney (16 hrs) and Sydney to Auckland (about 6 hours. We were ready for our beds!
We woke up in 2012 and travel off to the Pacific Fonomarae in Queesntown next!
Petra and Ruth in conversation
Interview by Ruth Gilson. 2nd January 2012
I decided to do a bit of an ongoing interview with Ruth and Petra during their Pacific trip – to get some insights about GB from them, and also to be a bit nosey of course. So, keep coming back for more. I’ll do the questioning and report back to you when I find out more. Ruth Gilson, your international snoop!
Ruth Gilson: So, Petra you are in GB in Zambia, a student, living at home AND daughter of GB’s International President. What I want to know is this: what are your 5 top essential hand luggage items for this GB Pacific trip?
Petra: Easy – My Bible, journal, Blackberry, iPod & a book to read.
RG: What 3 key facts do you think every teenager in GB should know about Girls' Brigade?
P: What our vision is, what leadership programmes for young women are available & what benefits GB has for young girls.
RG: Is it hotter or cooler in the pacific than at home in Zambia?
P: It is waaaay cooler I can feel it in my bones LOL!!
RG: Ruth you are a busy wife, mum, Africa region development worker for Dreyfus organisation AND now you have just become a government adviser for women’s issues right? Amazing! On top of all that you now serve in your second term as GB’s International President - what a woman eh? So tell me something we ALL want to know: what one ‘special’ thing do you ALWAYS take in your luggage when you travel?!
RC: A family picture and the GB Teddy bear that you gave me!
RG: OK so what’s your favourite seat on the plane or do you just take what you get?
RC: Oh I Love an aisle seat, preferably on the exit because its roomy. Also it means I don’t disturb anyone when I have ‘to go’!
RG: What are your top 3 ‘look forward to’ things about this GB Pacific trip?
There are many important priorities for me but the top are probably to:
- Get the pulse of GB in the Pacific
- Identify (if possible) the next generation of GB Leaders
- Definitely to have some fun and be a girl!
Ruth Chikasa's Christmas Reflection
She may be in New Zealand right now, enjoying time at the Pacific Fonomarae – but Ruth's still thinking about the rest of us too. Here's her challenging new year reflection for GB friends around the world.
I know that you are busy packing up the Christmas decorations and already into 2012, but why not stop for a moment and reflect again on Christmas – from a young woman’s perspective.
Mary
The life of young Mary was an ordinary one. She did not imagine that her life could be so enriched with the presence of God and that her life could impact the world so dramatically. Mary’s obedience to the voice of God completely transformed her life but ultimately the world was enriched with the coming of a Saviour. In her obedience, Mary became the mother of the Saviour of the world. She allowed herself to be a channel of the Love of God to His people. Often, when we read about people in the Bible, we think of them as super-humans who were able to accomplish so many things that still affect us today. But, friends, all these people were just ordinary people – flesh and blood like us, who were willing to take God at His word and obey Him.
Mary, like any young woman of today, had dreams of a future. But she was not prepared for what came to her when she received the greeting, "Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you"!
It was not the greeting that changed Mary’s life, it was her response to the greeting. Mary was willing to be obedient to the voice of God, even though it meant breaking the engagement to Joseph, even though it meant that she would not be able to explain to her parents about the pregnancy! Her answer, "I am the Lord’s maidservant, let it be according to your word", was an affirmation of what she believed her life was about. A maidservant for the Lord!
When we come to a changeover of year, many of us evaluate all that was in the year just gone, and whether what our early hopes for that year have been realised. Sometimes though it is not sufficient to evaluate ourselves in this way. Instead it is better to look at how our life has been transformed and how we have impacted others for good!
Great questions to ask are, 'how have I grown in my ministry'? 'How have I developed in my career'? 'How has my Christian life deepened'?
Our response to such questions, will reflect whether, like Mary, we are stepping forward as the Lord's maidservants.
Christmas is a time that focuses on giving. We look back at how Mary gave the Lord her obedience, through which God blessed the world. So, dear friends, I encourage you to give your transformed life to others so that God's world is enriched by your response to God's voice to you.
Welcome 2012 with renewed vigour to be available for the Lord's service. Commit to being a partner with God in the transformation ministry he has called us into. Seek, Serve and Follow Him this year – and let's go transform Girls' lives and enrich God’s World!
Your friend and fellow maidservant,
Ruth
Update with Petra January 10
Interview by Ruth Gilson. 10th January 2012
Ruth Gilson catches up with Petra to see how things have been getting on during their Pacific trip.
RG: Do you ever get bored?
PC: NO!! I never get bored!!! I have made so many friends and we are always goofying around.
RG: What's your favourite bit in the Bible?
PC: My favourite bit is God’s promises to David. They melt my heart especially when David said:
"There is nothing new under the sun, all, except the righteous foresaken or his Children, beg for bread"
Psalm 37:25
That just inspires me to keep on pressing on towards the goal because I know I am taken care of!
RG: Why are you involved in Girls' Brigade?
PC: Firstly because mom dragged me there when I was aged 4 (LOL)! Then though mostly because I discovered Jesus, AND all the fun stuff that I'm always learning at GB.
RG: Had a GB Highlight so far on the trip?
PC: So far it’s been learning what GB is like in other countries, its soooo interesting!
Update with Ruth January 12
Interview by Ruth Gilson. 12th January 2012
I managed to catch up with our President at the end of the Australia youth event - I think she's feeling her age, but is also excited at all that God has been doing amongst the group.
What a week it has been, so many new friends and so many good lessons, I am truly blessed!
Today is sort of the last day of Australia Fonomorae 2012. We just came from It’s my choice to love God session. It was totally awesome!
Join me in praying that the girls here may go back to their various places with a firm decision made to love and honour God in their lives. Must admit I’m feeling a bit tired. I think it’s from not having enough sleep and plenty of action!!
The next leg of Ruth and Petra’s trip is in the Cook Islands. They fly over to Rarotonga on Saturday evening (Australia time). Let’s pray for rest and refreshment for them both in the meantime.
Girls and young women in Australia sacrifice shopping to support GB mission in Kosova!
The Oz youth gathering followed the theme ‘It’s your choice’, with the whole aim of the time together being to ‘Embrace, Encourage, Enable and Empower girls’. A real evidence of how this became a practical reality was the response made by young women to the challenge ‘It’s your choice to love God’
Giving your first fruits to God – gifts, skills, time, decisions and money all play a part in this response, and the Australian young women really took this on board. Ruth C was bowled over by the girls generous response to God: "One of things that made me so proud as GB International Prsident was being presented with a cheque for over $800 (AU) for the GB mission work in Kosovo. This was after a session of "Its your Choice to Love God" and before they all went out shopping! The girls were challenged to give God the first fruits and they gave...... I’m so very proud of my Oz friends!"