Fenpes (pronounced fen-bay) is a mystery. No one really knows who she was but we can be certain that she was a woman with an important task. A minister and a leader, she delivered an important letter to a community in need of good news and racial reconciliation.
Fenpes is how the Hmong translate the name Phoebe.
I came across Phoebe a few years ago. As I was growing up, I knew stories about Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David and just about every other man mentioned in the Bible. In the mix, stories of women were limited to holidays like Mary during Christmas. In the little time we spend learning the stories of women in the Bible, women like Phoebe go unnoticed. It's not surprising. Out of 31,000+ verses, Phoebe is only mentioned in two (Romans16:1-2). We don't learn much about her. All we know is the author of the letter she delivered, a man, commended her so that the recipients of the letter would receive her with respect. Though there are many other courageous women who are only mentioned once, Phoebe stood out to me because I can relate to her.
Phoebe has been reduced to be a small, insignificant detail that is overlooked and misunderstood. I understand that because that is what it's like to be a minority within a minority. That is what it's like to be Hmong American, a Hmong American woman, a Hmong American woman in leadership, in ministry, and all other spaces that make us feel small. I imagine that was what it was like for Phoebe.
Fenpes represents me and any Hmong American women and men who want to bring their voices to the table but never felt their voices were worthy to be heard.
This blog is not exclusively about women or for women. This blog isn't about faith and spirituality. It doesn't mean I won't write about those things. They are a part of who I am. This is about identity, discovery, and a journey. I write with a Hmong American audience in mind but it doesn't mean you can't engage if you're not Hmong.
Welcome and thank you for visiting!
La
Fenpes (pronounced fen-bay) is a mystery. No one really knows who she was but we can be certain that she was a woman with an important task. A minister and a leader, she delivered an important letter to a community in need of good news and racial reconciliation.Fenpes is how the Hmong translate the name Phoebe.
I came across Phoebe a few years ago. As I was growing up, I knew stories about Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David and just about every other man mentioned in the Bible. In the mix, stories of women were limited to holidays like Mary during Christmas. In the little time we spend learning the stories of women in the Bible, women like Phoebe go unnoticed. It's not surprising. Out of 31,000+ verses, Phoebe is only mentioned in two (Romans16:1-2). We don't learn much about her. All we know is the author of the letter she delivered, a man, commended her so that the recipients of the letter would receive her with respect. Though there are many other courageous women who are only mentioned once, Phoebe stood out to me because I can relate to her.
Phoebe has been reduced to be a small, insignificant detail that is overlooked and misunderstood. I understand that because that is what it's like to be a minority within a minority. That is what it's like to be Hmong American, a Hmong American woman, a Hmong American woman in leadership, in ministry, and all other spaces that make us feel small. I imagine that was what it was like for Phoebe.
Fenpes represents me and any Hmong American women and men who want to bring their voices to the table but never felt their voices were worthy to be heard.
This blog is not exclusively about women or for women. This blog isn't about faith and spirituality. It doesn't mean I won't write about those things. They are a part of who I am. This is about identity, discovery, and a journey. I write with a Hmong American audience in mind but it doesn't mean you can't engage if you're not Hmong.
Welcome and thank you for visiting!
La
Fenpes is how the Hmong translate the name Phoebe.
I came across Phoebe a few years ago. As I was growing up, I knew stories about Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David and just about every other man mentioned in the Bible. In the mix, stories of women were limited to holidays like Mary during Christmas. In the little time we spend learning the stories of women in the Bible, women like Phoebe go unnoticed. It's not surprising. Out of 31,000+ verses, Phoebe is only mentioned in two (Romans16:1-2). We don't learn much about her. All we know is the author of the letter she delivered, a man, commended her so that the recipients of the letter would receive her with respect. Though there are many other courageous women who are only mentioned once, Phoebe stood out to me because I can relate to her.
Phoebe has been reduced to be a small, insignificant detail that is overlooked and misunderstood. I understand that because that is what it's like to be a minority within a minority. That is what it's like to be Hmong American, a Hmong American woman, a Hmong American woman in leadership, in ministry, and all other spaces that make us feel small. I imagine that was what it was like for Phoebe.
Fenpes represents me and any Hmong American women and men who want to bring their voices to the table but never felt their voices were worthy to be heard.
This blog is not exclusively about women or for women. This blog isn't about faith and spirituality. It doesn't mean I won't write about those things. They are a part of who I am. This is about identity, discovery, and a journey. I write with a Hmong American audience in mind but it doesn't mean you can't engage if you're not Hmong.
Welcome and thank you for visiting!
La
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