The Seventh-day Adventist Church, in a program noting the International Day of Women, recently honored the current, and former, first ladies of the Dominican Republic. Mrs. Rosa Mejia, first lady of the Dominican Republic, and Mrs. Rene Clan Guzman, the former first lady of the Republic, were among the 30 distinguished women honored in the event entitled “You Are Valuable.”

The ceremony took place in the city of Santiago, on Sabbath, or Saturday, March 8, in the Central Adventist Church there. The women’s ministries department of the church in Northern Dominican Republic organized the program.

Mejia and Guzman each received recognition plaques. Plaques were also presented to 28 other women of the community—doctors, social workers, political educators and community leaders—who for years have dedicated part of their time to the service of those less fortunate. The honorees came from a variety of religious backgrounds including Roman Catholic, evangelical and other denominations.

Elizabeth Sales Gonzalez, women’s ministries director for the church in the Dominican Republic, delivered the central message to the more than 800 women attending the ceremony. Mrs. Gonzalez emphasized the great work that women have in the present challenging society, and how society needs working women that will strive each day for the good of their community, their family and for their self-improvement, as they trust in God.