Hey everyone, thought I would give you all a brief update. Things here are going good, we are getting ready for our big trip to Lethem next week. So this will probably be the last update until I come home, but we will see if anything exciting or funny happens. So since the congregation party not too much has happened. We are starting to get ready for Dani's departure in 2 weeks:( That is a piece of unhappy news to share. We will start with Saturday. So this last week was the week that the service overseer, who is Brother Hollenbeck, was visiting the service group we are assigned to. So we decided that we would work with the english group Saturday morning before heading off to our Bible studies. I was able to work with Sister Sandra Panchum. She is the first local sister to become a regular pioneer in the Brighton congregation. She is a single mother, her son is named Daniel. He is so sweet, he and I have a secret handshake that is not so secret anymore. Her story is really encouraging. She was married and just before she was baptized her husband left her. She has done so well for herself despite everything she has gone through. She is an amazing mother and is training her son to be a great brother.
So that morning when we arrived to meet for the service group I noticed a couple that I havent met before. After our meeting for service was finished I was able to meet them. I was so excited to hear that this couple is Kevin and Beena Chisolm! If some of you remember 3 years ago when I applied to come down here the first time they are the couple that I originally contacted about Guyana. I talked to them a few times and then once I was asked to wait for a while I didnt keep in touch. I was so happy to be able to meet them finally. Unfortunately I didnt get to talk to them very much because the Guyanese are very serious about taking off right after the service meeting is over.
The first house we went to Daniel gave his presentation and then his mother took over once the man had accepted the magazines. The man was very friendly and said he already had a Bible teach book but that he would love for Sandra to come back next week to discuss God's purpose for the earth. After that we went to the next house where a young woman was out with her family. Sandra introduced us all and then said," this is my friend Faith and she has an important message to share with you." I had not expected to actually do english service, I was under the impression we were doing deaf search along with the english service group. So startled I went into my presentation with Revelation 21:3,4 and show the book and ask her if I could come back next week to discuss what that scripture means. She accepted right away, so that is my first english study. The next 2 houses also accepted Bible studies. So for anybody who is reading this looking for a country that needs help with Bible studies in english or sign language, this is the country for you.
After that we went on our Bible studies. It was seeming to be the same old same old until we reached Rebecca's house. The son that she continues to talk about was there, let me tell you he lived up to his description. He came out and the first thing he said was my name is Jacob and I am christian. That is a great start let me tell you. Everytime I tried to start the study with Rebecca he would start talking to me. He pulled out the movie 2012 and told me that God was going to destroy the world then. So I was sick of his talking and said you know the Bible says that Jehovah alone knows when armageddon is going to happen, and who is man to say they know? At which point he said well I didnt really mean that. Then he moved on to healings done by pastors, at which point I told him the Bible says that spirit healings were included among the teachings of demons. Once again he said I didnt really mean that. Then finally he asked where the Kingdom Hall was and if he could go. So I told him where it was and gave him the times, we will see if he ever actually shows up. He is a tad wierd but it seems like maybe he might do well if the right person studied with him. You never know.
Then Sunday we had a great start to our day. My Bible study Abida has a very creepy husband, whos name I cant remember. Recently Abida has been coming to our house and just sitting around doing nothing except staring and giving one word answers to any of our questions. So we knew it was a matter of time before her husband came over. So yesterday morning as we were getting ready to walk out the door Dani sticks her head in the door and says umm Faith guess who is here? So I stepped outside to see her husband with no shoes on walking to our door. So after telling him that we were leaving we led him away from our door and he asked us for money! I had blocked out everything he said, apparently it is for a man who he works with, by the way he told us he didnt have a real job, has no money and no food for his family. But then said it was ok to wait until Friday to finish the discussion. So I am thinking that the money is for him, just a crazy thought.
Then after meeting we went over to Curtis and Shaundelle Bourne's house for a late lunch. They are so nice, and she is an amazing cook! She made fried chicken, and something called variety rice. It has a little bit of everything, it was delicious. They have 3 little boys and then their nephew is there all the time. I was so excited to be able to play hide and seek with them, it made me miss my little brothers even more than I already do. Before we left we played scrabble and I gave a lesson in chess. Abi is still working on it:) They sent us home with a chess set so the girls can practice.
Only day left to catch you up on is today. We went to the market, always a highlight of our week. You never realize how much food you eat until you have nothing in the house to eat! So once we arrived in Rose Hall which is where our market is, we set off for a store so Abi could buy foam for her matress. We bought it, and then Abi had to carry around a foam matress that was seriously the same height as her. It was quite a site, and yes we did take pictures. After that we did the normal shopping, but on our way out of the market there was a donkey tied up that looked extremely pathetic. So I decided to give him the rest of my banana. I had a little trouble giving it to him. There was a local man standing outside laughing at me. He yelled hold your hand out flat and he wont bite you. So I did what he said and the donkey ate it out of my hand! I really wanted to take him home with me. The animals here are so sad looking. You know in Winnie the Pooh the donkey, Eeore? Yes the donkeys all look like that, I think that if they could talk they would sound that way too. I want to take care of them all, its just not possible.
So we finally made it to our favorite place, Spready's! After the grocery shopping, we headed over to the bakery. I got my usual, chocolate cake and sprite. There is nothing like chocolate cake to make you feel good. It gives you the warm fuzzy feeling of home. I looked over and there was table of boys about 12 years old, just sitting there staring at us and laughing. Abi got up to go and wash her hands, at the same time a few of those little boys went over there too. As she walked by them, they made a funny face at her and she did so in return. She didnt know they would continue that for the rest of our trip. I looked over after everyone had sat back down after that and one of them was a little more brave than the others and came over. He asked me what my name is, so I told him and he pointed to one of the boys and said he likes you. Then he walked away really quickly it was funny. But then he came over and asked me where I am from, then continued coming over asking the rest of the girl's names. Eventually we all had a boy that liked us. So I decided it would be funny to go and sit with them, once I did they all looked scared and ran away. That was one of the funniest things that has happened here so far.
Well I think that is all I have to report for now. I will try to write again before I take off for Lethem, maybe something funny will happen before we take off. So until then!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Congregation Party
Hello everyone, I hope everything is well back home. Just a quick update on the happenings down here. Yesterday Chris Godburn from Hopetown came out and gave the public talk in Brighton. The talk was on following the course of hospitality, it was so nice to understand everything the brother was talking about. It was also nice because in addition to understanding everything he was talking about we had 2 deaf at the meeting. Danielle's Bible study Natalie has been coming regularly. A sister has offered to bring her to meeting and take her home for us. She lives right across the road from Natalie. The congregation is very helpful and sweet.
After the meeting was over we went back home to wait for Tom and Michelle who were on their way home from Skeldon where he had just given the public talk. They offered to take us with them to the Hollenbeck's house for the congregation party. The Hollenbecks are a missionary couple that go to the Brighton congregation. They live quite a bit out of the territory so we didnt know how to get there yet. So while we waited we contemplated eating the rice krispie treats that we made for the party, however we decided not to.
Finally they got to our house and we piled in their car and away we went. Once we got there the eating began!! The Guyanese people are very concerned with eating and talking. That is the concern of everybody who grew up in this country. After the eating the festivities began. We had musical chairs, cricket, basketball, and dancing. The musical chairs became very violent once the adults started playing, there was lots of pushing and pulling. However seeing a young brother from Hopetown dancing around the chairs was very amusing. So after the musical chairs everyone kind of did their own thing, which included dancing:)That was fun to do, the Guyanese people are very shy but finally us foreigners got some of them to dance. We taught some line dancing and swing dancing. It was fun to watch them try to learn those dances. Then they taught us how to do some Indian dancing, I can show you when I get home.
At the end of the night it was just us at the Hollenbeck's house, so Michelle and Barbra pulled out the songbooks and we had a nice time singing the new kingdom melodies. Being in sign language means that I had no idea how to sing anymore....or ever actually. It was nice to be around people that are so encouraging, they have great stories and wonderful advice to give us. We finally felt like we really bonded with the congregation. Well that is it for now, until next time.
After the meeting was over we went back home to wait for Tom and Michelle who were on their way home from Skeldon where he had just given the public talk. They offered to take us with them to the Hollenbeck's house for the congregation party. The Hollenbecks are a missionary couple that go to the Brighton congregation. They live quite a bit out of the territory so we didnt know how to get there yet. So while we waited we contemplated eating the rice krispie treats that we made for the party, however we decided not to.
Finally they got to our house and we piled in their car and away we went. Once we got there the eating began!! The Guyanese people are very concerned with eating and talking. That is the concern of everybody who grew up in this country. After the eating the festivities began. We had musical chairs, cricket, basketball, and dancing. The musical chairs became very violent once the adults started playing, there was lots of pushing and pulling. However seeing a young brother from Hopetown dancing around the chairs was very amusing. So after the musical chairs everyone kind of did their own thing, which included dancing:)That was fun to do, the Guyanese people are very shy but finally us foreigners got some of them to dance. We taught some line dancing and swing dancing. It was fun to watch them try to learn those dances. Then they taught us how to do some Indian dancing, I can show you when I get home.
At the end of the night it was just us at the Hollenbeck's house, so Michelle and Barbra pulled out the songbooks and we had a nice time singing the new kingdom melodies. Being in sign language means that I had no idea how to sing anymore....or ever actually. It was nice to be around people that are so encouraging, they have great stories and wonderful advice to give us. We finally felt like we really bonded with the congregation. Well that is it for now, until next time.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Visit from the Buddens
Hey everyone so today we had a very special visit from a special pioneer couple in the New Amsterdam congregation, it was Ramon and Kali Budden. Wednesday night we got a call from Ramon who had just come back from a trip to the states that lasted for a little over 2 months. So he called to see how everything was going and to plan a day to preach with us and impart their wisdom. Today was that day!
First Dani and I took Ramon with us to go and visit Navin. Navin was so excited to see Ramon again. Pretty much all the deaf that we study with were found by Ramon and Kali. They started the majority of the work in sign language in our area. When we arrived at Navin's house all in the family were really happy to see such an old friend. We were there for about an hour and the study went really well. We love watching him explain things back to us. He becomes very animated when discussing the difference between Jehovah's people and those who don't follow the Bibles standards. We had Ramon conduct the study, watching the way he teaches the deaf has given us some great pointers for our own service.
Next we went to Abida, she is a woman who told Dani and Dana that she was deaf. Then when I went back to conduct her study she tells me that she isnt deaf but is hard of hearing in her right ear. It was really fun to go home and tell the girls who were so excited that they found a deaf woman that she isnt really deaf. She just wanted to say she was deaf. Well we have found out that she has only one response to anything you say, its yes. It doesnt matter if its a yes or no question or not. She will always say yes. So we are trying to relate what we talk about to things she knows, recently we have been able to compare things to cooking. That seems to work because she does a lot of it and its something she enjoys doing. I am really rusty at english service. The study took longer than normal because I was trying to pry some sort of answer out of her. It kind of seems like she and her husband will be joining us for meeting on Sunday. I think I am going to introduce them to a couple in the Kingdom Hall and hand them over to someone who is in english.
We had a little bit of time left before we had to go and meet back with the others so we decided to walk down to go and see the twins Atri and Athang. On the walk we found out about their life. They have been in Guyana for 2 and a half years serving as special pioneers. They served at Brooklyn Bethel for 7 years before moving down here. He talked to us about how they setup their house like a missionary home. We just learned about their backgrounds and what their plans are for the future. So after a short visit with Atri we headed back to the house so that Ramon could share some notes from Gilead graduations that he likes to share with all the need greaters that come to the Berbice.
Once we all got settled upstairs we sat and listened as Ramon shared points that he enjoyed from Gilead graduation talks. We had an entire part about how to get along with others in the ministry, in the house, and in the congregation. There were a lot of great points but unfortunately for all of you I am too lazy to write any of them. I did really like the part we talked about everyone in the house. We got quite a few wonderful ideas from it. Such as now we are going to have a family worship night in our house. It is always really encouraging when you sit down with someone who knows what they are talking about and allowing them to give you suggestions on how to make life easier.
After we had our discussion of those points we switched groups so Dani and I went with Kali to go and see Natalie and Jem. Both studies were pretty uneventful, we covered a lot of material with both of them. But the ride home was definetly eventful. We stopped a bus and the conductor put Kali in the very back then he pulled the seat down where to guys were sitting together. As I got in the bus to sit down they parted so I had to sit in the middle of them. Once I sat down I noticed the beer bottle in the hand of the boy on my right. Then when he opened his mouth to talk to me the smell of alcohol hit me like a brick wall. I knew from the second he started to talk to me that the ride home was going to be one for the blog! I need a new paragraph for this one.
He leans over and says I want a Jehovah's Witness Bible. I said that I wasnt going to be giving him one. So he then changes his request to a tract. I didnt have one with me so I told him that I didnt have one to give him. In reply to this he asks are you really a Witness? I just stared at him until Dani chimed in with her tract. So he grabs the tract from her and opens the first page. He read half a sentence and looks at me and said I dont know what they are talking about. So I tell him that it might be a good idea to read the rest of the sentence before saying its too confusing to understand. At which point the Guyanese woman sitting behind me started cracking up. So he finishes reading the sentence out loud to me. Then asks me what it could mean. So I told him to open the rest of the tract and look at the picture and I said do you see families around here that are that happy. He told me that his family is like that. I tried to stop the conversation by saying that is nice and looking ahead. He wasnt going to have that.
He tried to start talking to me again but Kali stepped in by telling him that he talks, or gaffs as the locals call it, a lot. He started laughing and goes I gaff a lot?? So she said yes, is this the first white girl you ever see? He began to tell me that I am not the first white girl he has seen, he knows the girls that were here before. He said they gave him a Bible. So I asked why he needs another Bible if they already gave him one. He tells me that he wants a Bible from me. So I tell him that if he would like a Bible he has to go to the meeting on Sunday. He tells me that he doesnt go to the Kingdom Hall, then changes the subject to how I need to take my glasses off so he can see my eyes. I told him no again, then he went back to the subject of the Kingdom Hall. He said ok so if I go to the meeting then you will give me a Bible and tell me your name. I said yes, if you come to the meeting then we will get you a Bible and you can know my name. Then he says no you have to give me the Bible at the meeting, it has to say from then you write your name and to then you write my name so I can always remember. At which point both Kali and I started cracking up. Thankfully that was about the time the bus stopped in front of our house. So I am getting out of the bus and he goes oh its your house!! See you Sunday.
Yes I attract all the crazies...Doesnt matter where we are or what we are doing the crazies are drawn to me like a moth to a flame. Or a more Guyanese way to think of it is mosquitos to people! The mozzies are terrible right now. Ok well that is all for now, hope you all enjoyed my crazy stories!!
First Dani and I took Ramon with us to go and visit Navin. Navin was so excited to see Ramon again. Pretty much all the deaf that we study with were found by Ramon and Kali. They started the majority of the work in sign language in our area. When we arrived at Navin's house all in the family were really happy to see such an old friend. We were there for about an hour and the study went really well. We love watching him explain things back to us. He becomes very animated when discussing the difference between Jehovah's people and those who don't follow the Bibles standards. We had Ramon conduct the study, watching the way he teaches the deaf has given us some great pointers for our own service.
Next we went to Abida, she is a woman who told Dani and Dana that she was deaf. Then when I went back to conduct her study she tells me that she isnt deaf but is hard of hearing in her right ear. It was really fun to go home and tell the girls who were so excited that they found a deaf woman that she isnt really deaf. She just wanted to say she was deaf. Well we have found out that she has only one response to anything you say, its yes. It doesnt matter if its a yes or no question or not. She will always say yes. So we are trying to relate what we talk about to things she knows, recently we have been able to compare things to cooking. That seems to work because she does a lot of it and its something she enjoys doing. I am really rusty at english service. The study took longer than normal because I was trying to pry some sort of answer out of her. It kind of seems like she and her husband will be joining us for meeting on Sunday. I think I am going to introduce them to a couple in the Kingdom Hall and hand them over to someone who is in english.
We had a little bit of time left before we had to go and meet back with the others so we decided to walk down to go and see the twins Atri and Athang. On the walk we found out about their life. They have been in Guyana for 2 and a half years serving as special pioneers. They served at Brooklyn Bethel for 7 years before moving down here. He talked to us about how they setup their house like a missionary home. We just learned about their backgrounds and what their plans are for the future. So after a short visit with Atri we headed back to the house so that Ramon could share some notes from Gilead graduations that he likes to share with all the need greaters that come to the Berbice.
Once we all got settled upstairs we sat and listened as Ramon shared points that he enjoyed from Gilead graduation talks. We had an entire part about how to get along with others in the ministry, in the house, and in the congregation. There were a lot of great points but unfortunately for all of you I am too lazy to write any of them. I did really like the part we talked about everyone in the house. We got quite a few wonderful ideas from it. Such as now we are going to have a family worship night in our house. It is always really encouraging when you sit down with someone who knows what they are talking about and allowing them to give you suggestions on how to make life easier.
After we had our discussion of those points we switched groups so Dani and I went with Kali to go and see Natalie and Jem. Both studies were pretty uneventful, we covered a lot of material with both of them. But the ride home was definetly eventful. We stopped a bus and the conductor put Kali in the very back then he pulled the seat down where to guys were sitting together. As I got in the bus to sit down they parted so I had to sit in the middle of them. Once I sat down I noticed the beer bottle in the hand of the boy on my right. Then when he opened his mouth to talk to me the smell of alcohol hit me like a brick wall. I knew from the second he started to talk to me that the ride home was going to be one for the blog! I need a new paragraph for this one.
He leans over and says I want a Jehovah's Witness Bible. I said that I wasnt going to be giving him one. So he then changes his request to a tract. I didnt have one with me so I told him that I didnt have one to give him. In reply to this he asks are you really a Witness? I just stared at him until Dani chimed in with her tract. So he grabs the tract from her and opens the first page. He read half a sentence and looks at me and said I dont know what they are talking about. So I tell him that it might be a good idea to read the rest of the sentence before saying its too confusing to understand. At which point the Guyanese woman sitting behind me started cracking up. So he finishes reading the sentence out loud to me. Then asks me what it could mean. So I told him to open the rest of the tract and look at the picture and I said do you see families around here that are that happy. He told me that his family is like that. I tried to stop the conversation by saying that is nice and looking ahead. He wasnt going to have that.
He tried to start talking to me again but Kali stepped in by telling him that he talks, or gaffs as the locals call it, a lot. He started laughing and goes I gaff a lot?? So she said yes, is this the first white girl you ever see? He began to tell me that I am not the first white girl he has seen, he knows the girls that were here before. He said they gave him a Bible. So I asked why he needs another Bible if they already gave him one. He tells me that he wants a Bible from me. So I tell him that if he would like a Bible he has to go to the meeting on Sunday. He tells me that he doesnt go to the Kingdom Hall, then changes the subject to how I need to take my glasses off so he can see my eyes. I told him no again, then he went back to the subject of the Kingdom Hall. He said ok so if I go to the meeting then you will give me a Bible and tell me your name. I said yes, if you come to the meeting then we will get you a Bible and you can know my name. Then he says no you have to give me the Bible at the meeting, it has to say from then you write your name and to then you write my name so I can always remember. At which point both Kali and I started cracking up. Thankfully that was about the time the bus stopped in front of our house. So I am getting out of the bus and he goes oh its your house!! See you Sunday.
Yes I attract all the crazies...Doesnt matter where we are or what we are doing the crazies are drawn to me like a moth to a flame. Or a more Guyanese way to think of it is mosquitos to people! The mozzies are terrible right now. Ok well that is all for now, hope you all enjoyed my crazy stories!!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Hey everyone, sorry it has been so long since my last post. It is really hard to write blogs frequently when there are 3 other girls in the house trying to use the computer as well. So here I am at 10 at night while the rest of the house is sound asleep trying to stay awake long enough to write. Abi has been here a week and is already fitting right in. We love having another person here to help out with everything. More for service and more for interpreting. Really not too much has been going on. Just going out in service and getting ready for our big trip to Lethem. That is the beginning of next month. We are really excited because we get to see some of the interior and go preaching in the area. It will be an experience to remember.
Today we went into Black Bush and found 3 new deaf. One is a little girl whos family owns a rum shop in Johanna village. Then there is a married couple who are older. We met the wife, couldn't get her to tell us her name but she was very friendly. Knows absolutely no sign at all, but loves pictures. She kept saying the same thing over and over again, so we are going to try again tomorrow. I think Abi is going to take it so it should be interesting to see how this goes.
Other than that nothing has happened. It has been the same Bible studies with the same amusing personalities. We have 2 Bible studies that are coming to meeting regularly now. Natalie is going to come every Sunday for meeting. A sister lives across the road from her and told us that she would be more than happy to bring her with her to meeting. It is so sweet, and that enables us to go and pick up other studies. We have one other woman we are going to try to get to come regularly. Her name is Rebecca. She is in her ealry 50's and is doing really well. She doesnt know any sign really but she can read lips. So when we study I voice what I am signing and she then understands what is going on. Hopefully soon her signing will start to improve. Last week when she learned that the earth is going to become a paradise she became very emotional and very happy. She is the study I feel the closest to. She was telling the girls that she loved me because I make her feel happy when I come to visit her. She is a sweetheart.
That is definetly something that I am going to miss about being here when I head home. The studies and the amount of interest they all have. It is great to have people here that want to learn and really love what they are learning. Ok I know this wasnt very long but I will have more to say soon. This Sunday we are heading over to the Hollenbeck's hosue for a congregation get together. Then we have Lethem coming up. I am sure I will have more to say then:) Oh and for all of you who dont know this, my mom will be here in 69 days!!! I am so excited to see her. Ok I will post more soon. Bye
Today we went into Black Bush and found 3 new deaf. One is a little girl whos family owns a rum shop in Johanna village. Then there is a married couple who are older. We met the wife, couldn't get her to tell us her name but she was very friendly. Knows absolutely no sign at all, but loves pictures. She kept saying the same thing over and over again, so we are going to try again tomorrow. I think Abi is going to take it so it should be interesting to see how this goes.
Other than that nothing has happened. It has been the same Bible studies with the same amusing personalities. We have 2 Bible studies that are coming to meeting regularly now. Natalie is going to come every Sunday for meeting. A sister lives across the road from her and told us that she would be more than happy to bring her with her to meeting. It is so sweet, and that enables us to go and pick up other studies. We have one other woman we are going to try to get to come regularly. Her name is Rebecca. She is in her ealry 50's and is doing really well. She doesnt know any sign really but she can read lips. So when we study I voice what I am signing and she then understands what is going on. Hopefully soon her signing will start to improve. Last week when she learned that the earth is going to become a paradise she became very emotional and very happy. She is the study I feel the closest to. She was telling the girls that she loved me because I make her feel happy when I come to visit her. She is a sweetheart.
That is definetly something that I am going to miss about being here when I head home. The studies and the amount of interest they all have. It is great to have people here that want to learn and really love what they are learning. Ok I know this wasnt very long but I will have more to say soon. This Sunday we are heading over to the Hollenbeck's hosue for a congregation get together. Then we have Lethem coming up. I am sure I will have more to say then:) Oh and for all of you who dont know this, my mom will be here in 69 days!!! I am so excited to see her. Ok I will post more soon. Bye
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Bethel and Abi's arrival
Hey everyone! So a lot has happened the last 2 days. Yesterday morning Danielle and I headed off with Tom to go into Georgetown. We took off at about 10 in the morning and made a few stops along the way. First one was in Rose Hall, while we waited for Tom we went and got ice cream. So after that we headed into a town called Hopetown. We stopped at the house of some need greaters in that area. Their names are Chris and Lorissa Godburn, Sam, and Micaiah. The couple has been there about 4 weeks, they are from San Luis Obispo,CA. They will be here until April so hopefully we will get to see them again before they leave. The boys have been here since Tom had his last interior preaching trip, I keep trying to convince him to plan one before I leave and he keeps saying no. So we hung out there for a little while so Tom could download some things from their computers.
After that we were on our way to Bethel! We got there and were so excited to feel slightly civilized again. We were taken up to the guestroom and left to enjoy the air conditioning and hot shower:) When we arrived they made a point of making sure we knew we were invited to the family study of the Watchtower. So we got ready and headed downstairs. I have never sat in on the family study so we were so excited. The singing was so loud, and they sang after the meeting was over so we have video of all the Bethelites singing, it was a great experience. We were able to meet all 8 of the Bethelites and have conversations with all of them. When I get home I will post pictures and the video on my blog.
So after that we headed upstairs to our room and enjoyed our little piece of civilization. For the first time in 2 months I felt like a girl again. So we got all cleaned and sat on the couch to enjoy the television. We found out that one of the stations was the security tapes, so we sat and watched that for a while. It is much more enjoyable than you would think. So we hung out and then went to enjoy the comfortable bed.....oh my goodness, it was so nice to need a blanket while sleeping. Words cant explain.
When we woke up the next morning we got ready and took off for the airport. Half way there Abi called to say she had landed, it was early. So as we pulled up to the airport we saw her. Tom didnt have time to stop the car completely before we had jumped out and were running at her. However a local man who was laughing put his hand out and said hey hey she will still be there slow down. At which point we ignored him like we do everyone else, and about knocked her over. So after long hellos we realized she wasnt alone. She had met a brother at the airport in JFK from England named James.He was coming for one month to go and stay on an island outside of Georgetown. She saw him reading a Watchtower in the airport and went over in the hopes of finding a brother or being able to witness to him. That was nice for her because she had a long layover and you will find some wierd people in that airport.
After loading up the car we headed back to Bethel. We hadnt had a tour yet so we were able to go through and see all of it. The branch was dedicated in 2004. The sister that took us through was Sister Cross. She is the only single sister at Bethel. She took us through all of the offices and we were able to talk to all the brothers about their jobs in the building. We learned about all of the congregations in Guyana including the only Carib speaking congregation in Barmita. Then we learned how the MEPS system works:) I wish I could explain it to you but it is hard to explain without the program in front of you. Everyone at the branch was so sweet and welcoming. We never wanted to leave, however we did have to.
Finally we got Abi home and got her unpacked. We cooked her real Guyanese food, roti and curry. Hopefully she enjoyed it, we did. We are so excited to have her here with us. Tomorrow we are going to take her into Rose Hall to see the market and probably to give her a small dose of life back home. Which comes in the form of cake at Spready's. I hope everything is well and will post again soon
After that we were on our way to Bethel! We got there and were so excited to feel slightly civilized again. We were taken up to the guestroom and left to enjoy the air conditioning and hot shower:) When we arrived they made a point of making sure we knew we were invited to the family study of the Watchtower. So we got ready and headed downstairs. I have never sat in on the family study so we were so excited. The singing was so loud, and they sang after the meeting was over so we have video of all the Bethelites singing, it was a great experience. We were able to meet all 8 of the Bethelites and have conversations with all of them. When I get home I will post pictures and the video on my blog.
So after that we headed upstairs to our room and enjoyed our little piece of civilization. For the first time in 2 months I felt like a girl again. So we got all cleaned and sat on the couch to enjoy the television. We found out that one of the stations was the security tapes, so we sat and watched that for a while. It is much more enjoyable than you would think. So we hung out and then went to enjoy the comfortable bed.....oh my goodness, it was so nice to need a blanket while sleeping. Words cant explain.
When we woke up the next morning we got ready and took off for the airport. Half way there Abi called to say she had landed, it was early. So as we pulled up to the airport we saw her. Tom didnt have time to stop the car completely before we had jumped out and were running at her. However a local man who was laughing put his hand out and said hey hey she will still be there slow down. At which point we ignored him like we do everyone else, and about knocked her over. So after long hellos we realized she wasnt alone. She had met a brother at the airport in JFK from England named James.He was coming for one month to go and stay on an island outside of Georgetown. She saw him reading a Watchtower in the airport and went over in the hopes of finding a brother or being able to witness to him. That was nice for her because she had a long layover and you will find some wierd people in that airport.
After loading up the car we headed back to Bethel. We hadnt had a tour yet so we were able to go through and see all of it. The branch was dedicated in 2004. The sister that took us through was Sister Cross. She is the only single sister at Bethel. She took us through all of the offices and we were able to talk to all the brothers about their jobs in the building. We learned about all of the congregations in Guyana including the only Carib speaking congregation in Barmita. Then we learned how the MEPS system works:) I wish I could explain it to you but it is hard to explain without the program in front of you. Everyone at the branch was so sweet and welcoming. We never wanted to leave, however we did have to.
Finally we got Abi home and got her unpacked. We cooked her real Guyanese food, roti and curry. Hopefully she enjoyed it, we did. We are so excited to have her here with us. Tomorrow we are going to take her into Rose Hall to see the market and probably to give her a small dose of life back home. Which comes in the form of cake at Spready's. I hope everything is well and will post again soon
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