Here she is! It's in Spanish of course but even if you don't understand the words you get an idea still of how well she did. No notes at all! The sound is not that great. The acoustics in the hall are atrocious! If you want to skip to the end it's funny to see her listening to the School Overseer as he talks to her. She's so very grown up!
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Philippians 2:13 in action
I LOVE how the revised NWT renders Phil. 2:13 - "For God is the one who for the sake of his good pleasure energizes you, giving you both the desire and the power to act."
"energizes you" - love that wording!! I got to experience this scripture in action this week. We usually take Thursday's off, but since Wednesday we only went out a half day, we went out Thursday morning too - plus we wanted to be there to kick off the District Convention invitation campaign.
So, on Friday I was EXHAUSTED! I mean, I didn't do much Thursday afternoon, but apparently that morning off makes a big difference to my energy levels! And on top of that, Friday was looking to be a long day since I arranged to go see an old study of mine at 6pm, and then go listen to one of my old students give her first part on the school.
We met with the group, and Charley and I ended up working together, and he wanted to take me to a return visit that was about 10 minutes walk. I was two steps behind him all the way to his return visit, I just couldn't seem to get myself moving! So, I silently prayed to Jehovah as I lagged behind that he energize me, that he give me both the desire and the power to act since I didn't feel like I had either of those things! I thought to myself how nice it would be to have a return visit that would invite us to sit down.
So, we get to his return visit and the young mother, Dinora, comes and opens the gate, and ushers us in. I don't think she even said Hello! And then she got chairs out and put them in the shade! So, we decided I'd do the call and just go right to the Bible Teach book. Turns out she used to study when she was 13, but then moved and lost contact. She chose Chapter 11 from the book about why God permits suffering. So, we launch right into the study, and she was amazing! She had such good input, and she explained what we read in the Scriptures really well. Since she wasn't expecting us, and said she'd been busy cleaning, I suggested we stop after we read paragraph 4, but she said we could continue. When we got to paragraph 9 I said well, I've taken a lot of your time, do you want to continue another day. She was like, "No, let's continue, I don't want to be left hanging, I need to know the answer now"!!!! So we did all the way through paragraph 14! When we were about to read paragraph 12 I drew her attention to the picture of the teacher and student, and rhetorically asked "What does that have to do with what we're talking about?" Before I said, let's read on to find out, she was giving her version of what she thought the picture meant. And she was pretty much spot on!! We were totally impressed!!
So, instant Bible Study - I came out from there ENERGIZED beyond words!!! I told Charley what I had prayed along the way - talk about an instant answer!!
The rest of the day was excellent. I conducted another two studies, one of whom is working 7 days a week right now but happened to be off yesterday so we studied in the afternoon. The other was Sujey, who I mentioned in the last post. Had a nice little study with her.
So, we finished service around 7pm, my old study that I went to see in the evening gave us something to eat, and then we went to the meeting to see Laynori give her part on the Theocratic Ministry School. She was AMAZING, as I knew she would be because she's one of the quickest little 8 year olds I know! I'll have a video of that for you soon - it's currently uploading.
Well, we're going to do Family Worship now since Charley's meeting interfered with our plans earlier in the week! Take care and be energized!
"energizes you" - love that wording!! I got to experience this scripture in action this week. We usually take Thursday's off, but since Wednesday we only went out a half day, we went out Thursday morning too - plus we wanted to be there to kick off the District Convention invitation campaign.
So, on Friday I was EXHAUSTED! I mean, I didn't do much Thursday afternoon, but apparently that morning off makes a big difference to my energy levels! And on top of that, Friday was looking to be a long day since I arranged to go see an old study of mine at 6pm, and then go listen to one of my old students give her first part on the school.
We met with the group, and Charley and I ended up working together, and he wanted to take me to a return visit that was about 10 minutes walk. I was two steps behind him all the way to his return visit, I just couldn't seem to get myself moving! So, I silently prayed to Jehovah as I lagged behind that he energize me, that he give me both the desire and the power to act since I didn't feel like I had either of those things! I thought to myself how nice it would be to have a return visit that would invite us to sit down.
So, we get to his return visit and the young mother, Dinora, comes and opens the gate, and ushers us in. I don't think she even said Hello! And then she got chairs out and put them in the shade! So, we decided I'd do the call and just go right to the Bible Teach book. Turns out she used to study when she was 13, but then moved and lost contact. She chose Chapter 11 from the book about why God permits suffering. So, we launch right into the study, and she was amazing! She had such good input, and she explained what we read in the Scriptures really well. Since she wasn't expecting us, and said she'd been busy cleaning, I suggested we stop after we read paragraph 4, but she said we could continue. When we got to paragraph 9 I said well, I've taken a lot of your time, do you want to continue another day. She was like, "No, let's continue, I don't want to be left hanging, I need to know the answer now"!!!! So we did all the way through paragraph 14! When we were about to read paragraph 12 I drew her attention to the picture of the teacher and student, and rhetorically asked "What does that have to do with what we're talking about?" Before I said, let's read on to find out, she was giving her version of what she thought the picture meant. And she was pretty much spot on!! We were totally impressed!!
So, instant Bible Study - I came out from there ENERGIZED beyond words!!! I told Charley what I had prayed along the way - talk about an instant answer!!
The rest of the day was excellent. I conducted another two studies, one of whom is working 7 days a week right now but happened to be off yesterday so we studied in the afternoon. The other was Sujey, who I mentioned in the last post. Had a nice little study with her.
So, we finished service around 7pm, my old study that I went to see in the evening gave us something to eat, and then we went to the meeting to see Laynori give her part on the Theocratic Ministry School. She was AMAZING, as I knew she would be because she's one of the quickest little 8 year olds I know! I'll have a video of that for you soon - it's currently uploading.
Well, we're going to do Family Worship now since Charley's meeting interfered with our plans earlier in the week! Take care and be energized!
Thursday, December 5, 2013
I just love the ministry here!
I miss seeing my family regularly, no doubt about it, but man, I just love it down here!! It's so good to be getting back into the swing of things.
We helped finish up the campaign as you all did worldwide this past month. The first week back we were host congregation, which was wonderful. Our new District Overseer and his wife are from El Salvador. They've been in the travelling work for years, but this is the first time they've served outside of El Salvador. We had a really good time with them. And I had some really good calls with the tract that week too. I did the return visits the very next day, and have started a new study which hopefully as of tomorrow I'll be able to start counting!
So, here are some pictures from the circuit assembly first, then some experiences.
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| That's our dear Jennifer (dark hair) making her dedication public |
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| And up she comes! |
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| Jennifer and her mam. It was an emotional moment. |
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| My girls - Laynori & Noelia. They're both publishers now, and Laynori (the little one) has her first part on the school tomorrow night, so we'll be stopping by for that! |
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| Yasuara, Rut, Marbel, Jocelyn & Bicri - all lovely girls in our current congregation, Pancasan Masaya |
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| And the boys - Yader, Yisak & Ismael and their friend! |
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| Escarlet, Brenda & Javiera - three different congregations, but all really close and favorites of mine! |
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| The Mercado family from our previous congregation |
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| Montenegro Family, Pancasan Masaya congregation. They call me Barbie! |
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| Adali, Priscila, Rosaneli & Cecilia - Pancasan |
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| Real Monimbo & Magdalena kids! I think just the two little ones aren't publishers yet. |
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| Charley helped out on the sound Sunday morning. |
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| Jael & Reyner - our newest pioneers in the congregation |
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| Maritza and her beautiful daughters |
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| Our new sister Jennifer, with a progressive study, Rosa Elena |
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| Paola & Claudia - after working hard on our cleaning assignment |
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| Sunday dinner at our favorite hamburger joint! |
Our District Overseer and his wife were interviewed on the program on Saturday. She started regular pioneering at 14, and at 16 she was appointed a special pioneer!!! Things were different back then! He started pioneering January 1978, 2 months later he was appointed a special pioneer! And then the following year, he was appointed as a circuit overseer!!! Back then there were only 6 circuits in all of El Salvador, and now there are two districts. They are a wonderful example of zeal and love.
Charley had an interesting conversation this week with three young kids, all around 9 or 10 years old. They asked him if we should pray to Mary, and was it really Adam & Eve's fault that they sinned if the Devil deceived them! Deep thinkers for such little kids!!
So, the next day I went back with Charley and only one of them was there, Bianel. She was very excited to see us, and couldn't stay on one page in the Listen To God brochure because she liked the pages further ahead about Adam & Eve. She seemed to already know a lot of the story. Then she said she doesn't have a bible, and with a big sigh and bowed head she said, I wish I could have a Bible of my own so that I could read it every day! She said if we happen to come across an extra Bible she'd like to have it.
And then we ended up talking about the meeting, and she was pretty excited about the thought of going! So we're going to talk to her mam Sunday morning to see if she'll let her come with us on Sunday! She was the funniest little thing, all grown up but in a tiny body!
I also had a really nice call with a girl called Sujey this week - took me a while to figure out her name!! I left her the tract we were using last month, and then asked her the question on the back, Why do we grow old and die? I went back the next day and we read the scriptures that answer the question, and a couple of others. I was about to ask her to explain to me what she'd learned when she said, "So, I have a doubt though from the other day. I don't have a Bible so I couldn't look up the answer, but tell me, why do we grow old and die?" Well, that was what we had just spent 5 minutes talking about!! So I said, well, the scriptures you couldn't look up are the ones we just read now. So, from what we just read in the Bible, why do we grow old and die? She proceeded to explain very well the answer, and then realized that she had answered her own question!!
Wednesday we did a paragraph from the Good News brochure that she chose, and tomorrow hopefully we'll do a couple more. She's a young girl, about 18 maybe, and seems very keen to know more.
Today we started the campaign for the District convention - from one campaign to the next! We should have started it sooner but with the circuit assembly and everything we just got it kicked off today. I'm having a hard time remembering to count my tracts and invitations!
We had a good group out today and got about three blocks done with the invitations. We left one at a place they were making sweets, and when I asked what something was, she asked if I wanted to try it. And she gave me a little bag full of sugared, dried papaya. YUM!!!! We took care of that as a service group in about five minutes!! I think I might have to make some return visits there!!
Today and yesterday we just went out in the morning bc we had errands to take care of in the afternoon. So, we decided we'd take the bus. We have a lot more options of which bus to take to Masaya now that we are in a different territory. We're near two major bus stops, so we can hop on quite a number of buses to get to the group. So, we started witnessing as soon as we walked out of the house, and all the way there, and then all morning, and then all the way home. Worked out really well - just going out until 12:30 got us almost 5 hours in (which we really need now that we spent the beginning of the service year away!) and we got some good exercise in too!
And although I'm not sure how much gas it costs us to drive to and from our territory, I'm pretty sure it's WAY cheaper to get the bus. Today we spent a whopping $1.44 to get both of us to and from our territory - and that's despite the fact that it's 10 miles from our bus stop, to our territory. It cost me $1.50 one way to travel 3.5 miles on the bus from my mam and dad's house to work while I was back in Indianapolis. More than we spent round trip for two of us! It's hard to resist taking the truck, since it's easier! But we're going to try and do the bus trips as often as we can.
Well, I'm going to try and get some studying done now. Charley went back to Masaya this afternoon (in the truck - not good idea to come home on the bus late at night). He's going through baptism questions with two of our young sisters, and then he has a meeting at 6pm. So I'm home alone, which I don't mind now and then. I was going to be productive and do laundry and wash dishes, but the water still hasn't come back on yet - so, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!
Hasta luego friends.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Wrapping up the US visit
So, I'm finally finding time to blog about the last part of our visit to Indianapolis. We've been down here in Nicaragua for a week now, but it's been a rather hectic one.
Our landlady and her daughters arrived Sunday afternoon, went to our first meeting back and got there late because of the airport run we had to do! And of course they sat us in the front row!! It was sooooo wonderful to see everyone again though. It feels so good to be back. Our visit to the States was amazing, we had a great time, but it's also really great to be back down here. And then as soon as we got unpacked it was time for host week and circuit assembly! As it turned out we didn't need to go stay with friends, so at least we didn't have to do all that packing again! So, today, as you can imagine, is the first chance we've had to get some stuff done around here!
Anyway, this post is supposed to be about the rest of our time in the US. Mostly summed up in pictures.
Oh, and I'm on Instagram now! You'll see pictures and videos there that you probably won't ever see on the blog, so add me! My username is poet879
Our landlady and her daughters arrived Sunday afternoon, went to our first meeting back and got there late because of the airport run we had to do! And of course they sat us in the front row!! It was sooooo wonderful to see everyone again though. It feels so good to be back. Our visit to the States was amazing, we had a great time, but it's also really great to be back down here. And then as soon as we got unpacked it was time for host week and circuit assembly! As it turned out we didn't need to go stay with friends, so at least we didn't have to do all that packing again! So, today, as you can imagine, is the first chance we've had to get some stuff done around here!
Anyway, this post is supposed to be about the rest of our time in the US. Mostly summed up in pictures.
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| Went with my parents and a couple of sisters from their congregation to see a high school performance of Grease!! |
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| Not sure how they got that car in there! |
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| It was very colorful and entertaining. High school kids put on good shows! |
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| Enjoyed the beautiful colors of autumn out in service |
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| East Spanish Indianapolis was host congregation for the circuit assembly and I got invited to lunch with the CO and DO. We had a very encouraging week with them. |
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| Lunchtime hospitality - chicken soup, complete with the feet! |
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| We also went to visit some friends in Columbus. Charley used to study with their boys, and they always were very hospitable. So we just had to make a trip to go see them. We had a lovely evening and saw the newlyweds while there! |
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| I LOVE Charley's face in this picture! |
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| Spent some time at Charley's sister's house. I think he's on the floor because he was getting mad at Charley for not letting him watch the movie in peace! In the end, he slept in peace instead! |
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| Amalia and Priscilla came over to see me one afternoon. |
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| Isn't she the cutest?!?! |
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| And our last week was spent down in Bloomington & Bloomfield with the family. |
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| Noah took this shot with my camera - I was very impressed with his composition |
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| Off to visit Grandpa. |
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| 4 generations of Matthews boys |
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| And then on the way back to Bloomington on Monday this happened. The day before giving this car back to the sister we borrowed it from. It was completely the other person's fault though - pulled right out in front of us. |
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| And when you don't have a corkscrew - you call Charley |
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| And if there's no bottle opener - call Hannah!! |
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| 20 shots later I think I decided this was the one! |
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| Whoops - out of order - this is playtime in Grandpa's basement!
Well, that's pretty much the rest of our time in the States. Thanks to everyone who supported us and took such good care of us. We had a great time, made a bit of money, and got our batteries recharged for coming back down here.
Serving where the need is greater in another country is an amazing, rewarding experience. And this time it felt like we came home, everything is familiar now, and our spiritual family down here welcomed us with open arms. I'd encourage anyone that's considering it to just do it. You'll never regret it.
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Sunday, November 24, 2013
Couple of pics
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| Our bags were delivered last night just after midnight, everything in tact |
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| And we tested out the pool. Verdict? Awesome!!! |
That's all for now. Time to get some unpacking and sorting done.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
We made it!!
Just a little note to say that we arrived in Nicaragua last night. Unfortunately our suitcases didn't make the trip with us, but hopefully they arrive today! At least we have clothes at the house so it wasn't as bad as when we arrived for the very first time without our luggage!!
We were supposed to arrive Wednesday but we just came in last night, Friday. When we got to Atlanta they were asking for volunteers to get the next day's flight bc they had oversold this one. They offered a night in a hotel, food vouchers, and $700 for future travel which can be used over the next year! So, we couldn't resist!!! To cut a long story short, we did it again the next night too!! So we each have $1450 to spend on travel with Delta over the next year - woohooo!!!!! So, that's why our bags didn't make it since our plans got all changed up.
But we're here and trying to get settled in. Although we won't really settle in yet bc our landlady and all her family are coming tomorrow so we're going to stay with our friends Brenda and Caleb for a week, which is fine because it's close to our territory and we're host congregation for the Circuit Assembly so we'll be right there for all that activity.
Hopefully by December 2nd after the assembly we can finally get ourselves settled!
In the meantime, we're going to test out the new swimming pool that we now have in our back yard - life is rough down here!!
I'll blog more about our last few weeks in the US later. For now, I gotta go swim!
We were supposed to arrive Wednesday but we just came in last night, Friday. When we got to Atlanta they were asking for volunteers to get the next day's flight bc they had oversold this one. They offered a night in a hotel, food vouchers, and $700 for future travel which can be used over the next year! So, we couldn't resist!!! To cut a long story short, we did it again the next night too!! So we each have $1450 to spend on travel with Delta over the next year - woohooo!!!!! So, that's why our bags didn't make it since our plans got all changed up.
But we're here and trying to get settled in. Although we won't really settle in yet bc our landlady and all her family are coming tomorrow so we're going to stay with our friends Brenda and Caleb for a week, which is fine because it's close to our territory and we're host congregation for the Circuit Assembly so we'll be right there for all that activity.
Hopefully by December 2nd after the assembly we can finally get ourselves settled!
In the meantime, we're going to test out the new swimming pool that we now have in our back yard - life is rough down here!!
I'll blog more about our last few weeks in the US later. For now, I gotta go swim!
Monday, November 11, 2013
North Carolina Pictures
Well, I said I'd make a post about our trip to Charlotte, NC so here it is. We went to visit a sister and her three daughters who we had the privilege of studying with until the point of baptism. She was the first study that I'd ever taken out in service for the first time, we took her to her first District Convention when she was 7 months pregnant with her third daughter. But less than a month after she got baptized, she moved to NC, and then to Mexico. That was 6 1/2 years ago! So when we found out she was back in NC, we just had to make a trip there to visit, even if it was only for a couple of days.
It was a long drive there, longer bc of traffic, but it was DEFINITELY worth the effort. We were thrilled to see her doing well spiritually, her oldest daughter is baptized and LOVES the ministry (she's auxiliary pioneering this month for the first time - Go Dani!!). Her middle daughter is talking about baptism now too, and the youngest is just a little riot! She was less than a year old when they left, so it was so much fun to see her now, 7 years old, and hilarious! We also got to spend some time with her family who are almost all in NC now.
It was a long drive there, longer bc of traffic, but it was DEFINITELY worth the effort. We were thrilled to see her doing well spiritually, her oldest daughter is baptized and LOVES the ministry (she's auxiliary pioneering this month for the first time - Go Dani!!). Her middle daughter is talking about baptism now too, and the youngest is just a little riot! She was less than a year old when they left, so it was so much fun to see her now, 7 years old, and hilarious! We also got to spend some time with her family who are almost all in NC now.
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| On the way to Lazy Ranch |
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| Escaped from the set of Shrek! |
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| Dani, me, Evy, Sherlyn (white coat), Ariana, Dulce, Diana & Rosi. Evy is my old study, and Rosi is her sister. |
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| Why is it the male that's so colorful?! |
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| The horses that pulled the carriage ride through the ranch |
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| On the carriage ride to feed the animals |
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| Now THAT is a tongue!! |
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| This baby had been born just a few hours earlier |
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| They said the knots on this male giraffe are because he lives with six females! |
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| Guess what that is?!!? |
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| These camels were fighting for the food |
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| HAHAHAHAHAAA wearing a tutu! |
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| Outside the Charlotte Kingdom Hall that Evy and the girls go to |
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| All of Evy's family - they all go to the same congregation |
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| Dinner at Rosi's house - Posole - YUM!!!! |
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| Tres leches cake that Ezequiel made! |
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| Former CO and his wife with a couple from Cuba who had some AMAZING stories about being imprisoned for their faith in Cuba. And she did that painting of the CO and his wife. |
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| Guerrero familiy with Delgados |
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| Mirror time! |
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| Goodbye my dears!!!!! |
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