Our Tuesday morning field service group walking to the territory.
Cotton candy confections at the classical concert in Cuenca.
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| Concert in the park. |
Friday, January 27, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Preaching in the rain!
Brother Vasquez and Sister Tony
Service, Service, Service
This week has been filled with theocratic activity. The Cuenca English congregation had their circuit overseer visit. Robert Vasquez and his wife Wanda were so encouraging. They have the foreign language circuit here in Ecuador. They visit all the foreign language congregations or groups here. They take care of English, Chinese, Russian, Sign Language, Creole, and a few indigenous groups I don't know how to spell. No, he doesn't actually speak all of these languages. They speak Spanish and English. When he visits the others he uses a translator, which requires that he cut the time of his talks in half so as not to go overtime. They go from the city of Cuenca to the jungles of the Rainforest. They are very loving and encouraging to the friends and we have really enjoyed getting to know them. This Sunday we had 72 in attendance for his talk. There are about 25 actual publishers in the congregation. One man was there today for the very first time. Someone had given him and invitation last week and he just decided to come!
Service here is a little different. The friends start at 9am, work until noonish, go home for lunch and siesta, then meet back at 3pm for a few more hours of service. Some of us "Gringos" have lunch and then continue on doing street witnessing until it's time to meet back, especially those of us who are a little behind on our time for the year. The Ecuadorians are in general a very kind and warm people who value family. One morning we had just finished the service meeting and were leaving. There was a young family standing on the sidewalk looking very curious about the Kingdom Hall. The spanish speaking friends talked with them. The man had talked with a brother at work who was telling him about the Kingdom Hall and the meetings there. So he just decided to walk up to check it out. He was told the meeting times and said he and his family would like to come. We find English speaking people every day, not all interested, but they are out there.
I'll take this opportunity to clear up a bit of a rumor. Seems that there is a story going around that Austin was mugged at knifepoint and robbed of al his money. So, here is the real story: While in Quito on a very crowded bus coming back from the ministry, Cleo noticed a man brush his hand by her purse. She quickly pulled it closer, knowing that the buses were known for pickpockets. That night at the meeting she noticed a "rip" in her purse. She thought she caught it on something. I told her it was a clean cut and someone had slashed her purse, hoping to slide their hand in and pull out her wallet. They didn't succeed, but did ruin her purse. So, no real danger involved. Most crimes here involve petty theft, they just want your stuff. Now the part involving Austin. Again, no horrific story of Austin getting mugged by a 4'6'' Ecuadorian thug. He simply put his cash in a spot in his messenger bag that wasn't very secure and it most likely fell out when we were on the bus. If he had been pick pocketed they would have surely taken his passport too, which was right next to the envelope of money. So, his life was never in danger and he probably fed some Ecuadorian family for 6 months! Anytime you travel, you make yourself a target to someone, you just have to be aware and observant. We have heard of worse things happening to other friends when they come into the country to serve here. One couple had their backpack stolen within the first few days. It contained their laptop, money, passports, a deed to a house they bought here and other important documents. Yet it did not dampen their enthusiasm for being here and serving where the need is greater. And Jehovah is taking care of them in spite of it all. But that is the kind of God we serve isn't it. He allows us to undergo certain trials, but never beyond what we can handle. If we continue in our determination to fulfill our spiritual goals, he always blesses our efforts. Our first few days were a little rough and hectic and not everything went perfect. We had moments of doubt, should we really be here? Maybe we should have stayed home? Those doubts lasted for a few short moments. Then we recall how Jehovah has always guided us through past endeavors and the experiences we gain are worth everything it takes to come here, to be here.
Service here is a little different. The friends start at 9am, work until noonish, go home for lunch and siesta, then meet back at 3pm for a few more hours of service. Some of us "Gringos" have lunch and then continue on doing street witnessing until it's time to meet back, especially those of us who are a little behind on our time for the year. The Ecuadorians are in general a very kind and warm people who value family. One morning we had just finished the service meeting and were leaving. There was a young family standing on the sidewalk looking very curious about the Kingdom Hall. The spanish speaking friends talked with them. The man had talked with a brother at work who was telling him about the Kingdom Hall and the meetings there. So he just decided to walk up to check it out. He was told the meeting times and said he and his family would like to come. We find English speaking people every day, not all interested, but they are out there.
I'll take this opportunity to clear up a bit of a rumor. Seems that there is a story going around that Austin was mugged at knifepoint and robbed of al his money. So, here is the real story: While in Quito on a very crowded bus coming back from the ministry, Cleo noticed a man brush his hand by her purse. She quickly pulled it closer, knowing that the buses were known for pickpockets. That night at the meeting she noticed a "rip" in her purse. She thought she caught it on something. I told her it was a clean cut and someone had slashed her purse, hoping to slide their hand in and pull out her wallet. They didn't succeed, but did ruin her purse. So, no real danger involved. Most crimes here involve petty theft, they just want your stuff. Now the part involving Austin. Again, no horrific story of Austin getting mugged by a 4'6'' Ecuadorian thug. He simply put his cash in a spot in his messenger bag that wasn't very secure and it most likely fell out when we were on the bus. If he had been pick pocketed they would have surely taken his passport too, which was right next to the envelope of money. So, his life was never in danger and he probably fed some Ecuadorian family for 6 months! Anytime you travel, you make yourself a target to someone, you just have to be aware and observant. We have heard of worse things happening to other friends when they come into the country to serve here. One couple had their backpack stolen within the first few days. It contained their laptop, money, passports, a deed to a house they bought here and other important documents. Yet it did not dampen their enthusiasm for being here and serving where the need is greater. And Jehovah is taking care of them in spite of it all. But that is the kind of God we serve isn't it. He allows us to undergo certain trials, but never beyond what we can handle. If we continue in our determination to fulfill our spiritual goals, he always blesses our efforts. Our first few days were a little rough and hectic and not everything went perfect. We had moments of doubt, should we really be here? Maybe we should have stayed home? Those doubts lasted for a few short moments. Then we recall how Jehovah has always guided us through past endeavors and the experiences we gain are worth everything it takes to come here, to be here.
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