New Student

In my last posting I had mentioned how the rain was impacting my Kaituma trip. This last time, on the way back, the road was again quite wet. I ended up dumping the bike again and then a short while later I realized that the back tire was going flat. So now I am in the middle of the jungle with a flat tire. Needless to say, you don’t just call AAA, or anyone else for that matter, since there is no phone service, plus really no one to call anyways. I ended up walking and riding with difficulty about six miles until I happened on a vehicle which had drove out to where he could get phone signal. I spoke to him and then continued on a little farther to where there is a shop by a junction in the road. I waited there until the vehicle came by and between the driver, myself, and the shop owner, we were able to load the bike into the back and take it the rest of the way home.The next day I took the wheel off and then the tire. I was able to buy a new tube and when I inspected the inside of the tire, I could find nothing wrong. The only thing I can figure is that when I dumped the bike, something struck the valve stem and caused it to start to leak. Now I have purchased a small air pump that I will travel with. If I had had that with me, I might have been able to pump the tire up and then drive for a distance before having to stop and repeat it. I think I will also get a tube repair kit and travel with the tools needed to do a field repair.Last Saturday when we were in service, I met a man who mentioned that he used to come to the old Kingdom Hall. I told him he should come to see the new one, as well as meet some whom he might remember from the old days. He asked me what time the meeting was and I told him 10:30. He said he would come (which many often say). I was pleasantly surprised to see him there Sunday, sitting with my study Michael who once again came with his whole entourage. We had sixty one in spite of the weather.We have recently started to give some attention to the young ones who are coming to the meeting. Many of the adults have issues which will make it difficult to make progress with the congregation (ie, not married and unable to get birth certificate so they can marry). As a result, one young girl has joined the school, and there is a young boy who I think will do so shortly. I think it will make a real impression when the community sees young ones serious about spiritual things.I have started spending time after my study with one man, going through the Watchtower helping him find answers that he can give during the meeting. Last week, he not only commented with the answers we had prepared, but also commented once on his own. This week when he gave me his Watchtower at the study, I saw he had already been trying to go through it. I commended him because in fact he had already had one answer correctly underlined. To appreciate it though, you have to realize how limited his education is. He never attended school, but many times in the study, he finds a scripture before I do. We just finished the Require brochure, and I asked him if he could imagine himself going out preaching with the congregation. He said he could, but he wasn’t ready yet, he needed ‘more teachings’.Communication continues to be an issue. I had thought that it would just be a matter of driving out half an hour to where I could get signal. But the last time I was in Kaituma, I wasn’t able to get online. A few days later, I drove out to try and again was unsuccessful, as was the case a couple days later when I again drove out. I was able to get phone signal, so I called customer service to ask if others had reported the problem with data transmission from the Kaituma tower. I was informed that they don’t offer data services through their remote towers. I mentioned that it had worked fine until recently, and I also said I had asked before purchasing the plan since I was going to be in the interior, and I had been told it was available. I was asked the name of the person who had told me that, which of course I didn’t know. Then Sunday morning I drove out once again, and everything worked fine. Such is the challenge of the interior of Guyana. As long as I keep my focus on the ministry I’m fine since there are no disappoints there. So just be aware that if you don’t see anything new from me, rather than get worried that something has happened, just figure that I am having trouble getting through to the internet.. With the communication issues, we have all started using the email server that Stephan has for use over limited connection speed, such as a satellite phone, or as is our case, a cell phone. So if you care to write (and I very much appreciate any communication that we get) just use the address advkingdom@ocens.net. Then include our name in the subject line since we are all sharing the same address. As I am inclined to point out from time to time, this blog serves in lieu of individual emails, so email etiquette dictates that every time you read an entry, you owe me an email. But I won’t hold you to that, just please don’t abandon us. With all the rain we have been getting lately, everything is always damp, and the moisture is taking its toll. Recently my cell phone started acting up, and now the trackball control only works in three directions, so I’ve lost access to many of the functions on the phone. Fortunately the most important ones are still accessible. Then my digital camera quit working. I put it over the condensing coils on the freezer to try and dry it out and it started working again. I have to be more careful of leaving things in my backpack which gets damp when it rains.I am including a picture of our newest student on the school, her name is Sonia Scott.

C.O.

This is the first time that we have been here before the Christmas holiday. It feels very strange to us since there is hardly anything to remind you of that event. Obviously the weather is not what we are used to as the holiday approaches. Also we are not being bombarded with Christmas music everywhere we go. I understand a few of the shops have hung some lights, but I haven't seen that. I find it a real relief.

Speaking of weather, ours has changed. We are getting much more rain, as is to be expected since Dec. – Jan. is rainy season. The good news is it's not nearly so hot since the sun isn't shinning. The bad news is the mud, clothes don't dry very well, meeting attendance suffers, and it's harder walking through the bush trying to hold an umbrella. I'm also concerned how this will impact my Kaituma trips. Last time I went, it had rained before I left so the road was wet. Several times I would feel the bike slipping on the mud so I was taking it easy. But suddenly, before I knew what was happening, the back went out from under me and I was down. Fortunately, my bike has a number of guards on it, so nothing was damaged on the bike or rider except for a couple of the guards which were bent slightly. If a day comes when it is raining before I leave, I will probably take a bus there and back. But then you are at the mercy of the driver as to when you arrive and when you leave, in addition to the added expense ($6,000 GYD).

Sunday some from Kaituma came up on a bus for the Circuit Overseer's talk. I was also very happy to see my study Michael, the one who used to have to walk four hours, coming along with his woman, a couple of daughters-in-law, and a few small children. We ended up with 70 in attendance. I had hoped for more, but again, as I mentioned the rain tends to keep some away. When I was completing the service report for last month, I couldn't help but be impressed when I saw that between the three of our local publishers, two of which aren't yet baptized, they are conducting thirteen Bible studies. The Circuit Overseer was amazed at all the studies being conducted here (over fifty). As he said it, we are conducting studies with two congregations here (many of the congregations in the interior are about 25 publishers). I don't remember the early days of Mabaruma as being like that when it comes to the locals having studies.

Speaking of Mabaruma, we recently received word that Rasheeda is engaged to one of the special pioneers assigned there, Bro. Gomes. When Compton told me, I said, “That was quick”. He agreed. He mentioned that Rayburn had only recently mentioned to him that they were dating, and then about three days later, he told him they were engaged.

I had mentioned to some of the others here that one nice benefit of being in a small group like we have is that when the Circuit Overseer comes you get a lot of his attention. I asked him if he would help with the annual pioneer meeting and he said he would be happy to. I asked if his wife had had the meeting yet, and he said she hadn’t, so she joined us as well. After the meeting someone decided they wanted a picture, then everyone got their cameras, then someone suggested we set them on timed delay. That ended up being a project because every one worked a little different, so it took several attempts with several cameras before everyone had a picture. I am including the resulting shot.

Note from state-side web helper: There has been difficulty in getting emails through in the past, and therefore a December 2 entry was late getting posted to this blog, but is now there, hopefully in the proper order, according to email date.

Visitors

I am just writing up a short post as I am going to try to drive out to find a place where everyone goes from here to get signal. I’m hoping that my phone will be able to also get signal so we can send and receive emails easier than me having to go all the way to Kaituma. So if you are reading this, I guess I was successful.The biggest news here right now is visitors. Both received and anticipated. Krystal O’Keefe arrived safely here last Wednesday. She is really adjusting well and seems to be enjoying her visit. The young girls in the Hall really are loving her.Monday, she walked with Stephan and myself out to our farthest studies in the bush. It is an hour each way. So now she can definitely say that she has been in the jungles of South America.The other anticipated visitors are Bro. & Sis. Rainey, our Circuit Overseer and his wife. They are scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning and be with us until Monday. Bro. Rainey said he would help me with the annual pioneer meeting, so that should be a treat for those here. Especially since Krystal will be missing her meeting back in Warwick.I have completed closing off the wall between the two apartments, so we can no longer just talk over the wall as easily, but it does give the place more of a finished feel, although it is a far way from being finished. When Paul was here, he reminded me that I should be happy that there was so much work to be done on our living quarters, as this way I have been able to make it the way I want it, and it feels more like it’s mine.I have been really encouraging all my studies to come to the meeting this weekend to hear Bro. Rainey. I have been telling them it’s like the ‘Bishop’ is coming to visit Matthew’s Ridge. It will be interesting to see how many actually do come.I’m attaching a photo of Krystal in the jungle just so all her friends know that she really is here with us.

I have sent this back with Aletha and asked her to post it up for me, and since she will have a decent internet connection, there should be pictures!!
Stephan has returned from his trip out. He had stayed in ‘town for a week after the Assembly. Actually he had gone to Henrietta. While there, he had attended another Circuit Assembly along with the three brothers who had been here (they have since returned to the states). After that he had flown to Barbados where he spent a week with his family who had flown in from the states (sweet).
While in Henrietta, he had learned that a woman who had lived here at the Ridge for a number of years, and had been one of the principle ones keeping the work active here was living nearby. Her name is Carolyn Walker and we had met her and spent time with her when we visited Matthew’s Ridge almost four years ago. She had taken us around to different ones so we could speak to them and invite them to a talk I was going to give the next day. I remembered how she had cried when she first met us because she was so happy to have witnesses visiting the Ridge.
Stephan was able to make arrangements to visit her and have a study with her. When he told her how things were progressing here, and that Doris was baptized and Stephanie is an unbaptized publisher, she said, "That should be me! I have been involved with the truth longer than any of them. What am I doing?" She has been working as a security person for a private company and has been working seven days a week, twelve hours a day. She said that she was going to start taking Sunday off so she can attend the meeting. Also Stephan had taken a local brother with him, so now the congregation knows where she is, and hopefully can continue to encourage and assist her. Stephan said it had been very enjoyable being able to share with her all the latest goings on here at the Ridge.
On a less positive note, it appears that we may have lost our access to the internet here at Matthew’s Ridge. Stephan had been able to go to a nearby company that had a satellite dish with internet access and they let him use it since they had paid for unlimited usage. For some reason, none of the rest of us could get our computers to work with it. But this last time he went, the modem would not connect. The thinking is that the subscription has run out, and there are no ‘big’ people there any more, so no reason for the company to renew. If that is the case, it will mean the only opportunity to post up, and even email people will be every other week when I am in Kaituma.
For those familiar with Mabaruma, we have recently heard that three brothers from California are there for three months, so now there are five brothers living in the house there. Rasheeda and Alexandra have moved into what used to be Will’s house in the back, quite a change from a house full of sisters with only one or two brothers there. It will also be nice since it will be Guyanese taking the lead, and some ‘white’ brothers there working under them.
I can’t think of much new and exciting to report from here. I finally was able to put a couple of coats of polyurethane sealer on half of the floor of the Kingdom Hall. It has just been the raw wood and wet mopping it has been neither good for it nor real effective in keeping it clean. We tried to clean it as best we could and then put the sealer on it. I said if it didn’t look that good, we could always paint over it, but once it was painted, there would be no chance to try and have the natural wood look. It looks quite good right now, only time will tell how it holds up. But it should make cleaning the floor much easier.
I’ve selected four pictures. One is of Terri’s first class teaching ones to read and write. Also I’ve included a picture of me after one of my trips on my bike to Kaituma when the road was dusty. There is a picture of Aletha giving a talk on the school. The last one (but the order might be different so you will have to figure which is which) is a picture of a critter that Terri saw across the road from our house..
I am encouraging Aletha to go through her pictures and in a few days post some up along with thoughts on her experience, so hopefully you will get to see more.

The Latest From the Ridge

PAUL & GROUP

We recently had a visitor here at Matthew’s Ridge. Paul Donlan who had been in Kaituma for a number of years and was a primary force behind getting things going again here at the Ridge, stopped in for a short visit. He had been in Georgetown for their Circuit Assembly and got in touch with the person who had purchased the building in Kaituma from him. He told the man he had all the documentation for finalizing the sale and would come to Kaituma if the man had the balance of the money. The man said he did, so Paul flew into Kaituma, completed the sale and then came up to the Ridge to see the building (he had not seen it completed) and then flew back to ‘town'. It was nice to see him. We had spent three months with him and his wife in Kaituma four years ago.

Well, it is official, the internet connection is finished here at the ridge. Stephan went a few days ago to try again and learned it had been a six-month package they had had, and it has indeed expired. So that option is gone and he didn’t have much time left on his satellite phone so he decided to let Paul take it with him to see if it would work in Lethem where Paul currently is. I have installed the email program that Stephan has been using on his computer with the satellite connections to see if it might make sending and receiving emails with my cell phone faster. It usually takes me about ten minutes to send or receive an email. I’m hoping that if it does work, I might even be able to send a picture or two which can then be posted up for me.

This past Wednesday, since it wasn’t a Kaituma day, Stephan and I took the bike to Arakaka, and from there a boat to a place called fourteen mile. Since we still had a number of the tracts left, we were continuing to hand them out. It was interesting because we got to see several working gold operations. A number were what they called dredges, where they shoot streams of water against a bank and then pump the resulting muddy water into a box where the gold will settle to the bottom, but everything else washes out. The plan is that the Wednesdays that I don’t go to Kaituma, we will try to go to outlying areas and reach people who may not have been preached to. I think Stephan is hoping to get a bike as well, because the two of us are a bit much for my small bike, especially when the going gets difficult, as it may if we try to reach remote areas. After the first of the year when we go to the new meeting arrangement, we may even try some overnight trips to be able to extend our range.

I have been busy the last couple of days doing some work in the house after Aletha left and before Krystal arrives to upgrade our guest room a bit. I made a real door for the room and am hoping to add some more storage space as well. I am also working to finish all the interior walls in our side. When Aletha was here, one of her walls was just a tarp.

It was nice this Sunday, one of my studies commented at the Watchtower for the first time. Now if I can just get him to raise his hand and wait to be called on.

Stll Here

It’s been quite a while since I have sat down to write up anything, and I’m not sure of what my last post was because I didn’t save a copy, so if I repeat myself, it’s not necessarily due to early-onset Alzheimer’s (I at least say that).

I have been quite busy of late since I am the only brother here right now. Stephan is supposed to return from his little vacation Friday, and I will be glad for that. Whenever I was feeling overwhelmed, I reminded myself that it was for only three weeks, whereas Stephan had been here on his own for much longer than that. Plus I wasn’t really on my own as I had Terri and Aletha to help me with reading and other things like setting up the music and taking count, as well as crowd control.

My last trip to Kaituma, I had a group Watchtower study. When I finally got to Kaituma, (I had gotten halfway there when I realized I had forgotten my phone, and that is my only chance to get online, so I turned around and went back to get it) I asked Caroline when she had told everyone to come. She mentioned that she hadn’t known when to say, so we decided on two, and then I went around to some of the ones to let them know. We ended up with nine people, but they were mostly adults, so that was a start. It will be interesting to see what happens this week.

I mentioned to everyone there that if they ever hear anyone saying that they need a Kingdom Hall in Kaituma, they should mention that the first step will be to acquire some property, since the old Kingdom Hall has been sold. I figure this way it will get those who were there thinking as well, because in fact that will be the first step.

The next big event here will be the visit of our Circuit Overseer, Bro. Rainey. He is scheduled to arrive Dec. 11^th. Since we are just a group here, he will only be with us for two meetings. I’m looking forward to spending some time with him and getting his evaluation of the work being done here, as well as any recommendations for adjustments. He was here briefly in May, so he will have something to compare things to.

Aletha will be leaving in about a week. I will send her home with some pictures and instructions on how to post them up. Maybe I’ll even be able to get her to post up her thoughts on her experience here, but as those who know her know, she’s rather shy, so maybe pictures will be all you get. A week after she leaves, we are expecting a next visitor.

When I visited my old congregation in Warwick, we stayed with my friends the Odneals. While there we met their niece, Krystal O’Keefe. As we are apt to do, we encouraged her to think about reaching out and coming to Guyana. The day I arrived in Georgetown for the Circuit Assembly, I got an email from her mentioning that she would really like to come to Guyana.

The timing was uncanny (right!), since I was able to email back and forth easily. Before we left Georgetown, everything was set up for her to come. At least I’m hoping everything was set up. Since it was all put together so fast, it wasn’t until we were back here in Matthew’s Ridge, that Terri said to me, “She does have a passport, right?” I hadn’t thought to mention it, and I could imagine how in the rush to put the trip together, one could overlook that item. Although I think most airlines remind you of the need for a passport before letting you book an overseas flight. I was able to make a call to Gary, and ask him to contact her to remind her of the need, and if she didn’t have one, I think there still would have been time to get one, paying an expediting fee. So as of now, I’m not 100% sure she is coming, but we are planning on it.

Sunday Terri held her first group, ‘Learning to read and write’. She has been working with different ones as individuals, but had three more women express a desire to learn, so she decided to do a group lesson Sunday after the meeting, since they are all here already. She had been working with a woman already then, so just added her to the group.

Once Stephan gets back, I should be able to post something up every week again, although without pictures. But know we are all well here and busy in Jehovah’s service, and from some of the rumblings I hear from the outside world, now as never before, there’s nothing better anyone can be doing. So, here’s hoping you can say the same.

More helpers

I thought while I still had a chance to post up pictures, I would post up a picture of the latest ‘Need Greaters’ who visited us at Matthew’s Ridge. They were Anita Walker and Lindsey Cordova, also from Colorado. They had come with the other sisters from Colorado, but had stayed behind when the first three came because the Circuit Overseer was visiting the congregation, so they stayed back.

It’s always interesting when new ones come because we get to see things through new eyes again. Things that we have come to take for granted are pointed out again and we are reminded of all the blessings that we are able to experience every day.

While it is often young ones who come, I can’t help but think about, and appreciate, the ones back home who encouraged and supported them in their coming. I was talking to Anita, and she mentioned that she is a third generation witness. With that thought in mind, I was reminded of the importance of trying to acknowledge their contributions to the work here, as well as try to include pictures for those back home.

We are here in Georgetown for the Circuit Assembly and in normal circumstances, the meetings at the local congregation would be cancelled as all would be at the Assembly. However in this case, most of those at the Ridge are in no position to make the trip to Georgetown, so rather than have them miss out on a chance to benefit from a meeting, the three young brothers stayed back to do the Thursday and Sunday meetings. It will be a nice climax to their visit, handling meetings on their own, an experience that can only be had by extended oneself to come to a place like this.

Last week, Stephan, Keith, Lindsey, Anita, and Aletha went to Port Kaituma Tuesday morning to work at sharing the tract that is being distributed worldwide at this time. They rode to Kaituma in the back of a small pickup truck (cruiser). They stayed over Tuesday night, continued with the work Wednesday, and returned to Matthew’s Ridge Wednesday evening. While they were there, they held an impromptu bookstudy and had an attendance of twenty, including Caroline, Juliet, Sharon, and her husband Terry (names included for those who are familiar with the goings on in Kaituma). That just highlights the need and potential here in the northwest.

I have just included two pictures tonight. One showing the ride to Kaituma, and the other of the bookstudy there. I don’t know if I’ll be posting any more entries before we leave, so it may be a bit of a break before the next one, and a much longer break before any more pictures are seen.

Post with pictures

We are currently in Georgetown (hence the ability to post up pictures. We will be here through the weekend. It makes a nice break in the routine and allows us to pick up things that are available at Matthew’s Ridge. Today I bought a piece of laminate to do the counter tops with in the house. I only hope I will be able to cut it to fit without chipping and breaking it up. The tools I have for working with it are very limited.

We left the young brothers from Colorado in the Ridge to do the meetings while we are away. It should be a fitting climax to their visit, to be responsible for handling the School and Service Meeting as well as the Public Talk and Watchtower. Terri, I, and Aletha will be flying back to the Ridge Monday morning. The brothers will be at the airstrip, as they are flying out on the plane we come in on. Stephan also came out with us, but he will be staying in town for awhile since his folks are flying to Barbados for a little vacation with him. He will be returning to the Ridge towards the end of November. So I will be handling everything alone for a few weeks.

I have a program on my computer to assist with scheduling the school. So last night I entered in all the student information and hit the button to make a new schedule. A little window opened up and informed me that there are not enough students to make a schedule. So I guess I will have to do it the old-fashioned way.

As of now I have 10 bible studies I’m conducting. But with the three boys leaving, I am going to have to pick up their more promising studies, as well as cover for Stephan while he is away.

One of my more outstanding studies is with an older man who lives an hour walk from the hall. Stephan had taken me there shortly after I arrived, since he had as many studies as he could handle. After walking all the way there, the man told me his eyes were bad so he couldn’t read. At that point I was thinking I didn’t know as I wanted to walk an hour to try and study with someone who would not be able to read. Then I learned that back when the old Hall had been in the Ridge, he used to walk four hours each way to attend the meetings. I decided if he had been willing to do that, I could exert myself a little to try and help him.

I decided that what I would do was to share a teaching, and then give him a scripture to remember in connection with it. The first time I talked about the importance of God’s name and ended up giving him Ps. 83:18 to remember. When I returned the next week I reviewed what we had talked about, and the importance of being able to share what we learned with others, but making sure that rather than just tell them bible truths, we were able to share it from the bible with them. I then asked him what God’s name was, and as expected, he replied, “Jehovah.”. I then asked him where he could find it in the bible, and he paused for a minute and then said, “Psalms 83:18”, that made the hour walk all worthwhile. Since then we have discussed the future of the earth (Ps. 37:29), the condition of the dead (Ecc. 9:5), why the world is in such a mess, (1 John 5:19), and this last week whether all religions are just different roads leading to God (Mt. 7:21) and he has been able to recall them all (well, we will have to see about the latest).

To make it even better, the third week, when I got there he was sitting there wearing spectacles. I was very surprised and after reviewing his scriptures and giving him a next teaching with accompanying scripture, I asked if he wanted to do a little from the book, because I had seen a large print Bible Teach book in his house (I was able to see it because the house has no walls). He said he couldn’t read so good, but I encouraged him to give it a try. He read very good!! I asked him how he had learned to read, and he said he and his brother had taught themselves. This last week I had reminded him how he used to walk four hours to get to the Kingdom Hall, and mentioned that it is much closer now. He just kind of smiled, so I will keep after him and expect he will be there, ‘just now’.

It is amazing how many of the ones in the Ridge are very poorly educated. Another man who regularly comes to the Hall, with a 45 minute walk, studies with Stephan. I had conducted the study when he went to Barimita, and would ask him if he knew the meaning of words that we take for granted, but I thought might be beyond him, He asked me what the word ‘additionally’ meant. I mentioned it was related to the idea of adding. I said, “Like two plus two.” I then asked him if he knew what two plus two was, and he said, “No brother.” But when I asked if he had two mangos, and then he picked two more, how many would he have, and he said, “Four.” So he understands the concept, but he is not familiar with the expressions.

As you have already seen, I am able to post up pictures so I have chosen a few for your viewing pleasure. One is a Saturday service group. We had 100% participation that morning, which is not that unusual. I also included a picture of the group while the sisters were with us Cameron is in the middle with Hannah on her left and Chian on her right. Aletha is behind Chian. Derrick must have said something funny to Stephan. Seth is behind Derrick and Keith is behind Stephan. I also included a shot of Terri and I on our way to some studies Saturday afternoon. It’s the only ones I drive to. Also, so you know it's not all work and no play, I have included a picture from a hike we took to a falls here. As we found out, it's called falls for more than one reason, But don't worry moms, everyone is OK

I will go through my pictures more and post more up before I leave Georgetown. As they say, “Feast or Famine.”

Finally, Pictures

Wow!!! I can finally post up pictures!!! These were a couple of old ones that I had prepared and tried to post up a while back. The first shows Terri's influence of the young brothers who were at Matthew's Ridge. Shortly after we arrived and she hung her hammock under the house, they all went out and bought hammocks to lay in. There other is a picture of the boat we took from Kumaka to Port Kaituma, and after this picture was taken, we stopped at a few more places along the way to take on more cargo. I had to keep reminding myself the captain wouldn't do anything to risk sinking his own boat!

Now that I know I can post up with no problem, I will select and prepare other pictures for posting. You may get sick of seeing pictures in the next few days, but it may be a long time before I can send more again

Finally

This post is going to read very strange because I’ve written on it a number of times, each time thinking I was going to post it up, but then being unable. Communicating from here is proving to be one of the biggest challenges. There is a gold company here that has a satellite dish which Stephan is able to use and get online to send and receive emails (at least he had been able to), but he can’t browse the internet, so I can’t post up with that. We recently had our laptops network together so maybe I can access the internet that way. Besides that, Stephan has been gone the last few days. He went with a group of people to the Circuit Assembly in Barimita. They left Friday morning at 5:00 AM and finally reached Barimita at 10:00 AM Saturday (a 32 mile journey). He took his computer so he could show pictures to people there. The arrival of the group created quite a stir (the fact that had traveled 29 hours). Some at Barimita were moved to reexamine their not regularly attending the meetings because they have to walk half an hour to get there.

The three young brothers from Colorado are leaving in a little less than two weeks, so I have encouraged them to think of which of their studies are worth continuing, and then take me with them next week so I can try to fit them in to my schedule. Stephan will be able to take some, but he will be gone for about three weeks, so I will always have to try and handle his best studies as well. Hopefully before he leaves we will be able to figure out some way that I can get online here. Otherwise it will be a matter of only being able to communicate every other week when I go to Port Kaituma.

Things continue to go well here at Matthew’s Ridge. Our living quarters are starting to be livable. We now have a kitchen with sink and counter (L-shaped), bedroom with nice closet (minus the door), and bathroom with working toilet and shower.

Wednesday I went back to Kaituma as planned. I stopped in on a couple of studies we had had when we were there about four years ago. At both places the houses looked very different. At one they had broken down the old house and built a new one, and the other had put on an addition doubling the size of the house. At both places they mentioned how they miss having a Kingdom Hall there, which was a little strange because the one who was most vocal had never gone to the Hall when it was there. Someone had mentioned that maybe when a Kingdom Hall is reestablished there, the appreciation for it may be greater; Also the location of the first Hall left much to be desired, so hopefully a next one will be better.

I spent a lot of time trying to find and purchase things we needed to work on the house (I was successful), then I went somewhere I could sit and try and get online with my laptop and phone. I was successful, but it was really slow so I didn’t even get to open all my emails and I hadn’t taken anything to try and post up. The first time I had gone, I was able to get home in about an hour and a half. So I wanted to leave for home shortly after four as I wanted to get back before dark. Shortly before I was going to leave it started to rain. That would be bad enough, but the road turns to muck when it gets wet, so I was sliding all over the road and it took about three hours, so I arrived home much after dark.

We had a special treat because one of the women who studied in Kaituma gave me a whole chicken and some greens. It was the first time we had eaten meat in over two weeks. Friday we were happy to have four more sisters arrive here at the Ridge. Three are here for a week and are staying at the hotel, two are from Colorado, Hannah Hoyle and Cameron Gros, and one is from Wyoming, Chian Johnson. The other is from our old congregation in New York, Aletha Walters. She will be staying with us for six weeks.

Saturday there were twelve of us out in the preaching work. I’m sure that’s the largest group the Ridge has ever seen. I spoke to a woman in her shop and she mentioned she tried to read her bible every day. She mentioned that she was reading the book of Job now. I asked her if she remembered what happened to Job in the end. She said that God blessed him. I asked if she ever looked close at how he blessed him. I showed her how god had doubled all his livestock holdings, but only gave him the same number of children. I asked her why she thought that was. She said she couldn’t say so I asked her what she thought was going to happen to Job and she said that God would resurrect him. I then asked her when he resurrected his children, how many will he have and she thought a minute and then smiled and said, “twenty brother.” I asked her if she would like me to come to study the bible with her and she mentioned that she and her whole family went to the Pentecostal Church and it would cause problems if she were to study with me. But then she said she loved talking about the bible and I was welcome to stop in any time to discuss it with her. So that is what I will do, we just won’t call it a study. The nice thing is her shop isn’t that far away, and she is always there in her shop.

We had decided we needed more benches so we cut up material for them and took it to the man who had made the others. Saturday he sent word that he needed some more pieces, which I couldn’t understand because I knew we had taken enough. I was busy so I couldn’t do it then, but Sunday morning I woke up early and decided to cut the material and take it down. When I got there I saw he had made these different so that’s why he ran short. I asked him when they would be ready and he said in a couple of hours. So I sent two of the guys down later to pick them up. I guess it’s a matter of, “If you built them, they will come.” We had 73 at the meeting Sunday, so the benches were filled. Some had come across from Barimita, and a few who had studied in Port Kaituma came up on a bus. One of the women, (the one who had given us the chicken) mentioned that she is going to try and come every other Sunday.

I apologize for the lack of pictures, but we will be traveling in to ‘town the end of the month for a Circuit Assembly and I will try and post up plenty then. Everyone is doing well here and hope that is true for all of you as well.

From Matthew's Ridge

Communicating from Matthew?s Ridge is turning out to be as difficult as I thought it might be. I had written this post a few days ago but have been unable to get it out. Hopefully this time I will be successful. I am hoping to get Stephan to send this out for me. He is able to send and receive emails by going to a shop nearby, but he is not able to access the internet per say, so I am not able to get my emails yet. So if you have written me, it may be a few more days until I respond.

Tuesday I had gone to Port Kaituma but I got a late start and we have 4:30 meetings, so I couldn't spend much time there and even less time trying to get online. I plan on going again Wednesday and plan on spending the whole day visiting ones who have studied there in the past, as well as trying to get online with my phone again.

Things continue to go well here. We had 64 for the talk Sunday. So now I will continue with my previous entry.

We have finally made it to Matthew's Ridge, with some new stories to tell. Our boat from Kamaka was supposed to leave at 8 AM, but it was 10 before we left. There was so much stuff loaded on the boat I was worried we'd sink. I kept telling myself, 'This man knows what he is doing and he wouldn't do anything to damage his boat.' But then several times along the way he would stop and take on additional cargo. About ¾ of the way to Kaituma we went through a very heavy downpour and we had to crawl under the roof of the boat and sit in this small cramped space on bags of dried fish, but we arrived safely. Unfortunately we arrived at Kaituma just as it was getting dark, so we were not able to get transportation to Matthew's Ridge, so we stayed in a hotel in Kaituma.

The next morning I found a truck to take us to Matthew's Ridge, so everything was taken off the boat and loaded onto the truck and after picking up a few more supplies, Terri went with the truck and I followed on the bike. The driving was a little tricky in a few places because the road surface is hard-packed clay and when it is wet it is almost like driving on ice (which is rather difficult on a bike). But I arrived safely about forty minutes behind Terri.

There are three young brothers from Colorado who are here for two months. They arrived September 10th. They were joking that they were beginning to think that we were just imaginary people that Stephan had made up to keep them from leaving him. As you may imagine they have very much appreciated having someone who knows how to cook here. Terri has been overseeing their efforts the last few nights as she does not want to have to cook for everyone all the time. Terri's influence has extended beyond her cooking. Since we have arrived, all three visitors have gone out and purchased hammocks so they can join her under the house. (1 Cor. 15:33)

The day after we arrived, I went by the police station to let them know we were in the area, since we had arrived overland rather than by air, as they always go to the airstrip to check in the arrivals. The woman was filling in my information in her log book and when she came to nationality, she asked me if I was Amerindian. I said no, so she asked, 'Portuguese?; I told her no, that I guess she should write Caucasian. She said, 'You not Guyanese?' So I guess my Guyanese is continuing to improve.

I do believe it is hotter here than in Mabaruma. Mabaruma is fairly close to the ocean, so I think that has a cooling effect, whereas we are far removed from the ocean, so there is nothing cool about it, except it does cool down after the sun sets so sleeping is bearable.

Friday was my first day in the ministry, and I think I started two studies my first morning. I went with Stephan to deliver a bible to an older man who had asked him for one and he offered him a study which he accepted, so he asked me to take it. I went on a call with one of the other young brothers and a study was offered and accepted at a time he could not go, so I got that one too. Stephan has been studying with a couple here and he asked if Terri and I would take that, so I have been here five days and have five studies. I gave the talk here today (Sunday) and we had 64 in attendance. We are going to have to arrange for some additional benches to be built. I would try to build them but I have plenty of building to do as it is.

When we arrived, there was nothing on our side of the house except a couple of partially constructed walls (one of which was in a place I didn't want, so I took it down), no sink, no shower, and no toilet. I have gotten the sink installed, as well as a make-shift shower and am in the process of installing the toilet, although I must say that the outdoor toilet is no where near as rank as it was when we were here in March. I guess all the necessary organisms are finally in place and working.

I have much more work to do since we are getting our first visitor in less than two weeks and as of now, there is not a room for her. I know I can get things ready although it may end up with tarps on the walls instead of wood depending on how things go.

All our bags are packed, we're ready to go

If all goes as to plan, tomorrow we will get a boat to Kaituma and from there arrange transportation to Matthew’s Ridge. We have been in Guyana for almost four weeks and are getting anxious to reach our destination so we can get on with the work.

I know there are many who have been following the work here in Mabaruma who no doubt are interested in how the congregation is doing. They have been on their own now for four months. They are holding up quite well, The work load is a little more on the brothers now since Alex has left Mabaruma for Georgetown. He has gone for some training for a job that supposedly will be his when he returns. He plans on getting back in January. In addition, the Fazarali family had gone to ‘town early for the District Convention, so Solo was away for four weeks. Needless to say, Bro. Baxter was very busy. But he has been assisted by the remaining brothers here. Bro. Smith (Elroy) has had to do more and his reading has noticeably improved. Even Ellis has submitted to wearing a suit jacket so he could assist with the microphones.

I have noticed a change in Aleric, he seems a little more withdrawn. I spoke to Seeta about it and she said it’s a combination of his age (entering adolescence) and the fact that Alex isn’t around. Norma’s daughter Alexandra has really shown a change. She had gotten baptized at the SAD program when we left in April. She has been living with Rasheeta in the big house, since she didn’t want to be there alone. During the summer months, since Rasheeta wasn’t teaching, she was out almost every day in the ministry and Alexandra went along with her. At the end of the summer she told Rasheeta that pioneering hasn’t as hard as she had expected, and she thinks when she finishes school she would like to start pioneering as well.

The most exciting development just happened today. I was speaking to the Circuit Overseer and he mentioned that he had just received word from the branch office in Georgetown that as of November 1st, there will be two Special Pioneer brothers assigned to Mabaruma, Bro. Rayburn Gomes and Bro. Shane Anthony, both of whom are recent MTS graduates and both are serving as elders as well, so the friends here will be well cared for. Jehovah truly is a hearer and answerer of prayers.

I apologize for no pictures again, but when we reach Matthew’s ridge, I will try very hard to figure a way to post some pictures again.

Mabaruma

We are now in Mabaruma. We flew in Saturday morning. I took our two barrels to the boat on Thursday. I had figured on doing it Friday, but Gary mentioned that Thursday worked better for him. As it was, when we got to the dock, I was told I would have to check with a man in another office to see if he would accept the cargo. So we walked to the next office and were told they were still accepting barrels. We left the first one and went to pick up the second. When we got back to the dock, we noticed a sign at the gate that said they were not accepting any more cargo for the boat, so it’s good I didn’t wait another day. Friday I took the bike and a large 12 volt battery I had bought for Matthew’s Ridge to the branch. I had planned on leaving it with Solo to bring on the boat with him, but Thursday evening I got a call from them and they were concerned with the security of the bike where they were staying so they spoke with the branch and got permission to leave it there until they take it to the boat.

Friday evening we packed everything back up. We put much of the heavier items in one suitcase which a brother from ‘town will bring with him on the boat. Since he is just coming for a short visit to Mabaruma (he will return on the next boat) he doesn’t have much luggage of his own. That will save us a nice piece of change since we would have to pay about 50 cents a pound to take it on the plane, and I’m sure the suitcase weighed close to a hundred pounds, but he will be able to bring it free with him.

So now we are in Mabaruma waiting for the boat to arrive so we can gather up everything for the next leg of our journey up the river to Kaituma. I have been inquiring into a boat to take all our things up. I spoke to a speedboat driver who said he could take everything, but he wanted $35,000 GYD ($175 US). It seems there is a bigger boat which will take it for about $10,000 GYD, but he travels up to Kaituma on Tuesdays and our things won’t arrive until Wednesday. So as of now it looks like we will be here for another week. I’m sure the brothers here won’t mind an extra helper for another week. I would feel worse, but I know that Stephan has three other brothers with him at the Ridge now, so another week won’t be that big of a deal.

This is the first time we have been in Guyana in September, so while this is our fourth time in Mabaruma, I am seeing things I have never seen here before . One of them is lightning. In all the time we have been here before we would once in a great while hear distant thunder. Today I saw the flash of lightning and less than three seconds later hear a sharp clap of thunder. The rain was welcome since all three tanks at the front house were empty. Now after a couple of days with afternoon thunder storms the tanks are full. Which is timely since three sister from ‘town are coming to stay with Rasheeda for a couple of weeks. There is also lots of yellow flowers on some of the trees here. The rubber trees that line the road through Compound are dropping nuts onto the roadway, so the road is covered with these broken shells. Something I have never seen, since we have never been here this time of year. Oh yeah, by the way, it is hot!!! Today I was sitting talking to someone and the sweat was just dripping off my arms.

I haven't taken many pictures and for some reason The ones that I had picked, mainly as filler won't post up. I got word from Gary today that everything got on the boat without incident today, so that's another hurtle cleared. I will try to another post before we leave Mabaruma.

We are fine and hopefully the same is true of you.

Convention

The District Convention was wonderful! And not without excitement. When we first had arranged to stay with the Bouches, Bro. Bouch had said he would reserve two places on the bus for the convention. But then a few days before the convention, he had mentioned that since I had the bike and my license, if I were to drive to the convention, it would free up two seats for others to be able to attend. So how could I say no. So Terri and I ended up taking the bike to the Convention. I must admit I was apprehensive to have to drive a bike through the traffic here in ‘town. Many of the intersections have no traffic signs at them, but then again, many drivers don’t pay attention to the ones that are there. The first morning I followed someone in, but after that I found my own way.

The convention here is held in an outdoor stadium, with the stage on one side and covered seating on the other three. The weather was almost ideal, with a nice breeze blowing most of the time. In fact on Sunday the breeze was so strong, it was blowing things down on the platform.

The peak attendance on Sunday was just over 4300. Not bad considering there are only about 2300 witnesses in the whole country and this was the second convention (although the first was much smaller). There were 65 baptized on Saturday, including Margaret from Mabaruma, and Doris from Matthew’s Ridge.

Another woman who has been studying at the Ridge, Mary, also came in for the convention. She had really wanted to attend, but there was no way she could afford it. So she made it a matter of prayer, telling Jehovah how much she desired to attend, and saying that if she had the money, she would use it to travel to the convention. It so happened that several years ago (ten to be exact) she had been somehow injured, and as a result had been awarded a settlement. For some time afterwards, whenever the magistrate would come to Matthew’s Ridge, she would go, hoping that payment would be enforced, but never received any satisfaction. Then a few days after she had poured out her heart to Jehovah about her desire to attend the convention, she was walking through the market and a constable motioned her over and handed her the settlement check. Needless to say, she quickly made her arrangements to travel in for the convention.

Today (Monday) I was able to access the internet using a blackberry phone I had bought in the states and brought with me. So now as long as I am where there is cell service, I should be able to send and receive emails and update the blog. I still have to get things straightened out so I can send and receive emails directly from the phone. As of now, I’m told you have to travel about six miles out of the Ridge to get a signal, and I don’t particularly want to have to travel with my laptop as well. However rumor has it that there will be a cell tower in the Ridge before the end of the year, and then we would be in great shape.

Our departure is still up in the air, all dependant on when the boat returns and is able to get turned around for departure. I may update once more before leaving, and I should also be able to put something up from Mabaruma as there is a cell tower there.

The first picture I’ve included shows the baptismal candidates walking across the stadium towards the baptism pool. The next one is of Margaret getting ready to enter the pool (there was such a throng around the pool, I had to take the picture from up in the stands). The last one is a picture of Terri and Mary, the woman I spoke about.

Taking care of business

Things are coming together nicely. We got our TIN #s, drivers licenses, and I picked up the motorbike yesterday (Wednesday). We have been continuing to pick up supplies for our stay at the Ridge. We learned that the regular steamer that goes to Mabaruma is out of service, and they are using the smaller one that regularly goes to Port Kaituma. One problem with that is they don’t put cargo inside bins which can be locked, but instead just load everything in loose. We have been told that if we were to send our suitcases, even though they were locked, someone could slice them open to take what they valued. So now it looks like we will put everything in a couple of steel barrels which can be locked and send it that way.

Since a number of the Witnesses from Mabaruma who have come to ‘town for the District Convention travel on the steamer, we will send everything on the boat and they will keep an eye on the bike. Unfortunately the schedule of the boat is that it won’t leave for about a week after the convention. Even if we fly into Mabaruma shortly after the convention, we will have to wait there until the boat arrives so we can collect everything and travel on to Port Kaituma, and then Matthew’s Ridge.

The last few days I have been going in to help do work preparing for the Convention. I help with the crew that painted the sign for the convention. Yesterday Steven arrived from the Ridge. He was originally supposed to stay with a family on the East Bank, but at the last minute, something happened, so now he is staying with us. Today all three of us went to National Park to help prepare for the Convention. Terri and I are looking forward to attending our first large convention here in Guyana.

I’ve decided to have three pictures (better take advantage of good internet access while I have it). The first one is of work being done on the sign for the convention. You can recognize Gary as one of them. The next is a picture of Terri painting a panel sectioning off a changing area for the baptism candidates. The last shot is a classic Guyana pose, one of utter exhaustion after working hard in the heat (that’s Stephan if you didn’t recognize him).

I will post up another entry after the convention. Until then here’s hoping all is well with you.