This season's final episode

The Special Assembly Day went off without a hitch. Although Compton and I had spent the Wednesday before, visiting and inviting a number of people out in the Wauna area, and had made arrangements for a bus to bring those who wanted to come, since everyone always would mention the problem with transportation, either availability or cost, Sunday morning arrived, and there was no bus from Wauna. Compton called during the morning break and the man we had made arrangements with said no one showed up in the morning for the bus. We were both disappointed. It will be interesting what story he hears when he goes out next Wednesday. Speaking of our Wauna trip, you may remember I had mentioned the man whose son had died and he told how he hadn’t worked since. Well when we went to his house to have his study, he wasn’t there, he was working. So we were happy that our visit had helped him in getting on with things, but at the same time, felt bad that he was once again unavailable to study.

Shortly before the program started a busload of people who had traveled down from Matthew’s Ridge and Kaituma arrived. There had been so many that the boat driver in Kaituma had tried to get them to leave someone behind, but they had said everyone was going. Due to the heavy load, the trip took longer than expected. So then everyone had to rush around to change into meeting clothes before the meeting started. In the middle of all of it, someone realized a person was missing. In the midst of everyone rushing around in Kumaka when they arrived, one woman had been left behind. Just as someone was about to set off to find her, as the music was playing to begin the program, she came hurrying down the road. She had got on a next bus, and asked to be taken to the Kingdom Hall.

One of the high points of any assembly is the baptism, and we had one person get baptized, Alexandra Morris, Norma’s daughter. Alexandra had mentioned to me when she first approached me, that she would like to keep in a secret, so she could surprise Rasheida, who had studied with her. I think we might have pulled it off, if Norma hadn’t told Rasheida herself.

I was asked to serve as chairman for the morning session. As you may know, the chairman’s remarks introducing the speakers, and then thanking them afterwards are written out in manuscript form for the chairman. I had to do a little improvising, since I had a part on the morning session. I didn’t think it would have seemed appropriate to thank myself when I finished. Our peak attendance for the program was 92 for the second session in the morning.

Sunday evening there was a congregation get-together at the house. Sort of a combination send off for Terri and me, as well as a chance to spend time with those who had come out from ‘town for the program. Then Monday morning it was off to the airstrip. One of my final acts in Mabaruma, early Monday morning, was to make some modifications on the front gate at the Kingdom Hall because Chigger had recently figured out he could jump over the gate to get out of the yard.

Every time before, we had flown out of Georgetown as soon as possible. In fact the first year, we had flown into Ogle, and then drove to the international airport and left the same day. Ever since, the departing flights leave too early, so we have had to spend the night in ‘town. We had booked our flight from Mabaruma for Monday, since we were originally scheduled to leave for the states Tuesday. Then our flight was pushed back to Thursday. Rather than reschedule our flight from Ogle, I decided we would just spend the extra time in ‘town. This would allow us to try to take care of our visa extension. In the past, I hadn’t bothered with it since we were leaving. But since we are planning on returning for an extended stay, I didn’t want to be denied entry due to always overstaying our visa.

I asked Gary when he picked us up about going to start the process. He said it was too late, we’d have to wait until the next day. Then he said that it wasn’t far out of the way, so we might as well go, as you never know what Jehovah can work out. We went and were able to take care of the first task on Monday, and Tuesday we were able to complete the process.

This will be my last posting for this visit to Guyana. For those of you who have become ‘regulars’ to the site, and want to keep up the routine, you will have to be happy with ‘reruns’ and go back and read over earlier postings. And as with any good serial, there needs to be a ‘cliff-hanger’ the last episode, so here goes. This morning I had a chance to meet with the brothers here at the branch to discuss where they would like us to plan on going when we return to Guyana in August. And rather than let you know of the direction we received, I will say, “Tune in on August 1st and find out where the Newtons will be on their return.” Of course in this, as in all things, we must not presume to be able to make plans, but rather must add, “If Jehovah wills.” (Jas. 4:13-15)

For our final episode of this season I’ve splurged on pictures. The first shows the bus arriving with the ones from Matthew’s Ridge and Port Kaituma. Doris, who started preaching when the first Kingdom Hall was at the Ridge, is in the lead. The next picture shows the group together as they were getting ready to leave to go back up the river. The third picture is of the brothers who are currently at Matthew’s Ridge. Stephen is on the left, Blake is on the right, and Andrew Roybal, a brother from northern New Mexico who will be at the Ridge until the beginning of August, is in the middle. The next picture was taken during the program. Then there is a picture of this year’s baptism, and finally a picture taken during our final gathering in Mabaruma, Margaret is on the left, Norma is in the middle, and Joy Kissoon is on the right.

So until next time, may Jehovah keep you safe, and may your prayers continue to be with those in Mabaruma, Guyana, and wherever those “rightly disposed for life” may be.

One more time

As always is the case, as the time gets shorted, it seems to go faster. I guess it’s because you realize how many things there are to be done before you run out of time. The week started out with a real thief of time. Saturday, Alex had decided to take a trip up to Kaituma to give Sherwin a little help and encouragement, while there still was enough help here in Mabaruma that he could get away. He asked Amy and Rasheeda if the would like to go along, which they did. The plan had been for them to preach some on the river, and then continue up to Kaituma where they would spend the night and then Alex would give the talk in Kaituma before heading back.. Sunday evening, Terri had invited Solo and his family to come for supper at the front house, thinking that when the girls got back, they wouldn’t feel like having to cook.

About the time it was getting dark, we called up to Sherwin in Kaituma to see what time the group had left. He said they had left about 3:45, but he also said it had taken them almost four hours to make the trip up. We were a little concerned, as that could mean they wouldn’t reach back until almost eight, and they had taken no light with them, as
Alex had been told to be back before dark. Then it got to be nine and still no word. When we tried to call any of them, their phones went directly into voicemail, so that meant they were on the section of river between where the two towers could give service.

Solo was quite concerned, and said after he took his family home, he was going to go to Kamaka and see if there was nay word, and maybe see about finding a boat to go look for them. When he got in his van to go home, for some reason his headlights wouldn’t work. I said I would take the bike and drive ahead, and he could follow behind, so that is what we ended up doing. When we got to his house, I asked him if he was going to go to Kamaka, and he said he couldn’t now because of the problem with the lights. I said I could take him on the bike, so he said, “Let’s go.”

When we got to Kumaka, there was still no word from, or sign of them. Someone said that a boat had only recently arrived, and said they had passed another boat towing a boat, not far down the river, so we waited still longer. Nothing came along, and it was getting later, By this time, Compton had also joined us, So Solo and Compton started discussing what could be done, They tried to wake up someone who had a 25 HP motor that we could have put on Solo’s boat, but either he wasn’t home, or was passed out. They then called and reached a woman who had a 15 and a large dugout canoe that said we could borrow it, but she had no gas. Solo had a couple containers of gas, so we went to his house and got the gas, and then came back and picked up Compton. By now it was about midnight.

The plan was we would head up river until we either found them, or used the first container of gas, at which point we would be able to turn around and reach back. It was quite dark on the river, so I sat in the front shining a flashlight, to both watch ahead, and check along the banks. But since we had to not drain the batteries, I would shine it, see nothing, and then turn it off for a time. Once we had gotten underway, we realized that the canoe was taking on water, and we had nothing to bail with. After about an hour we came to a house that usually has gas to sell and after much shouting, finally roused someone who said they had no gas, and when we asked about a bailer, said they had nothing. We asked about getting a knife to cut a container we might find floating in the river, and were told they had nothing. There was a large boat tied up nearby, so I suggested we paddle over to it to see if there might be a bailer in it. We did, and there was, so that worry was solved. We then continued on driving and flashing until we reached the point where our first container of fuel was almost finished. We talked about what we should do, and I said I didn’t see the point of turning around, since we had spent all this time, and still not accomplished our objective. We decided we would continue on, and we either find them or reach Kaituma, where we could get more fuel.

We reached Kaituma about 5 AM, just as it was starting to get light. We waited there for it to get light, and for people to have woken up so we could get gas. We were told that there was no gas in Kaituma. We went by a man I used to study with and were able to get about 5 gallons of gas, which would not get us back, but would let us get to where there was a place on the river that usually had gas. So about 8:30 we headed back down, hoping that with the light, we would find some sign of the missing people and boat.

A little over half way home, we came upon them paddling the boat down the river. It seems they had developed mechanical problems just about as it was getting dark, and so had found a house along the river and had tied up there for the night, and in the dark, we had driven past the house. We tied the boats together and made our way back. By using the gas from the Kingdom Hall boat, we were able to have enough to make it back. It was about 1:30 when we finally arrived back. I went on a couple of our studies after that, and then went home and slept though until the next morning.

So with that time lost, and with starting to pack, with the idea of packing most things away to be left here, and doing some projects to prepare for the SAD, it has been a busy week. A couple (the Bouchs) arrived Friday from “town, and the Raineys arrived from Kaituma, along with Sherwin and Stephen from the Ridge. Brother Hinds arrived this morning (Saturday). While many from the congregation went out in the ministry, I asked Stephen to stay back and help me with projects to prepare for tomorrow. I felt it only fair since I missed the ministry in Matthew’s ridge to help them with their projects. Besides, he will be staying here for a week, to take in Bro. Rainey’s visit, so he will have plenty of chances to work in the ministry then.

We painted some, put up the pool, and set a tarp on the back of the house to provide either shade or protection from the rain, especially during the noon break, so we won’t be crowded into the Kingdom Hall (assuming we get a good turn out). Then Monday morning, we will be flying out with the Bouchs and Bro. Hinds.

This week’s pictures are from today. One is the group for service. Another is of the baptism pool under construction, and finally one of Terri helping me with the tarp on the back of the house.

I will try and do one more post while we are in ‘town with pictures and reports on the SAD.

The first of the last

Today was the first of the lasts. This was the last time we would be having our Saturday afternoon studies in Hosororo, since next Saturday in the afternoon we will be busy getting ready for the Special Assembly Day program. Tomorrow will be my last Public talk, and so it goes until we leave next Monday.

One of my duties ever since Graem left has been to put the dogs away every morning. I usually walk up with some sort of treat, tie Chigger up by the front porch, and then walk back towards the back where the dog house is. Like most houses here in Guyana, the house is built up off the ground. It’s about a 2 ½ foot jump to get into it, and Brunno always jumps in and waits for me to get there, but Chewey acts like it’s too much for him, so I have to lift him up and put him in. Then I close the door and give them each a treat through the side. A few times I’ve forgotten the treats, but they are conditioned enough that I could put them away.

A couple of days ago, all I had was some cassava bread, but they went in. However, the next day, Chewey refused to let me grab him to put him in. He would run around the dog house away from me. Then he ran up to the house and went under the house where I couldn’t reach him. By then I was loosing my patience, so I picked up some stones and threw them at him until he ran out and went back down by the dog house. He tried getting away, but I worked him into a corner, and when he realized he couldn’t get way, he rolled over and lay on his back. I felt like he needed a good beating, but knew that would accomplish nothing. The next day was a repeat, except this time, he hid under the house as soon as I came up. I bought a small jar of peanut butter and this morning I spread that on some pita and took that with me. When he saw me coming, he just laid down and rolled over. I let him smell his treat, and he jumped up and followed me down and let him put me away like old times. I worry how they will be for Rasheeda when she has to put them away herself.

We are starting to wonder if our dry season has turned out to be only three weeks long. We have been getting rain since Wednesday, and not just a few passing showers, but rain lasting for hours on end. The good news is there will be no water shortage when the house is full for the SAD. There will be nine people staying there, so they will use a good deal of water. Plus we still may be having to fill a pool for a baptism. That is still undecided.

Seeta approached me recently and mentioned her next two younger children, Travez and Channel would like to become unbaptized publishers, so Sunday Compton and I will sit down with her and one of them, and then Tuesday after the bookstudy, Solo and I will sit with her and the other. It’s nice to see the congregation continuing to grow. Elroy has turned in an application to Auxiliary Pioneer during May. I’m sure Compton will appreciate the support for mid-week service, and I’m sure Elroy will benefit from working with Compton on a regular basis.

Wednesday Compton and I went out to Wauna. I hadn’t gone in quite a while, because Joe had been going out, and there is only one bike good enough to make the trip. When we first got there, we stopped by the school to see if we could spend some time with the teacher there. We also walked over to a house close by where we had tried to continue a study that Graem had. The last couple of time we had been out we had missed him because he was working. He was home so we chatted with him a bit. Compton asked if he had the day off from work. He said he wasn’t working, he hadn’t worked since his son died. We were shocked to hear him say that. It turns out his eleven month old son had died about five weeks ago, which meant he died about a week after we had last seen him. He had developed severe diarrhea, they had taken him to the hospital and he died the next day.

He mentioned he had asked why he died, and was told that the only way to know was to do a post-mortem. He said that was what he wanted, so they kept the body until the next day. The next day, the doctor told him he should just take the baby home and bury him. He mentioned that a number of people had told him, “The Father had taken your son to be with him.” We assured him, and showed him from the bible, that that was not true. Jehovah never intended for us to die, which was why he had told Adam and Eve, not to eat from the one tree. Death was the result of disobedience, not part of God’s unfathomable purpose. I asked him how it made him feel towards God, when he was told he had taken his son. I could tell he felt uncomfortable saying it, but he said it made him feel bad towards God. I asked him who he thought would want him to feel that way towards God. He said, “Satan.” I said, “So, you know who it is that had that lie told to you.” He asked us when we were going to be passing back by, and we said later in the day. He asked us to stop back by.

It was getting later in the day when we went by, but Compton said we should stop again. He asked us to do a few paragraphs in the Bible Teach book. When we were leaving, he thanked us for coming, and said how he had felt much better that day. He said most days he ended up drinking, but not that day. It was nice to be able to share the truth from the bible, and see it bring such immediate relief. Truly, many are skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd.

We had gone on another call that Josh used to call on. The man was happy to see us and invited us into his house. I gave him the latest magazines, and was talking to him about them, when he stopped me and asked if it wouldn’t be appropriate to have a prayer, since we were discussing spiritual matters, we should ask for God’s guidance in getting the right understanding. Of course, I had to agree with him. Before we left, he asked me what he would have to do to be baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I felt so bad, because he lives about an hour and a half from the Kingdom Hall. I encouraged him to continue to do what he could to grow in his knowledge of the bible, and assured him that Jehovah can read his heart. There is just so much work that needs to be done here.

For this week’s pictures I have put in one of Amy at a door. It’s a candid, so I apologize for the back. Next is a picture taken across a valley of a house in the territory. The road runs along the ridge, so you get an idea of what we have to do to get to some of the houses. The final picture is of our fearless guard dogs. Chigger is on the step, Bruno is on the right, and the uncooperative Chewey is in the middle.

It won’t be long now.

Is that Billy Joel I hear playing?

The Sopel's departure

The Sopels left Mabaruma this morning. They will be spending a few days in Georgetown, where they will be taking in a zone visit, before traveling back to the states. There were about thirty at the airstrip to see them off. Last night, the School and Service Meeting was handled completely by the local brothers. It certainly made us feel better about how the congregation will be provided for during the next few months.

Our attention is starting to focus on the upcoming Special Assembly Day to be held in a little over two weeks. I made up some invitations to be given to bible studies and return visits. Because of the limited seating in the Kingdom Hall, we will not be making an effort to distribute invitations to all in the territory, rather only to those who have shown interest in spiritual things. Brother Hinds from the branch will be our featured speaker this year.

Our weather has become a little more seasonable with bright sun and clear skies, and with the sun almost directly overhead now, it can be quite intense. It had been almost three weeks since we had had any appreciable rainfall, and the tanks at the front house were getting rather low. We weren’t too much affected, since we had been in the Ridge for a week, and with just the two of us, and Terri having her laundry done by Margaret, we don’t use that much water. We received some nice rain the last two nights, so things are looking good.

A few weeks ago I mentioned how Margaret had started a new study. The second week she went, the woman who she had started the study with wasn’t there. Her sister mentioned she had gone out. Margaret explained to her sister why it was she had come, and then said, “Since your sister isn’t here, but you are, we can show you what your sister has been learning.” The sister was agreeable, so they showed her how a bible study is conducted. The sister can read well, so they started studying out of the ‘Bible Teach’ book. This last Sunday both of the women came to the meeting at the Kingdom Hall. Margaret was fairly glowing. Tuesday evening after the meeting, she informed me that she didn’t feel that she would be able to prepare for all the questions for baptism in such a short time. Rather, she would plan on getting baptized in August at the District Convention. I encouraged her not to sit back now until the middle of July and start thinking about it then, but rather to take a little time each day or week to prepare now.

After most of our time here without a problem, the current has become a little bit undependable. When you only get it for five hours a day, when you don’t get it at all, it can be a bit of a problem. Rumor was that there might be several days before we got it again, but the next night, it actually came on an hour early, and stayed on for the whole evening (until its regular scheduled time to go off). We were all so surprised and happy to get it. As I had mentioned in some of my early posting, life is good when the little things (like having electricity at its scheduled time) can make you happy. Last night, it went off after only two and a half hours, so we will have to wait and see what this evening brings.

I’m hoping our travel plans are finally in place for our return. I may have mentioned in an earlier posting (I don’t feel like going back and reading through them all to check) that we had originally made all our travel arrangements before coming this time. In the past, I had always just bought one-way tickets, and then bought a next set before we left, When we arrived, we learned that the SAD program was scheduled six days after we were scheduled to leave. So I rescheduled both return flights to allow us to stay until after the program. Then a few weeks ago I got a notice from the airline we are flying from Guyana back to New York on, that they were canceling all Tuesday flights during April, and I had been rescheduled for two days later, ‘We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.’ I called them and explained that I had a connecting flight I had to make, and they asked for the information, and said they would take care of rescheduling it. I called several times during the next two weeks and was always told that the person handling it was going to take care of it the next day. I was getting a little concerned, but finally I was given the information regarding the rescheduled flight. It’s a three hour later flight than I had originally booked, but I am hoping that if everything goes smoothly and there are empty seats, they will let us go on the earlier flight. We had done that once before. But I won’t have to stress if our departure is delayed on our first flight, or if our baggage is slow on coming, or we get held up in customs.

We’re getting at that point in our stay where the ministry becomes changed because at this time, there is no point in offering a bible study to someone, because we aren’t going to be here long enough to accomplish anything. In fact, we are starting to have to consider which of the studies we have merit trying to find someone to take them over. The problem is being exacerbated by the fact that Amy Oka is also going to be leaving, since it has been decided it would not be good to have foreign sisters living alone in the house, and she has studies to try and turn over also. So now in the ministry, I just try and teach a truth from the bible, and if someone shows real interest, I encourage them to come to the meetings at the Kingdom Hall. As the bible says, “the harvest is great and the workers are few”. We are torn between looking forward to seeing everyone back in the states, and hating to have to leave the congregation here.

Two of this week’s pictures are from the Sopel’s departure today. The third picture is of Margaret at the meeting with one of her new studies and the studies children.

Once again, I’m starting to feel like that monkey that got his tail caught in the lawnmower.