Back Home

We are all back in the Ridge now, though the trip home was in typical Guyanese fashion. We left Kumaka Tuesday morning as planned, and other than running into a couple of heavy showers, the trip up went smooth. When we reached Kaituma, I looked for a vehicle going to the Ridge to send our suitcase with. It seemed there were no vehicles there from the Ridge, so we left our suitcase at a shop and walked down to get the bike. Terri walked with me because she had told Sharon she would stop by with me.When we got there, Sharon mentioned that the bike must have a small leak in the front tire, since she noticed it had gone down shortly after I left it. I figured I would just pump it up and off we would go. But when I tried to pump it up, it wouldn’t pump up. So I figured I would have to open the tire and patch the tube (I always travel with a patch kit after my previous episode with a flat tire). When I took the tube out, I couldn’t find any leak at first, but neither would the tube pump up. I then discovered that the valve stem was partially torn from the tube, which is a problem that can’t really be patched. Sharon’s ‘man’ has a motorbike, so I called him and asked where I could buy a new tube. He told me that he usually had some, but they were ‘finished’ and no one else in Kaituma would have any. He said he would come by and get the tube and take it to see if he could get it fixed. He came back later and said they had tried to repair it, but it stilled leaked a little around the valve stem . He said he had called into ‘town and ordered three new tubes and they would come on the plane in the morning. So we ended up staying the night in Kaituma. I did find a vehicle going up and sent our suitcase along with word that we wouldn’t be coming until the next day.The next morning I got up and went down to the bike. Right on time a plane arrived and Terry (Sharon’s man) went to meet it. A second arrived before the first left, and a third arrived a bit later. In spite all the planes, Terry came back empty handed. I had anticipated that and said I was going to put the tube back together and if it would hold air for even half an hour, I would drive home, stopping as needed to pump up the tire. I had noticed the day before that the core had been removed from the valve when they had tried to repair it, but since I hadn’t planned on using the tube I hadn’t said anything. Terry went back to see about getting the valve core back. It took longer than I expected, but when he came back he had a tube. He had gone to someone who had a bike and he had a used tube with a leak in it, which they had patched and it held air. I then installed that tube and we were finally on our way.While we were getting ready to leave, some heavy showers went through, so now the road was wet. I warned Terri that we might not make it back without incident, but we would just have to go slow. Sure enough, at one point, the bike just went out from under us and we were on the ground. But since I was going slow, nothing was damaged except my pride. The farther we went, the drier the road was, although we did drive through a few showers. We made it back in about three hours. As you get close, you can see the ridge of Matthew’s Ridge in the distance. I asked Terri if it felt like she was coming home, and she said it felt good.The next day (Thursday) Stephan and I took our bikes to Black Banana Junction. That is the way we will go when we go to Barimita. For most of the way the road is very good, but then we reached to where they are working on the road, and everything beyond that was not good. I think it was worse than the time we went to Big Creek. I had anticipated that and had worn long boots. They worked well until I got into a mudhole that was deeper than the boots were high. We finally reached to our destination. As we had been going, I had thought to myself, “This is bad, but I can’t imagine what it would be like if it were to be wet!” While we were there, it started to pour. I didn’t have to imagine it after that, and it was as bad as I had imagined. There was a big hill we had gone down that the bikes would not go up because it was so slippery. We had to help each other push the bikes up the hill. It got to the point that I didn’t feel I was driving the bike, rather the bike was driving me. I was just hanging on and getting dragged along trying to keep the bike upright.We have decided that we are just going to walk the whole way to Barimita. We are doing that for a couple of reasons. One is that many who want to go have no money. The other is that if we walk, there should be nothing that can go wrong. If we were to plan on a vehicle, and the vehicle were to break down or get stuck, it could cause serious problems to the schedule. In addition, it should make for some good stories. At this point it seems that just as the number who actually ended up going to Mabaruma was less than originally indicated, the number who go to Barimita may be more than originally expected. Eugene told me today that he wants to go with the group. He mentioned he has never been there, but also, many over the years have come from Barimita to the Ridge to assist and encourage the ones here, and he wants to be able to go to say thank you to all of them and let them see their labors had not been in vain.This week’s picture is from our trip to Black Banana Junction. This is in the section where the road is still under construction. You can see the way they construct bridges. They just lay logs together and cover then with dirt. This one has yet to be covered with dirt. It makes for tricky driving especially since the mud is very slippery, and there are some sizable gaps between the logs. Oh well, just another story.

Special Assembly Day

The Special Assembly Day program has come and gone. We had a nice few days rest in advance of it. I don’t think Terri went out of the house for two days. I had been asked to do a part on the program which called for interviewing a couple of young ones who were known to be regular in the ministry, as well as a couple of ones advanced in age. I spoke to the Circuit Overseer about who I might use. I mentioned that I was thinking of using Brother Baxter. The CO at first told me he didn’t think that would be appropriate. I asked him why he felt that way and he said, “I have worked with him in the ministry. I can barely keep up with him. There is no way he qualifies as one advanced in age.” He said, “Well, maybe if you could get him to wear a grey wig.” I mentioned that I had seen some pictures of him in his home taken a few years ago and at that time, he was showing quite a bit of grey in his hair. I mentioned maybe that is why he chooses to not have hair, so it doesn’t show grey. In the end, after consulting with the other brothers, he relented and let me use him on the part.Friday I had some anxious moments because I had told Stephan I would call him Friday afternoon when he got to Kaituma to see how everything was going. It got to be after 4:30 and he still wasn’t answering his phone. Finally around 5:00 PM he called and said they were passing the area where we go to make our calls. I asked him why they were so late and he said he’d call when he got to Kaituma and tell me more.He called later and related all that he had been through. It turned out that one of his studies had been going looking for gold the last few days, hoping to find enough to pay for at least his wife, and possibly the two of them to come to Mabaruma. He ended up finding gold, but then started drinking out all the money. Stephan said he had been drunk for two days straight. His wife had been away to another area, so one of the big daughters who had planned on going to Mabaruma, she had her money all saved up, was having to ‘babysit’ the small children as well as the drunk husband. Stephan had held off leaving as long as he could in hopes that the wife would get back so the daughter could come. But finally he had to leave.It ended up being a much smaller group that came down in the boat than we had anticipated. Stephan came with Eugene, Marry, Stephanie, Doris, Keyza, Danica, Shaneza, and Sonia. Monica, Sharon, and her three children came from Kaituma. Caroline wasn’t feeling well. Sherwin’s sister, Shonette who is also from Kaituma had come down earlier in the week.We had a really nice day Saturday, although there were less in attendance than I had expected. There were 53 for the morning session and 63 for the afternoon session. But we had five get baptized, two from Mabaruma, Paul George, and Alaric Jessemy, and three from the Ridge, Mary and Eugene Smith and Stephanie Bumbury.Shortly after the program was over, the group left to go back to Kaituma, and then on to the Ridge. Stephan was planning on holding the meeting there Sunday, since most had already missed one meeting on Saturday, and had not been able to able to come to the Special Assembly Day program. But he wouldn’t have to do it all by himself since he now had another baptized brother to help him. Here in Guyana, we put them to work almost before they have a chance to dry off!There was room enough on the boat that we could have gone back with them, but I think the break has really been doing Terri good, so I decided not to cut it short. Besides, I had hoped to visit the office of Lands and Surveys, to try to look at a map of the Kaituma area to see if I could see any available spots that might be suitable for a future Kingdom Hall, and I hadn’t gotten that done yet. So our plan is still to travel back Tuesday.I’m going to try and ‘push the envelope’ and include two pictures. One is of the five who were baptized, and the other is of the group from Kaituma and Matthew’s Ridge. I’ll try and identify all in the group picture. On the far left is Sharon’s big son, then Shonette next to Terri, with Sonia in front of her. Keyza has her arms around Sonia and Sharon’s daughter. Monica is behind Keyza with Mary next to her. Finishing the front is Doris, with Stephanie almost hidden between Doris and Danica, who has her arm around Shaneza. In the back, it’s myself, Eugene, Sharon with her small son, and Stephan.

On to Mabaruma

With my attention to the Memorial in my last posting, I feel I didn’t give our latest visitors the credit they deserved. As I had mentioned, we had three sisters from the Georgetown area come and spend a week at the Ridge with us. They were Vidya Persaud and Alana and Omefa Wilburg. The Wilburg sisters actually are originally from Matthew’s Ridge, but had not been there in about seventeen years. We had spent time with Vidya when we both were visiting Mabaruma in September.They had arrived in the Ridge the Monday before the Memorial, and Vidya and Alana had hoped to be able to get a flight across to Barimita and spend a few days there before going back to ‘town. But for some reason, probably due to the holidays, no flights went across, so they flew back from the Ridge Monday. Speaking of Barimita, we heard that they had had 1595 for their Memorial.The Monday they arrived, Vidya walked with me out to my far study. Just about the time we reached there, she asked me if I ever walked all the way there, only to find that my study wasn’t there. I told her it had happened a few times, but most times if he wasn’t going to be there, he would somehow get word to me. So wouldn’t you know, when we got there we learned that he had gone into the bush to get materials to make something for someone. So Vidya got some exercise and a chance to see some deep jungle. I also got her to stand next to that big tree that had been cut to give perspective to it.We were curious to see what effect the Memorial might have on our meeting attendance, and we were pleased to see 77 come for the meeting Sunday. Junior came, and just like for the Memorial, he brought his whole family. There was also an older man whom I had seen for the first time at the Kingdom Hall during the Memorial who also came again Sunday. With the additional seats, and after the crush of the Memorial, it seemed very comfortable with that many people at the meeting.Monday evening, I went around trying to locate a vehicle that would be traveling to Kaituma the next day. Since Terri and I planned on taking the bike, we needed to get our suitcase to Kaituma. I couldn’t find anyone who said they were definitely going. A couple said that if they could find enough passengers or business, they would go, but they wouldn’t know until morning. So Tuesday morning had some anxious moments, but finally a bus came by and took our suitcase. Terri and I then went on the bike. With the recent stretch of dry weather, the road was quite good, but bumpy. When we reached Kaituma, we were told the last boat had only recently left for Kumaka. There was however a government boat up from Kumaka. We located the driver and learned he didn’t know whether he would be returning that day or the next. But after a bit, a boat from Kumaka arrived and the driver said he would be going back in a couple of hours.While we were waiting, I was able to get online with my computer and phone and try to complete filing my state and federal income taxes. I finally had a good clean connection after being on and off for about half an hour. So then my battery was getting low. I took my laptop to a shop that I know there and was able to plug in to their current. I finally was able to complete the filing, with a whole day to spare. I don’t know why I let myself get so worried about it. Finally, a man came along saying they were leaving for Kumaka. It wasn’t the same one who had come up and I had told we would go back with him, so I don’t know if they changed drivers, or if in fact it was a different boat. But here in the northwest, when a boat is going, you get on it. There weren’t too many of us in the boat so it moved pretty fast. We were in Kumaka in about an hour forty minutes. We are staying with Brother Baxter. He has a king size bed in his guest room so it’s very comfortable.The weather has been rainy all day today (Wednesday) and that may be contributing to a poor internet connection, so I will only include one picture. If I find the connection improving in the next few days, I may try and post a few more pictures. This week’s picture is of the group who went to Kaituma last Tuesday to do the invitation work. Alana is next to me, then Vidya, and then Omefa.

Memorial

I decided to do a special post for the Memorial. We have been busy getting ready with both the invitation work, as well as the physical work to get ready. Tuesday we had planned to take the bikes and two of the visiting sisters to do invitation work in Kaituma. But when we woke up it was pouring rain, so we ended up going on a bus. Mary had some business to take care of in Kaituma, so she went as well and all three of the visiting sisters from Georgetown. We had a short 200 invitations that we had left over from the Ridge, and we made arrangements for about 100 more to be sent up from Mabaruma. For some reason we weren’t able to make the connection with the ones from Mabaruma, so I told the brothers there in Mabaruma to try and figure out what happened to them and they could use them when they got up Thursday morning.I finished the last of the new seats for the Kingdom Hall. In addition, we rearranged the seats to face the front of the Kingdom Hall, and installed a temporary bench all along the back wall. I figured we could seat 160-170 comfortably. Last year we had had about 120. We started the meeting a little late to let a few more arrive, and as the meeting started we probably had between 140 and 150, so I thought that wasn’t too bad. As the meeting got underway, more kept coming and they kept moving people closer together. The people kept on coming and they started standing them along the wall, and finally outside. We ended up with 201. Not too shabby for a group with nine publishers. It was also nice to see that no one decided to sample either the bread or wine as it was passed around.I had forgotten to mention in my last post that my study Junior had come to the meeting last Sunday. I was so happy to see him. His sister Patricia seemed quite pleased, but his mother, Beatrice, didn’t seem to show much reaction at all. But that is kind of typical of some of the amerindians. But Junior came to the Memorial with his whole family, his woman and five children. Another of Beatrice’s daughters came with a few of her children as well.I heard from both Mabaruma and Kaituma about their Memorials. Mabaruma had 68 in attendance and Kaituma had 41. Of course the Granddaddy of all the northwest is Barimita, but I have no way of contacting the brothers there to know what they had.Next week we travel to Mabaruma, where hopefully I will have good access to the internet, so maybe I will be able to share some additional pictures.This week’s picture was taken during the Memorial, giving a little idea of how filled the hall was.

God keeps making it grow

The Memorial invitation work has progressed well here. We only have a few houses left to do here in the Ridge. Thursday, Stephan and I took Eugene and Sonia with us to Arakaka to distribute the invitations there. We did all of Arakaka as well as the road from the junction to Arakaka.Last Wednesday when I was in Kaituma, I learned that permission had been given to use the Community Center for the Memorial there. Some brothers will travel up from Mabaruma to hold that. While I was there, I had gone to the school to talk to Sherwin’s sister, Shonettte, about some of the details of the arrangements. I went after school was finished, and I walked into the schoolyard and asked a student if he would go in to see if Miss Shonette was still there, and if so, to ask her to come out. After I finished, I was walking out of the yard, and I heard someone calling me. I looked over and saw a man standing in a guard house. I hadn’t noticed it when I went in, and I figured I was going to get a talking to about not checking with them before entering. I prepared myself to be appropriately apologetic. The man asked me if I was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I told him I was, and he then asked me if I had any magazines I could give him, he really enjoyed reading them. So I was happy to give him some. As I was leaving Kaituma, I passed the toll station and a man came out to raise toll barrier to let me pass. As I drove past him I heard him ask for papers. The first time I had gone past the toll station this year, the man there had then asked me for my receipt. At the time I had no idea what he was talking about since the station was new to me. He proceeded to tell me that I should have paid a toll in Kaituma and received a receipt to give him. I told him that I had not known of the arrangement, and asked where the collection point was. He told me that rather than making me go back, I could just pay him the $1000 ($5 US) and pass through this time. I wondered if I was being scammed, so I said I would go back (about a four mile trip each way). He said no, he would let me pass this time. So the next time I went to Kaituma, I stopped to pay my toll before leaving, and was told there was no charge for two-wheeled bikes.So I was surprised that another toll person seemed like he was trying to scam me, since I had been going on the road for so long, but I stopped, prepared to deal with his nonsense. When I backed up to the toll station, he asked me if I had any good news papers. He always enjoyed reading things about the bible, so I also left magazines with him. Both times I was expecting a problem, but got an opportunity to share magazines.While I was in Kaituma, I again tried to locate a couple of my old studies from four years ago. The area had changed a lot, but I went to a house that was close to where one of my studies had lived. I asked the man there, but I couldn’t even remember their name. I wasn’t able to locate them, but I had a nice discussion with the man at the house. At the next house the man was there, and we recognized each other. He was happy to see me. I shared a little teaching, and left him with some magazines, but then I had to get to my regular study. It just reminded me of the potential there in Kaituma. It will be interesting to see what kind of attendance they will get for the Memorial. It probably won’t be that many, since there won’t have been a lot of notice given there. We are planning on going there Tuesday to spend the day passing out invitations, but that will be rather short notice, not that most have a real busy schedule here.I have been working making some more seats for the Kingdom Hall here. We had ten six foot seats when I arrived. We had Doris’ husband make two more, so we had three rows of four. A while back I had bought enough wood to make six more. I had been letting it dry, but recently started making them. I have finished three, which we had for our meetings this weekend. We had been having to carry in some plain benches without backs for the Sunday meeting. I figured the three new seats would put an end to that, but I still had to use one, since we had 74 for the Public Talk. I will finish the other three before Thursday, plus we are going to build temporary benches all along the back wall. We really don’t know what to expect for attendance. Two years ago, when there was no Kingdom Hall, brothers came across from Barimita and held it in the Community Center and had about 180 come. Last year we were prepared for 200 by taking out the wall between the hall and our apartment (which was all open at the time), and we ended up with around 120.Today when I was talking with Mary Smith, she mentioned her nephew had told her that his Sunday School teacher at the Assembly of God Church, had shown them an invitation just like the ones Mary had been giving everyone. He said she told them this was a wonderful thing, and read some from the invitation. She then told them they all should plan to attend, and they all should get their parents to go with them. So if even the other churches are assisting with the invitation work, there is no telling what to expect. I think we will be able to seat close to 150, so we will see what happens.The work continues to increase here as our report for March indicates. Our five publishers placed one book, 4 brochures, 117 hours, 74 Return visits, and conducted 13 Bible studies. The three pioneers placed 13 book, 3 brochures, 382 hours, 211 magazines, 317 Return visits, and conducted 52 Bible studies. So we added six more Bible studies this month. Just as a side note, today I finished my time for the year, so when I return to the states, I will be able to work as much as possible to pay for our next stay (assuming there is work to be had when I get back).As proof that the work continues to grow here, this week’s picture is of the Service group Saturday. You can see we have a new addition, Letisha Scott. So now the Guyanese outnumber the whites, two to one. Nice!!!