Goodbyes and Assembly

This past week here in Matthews Ridge there were more goodbyes to be said as Aletha Walters and Justina Baker flew out of Matthews Ridge, after coming to help here for about the last two months. Aletha and Justina seemed to really enjoy their time here in Matthews Ridge, and we are certainly grateful for all their hard work. Aletha and Justina both cared for a number of Bible studies, and we really appreciated their good company and all their help at the congregation meetings.

This past Saturday, April 24, was the day of the Special Assembly Day in Mabaruma. A group of 19 from Matthews Ridge, as well as 9 more from Port Kaituma, attended the assembly. We had such an enjoyable time! To be gathered with many brothers and sisters we don’t get to see as often, for this special day of instruction, was truly refreshing. We hired a bus from Matthews Ridge to take us to Port Kaituma, about 30 miles away, where we then get on a boat to go to Mabaruma, which is about 30 additional miles from that point. The bus driver told us that he needed to make a repair to the bus in the morning, and that we’ll plan to leave at 11:00am on Friday. However, at about 9:30am, we heard over the radio at one of the shops that this bus had been seen on the side of the road still being repaired, and we still had not seen any sign of it by 11:00. And so I went into the market area to see if I could find a next bus to carry us. There was only one other bus in Ridge at that time, but the driver of that bus agreed to carry us to Kaituma. It was quite the interesting hour and a half ride to Kaituma. Something in the undercarriage of the bus was obviously busted, making the floor of the bus we were sitting on burning hot. About half way, it starting pouring rain, and as the water splashed up under the bus, the whole bus filled with a lovely steam/smoke mixture. Nothing too serious went wrong until at last we pulled into Port Kaituma, after which a belt suddenly broke and some other mechanical compartment started smoking. We were happy to have reached Kaituma safely, though. We stayed in Port Kaituma that night, and then early Saturday morning we all met at the waterfront to get on the boat to Mabaruma. And so at 6:00am we departed on the boat for Mabaruma. It took us about an hour and a half to reach, and so we arrived in the market area of Mabaruma, called Kamaka, at about 7:40am. The assembly didn’t start until 9:40, and so we had some time to get a little snack and admire the caged sloths in Kamaka. Then we all piled into a bus in Kamaka, which carried us down to the Kingdom Hall. The assembly program, with the theme “The Time Left Is Reduced”, was wonderful. There were 81 in attendance at the assembly. The brothers and sisters there in Mabaruma prepared a noontime meal for all in attendance to eat at the break. It consisted of cookup (rice cooked in coconut water) with meat, and channa (a type of cooked beans), all of which was delicious. After the program we took a bus back to Kamaka, where we boarded the boat to go back to Port Kaituma. We left Mabaruma on the boat at about 5:00pm, and got back to Port Kaituma at about 6:30pm. We then got on a bus which we had hired the evening before, at about 7:30pm, and headed back to Matthews Ridge.

There were times while trying to make arrangements to go to the assembly that we just weren’t sure exactly how things would out, but we could see Jehovah’s blessing on the efforts we made to be present. One of the parts on the program emphasized the importance of the family worship evening. The next day at the Sunday meeting, one couple named Keron and Yvonne, who have started studying and attending meetings fairly recently, asked us which publication we think would be best for them to study with their 6 children as part of the family worship evening that they’re planning to start right away. This is just one of the expressions made that helped me to see that the group really benefited from attending this assembly. To see Jehovah’s happy, clean people at assemblies such as this one always brings to my mind the scripture at Psalm 89: 15,16: “Happy are the people knowing the joyful shouting…In your name they are joyful all day long”.

The pictures included with this week’s entry are of Aletha and Justina, and of the group boarding the boat in Port Kaituma the morning of the assembly.

The latest update

I apologize for being a little slow on getting this post up. Jonathan didn’t get his to me until yesterday. I had thought of just posting up an update on my situation, but couldn’t get motivated to have to share less than good news.

When they went to do the surgery last Monday, they found a large tumor that had involved my pyloric valve, part of my pancreas, as well as some of my colon. They also saw some nodules in my pareneal cavity and they sectioned on of them and they were also cancer. Therefore, they merely performed gastric bypass surgery to try to allow me to start eating again, and they are recommending chemotherapy once I get my strength back. So we are trying to consider all the possible treatments to pursue and praying for wisdom in making a right decision.

I have been very encouraged by all the cards and emails we have received from friends from all over. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. What a privilege to be part of the brotherhood. Here’s this week’s report from Matthew’s Ridge

During the past week or so here in Matthews Ridge, we’ve been trying to make arrangements to attend the Special Assembly Day in Mabaruma on April 24. We’ve been talking with all who have expressed an interest in attending to get a count of many will be making the trip. I traveled to Port Kaituma on Wednesday to conduct a group Bible study, and while there I talked with a couple of the boat captains to see about the details of hiring a boat. And so arrangements relating to attending the assembly have been going smoothly. And although anything here relating to travel and being somewhere far at a certain time can be hard to nail down, we know that Jehovah will bless our efforts to attend this special day of instruction from Him.

From reading past blog entries, you may be familiar with a young man here named Eno, who has been a solid Bible student for some time. He had to make an interesting decision this past week, and seeing his trust in Jehovah in making this decision really encouraged me. For a while now, conditions at the place where Eno lives have made it a real challenge for him to focus on his service to Jehovah. He has said how on a number of occasions there have been relatives or friends of the family that beat him, try to get him drunk, or try to get him to engage in sexual immorality. Although he is only 14, he said he has been thinking much about and praying to Jehovah about trying to move to somewhere where there will not be so much pressure and temptation to do wrong. He said that his family told him that if he tries to leave, they would send the police after him. However, this past week he decided it was time to leave. He came and told us he feels that he has to get out right now, but he is nervous about doing so. We told him that no one can make this decision except him, but we encouraged him to rely on Jehovah and be confident of Jehovah’s blessing on his efforts to safeguard his spirituality. I had just finished reading the second part of the question box on pages 22-23 of the February 15th study edition of the Watchtower the evening before while I was waiting for someone. And so as Eno and I were talking, this came to mind, and I went and got it and shared a few points from it with him. That afternoon Eno moved to another location. He told me that he knows life won’t be as easy as it was before, but he said that living somewhere that will help him to serve Jehovah faithfully is all that matters to him.
One of the Bible students here in Matthews Ridge who attends meetings regularly brought one of her family members with her to the meeting this past weekend. He said it was the first time he had been to a religious service in almost a decade, but he said that he really enjoyed it. Andrew, who studies with the Bible student mentioned at first, said he is going to try to fit this man into his weekly schedule of Bible studies. I always find it encouraging to see ones who come away from a next church feeling malnourished spiritually, or who feel dissatisfied with religion altogether, experiencing the joy and contentment that come from being taught real truth from Jehovah.

The pictures included with this week's entry are of the need-greaters currently here in Matthews Ridge at our family study (from left to right: Jonathan, Andrew, Justina, Aletha), and of a tree stand out in the bush used for hunting that I saw on the way to some Bible studies.

Rain - for better or worse

Monday I had another endoscope. While my stomach was much more empty, they still were unable to get the ‘scope through the pyloric valve. They were able to insert a balloon into the valve to try and force it open. After doing that, they were able to see a small tumor which they were able to biopsy. The results of the biopsy was that the tumor is malignant.

Because of what he had seen, and because the way I was looking, the doctor decided to have me admitted to the hospital that day. A NG tube was put in to keep my stomach empty to try to get it to start shrinking and a line was put into my arm to allow them to start ‘feeding’ me through my vein in an effort to build me up some before surgery.

My surgery is scheduled for Monday the 12th. There is a question as to whether the tumor is within the pyloric valve, or whether the tumor originates on the intestine side of the valve and is growing through the valve. They will not know until the surgery is performed. Hopefully they will find it is confined to the stomach and they will be able to remove the valve and a portion of my stomach.

I learned that Aletha has created her own blog page while in Guyana. If you are interested, the address is adventuresinpioneering.blogspot.com. Now here’s this week’s entry from Matthew’s Ridge

This week we saw a good amount of rain drop. It’s been very dry here lately, causing many to be short on water. Many in Matthews Ridge have had to walk some distance to fetch water for their families to use. There was one family I heard of that even moved their camp because the creek they lived near had dried up. And so it was nice to finally see at least a couple days of heavy showers. The upshot of that, though, is that the roads aren’t as easy to travel. I headed out Wednesday on motorbike for Port Kaituma, as one of us usually travels there, or at least makes the attempt to travel there, each week to conduct a Watchtower study. As you may already realize from reading the blog, Port Kaituma does not have a congregation or group, and so this weekly group study is an opportunity for any interested ones in that area to attend a Bible study. As I headed out I thought for sure that conditions looked good enough to make it all the way. About half an hour away there is a small spot that receives phone signal, and so I called one of the interested ones in Port Kaituma to see how conditions were there. She said it had been raining since 4:30 in the morning and hadn’t stopped since, and she thought the roads nearby Kaituma would be dangerous. And so I headed back to Ridge. While at this call spot, though, I had an opportunity to phone one of the publishers in the Matthews Ridge group who has been in Georgetown recently. His name is James Daniels, you may already know him from previous blog entries. I was glad to be able to gaff with him for a bit and find that things were well with him. Even though he is blind and in an unfamiliar place, I learned that he has been witnessing to many, placing literature with a number of people, and regularly attending the meetings. His fine example is always encouraging, and we look forward to seeing him here in Ridge again.

As an interesting point of culture here, this past Monday the holiday of Easter was celebrated by many here in Matthews Ridge in an interesting way. Cruiser loads full of people went down to the airstrip to fly kites. Apparently this is said to signify Jesus ascending into heaven after his resurrection. It was a day of celebration in the town, with loud music playing throughout the day and many all dressed up in their nicest clothes. It is interesting that although the details of the events vary, unscriptural customs associated with the holiday of Easter are found all over.

This past Thursday, we had a Kingdom Hall cleanup afternoon. Many were able to come and we were able to do a nice thorough cleaning in a fairly short time. We invited those who came to clean to stay for a while afterward to play cards and games at the hall. We played Bible pictionary, which was something hardly anyone had played before. After everyone got used to it, they seemed to really enjoy it. And so we had a nice afternoon cleaning together and enjoying the association.

I found particularly encouraging the comments of one of the men I studied with this week. His name is Mr. Gaskin. He is 81 years old. I study with him in an old shed in an area called the Yard. It’s an abandoned mining operation complex. I sometimes find it intimidating to study with individuals who are much older than myself and advanced in years and experience. I try to be very careful to respect their age and experience in life while at the same time helping them to learn truths from God’s Word. I found it really encouraging to hear Mr. Gaskin express how appreciative he is of our efforts to help him learn about Jehovah. He said he feels that you’re never too old to learn, and that when someone comes a long way to teach you about God, you must show appreciation for that. It is so encouraging to meet people who have genuine appreciation for Jehovah’s invitation to them.

The pictures included with this week’s entry are of Andrew and Eno in the garden above the hall and of the read and write class.

Memorial

I have received the latest report from Jonathan, but before I post it up, I wanted to share a little that’s been happening with me. Friday I was finally able to see a specialist. Of course, on the first visit you can’t expect to learn a lot. The doctor did say that my stomach is very much enlarged, and that is something that doesn’t happen in a short time. He thinks I have some kind of restriction at the outlet of my stomach which is causing everything to stay much longer in my stomach than is normal. So Monday I am once again going to have an endoscope. And the next day I will have another appointment with the doctor where I will hopefully learn what will be needed to correct my problem. Now here is the latest from Jonathan.

This past week was a busy one as we all got ready for the Memorial. On Saturday the last part of territory in Matthews Ridge was covered, Red Hill, inviting people to the Memorial. On Sunday we had a Kingdom Hall clean-up in the afternoon. It was nice to see that this was well supported. Most of the publishers were able to come and help, as well as a number of Bible students. We re-arranged the benches in the Kingdom Hall and added some more seating to allow for more people to be able to sit in the hall. The grass was trimmed by weedeater and cutless. The inside of the hall was swept and the floors were mopped. Outside the hall, the walls and the deck were scrubbed. I must say that by the time all were finished, the hall looked quite spiffy.

It was nice to see so many attend the Memorial on Tuesday night. The attendance was 180. There were some present that were at a Kingdom Hall for the first time in their lives. There were multiple people who asked for a Bible study following the observance. Considering the ratio of publishers here to individuals wanting a personal Bible study, it is a challenge to squeeze more studies in, but we warmly encouraged these to return to the Kingdom Hall for upcoming meetings and promised to visit them to give a further witness.

One of those present at the Memorial in Matthews Ridge was a publisher from the nearby Baramita congregation. We met her prior to the Memorial in an interesting way. We were having our weekly family study in a common sitting area on top of the hotel here in Matthews Ridge on Monday night. This sister walked by and noticed we were considering the Watchtower. She stopped to gaff, realizing then that we were Witnesses. She was on her way from Georgetown to Baramita and was connecting through Matthews Ridge. She had been planning to head to Baramita Tuesday morning, but decided to stay and attend the Memorial with us here in Matthews Ridge.

There were more comings and goings this week as well. We were happy to see a few of the Bible students who have been regularly studying, but who had been away, return to the Ridge this week. We had another publisher leave this week as well. Jared Forman, who came to Matthews Ridge about three weeks ago from Massachusetts, flew out of the Ridge on Wednesday morning. We enjoyed his company, and we appreciated his help in handling Bible studies and helping to care for things at the meetings and the Memorial. At this point, there are 12 publishers currently here in Matthews Ridge. There continues to be much fine activity here, and it helps us to see Jehovah’s guiding hand and the backing of His powerful holy spirit.

The pictures included with this week’s entry are of the Kingdom Hall clean-up and of the Memorial.