Friday I went river preaching with Joe and Christina. We got an early start because we were going to be going quite a ways up the river and we wanted to be there when the tide was coming in. If you time it right, you can be reaching the houses when the tide is up, then you can drive the boat right up to the boat landings rather than have to wade in through the mud.
We were preaching in an area that had never been worked by any from Mabaruma, however there is a local sister who lives in Georgetown that has relatives living on the river here, and she has come out to visit from time to time, so when we asked people if they knew of Jehovah’s Witnesses, some said yes, they had spoken to Sister Vira.
At one point, we were way back up this creek, and as we approached a house, Christina said, “That looks like Nadine”. She had gone to the hall regularly in the past, but had then gone to live on the river. I’m not sure who was more surprised, Joe and Christina, or Nadine.
We came upon a small group of houses at what is known as The Island. All the adults (about 20) gathered together at one house so Joe and Christina were able to speak with them all. Preaching on the rivers like that is a mixed blessing, since it would be very hard to offer a bible study, but you realize this may be the first time they have had a chance to hear the truth of what the bible teaches.
Since we were so far up the creek we were working in, Joe wanted to finish it so we wouldn’t have to come all the way back the next time. We drove back in the deepening twilight and reached back just about full dark. I drove the boat on the way home. We covered about 40 miles of travel, but worked only about 1/3 of that. The rest was getting there and back. Monday Joe and Terri and I are planning on going again to finish working that section of the river.
Joe and Christina and Chelsea left to go to Port Kaituma this morning. They are planning on trying to find a small village that Joe has heard about along the way, and then continue on to Port Kaituma where Joe will give the talk tomorrow. So I will be giving the talk here again, and then I will let Alex do part of the Watchtower, and then I will finish it. Tomorrow night, we are having most of the congregation come by for a going away party for Loroli, who is leaving Monday.
