Pictures from the Ridge

We have arrived back safely in Mabaruma. We left Matthew’s Ridge about 8 AM Tuesday, and arrived in Kumaka about 2:20 PM. We had a chance to rest up a bit, and then we had our Tuesday bookstudy. I was struck by the difference between the meetings here and in Matthew’s Ridge. But that is to be expected, with everything being so new there. I told Joe if he could have been at Matthew’s Ridge, it would have been like déjà vu. He understood completely what I was talking about.

When we got back, we learned that a number of our studies had come to the Memorial, so that made us feel good. The Memorial attendance here had been 101 which was also down. There were a few other holidays occurring here at the same time this year, so some speculated that that may have contributed to the lower attendance. One of the studies at Matthew’s Ridge mentioned there had been a ‘shout’ (that’s what they call it when a quantity of gold is discovered in an area) a couple of weeks ago, and most people left the Ridge to go into the ‘back dam’. So that too many have contributed to the lower attendance there. We had 54 at the Sunday meeting in Matthew’s Ridge, which was about 8 more than were in Mabaruma.

Of course while we were away, Compton gave his first Public Talk, which I was sorry to miss, but I had Joe record it for me, though I haven’t listen through it completely yet. Compton mentioned to me that after the meeting he was overcome with emotion, by how the congregation is as he put it, ‘turning the corner’ after all the work done by the ‘need greaters’. I later learned that his wife mentioned that was the first time in all the years of knowing him that she saw him shed a tear.

The main reason for this posting was to share some pictures from the Ridge. I had some technical difficulties in posting up the pictures, so the order is not as written, but I think you can figure it out. The first picture shows the hall as it looked when we left, with the railings completed, If you look close, you can notice the windows down the side. The first three are the Kingdom Hall, the next is for the first apartment, then the two doors of the apartments, and then two windows in the second apartment, one in the main living area, and the other in one of the two bedrooms. The next picture shows the princess on her throne. She had this installed the first day we arrived. It was funny because when she wasn’t using it, Richard was apt to be there.

Next is a picture of the four brothers before the Memorial. Stephen Johnsen from Colorado is on the left, then Blake Bailey, who is from Oklahoma. And Richard Cruz on my left (your right), from Oregon I believe, (maybe Washington), The next picture shows the inside of the Kingdom Hall during the Memorial, and the last picture shows the benches that we borrowed from the school being loaded up for taking back. We had brought them in three trips, but apparently when taking them back, the first two loads weren’t as big, and since we were paying by the load, they were determined to not have to make a fourth trip. The benched arrived back without incident.

I’m not sure if I will be posting up anything at the end of the week, so if I don’t, don’t get worried that something has happened to us.

Latest from the Ridge

Obviously the big news this week is Matthew’s Ridge. We made it down to Kumaka at 7:30 AM on Tuesday. Terri had planned on picking some things up in the market while we waited for a boat to Kaituma. But as soon as we got there and walked over to the waterfront to see about a boat, a boat pulled up all loaded and ready to go. The driver said he could take two more if we were ready to go so we jumped in.

I thought we would get to Kaituma nice and early, but then we stopped to get gas along the way and sat there for 45 minutes.When we finally got to Kaituma, Dirk was waiting at the landing. He said he had a bus lined up and he was going to be leaving soon. So Terri did a little shopping in Kaituma, because everything is more expensive, if even available, at the Ridge.

We were soon underway and heading off in a minibus, which was nice because we rode through a few showers. We had to head towards Aracaca before going to the Ridge, but we only went part way, so it only added about half an hour. We arrived at Matthew’s Ridge about 1:30. One thing that I noticed as soon as we went inside the house was how hot it was in the house. I had been hoping that having the ceiling higher would have made a noticeable difference. But the sun beating on the metal roof just radiates the heat throughout the inside of the house.

It was nice though to see how far the project had come since we had last seen it. The exterior was pretty well completed.Inside, the wall between the Kingdom Hall and the first apartment was about 2/3 completed. There were no interior walls in the first apartment. The far apartment had all the interior partitions up, but no boards on. Rather they had put up tarps for all the walls. The kitchen sink was in and piped up, so we had running water for cooking and washing dishes. Richard Cruz moved out of his room so Terri and I could stay in that.

We had to soon think of getting ready for the meeting, because the meeting is at 4:30, so everyone can get back home before it gets too dark. We had the bookstudy in the Revelation Book. We had twenty nine in attendance. Six of us in the house (Dirk had ridden up with us to see the Ridge before leaving Guyana), one unbaptised publisher, and the rest either bible studies or visitors. I had forgotten what the meeting could be like with these new groups.

Wednesday, Dirk headed back to Kaituma bright and early. He took with him the big job box that Mitch had shipped all the tools for building the hall with. A few items were held back to help complete things here, but most were sent off. Dirk is going to put it on a boat back to Georgetown, were Paul will pick it up and send off to Letham were they may be building a new building come January.

Later in the morning, Stephen, Blake, Richard, and I got a ride to Aracaca to give invitations to the Memorial. It was the first time I had made it all the way there. Aracaca sits on the Barima River. In fact I wondered while I was there if Joe and company had reached that far in their boat trip. I will find out when we get back to Mabaruma. We met several people who mentioned that they had come last year and they would come again this year. We also met a man whose brother lives in Kaituma. Their grandfather was mentioned as one of the first witnesses in Guyana. We took a little break at his shop to wait out a passing shower. He treated us all to sodas.

The rest of the week was spent getting ready for the Memorial. We took part of the wall between the hall and the first apartment down so we could use the first apartment for overflow seating. I commented that this would work well because after all the benches were taken back out we could figure out where to locate the interior walls. I worked Thursday wiring in lights in the apartment for the Memorial. Friday I worked on installing a railing around the deck on the front of the hall as well as on the stairs. I ended up finishing up the railing Saturday morning. Friday afternoon we brought a bunch of benches from the local school to accommodate all the extra people we were expecting for the Memorial. Friday we also had a number of local ones come help to prepare the hall for the Memorial. We had no idea what to expect for the Memorial attendance. Last year there were 185 who came. The invitation had 6:30 on it, but I was told that was not the actual time for the start. It seemed a little strange, but I was told that was the way it was done every year. So when 6:30 came, we probably had 20 people at the Kingdom Hall. Even Doris, our only unbaptised publisher didn’t arrive until about 6:50. We started at 7:00 PM. Our attendance ended up at 106. We didn’t have any sitting in the apartment area. I said that there won’t have to be a big concern for next year about what to do, since taking down a wall won’t be an option, as the apartment will be finished then. We sat around speculating why it was so much lower this year. I favor the idea that in the past, everyone knew it was a once a year thing, since there was no Kingdom Hall here. But with the hall here, there was more of an idea that you might be getting involved in something, so some may have chosen to stay away. I know the attendance at Mabaruma has gone down since the novelty of it has worn off. Tomorrow I will be giving the Public Talk. I figured as long as I’m here, I might as well give the brothers here a little break. Monday I hope to spend some more time out in the ministry here, just getting a feel for things here to help us in deciding where we will return to when we come back next time.

Tuesday we will travel back to Mabaruma. I will try to post up some pictures Tuesday or Wednesday. I’m hoping to send this out to someone to post it up for me. If you are reading this before Tuesday, I must have succeeded.Here’s hoping all are well and your Memorial was a time of reflection and appreciation.

Keep doing this in rememberance of me

We have had a rather busy week this week with everyone working to getting for this year’s Memorial observance. We have nearly completed going through all our territory to give everyone their invitation. We only have one territory that hasn’t been started and two others that are more than half completed. So this next week will easily allow for that to be completed, although there will be a few less workers. Joe, Compton, and another brother who recently arrived from the states, Jason Andrews from Rhode Island, are going to undertake a three day river trip to reach some untouched territory, while Terri and I will be traveling up to Matthew’s Ridge to assist with the Memorial there.

Yesterday, we had a major cleaning day to prepare the hall for the Memorial. We worked in a nearby territory in the morning, and then returned early to start the cleaning work. Everything was taken out of the hall and the walls and the floor were given a thorough brush scrubbing. We also worked on the area outside. The flower beds were weeded and a fresh layer of mulch was added, and all the morning glory vines were removed from the fence. It will also help when it comes time to prepare for the SAD program April 20th. We recently received word that the branch overseer, Bro. Hinds, and his wife will be coming out for that. I am looking forward to being able to spend a few days with him to help make plans for our return.

Elroy Smith returned on the steamer Friday. He had been away doing work to try and support the family. He had a nice story to tell on his return. The bus he was traveling on encountered a police security checkpoint along the way. Everyone was made to get out and all their luggage was thoroughly searched, requiring them to take everything out of their bags and spread them out on the ground. In addition, all the men were subjected to a very through search including taking off their pants.

Elroy had been the last on to get off the bus, and an officer asked him who he was. He told him he was on of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The officer told him to open his suitcase. When he did, his magazines and books, and bible were there on the top. The policeman told him to zip his bag back up and get back on the bus. So while everyone else was being searched “fine fine” as Elroy put it, he said on the bus waiting. When the others got back on, someone asked him why he had not been subject to the same search, and he said he had told them he was one of Jehovah’s witnesses. I had read of similar things in the magazines, but it was nice to get a first hand report like that.

Last week I had mentioned our new publisher Margaret had started a study which she was going on for the first time this week. The study is in Hosororo, which is too far to reasonable walk to. Margaret made arrangements to meet near the hall and then go together to Kumaka where the group meets on Tuesday, and then go on to Hosororo. I had told Terri she should be prepared to pay Margaret’s bus fare as they have very little money. I said maybe she will pay her own way, but don’t be surprised if she expects you to pay.

When they got to Kumaka, Margaret paid the conductor for her passage. She said she had enough money to pay her bus fare for the day, but she was worried, as that was her whole amount of money for the week. While in Kumaka, they ran into Margaret’s father who lives out towards White Water. She hardly ever sees him or speaks to him. While talking, they exchanged phone numbers, as they both have cell phones. Her father then slips her a thousand dollars ($5 US). Later in the morning he calls her on her cell phone to tell her how proud he is of what she is doing and the way she is living her life. So not only is she able to go and start helping someone learn about the bible, but she also receives the praise of her father, and gets home with more money than when she started. Once again, Matt. 6:33 is proven true.

Today was the second Public Talk delivered by one of the local brothers. Solo Fazarali gave the talk. He has been baptized less than two years, but he did a fine job. During the Service Meeting this week, we had had a part on the importance of attending the meetings. He gave a very nice comment. He mentioned that before we was baptized, he had his personal bible study, but since he was baptized, he has learned so much more at the meetings than he ever learned in his personal bible study. One might think that having that personal one-on-one attention teaching would be more educational, but he said being at the meetings was even more educational. Next week, Bro Baxter will give his first talk. Unfortunately, I will not be here to hear it. I may try to get someone to record it for me.

The weather here has recently become more seasonable with clear skies and bright sun. I think we have had four sunny days in a row. I’m hoping that this will be the pattern. I think that even if we were to get no more rain, we have enough water in our tanks to carry us through the remained of our time here. We have five weeks left, but next week we will be at Matthew’s Ridge, so we only need water enough for four weeks. And I can’t believe we won’t be getting a fair amount of rain between now and then.

We recently had an uninvited guest. We heard something scuffling around in the dark, and we were starting to find unwanted droppings around. I tried to rig up a trap using a water bucket we keep our used dishwater in for use flushing the toilet. Whatever it was fell into the bucket, but was able to get itself out. In the morning we found a packet of peanuts that had been in Terri’s backpack hanging up on the wall lying on the floor next to a mint that had been in her purse. We decided to name our guest Earl after a song by the Dixie Chicks. I ended up borrowing a rattrap from the front house. Joe had brought it with them, but said they had not been able to catch anything with it. I looked it over and made a few adjustments and set it before going to bed. In the morning there was a mouse on steroids in it. I will set it again to see if he has any kin.

As I have mentioned a few times, we will be traveling to Matthew’s Ridge for a week, so don’t be concerned if there is no posting next weekend. I’m hoping to arrange something so I can get something posted, but again, if it doesn’t happen, don’t be surprised. We are still not sure how we will get to the Ridge. I’m hoping to be able to get a plane ride there, but most likely we will do the boat-bus thing, which takes most of the day, as opposed to a 30 minute plane ride. I’ll let you know what happens in my next post.

For this weeks pictures, I’ve included one from our Saturday cleaning day, a picture of Solo giving his first talk, and finally since I mentioned Margaret’s experience, I’ve included one of her as well.

Hoping all are well and looking forward to being together as we all observe the Memorial wherever we may be.

Wild in Guyana

It’s hard to believe another week has gone by and I find myself sitting here writing again. As is true all around the world, we are busy in the work of inviting all to the Memorial this year on March 22nd. We have five auxiliary pioneers this month, Norma, Seeta, Joyann, and Solo and Golden Fazarali. Also, Margaret has started in the ministry as well.

Today we were working in Hosororo. At one house, after I had given the invitation, I also offered the March magazines. There was a woman sitting on the steps to the house, and there was also a young man standing in the yard. I gave the magazines to the woman, and called her attention to the cover of the Awake, which poised the question, “Is there one true religion?” I acknowledged that there were many different churches, with differing teachings in the area, so this was an appropriate question.

At that point, the young man spoke up and asked how we can know which one was true. He did so with a bit of an attitude, but I just kind of put it back to him, asking him how he thought we could know truth. He said by what the bible says. I agreed with him, and said, “For example, many churches teach that Jesus and God are the same.” He agreed, and asked if that weren’t true. I said, “Well, what does the bible say? Let me show you a scripture,” I opened to John 14:28 and asked if he would like to read it. He said no, I could read it, so I did. I then asked him if Jesus and God were the same, how could Jesus say, “The father is greater than I am.”? I then showed him Matthew 24:36, where Jesus said, “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father”. I asked him, if they were the same, how could God know something that Jesus didn’t know?

He then said, “So then you don’t believe in Jesus.” I assured him that I very much believe in Jesus, I just don’t believe he is God. He tried to counter with the scripture where Jesus said he was the way, the truth and the life. I agreed, but then finished the scripture where he said no one comes to the father except through me. I reasoned with him that Jesus wanted us to come to the father through him, so the goal is the father, not Jesus. I reasoned with him from a few different angles, and when I left he said that he had learned something. He had always been told we didn’t believe in Jesus, so he never had good feelings towards the witnesses, but now he realized that wasn’t true.

Terri worked with Margaret this morning. Terri mentioned that she didn’t feel like she was working with a new one the way Margaret spoke at the doors. They met a young woman who mentioned that she had just moved here from near ‘town a year ago. While there, she used to attend the Kingdom Hall. She mentioned she really liked all the people she had met there. Margaret asked her if she had studied there and she said she had. Margaret then asked her if she would like to study again, and she said she would like that so they made arrangements to come back Tuesday.

Earlier in the week, Dirk and Esther Bahr came for a brief visit from Kaituma. They drove down in a boat that Dirk had had built. It is smaller than the one we have, but with the same size engine. They had called and said they were leaving about 10:00 AM, but were going to stop and visit a few people along the way. It should have taken less than three hours for them to have made the trip, but they didn’t arrive until about 5:00 PM. They would have run out of gas if they had not stopped someone they met and bought some from him. They stayed up at the front house Tuesday night. Wednesday morning they came and had breakfast with us, and then we showed them around a bit. They had to be back in Kumaka at 1:00 PM because the person who built the boat was supposed to be there, and he was going to look at the boat to see what was setup wrong, since it had taken them way too long to reach. He ended up not coming because he was drinking somewhere. But it was discovered that the propeller on the boat was designed for a heavy load, rather than for speed. We had an extra one, so we traded them. Also, the angle of the motor was adjusted. The boat then went much faster. They left a little before three and they text messaged us that they had made it back in two hours, forty minutes.

While here, Dirk had expressed his concern over Kaituma. They are leaving March 23rd, and then there will be only a young local brother left in Kaituma. It made us appreciate how much better the situation is here at Mabaruma. Joe had mentioned that the branch had told him while he was there that they were sending a letter to Brooklyn, advising them that there were twelve congregations or groups in Guyana in need of qualified brothers. Truly, the harvest is great, and the workers are few.

Last Sunday, one of my studies mentioned that he was getting up early Monday to help his sister butcher a young bull. I mentioned that we had never eaten beef in Guyana, since we never could be sure how fresh it might be. He asked me if I would like him to bring some by for me. I told him I would, but I told him we were picky about what we ate. I said we didn’t want souse (face) or something like that. He smiled and said he understood. No hooves or tail, or such like. So Monday he came by with a nice piece of meat. Terri was a little grossed out at the sight of it, but I assured her it would be fine. We cooked up a couple of small pieces, and it was like rubber. Later in the day, we mentioned to a study that we had just bought some beef, and were trying to decide how to cook it. She mentioned that you had to ‘pressure it’ as it was usually ‘hard’. We borrowed a pressure cooker from Mary Baxter and it wasn’t too bad. We had a couple of meals from it, and then gave the bone, with a good deal of meat on it to Joyann.

This weeks pictures feature more of our wildlife. The first is some kind of bittern that I saw out in the ministry. The next is a picture of a monkey in one of the trees by our house. We see them so often that we don’t hardly pay any attention to them any more. The last is a spider that I saw on the window curtain a couple of mornings ago. It looked kind of scary, but what was even more scary was that I’m not sure where it went to.

We continue to be fine and are starting to think about seeing everyone when we return home, so keep yourself safe.

Passing the baton

I had intended to update the site yesterday, but we ended up not getting in until later last night. Saturday we usually have studies in Hosororo until 5:00, and then we come home. But yesterday I had gone by Solo’s after our last study. It is looking more and more like when we leave in April, there will be no one else here to help the congregation. So we have been directed by the branch to be preparing the brothers here to handle everything on their own.

The branch overseer had used a nice analogy with Joe. He had mentioned how when we were children, our mothers had always made our meals for us, and we were happy for that. But if something happened, and our mother ended up being away for a time, we didn’t just sit there and starve, rather we would figure out something that we could eat. It probably wasn’t as nice as what our mother would have made, but we certainly didn’t starve. So too, the congregation here had for a long time enjoyed being ‘fed’ by all the ones who came in, but if they aren’t here, the ones here will have to get by ‘feeding‘ themselves.

So we have divided up all the responsibilities between Compton, Alex, and Solo, and are working with them to help them learn to handle them. Solo will be scheduling the entire Thursday meeting, so I had been spending time with him explaining what factors to take into consideration when assigning the parts. I had gone down Friday after my last study and got started, and I had told him I would come by Saturday after Terri and I finished in Hosororo. He and I pretty well finished the next round of scheduling. We have set the schedule such that the first two weeks in April, all the meeting parts will be handled by the local brothers and sisters. Afterwards, they invited us to stay and eat with them. It was a nice treat. While Solo and I were working together, Golden (Solo’s wife) showed Terri how they made their own peanut butter by grinding peanuts in a coffee mill. It was excellent. They had made a jar full, and when they were finished Golden gave it to Terri. Another wonderful treat.

In keeping with training the brothers here to handle things on their own, Solo, Compton, and Alex have picked out talk outlines to be able to give the Public Talk. Today Alex gave the talk. You could tell he was quite nervous when he got to the hall. I asked him if he was OK, and he said, “No.” I assured him that he would do fine. I told him to just think of the bible account the talk was based on, make the account come alive, and then help the friends see the application that can be made in their lives. He did an outstanding job for his first talk.

I had been contacted by the branch early in the week. They asked if I would be willing to go and give the Memorial talk at Matthew’s Ridge. In the past, they had sent brothers over from Barimita to handle it, but right now there is only one elder in Barimita, so he will be doing it there. They mentioned they are trying to have the Memorial handled by elders throughout the country. I told them that I would be happy to go. So now I have to figure that trip out. I’m not sure if I will go alone, or if I will have Terri come. At this point it’s pretty well a matter of finances. I can’t just swing by the ATM and get a little extra funds. I’m looking forward to it though, because it will let me see how completed things are there, and what it will take if we were to return there when we come back.

At Thursday’s meeting, we had asked if there were any who were hoping to be baptized at the Special Assembly Day in April, to please let us know. Alaric Jessemy approached me and mentioned it was his desire to be baptized, and also Margaret Moses (what used to be John) said she was hoping to be ready as well. She went out in the ministry for the first time Saturday, so that might work out as well. I had gotten word from the Ridge that Doris also may be hoping to be baptized. So my going there for the memorial may also give me a chance to go over some of the questions for baptism with her, as there are no elders at the Ridge. So it looks like we will have to set up some kind of pool again this year.

While I had been talking to the branch, I had asked Bro. Hazel if he was going to be coming out to help with the SAD. He told me that rather than him coming, Bro. Hinds was doing the SADs this year. In fact, he mentioned that Bro. Hinds was getting ready to go the next day to Lethem to help with the program there. So that would have been finished either yesterday or today. I am looking forward to being able to spend some time with Bro. Hinds before we leave.

This week’s pics include one of Alex giving his first Public Talk, a picture of Compton preaching at a door, and I thought I’d include a recent one of Terri and me so you can see that we are not wasting away.

FYI, if you have heard any reports of dangers in Guyana, they are being very much exaggerated. A gunman walks into a crowed mall in the states and randomly starts killing people, or a student goes onto a campus and kills many, but you don’t see a travel alert being issued for the states. It is just that violence of that kind is very unusual here, so when something happens, everyone gets all worried.

We are safe, and happy for the privilege of being here. You are in our prayers.