In my last posting I had mentioned how the rain was impacting my Kaituma trip. This last time, on the way back, the road was again quite wet. I ended up dumping the bike again and then a short while later I realized that the back tire was going flat. So now I am in the middle of the jungle with a flat tire. Needless to say, you don’t just call AAA, or anyone else for that matter, since there is no phone service, plus really no one to call anyways. I ended up walking and riding with difficulty about six miles until I happened on a vehicle which had drove out to where he could get phone signal. I spoke to him and then continued on a little farther to where there is a shop by a junction in the road. I waited there until the vehicle came by and between the driver, myself, and the shop owner, we were able to load the bike into the back and take it the rest of the way home.The next day I took the wheel off and then the tire. I was able to buy a new tube and when I inspected the inside of the tire, I could find nothing wrong. The only thing I can figure is that when I dumped the bike, something struck the valve stem and caused it to start to leak. Now I have purchased a small air pump that I will travel with. If I had had that with me, I might have been able to pump the tire up and then drive for a distance before having to stop and repeat it. I think I will also get a tube repair kit and travel with the tools needed to do a field repair.Last Saturday when we were in service, I met a man who mentioned that he used to come to the old Kingdom Hall. I told him he should come to see the new one, as well as meet some whom he might remember from the old days. He asked me what time the meeting was and I told him 10:30. He said he would come (which many often say). I was pleasantly surprised to see him there Sunday, sitting with my study Michael who once again came with his whole entourage. We had sixty one in spite of the weather.We have recently started to give some attention to the young ones who are coming to the meeting. Many of the adults have issues which will make it difficult to make progress with the congregation (ie, not married and unable to get birth certificate so they can marry). As a result, one young girl has joined the school, and there is a young boy who I think will do so shortly. I think it will make a real impression when the community sees young ones serious about spiritual things.I have started spending time after my study with one man, going through the Watchtower helping him find answers that he can give during the meeting. Last week, he not only commented with the answers we had prepared, but also commented once on his own. This week when he gave me his Watchtower at the study, I saw he had already been trying to go through it. I commended him because in fact he had already had one answer correctly underlined. To appreciate it though, you have to realize how limited his education is. He never attended school, but many times in the study, he finds a scripture before I do. We just finished the Require brochure, and I asked him if he could imagine himself going out preaching with the congregation. He said he could, but he wasn’t ready yet, he needed ‘more teachings’.Communication continues to be an issue. I had thought that it would just be a matter of driving out half an hour to where I could get signal. But the last time I was in Kaituma, I wasn’t able to get online. A few days later, I drove out to try and again was unsuccessful, as was the case a couple days later when I again drove out. I was able to get phone signal, so I called customer service to ask if others had reported the problem with data transmission from the Kaituma tower. I was informed that they don’t offer data services through their remote towers. I mentioned that it had worked fine until recently, and I also said I had asked before purchasing the plan since I was going to be in the interior, and I had been told it was available. I was asked the name of the person who had told me that, which of course I didn’t know. Then Sunday morning I drove out once again, and everything worked fine. Such is the challenge of the interior of Guyana. As long as I keep my focus on the ministry I’m fine since there are no disappoints there. So just be aware that if you don’t see anything new from me, rather than get worried that something has happened, just figure that I am having trouble getting through to the internet.. With the communication issues, we have all started using the email server that Stephan has for use over limited connection speed, such as a satellite phone, or as is our case, a cell phone. So if you care to write (and I very much appreciate any communication that we get) just use the address advkingdom@ocens.net. Then include our name in the subject line since we are all sharing the same address. As I am inclined to point out from time to time, this blog serves in lieu of individual emails, so email etiquette dictates that every time you read an entry, you owe me an email. But I won’t hold you to that, just please don’t abandon us. With all the rain we have been getting lately, everything is always damp, and the moisture is taking its toll. Recently my cell phone started acting up, and now the trackball control only works in three directions, so I’ve lost access to many of the functions on the phone. Fortunately the most important ones are still accessible. Then my digital camera quit working. I put it over the condensing coils on the freezer to try and dry it out and it started working again. I have to be more careful of leaving things in my backpack which gets damp when it rains.I am including a picture of our newest student on the school, her name is Sonia Scott.
