Post with pictures

We are currently in Georgetown (hence the ability to post up pictures. We will be here through the weekend. It makes a nice break in the routine and allows us to pick up things that are available at Matthew’s Ridge. Today I bought a piece of laminate to do the counter tops with in the house. I only hope I will be able to cut it to fit without chipping and breaking it up. The tools I have for working with it are very limited.

We left the young brothers from Colorado in the Ridge to do the meetings while we are away. It should be a fitting climax to their visit, to be responsible for handling the School and Service Meeting as well as the Public Talk and Watchtower. Terri, I, and Aletha will be flying back to the Ridge Monday morning. The brothers will be at the airstrip, as they are flying out on the plane we come in on. Stephan also came out with us, but he will be staying in town for awhile since his folks are flying to Barbados for a little vacation with him. He will be returning to the Ridge towards the end of November. So I will be handling everything alone for a few weeks.

I have a program on my computer to assist with scheduling the school. So last night I entered in all the student information and hit the button to make a new schedule. A little window opened up and informed me that there are not enough students to make a schedule. So I guess I will have to do it the old-fashioned way.

As of now I have 10 bible studies I’m conducting. But with the three boys leaving, I am going to have to pick up their more promising studies, as well as cover for Stephan while he is away.

One of my more outstanding studies is with an older man who lives an hour walk from the hall. Stephan had taken me there shortly after I arrived, since he had as many studies as he could handle. After walking all the way there, the man told me his eyes were bad so he couldn’t read. At that point I was thinking I didn’t know as I wanted to walk an hour to try and study with someone who would not be able to read. Then I learned that back when the old Hall had been in the Ridge, he used to walk four hours each way to attend the meetings. I decided if he had been willing to do that, I could exert myself a little to try and help him.

I decided that what I would do was to share a teaching, and then give him a scripture to remember in connection with it. The first time I talked about the importance of God’s name and ended up giving him Ps. 83:18 to remember. When I returned the next week I reviewed what we had talked about, and the importance of being able to share what we learned with others, but making sure that rather than just tell them bible truths, we were able to share it from the bible with them. I then asked him what God’s name was, and as expected, he replied, “Jehovah.”. I then asked him where he could find it in the bible, and he paused for a minute and then said, “Psalms 83:18”, that made the hour walk all worthwhile. Since then we have discussed the future of the earth (Ps. 37:29), the condition of the dead (Ecc. 9:5), why the world is in such a mess, (1 John 5:19), and this last week whether all religions are just different roads leading to God (Mt. 7:21) and he has been able to recall them all (well, we will have to see about the latest).

To make it even better, the third week, when I got there he was sitting there wearing spectacles. I was very surprised and after reviewing his scriptures and giving him a next teaching with accompanying scripture, I asked if he wanted to do a little from the book, because I had seen a large print Bible Teach book in his house (I was able to see it because the house has no walls). He said he couldn’t read so good, but I encouraged him to give it a try. He read very good!! I asked him how he had learned to read, and he said he and his brother had taught themselves. This last week I had reminded him how he used to walk four hours to get to the Kingdom Hall, and mentioned that it is much closer now. He just kind of smiled, so I will keep after him and expect he will be there, ‘just now’.

It is amazing how many of the ones in the Ridge are very poorly educated. Another man who regularly comes to the Hall, with a 45 minute walk, studies with Stephan. I had conducted the study when he went to Barimita, and would ask him if he knew the meaning of words that we take for granted, but I thought might be beyond him, He asked me what the word ‘additionally’ meant. I mentioned it was related to the idea of adding. I said, “Like two plus two.” I then asked him if he knew what two plus two was, and he said, “No brother.” But when I asked if he had two mangos, and then he picked two more, how many would he have, and he said, “Four.” So he understands the concept, but he is not familiar with the expressions.

As you have already seen, I am able to post up pictures so I have chosen a few for your viewing pleasure. One is a Saturday service group. We had 100% participation that morning, which is not that unusual. I also included a picture of the group while the sisters were with us Cameron is in the middle with Hannah on her left and Chian on her right. Aletha is behind Chian. Derrick must have said something funny to Stephan. Seth is behind Derrick and Keith is behind Stephan. I also included a shot of Terri and I on our way to some studies Saturday afternoon. It’s the only ones I drive to. Also, so you know it's not all work and no play, I have included a picture from a hike we took to a falls here. As we found out, it's called falls for more than one reason, But don't worry moms, everyone is OK

I will go through my pictures more and post more up before I leave Georgetown. As they say, “Feast or Famine.”

Finally, Pictures

Wow!!! I can finally post up pictures!!! These were a couple of old ones that I had prepared and tried to post up a while back. The first shows Terri's influence of the young brothers who were at Matthew's Ridge. Shortly after we arrived and she hung her hammock under the house, they all went out and bought hammocks to lay in. There other is a picture of the boat we took from Kumaka to Port Kaituma, and after this picture was taken, we stopped at a few more places along the way to take on more cargo. I had to keep reminding myself the captain wouldn't do anything to risk sinking his own boat!

Now that I know I can post up with no problem, I will select and prepare other pictures for posting. You may get sick of seeing pictures in the next few days, but it may be a long time before I can send more again

Finally

This post is going to read very strange because I’ve written on it a number of times, each time thinking I was going to post it up, but then being unable. Communicating from here is proving to be one of the biggest challenges. There is a gold company here that has a satellite dish which Stephan is able to use and get online to send and receive emails (at least he had been able to), but he can’t browse the internet, so I can’t post up with that. We recently had our laptops network together so maybe I can access the internet that way. Besides that, Stephan has been gone the last few days. He went with a group of people to the Circuit Assembly in Barimita. They left Friday morning at 5:00 AM and finally reached Barimita at 10:00 AM Saturday (a 32 mile journey). He took his computer so he could show pictures to people there. The arrival of the group created quite a stir (the fact that had traveled 29 hours). Some at Barimita were moved to reexamine their not regularly attending the meetings because they have to walk half an hour to get there.

The three young brothers from Colorado are leaving in a little less than two weeks, so I have encouraged them to think of which of their studies are worth continuing, and then take me with them next week so I can try to fit them in to my schedule. Stephan will be able to take some, but he will be gone for about three weeks, so I will always have to try and handle his best studies as well. Hopefully before he leaves we will be able to figure out some way that I can get online here. Otherwise it will be a matter of only being able to communicate every other week when I go to Port Kaituma.

Things continue to go well here at Matthew’s Ridge. Our living quarters are starting to be livable. We now have a kitchen with sink and counter (L-shaped), bedroom with nice closet (minus the door), and bathroom with working toilet and shower.

Wednesday I went back to Kaituma as planned. I stopped in on a couple of studies we had had when we were there about four years ago. At both places the houses looked very different. At one they had broken down the old house and built a new one, and the other had put on an addition doubling the size of the house. At both places they mentioned how they miss having a Kingdom Hall there, which was a little strange because the one who was most vocal had never gone to the Hall when it was there. Someone had mentioned that maybe when a Kingdom Hall is reestablished there, the appreciation for it may be greater; Also the location of the first Hall left much to be desired, so hopefully a next one will be better.

I spent a lot of time trying to find and purchase things we needed to work on the house (I was successful), then I went somewhere I could sit and try and get online with my laptop and phone. I was successful, but it was really slow so I didn’t even get to open all my emails and I hadn’t taken anything to try and post up. The first time I had gone, I was able to get home in about an hour and a half. So I wanted to leave for home shortly after four as I wanted to get back before dark. Shortly before I was going to leave it started to rain. That would be bad enough, but the road turns to muck when it gets wet, so I was sliding all over the road and it took about three hours, so I arrived home much after dark.

We had a special treat because one of the women who studied in Kaituma gave me a whole chicken and some greens. It was the first time we had eaten meat in over two weeks. Friday we were happy to have four more sisters arrive here at the Ridge. Three are here for a week and are staying at the hotel, two are from Colorado, Hannah Hoyle and Cameron Gros, and one is from Wyoming, Chian Johnson. The other is from our old congregation in New York, Aletha Walters. She will be staying with us for six weeks.

Saturday there were twelve of us out in the preaching work. I’m sure that’s the largest group the Ridge has ever seen. I spoke to a woman in her shop and she mentioned she tried to read her bible every day. She mentioned that she was reading the book of Job now. I asked her if she remembered what happened to Job in the end. She said that God blessed him. I asked if she ever looked close at how he blessed him. I showed her how god had doubled all his livestock holdings, but only gave him the same number of children. I asked her why she thought that was. She said she couldn’t say so I asked her what she thought was going to happen to Job and she said that God would resurrect him. I then asked her when he resurrected his children, how many will he have and she thought a minute and then smiled and said, “twenty brother.” I asked her if she would like me to come to study the bible with her and she mentioned that she and her whole family went to the Pentecostal Church and it would cause problems if she were to study with me. But then she said she loved talking about the bible and I was welcome to stop in any time to discuss it with her. So that is what I will do, we just won’t call it a study. The nice thing is her shop isn’t that far away, and she is always there in her shop.

We had decided we needed more benches so we cut up material for them and took it to the man who had made the others. Saturday he sent word that he needed some more pieces, which I couldn’t understand because I knew we had taken enough. I was busy so I couldn’t do it then, but Sunday morning I woke up early and decided to cut the material and take it down. When I got there I saw he had made these different so that’s why he ran short. I asked him when they would be ready and he said in a couple of hours. So I sent two of the guys down later to pick them up. I guess it’s a matter of, “If you built them, they will come.” We had 73 at the meeting Sunday, so the benches were filled. Some had come across from Barimita, and a few who had studied in Port Kaituma came up on a bus. One of the women, (the one who had given us the chicken) mentioned that she is going to try and come every other Sunday.

I apologize for the lack of pictures, but we will be traveling in to ‘town the end of the month for a Circuit Assembly and I will try and post up plenty then. Everyone is doing well here and hope that is true for all of you as well.

From Matthew's Ridge

Communicating from Matthew?s Ridge is turning out to be as difficult as I thought it might be. I had written this post a few days ago but have been unable to get it out. Hopefully this time I will be successful. I am hoping to get Stephan to send this out for me. He is able to send and receive emails by going to a shop nearby, but he is not able to access the internet per say, so I am not able to get my emails yet. So if you have written me, it may be a few more days until I respond.

Tuesday I had gone to Port Kaituma but I got a late start and we have 4:30 meetings, so I couldn't spend much time there and even less time trying to get online. I plan on going again Wednesday and plan on spending the whole day visiting ones who have studied there in the past, as well as trying to get online with my phone again.

Things continue to go well here. We had 64 for the talk Sunday. So now I will continue with my previous entry.

We have finally made it to Matthew's Ridge, with some new stories to tell. Our boat from Kamaka was supposed to leave at 8 AM, but it was 10 before we left. There was so much stuff loaded on the boat I was worried we'd sink. I kept telling myself, 'This man knows what he is doing and he wouldn't do anything to damage his boat.' But then several times along the way he would stop and take on additional cargo. About ¾ of the way to Kaituma we went through a very heavy downpour and we had to crawl under the roof of the boat and sit in this small cramped space on bags of dried fish, but we arrived safely. Unfortunately we arrived at Kaituma just as it was getting dark, so we were not able to get transportation to Matthew's Ridge, so we stayed in a hotel in Kaituma.

The next morning I found a truck to take us to Matthew's Ridge, so everything was taken off the boat and loaded onto the truck and after picking up a few more supplies, Terri went with the truck and I followed on the bike. The driving was a little tricky in a few places because the road surface is hard-packed clay and when it is wet it is almost like driving on ice (which is rather difficult on a bike). But I arrived safely about forty minutes behind Terri.

There are three young brothers from Colorado who are here for two months. They arrived September 10th. They were joking that they were beginning to think that we were just imaginary people that Stephan had made up to keep them from leaving him. As you may imagine they have very much appreciated having someone who knows how to cook here. Terri has been overseeing their efforts the last few nights as she does not want to have to cook for everyone all the time. Terri's influence has extended beyond her cooking. Since we have arrived, all three visitors have gone out and purchased hammocks so they can join her under the house. (1 Cor. 15:33)

The day after we arrived, I went by the police station to let them know we were in the area, since we had arrived overland rather than by air, as they always go to the airstrip to check in the arrivals. The woman was filling in my information in her log book and when she came to nationality, she asked me if I was Amerindian. I said no, so she asked, 'Portuguese?; I told her no, that I guess she should write Caucasian. She said, 'You not Guyanese?' So I guess my Guyanese is continuing to improve.

I do believe it is hotter here than in Mabaruma. Mabaruma is fairly close to the ocean, so I think that has a cooling effect, whereas we are far removed from the ocean, so there is nothing cool about it, except it does cool down after the sun sets so sleeping is bearable.

Friday was my first day in the ministry, and I think I started two studies my first morning. I went with Stephan to deliver a bible to an older man who had asked him for one and he offered him a study which he accepted, so he asked me to take it. I went on a call with one of the other young brothers and a study was offered and accepted at a time he could not go, so I got that one too. Stephan has been studying with a couple here and he asked if Terri and I would take that, so I have been here five days and have five studies. I gave the talk here today (Sunday) and we had 64 in attendance. We are going to have to arrange for some additional benches to be built. I would try to build them but I have plenty of building to do as it is.

When we arrived, there was nothing on our side of the house except a couple of partially constructed walls (one of which was in a place I didn't want, so I took it down), no sink, no shower, and no toilet. I have gotten the sink installed, as well as a make-shift shower and am in the process of installing the toilet, although I must say that the outdoor toilet is no where near as rank as it was when we were here in March. I guess all the necessary organisms are finally in place and working.

I have much more work to do since we are getting our first visitor in less than two weeks and as of now, there is not a room for her. I know I can get things ready although it may end up with tarps on the walls instead of wood depending on how things go.

All our bags are packed, we're ready to go

If all goes as to plan, tomorrow we will get a boat to Kaituma and from there arrange transportation to Matthew’s Ridge. We have been in Guyana for almost four weeks and are getting anxious to reach our destination so we can get on with the work.

I know there are many who have been following the work here in Mabaruma who no doubt are interested in how the congregation is doing. They have been on their own now for four months. They are holding up quite well, The work load is a little more on the brothers now since Alex has left Mabaruma for Georgetown. He has gone for some training for a job that supposedly will be his when he returns. He plans on getting back in January. In addition, the Fazarali family had gone to ‘town early for the District Convention, so Solo was away for four weeks. Needless to say, Bro. Baxter was very busy. But he has been assisted by the remaining brothers here. Bro. Smith (Elroy) has had to do more and his reading has noticeably improved. Even Ellis has submitted to wearing a suit jacket so he could assist with the microphones.

I have noticed a change in Aleric, he seems a little more withdrawn. I spoke to Seeta about it and she said it’s a combination of his age (entering adolescence) and the fact that Alex isn’t around. Norma’s daughter Alexandra has really shown a change. She had gotten baptized at the SAD program when we left in April. She has been living with Rasheeta in the big house, since she didn’t want to be there alone. During the summer months, since Rasheeta wasn’t teaching, she was out almost every day in the ministry and Alexandra went along with her. At the end of the summer she told Rasheeta that pioneering hasn’t as hard as she had expected, and she thinks when she finishes school she would like to start pioneering as well.

The most exciting development just happened today. I was speaking to the Circuit Overseer and he mentioned that he had just received word from the branch office in Georgetown that as of November 1st, there will be two Special Pioneer brothers assigned to Mabaruma, Bro. Rayburn Gomes and Bro. Shane Anthony, both of whom are recent MTS graduates and both are serving as elders as well, so the friends here will be well cared for. Jehovah truly is a hearer and answerer of prayers.

I apologize for no pictures again, but when we reach Matthew’s ridge, I will try very hard to figure a way to post some pictures again.

Mabaruma

We are now in Mabaruma. We flew in Saturday morning. I took our two barrels to the boat on Thursday. I had figured on doing it Friday, but Gary mentioned that Thursday worked better for him. As it was, when we got to the dock, I was told I would have to check with a man in another office to see if he would accept the cargo. So we walked to the next office and were told they were still accepting barrels. We left the first one and went to pick up the second. When we got back to the dock, we noticed a sign at the gate that said they were not accepting any more cargo for the boat, so it’s good I didn’t wait another day. Friday I took the bike and a large 12 volt battery I had bought for Matthew’s Ridge to the branch. I had planned on leaving it with Solo to bring on the boat with him, but Thursday evening I got a call from them and they were concerned with the security of the bike where they were staying so they spoke with the branch and got permission to leave it there until they take it to the boat.

Friday evening we packed everything back up. We put much of the heavier items in one suitcase which a brother from ‘town will bring with him on the boat. Since he is just coming for a short visit to Mabaruma (he will return on the next boat) he doesn’t have much luggage of his own. That will save us a nice piece of change since we would have to pay about 50 cents a pound to take it on the plane, and I’m sure the suitcase weighed close to a hundred pounds, but he will be able to bring it free with him.

So now we are in Mabaruma waiting for the boat to arrive so we can gather up everything for the next leg of our journey up the river to Kaituma. I have been inquiring into a boat to take all our things up. I spoke to a speedboat driver who said he could take everything, but he wanted $35,000 GYD ($175 US). It seems there is a bigger boat which will take it for about $10,000 GYD, but he travels up to Kaituma on Tuesdays and our things won’t arrive until Wednesday. So as of now it looks like we will be here for another week. I’m sure the brothers here won’t mind an extra helper for another week. I would feel worse, but I know that Stephan has three other brothers with him at the Ridge now, so another week won’t be that big of a deal.

This is the first time we have been in Guyana in September, so while this is our fourth time in Mabaruma, I am seeing things I have never seen here before . One of them is lightning. In all the time we have been here before we would once in a great while hear distant thunder. Today I saw the flash of lightning and less than three seconds later hear a sharp clap of thunder. The rain was welcome since all three tanks at the front house were empty. Now after a couple of days with afternoon thunder storms the tanks are full. Which is timely since three sister from ‘town are coming to stay with Rasheeda for a couple of weeks. There is also lots of yellow flowers on some of the trees here. The rubber trees that line the road through Compound are dropping nuts onto the roadway, so the road is covered with these broken shells. Something I have never seen, since we have never been here this time of year. Oh yeah, by the way, it is hot!!! Today I was sitting talking to someone and the sweat was just dripping off my arms.

I haven't taken many pictures and for some reason The ones that I had picked, mainly as filler won't post up. I got word from Gary today that everything got on the boat without incident today, so that's another hurtle cleared. I will try to another post before we leave Mabaruma.

We are fine and hopefully the same is true of you.

Convention

The District Convention was wonderful! And not without excitement. When we first had arranged to stay with the Bouches, Bro. Bouch had said he would reserve two places on the bus for the convention. But then a few days before the convention, he had mentioned that since I had the bike and my license, if I were to drive to the convention, it would free up two seats for others to be able to attend. So how could I say no. So Terri and I ended up taking the bike to the Convention. I must admit I was apprehensive to have to drive a bike through the traffic here in ‘town. Many of the intersections have no traffic signs at them, but then again, many drivers don’t pay attention to the ones that are there. The first morning I followed someone in, but after that I found my own way.

The convention here is held in an outdoor stadium, with the stage on one side and covered seating on the other three. The weather was almost ideal, with a nice breeze blowing most of the time. In fact on Sunday the breeze was so strong, it was blowing things down on the platform.

The peak attendance on Sunday was just over 4300. Not bad considering there are only about 2300 witnesses in the whole country and this was the second convention (although the first was much smaller). There were 65 baptized on Saturday, including Margaret from Mabaruma, and Doris from Matthew’s Ridge.

Another woman who has been studying at the Ridge, Mary, also came in for the convention. She had really wanted to attend, but there was no way she could afford it. So she made it a matter of prayer, telling Jehovah how much she desired to attend, and saying that if she had the money, she would use it to travel to the convention. It so happened that several years ago (ten to be exact) she had been somehow injured, and as a result had been awarded a settlement. For some time afterwards, whenever the magistrate would come to Matthew’s Ridge, she would go, hoping that payment would be enforced, but never received any satisfaction. Then a few days after she had poured out her heart to Jehovah about her desire to attend the convention, she was walking through the market and a constable motioned her over and handed her the settlement check. Needless to say, she quickly made her arrangements to travel in for the convention.

Today (Monday) I was able to access the internet using a blackberry phone I had bought in the states and brought with me. So now as long as I am where there is cell service, I should be able to send and receive emails and update the blog. I still have to get things straightened out so I can send and receive emails directly from the phone. As of now, I’m told you have to travel about six miles out of the Ridge to get a signal, and I don’t particularly want to have to travel with my laptop as well. However rumor has it that there will be a cell tower in the Ridge before the end of the year, and then we would be in great shape.

Our departure is still up in the air, all dependant on when the boat returns and is able to get turned around for departure. I may update once more before leaving, and I should also be able to put something up from Mabaruma as there is a cell tower there.

The first picture I’ve included shows the baptismal candidates walking across the stadium towards the baptism pool. The next one is of Margaret getting ready to enter the pool (there was such a throng around the pool, I had to take the picture from up in the stands). The last one is a picture of Terri and Mary, the woman I spoke about.