Jamaica Bethel...and Other Neat Things

   Thanks to Jehovah we have returned safe and sound to Guasave. While we are happy to be reunited with the friends here and to see the progress made (the congregation has a new unbaptized publisher since we left!) we are remembering fondly the trip back home. We have been thinking about the warmth shown to us, the interest many expressed in the work here in Mexico and the visits to places near and far. Here are some interesting things we did during our trip...

  We visited the Branch Office in Old Harbour, Jamaica. The Jamaica Bethel Branch supports the work in Jamaica and Cayman Islands. The preaching work is being conducted in those countries in the English, Chinese, Hindi, Sign, Spanish, and Tagalog languages by over 12,000 of our brothers and sisters.

Office Building

Open Air Assembly Hall On Bethel Grounds

Reception Area

Dani's Favorite Part of the Day

Bethel Grounds

Cooling Off From The Warm Jamaican Sun

    We also got to visit old friends and family as we traveled to North Carolina, Georgia and in my best Alicia Keys voice.....Nuuuuuu Yaaawk. Although I didn't take a tour, I got to take photos of  "The Mother Ship"

"Wanna Buy a  Bridge?"

I wanted to see the sign one more time before it goes away

Bethel Kingdom Hall

A New York  Dirty Dog- "mustard wit' onions" - now my trip is complete

    We traveled many miles by plane and auto but our journey has led us back here to Guasave. We returned to our congregation to find that the Mexico Branch has encouraged all publishers in the country to set a prayerful goal of helping at least one of our Bible Students to progress to the point of being an Unbaptized Publisher by the end of the service year; an auspicious goal indeed! We reason that this would not be asked without the direction of the Holy Spirit so Jehovah must have great things in store for the work here south of the border. So, as mentioned in our April 2013 study edition, there is plenty of work to do if we offer ourselves willingly!

"This is our exit!"

Where in the World Are the Windhams?

   We are here, we are there, we are everywhere! Unfortunately the one place we are not is in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico. Early last month we left Mexico to head back to the States. No, we aren't worried about the whole Mayan calendar thing (just in case though...) but we had some family matters to attend to. So we decided that since we were leaving to get all our visiting in now and head back in January. So the first stop on our journey...sunny Jamaica!

working by threes

   We spent a few weeks there visiting Suzanne's dad and he was happy to see her of course. Visiting the island gave us a chance to renew acquaintance with the brothers there and also experience the ministry in Jamaica. In all the times we have visited I have never engaged there in the ministry; partially due to lack of time and partially out of fear. Yes, fear. You see, I was always worried that the first door I would get would be answered by a dread-lock rasta who after *ahem*  meditating wit di ganja would want to discuss the deeper points of Revelation. I also am hesitant to talk much to anyone in Jamaica because I have such difficulty understanding the Jamaican patois. But, muster up the courage we did and we enjoyed a nice time in the ministry.
  One of the interesting differences in the ministry there is that we worked not in pairs but in threes in door to door. The friends also do not leave sight of one another. If you reach the end of the block, you wait for any who are still working before turning the corner. I was told that this was a safety in numbers thing and strongly encouraged to put away my tablet and stop taking pictures. Duly noted! and yeah, I kept looking over my shoulder the rest of the morning.

Suzanne and her Dad

this fella came over and posed for a photo

   While there we also got to work with Terry and Trish Stires, a missionary couple from California who are serving in the same congregation with Suzanne's dad. We were very encouraged by them and "traded notes" so to speak about the adjustments we made to serving in a foreign land. It was extremely reassuring because we learned that many of the same feelings and thoughts we may have had, they experienced too. I also appreciated what a privilege it would be to have Gilead trained missionaries in the congregation. We soaked up as much as we could from them and look forward to our next visit and sharing in the ministry with them again.

sweetsop ( soooo good! ) fresh from the tree

   So for now we have returned to Florida and are enjoying visits with our old congregations and family. It is so great to see everyone but we are eager to get back to Guasave next month. We keep thinking about the congregation there and the studies and calls we left behind. Funny how that works. We just arrived there a few months ago but already it feels like home. We miss the brothers, we miss the ministry, we even miss the quirky little things that annoyed us when we were there.
   We plan to head back after the new year and hope to be able to share "a good report from a distant land" with you very soon.

Don't Judge A book By It's Cover

"...For not the way man sees [is the way God sees], because mere man sees what appears to the eyes; but as for Jehovah, he sees what the heart is" - 1 Samuel 16:7
   Yesterday in field service Enrique and I were working in house-to-house, asking for English speakers at each home we called on. As we moved down the block we saw sitting on the ground under a tree a man who looked very unkempt. As Enrique approached  him and asked if he spoke English I remember thinking to myself "why is he talking to this guy?". Of course you know how the story is going to proceed right?
   "Si" the man replied. Enrique looked at me for a split second and we both approached and started talking to him about the message. Enrique spoke basically about the critical times we are in, the need for guidance and how the Bible can help us. The man listened intently. As we were close to him now it was apparent he was indeed having a tough go of it. His hair was long, his clothes tattered and dirty, his face looked tired. But he listened to the kingdom message.
   He told us his name was Joe and that he was homeless. He said he was from a small town near Guasave but was in the city looking for work. He had no place to live but happened to be resting on the street we worked that morning. Interestingly Joe says he remembers his mother used to study when he was a child. He said he remembers going " to the Salon and studying the Atalaya". Enrique described to him the Bible study program and also invited him to our meetings on Sunday. Joe seemed eager to attend a meeting, we hope that he does indeed attend one soon. He thanked us for talking with him and accepted some magazines and went about his way.
   As I thought about our conversation with Joe I was reminded of the verse above when Samuel was sent to the house of Jesse to anoint the next king of Israel. We at times tend to make judgments about people based on what we see. Jehovah of course sees what we are inside. By his appearance Joe was just some homeless guy on the street. It would have been so easy to ignore him and keep on going. But we would have missed an opportunity to give a witness. Joe listened to what we had to say and expressed an interest in learning more. What will be the end result? For now I don't know. But I did receive a good reminder: don't judge a book by it's cover.


 

The One That Got Away

   The preaching work is quite often compared to fishing. That's a comparison I can appreciate as many years ago I used to fish for large-mouth bass. One of the most frustrating things a fisherman can have happen is to hook a fish and as you are reeling him in he escapes from the line.  You've done all he work, but get no reward, you feel a bit empty. A recent experience in field service was somewhat like that for me.
   About a month ago Danielle met in house to house a young man who is about her age. She asked me to go back with her on the return visit. We returned, met his family and were able to have a good conversation with him. One of the highlights was sharing with him the Peaceful New World tract. When I asked him what he thought of the picture he was filled with excitement! He mentioned how there were so many people from different races together. He pointed out how beautiful the trees and flowers were. He even noticed how the animals were not eating each other, but how everything was peaceful. When I asked him if he would like to know more about life in the new world he said yes; asking if he could keep the tract. He kept staring at the picture like a child with a new toy!
   In the past few weeks we have called back on him but he has been not at home or busy but we were able to reach him last Thursday evening. He met us outside his house and apologized for not being able to see us at that time. When we asked what would be a good day he kept saying he would be busy for a while but then finally indicated, very apologetically, that we need not return. In talking to us he kept apologizing but he mentioned several times that his family all went to the same church and he could not be different.
   About this time his father drove up and while he greeted us very cordially, I also noticed him giving his son a look that sort of said "you need to come inside". We took advantage of our last minute or two to share a couple of scriptures with him, one of which was Revelation 21:3,4. Again he absolutely was excited hearing about the promises the Bible holds out. He told us he still had the tract and magazines and enjoyed reading them but we would not be able to visit him anymore. We thanked him for listening to us and as we left he asked us if we had a website. We told him about jw.org and that he could read the latest magazines online. He apologized (again) and thanked us as we left.
   I felt a bit sad for him as we drove away. When we first met him I thought to myself "this is going to be a Bible Study". Alas it turned out to be the one that got away. While I am sad we are not studying with him somehow I am comforted by what we were able to accomplish. In a few visits he got to know God's name and that there is going to be a peaceful new world, a Paradise. Seeing the joy, the interest on this kid's face I can't help but think that a seed of truth was planted in his heart. He seemed to want to learn more but his circumstances at present do not allow for him to do so.
   Over the past few days I have been thinking about this young man. I prayed for him, that if he is truly sheep-like that Jehovah may give him an opportunity to respond to the message when his circumstances are more favorable. I also couldn't help but think how many more people are out there like that? People who perhaps have heard and enjoy but for varying reasons do not at present respond to the Good News. It serves as a reminder to me why this work is so important, not only here in Guasave but wherever we may be serving at present. There are still many who need to the hear the Good News. May we keep zealously proclaiming it while we have favorable times. We never know if we might by some chance be reeling in the one that got away!

Before Kings and Governors

   An interesting and 100% true experience from service this morning:

   Suzanne and Lizeth are working door to door this morning and approach an auto repair shop. When they asked if anyone there spoke English a man came out from the back to talk with them. " You are looking for people who speak English?" he asked. "Yes", they replied. "Why?" asked the man. They then explained that we were Witnesses and the purpose of our visit. The man expressed that he didn't think his English was good enough but they were patient with him and showed him the section Learn From God's Word in The Watchtower.
   He allowed them to demonstrate a paragraph to him, the topic was about God's name. After reading the scripture, they asked him what God's name was. He replied Lord, but they redirected his attention to the Bible. Suzanne explained that was a title and  that God has a personal name as we all do. She introduced herself and asked him what his name was. " Fidel" he replied. She then asked God's name again and he now understood "Jehovah" was his reply.
    He thanked them for coming by and they asked if they could return later and continue the next segment in the magazine with him. He was agreeable so before leaving Suzanne asked once more "your name is Fidel, right?". "Yes...", he replied "...Castro".
   Who would have thought that Suzanne would have the chance to come to Mexico and preach to Fidel Castro! :-)

Suzanne and the Good, Exciting, Happy, Very Wonderful Day

   Serving here in Guasave we really enjoy the warm, gentle disposition of the majority of the people we come across in our preaching work. We have never (as yet) had a door slammed in our faces, police called on us, been yelled at or any of the other rude things we used to brace ourselves up for back home. And, it seems that each week we are finding more people who listen to our message.
   However while Dani and I both enjoy the privilege of conducting Bible studies, Suzanne has not been successful in starting one. Though she has had many good conversations, when she returns she is not finding the people at home. In fact about two weeks ago she was really down when she said she went to one of her calls and the woman came to the window but did not open the door. She has kept a positive attitude and made her desire to conduct a study a matter of prayer and it seems as if now those prayers may be answered.
   Yesterday evening we set out to do return visits  but a tropical storm was on the way. As the skies were getting darker the group decided we should cut our evening short. Suzanne was looking forward to making her calls so we asked a couple of our young pioneer sisters if they would accompany us to do just her two calls as we were near them and then we would head in. They agreed and off we go.
   When we got to the first one they were invited in and ended up staying inside a good 15-20 minutes( I know, I was waiting in the car). When she returned to the car she was all smiles as she had found her call home and enjoyed a nice discussion with her. Suzanne says when her call came to the door she said: "I have been waiting for you to come back". Suzanne introduced the Listen to God brochure to her and made arrangements to follow up with her the following Friday. Incidentally this was the same call that came to the window but did not answer the door. Suzanne was a little upset by it but tried to call on her again. Good thing she did as the woman explained that her husband has been in the hospital lately and that she didn't remember not answering the door. Suzanne said she was glad they returned and was able to share comforting scriptures from Isaiah with her about the Bible's promise that no one will be sick in the new world.
   So as we leave the house my wife is absolutely beaming. We arrive at her next call and the wind is starting to pick up. We are thinking should we just head home but decided that we were one block away, just go for it. We arrived and found her call at home and another (lengthy!) conversation ensued. As homes in this area of Mexico have paper thin walls I was able to hear bits of what was going on inside and they seemed to be having a good ol' time in there. Again my wife came out of the house beaming.
   Suzanne used the "Truth" tract with her and when she asked which of the six questions she would like answered, the householder selected "what happens when we die". They were able to consider the paragraph and the scriptures right then and the woman thanked Suzanne so much. Suzanne says that there's nothing like it, for her to share Bible truths with someone. Apparently the woman was raised a Catholic and says she used to have nightmares about going to Hell. She also lost a cousin in death a few years ago and said reading what the Bible says about the condition of the dead "gave her peace". She expressed appreciation for what she learned and wondered how she could go to church for years and never have heard this before. She too has arranged to have another visit next Friday.
   Needless to say as we returned from service one person in the car was "glowing". After expressing herself to Jehovah in prayer to have it answered so quickly brought so much joy to Suzanne. Now she has two potential Bible studies in one evening. I would say that made for a pretty good day.

How to Slay a False Doctrine With One Verse (While Not Even Trying)

2 Corinthians 10:4,5: "  For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful by God for overturning strongly entrenched things. For we are overturning reasonings and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God..."

   A few posts back I wrote about a young man named Chris with whom I have the privilege of studying the Bible Teach book. Chris lived in the U.S. until being deported in 2001 and said that when he first got back to Mexico he really did not speak Spanish. He was educated in American schools and is fluent in English.
   During our lesson today we were discussing the chapter about family life. In this segment we were sharing with him the Bible's teaching of the wife's role, being in subjection to the husband. One of the scriptures we read was 1 Corinthians 11:3 which states: "But I want YOU to know that the head of every man is the Christ; in turn the head of a woman is the man; in turn the head of the Christ is God". Remember, in this context we were talking about the marriage arrangement.
   Well, after reading that scripture, Chris looked up with a puzzled look on his face. He paused for a moment and then slowly said: "but, I always thought Jesus was God?" My heart raced with joy! (okay maybe it was more like a touchdown dance you see in the NFL) I asked him how he understood what he read and he replied that "Jesus is subject to God. That means God is over everything". Game, Set, and Match!
   It has become apparent to me over the two months we have been here in Mexico that The Truth is simple. We have experienced many times the joy of showing someone God's name in the Bible, of teaching them about the Paradise on earth or the resurrection and seeing humble hearts grasp these truths. It brings me a great deal of joy to be privileged to share these truths with others. To me there is no better feeling than this joy. 
   I find it interesting that in our study today we were not talking about the trinity or some other doctrinal matter. Yet for Chris at that moment he was able to recognize Bible truth. I do not know what the future holds for him. Will he continue his studies and progress in the truth? Will his family join him in his study? Will he attend meetings  eventually? These answers I don't have but today if for one moment only it felt as though we ripped off the blinders of false religion and were able to help Chris see the Truth for himself.