March: Playa Bluff

Now all that wonderful service and school deserves some good fun too!  Our family decided that finally we should head to Bluff Beach.  This was no small choice as the waves and undercurrent here can be pretty rough.  We wanted to make sure the kids were safe but we also wanted to experience this local beach.  The rule:  Kids have to go into the water only with daddy!!!!  Some friends had given them a body board so one at a time they got to learn how it is done.  Ended up the kids mostly liked body surfing not boarding.  The waves though towards the end of the day got sort of rough.  Madi lost her goggles in one tumble and Ray got all scratched up!  Here's our day in photos!

A fun day, but finally it was time to go!

March: Campaign and Memorial

Well, it has been a very long time since we updated.  Not that we didn't think about it often, but we got busy with finishing school and service and travel.  Here in July, I finally have a little extra time and now I will update you on things past.

For the time before Memorial, as most know, we do a campaign.  Now in Bocas that looks like what most of you do except for 2 things:

1.  We were also in the middle of a English Census (that's where we knock on every door in the territory to determine if anyone in the family speaks English)

 2.  Some of our campaigned happened on a boat!  On two separate days there was an opportunity for those in the congregation to go preaching on boats to the outlying islands.  I was only able to go on one excursion, so here's my story:)

We left the morning in super rainy weather.  Now, it rains in Bocas often--it is a rainforest/tropical jungle--but rain is not like rain I have ever seen, felt, endured before.  I have often attempted to take pictures and videos for you, but they just don't do it justice.  Most of you shower...imagine that constant and unrelenting while fully dressed...that is Bocas rain!

So you can imagine what it was like as we boated across the ocean through the rain in good spirits to be in service but quite wet.

As we entered a small river-like tributary flowing through the mangroves and as we finally reached our first door, we were graced with a bit of sun!  Ray and two other brothers jumped out to speak with these people:

Unfortunately, just after I snapped this photo, the brother you see in pink got stung by a huge hornet.  He had to come back to the boat for some first aid.  Raymond and the other brother went to three houses.  Although they found no one who spoke English, we had begun!

This was an amazing trip for me.  Not like anything I had ever done before.  Biggest car group ever!  We had twelve per boat and there were three boats.  We all went separate ways and converged back toward the end of the day.  The other two boats had stories of many little villages and schools they were able to stop at and show videos to as well as preach a bit.  Our boat was mostly dock to dock:

We had some cool wildlife we got to see!  A green frog and a SLOTH!!! We also saw pigs, brand new baby goats, and plenty of fish:)

 We did come across one small village and school so only a few got out of the boat to preach, Madi and Ty included:

We also had some fun.  While others were up at the house fishing for men, some of us were just fishing:

All communication with brothers at the door or up a hill, was through a walkie talkie phone.  Also as we were working on a census too, we were using a GPS program and marking English homes on a satellite image on an ipad. 

It was lots of fun to listen to our boat captain.  He was a local that we had to rent the boat from.  Probably the best witness of the day as we explained what we were doing, why, and what the importance was to him through out the day.  It was hilarious because as we came up to a dock and hailed the home owner.  We were endeavoring to determine if they spoke English to place an English invitation with them.  If they spoke Spanish though, he would jump right in and in Spanish tell them why we were there and about the Memorial that they could attend.  He also impressed upon them how important it was and that they should come!  We spent a nice day in the ministry although we were quite wet most of the day

As I said, the three boats converged at the end of the day to sort of caravan back to Bocas.

FRUITS OF OUR LABOR:

As most reading this know Memorial was April 14th this year.  In Bocas we were privileged to have two Memorials.  The first at 6:30 was on Bastimentos Island. It took place in one room of the local school.  Another Sister and I got the first time privilege for creating flower arrangements for this event. What this entailed was hiking all over the island about 3 hours before the Memorial and cutting/picking wild flowers.  There are no flower shops on Bocas.  We then sat down at the school and created arrangements.  As sisters arrived and finished helping set up, they came out to lend us a last minute hand.  Here are what we created:

Then after we hustled with those, we changed clothes and prepared to meet and greet those who would be attending!

It's a long walk up a hill to get to Memorial, but we had 60 attend 35 were studies including one of Madi's!  The person from furthest away was a family from Isla Caya Agua.  During our boating excursion as part of the Campaign the dad had received an invitation.  He recognized how important this was and bundled his whole family into a boat in the dark mind you to come to Memorial!

After, closing shop in Bastimentos and returning the school room back to its normal appearance, we rushed over to the Memorial on the Main Island of Bocas. I have no pictures of the Memorial in Bocas, but it took place at 8:00 at night. We had 58 attend with 20 being studies.  Pretty good for a congregation of 21 publishers!!

The Spanish and Ngobe had theirs combined and rented out the local gym.  But there was also a residency thing happening at the time, the gym was supposed to be ours, but the government extended their residency program and on Monday morning the brothers found out that they couldn't use the gym.  So with all English, Spanish, and Ngobe spreading the word to anyone and everyone about the switch to the school, they had an amazing attendance of 311 with only 66 publishers in those two congregations!!!  Holy Spirit obviously in play for this to happen.

Titus does "ok" in the ministry, too

There is a park in the middle of Bocas Town.  We make it a habit to spend one day a week in early morning service and often find ourselves talking to locals in the park.  Titus has developed a real love for ministering in the park.  He takes it very seriously. 

One morning a few weeks ago, we were speaking with someone about one of the tracts we were offering when I realized Titus was no where to be seen.  Where had he gone?  I set off to the far end of the park.  As I walk around the gazebo, what I see is both hilarious and heart-warming.  There are people everywhere-- sitting on park benches, leaning against walls, standing on sidewalks, or walking through on their way to work.  Every single one of them, perhaps 15 or 20 in all, is reading a "peaceful new world" tract either in English or Spanish at the same time-- every single person!!  I see Titus near the gazebo with one last tract in his hand waiting for the lone holdout to hang up his phone so that he could give him one too!  I wish I had a picture because words just cannot do the scene justice.

Titus also has a return visit at the park.  Mr. Machuco is an older man who specifically looks for 'Tito' and asks him what he has brought for him to read that day.  Ty is so proud and happy to have a return visit of his own.

Most recently, Titus has been wanting to share a scripture when he offers a tract.  So he has memorized James 4:8 and Revelation 21:4 while he has marked those two scriptures in his bible with the marker ribbons.  Ty is especially outgoing and loves talking with the locals so his act of placing a tract and reading a scripture typically ends up looking like this:

Julian is a worker who maintains the park.  Even though Julian is probably 3 feet taller than Ty and even though he was listening to music and in the middle of his work, he happily took time to stop and listen.  The two of them sat down for five or ten minutes talking about the Bible and some of its many promises.

It is great to see Ty identify an aspect of the ministry that he really enjoys!

Madison is doing "all right" in her ministry

Families with children often desire to serve where the need is great.  And then families often shy away from doing so because they worry that their children might suffer spiritually at the expense of their parents exuberance and sense of adventure.  Well, results are not guaranteed and your actual results may vary, but here is a remarkable story of Madison...

Things are different here in Panama.  Where in the US it is considered taboo to speak about the bible to a child without their parent's consent, it is perfectly acceptable to do so here (and in much of the Caribbean).  In fact, parents often encourage the Witnesses to speak to their children, even when the parents themselves are not interested.  It is not uncommon for children ages 8-14 to attend meetings without their parents!  All of this means that our young ones play a very important role in our ministry-- there are multitudes of children in Bocas and they are eager to learn about the bible.

The real weight of this fact was lost on me until last Thursday morning when we were preparing for our family's day in the ministry.  Every Thursday is "Bastiementos day".  Most of our congregation takes a boat ride to the neighboring island of Bastiementos where there is a large concentration of English-speakers and many bible studies are being conducted.  I asked Madison if there was anyone she wanted to work with in service.  "Yes," said Madison "but I have to make sure that I visit Myra." Who's Myra? "She's my bible study... I have to go see her after lunch because that is when she is out of school."  Oh, ok.  Somehow my daughter had secretly started a study without me even knowing!  "Oh and I have to study with Dianais too, after lunch today."  Oh, there is more?! "Yes, Dad!! But that is all today.  Oh, except there is a return visit with this other young girl up the hill- we are going to start on the Good News brochure today." Uh, Madison... how many studies do you have? "Well, Myra and Dianais today.  I think 'girl up the hill' is going to study, too. And then the only other study I have is Darlene in Bocas Town."  Ok.... so just four studies?!?  Wow, are the allergies bad today cuz my eyes are getting kinda watery?

Before thick-headed dad could even take notice, his 9 year-old daughter (I know honey-- you turned 10 this week but I am not ready for you to be double-digits yet!) has cultivated a fruitful, meaningful ministry that is all her own.  The hugely positive spiritual effect this has on her is remarkable and I thank Jehovah every night for giving her such a huge privilege and blessing.

So the day in Bastiementos was great.  Madison was able to find almost all of her studies home and conduct a study with them in either the Good News or Live Forever brochure.  Her service schedule is only getting busier... an 8 year old named Nayalis requested that Madison come back next week and study with her!

Here's a picture of Madi and Dianais on their study!

Other fun stuff

So after all the fun in February the month ended with Carnival.  That is NOT a celebration for witnesses.  From what we understand the celebration has to deal with the slave trade that happened in the past, that in itself isn't the problem...there are dancers who dress up in red and black very ornate costumes with bells on them.  They wear huge scary devil masks and carry whips around.  From what I understand these satans go around and attempt to trip people and when they fall the devils whip people during the week (they are not supposed to whip women, children, or gringos), then on the last day all the children get to put on masks and they whip the satans.  This is supposed to represent the white slave drivers during the week and the kids at the end of the week are when the slaves rebelled and won their freedom.  This is a huge party like Mardi Gras that lasts a week.  It is filled with drinking, drugs, and violence.  Witnesses steer clear of main street and are careful about our choices in going places during the evening times.  I was going to take a picture, because it is hard to put into words the yuckiness of these costumes and behaviors, but I didn't want any of it in my photo pages so you will have to use your imagination.  Another aspect I heard was that all of this 'merriment' coincides with Ash Wednesday and Lent that way the party-ers have something to ask forgiveness for and can get all the bad out before these days...

On happier notes, though when we were out in service I found a young girl 13 years old to study with.  She lives on Bastimentos.  She doesn't own a bible (I brought her an old one until we get new ones in) but loved the books of Esther, Daniel, and Revelation.  She even had already put together that Daniel and Revelation go together!  I started studying the Bible teach book with her!!

Marie found a young lady that I am still trying to track down. I know where she works and lives, but haven't been able to catch her at either place...I hope to find her on Thursday now that everyone's schedule is calming down with Carnival done with.

I also have found a study with another girl on Bastimentos too who has two children and works a lot.  She really likes what she is hearing about the Good news Brochure and had two questions:  How do we know the bible is inspired of God and not changed by men when they translate/copies it and How do we know that this is the end and when the end will be?  Two very good questions for next time.  She too doesn't have a bible, so I'm bringing her one too.

Another lady I found used to sit in on the study her daughter was having.  I spoke to the sister and she is going to study with the girl and bring Madi along (the girl is shy so we are hoping another child will draw her out) and I am going to let the mom have her own study.  She lives on Bocas.

Recently, I am also studying with the sister of Ricardo.  She is Catholic and keeps talking about all the mysteries in the Bible such as the Trinity and the mystery of how God can have no beginning...We study in the Bible teach book too.  She has an old bible, but some of the pages are ripped because of using it while her children were small and they grabbed a page etc.  I plan on bringing her a new bible too.  She lives on Carenero.

I also have another woman I am studying with when she is on lunch break at work.  We are studying the good news brochure and she is very happy to hear it.  I hope that she brings her bible from home so that she can read the information from her own book.  She works on Carenero but lives on Bastimentos...

I have a couple of good calls too that I hope will blossom into studies!

All of these make for a couple of busy days in service.  I'm sure you all want to see where we stop for break...

Just kidding.  We only just found this place.  It's not Starbucks, but it will do and is cheaper too.  Starting this week it will be where I go for a cuppa.  The owner, Ron, is actually a study of one of the brothers and even came to the Kingdom hall to hear the COs talk.  He runs every night all around the airport runway which is near the Hall. 

Everything on the island is shipped in including bread.  This is a Bimbo delivery truck..Ross and Dan will know about this:)

Some things just catch you as funny right...This sign tickled me because it sounds so gross if you just read it straight through:

 Yuck Seafood Milkshake...

This is the local firestation.  They are called Bomberos...the truck on the left is so old it actually has hand pumps on it...I don't think they use it anymore...

We see funny things in service too...

 He looked like he had no idea how to get down!

Even the birds get hot here...armpit air out:

Ty actually caught a bird about two weeks ago.  It was a little guy that fell out of his nest.  It had a few feathers, but some hadn't come in yet.  He found it jumping along the beach and caught it under a neighbors house.

We also saw some needle nose fish and a stingray in the water outside of Casa del Sapo

 There are interesting bugs too...Ty again found it, but this one was near the new house in the Marina.
This was giant probably the size of Ty's whole hand.

This spider was in a tree on Carenero Island.

There is a lot of beauty too. These are some of my favorites.

Well thats all she wrote for tonight.  It's time to head to bed: