Just jump it out

Hey everyone, just a little update.....So Summer is right about our Bible studies, mine just picked up where we left off, thankfully, and they are doing well. We have a new couple in our hall, Phillip and Raquel Hall, and they are a fantastic couple that I will enjoy getting to know. Phillip is originally from Oregon, and Raquel grew up in Cabo, also her background is Jewish/Italian/Israeli/and Arab. Phillip is a seasoned elder and both have been pioneering for several years. Raquel is just full of life, and has a varied background. She has promised to teach me and some other sisters how to cook authentic arabic food....YAY!!!! Ahhhh :)

I wanted to include an experience from the other morning in field service. We happened to be working in a part of town that has no paved road and really no named streets. A sister had called and wanted to meet up with us since she was running late, so we told her what area we were in. Well time just went by and she still hadn't arrived. It was almost 11 when she did show up, in a van driven by a Tseltal sister. This sister was laughing as we approached the van, and she is always all smiles anyways. She had apparently been looking for us but being the territory it was it was difficult for her to locate us. Well this Tseltal sister had seen us pass by her house so when she saw our sister, well she took her right to us. So then, this sister was my partner for the rest of the morning. And she began telling me why she was late. The day before she had to work until 11 at night, doing the work of 3 persons, since the other 2 sales people were sick. She told me she has been working a lot lately, more than her usually already heavy load. Also both her daughters were sick, and so all the housekeeping fell on her. And then, that morning she missed the cambi and thats why she was late. I sympathized with her and told her it wouldn't be counted against her if she had stayed home. But very firmly she said in spanish that today was her service day, and she shook her head as if shaking away the idea of staying home on her service day, as if to say it was unthinkable. I was very impressed by her attitude because so many times there are little things we allow to keep up home when we should be out, and she had so many valid reasons to stay home, but she didn't. I just thought her faithful example was really encouraging.

Also during this week of service I worked with Micah. I was so thankful that instead of having to walk to my spread out calls we were able to take his motorcycle, a common means of transportation here, and quite economic too. This time I had worn the right things too, shorts and a stretchy skirt. Well after a morning full of RVs we stopped at a small restaurant where we "gorditas" could eat some gorditas :) We noticed while munching that there was a big trampoline....just sitting there.....beckoning us :) So after eating we of course got on it and started jumping. The funny part is that as soon as Micah's feet touched the trampoline and he began jumping he started giggling non-stop. I don't think I have ever seen him smile so big, it was really funny :D It was a great way to end the day....

Also I thought I would share a new proverb that I discovered. Normally when I get home, I go upstairs and open our window up there. I usually leave it open for a while to let the fresh breeze in. Well this time I only left it open for a minute then closed it and went downstairs for some tea. A few minutes later I came back and when I looked at the closed window I saw a tail wiggle out of view. I ran to the window to see what vermin it was....it was a weasel, a real live weasel!!!! It looked like it was a particularly pesky weasel too! I was just so thankful that I had closed that window...I can't imagine a weasel loose in the house....a disaster it would have been. Thus the proverb for the week was....."Let those in the interior rooms seal their windows tight lest a weasel come in and wreak havoc on all the hard work that you've worked hard at" :) Alright, thanks for reading! :)

Quite better than Les Miserables

Well finally we are here again in San Cristobal, Yay! Both Lacey and I left to the US at the end of January and stayed through the end of Feburary. Lacey arrived here just one week before me and got a jump start on the incredible ministry here. I have been back for one week and already contacted and got on track almost all of my studies.
One in particular is a man that lives with his family in a house just right outside the back entrance of the property where we live. His name is Victor Hugo, no not the french poet and novelist. :) Several months ago I met him while he was outside playing with his kids. He speaks english well but doesnt have an opportunity to practice it very much. For months I had been thinking about this man and the spark of interest in the truth he showed but it was difficult to find him home and to be honest I should have tried harder to reach him. Well finally we made a plan to go visit him last Saturday. We went to his home about 6pm after service. He was at home with his wife and children. His wife is very nice but doesnt speak english, she speaks Tsetal and Spanish and their children only speak spanish. He invited us in and the whole family sat around as he told them we had something important to say. We promised to not outstay our welcome but I wanted to bring out some points from the Bible Teach book. We talked about questions many people have and I asked if he wanted to know anything in particular. He expressed interest in knowing how we can find the true religion. He said he was very disgusted at religion in general. He noticed the hypocrisy in most churches and didnt like how the pastors chose favorites based upon how much money you had. He noticed that many churches spend money on beautifying their buildings at the expense of the common people but dont really bring any hope to the people. We shared many scriptures. He was particularly impressed at Matthew 23:27 where Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because outwardly they resembled white washed graves but inside full of dead mens bones. He agreed that was how many religious leaders today were. He also told us how much he enjoyed reading the Watchtower and Awake and that he read them several times until we got new issues to him. He really enjoyed the article describing the sacrifices that many made to go to Haiti to help with relief work, this was very impressive to him. We ended up staying for 1.5 hours just talking and sharing scriptures right from the bible. We made a plan to go back tomorrow to discuss identifying marks of the true religion. It just really shows us how those who are searching easily can see the hypocrisy and with Jehovahs help can identify the light of truth.
Another one of my bible students, I spoke to you earlier about her name is Bertha. She owns a yarn shop. She has continued studying and continually expresses her love for God and appreciation for us coming to speak with her. She is really a delight to visit.
Lacey also has had some very good experiences. All in all already our time back here has been quite less than miserable. It has been great!