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These are the fellas that have been coming to meetings for the last couple of weeks. Today was their first study. The two in the blue shirts are brothers, Anthony and Jacob, the other two are neighbors, Jay and Jesse. They are so eager to learn. They studied almost all of chapter 2 in the Bible Teach book this afternoon. Anthony and Jacob's mom studied for the first time today with their two sisters. All are planning on attending the meeting on Sunday with their neighbor, Roque and his two kids.

Luisa and Megan

Ms. Luisa is almost 79 years old (as she reminds us frequently). She has found that Megan answers her questions from the Bible. Today was no different. Many of these questions are raised because of what others say around her. Today, she wanted to know about 'God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.' Megan read John 14:28. It was quite clear to her that the son and father could not be equal, much less the same person. No further explanation was needed.
Some visits ago, Megan and Luisa discussed the condition of those who've died and the hope of resurrection. Her husband died about 20 years ago. Today, she wanted to know if he would know her and she would know him. After reading John 11 about Lazarus, she was relieved and is now looking forward to seeing him again.
During our visit, she also began to tell us about her life as a young girl during the Japanese occupation of Guam. It was the first time I heard anyone give a graphic firsthand account of life during that time. This extreme hardship has not dampened her enthusiasm for life and learning. Megan and I are hoping to know her forever.

Flame Trees

Joy!

It happened! Eziquiel attended his first meeting! Ernie gave the talk about what happens when we die--it was the first question Eziquiel asked John. He enjoyed it. The kids were well-behaved. John was so happy.

The brother in the background of this photo, Jerry, went to school with Eziquiel's older brother. They have known each other since they were kids. We enjoyed seeing them together talking about spiritual things and catching up with each other over dinner.

Our guest photographers are at it again!

Wheeeeee!

What a Surprise!

Tanya came in service with us on Saturday morning. On the way to Ezekiel's home, she wanted to check on a past Bible student, Semina. Semina lives behind a locked gate and there is no way to knock at the door of the home, unless you toss something large toward the home. (This is not an acceptable custom here!) As we were driving very slowly by her home, Semina noticed and came out. She literally jumped for joy when she saw Tanya, immediately got the key for the gate, unlocked it and hugged Tanya with all of her heart. What a thrill! Semina and her children are going to resume their study on Thursday. Her girls know one of Ezekiel's girls. She is looking forward to seeing them at the Kingdom Hall soon.

Our New Group

Our service groups were rearranged. Starting this Saturday, this is our new group. Only two aren't in the photo.
It is a lively bunch and we are looking forward to knowing everyone even better.

Sunday After the Meeting

Roque, his kids, some of their neighbors and Eziquiel's kids came to the meeting Sunday. They spent Sunday evening with us, making new friends with Jerry and Clare and the Pangelinans, Ken, Kym, Mandy and Kenny. Roque and Ken got aquainted speaking Chamorro with each other. We hope to do this again soon.

Kenny taught the kids a 'Minute to Win It' game. Stack the cups up, then bring them down to one stack. All the kids tried it.

Smiles All Around

Mandy is inviting Jay and her grandsons to the convention.



Jay is normally shy and slow to smile, but Mandy always brightens her day with spiritual thoughts.

No photos, please!

What a week...
Our congregation just finished our visit with our circuit overseer and his wife, Glenn and Patti. We really enjoyed his talks and service with each of them...we were reminded of ways to improve our teaching.
The invitation work for our district convention started last Friday. On Saturday, 92 came to the meeting for field service. There are 100 publishers in our congregation.
Vince, one of the brothers in our congregation that had been doing Kingdom Hall construction in Kosrae just got back and his family had a barbeque with most of the congregation.
We also had 153 in attendance for the Sunday meeting.
For all of this, our photographer was apparently on vacation or just so caught up in the excitement of everything that no photos of any of these events were taken.

Hey! Look who it is!

After being sick for what seemed like an eternity (with most everything going around), we had a lot to catch up on. We have some photos from the last couple of weeks. John has some good stories, but no photos for them yet...we'll keep trying.

Sunday!

The photo in the middle is of the 18 Bible students and interested ones that attended the meeting with us this Sunday. You'll see several from the congregation in the pictures as all of the persons can't be cared for just by the two of us. There were six others that tried to come, but couldn't.
There is a photo of four boys. They were invited by EJ, one of John's studies---the one that called John on the phone to ask for a study. They said they would like to attend again. John is going to see if they and their parents would like to study.
Needless to say, we went to bed Sunday night tired and very happy!

Bar-B-Q

Learning to study

Susan

About two months ago, while leaving a door in a row of apartments, a lady waved and kept walking. I didn't recognize her and the sister I was with didn't even see her. We went to find her (to see if I had imagined the whole thing). She was standing in front of her apartment sweeping and grinning from ear to ear. We told her that we're Jehovah's Witnesses. She said she knew that. We offered a Bible study. She asked if we could come the next morning...Of course! She had just returned from Pohnpei the day before and for the year before that, she had been working for seven days a week.
We study in Ponapenglish....She studies from a Ponapean Bible Teach book and I use an English one. She reads in Ponapean and comments in English. She prepares ahead, including reading all the scriptures in the material. She makes good application of what she is studying too. She is working hard to bring her life in harmony with what Jehovah wants.
While she was reading the paragraph near the end of chapter one--the one about well-meaning persons who may try to get you to stop studying--a woman from across the way yells over in Ponapean and Susan yelled back. After she finished the paragrah, she said that the woman had asked why she would waste her time studying. Susan replied that she wants to know God.
She lives next door to Merlina and her family (photos in an old post) and encouraged everyone to attend the meeting last Sunday. Six of them came together.

Sasha

Sasha is great fun while Susan is studying!

Graduates 2010

The kids in the middle photo, Mary, CJ, and Jen, all graduated this year. Their families had a joint graduation party for them.

Family Day with Eziquiel

This is a photo that brings tears of joy to our eyes. Eziquiel was conducting a study with his kids for the first time. Before we got sick, John demonstrated how to conduct a family study for him. This day, he did it himself. We only commented a few times. They read the paragraphs and scriptures. Eziquiel asked questions to the kids. Eziquiel had a big smile on his face most of the morning. It was a most wonderful Saturday!

Yesterday, while picking up his girls to come over, he said that he never thought he would change his religion, but now, he thinks it would be good. He has been touched by the kindness shown his family. He said that they would tell the priest that they didn't have a ride to church. The priest would say that he would see them when they got a ride. He has been amazed that his girls were picked up this Sunday and that he will be next week. He is planning to go to the meeting during our circuit overseer's visit this week.

Reelein and Moana

This is a recent photo of Reelein. For two years, she has been the only one studying the Bible in her family. This was her first study in the Bible Teach book. She loves it! Sascha was my partner for the day. It is a beautiful thing to listen to Sascha and Reelein talk about the Bible together....out of the mouths of babes!

Moana is Reelein's big sister. It has been a long road, but this is a photo of her having her second study. She is so full of smiles now.

Casrine and Angel

We met Casrine last Tuesday. I had met her mom about two weeks ago, but she was busy. When we returned, Casrine came out. We read Isaiah 11:6-9 together. She enjoyed it and asked if we were Jehovah's Witnesses. She said that she used to study and had attended meetings before, but then no came to her home anymore. After more conversation, we gave her a Truth tract and asked if she had any questions--Yes! The one about what happens at death. Why? She said that spirits of the dead had troubled some in her family including her. We read the scriptures together under that topic. She asked us to come again the next day at 9am to continue the discussion. We read the chapter in the Learn from the Great Teacher book about Lazarus to help her understand the true condition of the dead. She liked what she heard and invited us back the next morning at 9am to begin studying the Bible Teach book. She is planning on attending the meeting this Sunday.
Meanwhile, she makes haute couture for her new kitten, Angel. The day of the photo, Angel is wearing a hot pink dress with a blue jacket.

Like Daughter, Like Mother

Meet Trinda. Trinda is Jaylinda's mom. This is Trinda's second study. They came to our apartment to study. Otherwise, we study outside. Three little boys--son and grandsons--climb all over Trinda and Jaylinda when the Bibles come out...this may be the same kind of thing that happens when I call my sisters...the boys suddenly need her attention NOW. Also, right not, the weather ranges from being VERY HOT to being VERY WET! So, indoors and in aircon is great. When they came, both bounced a little on the sofa and giggled. Usually, the floor is their seat, so it was big fun to be on a comfy sofa.
Trinda speaks three languages, Yapese (outer island version), Chuukese (outer island version), and English. She wants to study in English so that she and her kids are learning all together, but she reads better in Chuukese, so she uses that Bible Teach book. I am hopeful that she will agree to study with someone that speaks her language, but she is not wanting that now.

Team Effort