Things Seen and Heard

We get to see a lot of amazing things here on Guam. Some we get to take pictures of to share with you, but sometimes, things happen that can't be photographed. Here's a few things that happened last week...
Last Saturday evening, we went to study with the Peter family. Seven study together in their little two room home. As we passed the window of the main room, we could see all of them sitting together in the floor with their books and Bibles waiting quietly for us to fill the last two spots in the circle of family.
Earlier in the week, Georgina's (8 years old) parents stopped me in the grocery store and said thank you for helping their daughter. They said that since she has been having a Bible study and going to the Kingdom Hall, her grades in school have improved. She is on the B honor roll and got a 'most improved' certificate last semester. She was also 'student of the month'.
On Monday, Megan and I went to study with Georgina. When Megan got ready to pray at the end of the study, Georgina made sure that her little chihuahua had it's eyes covered and was ready to pray too. During the prayer, we heard her saying, "Be still. SHH!" (We peeked!) She had stopped a stray dog that passed right by her and was trying to cover it's eyes to pray too.
When we went to study with Susan and Pete, a young woman we'd never seen before approached John and asked if we were Jehovah's Witnesses. She said that she studied when she was a child and a few other times while she was growing up. Her favorite book is the 'Greatest Man' book. She asked for one and a Bible study. She is Pete's niece.
Other wonderful things that have made us smile...having a four year old in the back seat of the car belt out "Move Ahead" at the top of his lungs with the Kingdom Melodies, having a student tell you during a meeting that they'd like to be a publisher so they can share in the ministry during April, hearing my husband sing the choruses of several Kingdom Songs with a young one while playing together in the living room, studying the Watchtower together with two students/friends, then working a jigsaw puzzle together with them for hours, finally, having a student come to our meeting in the middle of the Watchtower study after attending part of the meeting in the other Kingdom Hall in our complex---then going to get the rest of the family to join our congregation for the end of the meeting.
We hope these things made you smile too!

Interchange of Encouragement

This week, we were visited by our circuit overseer and his wife, Glenn and Patti. It was a great week! We each were able to have them spend time with some of our students, giving needed suggestions on ways to help them (and us) make improvements. See those smiles! How can you not have a great time during the week!!

More happiness! We have a congregation of 100 publishers...84 met for service on Saturday!

Fast Friends

This lady with the sweet smile is Tetfina. She lives in the same apartments as Susan & Pete and Merlina & Peter and a few others that we call on. When I met her for the first time, she said, "I see you studying the Bible with all these people, why haven't you come to study with me?" Well--that's not always easy to answer satisfactorily, even if you never seen the person before--so the best thing to do is just ask when the person would like to start their study. That was two and a half weeks ago. Her four children attended the Sunday meeting with the Chuukese group immediately. (see post: 'First Time at the Kingdom Hall') She wasn't able to go and was very disappointed. Tetfina and I had an appointment for last Friday evening to start our study. She speaks English and Chuukese and I wasn't sure which language would be best for her to learn in and she wanted to muddle through with me, so I asked for help from Jehovah to make it clear. As we sat down to study, her husband, Patrick, came out and joined us. We studied the first chapter of the Bible Teach book in English and Chuukese. Tetfina has read the entire Bible Teach book. She learned God's name is Jiowa from her reading. After discussing it's meaning and the importance of using it in prayer, she held her Bible to her heart and said in Chuukese, "Jehovah is my Lord." It's always amazing to see how much more someone can get from a study versus just realing on their own. As we studied, it became quite clear what language they should study in together, since Patrick speaks and understands a little English and reads only a little Chuukese. Both said they would like to attend the meeting with the Chuukese group on Sunday afternoon. Patrick was sick, but Tetfina and her two girls attended and loved it! Tetfina was happy to receive an English New World Translation because, as she so correctly pointed out, it's hard to understand the Bibles with all the 'old' language. She clasped it tightly and said that this is what she had always wanted! How I wish I could continue to study with this young woman with a warm heart so full of appreciation for spiritual things, but as John pointed out to us both, we can still be friends. A lovely pioneer couple from the Chuukese group will be studying with Patrick and Tetfina, while John and I are eager to see them grow closer to Jiowa so they can love and serve him together with us.

Tea, Anyone?

Saturday, we had a tea party! All of the girls in our congregation that are around 10 years old came to our home. We sang Kingdom songs--the girls picked their favorites to sing. Kym, Mandy and Megan helped the girls make their own bracelets. Then we did whatever 10 year old girls do!

Jenga Master

First Talk

Jonathan gave his first Bible reading last week. It was from Ezra 7 with a zillion Hebrew names in it. He practiced and practiced and it paid off.