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.