Somebody else wanted to go in service this morning!

Future Pioneer?

Just after we met this man, he went to his friend and we think he gave the same presentation he just heard. Notice how he is pointing to the inside of the tract showing how the Bible will answer the question on the front!

Just what we need...

This is the December Watchtower cover for the Micronesian languages. It is a special issue and we have been so happy to use it this month! If you want to know what it says, check out the October 2007 Awake! magazine. We had a announcement in the summer saying that we should place orders for what we would use this month. Following the advice in a recent Kingdom Ministry, we thought of who might like to have this special copy. We visited all on our list and took orders to be delivered this month. The Victims' Assistance Unit of the GPD and the Department of Youth Affairs asked for a large supply. During the week right before we delivered the magazines, two young girls were attacked by a group of boys, one underage. Both of these agencies had been involved in the aftermath of the crime. When we came, they said they were waiting for us and were so happy to have their copies of the magazine. The GPD is featuring this magazine in their monthly meeting. The Consul Generals of FSM and Palau both wanted enough copies for the representatives for each of their states and they gave us the phone number of a lady who is trying to get a Marshallese consulate established. She ordered enough magazines for every Marshallese family on Guam and intends to have them distributed this month. We feel very blessed to be part of this outstanding organization who knows the God who cares so very much about even the smallest one in the family.

We have been trying to reach all of the Ponapeans that we know with this magazine. Today, each person wanted their own copy.

This has been the reaction of most of the people we saw today....

Kingdom News

This month, we started distribution of Kingdom News #38. This is how John's first door went: He offered the tract. It was accepted. Then he showed the young man the video, "Why Study the Bible?" He accepted a study and the Good News brochure. To make sure John had the correct spelling of his name, the young man showed him a tattoo on his arm. 

Home Sweet Home

We're back home! 

Our hearts are full. It had been such a long time since we'd seen our family and friends. This visit was just what we needed. Then, right before we left Oklahoma, we received a very nice invitation to the first Bible School for Christian Couples in Guam (and probably the last, since the schools are changing!). We are so excited and surprised at the same time!! Our 24 classmates (and friends) are all serving in islands in the Guam branch territory.  It starts in early February! 

Just Us Chickens

Our little family of girls turned into a big family of boys!

This is the first time since I left home that we've all been at an assembly together. What fun!

Mama and Daddy

Joanna and her boys

Bekah and Luis 

...and their boys

One of the highlights of the time in Oklahoma

Friends and family

All of us girls have known each other since we were very young. Now, most are raising kids that all love each other too. Within this group are kids that are learning or know Spanish, two are learning Chinese, two are applying for Bethel in short order. The sky's the limit! They are all so nice and special to us and their families.

Jimmy and Desiree

They were serving Matt and Tif's congregation the weekend we visited. They worked on the branch in Guam in 2005. They brought old photos of our congregation. It was so nice to meet them.

John and Maddy

She couldn't get enough of him all day. I think the feeling was mutual!

The boys

The City Is Still There, Just Where We Left It

Same old neighborhood, New view

Brother Wischuk, my dear friend from my first congregation in NYC

Tony, my first overseer at Bethel

Brother Wischuk reminded us that Cedarhurst congregation meetings were the night we were in Brooklyn, so we took a drive out there and surprised some of our old friends. I was in this congregation from 1990 till we got married in 1997. John got to be part of this congregation for one year.

Francois and Denide just made us come! They moved to Cedarhurst a few months before I did from a French congregation. Denide couldn't speak much English and I don't speak French, so we cooked together, went in service together and became close friends. It was so wonderful to spend a few hours with them. 

Jonathan, (JoJo) is their youngest son. He was about five when John joined me in Cedarhurst. He was the cutest little baby and growing boy. Now he is a ministerial servant and regular pioneer in the Creole congregation in NYC. He was so encouraging to us.

John met up with his dear friend and basketball buddy, Joe

Reggie and John go pretty far back in time together...

As does this group

Our nephew, Michael, is serving at Wallkill. He and his friends work in the bindery. That's where I used to work when it was in Brooklyn. Wow! So much has changed. We had a good time exchanging bindery stories. It is so amazing to see the amount of work done by fewer people, but the camaraderie is still the same.  

Brother Foster was the overseer of the bindery while I was there and he is still the overseer. It was so great to see him.

We were so encouraged by our visit with Bob and Randi.They are so busy in the ministry and at Wallkill. It was thrilling to hear of all the expansion and growth at Bethel.

And thanks for marrying us! 

There Were Lobsters in New Hampshire!

Lobster Mondays at Mom and Dad's

Mom and Dad, John and his sister, Valerie

Most everybody 

Mom passing on the card gene  

Nathan was baptized 

Here he is with his whole family. We were all so happy! The lovely lady is John's sister, Cristine.

We were there!!!! 

And so was the family! All of the rest of the family attended the same day at different Kingdom Halls. What a moment!!

  Look at us pumpkins

Dan and Cynthia (our niece) with their fast-moving kids

Dad and Justin 

Makayla 

At her Nepali class

She's 14. 

Makayla's class

Mom and Dad's backyard