New Beginnings

The day before the zone visit talk, Perry and Melisa were married.

Starting marriage off the right way. 

Lovely Melisa

The new family

Kym, pictured with her daughters, Mandy and Megan, made this beautiful cake.

So Much To Do...So Little Time!

During the week leading up to the Memorial, we had some nice sized groups for field service. This was Thursday's group. The kids had the day off from school, so we had an extra treat with their company!

We took just a few pictures from our Memorial. Wish we had more..... 

Jesilin has many reasons for joy. Her goal was to have her whole family attend with her. Her immediate family came. This is her husband and beautiful group of boys. The young man on the far left is her nephew. Her sister, her sister's husband and their kids came. All together, 12 members of Jesilin's family attended. Her sister agreed to a visit this week to answer any questions she might have.

Jesilin's husband, Albert began studying last Thursday with John. 

Joel and Joselle (the top of her head is very cute!) along with Joel's mother, Candy were there. Candy is studying like crazy! She'll have her own post as there is much to tell about this dear lady. 

Artiko and her son Zac came. She had stopped studying for a while, but has renewed enthusiasm for her study. Her grandfather is a Witness in the Marshall Islands. 

Reelein was able to attend since her parents were away and some distant relatives came. 

Adrian and his sister, Kayelani were all smiles.

Kayelani gave her first comment at the meeting last night. Amazingly, she didn't pass out, hyperventilate, or vomit! Now, she has set a new goal regarding commenting--to comment during every segment of the meeting. It is always encouraging to hear her new goals and see how she meets them.

Wilson distributed 10 invitations to his neighbors and friends. One man attended and really enjoyed himself.

Our Memorial was held in one of the hotels. There were 252 present. At the Japanese group's Memorial, 16 attended. And at the DOC, 39 attended. That's an attendance of 307 for our congregation of about 100 publishers. Wow! We have a lot of work ahead!

Kapinga Siohwa!!

Sunday, April 10

The first meeting in the Ponapean language on Guam

54 attended

16 were students and their families

The last song was #2 "Se Kalahngankihong Komwi, Siohwa"

We were so happy to be part of this day. Two of our students commented--Peter, who is to the right of John and Susan, wearing the brown dress in the middle of the front row . We are looking forward to seeing how this will impact their spiritual progress.

Look just to the right of the sister in the very bright red dress in the front. You will see Ampelina Norman. She was baptized in Pohnpei in 1966 (the second witness on the island). All of us were thrilled to have her with us on Sunday.

On the back row, three men from the left is Lomas. He grew up in the same neighborhood as Ampelina. He's known her since he was 8. They were happy to see each other at the Kingdom Hall. He is Susan's neighbor and has never expressed much interest until now. He was completely engrossed in the public talk, shaking his head in agreement throughout. Three others that haven't studied before came too and enjoyed themselves.

On the middle/left side of the photo, you'll see Aaron and Christy. Christy's wearing a red blouse and holding a child. She has been studying with the young lady in front of her for only about a month. She attended with her four children.

This was such a blessing for our students who've shown much patience and humility attending English meetings and assemblies that they struggle to understand. What a beautiful gift from the giver of all good gifts!

Preparations for Sunday!

Susan wanted to study with the Tatsuo and Yoko. They are missionaries from Japan that are now part of the translation team in Pohnpei. Here, they are helping Susan to have the correct understanding of holy spirit. The Ponapean Bible uses a term that means a literal holy ghost. Now, we have a clearer understanding and use a more correct term, but it takes some reasoning for a student to understand.

Susan was able to study with Tatsuo and Yoko on Wednesday and Thursday. Maklain also studied with Susan. She has never wanted to before. 

Jersy is related to many in the congregation in Pohnpei. She speaks very little English, so she was VERY happy to visit a bit with Tatsuo and Yoko. 

Gale and her lovely children

Amy and Lolen spent Wednesday night inviting new ones to the meeting for Sunday. We started a new study that night with a young woman that Yoko and I met earlier in the day. She was visiting someone else's home at the time. She said she felt like God was trying to help her! 

Saturday night, we got together at Susan's home to practice the songs and prepare comments for the Watchtower study. Because we were singing outside, neighbors came by and sang too. Everyone in this photo came to the meeting except for the man on the far left. He didn't get off of work in time.

Wednesday Morning with the Millers

This week, we enjoyed a talk by a visiting brother from Brooklyn Bethel. He was here for a zone visit. Primarily, he is meeting with those at Bethel here, missionaries, translators and construction workers from the islands surrounding us. So, that means we get a special talk by the visiting brother and time with missionaries and translators that have come for the visit.

On Wednesday, Sean and Kathy, who are currently in Kosrae, volunteered to study with Wilson. This was quite a treat for Wilson...and us too! You can see from the photos that others joined us.  A new study was started with another man from Kosrae that morning.

Wilson gave his first comment at the meeting this Tuesday!!

Queen Mary 2

The Queen Mary 2 docked in Apra Harbor for a few hours. It's is the largest cruise ship in the world. We filled up the car and went to have a look.

What a Weekend!

This weekend, we attended our circuit assembly. With so much activity, these are the few pictures we were able to take.

Adrian and Kayelani's mom is visiting them from Saipan. She got to catch up with old friends, like Novi.
We love these kids!

Yes! You are seeing correctly!!! Peter and Merlina with three of their daughters (seen in the photo above) attended on Sunday morning. It was Peter's first meeting. Words can't describe the utter joy that we feel when we look at this picture. Remember that Peter and Merlina's first language is Ponapean. It requires much effort for them to listen and understand English, but they tried and we are sure that Jehovah will bless them for their effort.

Girls are the same everywhere! Get a camera out and we're there!
Mandy and Megan are on the left. They are studying with Georgina (the cutie in the orange shirt). Maylene and Karen are on either side of their mom, Merlina. Tetfina's daughters are in front of Emily, with Tetfina to her left. Kayelani and her mom are on the far right.
Candy is on Emily's right. She is the mother of Joel, a young father with four kids that has been studying with John. (He sttended the assembly on Saturday.) Four weeks ago, Candy agreed to study. She came Saturday morning and all day Sunday. Many times, she's said during her study that she can't understand why, in her 50 years of being a Catholic, she hasn't learned whatever we are reading in the Bible. By Sunday afternoon, her note-taking was in full swing and by the end of the program, it was like she knew this is where she belonged. We are looking forward to seeing the truth continue to set her free.

Liam the Carabao

Jeremiah has named this carabao Liam. He spends most of his day sitting in a big mud puddle.

Pioneer Buddies

John conducts the meeting for service and Jeremiah keeps a close eye on the territory.

Guard Chicken

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.