Tuesday, February/febrero 18, 2014
WARNING: This is a LONG post. So, please grab yourself a cup of coffee, tea, water, or whatever rocks your world-even a snack if you need it!
What I love about the ministry is the amazing experiences. For instance, on Tuesday we went to the Fatima bario (neighborhood) of Leon with the friends you see in the photo below.
Then, when another group returns to the area, we specifically look for those people who speak English, using all the helpful information the other friends have gathered. You may wonder: "Why don't you just look for addresses and streets?" There are no consistent addresses or streets! Bills are delivered with directions like, "2 blocks west of Guadalupe Park" or "1 1/2 blocks north of Central Park." Comprendo? Tangent over-back to my story.
Matilda was my service partner, and we were assigned block 7. We were confused and asked a guard for help, which he did-in some English! We talked with him for probably 10-15 minutes. He was
given an English meeting invitation and a set of magazines in Spanish. Cool right? It gets even better-he also gave us his address and phone number so someone can visit him at his house!
We went to a house and asked for the English speaker. We were invited inside by her employee and waited for her boss, who is very Catholic-and made it clear that she wouldn't change. She was very passionate about her beliefs and was upset at all the other "Christian" religions. I tried to get on common ground by talking about the Kingdom she prays for in the Our Father prayer. However, she asked me what religion we are. 'Testigos de Jehova,' I answered. 'No, no, no, no, no,' (or to that effect) and was even more upset and passionate. What do I do now? I asked Jehovah for help to know what to do. I had noticed her pictures earlier but looked at them again at this point. The pictures were of her daughter and her. She then told us that her only daughter-her only child-died 2 years ago at 23 of a heart attack! She's obviously still misses her, but almost as instantly as she started talking about her, the whole atmosphere changed. She became calmer and opened up to us. She even allowed me to share 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4, which she appreciated. She herself is experiencing heart problems and other illnesses. We exchanged e-mails, and she had had prepared for us some te frio rico (delicious iced tea-please don't roll your eyes, my British friends. It's not an oxymoron:) I thank Jehovah for His help with this potentially explosive situation!
Now for the reconnections. The last time I was in Nicaragua, I met a teenage girl who was visiting her grandparents in Leon. Her name is Celeste. We had a nice conversation, and she took a tract. On returning the next day, she liked what she read and believed it was the truth! Now, before you get too excited, she already had some contact with the Witnesses, like her other grandma is one of Jehovah's Witnesses and her mom was studying-close to baptism! Celeste had already decided that she did not want to be Catholic anymore. She lives in Managua and returned there not too long after our conversation. I lost contact with her. This time around I went back to her grandparents' house here in Leon and met her aunt, who gave me her cell number. Our silly phone didn't let me send her a text right away, but I tried again a couple of weeks later and it worked! She quickly texted back and said that she had been waiting for my message! She's studying with a sister in the congregation-I'm waiting to hear more from her.
Lastly-I promise-mi amiga, Hazel, and I went to the Eskimo for ice cream after a tiring day (seriously this whole account was Tuesday). The same sweet girl who worked there over a year ago was still working there. Mayer-who's in the picture below-remembered me and was excited to see me as I was excited to see her! Now, our conversations have to be translated because my Spanish is muy poquito (very little) and her English is the same. I left her something to read on the last trip, and hope to do something more with her this time!
So, how was your beverage and snack? It may be time for your next meal;) Thanks again for your ear and time!
WARNING: This is a LONG post. So, please grab yourself a cup of coffee, tea, water, or whatever rocks your world-even a snack if you need it!
What I love about the ministry is the amazing experiences. For instance, on Tuesday we went to the Fatima bario (neighborhood) of Leon with the friends you see in the photo below.
Front buddies: Sergio, Sergito, Mariella, Fanny, Matilda
Cutie in the back: Jacquelyn
Here in Leon English "territory" is different than in the States. When we do the search work and find people who speak English, they're written down-what side of the block he/she lives on, what color the house is, which block number of the territory card it is, etc, (See below)
Matilda was my service partner, and we were assigned block 7. We were confused and asked a guard for help, which he did-in some English! We talked with him for probably 10-15 minutes. He was
We went to a house and asked for the English speaker. We were invited inside by her employee and waited for her boss, who is very Catholic-and made it clear that she wouldn't change. She was very passionate about her beliefs and was upset at all the other "Christian" religions. I tried to get on common ground by talking about the Kingdom she prays for in the Our Father prayer. However, she asked me what religion we are. 'Testigos de Jehova,' I answered. 'No, no, no, no, no,' (or to that effect) and was even more upset and passionate. What do I do now? I asked Jehovah for help to know what to do. I had noticed her pictures earlier but looked at them again at this point. The pictures were of her daughter and her. She then told us that her only daughter-her only child-died 2 years ago at 23 of a heart attack! She's obviously still misses her, but almost as instantly as she started talking about her, the whole atmosphere changed. She became calmer and opened up to us. She even allowed me to share 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4, which she appreciated. She herself is experiencing heart problems and other illnesses. We exchanged e-mails, and she had had prepared for us some te frio rico (delicious iced tea-please don't roll your eyes, my British friends. It's not an oxymoron:) I thank Jehovah for His help with this potentially explosive situation!
Now for the reconnections. The last time I was in Nicaragua, I met a teenage girl who was visiting her grandparents in Leon. Her name is Celeste. We had a nice conversation, and she took a tract. On returning the next day, she liked what she read and believed it was the truth! Now, before you get too excited, she already had some contact with the Witnesses, like her other grandma is one of Jehovah's Witnesses and her mom was studying-close to baptism! Celeste had already decided that she did not want to be Catholic anymore. She lives in Managua and returned there not too long after our conversation. I lost contact with her. This time around I went back to her grandparents' house here in Leon and met her aunt, who gave me her cell number. Our silly phone didn't let me send her a text right away, but I tried again a couple of weeks later and it worked! She quickly texted back and said that she had been waiting for my message! She's studying with a sister in the congregation-I'm waiting to hear more from her.
Lastly-I promise-mi amiga, Hazel, and I went to the Eskimo for ice cream after a tiring day (seriously this whole account was Tuesday). The same sweet girl who worked there over a year ago was still working there. Mayer-who's in the picture below-remembered me and was excited to see me as I was excited to see her! Now, our conversations have to be translated because my Spanish is muy poquito (very little) and her English is the same. I left her something to read on the last trip, and hope to do something more with her this time!
So, how was your beverage and snack? It may be time for your next meal;) Thanks again for your ear and time!
Nay Nay
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