It's Thursday and exactly 2 weeks since I arrived in Guyana. I am not joking when I say it feels like much much longer. But with the 2 weeks has come more adjusting, and now I feel like I am settling in a bit better. There are still struggles every day, things I’m not used to or comfortable with, but I guess we never grow unless we are forced outside of our comfort zone! I’m trying to embrace each new obstacle or unfamiliarity with an open mind and willing spirit to learn.
Since returning from Georgetown with the new sister, Audrian Dixon, who is here for 2 weeks… things have been a bit brighter in the house. Meg and I quickly became close with her and admire here courage in coming down here even for 2 weeks. I know I will be sad to see her go on the 19th. After 2 nights in her bedroom she heard the “monsters” as she calls our rodent infestation. Yea, we have rats. Well we were hoping they were mice, but Meg caught sight of one last night as he was throwing down cups and destroying our pantry. He is apparently the size of a small dog. Don’t you wish you were here? Audrian has since moved her bed into our room and we are happy to have her. It just feels safer! Did I also mention we have bats living in our attic? We thought a baby one escaped and was fluttering around our room. We told Audrian (who is scared of ALL ANIMALS, that is was a "butterfly".) More like a BAT-ERFLY. :P Audrian, Meg, and I have been playing a lot of cards, Speed and Spit in particular… Bro. Ryan thought we were killing a cockroach because of the screams and stomping and slapping on the table. Nope, just a friendly game of Spit! It helps to sing and dance and do things to lift our spirits and keep positive.
Yesterday was our long preaching day along the Corentyne River. We drive about an hour and 15 minutes along the river, stopping for bible studies all along the coast. Yesterday we were with Sisters Donielle and Anna. We did about 8 bible studies and some search work which led us to 7 new deaf in those areas! It was a hot day, but very productive. At one house where we were searching I asked the man who was in the yard painting a Hindu God if he knew any deaf. He not only told us about one but had his son lead us to the home! There we met Tasha and her deaf sister Natasha who is 17. She is so sweet and eager to learn. She never stopped smiling and copying every sign we used. We left her with the God’s Friend DVD and brochure and will return next Wednesday to start her study. It is truly amazing to see Jehovah’s holy spirit leading in the search work for the deaf. Although fregquently here we get led to every other sort of ailment. A man with a bum knee, a girl who can’t walk, a blind man…I’m not sure what they are expecting! We even got asked to attend a funeral yesterday! I had to repeat that we are looking for DEAF not DEATH!!
At one point we were driving near a school searching for the home of a deaf man, and school let out before we could get out of the neighborhood. All of a sudden we saw 3 small school boys around 7 yrs old following our car and trying to push it and ride on the back. We got video of it all. It was hilarious! They would try and push the car then grab on to the back wipers and sit on the bumper. Highly dangerous! The sister kept stopping to get them off, and Audrian is yelling out the window, “Where are your parents!!!!” Too funny. Then they discovered I was video taping them and that only added fuel to the fire. They “pushed” our car all the way to the main road. No one was injured.
Since returning from Georgetown with the new sister, Audrian Dixon, who is here for 2 weeks… things have been a bit brighter in the house. Meg and I quickly became close with her and admire here courage in coming down here even for 2 weeks. I know I will be sad to see her go on the 19th. After 2 nights in her bedroom she heard the “monsters” as she calls our rodent infestation. Yea, we have rats. Well we were hoping they were mice, but Meg caught sight of one last night as he was throwing down cups and destroying our pantry. He is apparently the size of a small dog. Don’t you wish you were here? Audrian has since moved her bed into our room and we are happy to have her. It just feels safer! Did I also mention we have bats living in our attic? We thought a baby one escaped and was fluttering around our room. We told Audrian (who is scared of ALL ANIMALS, that is was a "butterfly".) More like a BAT-ERFLY. :P Audrian, Meg, and I have been playing a lot of cards, Speed and Spit in particular… Bro. Ryan thought we were killing a cockroach because of the screams and stomping and slapping on the table. Nope, just a friendly game of Spit! It helps to sing and dance and do things to lift our spirits and keep positive.
Yesterday was our long preaching day along the Corentyne River. We drive about an hour and 15 minutes along the river, stopping for bible studies all along the coast. Yesterday we were with Sisters Donielle and Anna. We did about 8 bible studies and some search work which led us to 7 new deaf in those areas! It was a hot day, but very productive. At one house where we were searching I asked the man who was in the yard painting a Hindu God if he knew any deaf. He not only told us about one but had his son lead us to the home! There we met Tasha and her deaf sister Natasha who is 17. She is so sweet and eager to learn. She never stopped smiling and copying every sign we used. We left her with the God’s Friend DVD and brochure and will return next Wednesday to start her study. It is truly amazing to see Jehovah’s holy spirit leading in the search work for the deaf. Although fregquently here we get led to every other sort of ailment. A man with a bum knee, a girl who can’t walk, a blind man…I’m not sure what they are expecting! We even got asked to attend a funeral yesterday! I had to repeat that we are looking for DEAF not DEATH!!
At one point we were driving near a school searching for the home of a deaf man, and school let out before we could get out of the neighborhood. All of a sudden we saw 3 small school boys around 7 yrs old following our car and trying to push it and ride on the back. We got video of it all. It was hilarious! They would try and push the car then grab on to the back wipers and sit on the bumper. Highly dangerous! The sister kept stopping to get them off, and Audrian is yelling out the window, “Where are your parents!!!!” Too funny. Then they discovered I was video taping them and that only added fuel to the fire. They “pushed” our car all the way to the main road. No one was injured.
One more funny thing, while searching for deaf, we stopped at this "restaurant" which was more like a pool hall, and a man was trying to direct us to the person we were searching for. At one point, Anna was signing to the 3 of us waiting in the car and i signed back and at that point the man looked right at me and pointed saying, "Oh! Is she dumb too?" We all had to stifle back our laughter, as Meg and Audrian said "yep she can be" in their minds. (nice friends i have!) See, all the Guyanese here call them "deaf and dumb". It sounds insulting but really it's just what they know.
After receiving the letter of recommendation from my congregation, I am now on the interpreting schedule for the meetings. My first assignment?? The public talk this Sunday. No pressure, eh? Hopefully I will get the outline in advance and can make a few notes and prepare the scriptures. Also a problem is understanding the Guyanese accent. Sometimes it is very difficult to make out what is being said. I know that Jehovah (and my prompter) will help me through it and enable the deaf to understand. ( I hope!!)
I will let you know how that all goes.
Well, it’s a beautiful sunny day outside, we’ve already had a brief rain shower, and now it’s time to run a few errands and get an ice cream cone at the Demicone (kind of like Dairy Queen with Curry). It has AC and is our new hang out.
Love to you all, and email me when you get a chance!
Oh, and a note to my dad: I will do some research on the rivers here and include them in my next posting!! ;)
After receiving the letter of recommendation from my congregation, I am now on the interpreting schedule for the meetings. My first assignment?? The public talk this Sunday. No pressure, eh? Hopefully I will get the outline in advance and can make a few notes and prepare the scriptures. Also a problem is understanding the Guyanese accent. Sometimes it is very difficult to make out what is being said. I know that Jehovah (and my prompter) will help me through it and enable the deaf to understand. ( I hope!!)
I will let you know how that all goes.
Well, it’s a beautiful sunny day outside, we’ve already had a brief rain shower, and now it’s time to run a few errands and get an ice cream cone at the Demicone (kind of like Dairy Queen with Curry). It has AC and is our new hang out.
Love to you all, and email me when you get a chance!
Oh, and a note to my dad: I will do some research on the rivers here and include them in my next posting!! ;)
P.S. I'm adding pictures to this post at night after meeting, and all i can hear is the squeaking of the bats in the attic!!! (it's just butterflies, it's just butterflies!!)
3 comments:
Hey Simone- Laurie and Mike here! We just wanted to say how much we admire your being there under circumstances that are different, challenging, and sometimes even dangerous.
You make sure to put everything in a positive light. That is what's most touching to me. Jehovah will bless your open-mindedness and looking at your assignment with joy. Or as they say in ASL--self self want want--push aside! Focus other people--THEIR want want. Focus focus negative--don't! Give joy will! Lol.
Your trip seems to be shaping up to be a beautiful experience. Perhaps it's hard at times--but just remember what Jonah's assignment was, and be happy that you probably won't be ingested by a big fish.
Much love, respect, and prayers-preach the word!
Laurie n Mike
BabyDoll! How enjoyable to read your posts. I totally agree with Laure and Mike. You have such good character (not like I am impartial, but true none the less) Just keep up the good work and write those experiences when they are fresh, your expressions build our faith and I am sure your own. Right now I am just able to read them all, it is 1am in Mom's ICU room on Friday night. I have been reading the new book to her and it seems to calm her (and me too as I an eager to read it). We love you and are so proud of your determination. Dad
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