1 Whole Year & 2nd Memorial in Belize

Well, actually I had meant to post a blog on the anniversary of our 1 whole year here in Caye Caulker Belize, but… well, oops is all I can say 🙁 You know how Memorial seasons go, right?

Ok, so, as usual, lots of catching up to do! So, let’s see, last blog was on the last day of February, so here it goes:

March & April

Rich and I enjoyed our month of auxilliary pioneering and distributing Memorial invitations in March tremendously! Our little English congregation of 22 publishers covered our whole territory (including the north island (other side of the ‘split’) and Chapel Caye (another island about 20 min. boat ride away). Despite this amazing coverage with the invitations, surprisingly and disappointingly, we had a smaller Memorial attendance this year rather than a larger one as we had expected! Still though, 79 is still awesome for 22 publishers, right?

Richard and Bro. Hagerty were asked to give the prayers for the wine and bread at the Spanish Memorial because they didn’t have any servants to do so! He did a great job for being totally rusty with Spanish! First time we’ve ever attended two Memorials in one night!

My study, Maritze continues to make great progress and is attending meetings, although because it is so difficult for her to get to the KH from where she lives, she’s been attending the Spanish meetings (she gets a golf-cart ride with her soon-to-be inlaws). But she attended both the English and Spanish Memorial observances! I asked her afterward “So which one did you get the most out of, English or Spanish?” She said “Both equally”.

Jaime and Ulysis also attended, but that’s all. Nearly all my other studies said they were coming, but didn’t show up. Possible reason for the low attendance was a downpour began just at the time people would have been leaving to come to the KH. Also, March/April are THE biggest tourism months here and since most people work in that industry, it’s hard to get time off without getting fired! Actually, it’s for this reason I’ve only been able to report 4 studies lately. Things are slowing down now though, so they should have more time to get back to their spiritual routine again.

Oh yes, you may have noticed that I mentioned ’22’ publishers whereas last blog said we had 17+2 pioneers. Well, yes, we have 3 new publishers since then. One is a reinstated sister (Reina’s daughter). Another is Christian Magana (Buddy & Maria’s son who Rich has been studying with) and the third is 9 yr old Gavin Henderson, son of the family that moved here just after we did, from Mississippi.

Richard’s study Evan from the North island, had to move to the mainland, but promises to keep up his study there. Rich has a number of very regular studies, one of whom comes to meetings frequently.

Dianne (upstairs) had to make a sudden trip home to Michegan because of the tragic death of her grandson. She will be gone for a few months and we’re really missing her already. They couldn’t afford for them both to go, so Larry had to stay behind.

We’re also missing young Luke who went back to B.C. last month. Rick and Donna Falk get a constant stream of friends visiting them though, so we always have fresh new faces here to help out and add their encouraging comments at the meetings.

The other day I was excited to re-establish a bible study with Shehady. You may remember she was the girl who worked at the first place we stayed when we arrived last year. Hopefully it will continue this time!

We’ve begun the process of applying for our residency here now that we’ve completed the required 1 year. We got our blood tests done yesterday here on Caye Caulker, but for everything else we are going to make the trip to Belmopan, the capital. We need a police record from there and other things which escape my memory at the moment. We’re combining it with the trip to Ladyville where Rich is giving the talk on May 4th.

We were excited and hopeful when Isaac and Jo last month started asking us about the possibility of a need here in Belize for sign language publishers… but then they were contacted by an elder in Otavalo, Ecuador who encouraged them to consider going back there as the sign publishers had greatly diminished and so there is a big need there again. They’re seriously considering it. We were so close to being reunited again in the same country, but, of course, it’s where they’re needed most in the preaching work that is the important thing! Putting Kingdom interests first *always* results in blessings… and especially we can all look forwarded to spending countless wonderful hours, days & years together when we’re all enjoying ‘the real life‘ in the new system… soon!!

Which reminds me… looking forward excitedly to tonight’s special meeting (which I assume all of you are as well) with the tie-in with the zone visit! Our’s is at 5pm and we’ll be joining with the Spanish congregation for it. We’re still unclear if it’s going to be in Spanish or English and whether there will be translation done or what. We’ll know in just over an hour from now 🙂 (update: The WT, the Report Talk & the talk on Generosity were all in Spanish… no subtitles even. The only one we understood was the talk by the Zone Overseer ‘Display the Mind of Christ…’)

May is going to be another busy month! Besides our having to jump the hoops for our residency we have the talk in Ladyville trip on May 4th, the Special Assembly Day on May 12th, then immediately after, the C.O. visit starting on the 14th! They will be staying with us… first time our spare room will be put to use since we’ve lived here! Rich and I will be auxilliary pioneering again for May as well, so we’re looking forward to attending the meeting with the pioneers during the C.O. visit as well! I think there are again quite a few doing the same!

The other day a couple who are serving in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, stopped out front to take a picture of the KH and I went out to talk with them. Turned out we had a friend in common… Morgan Pintar, who they had just provided hospitality to the week before when he had gone to their congregation to give the talk! Of course, Morgan lives in Cozumel, not far from them.

Oh, yes, that reminds me, also last week I received a Skype message from Cora (Lambie) Ketchabaw telling me that they had just had lunch with none other than our former C.O. and his wife (the Lachinski’s) and that they were telling them all about the congregation in Caye Caulker and mentioned our names… and that we had lived in Cape Breton, etc etc. and Cora told them ‘so did I!!’ So much fun when that happens because of our loving brotherhood!

So, besides missing all of you… our family and friends, we’re happy to be serving where the need is great here in Belize! We’re still hoping our house will sell so we can afford to take a trip home for a visit! Any extra prayers along those lines appreciated 😉

Ok, picture time:

Invitation Work by Boat

 Memorial

 Novelties