Walk the plank!

We are starting to think that we should have had some acrobatic training for the ministry before we came. This week we have been hiking up sides of cliffs and balancing on trails of "boardwalks" as they call them to get to houses. We have experienced this all along, but this week we have done this constantly. So, I thought it was worth mentioning. We were more conscious to take pictures this week, so we have included some of the places we've been. The pictures of Justin & I on the steps, don't do the situation justice. There was a reason we were snapping photos, the situation was crazy, but you just can't tell from the pictures. In Pandy Town, and many other villages, the islanders built their homes right on the water, but because the island is so mountainous, there were usually cliffs or mountains right up to the homes. But in most places, then they managed to get in a skinny road between them and the cliff. But, everyone who didn't get their home built on the water, just decided to build on the edge of the cliff. And if that's not bad enough, they usually go about 3 houses up. I mean, 1 house 10 feet up the cliff, another house behind and above about another 20 feet, and then a third above that. Are you with me? So, they're up there pretty high. And they don't always build nice steps up to them, sometimes just dirt, tree roots, and an occasional board here and there. So, we were up one of these crazy spots, and decided to get a picture, once we made it up alive. But our photos don't display the journey we just took very well. Next time I'll try to get a better angle.

 

 

 

Then, from there, we went to the end of Pandy Town to an area, we found out later, they call "The Swamp", to do some door-to-door. That got a little crazy too. You see the road ends, but there are still houses that keep going out into the water. The only way to get to them is on "the boardwalks", an intricate maze of boards, some sturdy, some not. So, you've gotta keep your balance on! Because, believe me, you don't want to fall in that water. It doesn't look like West Bay Beach. And we've been told there are alligators around too. I haven't seen any yet fortunately. So, we had fun with it though. Justin got an awesome call out of our journey back through there too. We tried a few houses back one trailway, and thought people were hiding from us, because we could hear music on in one house. I kept yelling and no one ever came. So, we went on and tried a few more, but then when we were heading back, a young man came up behind us, so we started talking to him. It turns out he used to study, but he said the people that used to study with him never came back. So Justin said "would you like to study again?" And he said excitedly "yes". Then, Justin said about the meetings and he said that the people that used to study with him were supposed to take him, but never did. So, Justin said, "we'll take you". We figure, it was probably visitors that just didn't follow up with getting someone to call on him when they left or something like that. I think that happens a lot. So anyhow, Justin had 1 study with him so far, and said he is really smart and thinks he will do well. We were so excited to pick him up for meeting, but when we got there, we found out he took a trip to the mainland. So hopefully next week.

 

 

 

 Service meeting Thursday

 

 

 

My study didn't make it to the meeting this week either. She had some stuff to do with her family. So, we didn't have a big crowd, still holding at about 16. Jana's study came with all her children though. She has been coming by herself usually, but Jana has been encouraging the daughters to come too. She has been wanting me to start studying with them, but they are so shy, and need some encouragement. But Jana said that the last she talked to them she thought they finally agreed. So when we drove them home after the meeting, I asked them if they would like to study, and they both quietly said yes. So I'm excited to see how it goes. They are around 19 & 21. The 19 year old has a 2 month old baby named Dwight. He is the cutest thing I have ever seen! I will try to get a picture. And the 21 year old is 8 months pregnant. So, it's a good time for them to be getting some guidance from the bible. Justin is going to study with their little brother who is 11. So, we'll see if we can get this family to be the first publishers in the Oak Ridge English Congregation! Ok, friends, that's all for now!!