A fond farewell ...

At the weekend the congregation said a beautiful and emotional farewell to the coordinator and his wife.  After 9 years on the island, they are moving to the mainland to support a small English group who is in desperate need of elders (they currently don't have any).

We met them twice, what a lovely couple! So focussed on supporting the congregation and Jehovah's organisation.  It is easy to see why they are so loved, and why everyone went to a huge amount of effort to give them a good send off!

The party was held in the garden/pool at the apartments where we stay.  A sister, who was a party planner in a previous life, arranged for different ones to bring food and some provided decorations, drinks, flowers etc. and set everything up beautifully.

It was a gorgeous day! A local sister, who is an artist, painted two paintings for everyone to write messages on. These were given to the couple at the end of the party.

We enjoyed a feast of some amazing foods! Stew chicken, pulled beef, gumbo, chicken wings, beans, rice, coriander rice, salads ... Cinnamon buns, black cake, banoffee pie, pineapple etc etc etc. We have never eaten so well!! (Or so much!)

We feel really privileged to have been part of this farewell!

The beautiful venue!

Assie caught sussing out the food table

Phil and Shane

The lights went out!

It's not unusual for the electricity and water to go out on the island, sometimes for a few hours.

We experienced our first power cut last week.  We had just showered before the meeting, and the electricity went out - I (Steph) had wet hair and a part on the meeting. So, we got ready by torch light and headed to the hall - fuzzy hair and all!  We were the first to arrive; Assie and Phil brought torches and Assie had arranged for other brothers to bring lanterns etc.

All the sisters were walking round apologising for their appearance, and agreeing to ignore mismatched outfits and crazy make-up if the lights came back on during the meeting!

Slowly the hall filled with 15-20 members of the congregation. The platform was set up with a lantern on the rostrum and a lantern on the table for the school parts. We were working out who would lead the singing so that we could follow a tune.

At 6.58 Phil walked outside the hall and noticed that some houses had lights on.  He walked back in, flicked the light switch and the lights came on!  Which was slightly anticlimactic, we were all ready for our first meeting in the dark and now my fuzzy hair was visible from the platform!

Rudy, Janine and Assie

Me and Bronwyn strategisig for our talk!

A day in the life ...

It's hard to imagine life out of the rat race, let alone life in another country, so we thought we'd share a typical day with you to give you a flavour of how we're spending our time.

We wake up around 7.00, mainly due to the air taxi landing strip being right outside our bedroom!  We put a pot of coffee on, and within a couple of minutes Assie drifts through into our apartment with coffee cup in hand :)

We sometimes go on early street work along the beach, and sometimes straight to the group which meets at 9.00.  From there we'll get some territory, and assigned partners. First call lasts maybe 1.5 hours.  In that time you might do 4 or 5 doors, and speak to each householder for 20 mins or so.  Most of the territory does not have street names or house numbers, so its always fun working out where we need to go and how to find interested ones again!

Bro Tristan taking the ministry group

Our territory a couple of days ago was properties along the beach

After that we will usually take a break to get refreshments and shade - the heat and humidity are pretty tough going by mid morning. Then we'll do RVs and studies with whoever is in our cart for an hour or two.

Much needed iced coffee!

After ministry we'll head back to the apartment for lunch (or grab chicken, rice and beans from a street vendor down the road).

Chicken, rice & beans with coleslaw

The afternoons are our play time :)  We usually head to a dock for a couple of hours to swim/snorkel and soak up the sun, sometimes with other brothers and sisters. Sometimes Phil and Assie go fishing and see what they can catch for dinner.  Other times we go to the pool at our apartment.

Phil with two of his favourite things; beer and the GoPro!

One of the many docks that we spend afternoons on

Phil trying to catch dinner

Evenings are either study, meetings, chilling out at the apartment, going for ice cream or dinner with friends. Occasionally we will eat a fish caught by the boys :)

The English Cong this week

The English Cong this week

Eating Phil's catch of the day!

Enjoying ice-cream ... Lots of ice-cream!

As you can see, we're completely flat out, no time to think!!   ;) It's amazing how quickly you can adjust to a less stressful way of life.  Having time is such a luxury; suddenly things become more enjoyable - study, getting to know new friends, spending time with each other, ministry, meetings.  We only have 2 weeks of this luxury left so we need to make the most of it!!

Need greaters!

We thought we should dedicate a post to the need greaters here. We have been so encouraged by the lengths our brothers and sisters go to to share in this special work - and we come have realised how accessible this avenue of service is - we want to share it with you!

First, we met a couple from Canada. They are about our age. They have been regular pioneering for 4 years, and in that time have done a number of short need greater trips - both in Canada and overseas.  They visited San Pedro for a couple of weeks last winter after receiving direction from the Mexico branch.  4 months ago they came here for a 6 month trip.  However they are now considering staying longer due to the need out here, and are looking at ways to facilitate this. Both continue to pioneer, and he serves as a ministerial servant.

Next, we met a sister from the US.  She is in her early 40s. She set the goal of coming here almost 5 years ago after talking with a few brothers and sisters who had been, and understanding the need for preaching support.  Over the next 4 years she experienced a number of very difficult trials, including losing everything she had, but she never lost her focus.  She arrived by boat almost 1 year ago, and credits every day she is here to Jehovah. She will be here as long as she can, hopefully until the new system!

Then we met a young brother from the US. He is 18. His cousin and her husband serve here.  He has been staying with them for the last few months and will be here until February time. He is supporting the congregation both in the ministry and as a ministerial servant.

We also met a couple, in their late 60s/70s, who moved here two months ago from the US.  They visited the island on holiday, realised the need, went home and sold up and moved here permanently.  Although he suffered a stroke a few years ago which has left him with difficulties in mobility, he continues to pioneer and serves as one of the two elders permanently assigned to the congregation.

Finally, we met a couple from the UK. They are here for a couple of weeks before heading to the mainland where they have been asked to support a Creole congregation.  They will stay there for the remainder of their trip - approximately 6 weeks.  They are so far out of their comfort zone - too many creatures for them! But their love for Jehovah continues to drive them.

Everyone mentioned above is in different circumstances, from different backgrounds, and can contribute different things to the need out here.  Together with the local brothers and sisters they fulfill the needs of the local congregation and territory, although more are needed!  And this is one congregation, in one country - there are so many more!

Being here has really opened our eyes to the needs of the global organisation, and given us a way to say thank you to Jehovah for everything he has done for us. We don't know what will come next for us, but we do know we will treasure this experience forever!

1 week on La Isla Bonita

The end of week 1 ... What a week!

We've been on the ministry almost every day.  First call is nerve wracking!  "We're making a brief visit as I'm sure you're busy ..." doesn't work in San Pedro.  It is met with confused looks and "Noooo ... I have lots of time".  Big adjustment for us, we're slowly learning to relax on the doors!

We ventured up to the north of the island for a preaching trip.  It's not an easy terrain to navigate on golf carts - dirt tracks filled with pot holes and giant, deep puddles for miles.  We managed to reach some locals who live and/or work up there.  Phil and I were having a lovely chat with an older man, who we discovered was in the process of knocking down an African wasps nest.  After moving away pretty swiftly, and having a little chuckle at the westerners, we continued our conversation in the midst of a mosquito stronghold.  44 bites later, we arranged to go back and begin a study next week. Phil didn't get 1 bite.

Incidentally, I've discovered some ingenious ways of dealing with insect bites this week; rubbing them with banana peel and smothering them in coconut oil - both very effective!

We've had the privilege of accompanying other need greaters on their calls and studies over the last week too - it's incredible to see so much genuine interest in such a small place!

It's hard to believe we've only been here a week, we already feel like part of the congregation and some newly established friendships feel years old!  Being here really brought today's Watchtower to life; when the Welsh couple said "The little that we have given up cannot be compared to the happiness that comes from serving Jehovah full-time." we could feel and see the truth in that sentiment.  So many have given up jobs, homes, a comfortable lifestyle, hot running water, proximity to friends and family etc to be here. Whilst it is not without trials, they are happy and content and full of love. 

We have spent a lot of time with the brothers and sisters, both in the ministry and socially.  We've attached a few pics to give you a flavour of what we have been up to.  It won't surprise you to know that Phil and Assie go fishing most days, although they have yet to catch anything big enough for a meal.  Apparently Phil caught a decent size fish yesterday, bagged it and put it in the shallows to keep it cool - where it was unfortunately eaten by a Barracuda.  There is, however, no evidence to support this story!

We're enjoying the local cuisine; chicken, rice and beans; chicken, beans and rice; stew chicken; ceviche; conch (sea snail); fry jacks; meat pies; fruit juice; rum and coke!  It does mean that we need to make use of the pool and gym at the apartment complex! Pics attached.

Snorkelling has been great - lots of colourful fish, moray eels, rays and jelly fish around. Next week we're planning on going out to the reef to see the sharks and will make sure we take the GoPro so that we can upload some pics.

There is so much more to say, but we don't want to bore you! Thanks for reading this far, hope you enjoy the pics. 

The pool at our apartment complex

Phil on our preaching trip to the north

Lunch break for the hot & hungry preachers!

The beach in San Pedro

Phil & Tristan on a door

An evening on the pier with the local congregation

Fishing trip

Terrain in the north

Beach in San Pedro

Touch down!

We're a little late posting this update ... We've had a hectic couple of days, mostly out of range of WiFi!

The trip went well; no dramas other than cracked suitcases! We arrived in Belize City at 7.30 yesterday, and the second we stepped off the plane it started to rain! But it's hot and sunny in between so we can forgive a day or two of showers.

On the ride over to the water taxi we had a driver who reminded us so much of Albert, we miss you Albert!

Assie met us on the San Pedro dock at 10.30, it was great to see a friendly face in a strange place. He took us to our apartment, which has its own resident crocodile out the back. It makes running to and from the golf cart at night a little more interesting!!

The apartment is round the corner from the Kingdom Hall, so no excuse for being late (and Sanderson time is pretty much the same as Caribbean time so it's impossible for us to be late over here!). There's a pic of the hall below for those curious about Belizean kingdom halls. We've been reliably informed it is one of 3 with air-con! 

We bumped into witnesses all over the island, they're so friendly, full of smiles and happiness.  A brother and sister invited us over for dinner. We found ourselves sat in their living room with a bunch of people from various nationalities and backgrounds, most of whom we had never met, yet it felt like home. What a privilege and a blessing it is to be part of Jehovah's organisation!