It continues to amaze me how it came to be that we came to this little island. Jehovah really knew what we needed in terms of spiritual encouragement, and we all are extremely grateful to Him for providing this wonderful opportunity to praise His name.
Let me begin this post by explaining that what we are about to relate are only a FEW of the experiences that we have had from last Thursday until Monday. There are a lot more, but there is not enough time to relate them all.
It all started with us going out in service with Carl and Willow Carfano, two ex-missionaries serving as pioneers here in the Spanish congregation in Roatan. They took us to their "hidden spiritual gem" in the west end. It was the poorest area I have ever laid eyes on. Half built shacks with tin roofs peppered the mountain-side that was our territory for the morning. Fully naked children with bloated bellies ran around looking for some form of entertainment. Yet, in all that we found lots of sheep-like ones.
While I was walking up this trail up the mountain, Bro. Carfano came up to me hurriedly and said, "Come quick, this woman up in that shack needs a doctor!" I replied to him, "Carl, I'm no doctor. I'm just an EMT... and I don't even have my license yet!" He said, "Doesn't matter. Over here, it's the same thing." And that's how I came to find myself trying to assess and treat a woman with a history of stroke that was experiencing severe migraines, fainting spells, and weakness to her right side. After urging her to seek medical attention at a hospital (or at least a clinic) for fear she might be experiencing something major, I read to her God's promise in Isaiah that he will cure all sickness and showed her the magazine about God's kingdom explaining that that was only ONE of the many things that His kingdom was going to correct. She accepted the magazine, thanked me, and promised to go see a doctor soon. When I left the door, Bro. Carfano asked me how it went and I told him. He was amazed. He told me that many times the witnesses here have tried to visit her, but this was the first time she had ever accepted any of our publications! Truly, taking a personal interest in our neighbors opens the door for the biblical truths to shine through.
After preaching, we went to have lunch with the Carfano's. While having lunch, Carl found out that I was asked to give the public talk in the group in Oak Ridge on Sunday. "You should give it at the congregation too", he said, "Here in the island, we hear the same brothers so often that when a visiting brother does the talk in one, we ask him to do it in the other too." I guess once a used car salesman, always a used car salesman because he finally convinced me to give the talk in his congregation as well. Boy, was I glad I accepted. The attendance to both were amazing! The group in Oak Ridge (who only has 1 elder and 2 MS) had 39 in attendance, more than double the amount of publishers! And the congregation? 110... almost twice the amount of publishers. You could really see the need for capable brothers to take the lead to form more congregations. What impressed me the most is that most of those studies walked or hitched rides several hours to get to the meetings. It takes 25 mins in a car to get to the Kingdom Hall... they walked it. How thirsty they must be for spiritual truths!
On Monday, we thought we would take a break from our spiritual activity and enjoy the beach for a little while. Little did we know that even our recreation would give us an opportunity to give a fine witness! Let's have Brianne explain:
"While eating lunch at a local restaurant on our supposed day off, I decided to get my hair braided. The young woman who was braiding my hair, Dollie, was so nice that I struck up a conversation with her and told her why my family and I had come to the island. She said that she knew of the witnesses and that they come to where she lives. "It is really good", she said in her island accent. She told me she lives in Flowers Bay (an area here in Roatan) and I told her that we were there just last week. She asked me when I would be going by there again. I told her probably in a day or two and she said, "Oh, that's too bad. I will be here the whole week because the cruise ships are coming in." "Don't worry," I told her, "I'll come and find you."
Two days later, we came back to the west end of the island where she works. She was so surprised to see me. I brought her the Bible Teach book and explained how the study works. I told her that since I would be leaving soon, I would arrange for a local witness to come visit her. Since there are no addresses here in Roatan, she explained to me that she lives in Flowers Bay above a Pulperia (a store that sells food) where they also sell gas and water. As I was walking away she called out to me in her island accent, "It is really nice of you and your family to come here to Roatan to do this." I explained to her that we are looking for those who are conscience of their spiritual need. I turned to her and said, "Why don't I come back tomorrow and we can go over the first 5 paragraphs together?" I also showed her the questions at the beginning of the chapter and told her that many people ask themselves these questions, "Like for example, this question about God's name. Have you ever thought about what God's name is?" I said. "I dunno," she replied, "Jesus?" I simply looked at her and smiled. "It's not Jesus?" she pressed on. I replied, "Bring your bible tomorrow, and I'll show you in the bible where you can find the answer to that question." Unfortunately, she has not been at work the times I've come to visit her these last two days... but I'm not giving up. I will definitely see her before I leave the island."
As our departure date draws near, we can only feel sadness that our trip is not longer. The need this island has for Kingdom preachers is great. Like the bible says, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few." We pray while we are still here that Jehovah continues to bless our efforts to make Him known to the people in Roatan. And we pray that soon there will be enough witnesses here on this island to take care of all those who want to know the truth about Jehovah and His purpose.
-Adrian
Let me begin this post by explaining that what we are about to relate are only a FEW of the experiences that we have had from last Thursday until Monday. There are a lot more, but there is not enough time to relate them all.
It all started with us going out in service with Carl and Willow Carfano, two ex-missionaries serving as pioneers here in the Spanish congregation in Roatan. They took us to their "hidden spiritual gem" in the west end. It was the poorest area I have ever laid eyes on. Half built shacks with tin roofs peppered the mountain-side that was our territory for the morning. Fully naked children with bloated bellies ran around looking for some form of entertainment. Yet, in all that we found lots of sheep-like ones.
While I was walking up this trail up the mountain, Bro. Carfano came up to me hurriedly and said, "Come quick, this woman up in that shack needs a doctor!" I replied to him, "Carl, I'm no doctor. I'm just an EMT... and I don't even have my license yet!" He said, "Doesn't matter. Over here, it's the same thing." And that's how I came to find myself trying to assess and treat a woman with a history of stroke that was experiencing severe migraines, fainting spells, and weakness to her right side. After urging her to seek medical attention at a hospital (or at least a clinic) for fear she might be experiencing something major, I read to her God's promise in Isaiah that he will cure all sickness and showed her the magazine about God's kingdom explaining that that was only ONE of the many things that His kingdom was going to correct. She accepted the magazine, thanked me, and promised to go see a doctor soon. When I left the door, Bro. Carfano asked me how it went and I told him. He was amazed. He told me that many times the witnesses here have tried to visit her, but this was the first time she had ever accepted any of our publications! Truly, taking a personal interest in our neighbors opens the door for the biblical truths to shine through.
After preaching, we went to have lunch with the Carfano's. While having lunch, Carl found out that I was asked to give the public talk in the group in Oak Ridge on Sunday. "You should give it at the congregation too", he said, "Here in the island, we hear the same brothers so often that when a visiting brother does the talk in one, we ask him to do it in the other too." I guess once a used car salesman, always a used car salesman because he finally convinced me to give the talk in his congregation as well. Boy, was I glad I accepted. The attendance to both were amazing! The group in Oak Ridge (who only has 1 elder and 2 MS) had 39 in attendance, more than double the amount of publishers! And the congregation? 110... almost twice the amount of publishers. You could really see the need for capable brothers to take the lead to form more congregations. What impressed me the most is that most of those studies walked or hitched rides several hours to get to the meetings. It takes 25 mins in a car to get to the Kingdom Hall... they walked it. How thirsty they must be for spiritual truths!
On Monday, we thought we would take a break from our spiritual activity and enjoy the beach for a little while. Little did we know that even our recreation would give us an opportunity to give a fine witness! Let's have Brianne explain:
"While eating lunch at a local restaurant on our supposed day off, I decided to get my hair braided. The young woman who was braiding my hair, Dollie, was so nice that I struck up a conversation with her and told her why my family and I had come to the island. She said that she knew of the witnesses and that they come to where she lives. "It is really good", she said in her island accent. She told me she lives in Flowers Bay (an area here in Roatan) and I told her that we were there just last week. She asked me when I would be going by there again. I told her probably in a day or two and she said, "Oh, that's too bad. I will be here the whole week because the cruise ships are coming in." "Don't worry," I told her, "I'll come and find you."
Two days later, we came back to the west end of the island where she works. She was so surprised to see me. I brought her the Bible Teach book and explained how the study works. I told her that since I would be leaving soon, I would arrange for a local witness to come visit her. Since there are no addresses here in Roatan, she explained to me that she lives in Flowers Bay above a Pulperia (a store that sells food) where they also sell gas and water. As I was walking away she called out to me in her island accent, "It is really nice of you and your family to come here to Roatan to do this." I explained to her that we are looking for those who are conscience of their spiritual need. I turned to her and said, "Why don't I come back tomorrow and we can go over the first 5 paragraphs together?" I also showed her the questions at the beginning of the chapter and told her that many people ask themselves these questions, "Like for example, this question about God's name. Have you ever thought about what God's name is?" I said. "I dunno," she replied, "Jesus?" I simply looked at her and smiled. "It's not Jesus?" she pressed on. I replied, "Bring your bible tomorrow, and I'll show you in the bible where you can find the answer to that question." Unfortunately, she has not been at work the times I've come to visit her these last two days... but I'm not giving up. I will definitely see her before I leave the island."
As our departure date draws near, we can only feel sadness that our trip is not longer. The need this island has for Kingdom preachers is great. Like the bible says, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few." We pray while we are still here that Jehovah continues to bless our efforts to make Him known to the people in Roatan. And we pray that soon there will be enough witnesses here on this island to take care of all those who want to know the truth about Jehovah and His purpose.
-Adrian
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2 comments:
Adrian, there was a couple named Carfagno in our circuit in Tennessee/Georgia/Alabama that went to Gilead around 1999 or 2000. That was Carl and Willow, wasn't it? Lea and I met them a few times at pioneer sessions and assembly rehearsals in Chattanooga and Nashville. If that is them, please tell them hello and that we remember they were good friends with our C.O. José Luis Félix and his wife Lourdes. Adrian, Jay, Bri, kids, we are delighted that you guys are having such a rich experience. Reminds me of the scripture about getting a firm hold on the real life! This is the stuff that really matters, isn't it? Love, Kevin and Lea
Yes, it was... they served in Birmingham, AL and know Diego Ruiz and Carl was Craig Auter's roommate before Craig went to MTS and into the Circuit work. I'm sure that they are the same Carfano's that you remember. I told them you said hello and they return the welcome.
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