Greetings from the Islands

There more time I spend here, the more I realize what a blessing from Jehovah this truly has been. Since the day we stepped off the plane we have witnessed for ourselves Jehovah's loving-kindness. The love these seemingly unknown brothers and sisters have shown us is incredible. Only in Jehovah's organization can you go to a completely different country, meet people previously unknown, and still feel like you are with family. Only as a servant of Jehovah can someone come to a place like this and work hard to preach the good news. This experience has been like no other in my life, and I'm very thankful to the one who made it all possible: Jehovah.

Sunday we were all exhausted from all the traveling we had done the previous two days. Why, even the boys were drained! So we decided to take a day off before we began our true work here in Roatan. After a family study of the watchtower, we decided to head towards the Resort near our house and just relax in the lagoon. The boys and I took turns on a kayak we rented, snorkeled some, and took naps on the beach.

By Monday morning, however, we were well energized and "completely equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:17). We met with the group for field service at a sister's house, and off we went into the field. Our day started off great with some real interest from the householders. Jay visited a small restaurant where the two owners/workers were sitting down and had invited us to sit with them. They only spoke spanish and we couldn't find any spanish literature to give to them (we were out with the English Congregation yesterday). But that didn't stop Jay from giving a fine witness! He spoke to them about the problems of this world and the promise of God to correct them all. In the meantime, I was thoroughly looking through my service bag for SOMETHING in spanish and I finally found an older Awake! about the lack of water. Jay tied the magazine beautifully with what he was already talking about and promised to return to speak some more about the bible, and they both said they were looking forward to it.

Brianne spoke to a lady that was opening a new restaurant named "Grama's Kitchen" and was laying decorative rocks out front. Bri offered her the June magazines about poverty and discussed with her what God's kingdom was and what it would accomplish. She also emphasized what Jesus taught and did while on earth, and how it will be done on a grander scale in the future. Bri explained to me how funny she thought it was how people are really attentive... not being distracted by anything or anyone while you are speaking about the bible, and actively participating in the conversation. And that can be applied for every person we come across in service here!

I walked into a store that was on the road we were preaching at and spoke to a woman who was sitting behind a table in the small store reading a bible. I asked her if she enjoyed what she was reading, and she told me that she loves to read the bible every day. I told her how wonderful it was that she enjoyed reading God's word, and then asked her what she thought about "The end". She answered that Jesus said that no one knew the time or date except for the Father. I responded that she was right and that, although we didn't have the exact date, Jesus did give us signs to look for to recognize when the end was near... just like we know what signs to look for when a hurricane or a big storm was approaching. Then I read to her Matthew 24:6-7, 25. She agreed and so I then asked, but do you know WHAT is going to end, and if there will be any survivors? If so, what will those survivors be doing? Then placed an older magazine with her (June 2010, I believe) with the title "Is the end near?". As soon as I gave it to her, she began to read the magazine.

I must say, stuff like this rarely happens in the States. Yet, here it happened at almost every door we went to. People here actually like to talk about the bible, and are "hungering and thirsting for righteousness" (Matt. 5:6). It's humbling to see how so many still want to learn the truth about Jehovah. It made me really appreciate Jehovah's patience to allow those who still yearn for the truth come into his organization.

After service, we were taken to this resort called West Bay for some 'fun in the sun'. We played at the beach and snorkeled at these AMAZING reefs. One would think, by looking at those pictures, that we went far off to snorkel... but those pictures were taken from just off the beach! We swam to the spot where it went from 4 feet deep to almost 25-30 feet deep into the reefs. It really made you appreciate the beauty of Jehovah's creation.

Today we are taking it easy as the next few days will be used for intense work in the ministry. We might even get a boat ride to a neighboring island to preach to the islanders there on Thursday. Until our next post!

-Adrian