The missionary spirit

A few months ago, while I was reading the yearbook, I read about all these experiences about how the work started and continued in Papua New Guinea and I thought to myself, "Man, I wish I could do that. I wish MY return visits were __that__ productive. I wish I could travel by boat, walk through jungles, and live in tents and huts just to reach those with a humble heart." Well, while I didn't track through a jungle or live in a hut, I have had some very unique experiences while here in Roatan (some of which I shall never forget). Let me tell you what has happened from Wednesday until today...

On Wednesday, we were extremely tired and worn out. Coming to a place like this and doing the stuff we have done with 3 kids can be very tiring, especially with an infant! So, while we wanted to go out in service, we had to be realistic: the kids needed a small reprieve. Instead of going out with the group, we decided to take it slow and later in the morning return to those we had talked to whom had shown an interest. We started with Bri's return visit (which she related the experience in the last post) and then continued to Flowers Bay where Jay and I had calls to make and a territory to finish.

Jay enjoyed a great experience while finishing our territory:

"As we approached the end of our service day in beautiful Flowers Bay, I decided to call on the very last door on what appeared to be a house on our territory map. We drove past the house several times and kept missing it, but we finally found it. I got off with Noah and the building almost appeared to be abandoned... it was a small motel with aproximately 6 units. All the doors were shut except for one door in the far left corner. Then we heard a voice coming out of nowhere, "Hey, come on in". I approached the door and a man came out and spontaneously requested, "Do you have the book of Jeremiah?" I was startled and responded, "Of course! It's in the bible". "No, no, no," he said, "I meant, your published book of Jeremiah." At this I replied, "Ok then, buddy, what's the story with you? Is someone studying or visiting you?" He reluctantly answered, "No, but I read all of your publications" and showed me the book of Revelation and one of our Bibles. Then I said again, "What is it that you are not telling me?" He finally opened up and said, "My entire family is in the truth, including my own son. They attend the Morningside Congregation in Miami Beach." That was in the same circuit as my old congregation in Miami! He emphatically stated that the truth was dear to his heart, but that he has been living a wayward life. I told him that I would bring him the book of Jeremiah __only__ if he accepted a visit from one of the local elders. He replied with a warm gesture, "Of course... I will accept." The following day I brought him the book, and as I approached him I see an immediate smile and he reacted as in disbelief. He thanked me for remembering to bring the book and said that he would look forward to a visit from the elders."

Thursday, after making Jay's return visit, we met with Gail to go to her territory. She said to us, "Today is a special day... we are going to my little island to preach." Her little island? I thought that Roatan was her little island. Imagine my surprise when we parked and met with a water taxi to take us to an island off the coast of Roatan. The water taxi was an old wooden Dory, which is a small, shallow draft boat about 5 to 7 meters (16 to 23 feet) long. It had a rickety diesel motor that kept sputtering and turning off every 5 minutes. We sputtered along until we reached the other island.

There the harvest was bountiful. I placed magazines with english and spanish speaking people, and even Noah got to talk to a few people. Noah and I got to this house that was locked up and a neighbor told us that they were gone, so we took the opportunity to tell him what we were there for. He wasn't interested, but he told us that the lady in the house behind his liked to talk about the bible. So off we went to give her a witness. As soon as she saw me she gave me a dubious look, but then Noah began his presentation by reading her a scripture and then presenting the magazines. She looked surprised that someone so young was teaching her what the bible says! She readily accepted the magazines, so then I took the opportunity to show her that everything we talked about was backed by the bible (showing her the scriptures in the article). I asked her, "Do you own a bible?" She replied, "Yes, but in spanish... and I don't read spanish." So I offered to have someone return with a bible for her. Wouldn't it be something if years from now I see her again in a convention as a baptized witness? All because of the bold witnessing that Noah gave.

On Saturday, I ventured Roatan on my own and met with the group. I had made arrangements with Brenden to go to an ASL bible study of his, then go to start a study with one of my return visits and turn it over to him. Studying the bible with Craig (Brenden's study) was very interesting. They were going over the lesson that dealt with the Ransom, and you can tell he was struggling with the concept. What made it harder was that Craig doesn't really know ASL very much and Brenden had to mix in a little Lesso (Honduran Sign Language) to get Craig to understand some concepts. Still, he continued to struggle. Studying with the deaf is often a challenge because sometimes it takes them a little longer to understand deeper concepts since words and phrases we take for granted have to be explained. For instance, we know that the word "Ransom" is often used in connection for a price that is paid for someone who has been taken hostage. In the case of Jesus, his life was the price that was paid to return us from Death's 'captivity'. In sign language, the word "Ransom" has to be signed as Jesus dying and presenting his life as a gift to Jehovah to even the balances. Brenden told me it took him 3 weeks to understand the meaning of those signs (which is used for just that one word "Ransom"). What impressed me was that Craig was trying his hardest to understand and explain it back in his own "words", so to speak. He definitely loves Jehovah enough to study one chapter for a whole month to fully grasp the meaning of the ransom sacrifice, and Brenden definitely loves Jehovah to take the time and have the patience to teach the deaf the truth. We then left to find Kent (my return visit) to start a bible study with him, but he wasn't home. At least I know I left him in good hands.

Today we leave Roatan. Last night was the last night I slept under the stars in this part of the world. As I was falling asleep I couldn't help but feel saddened at leaving our new friends and such a productive territory, but we know that Roatan remains in our hearts. I will never forget this incredible journey and I know that very soon I will be returning once more to pick up where I left off in these last 2 weeks. I hope that when I return my prayers for the growth of the congregations of this little island will be answered, and that Jehovah keeps blessing his servants in this far part of the world like he is doing now.

-Adrian