Still soakin' wet

You hear of some of these experiences in the Yearbook and you think "Man, I don't know if I ever could experience that!" Well, yesterday we did... Yesterday morning, as we were getting dressed and ready for field service, it started to rain. And by rain, I mean it was pouring so much that I thought I would need a boat to cross some roads here. My first thought was "Well, there goes service..." and then Gail said "OK, guys... Service meets in 15 minutes." Really? We are going out in service in this hurricane-force rain? I was shocked! If it rains that much in the States, we don't go out. I've never been out in service when it's raining monsoons. And if it rains even a little bit, we go to bible studies, return visits, etc. But NEVER in door-to-door work! Nevertheless, we were about to go out to do door-to-door service in the pouring rain.


On our way to Field Service

We met with the service group in english and there was a BUNCH of people ready for field service. I was shocked! I never imagined that anyone would be out in this weather except for us (because we were visiting and wanted to go to field service no matter what... and Gail is a little crazy ;-P ). There we met again a young couple that are trying to help the deaf here on the island. They were telling me that there are about 50 deaf people that they know of here, and about 20 more that they need to search out and confirm. From what I gather, there are only 6 publishers max that are helping the sign language community and only 3 of those know how to sign fluently. The rest are learning as they go along, yet all of them interpret the meetings for the deaf. It's incredible how much need there is on this tiny little island. But, after a nice chat with them and another brother about how life is here in Roatan and what it would take to live here, we were off to the ministry!



Our service group on Thursday




One of the couples we met that works in the Sign Language territory here.



Two sisters in the English Congregation

The first door I was assigned to was behind a barbwire fence in the mud with no opening. We had to crabwalk under barbwire in the mud to be able to get to the door. It was raining so hard and we had no umbrella. In all that we found this woman picking up her clothes and started a conversation with her. I spent about fifteen minutes under the rain reading scriptures and showing her the "Would you like to know the Truth?" tract. I almost started a bible study with her! It made it all worthwhile. Jay and Bri met a couple who were extremely interested and almost started a bible study with them too! It was an incredible experience to be able to go out in service no matter what the weather was like. In the middle of service Bri had to use the restroom too. So what did we do? Go to the nearest McDonald's or Gas station? Nope. There wasn't one for miles. She had to go to the bathroom in the middle of a clearing. Gross, you say? Nah. That's just how it is here. You have to learn to adapt to the circumstances. Luckily, Gail was prepared for such an occasion and had toilet paper readily available for Brianne. Traffic here is an adventure too. As we were leaving the territory we had a traffic jam, not of automobiles or people, but of a herd of cows. It's not too uncommon to sit waiting for animals to clear the road. When there is traffic (whether it be of animals, automobiles, or people), you don't hear honking, or exhasperated yelling... you just sit and chat while waiting for the traffic to clear up.

Bri posing with her toilet paper before she went to the bathroom



Hey! Move your cow!


After service we ate at a nice Honduran restaurant (and I use the term 'restaurant' liberally). I had some of the best fried chicken I've ever had, along with refried beans, salad, and plantain chips. All of it was fresh and tasted completely delicious. I tell you, the food here has a different taste than that in the US. I don't know how I'll ever be able to eat the food back home again without thinking about how much more flavorful it is here.

Then later that night, we went to the spanish group's meeting here on the east end in Oak Ridge. The group was modest (only 16 publishers, 1 elder, and 2 MS), but the attendance and participation was great. There were 32 in attendance, and there is so much need for qualified brothers that a young 13 year old boy who was recently baptized this year was doing the announcements in the service meeting. After the meeting the brothers were so hospitable and loving. They all came up to us to introduce themselves and to tell us that they have been looking forward to our visit. Brother Pacheco (the only elder) came up to me and asked me if I had brought an outline for a talk so I could give the talk this sunday. Being on an island, they hear the same brothers over and over again giving talks that they love when other brothers come to visit so they can hear someone new for a change. Thank goodness that I thought to bring one of my talks with me, just in case!



The modest little Kingdom Hall on the East end



Some brothers from the Spanish Group in Oak Ridge, Roatan


Yes, yesterday was an adventurous day, but we enjoyed in so much that we were a little sad when we realized time was flying by so quickly. One week is almost complete and we still have another week to go. It's not enough, though. I've found myself calculating when will be the next time I can come, and how long it would be feasible for me to stay. 1 month? 2? 6 months? I guess only time will tell. Hopefully, Jehovah will bless me with another opportunity to return. Maybe even move here eventually. Until next time, dear friends.

-Adrian