Wow! What a busy week! And I suspect that was the easy “warm-up”. Actually, it is mostly just a matter of getting used to the way things are done and setting a routine. I think we have almost settled into a routine. …. almost.
We have been ordered (strongly encouraged) to get enough sleep. Don’t study all night! No danger here! By nine-thirty we are ready to crawl into bed. Of course, remnants of Newfoundland timezone still have us waking up shortly after 5:00am. That will probably change, but for now it is not a bad thing.
We are not the oldest ones in the class, but we are the runners up! A few in the class weren’t born when we started pioneering. sigh. How are we to keep up to this kind of energy?!?
We have a diversified class, several speak multiple languages. One brother is Egyptian. He moved to Canada to escape being killed. Extremists took a hit out on him for becoming a Witness!
We go in every morning (Mon-Sat) about 7:15 in the morning. There are two sisters that come in every day at 5:00am to cook breakfast. Imagine! Other couples are assigned to help serve. Breakfast is at 7:30. There is something for everyone. Porridge, granola, fruit, bacon, eggs, even crepes one day!
At 8:15 we have morning worship Bethel style. A couple are assigned to comments each day. We had day two. This lasts until 8:30 when class starts.
Lunch is amazing and …. dangerous! 40 congregations are taking turns providing lunch. We could easily gain 10 lbs if we did not resist trying everything. Some days we “glean” leftovers of lunch so that we can stay and study after class rather than go home to study. Saves a little time.
We are getting our ‘methods’ worked out. We both started out with hand written notes and digital references. Too slow. Too awkward. Leslie switched to digital notes first. Then I followed suit. Much better!
A few tidbits:
from Thailand (a couple in our class are serving in Thailand. His name is Tai .. but he is not Thai!). A couple had a Follow-Up form from interest shown on JW.org. These are virtually impossible to find in the area. Roads are complicated, directions impossible and it is very crowded. If you ask for directions you will likely get sent the wrong way. In the meantime, they had arranged to meet a brother for service. He gave them directions and said they would meet in 15 minutes. They arrived but had unknowingly taken one wrong turn. They called to ask the brother where he was and while her husband was talking the sister noticed the sign indicating that they were at the address of the person on the Follow Up form! A study was started with the person right away. Shortly after a relative of the person studying said they would like a study. How could they contact the Witnesses. The person said “Just go on Jw.org and they will find you!”
Another thought: if someone told you that a person was deceitful and treacherous, would you go to that person for advice? Then don’t go to your heart for advice!
A sister used a good illustration to show that the Name Jehovah should be in the Greek scriptures. The Greek scriptures are a sequel to the Hebrew. Why would an author remove the name of the main character from the sequel to a best selling book?
Resentment is like slapping yourself and expecting the other person to feel the pain.
That gives you a tiny idea of the gems we are getting!
We go for walks around the grounds once or twice a day. There are Canada Geese all over (one is nesting so we await the babies). There is a Magnolia tree that is starting to blossom! Wonderful.
We had the privilege of being at the Norval Assembly Hall for the Headquarters visit yesterday. That means no meeting today, so we are getting a little more time to prepare. Then …. Week Two!