Jim & Leslie's Adventures

Mar 7th, 2009 Nothing for Granted

Just back from the meeting. It is Saturday night, but we just had the ‘Sunday’ meeting. hmmm. Tomorrow is a big service day, but its Sunday. hmmm. Totally out of my element. Take nothing for granted.

For example, a mostly empty hall at the first song, does not mean most are missing. We started tonight with probably 50 or so. After the talk it was announced that there were 105 for the talk! Wow!

Now don’t get the idea that its just a poor concept of time that makes people late for the meeting. Most work long hours, perhaps until 6:30. The meeting on Tues is at 7:15. They have to fight through endless traffic just to make it to the meeting at all. Saturday, some work, but, even for those that don’t, it is an ordeal to get to the meeting on time.

Interestingly, those that arrive late sit down, bow their heads and say a quick prayer. After all they missed the opening prayer and they need Jehovah’s spirit to take in the meeting too. I want to take this one home with me! What a good attitude!

I presumed before coming here that I would place tons of literature. Take nothing for granted. You could leave as much literature as you wanted with the people. But you can’t be sure that they are really appreciating the spiritual value of it. Some think it best to start with the “Do You Want to Know the Truth?” tract and see where things go. As for magazines ….

This is March 7. The congregation here still does not have the February magazines! They have long since placed the January mags, so now …. brochures and tracts. We heard that the February magazines are in Bethel now, so they might have them Tuesday. Who knows when the March magazines will come!?

The vastly differing social levels here are mind-boggling too. Labor is cheap. They have groups of women that sweep the streets with brooms. Peanuts are fresh roasted by hand on the street and sold for (I’m sorry) … peanuts! Garbage is mostly collected by cart (there are a few real trucks). Crafts really are hand-made. Machine made would be way too expensive!

One of Marvin’s studies is hard up for work. For a few weeks he had a job, which Marvin tried to describe to me. A laboratory had moved to a new location. He was hired to sit at the old location with directions to the new location. … Basically, he was hired to be a sign. Labor is cheap here.

And the local churches take advantage of it. The same man had tried to get a business venture going. A ‘friend’ in his church said he would lend the money and told him to go ahead get things started. Based on this he invested time and money (that he really doesn’t have). The ‘friend’ left town without letting him know. No money.

As he made progress, he sent a letter to the church saying he was withdrawing from them. Within a day the friend told him to meet with someone about the money. He went and there was the money (a considerable sum) laid out on the table. “But we have to go over to the Church to finalize things”. In other words, come back to the church and we’ll lend you the money. He flatly turned them down, in spite of his very low circumstances. This is the love the humble ones have for the truth.

Posted in The Really Big Trip by jimt with 3 comments.