Monday, November 7, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Dia de los Muertos
So yesterday Nov. 2 was Dia de los Muertos. Think Memorial Day but BIGGER! It is also a national holiday; kids are off school and most people off work. Pretty much everyone treks to the local cemetery to pay their respect to the deceased.
So guess where we went preaching that day? You got it: the cemetery! In San Marcos there are two cemeteries: the old (its full) and the new (for overflow). Our Fatima group and half of the San Marcos congregation were assigned to the old cemetery which is a few blocks away from my house. We were stocked with literature such as the brochures When Someone You Love Dies and What Happens to Us When We Die?; and tracts such as What Hope for Dead Loved Ones?, All Suffering Soon to End!, and Life in a Peaceful New World. Our goal was to share with people the Bible's hope of resurrection to life here on earth.
The scene at the cemetery was almost overwhelming. Streams of people poured in and out from the grounds. Cars lined the streets leading to the gate. Crammed at the main gate were moto taxis, tricycle taxis, and plenty of food vendors advertising their products by yelling. Some even walked around the cemetery selling their products. (Think sporting events...PEANUTS GET YOUR PEANUTS!) The cemetery itself was packed! There were people at almost every grave: sweeping, brushing, cleaning, painting, arranging flowers. Some just sitting and talking, others quiet with a reflective look on their face.
My presentation was pretty simple. I would approach someone and ask who they were visiting. They would say their grandma/pa or mom/dad and some even had children there. Then I would ask them if they think there is a hope for our dead loved ones? Since most people here are very religious (Catholic, Evangelical, Christian, Protestant) they say yes. Then I agree with them and show them in the Bible where it says that there will be a resurrection at John 5:28,29. Then I would hand them the tract What Hope for Dead Loved Ones?, tell them that it explains the Bible hope, and for them to look up the scriptural texts in their own Bible. Most people were gracious and thankful for the comforting hope that we shared with them.
All in all I spent about 5 hours in the cemetery that day. We placed dozens of tracts and read John 5:28,29 and other scriptures many times. It was a great experience to gain further insight into the local culture. But at the end of the day, I felt truly grateful to know the truth from Jehovah's word; that we have hope to see our loved ones again, resurrected to life on a paradise earth.
John 5:28, 29 - "Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment."
*** Info on the italicized publications above can be found at Watchtower.org - index ***
So guess where we went preaching that day? You got it: the cemetery! In San Marcos there are two cemeteries: the old (its full) and the new (for overflow). Our Fatima group and half of the San Marcos congregation were assigned to the old cemetery which is a few blocks away from my house. We were stocked with literature such as the brochures When Someone You Love Dies and What Happens to Us When We Die?; and tracts such as What Hope for Dead Loved Ones?, All Suffering Soon to End!, and Life in a Peaceful New World. Our goal was to share with people the Bible's hope of resurrection to life here on earth.
The scene at the cemetery was almost overwhelming. Streams of people poured in and out from the grounds. Cars lined the streets leading to the gate. Crammed at the main gate were moto taxis, tricycle taxis, and plenty of food vendors advertising their products by yelling. Some even walked around the cemetery selling their products. (Think sporting events...PEANUTS GET YOUR PEANUTS!) The cemetery itself was packed! There were people at almost every grave: sweeping, brushing, cleaning, painting, arranging flowers. Some just sitting and talking, others quiet with a reflective look on their face.
My presentation was pretty simple. I would approach someone and ask who they were visiting. They would say their grandma/pa or mom/dad and some even had children there. Then I would ask them if they think there is a hope for our dead loved ones? Since most people here are very religious (Catholic, Evangelical, Christian, Protestant) they say yes. Then I agree with them and show them in the Bible where it says that there will be a resurrection at John 5:28,29. Then I would hand them the tract What Hope for Dead Loved Ones?, tell them that it explains the Bible hope, and for them to look up the scriptural texts in their own Bible. Most people were gracious and thankful for the comforting hope that we shared with them.
All in all I spent about 5 hours in the cemetery that day. We placed dozens of tracts and read John 5:28,29 and other scriptures many times. It was a great experience to gain further insight into the local culture. But at the end of the day, I felt truly grateful to know the truth from Jehovah's word; that we have hope to see our loved ones again, resurrected to life on a paradise earth.
John 5:28, 29 - "Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment."
*** Info on the italicized publications above can be found at Watchtower.org - index ***
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Pilot
Hey Everyone!
Today is the one month anniversary of my arrival here in Nicaragua. Wheeee!!! I'M STILL ALIVE!!
What a roller coaster of an adventure so far! My bienvenidos (welcome) to Nica began on Sept 25 when I flew in to Managua...and discovered that my three suitcases did not arrive with my flight. My bags were left in Houston and were supposed come in on the next flight. So I spent the next 24 hrs in the same clothes that I had been travelling in for the past 24 hours...at least I had deodorant and body spray! Thankfully my bags did come in with the next flight. Sigue adelante! (Go Forward!)
Focus of the first week was the English Convention. There are only a handful of English congregations in the country so the majority of the 400 in attendance are English speaking foreigners, need greaters (def: a Jehovah's Witness serving in a foreign land where the need for Kingdom preachers is greater). So it is kinda like a mini international convention as these foreigners are from all over the place: USA, Canada, Europe, Japan to name a few. Almost all of the foreigners in attendance are in some type of full time service: Missionaries, Pioneers, Special Pioneers, MTS Grads ect...The spirit was electric! I enjoyed meeting many new people, learning where they're from, how they made it to Nica, and networking!
Besides the association, the talks (like lectures) were awesome and of excellent quality. Funny thing though, there were only 15 speakers for the some 40+ parts! Most speakers had three talks, some even had two on the same day! One brother had a talk each day (Fri-Sun) and played the lead part in the Bible drama on Sunday! Pobrecito (poor guy)! Jehovah definitely supplied them with the "power beyond what is normal" to carry out their assignments!
Additionally, when I arrived at the airport, my cousin Stacey informed me that she had volunteered me to help with costumes for the Sunday drama! This meant rehearsals on Monday and Saturday night and staying backstage during the actual drama. So myself and another sister, Griselle, had the task of applying beards to the brothers. We applied sticky hair mud to their face, then pressed in crushed black tea grounds. Yes, Nica style for sure! Needless to say it was a lot of fun and a great privilege to see first hand all the hard work that goes into the drama production :)
So after the convention Stace treated me to a two day vacation at an all inclusive resort named Montelimar...all food and drinks included...for like $50 a day...yes, perks of a developing country :)
The resort was a nice treat because the next 14 days were LOCO (crazy)! We did a little field service but mainly focused on the big move. Stacey moved her things from her apartment in Managua to her home in San Marcos (where I'm currently living). During the craziness I got sick..boo hoo...Nica is very very humid and as a result things get moldy very very fast. So I got a wonderful cough plus gunk. Thankfully there are farmacias (pharmacies) everywhere and self-medication is encouraged :) Hopefully I won't have to go through that again!
Since Stace went back to the states, I've been settling in. I've pretty much been on my own; learning tons about how to get around, the food, transportation, and Spanish! Some days I've come home desperate just to speak English! Thankfully, I can just go bother my housemates :) Stace's house has four apartments which are all currently rented by other need greaters. So even though I'm on my own, there are friends to come home to.
My new congregation is called Fatima. Actually it is a little group of 20ish publishers hosted by the San Marcos Congregation. The territory and Kingdom Hall are a 5 minute bus ride outside of San Marcos. Round trip costs me about $0.90, 20 cordobas. I take either a bus (old school bus), microbus (volkswagon bus size), or moto (three seater covered moped) from across the street to the entrance of Fatima (think large subdivision) for 5 cords. Then from the entrance I get on a man-powered tricycle that delivers me right to the door of the Kingdom Hall for another 5 cords. Currently our KH is in the patio of a local sister. We do have a podium, sound system, and two microphones. Very cozy...
First meeting was memorable of course! I took the bus from San Marcos to Fatima...on the way begins a TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR...not exaggerating!! So when I got to the entrance of Fatima, I put on my poncho and jumped on a tricycle. No joke, water was two feet high in 20 mins...I would have to swim all the way down the road...It was crazy, I wish I could have taken pictures! When I got the the KH, our elder was there barefoot, mopping up water and another sister was sweeping it out. Yes, quite an experience. Anyways it was a wonderful meeting and we had 22 in attendance.
So that's it for now. Next post I will include details on our groupito and pictures! Stay tuned!
Please leave comments as you like or you can email me at ktanjoco@gmail.com. Also look me up on Skype: hica808.
Today is the one month anniversary of my arrival here in Nicaragua. Wheeee!!! I'M STILL ALIVE!!
What a roller coaster of an adventure so far! My bienvenidos (welcome) to Nica began on Sept 25 when I flew in to Managua...and discovered that my three suitcases did not arrive with my flight. My bags were left in Houston and were supposed come in on the next flight. So I spent the next 24 hrs in the same clothes that I had been travelling in for the past 24 hours...at least I had deodorant and body spray! Thankfully my bags did come in with the next flight. Sigue adelante! (Go Forward!)
Focus of the first week was the English Convention. There are only a handful of English congregations in the country so the majority of the 400 in attendance are English speaking foreigners, need greaters (def: a Jehovah's Witness serving in a foreign land where the need for Kingdom preachers is greater). So it is kinda like a mini international convention as these foreigners are from all over the place: USA, Canada, Europe, Japan to name a few. Almost all of the foreigners in attendance are in some type of full time service: Missionaries, Pioneers, Special Pioneers, MTS Grads ect...The spirit was electric! I enjoyed meeting many new people, learning where they're from, how they made it to Nica, and networking!
Besides the association, the talks (like lectures) were awesome and of excellent quality. Funny thing though, there were only 15 speakers for the some 40+ parts! Most speakers had three talks, some even had two on the same day! One brother had a talk each day (Fri-Sun) and played the lead part in the Bible drama on Sunday! Pobrecito (poor guy)! Jehovah definitely supplied them with the "power beyond what is normal" to carry out their assignments!
Additionally, when I arrived at the airport, my cousin Stacey informed me that she had volunteered me to help with costumes for the Sunday drama! This meant rehearsals on Monday and Saturday night and staying backstage during the actual drama. So myself and another sister, Griselle, had the task of applying beards to the brothers. We applied sticky hair mud to their face, then pressed in crushed black tea grounds. Yes, Nica style for sure! Needless to say it was a lot of fun and a great privilege to see first hand all the hard work that goes into the drama production :)
So after the convention Stace treated me to a two day vacation at an all inclusive resort named Montelimar...all food and drinks included...for like $50 a day...yes, perks of a developing country :)
The resort was a nice treat because the next 14 days were LOCO (crazy)! We did a little field service but mainly focused on the big move. Stacey moved her things from her apartment in Managua to her home in San Marcos (where I'm currently living). During the craziness I got sick..boo hoo...Nica is very very humid and as a result things get moldy very very fast. So I got a wonderful cough plus gunk. Thankfully there are farmacias (pharmacies) everywhere and self-medication is encouraged :) Hopefully I won't have to go through that again!
Since Stace went back to the states, I've been settling in. I've pretty much been on my own; learning tons about how to get around, the food, transportation, and Spanish! Some days I've come home desperate just to speak English! Thankfully, I can just go bother my housemates :) Stace's house has four apartments which are all currently rented by other need greaters. So even though I'm on my own, there are friends to come home to.
My new congregation is called Fatima. Actually it is a little group of 20ish publishers hosted by the San Marcos Congregation. The territory and Kingdom Hall are a 5 minute bus ride outside of San Marcos. Round trip costs me about $0.90, 20 cordobas. I take either a bus (old school bus), microbus (volkswagon bus size), or moto (three seater covered moped) from across the street to the entrance of Fatima (think large subdivision) for 5 cords. Then from the entrance I get on a man-powered tricycle that delivers me right to the door of the Kingdom Hall for another 5 cords. Currently our KH is in the patio of a local sister. We do have a podium, sound system, and two microphones. Very cozy...
First meeting was memorable of course! I took the bus from San Marcos to Fatima...on the way begins a TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR...not exaggerating!! So when I got to the entrance of Fatima, I put on my poncho and jumped on a tricycle. No joke, water was two feet high in 20 mins...I would have to swim all the way down the road...It was crazy, I wish I could have taken pictures! When I got the the KH, our elder was there barefoot, mopping up water and another sister was sweeping it out. Yes, quite an experience. Anyways it was a wonderful meeting and we had 22 in attendance.
So that's it for now. Next post I will include details on our groupito and pictures! Stay tuned!
Please leave comments as you like or you can email me at ktanjoco@gmail.com. Also look me up on Skype: hica808.
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