A letter to keep...

I have a book. It was a blank notebook that was given to me from a dear friend some time ago. I love paper ( I have worked in the paper industry for over 20 years in my secular work) and hence love all kinds of stationery and printed pieces.

Anyway I wasn't too sure what I was going to do with this notebook, but I came across an experience where a sister wrote down all the good things where she felt Jehovah had helped her. Whilst I am still yet to get arround to this project decided to write phrases from talks, watchtowers and co'visits and assemblies, which I wanted to remember and reflect on.

For instance this quote " Everyone is busy. Sometimes we can be busy doing nothing." Bro Jeff Jackson - Zone Overseers Talk 2013 (1 Cor15:58) and so on.

I use this book whenever I'm feeling down or discouraged and I flick through the pages and see what new encouragement it can give me. When I started pioneering I added my Letter of Appointment.

Today I'm adding a new letter. My letter of invitation to my very first pioneer school in July!  I'm so happy right now, but you wouldnt guess it with all my tears!  LOL!

Anyway here's a glimpse of my special book, I love what I wrote in the opening page, never had I imagined when I started this book (back in 2007) did I have any idea what Jehovah had in store for me. 

".....God makes it grow"

Super excited about a couple of things that have happened over the last couple of weeks so I will start from yesterday and work my way back.

Yesterday I got treated to a wonderful 1hour body massage! So spoiled I know after witnessing my Shan booked me in while he got the kids from school then came picked me up to go to dinner. (Yes I was spoiled)

On the way I asked Axel, our 8 yr old how his day was he said yeh fine and then he paused and said oh yeah I have to tell you something that happened at school. With a feeling of panic I glanced at my husband and he said, "oh I think you might like this."

He started off by saying that there had been some issues in his class with kids making friends and his teacher had asked the class how you can make friends. After some discussion the teacher went over to her laptop and the projector. Axel said he noticed the JW.ORG site on her lap top and then he said she put on the "Whats a Real Friend"! Yep you read that correctly - she played it for all 25 children in the class!

It turns out that she spoke with another witness mum what they could do while the other kids do easter projects and of course our sister directed her to the website!

I had spoken to his teacher soon after all the JW.ORG mags were distributed and she confided that her best friend grew up as a witness and I just wonder if the two have been having conversations?

So the title of this entry is based on 1 Cor:3:7 ..."so that neither is the one who plants anything nor is the one who waters, but God makes it grow"

Next exciting piece  - We finally got our Public witnessing stand out and placed 2 books YAY! Still need to research best areas and we have ordered another 2 stands so we can have a set up in Yanchep area. It was a little funny not looking to make conversation with anyone (so unlike me) but I guess it's all part of the learning experience.

He's a pic of me and Shan in the park opposite the primary school. As you can tell it was a windy afternoon, well actually believe it or not PERTH is ranked one of the windiest cities in the world!

Other exciting news is that one of my bible studies came to her first meeting on Sunday! Well technically not first.. you see she used to study in Melbourne, for about 4 years but moved to Perth about 8 months ago. Anyway to cut a long story short the brothers found her whilst in the door to door work and handed her on to me. She is Chinese but studies in English with her Chinese bible on hand. Anyway she answered up at the meeting! WOW wasn't prepared for that but WOW!

She mentioned that her husband has taken the day off to attend our memorial, I discussed possibilities of him studying too which she said he'd like to but being a Chef has a hard time with his hrs, but was looking another job. Currently she only comes on a Sunday because she works Tuesday nights, so I tactfully brought up the subject of meeting attendance as she has stated she wants to get baptised. I think this only came to me as that morning I had just finished reading A Missionary's Life blog  "The 1 Day Wedding" where Peter stated to one of his studies that Hebrews 10: 24-25 is "biblical requirement"   (http://ilynca.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/the-1-day-wedding.html)

She agreed and said that her husband had been applying for jobs and thats when I suggested they pray together about the matter. I reasoned with her that Satan does not want her or her husband to study or come to meetings and perhaps they would find another job, possibly one with more money but not allow the meeting nights off. I suggested that by asking for Jehovahs direction first, this may help.

She was so excitied she said that she had been so anxious about what to do but she said she would talk to her husband when he came home and pray about it with him! She is so sweet she looked at me and the other sister and said " Reading and learning about Jehovah makes me so happy!"  I think we all had tears in our eyes.

Again the title of this entry is based on 1 Cor:3:7 ..."so that neither is the one who plants anything nor is the one who waters, but God makes it grow"

Funtastic Fridays

Ahhh... the long awaited visit from our new CO - it's been 12 months since we had a visit and needless to say we have all been eargerly anticipating his visit. So on tuesday night we got to finally meet Warren Reynolds and his lovely wife Leann. Also visiting were Leann's parents Claire and Adrian from Rockhapton Qld. 

We had the pleasure of having them come for dinner on wednesday night along with Leann's parents. Here's a pic of us enjoying the sunset. 

From the left Claire, Adriane (behind) Leann, Warren (behind) me, Shannon and Joel.










Thursday night's talk had an impact on me, I was emotionaly and physically exhuasted from mum's appointment at the Dr's. In a nutshell mum's condition is deteriorating and I think it had hit home it's only going to get worse not better. 

His talk had to do with unrealistic expectations of Jehovah and touched on the drama we had at the last convention where both the daughter and the father of the sister had died in a car crash.
He mentioned that we should not think we are entitled to divine intervention because we are Jehovahs people, rather we are all victims of cirumstances and discussed the account of Mephibosheth who had had truly set a sterling example by enduring disability and disappointment.—2 Samuel 19:24-30. 

He highlighted Hebrews 6:10, which I had recited to mum the week before saying that Jehovah would never forget her loyaty and faith to him and in the years she pioneered and that Jehovah did not think any less because she was not able to what she had done before. 

We all face trying circumstances some direct and others indirectly and this was a great reminder to focus on what we can do and not dwell on what we cant' after all Jehovah knows this too.

Wednesday morning was a good start - we even got a chance to stop for morning tea!

Friday, was a great morning of alternate witnessing and we were in a car load of 5, assigned with Sis Leann for business territory. Others were assigned park and beach witnessing, - our car load alone placed 128 magazines in just an hour! Hence the title FUNTASTIC fridays as this will be a regual fortnightly occurance in our friday group (haha btw, our friday group is always the most fun!)

Saturday morning we had 100 publishers out! Just check out the photo of the group!

Saturday afternoon was our pioneer meeting which auxillary pioneers were also welcomed along which gave us all a good boost.

Warren and Leann were both Missionaries on circuit work in Papau New Guinea and stopped about 2 years ago because of health reasons - Warren had contracted Maleria 11 times and Leann had contracted a flesh eating disease and so went back to Sydney for treatment. Leann was that ill that when medical staff saw her they estimated she had 8 hours to live! Fortunately a team of students and professors worked on her case and found the right antibiotic in time and were able to stop it from spreading! 

Though they have recovered they are not well enough to return to PNG, hence have been assigned circuit work in Australia and assigned to our circuit.

For a little snippet of their life you can read about them in the 2011 year book here http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200274323/105/0 

Warren presented a slide show at the kingdom on Saturday night highlighting some of their adventures! (see the photo's further down) Hearing and seeing some of their experiences was amazing, and what it demonstrated to me was you can do anything in Jehovah's strength if you really want to. 

Poor Zaskia, one of our auxillary pioneer sisters fractured her ankle while trying to save her little dog from another dog the night before but made it to the slide show!

All week Warren had been suggested that the we have a light super after the slide show and had hinted...(I counted 16 times) that the sisters make PAVALOVA. This is an Aussie favourite and after 13years missionary service eating anything from yams to grubs and fish,  I guess he was making up for lost time or lost PAVALOVA!

Some of the different PAVALOVA's (I made the up the chocolate one in the top right hand corner - yes I cheated and bought the base....)

I'm guessing by the smiles they are enjoying their PAV!