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!
Wow! What a privilege to have a CO that's been a missionary. Thanks so much for sharing some of their story.
ReplyDeleteThey are super nice people too! So many cool stories not enough space to relate them all lol!
DeleteThat's really neat you have missionary COs. When I was growing up in California, we had a couple from PNG as CO as well- Dan Ernest, same Yearbook. They had the most touching experiences to share. It's such a small world!
ReplyDeleteI ask them if they know them when they come back in May - we are hosting them and the DO the week of our assembly!
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DeleteAlso pls ask if they know Jim and Rose Davies from the same yearbook who are in our congregation on Waiheke Island, NZ.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for sharing your experiences.
Hello Larissa will do and thank you!
DeleteI enjoyed reading this account from 1/2 way around the world. I live in Minnetonka, MN, USA . I marvel at how Jehovah is helping you regular pioneer. Jehovah holds our hand and that is how I found your site. Nov 17, 2014 is my 40 year anniversary of being baptized. I am 62 in July. I also marvel at how Jehovah is helping me through my grief. My 82 year old mother died 12 days ago and I was browsing the internet and found you. How encouraging!
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so sorry on the loss of your mother,I am sure Jehovah is a stregnth to you at this time. Thank you for your kind words, and glad that they have been a comfort for you during this difficult time.
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