Had a huge group out witnessing today - 20 people at least! We worked along side a river, which made for a scenic start, saw a couple cows wandering about, which is, for the record a bit more unusual.
Then we headed inland, so to speak, and came to a huge apartment complex. As we're walking through, my partner, a Thai sister nicknamed Noo, explained that we give tracts to the ones we come across because we're not allowed up in the apartments themselves.
For me this entails a bit of a Gulp. Street Witnessing, not exactly a strength of mine. I like the formality of door to door. But these ones may not hear the news otherwise, so I pray intensely. We pass an African gentleman, but I didn't yet have the courage to say anything. So of the four of us that were working together, the Thai sister with probably the least English witnessed to him. And he was very nice and patient as she tried to find her English tracts, and proceeds to drop a handful. He helps her pick them up, accepted one and we continued on, me feeling more than a bit bad...
So I pray for another opportunity to give a witness and the courage to do so. And as were about to the end of the complex we pass another black gentleman. We make eye contact, smile and say hello. And have a lovely conversation! He is from Nigeria and is here on business, but had read the Watchtower and Awake back home. I, unfortunately, have only little tracts in English, but ask if he's familiar with our website, which he wasn't. So I explain about our website and how most publications are now available online, as well as meeting Times and locations for English. We even discussed the upcoming convention!
So despite my initial apprehension, it was a good morning and I finished feeling like I'd accomplished something. Jehovah truly blesses our efforts!
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
September in Bangkapi
Back in Thailand again, but this time, for the first time ever, I'm staying in Bangkapi, which is to the northeast of Bangkok's city center and close to Bethel.
It's been interesting returning to a new part of the city and having to do the whole exploration deal again. Learn when and where the meetings and field service are, where to eat, fill up water and do my laundry. Okay the food part has been especially difficult for me as previously I knew exactly where to go to get the food I was craving, what to order or not order at any given place, and the cooks all knew me. Tuesday another customer took my order in English, as the cook was clearly concerned about communicating with me :) He was so nice and helpful I didn't have the heart to tell him I could order for myself.
Tuesday finally made it out in Thai field service. Incredibly nervous after six months gone, but it went very well I thought. I worked with a Japanese sister who is serving here with her two fleshly sisters - how cool is that?! She is the middle child of five kids!
Bangkapi congregation, much like Thonburi, has many Japanese ones serving there. According to one sister I spoke to there are 14 total. I'd recently heard the statistic that 60% or so of Japanese witnesses are pioneers. Speaking with Maho (a Japanese sister from Osaka) I learned that in her home congregation they cover their territory every 2-3 months! In fact she says they bicycle around their territory partly so it will take longer :)
Yeah we definitely don't cover the territory that often here! I can understand now why we have such good support from the Japanese friends in Thailand. I met one brother who had previously served in a Portuguese congregation in Japan. I was told many ones from Brazil go to Japan. Who knew? And now he and his wife are learning Thai.
It was kinda funny, on Tuesday we had a big group out in the ministry, but only 3 or 4 Thais. And about that many brothers, come to think of it. I guess sometimes the foreign women are a large army :)
It's been interesting returning to a new part of the city and having to do the whole exploration deal again. Learn when and where the meetings and field service are, where to eat, fill up water and do my laundry. Okay the food part has been especially difficult for me as previously I knew exactly where to go to get the food I was craving, what to order or not order at any given place, and the cooks all knew me. Tuesday another customer took my order in English, as the cook was clearly concerned about communicating with me :) He was so nice and helpful I didn't have the heart to tell him I could order for myself.
Tuesday finally made it out in Thai field service. Incredibly nervous after six months gone, but it went very well I thought. I worked with a Japanese sister who is serving here with her two fleshly sisters - how cool is that?! She is the middle child of five kids!
Bangkapi congregation, much like Thonburi, has many Japanese ones serving there. According to one sister I spoke to there are 14 total. I'd recently heard the statistic that 60% or so of Japanese witnesses are pioneers. Speaking with Maho (a Japanese sister from Osaka) I learned that in her home congregation they cover their territory every 2-3 months! In fact she says they bicycle around their territory partly so it will take longer :)
Yeah we definitely don't cover the territory that often here! I can understand now why we have such good support from the Japanese friends in Thailand. I met one brother who had previously served in a Portuguese congregation in Japan. I was told many ones from Brazil go to Japan. Who knew? And now he and his wife are learning Thai.
It was kinda funny, on Tuesday we had a big group out in the ministry, but only 3 or 4 Thais. And about that many brothers, come to think of it. I guess sometimes the foreign women are a large army :)
Friday, March 7, 2014
My First Part in Thai - EEP
Was Sister Weena's householder for the #2 this week. SO nervous! Read two scriptures plus had a fair amount of talking to do. Fortunately dear sister Weena gave me the talk two weeks in advance so I had plenty of time to practice!
Wore the dress I bought at JJ Market for 50 baht last month (second hand). Was told alternately that I looked like a princess and a doll. Hm. Perhaps it's better I wear my glasses... Here with two lovely Japanese sisters. Sadly the last meeting I'll see them at :( Je kitteung kao (I will miss them).
Monday, February 24, 2014
A Few Random Updates
It's now Mango season - yay!!! My favorite season of the year as I can and will eat mango for breakfast lunch and dinner. Went to the local market and bought 4 mangos for 40 baht, and got mango and sticky rice for only 25 baht - note you'll see this same item at the airport for oh about 200 baht!!! Local shopping is totally the way to go - and in my experience it tastes better too!
As summer time in Thailand approaches many need greaters head back to their home country to work; I know of 10 that have just left or are heading home in the next couple weeks - Sadness :( Lots of going away parties. Some will return in a few months, others don't know when...A bittersweet blessing of serving in Thailand is meeting such ones then saying goodbye.
On the plus side we'll have plenty of time to hang out in the new system!
We also have new ones coming/returning - one couple from Japan and a couple from Finland just came back and another will return from Australia next month. Always an exciting place to be :)
And for my very exciting/terrifying news:
My first Thai part!!! I'll be sister Weena's householder on March 7th. Eep. If you zoom in on the picture you'd find that I've made marks of tones and meanings of unknown words. The theme is (roughly translated): why people that are resurrected won't be judged for sins they committed before they died. Wow just checked against English KM: Why Resurrected Ones Will Not Be Condemned for Their Past Deeds. I think that's a pretty good translation if I do say so myself :)
Going to be practicing A Lot - and then sleeping on it because I find that helps with the muscle memory needed to speak a foreign (oh so foreign) tongue. Perhaps I should sleep with it under my pillow and hope for some osmosis too... (Just kidding - doesn't work)
As summer time in Thailand approaches many need greaters head back to their home country to work; I know of 10 that have just left or are heading home in the next couple weeks - Sadness :( Lots of going away parties. Some will return in a few months, others don't know when...A bittersweet blessing of serving in Thailand is meeting such ones then saying goodbye.
On the plus side we'll have plenty of time to hang out in the new system!
We also have new ones coming/returning - one couple from Japan and a couple from Finland just came back and another will return from Australia next month. Always an exciting place to be :)
And for my very exciting/terrifying news:
My first Thai part!!! I'll be sister Weena's householder on March 7th. Eep. If you zoom in on the picture you'd find that I've made marks of tones and meanings of unknown words. The theme is (roughly translated): why people that are resurrected won't be judged for sins they committed before they died. Wow just checked against English KM: Why Resurrected Ones Will Not Be Condemned for Their Past Deeds. I think that's a pretty good translation if I do say so myself :)
Going to be practicing A Lot - and then sleeping on it because I find that helps with the muscle memory needed to speak a foreign (oh so foreign) tongue. Perhaps I should sleep with it under my pillow and hope for some osmosis too... (Just kidding - doesn't work)
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