January '08 Experiences
English
1-19-08 The Engish has their CO visit this week. They've been preaching all over this week. They have one sister that wants to be baptized at the Circuit Assembly on February 23, 24. We won't make this one because our Special Assembly Day is in Bagaces on the same weekend and I have a part to give both Saturday and Sunday. We hate to miss it since it's always so encouraging to see all the missionaries and friends that are from all over who have come to Costa Rica to help out.
Sign Language
1-19-08 Sign language has gotten a boost recently in our area. They will have the first real meeting in Jaco on the 27th of January. Watchtower, Talk, Book Study and School all in one session with a 15 minute break in between. I'm assigned to conduct the Watchtower Study and open with prayer. We have a couple of deaf studies that go up to Jaco on Sundays for the meeting that's translated to Sign Language. The group has about 15 publishers now. Then in February we'll start having the Book Study in the Greatest Man Book in Sign languange in Parrita every Saturday in order to train some brothers, including myself, on how to conduct the Book Study. Then hopefully we can start having it right here in Quepos every week.
Spanish
1-19-08 We started studying with a young couple that was at the point of breaking up their marriage. Another sister asked us to study with them. They got back together and really started applying themselves. Making most of the meetings, they even joined the Ministry School. A month later we went over the questions and they became unbaptized publishers las Saturday. The young sister's job was keeping her from getting to all the meetings so with her husband's support, put in her 2 weeks notice at her job as a waitress. Today is her last day. A week ago I gave a local needs part on setting goals, and asked everyone to write their goals down on a slip of paper. They both said they wrote down "Get baptized this year" as their goal.
This same new publisher has a friend who's mother has been disfellowshipped for years. He wanted to start studying, so we asked a young American brother to study with him along with his friend that is now the unbaptized publisher. They have a very interesting study because the new study asks deep questions and the American brother is limited in Spanish. So the man asks a question, the unbaptized publisher translates it to the American brother, who then answers it in English and then the unbaptized publisher translates it to Spanish. It's a long process, but they seem to enjoy it. Plus it's a great practice session for English, Spanish and Bible knowledge. This new study has been to almost all of the meetings in the past few weeks and wants to be on the School too with his goal of being a publisher and baptized too.
February 3rd is the visit of the Zone Overseer, Lawrence Shepp, so everyone in the country is invited to the National Stadium for a few talks and the WT study. 2 sessions, 1 at 9 am and the other at 2 pm. The morning will be translated to Sign Language and the afternoon in English and Chinese. Last year we had the same type of program and there were around 30,000 for both sessions. There are only about 22,000 witnesses in Costa Rica.
