Recently, we made our monthly trip to the capital, Georgetown. We normally go there at least once a month to pick up groceries and do some banking. This last time we stopped by the branch to talk to the brothers in their service department to find out how we can receive a residency extension from the government. In our brief visit there we received another proof of the small world, smaller organization rule. The brother we spoke with lived in the same building as I did when I served in Brooklyn Bethel. In fact, Cat had been invited into his room by he and his wife one afternoon following a tour. He vaguely remembered us and checked his computer and soon produced a picture of the two of us that he took that day 3 years ago in his room in Brooklyn. We thought to ourselves if anyone had told us then that we would be meeting up again three years in Guyana we wouldn't have believed them.
We also received a visit from another need greater couple, Don and Sarah Campbell, who are originally from Portland, Oregon. They have been going back forth between Guyana and the U.S. for over a year now supporting the Georgetown, GY sign language group. They spent the night at our house and went to a meeting with us. Phil arranged for Don to give the highlights which was a treat for all of us ( in a group with only 1 elder and two servants anytime we can get anyone to give a talk is a treat). We really enjoyed spending time with them and they gave us some helpful advice and suggestions. Hopefully, we can go visit them in a few months and have them show us around Georgetown.
Cat has been adapting quite nicely to cooking the Guyanese way. Recently, Sister Wendy Basdeo from our congregation invited us over and taught her how to make Roti and Curry Chicken. She took to it quite naturally. It was delicious, I was so proud. It was a learning experience for all involved. Sister Wendy said, "I never imagined I would have a white woman cooking in my kitchen!" Classic.
Every Thursday and Friday trucks come down our street honking their horns and selling fruits, vegetables, meats, fish..basically whatever they happened to grow or catch that week. Normally, we just buy the produce but last week Cat was feeling ambitious. We bought a whole Butterfish. Neither of us had ever prepared a fish before, so we looked on the internet for instructions and within 45 minutes Cat boned, scaled, and fried it. Serving in a foreign country can be a real adjustment, but it helps if you have a really good cook :)
There have been a few hardships so far, but the rewards in the ministry make it all worthwhile. We are currently studying with 5 members of a family and two of them usually study twice a week because of how interested they are. The mother of the family told us, "I'm really happy you are here because if you hadn't come I wouldn't have learned all these things about God and the bible". She also mentioned that she had never allowed witnesses in to talk to her before Phil and Debbie came and started studying with her deaf granddaughter. The brothers and sisters in the congregation have also been very helpful and supportive. The friends here don't have much, but they really go out of their way to show their appreciation to us and the other need greaters in practical ways. They invite us over for meals, help us find our way around town, and on several occasions some have even paid our taxi fare for us. We thank Jehovah for them and for this experience.
