Here are a few of the experiences we have had while out on the preaching here:

One lady Melissa called on, already had the Bible Teach book. She said that she enjoyed it and read it regularly by herself. Melissa asked the lady if she would like to study it with her and her reply was “Of course, could you come back next week?”

Julia and I called on a man this morning who immediately invited us to come in and sit down. He asked us why we were calling and we explained that we were Jehovah's Witnesses and we were calling to discuss the Bible. A conversation started and he began to tell us about his family, and how he realised money doesn't bring true happiness, so he tried not to be out at work on his farm all the time which meant that although they had less money, they were closer together as a family. He then went on to say how he liked reading the Bible, but that he felt that just reading it wasn't enough – it would be better to study it with someone who knew about the scriptures! We explained that as Jehovah's Witnesses we offered free home Bible study courses, and showed him the Bible Teach book. He looked through the index and got more excited as he read out the title of each chapter. He took the Bible Teach book and put it with his Bible and we arranged to go back next week and begin the study.



Sometimes when we are out preaching we tend to bypass large groups of men, as they tend to stare lecherously rather than listen, so when Julia came to a house with a 4 or 5 scruffy men sitting outside, she was tempted to move on to the next house, but the local sister she was with insisted that it was Julia's turn to call at this house. So Julia did a brief presentation and one man waved her away, but then another one spoke out explaining that the daughter of one of the men had just died. The father then spoke saying “My daughter committed suicide 9 days ago, she was a drug addict so she killed herself. What will happen to her? Show me from the Bible”. Julia showed him John 5.28,29 and arranged to return with the brochure “When Someone you Love Dies”.

I'd been out with a local sister all afternoon, and we hadn't had a very productive time, most of our RV's had been out. We were now on first call and it was beginning to go dark and everyone else had gone home, but we decided to do one more house. A girl about my age answered the door and I asked her if she liked reading the Bible and what was her favourite part. She replied that “of course, I like reading the Bible, it is very beneficial. Right now I'm reading the book of Revelation and find it fascinating but very hard to understand.” This was my cue to start racking my brains to remember as much as I could from the Revelation book. She agreed that studying the Bible was very important, so we arranged to return on her day off and start the Bible Teach book. That gives me a few days to do some homework on Revelation!

One of Melissa's studies was started when the girl approached her in the street while she was out preaching, to ask her what she was doing. Melissa explained and showed her the “Would you like to know the Truth?” tract. The girl said she'd always wondered what happens to us when we die. Melissa left the tract with her and made arrangements to return with the Bible Teach book.

We are now moved into our own house! So happy to be in a place of our own. By local standards it is quite a nice house. :) It is very out-door's style,, the lounge area and kitchen open out on 2 sides to the garden/courtyard and it has a wooden/bamboo roof which makes it almost like camping! We're very spoilt as we have a fridge and cooker..... although the cooker blew up today with flames pouring out the back, so we might be eating street food for while! No washing machine, but who needs modern technology! A sister in the cong. has taught us all how to wash our clothes by hand. It is a very long and painful process but in an odd way it is satisfying!

How to drive Nica- style.
When approaching a junction or crossroads, there is no need to indicate, slow down or stop, just beep your horn loudly several times and go straight across, any other cars/pedestrians/horses/chickens will miraculously move out of your way.
When turning a corner, follow the same procedure, no need to indicate or slow down, just cut right across the corner as fast as possible, you have full right of way, any pedestrian who happens to be there should get out of your way. If you happen to run them down, they shouldn't have been there in the first place.



How to ride a bicycle Nica-style.
Bicycles are not just made for one, or even 2, at least 4 people can fit on one bike.
If you need to carry things while riding, your hands on the handlebars are not needed, the passenger sitting on the bar can steer, leaving your hands free for carrying children, furniture, animals, shopping etc...























Directions Nica style -

-Where is the bus stop?
Over there
Where exactly?
Over there, where the restaurant used to be (20 years ago)
Ok, where did the restaurant used to be?
On that corner
Which corner specifically? The left or the right
That one.... (vague waving of hand and pursing of lips)

(Try not to grind teeth in frustration and pray for more fruitage of spirit!)