We find that change is something we live with here in Panajachel.
So... we have many visitors, some of whom are 'tasting' life in a foreign land to check it out. Some come back to live here - either in Panajachel or elsewhere in Central America. We are always happy to welcome visitors, and hope they come back. Some do.
Pana has become something like an incubator for those in foreign service. Some come here to try it out. Pana is a fairly easy transition for people to come here. We can get products and services that foreigners may be used to. Chunky peanut butter, natural health foods, teas, barbecue, and more.
But in time, we have had a lot of folks who have come down, and we have even had a lot of help. We got up to about 35 publishers and six elders! Our congregation was invited to consider if we could move to other locations in Central America where the need was even greater.
A few months ago, our dear friends Tony and Melinda Minette moved to Bluefields, Nicaragua. It is a very poor area but with many people who want to learn about Jehovah and God's kingdom. We miss them SO much! Tony was an extraordinarily kind and caring elder, and Melinda was sweet and supportive friend.
On March 1, two of our dear ones left to move to Managua, Nicaragua - Andy Burns (from Kansas City) and Beverly Shockley (from Nebraska). This was also a big hit to our congregation, since Bev came as the fourth here in Guatemala, and Andy was not long after. They have been a huge source of encouragement, and they will be so very missed!
Lora DeShields came in February 2013, and just left to go to eastern Guatemala. She had been in Mexico for a couple of years, supporting the deaf in Mexico. She has been here, starting a small group of Guatemalan sign language. She made a lot of teaching aids on her own, from scratch, to help people who didn't understand even what sign language is. She was an inspiration, so courageous. She now is going to support another community of deaf.
On March 1, Mitch and Jill Wright moved over to Spanish congregation, here in Panajachel. They have both worked so hard to support the service here. But we're happy for their courageous spirit to try Spanish!
In May, Mark and Alison Cooney will go back to Scotland to work for the summer. When they come back in the fall, they will likely go somewhere else in Central America.
Diego Garcia from Mexico was appointed an elder here about six months ago. He will be moving also!
We have a couple brothers who have moved in (Glenn from Canada and Jesse from Texas). We have others who have plans to move 'back home', or to Ireland, or to move over to Spanish. I'll leave those unspecified since plans are still unconfirmed, though. But we may go from 35 publishers to half that, in a short period of time!
A few months ago, we had six elders (Mitch, Mike, Mark, Diego, Tony and Neto, and before that we also had Andy and Willis and Sean). And in a couple of months, we'll be back down to two (Mike and Neto). We have lost several full-time publishers and families. We also heard that the nearby Antigua congregation is down to 12 publishers. They have also been hit with a lot of change.
But we KNOW more people will move in. Perhaps in waves, like we've had in the past, or in bits and pieces. This is part of serving where the need is greater - transition. Flux. Change. Adjustment.
It requires being flexible and maintaining a strong bond of LOVE in the congregation. Of welcoming one another whole-heartedly, of spending time together. When visitors come, we also want to welcome them and help them see the joy we're having here and the wonderful privilege of helping people in a foreign land. But mostly of having a loving family spirit in the congregation. Building one another up and helping each other.
But we can't stay stagnant. This is not about staying comfortable or having a convenient, easy life. This is all part of the work of publishing the good news of God's Kingdom earthwide (Matthew 24:14). We are so far into the last days of this awful system of things (2 Timothy 3:1-5) that it's worth any effort. We're so happy to have had people here, whether for a visit, or for a six month or year.
So, can YOU come down and help us out? Can YOU taste and see that Jehovah is good ... down in Guatemala?
But in time, we have had a lot of folks who have come down, and we have even had a lot of help. We got up to about 35 publishers and six elders! Our congregation was invited to consider if we could move to other locations in Central America where the need was even greater.
A few months ago, our dear friends Tony and Melinda Minette moved to Bluefields, Nicaragua. It is a very poor area but with many people who want to learn about Jehovah and God's kingdom. We miss them SO much! Tony was an extraordinarily kind and caring elder, and Melinda was sweet and supportive friend.
 |
| Minettes on left, with Melinda's daughter Katarina, Katie McComas, and our CO Ruben and Cathy Garcia. |
Lora DeShields came in February 2013, and just left to go to eastern Guatemala. She had been in Mexico for a couple of years, supporting the deaf in Mexico. She has been here, starting a small group of Guatemalan sign language. She made a lot of teaching aids on her own, from scratch, to help people who didn't understand even what sign language is. She was an inspiration, so courageous. She now is going to support another community of deaf.
 |
| Lora DeShields with Beverly |
 |
| Jill Wright with Natalie Perez (Sorry Mitch! Didn't find one yet with both of you together) |
In May, Mark and Alison Cooney will go back to Scotland to work for the summer. When they come back in the fall, they will likely go somewhere else in Central America.
Diego Garcia from Mexico was appointed an elder here about six months ago. He will be moving also!
 |
| Diego Garcia |
We have a couple brothers who have moved in (Glenn from Canada and Jesse from Texas). We have others who have plans to move 'back home', or to Ireland, or to move over to Spanish. I'll leave those unspecified since plans are still unconfirmed, though. But we may go from 35 publishers to half that, in a short period of time!
A few months ago, we had six elders (Mitch, Mike, Mark, Diego, Tony and Neto, and before that we also had Andy and Willis and Sean). And in a couple of months, we'll be back down to two (Mike and Neto). We have lost several full-time publishers and families. We also heard that the nearby Antigua congregation is down to 12 publishers. They have also been hit with a lot of change.
But we KNOW more people will move in. Perhaps in waves, like we've had in the past, or in bits and pieces. This is part of serving where the need is greater - transition. Flux. Change. Adjustment.
It requires being flexible and maintaining a strong bond of LOVE in the congregation. Of welcoming one another whole-heartedly, of spending time together. When visitors come, we also want to welcome them and help them see the joy we're having here and the wonderful privilege of helping people in a foreign land. But mostly of having a loving family spirit in the congregation. Building one another up and helping each other.
But we can't stay stagnant. This is not about staying comfortable or having a convenient, easy life. This is all part of the work of publishing the good news of God's Kingdom earthwide (Matthew 24:14). We are so far into the last days of this awful system of things (2 Timothy 3:1-5) that it's worth any effort. We're so happy to have had people here, whether for a visit, or for a six month or year.
So, can YOU come down and help us out? Can YOU taste and see that Jehovah is good ... down in Guatemala?
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