Do some of you remember dear brother John Musser? What a sweetheart! He visited Pana a couple of years ago and gave a talk. He repeatedly got choked up when speaking about his love for his service in Guatemala. He had served in Guatemala for many years back in the 1960s and 1970s, building kingdom halls and the branch, and starting congregations. Though he had to go back to the US as his life situation changed, he told us about how he and a few others who had also served there used to get together for coffee - a meeting of the “I Love Guatemala Club” - and they’d talk about their wonderful experiences! John died a few months ago at ~ age 92, but Guatemala was always in his heart. He absolutely lit up when talking about his ‘good old days’!
We have decided to join the “I Love Guatemala Club”.
This is our way of saying, with great sadness, with bittersweet emotions - that we will be moving back to the US sometime around June 1 (a bit before or after).
We recently sent out the following email to our congregation in Panajachel.
Do some of you remember dear brother John Musser? What a sweetheart! He visited Pana a couple of years ago and gave a talk. He repeatedly got choked up when speaking about his love for his service in Guatemala. He had served in Guatemala for many years back in the 1960s and 1970s, building kingdom halls and the branch, and starting congregations. Though he had to go back to the US as his life situation changed, he told us about how he and a few others who had also served there used to get together for coffee - a meeting of the “I Love Guatemala Club” - and they’d talk about their wonderful experiences! John died a few months ago at ~ age 92, but Guatemala was always in his heart. He absolutely lit up when talking about his ‘good old days’!
We have decided to join the “I Love Guatemala Club”.
This is our way of saying, with great sadness, with bittersweet emotions - that we will be moving back to the US sometime around June 1 (a bit before or after).
We are so very ambivalent. We deeply want to stay, but Bill’s recent healthcare problems, and a recent diagnosis of advancing heart disease, and then even more so, Ken’s sudden death, has been deeply shocking… sobering. We prayerfully asked Jehovah to help us balance our love of Pana with modesty - being aware of our limitations. We are ever-more aware of a need to receive healthcare (under Medicare) and to have a reliable 911 to help with possible emergencies. It will be so much cheaper for us to receive healthcare in the states - and more reliable, given existing health risks. As mentioned, Bill has known heart problems and other medical problems. Nancy has other, less urgent medical issues which are not likely to create life and death emergencies but which also require medical management.
Plus, field service has become harder and harder for us both, but especially for Bill because of his knees and his heart. We think the altitude probably affects our energy levels too.
So here we are, trying to justify our move in this email to you. Of course, it’s a personal decision and, yes, we have made it. Firmly. But we have such great affection for each of you that we want you to understand and to support us. We want and need your love and affection. We know we can count on each of you. We are friends, but even more so, we are family of the heart, of the spirit. We have a bond of common experience, jumping off the ‘cliff’ of serving in a foreign land. You are all so dear to us.
Did you hear that Tony and Melinda Minette are also moving back to the States this month, due to Tony’s health? But like them, we treasure the privilege and honor to have served. By the time we leave, it will be nearly four years. What a joy we have had! What stories we will have to tell in the paradise!
Nancy hopes to be able to return to regular pioneer service in September (you remember, driving around in cars? haha). And we look forward to encouraging our family, including our teenaged granddaughters, to stay close to Jehovah. We are told there is a need for us in the congregation in Olathe, Kansas, where we will be attending.
BUT - we would also like to go on the “Alan Erickson Plan” - returning to Guatemala for a service vacation every year, perhaps for a couple months. Do you recall Bro Erickson, a tall brother from Canada who used to come down to Pana for a couple months at a time to help in Spanish? We lovingly call that the “Alan Erickson Plan” to encourage others while we also encourage ourselves and enjoy being with dear ones.
We are confident that our Great Shepherd, Jesus, who is in charge of the congregation, will continue to support the Panajachel English congregation with all it needs. And we pray Jehovah’s blessing on each of you, and on ourselves, as we serve shoulder-to-shoulder no matter where we are, even with our great God and dear Father, Jehovah.
Some good news, though! We will come back home to Guatemala on Feb 17 and will be in Pana on the 18th, and we will happily be in Antigua for the circuit assembly! We will see you all in person then and look forward to big hugs … and some tears, I’m sure.
And later, when we return to Kansas City (Olathe), we too will light up when we talk about the precious years we had, now part of the I Love Guatemala Club. We’ll bring out our ‘traje tipico’, our ties and purses, and mostly, warmly recall YOU, the real treasure, and this absolute highlight of our ~45+ years in our theocratic careers.
With great love and warm affection,
Bill and Nancy
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