We recently had our circuit overseer's visit, and I explained to him about how I get so many requests from readers about where they should go to serve. I asked him in our territory, where would he send someone? Here's what he said.
San Juan de la Concepción a.k.a. La Concha
Why? Well, this congregation has about 50 publishers but only 2 elders. These 2 elders are advanced in age and are really having trouble keeping up with shepherding and assignments. They need help.
Pros...it's in the middle of pineapple country and has a moderate climate. The congregation has an excellent pioneer spirit. It sits right on the bus route to many larger towns like Ticuantepe (where the former branch was; shown below) and San Marcos. Also, if you're not 100% on your Spanish yet, San Marcos has an English group you could support from time to time to boost you up.
Cons...this may all be relative but you'd be the only need greater in that congregation. Also, because of the size of this pueblito, it may be hard to find a rental, but C.O. says you should be able to find something easily along the bus route.
Ok, so what if you're a single sister and therefore, unqualified to fill that need...where should you go?
Here with me!
Ahem, or at least close. No, really, our little endeavor in our rural territory of San Francisco is really booming. The C.O. says that if we continue to have the support there that we have, he'll recommend it to be a congregation the next time he visits. We have about 19 publishers assigned there but the meeting attendance is regularly 30something. And it's not just for sisters. There's only 1 elder and 1 ministerial servant assigned (yes, these are different numbers from before; some Nindirí brothers could no longer afford the transportation costs and came back to the home congregation), so if you're a responsible brother, this is an amazing opportunity to get some hard core training.
Pros...you're close to Nindirí which is adorable, cheap, and right along the PanAmerican highway making travel a breeze. No trouble finding a rental in Nindirí. Rural territory i.e. pigs, cows, horses, householders sending you home with melons and tamarind!!! Nindirí got approval to build a new KH this year so if you come soon, you can support that project as well. Look how much our lovely need greater Jocelyn loved it last April:
Cons...the territory is VAST so you'll spend a bit in transportation every time you go out there. Figure on almost $2 each day you spend out there especially if you're doing r.v.'s or studies and not just straight preaching. VERY small congregation so you'll really have to be willing to pull your own weight. Rural territory--I don't know how but it's not for everyone. Again, you'd be the only need greater in this congregation, but I'd be in Nindirí :) Wait, is that a pro or con?!
Doesn't this look like the best life ever?!
I know a lot of you who follow this blog are also following other need-greater blogs and trying to get psyched to reach your own goals. Have you seen one of the recent videos on JW.org? It's an amazing story about an American youth named Cameron and the steps she took and challenges she encountered in volunteering in a foreign land.
I'd have to say it's an accurate description. There are often very physical demands made on your body, mental anguish in adjusting to a new language and culture, and emotionally trying times. But she's right...making those sacrifices can definitely give you the best life ever if you have the right outlook on it. If you can focus on your ministry instead of all those crazy external factors, you can be the happiest you've ever been. I especially encourage all youths to take a close look at this video and examine your goals. Could YOU join the ranks of serving where the need for Kingdom publishers is greater?
BTW, all of these shots are of either past or current need greaters in different parts of Nicaragua.
This is a rant. A pure, unadulterated rant. If you're up to reading a rant, keep going, please. If not, better you just leave now.
I'm lonely. There, I said it.
Almost 2 1/2 years into my assignment, there are just certain things that are not resolving themselves, and companionship is one of them. I am not hearing anything. ever. from any of my friends back home. ever. You want to know why I started this blog? Supposedly so THEY could keep up with ME. So it surprises me that none of them even follow me. Out of my own family I have ONE person who follows this blog. I hear more from other need greaters I've met here and random people throughout the world who read this blog than I do from ANY of my friends from home. Then when I go home, they're all like, let's keep in touch. You want to know how many people I've given this blog address to who've never read it? I've actually saved it in their iPhones and they still don't read it? I've sent an invite to their email and they don't accept it?
My Mom says, "People are just busy." You want to know what I say? The same thing I say to my students...we make time for the things we WANT to make time for. You are living in a country where you have:
1. a smartphone with constant 3G and WiFi connections
2. a laptop
3. a tablet
4. a home office
5. a work office
and yet you never talk to me. Maybe you're not talking to anyone? Yep, that's what I thought too until I continually embarrass myself saying that to people just for them to respond, "Weird, because she's on Facebook/Instagram/etc all the time." Hmmm. So apparently, you've just decided that because I don't work on the same platform YOU do i.e. Skype, email, Pinterest it's just IMPOSSIBLE for us to keep in touch.
You know what I think it is? I think it's a subtle way of just saying "we're done." And it hurts. It hurts that people who I thought would be in my corner FOREVER have decided that because we no longer live close to each other, it's over. And it especially hurts because it's not the easiest thing to make good friends. Especially when you're a need greater/missionary. Are we all family/brothers? Yes. Does that mean we're all intimate and you can emotionally rely on everyone? No. Especially when you're trying to make lasting friendships through a language barrier, a cultural barrier, and the fact that everyone knows you may not be here for long so why put the effort into drawing close to you.
So those of you who DO read my blog and always email about your dreams to be a need greater, keep this post in mind. If you're thinking that you'll have the support of friends back home when you move, you may want to double think that. Maybe you have better friends than I do. Or maybe you also will find that it's just you and Jehovah.
Am I seriously the only one with this problem?
