2014 CONGREGATION PIONEER MEETING

 Here's our gang afterwards. Back row left to right: Ivan, Alexis (one of the presenters), and Sergio (not a pioneer but one of the presenters). From row left to right: Selene, Clara, Larry, Johan, me, Argentina, and Julissa.  Yes, I realize we have one of the ugliest Kingdom Halls ever.

Argentina and Johan enjoying dinner afterwards. No, Johan's face isn't always that crazy.  Yes, he himself is always that crazy.

Ivan and Alexis.  Ivan is really enjoying that tostone, huh?

Clara and Selene.  Don't look so surprized, Clara, it's just dinner!

Here's the amazing meal the congregation paid for and Bro. Victor Gonzales cooked for us.  We had grilled chicken with cream of mushroom sauce, rice, pico de gallo, tostones (twice-fried green plantain), and refried beans.  He brought jamaica tea for a drink.  I made a banana crumble for dessert, but it went so quick I couldn't get a picture of it!  It was so much food I only ate half and took the rest home for Shelina to enjoy.

CIRCUIT PIONEER MEETING

Although our Circuit Assembly isn't until January, we had our Circuit Pioneer Meeting last Friday.  Turns out the other half of our circuit was doing their C.A. this past weekend, so we got the meeting early.  I thought you guys would like some facts about my new circuit and a great photo of my fellow Nindiri pioneers.

Location was at Piedra Quemada KH.  I found it to be particularly beautiful.  The long building to the left are apts for the C.O. and a need greater couple from the States

 We had the meeting at Piedra Quemada for Nica Circuit #7.  That circuit is made up of 22 congregations, 1,991 publishers, and 180-185 regular pioneers.  We average 5 studies per pioneer.  The needs of our circuit were to increase our number of students and ensure we're taking steps to make them progressive Bible students.  What did I most take away from the meeting:

• Jehovah is an orderly god.  He expects his servants to imitate him.  I should conduct my service in an orderly way and my person, supplies, and even home should always be orderly.
• I have to be a better student of the Bible.  I need to schedule specific times to read the Bible without rushing, make sure I understand the information, then meditate.  I'll never improve my teaching abilities otherwise.
• I have to guard against discouragement.  I need to think positively about my territory, my students, my fellow workers, and the hard-working elders helping to direct me.

Hopefully, putting these items into practice, I'll have a successful 2013/14 service year.

Here's my new buddies.  Starting from left back row:  Alexis, Ivan, Johan, Larry.  Front row:  yours truly, Selene, Clara, Argentina.  Only Julissa is missing; she couldn't get off work.

I've been getting to know the Nindiri pioneers a little more and have really started to value them after learning more about them.  We have one pioneer who's still going after having cancer twice, a pioneer who's only been baptized 4 years, a pioneer who is incredibly zealous although having rheumatoid arthritis from a young age, 2 pioneers who are family heads as well, and 2 pioneers juggling a demanding work schedule on top of it all.  I see I have a lot I can learn here in Nindiri.