Well it's official. We've been here one whole week now! In many ways it seems like we've been here for a lifetime, so many new things in such a short period of time. I'm really glad we decided not to throw learning another language into the mix right away - although the little bit of Spanish we learned before coming has come in handy.
So what have we been up to? Monday was a holiday here so sister Olga was going to show us around Placencia - but we got rained out. So Monday was a lazy rain day. Tuesday we walked up to the Kingdom Hall for service, but no one came so we decided to hurry home (as much as you can hurry in this heat) and catch the 10:00 water taxi over to Placencia. Unfortunately, just as we got there it started to rain - good thing we brought our umbrellas! They come in handy for the rain, but mostly we use them to block some of the sun, it can get really intense. Dana looks so manly walking down the Main Street with his 'parasol'! Despite the rain, we got some info at the tourism department about some cool places to visit before we leave. Top on our list is zip-lining, cave tubing, the zoo and wildlife reserve. The rest of the day we hung out at the Tipsy Tuna, a restaurant right on the beach. So we ate, drank some Jamaican beer and used their free wi-fi! A very successful day despite the rain.
On Wednesday we went out in service again, this time there was a good group. We worked some territory in Independence. I talked with a young woman named Elvera, we discussed the question on the back of the Watchtower and she said I can come back next Wednesday to discuss the second part! Cool! They don't blink an eye when you ask about returning and will gladly tell you when they will be home! We stopped at lunchtime and since we were right next to sister Melva's little restaurant - guess where we had lunch? It was yummy, rice and beans with stewed chicken or pork with some peppery coleslaw, some plantain and the most delicious orange and pineapple juices you've ever tasted! Big servings too - we had to doggy bag some of it. Since Dana's ears have still been bothering him after our three flights to get here, we decided to check out the clinic across the street. We sat in the waiting room (just like home!) to see the doctor. When Dana went in to be checked by the nurses one of them ask him if he is one of Jehovah's Witnesses, he says yes, she says they are always asking her to study, he says well why don't you? She says well I work six days a week I only have Sundays off, he says well my wife and I could study on Sunday, she says OK! Simple as that folks! In the meantime, I've been chatting with a 14 year old boy named Brandon. He's got a cold, but is very talkative. We talk about Canada and some of the differences between the two places. He asks why we are here in Belize. I tell him we are Jehovah's Witnesses here to help the local congregation. He knows some kids at school that are Jehovah's Witnesses and his older brother is studying with a brother in our hall. But Brandon says he goes to the Adventist church. I ask him what he learns there, he says that he learned that we should only eat animals that went onto the ark in sevens, not the ones by twos, like pigs, and that some people say you shouldn't drink cola but they are wrong - you can drink it! I'm thinking to myself - THATS what they teach you at church ?!? So I get out my bible and show him Ps 83:18 - he didn't know God has a name! He also takes the magazines. Then he starts asking me about people who have the mark of the wild beast won't get into the kingdom of heaven - does that mean if he gets a tattoo of his mom's name he won't make it!! He's 14! I have honestly never had that question in service before! I explained the mark isn't a physical mark but something Jehovah can see in us - if we are really serving him or not. Then I showed him the scripture in Leviticus about tattoos, he was really surprised about that one. Unfortunately, right about then he got called into see the doctor and Dana was done. I'm going to ask about him with the brother who studies with his older brother at the meeting on Thursday. Oh, by the way everything at the clinic was FREE - the visit and the medication!
We pick up MacKay at the Parks' and head home to relax. As we're resting we hear 'helloooo!' in the yard. It is brother and sister Patterson bringing us two beautiful bikes to use. Lupe then proceeds to find us a third bike from our neighbours - so now we have wheels!! I picked Lupe's brain about how to prepare local beans, what's in season, etc. we are going to their house on Friday for lunch. Later that evening I went with sister Parks on a bible study. A very long day, but very rewarding. I went to bed tired that night!
Dana's going to tell you next about our trip in service to the village of Georgetown.
Love you all!
Carlee
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