The Watchtower...

Hey guys,

You might have heard that I was sick for a couple of days this weekend.  It was evidently a combination of dehydration and just too much heat.  The sun is so intense down here, and I'm just not really used to it.  Now I know to drink, drink, drink.

Anyways, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to do that Watchtower on Sunday, so I went to the coordinator of the Spanish congregation here in Caye Caulker (he speaks pretty good English), to see if he could conduct the Watchtower if I was unable.  He was willing to help so that eased my mind. However, when I woke up on Sunday morning, I felt like a new man!!

So I ended up being able to conduct the Watchtower study!!  It was very difficult too.

I think it's a toss up between overseeing the School and conducting the Watchtower, as to which one is more difficult.  So, please, thank your school overseer and your Watchtower study conductor for the hard work they put into their responsibilities every week.

We have almost completed the territory in the tract campaign.  We are expecting a good group for the Memorial on Thursday!  It's unbelievable how quickly upcoming events get spread around the island here, because it is such a compact area.

Then, after the meeting on Sunday, I had my first study with a man here on the island who has known the truth his whole life and has now really started to take it seriously.  He and his family are at ALL the meetings and he has his VERY FIRST Bible reading coming up in the first week of May.  He knows he will be nervous, but has a great attitude and said he is determined to do it.

He was so excited to get his talk slip at the meeting on Wednesday.

Oh, I almost forgot...this Sunday, I give the public talk here in Caye Caulker at 10am, then I'll eat lunch, get on a boat headed to San Pedro (a neighboring island), and give that same public talk at their 6pm meeting!!  I'm excited.  Most of you know that I've had some difficulty with homesickness and now physical sickness, but it's these priveleges and new experiences that I thank Jehovah for everyday. Being able to keep busy with spiritual pursuits is one of the things that helps in those moments when I get homesick.  Thank you all so much for your support.

You friends have made all this possible for me and I will never forget that.

I've heard the weather back home has been cold and even snowing the last couple of days.

I wish that I could send some of this sunshine back to you. The best I can do is to send you some pics.  So, I will probably post 2 more blogs with pics after this one.

Love ya'all and keep in touch,

Josh

That Was Not Easy!

Hey guys,

Well, the friends here said that I did a nice job on the Theocratic Ministry School last night.

I'm not so sure, but I don't think they would lie to me.

Anyways, I didn't post this blog to talk about myself.

I just wanted all of you to know what a taxing responsibility our School Overseers have.

Overseeing the School last night was the hardest thing I've done up to this point.

It's really difficult to think about how the student did on their counsel point, look for the good things about the part, and try to think about something for them to work on next time. 

Anyways, to all you School Overseers, I have a whole new appreciation for your responsibility in the congregation.

Love ya'all,

Josh

A Week of Firsts

Hey everybody,

This is going to be an exciting week!

Tonight, at the meeting, I will be overseeing the Theocratic Ministry School for the very first time! Many of you know how nervous I can get about my parts on the meeting. I thought I would be ready to have a stroke, and I am nervous, but not as bad as I thought...not yet anyways. However, it is still early in the day.

Then on Sunday, I will be conducting the Watchtower study or the very first time! I think I will be sweating bulletts for that!!

I hope that these kinds of experiences will help me when I get home to be able to do more in the congregation in Corbin.

The last 3 mornings, we have gone out from around 6:30 am till around 8:30 am, in an effort to beat the heat. It gets hot here fairly early in the morning. We do "approach" work on the street. Its basically a combination of door-to-door and street witnessing. We walk around the island in groups of 2 or 3 and if we see someone that is in a position to talk or who looks any bit interested in what we are doing, then we go talk to them. It's kinda cool. Early morning witnesseing is going to be a regular thing for me while I'm here.

I didn't have any new pics to put on today, but wanted to let all of you know what the spiritual routine here is like.

I truly appreciate all of your loving support from the time I first started making arrangements to come here! The friends here do too. There is such a big need for brothers here in Caye Caulker. The friends are grateful for any help others can provide.
I'm excited about the Memorial. We're expecting a big crowd. There were 70 here last year!
There were 42 at the meeting Sunday, which is a lot, in a congregation of only 12 publishers.
We have had about 10 brothers and sister here on vacation, just in the 2 weeks since I've been here. Thats really neat. It gives you a chance to meets friends from around the world. In fact, a young brother from Idaho showed up yesterday and needed a place to stay, so he stayed here in "the treehouse". Only Jehovah's organization has that kind of unity! If I don't learn another thing from this trip, I have definitely found out that we are truly part of a WORLDWIDE BROTHERHOOD!

Please keep in touch and let me know how things are going with the congregation and the Memorial campaign at home. I love to hear from you.

Love ya'all,
Josh

More Pics on the Way to Belize City

Hey everyone,

These are just a few more of the pics from my trip to Belize City on Monday.

The two at the top are mini-islands. Its awesome. In case of a hurricane, though, it would not be awesome. There would be nothing left of it.

The other pic is another water taxi about to pass us up.

We also saw some dolphins playing way back behind us, but it was too far to get a pic. Sorry!!

Love ya'all,

Josh

My Trip to Belize City on Monday

Hey Everybody,

On Monday, I went with another brother here in Caye Caulker over to Belize City to do some grocery shopping.

The 2 pics at the top are of an island between Caye Caulker and Belize City. Sorry, but I can't remember the name of it. It's a private golf course. You have to call ahead to even play there. That's right, the WHOLE ISLAND is ONE GOLF COURSE!!!!!

It is beautiful. Rumor has it...Tiger Woods had his wedding there!!

The next pic is a lighthouse on the waterfront of Belize City. It is really pretty. The picture does not do it justice, but it's better than nothing, I guess.

The next pic was taken in Belize City and there were these guys unloading a truck full of these sacks of grain. The truck parked 2 or 3 blocks from where the shipment actually went and the guys unloading the trucks were carrying these bags of grain on their head. Kind of cool!

The last pic is the FRUIT & VEGETABLE MARKET in Belize City. It was definitely different than what I'm used to...Wal-Mart.

More pics are coming...I promise.

Love ya'all,

Josh

Some of the Friends in Caye Caulker

(Top Left): Jeremy and Karen Scriver and little Willie Magania

head out in servicew/ the group last Saturday.

(Top Right): Bro. Randy Smith from neighboring island of

San Pedro gives the public talk w/ construction materials

stacked in the back ot the Kingdom Hall. I've never seen that before.

(Middle Left): Dolly Houghton (white shirt) and Carol Pugh.

(Middle Right): Johhny and his wife and daughter at the end of the day after working on the Kingdom Hall. They are in the Spanish Congregation here in

Caye Caulker. Johhny has one of the most hearty laughs I've ever heard and is constantly smiling.

(Bottom - Under this Writing): Christian (tallest), Buddy (2nd tallest), Willie (to the far left), and little Brendan (the one making the peace sign) MAGANIA.

Love ya'all,

Josh

Kingdom Hall Remodel

Hey guys,

This Kingdom Hall looks brand new.
(Top left): The very last piece of tile laid at the hall.

( Top middle): Half the floor had been tiled. What a difference, huh?

(Top right): The new chair covers are stacked up there. We had to take the chairs apart, sand the frames, and then re-paint them. They were rusty.

(Bottom left): The front doors are being painted. Thats Dan Houghton and Carol Pugh.

(Bottom right): Louis (left) and Ramone (right) paint the screen doors.

More pics of the "new" Kingdom Hall are coming later.

Love ya'all. Post a comment. I enjoy hearing from all of you.

Josh