Winter Rains

Hello All,

I am back and feeling much better, the malaria and throat/ear infection threw me a loop for a near two weeks. It is easy to get medicine here, so we were not overly worried, it was just my needing to rest that stressed me the most. I don't like to stay still.

This week has started with lots of rain, some are joking it is as if it were the rainy season. Dennis and Lyam went on studies on Saturday and the small brook they cross was swelled high, there were sand bags to walk across. And a local man carried Lyam. It was not so high to cause danger, just not wanting to get shoes soaking wet :)

This past Sunday another of Dennis' studies attended, he even answered his first meeting.

There is a woman here that I met my first trip to SL, she couldn't read well and was just an acquantance, not an rv or study. We have enjoyed visiting on a few occasions, but difficult to witness to as she was not speaking or understanding english and illiterate. Over the past few years I have learned more Krio and been able to witness a little to her, last month I found her again, she moves alot. She is doing well and has been taking english and reading classes. She accepted invitation to the KH and has attending two sunday meetings, after meeting this sunday she accepted the bible teach book and asked for a bible. She wants to attend Sunday meetings and study afterwards. What a blessing! It is a joy to see small seeds start to sprout even if at a slow pace.

Dennis was talking with a woman on Sunday after the meeting, she had arrived a bit late, usually she is early. She explained that she has an unbelieveing mate and has been through much opposition the past eight years while she has studied. This morning he had forbiddden her to go to the meeting. She prayed and prayed and prayed continually, 10 minutes before the meeting time, he said "ok, well go to your meeting", she came as quick as she could but was late as it is a long walk. It nearly brought tears to my eyes to hear this, as this morning was the morning that had been set up for her to go over baptism questions! Praise Jah she was able to come!

Two weeks ago I had stoped by the side of the road to rest from a long morning of walking in service. A woman approached asking if I was a JW, she said she wanted me to come to her house, and study with her. I set up to go, but missed because of being sick.... This past Thursday I regained just enough strength to do a few calls with an older sister who uses a cane. We went to find the womans home, we found her and she was overjoyed that we had come, she said she had waited and missed me on the day I had said, but she understood. We started studying, then a young woman came and was introduced as her youngest sister, she said she used to study, and would like to again. After studying we visited for a bit and learned that their father is a brother at the New England Congregation. The oldest sister though that stopped me on the road has never studied and is eager to learn. Just before leaving the younger one, who studied before, asked for the magazine for Sunday as she realizes she needs to restart her study and be more serious toward Jehovah. I have set up to study there on Tuesday after the internet cafe break.

We have had lots of rain, nearly every day, it is refreshing and has helped the weather to be cooler, it is also good for keeping the dust down.

The KH project is coming along well, they hope to begin using it end of December.
Dennis has been volunteering at Bethel working on cement projects.
Shelby, Lorelle and I are enjoying French book study on Saturday afternoon. It is at Liverpool Freetown KH so we have about an hours travel to get there. We first walk 15 minutes to where we take a poda poda, minivan size vehicle with benches and crammed in for space for a 30 to 40 minute ride, then a taxi if available for a 5 minute drive unless traffic is heavy than can be much longer, this Saturday we missed taxi and walked an extra 25 minutes. We hope to join the French language classes that will be beginning soon. Our Krio is coming along "small small" as they say.

Hear you are due for lots of snow! Keep warm! Thankyou for the personal emails to
LS2n2@yahoo.com and the comments posted, they mean so much to us! Eventhough we have a huge body of water between us we are still together in spirit and love.

Greetings and Love to all,
Jehovah be with you,
Swift Family