The Convention by Shelby

Hi this is Shelby. The convention was amazingly encouraging!! Many of the brothers and sisters that we are good friend with were interviewed. There were 53 baptized and one of them was little Tobi (8) Medinylo, the family from Port Loko and one of her sisters Bible studies. There was one deaf brother baptized also. The growth can be clearly seen. We had 2,588 on Sunday afternoon, and last year only about 1,800. It is truly growing, the tract campaign helped too, there were many visitors.
We had to bring cushion seats we are just not used to the cement yet. I truly admire the friends for they enduring the hard seats with no back and the sun beating on them. Luckily there is a over hang that shades the area by 1 or 2 in the afternoon.
On Saturday and Sunday we sat with the ASL group. We were talking to the brother about maybe coming to some classes and he said why don't you stay down here and learn some signs. So we did, it was so nice. I really like being able to talk to the deaf friends now even if it is just How are you? and I'm good. It is really nice and they all have such be smiles and open hearts. There are four baptized deaf and we had a peak of 12 deaf at the convention. The ASL group is really growing as there are many in our territory who are deaf. We are all looking forward to learning and helping others.
On of the nieces we arranged a driver to bring, as it would be too tight in the car with already six in the back, her and her younger sister. The older one is very nice, they live in Texas and were visiting for two weeks. She had never been to a meeting before, but she really liked it and she was able to get the new release "Come be my follower." She also asked her parents that when she got home if she could contact the Wittiness's and study. They said yes. It is so encouraging that the truth can truly touch some one. She had a little trouble following the Krio, but was thankful to me for sharing my Bible and she read my notes, and liked what she heard. She also had taken some ASL classes before so she was able to understand a little from that. That was Saturday, she couldn't come Sunday because she had to pack to leave Monday, yet she was very happy she did come and is looking forward to studying.:)
It was so nice to get such timely reminders and the Drama was- is probably my favorite Drama, with the fact that he was so humble and yet it changed so quickly and how he tried to make him self higher, missing the true gifts from Jehovah. The way the brothers portrayed him is very comical yet serious too, it is a Drama that I will never forget.
Mum is posting right now, too. So if there are doulbe information oops.:) I was able to use English, Krio, French, ASL, and a tiny Arabic with the friends. It was nice to see that no matter where you are from or what language you speak you can still benifit from the Bible. I had alot of fun trying to keep the languages straight though. I am trying to learn Krio, Arabic, Temne, Mende, ASL and still keep up my French and Japanese study. It's alot fun.:)
Well I am going to sign out, I hope you are all doing good and staying warm.