Hi, this is Shelby. Some of you may already now but I wanted to come and write a little something for you all. I am still in Sierra Leone, I know that I told everyone that I would be visiting in May, there has been a small change in plans. I will probably be visiting in September with Lorelle. I want everyone to know that I miss them very much, and I am sorry that it will be so long for me to come and visit. Two things made me stay here, 1) When I signed up for ASL class I promised Br. Wright and my parents that if Dad went back before the class ends that I would stay here and finish the class. The last class is April 12th. 2)Dad will only be there for one month, and I would like to visit on a longer trip so I have for time to see everybody. Aslo, since Mum has been sick lately and, recovering nicely but slowly I thought it would be better if I stayed, since only Dad, Mum or myself can go to town and do some other important things. To leave Mum here with just the kids, and the sisters that work here, I didn't feel it was right.
I am very sorry to disappoint everyone, and I look foreward to visiting real soon.
Things are going good, I finished three of my school books, and two were credits this past week. Which is really good, it gives me a little more time for other things. I have been very busy with service, and working Mondays at Bethel.
Last Monday I got to work in the kitchen for a little bit, and I got to work with Sister Alima, I had not had the priviledge to work with her yet. She is from Sierra Leone but her family moved to Ghana during the war. Her whole family is Musilum and she never heard anything about the Bible when she was growing up. When they moved to Ghana, her mother was older, and she is the oldest girl in the family, so her father told her she was now the woman of the house to care for her mother and brothers and sisters. Well, soon after that there was a knock at the door. Yup, it was the witnesses. She was very interested in the Bible, and was eager to study. Because she was now the woman of the house her family didn't stop her, although none of them joined her. Yet, if ahe was not in that postion it would have been nearly impossible for her to study.
Later, when she wasn't baptized yet, her cousin who was very weathy in America, said that he wanted to marry her. She said no on the basis of the scripture that says, "Marry only in the lord" So her cousin said that he knew the witnesses and she could still stay in her religon. She still said no, and he said think about it and not a week later her family called and said that he had been arrested for possesion of drugs. Now her father would had pretty much ignored her after she became serious with the study, called her and said "My daughter, your God is the true God."
Also, as her mother got older they wanted her to stay and take care of her. Which would make it difficult for her to go in service and to the meeetings. So she asked them, to think about everything she did for them when they were younger, and for her parents. And asked them to please let her serve her God. They said yes, you always were kind and fair and did a lot of things for us, so yes you can go serve your God and we will care for mother.
Then she was baptized in 2004, and started pioneering for one year, while she was working 6 days a week. She would witness in transport, and she was a receptionist so she talked to those who came in. Then she moved back to Sierra Leone and came to Bethel where she is today.
Truly Jehovah knows how to bless!!!
I have spoken with a few deaf in the area, and this week I went back on a little girl, Hannah, that Dad had found in the ministry. She lives with her Aunt, which is very common here, and she went deaf when she was three, I think she is about seven or eight now. She doesn't know any sign, so when I went I showed her how to spell her name, my name, and the alphabet. She doesn't express much but I could see in her eyes she was taking it all in like a sponge. Her Aunt also learned the alphabet so that they will be able to pratice. I will go back evey Wednesday and continue to teach her ASL and the truth from the Enjoy life brochure. It is truely a blessing, learning ASL there are so many deaf here, and now I have some nice return visits and good friends that I can really talk to. Some of the deaf friends I knew before but I didn't know ASL so it was very hard to talk with them.
I hope Jehovah continues to bless you and that this finds you warm and well.
Warm Christian Love,
Shelby.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Number of Publishers
Forgot to put in the last post that we have 74 publishers in our congregation. Therefore 397 at memorial is truly amazing!
Praise Jah
Praise Jah
Busy Weekend
Hello Family and Friends,
What a busy weekend we have had. Friday was dedication of our new KH. Saturday Memorial and Sunday Zone Overseer Visit!
Saturday Memorial was outstanding! We had second Memorial, first was 6:30 ours was
8:00. We thought our attendance might be lower because it was second, but not so.
The North Congregation with 6:30 had 256. At 8:00 we had 397, we have 74 publishers, the new hall was overflowing with more than 30 sitting outside. It sure is good the congregation split. Lorelle's study came with her husband and 10 year old daughter. Nine of Dennis' studies came. I saw two return visits. There certainly may have been more that we knew, but it was hard to locate people in such a crowd. It was so awe inspiring. We saw many coming in carrying their invitations. One lady and small boy about 6 years sat next to me, the boy held the invitation for the whole time. Just grinning from ear to ear. The mother didn't speak much english but I was able to learn that she had received the invitation that day, and lived near the KH.
During the Memorial talk the brother was reading a popular scripture when suddenly many many many in the audience verbally finished the scripture! We knew then that many in attendance had never studied or been to the KH, we had so many new ones.
Lorelle spoke with one young man who had come with the invitation, she asked how he enjoyed the meeting, he said he enjoyed it very much. She invited him to come on Sunday, he said he didn't have a job and wouldn't be able to put money in the collection plate. She explained that we never pass a collection plate, he was so happy to hear this, he said he really wanted to learn more about the bible and would come.
The Zone visit on Sunday was another amazing event. It was held in an outdoor pavillion across from the ocean. There were 1,505 in attendance. The brother related many wonderful experiences. One was of friends that travel 3 days down the Congo river to get to convention and then have to row 7 days upstream to get back home after. The Congo River is the second largest, second only to the Amazon, it is not an easy river to traverse. There are over 40 friends in the group so they bring dug outs with them and cook while traveling along in the river. They pass the time reading texts together and singing Kingdom songs. On the trip home they review Convention notes together.
The brother brought out how we keep hearing that Sierra Leone is "Preaching Paradise" Nearly every door you are asked to sit and read scriptures, you can study with just about anyone you meet. He encouraged people to stay in Sierra Leone, he said why would you leave the country for further education or job opportunity when so many want to learn the bible here and missionaries are being sent in?
We have been so priviledged to be a part of the deaf group here in SL. We sat with the deaf on Sunday and Dennis was asked to translate the closing prayer, what a priviledge. Memorial for the deaf was also wonderful, there are 6 deaf publishers and they had 25 deaf at memorial, not counting the others that joined that are hearing.
We are seeing increases everywhere in Sierra Leone. I will get more numbers next week to share.
Dennis is traveling back to the US, tomorrow Tuesday March 25. He will be returning here May 2, our assembly is May 3 and 4 and he will be used for translating again.
We really are enjoying working together here. Hunter is loving the sign language, as well as the other children. They are all doing well with school and health is fine. My health is improving more and more each week, doctor says it will still be some time before I am 100% so I am learning patience. I have been able to preach to ones that come to the house and Dennis has a new bible study that will be coming to the house on Saturdays. I will conduct it until he returns. The man was the mason working on our new water tower the past two weeks, he came to Memorial on Saturday and asked to study. He and a friend came by this afternoon and watched the Meredith KH Construction DVD, they were very impressed with the volunteer spirit and efficiency.
The new water tower works great, so we now have 24 hour running water! There is a brother in a neighboring congregation that makes furniture, we have ordered some chairs and a couch. So our "glorified camping", as one missionary calls how we are living, is changing slowly but surely.
Take care, Love and Greetings to all,
Lorie
What a busy weekend we have had. Friday was dedication of our new KH. Saturday Memorial and Sunday Zone Overseer Visit!
Saturday Memorial was outstanding! We had second Memorial, first was 6:30 ours was
8:00. We thought our attendance might be lower because it was second, but not so.
The North Congregation with 6:30 had 256. At 8:00 we had 397, we have 74 publishers, the new hall was overflowing with more than 30 sitting outside. It sure is good the congregation split. Lorelle's study came with her husband and 10 year old daughter. Nine of Dennis' studies came. I saw two return visits. There certainly may have been more that we knew, but it was hard to locate people in such a crowd. It was so awe inspiring. We saw many coming in carrying their invitations. One lady and small boy about 6 years sat next to me, the boy held the invitation for the whole time. Just grinning from ear to ear. The mother didn't speak much english but I was able to learn that she had received the invitation that day, and lived near the KH.
During the Memorial talk the brother was reading a popular scripture when suddenly many many many in the audience verbally finished the scripture! We knew then that many in attendance had never studied or been to the KH, we had so many new ones.
Lorelle spoke with one young man who had come with the invitation, she asked how he enjoyed the meeting, he said he enjoyed it very much. She invited him to come on Sunday, he said he didn't have a job and wouldn't be able to put money in the collection plate. She explained that we never pass a collection plate, he was so happy to hear this, he said he really wanted to learn more about the bible and would come.
The Zone visit on Sunday was another amazing event. It was held in an outdoor pavillion across from the ocean. There were 1,505 in attendance. The brother related many wonderful experiences. One was of friends that travel 3 days down the Congo river to get to convention and then have to row 7 days upstream to get back home after. The Congo River is the second largest, second only to the Amazon, it is not an easy river to traverse. There are over 40 friends in the group so they bring dug outs with them and cook while traveling along in the river. They pass the time reading texts together and singing Kingdom songs. On the trip home they review Convention notes together.
The brother brought out how we keep hearing that Sierra Leone is "Preaching Paradise" Nearly every door you are asked to sit and read scriptures, you can study with just about anyone you meet. He encouraged people to stay in Sierra Leone, he said why would you leave the country for further education or job opportunity when so many want to learn the bible here and missionaries are being sent in?
We have been so priviledged to be a part of the deaf group here in SL. We sat with the deaf on Sunday and Dennis was asked to translate the closing prayer, what a priviledge. Memorial for the deaf was also wonderful, there are 6 deaf publishers and they had 25 deaf at memorial, not counting the others that joined that are hearing.
We are seeing increases everywhere in Sierra Leone. I will get more numbers next week to share.
Dennis is traveling back to the US, tomorrow Tuesday March 25. He will be returning here May 2, our assembly is May 3 and 4 and he will be used for translating again.
We really are enjoying working together here. Hunter is loving the sign language, as well as the other children. They are all doing well with school and health is fine. My health is improving more and more each week, doctor says it will still be some time before I am 100% so I am learning patience. I have been able to preach to ones that come to the house and Dennis has a new bible study that will be coming to the house on Saturdays. I will conduct it until he returns. The man was the mason working on our new water tower the past two weeks, he came to Memorial on Saturday and asked to study. He and a friend came by this afternoon and watched the Meredith KH Construction DVD, they were very impressed with the volunteer spirit and efficiency.
The new water tower works great, so we now have 24 hour running water! There is a brother in a neighboring congregation that makes furniture, we have ordered some chairs and a couch. So our "glorified camping", as one missionary calls how we are living, is changing slowly but surely.
Take care, Love and Greetings to all,
Lorie
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Electicity???
Ya don't realize how much ya use it till it is rationed. It just cut out as I was trying to put this post together,hopefully my baterry will let me save what I type and post later..... we will see.
The days here have been hot 100 plus, hard to believe it is winter. Nights have been good, a bit cooler and a slight breeze, it has been good to get electricity nearly everynight so we can put a fan on for sleeping.
My health is improving more and more each day, just a bit of trouble with my right ear still and headaches when I try to think too much or read. But no more serious complications. Just need more rest..... not something I enjoy but I am aware of the serious need of it. I don't want to go back to the hospital :)
There were over 200 at Sunday meeting again this week, and we only have less than 80 publishers. It is good the extra chairs arrived, we used em. Memorial will be interesting. We have the second one, so the first will probably have a larger attendance, but both will be packed! It is so exciting.
Dennis and the children are doing well. Dennis has even been able to get in a couple games of basketball with some of the missionaries from other halls and the CO. Working at Bethel and doing the ASL class has really widened our spiritual family here. It is also exciting that he will be here for zone visit this month and meet so many of the others that I have known for years.
Stay warm, those in the deep snow and cold. Hey, did you break the record for most snow in a winter? Heard you were real close end of February.
The other day I took some ice bits out of the freezer and let the children melt them in their hands, on the belly.... it was great fun.... little Jessica age 2 had never seen or held ice, her facial expressions were priceless. At first she was a bit scared but then kept asking for more and putting it on her belly and squeeling with joy.
Here it is hard to imagine snow. With roosters, birds chirping at sunrise and crickets in the bedroom the other night..... is it really March. I often feel in a time warp. And really with forever in view our time hear is but a grain of sand in forever....
Love to all,
Lorie
The days here have been hot 100 plus, hard to believe it is winter. Nights have been good, a bit cooler and a slight breeze, it has been good to get electricity nearly everynight so we can put a fan on for sleeping.
My health is improving more and more each day, just a bit of trouble with my right ear still and headaches when I try to think too much or read. But no more serious complications. Just need more rest..... not something I enjoy but I am aware of the serious need of it. I don't want to go back to the hospital :)
There were over 200 at Sunday meeting again this week, and we only have less than 80 publishers. It is good the extra chairs arrived, we used em. Memorial will be interesting. We have the second one, so the first will probably have a larger attendance, but both will be packed! It is so exciting.
Dennis and the children are doing well. Dennis has even been able to get in a couple games of basketball with some of the missionaries from other halls and the CO. Working at Bethel and doing the ASL class has really widened our spiritual family here. It is also exciting that he will be here for zone visit this month and meet so many of the others that I have known for years.
Stay warm, those in the deep snow and cold. Hey, did you break the record for most snow in a winter? Heard you were real close end of February.
The other day I took some ice bits out of the freezer and let the children melt them in their hands, on the belly.... it was great fun.... little Jessica age 2 had never seen or held ice, her facial expressions were priceless. At first she was a bit scared but then kept asking for more and putting it on her belly and squeeling with joy.
Here it is hard to imagine snow. With roosters, birds chirping at sunrise and crickets in the bedroom the other night..... is it really March. I often feel in a time warp. And really with forever in view our time hear is but a grain of sand in forever....
Love to all,
Lorie
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Down Time
I will by have lots of down time the rest of this month. Don't worry though we really are doing well. But I must be honest and share what has been happening.
Last time I posted I mentioned going to the doctors for weakness and too much med in my system, well after a couple days of extra fluids etc that the doctor prescribed I was feeling a little better but still having some severe head pain, more than should have been there with the Typhoid headache, as well as shaking, dizziness and blurred vision. Last Weds. I went back to the doctor with some more serious issues, he sent me to the hospital and I ended up staying for 5 days..... the doctors were very good as well as the hospital clean and staff very accomodating. I had Meningitis. It was figured out that the Meningitis started two weeks Before I was diagnosed with Malaria and Typhoid, the infection was advanced and they had to use some strong injections to bring it down. It was not cantagious and not the menigicoccal meningitis you hear of in the US. I wont bore you with hospital details, but be assured Jehovah was truly there for us. More than 30 friends visited me in the hospital and many more called Dennis to send their love and prayers. I am home now and deffinately on the mend. They say I will be tired for a while and it will take some time to get my leg muscles back, as I have been laying for nearly 3 weeks now... but I will be back in the field again soon.
There are many missionary homes in Freetown as well as Bethel, over 28 of the missionaries and bethelites called Dennis or I. Many kept reminding us that the first year in an assignment is the hardest and not to give up. Some have never been sick at all, others have, but none have had what they call "the big three" all at once, oh well someone had to do it :)
Dennis has had a head cold this week, pretty much adjusting from freezing cold to 100 plus degrees, March is the hotest month here. The kids are doing great! No sickness and all cheery and energetic. School is going well too.
I am glad we have been taking the ASL sign language classes, I have been able to practice a lot. Shelby and Dennis have both had good experiences in the ministry with using what they are learning. Dennis went to a barber last week, and the two barbers working there were both deaf. Shelby had the opportunity to invite a deaf woman to the memorial this morning in invitation work. She was at one door with her service partner when they were called to by another pair of sisters to come and talk to the deaf woman they had met. What a priviledge!
I personally have really enjoyed watching the girls practice sign together, they get laughing and really have a good time. It has been a great family project too, some evenings we have "voice off" and all use sign. It can be pretty funny, since we don't know too many signs yet and have to just try to act out what we want to say.
The end of this month will be very busy. We have our Kingdom Hall Dedication , Memorial and Zone Overseer Visit all the same weekend.
Dennis has been able to volunteer at Bethel two days a week. Mondays Shelby and he are there together and have lunch together. Dennis has been working with the maintenance crew working with cement. Shelby has been working both housekeeping and laundry, alternating.
March being the hottest month means low water levels, we never will run out here as there are three natural springs on the property behind the house. However, the natural water coming out has been very low, many of the people living around us are allowed in the compound during the day to fetch water with buckets. The city water line has only been coming on to our area of the city for about 20 minutes to an hour very early in the morning. Not long enough to collect enough water for our large household. Dennis is in the process of having a water tank installed, then we will have a truck of water delivered so that we will always have water available in the pipes. We can always go out back with a bucket but having the running water is so much nicer and easier. He really knows how to spoil us, he even got a tv and dvd player this week and a microwave! We have been getting electricity nearly every night from 8 pm to 7 am. The microwave really comes in handy for heating meals when coming between service mid day. We just turn on the generator for a few minutes and can run the microwave to heat the leftover rice meal from the night before. We eat lots of rice and african food, we had been eating it cold, but it taste so much better hot.
The first thing we watched together on the TV was the Wolfeboro Cong. talent show :)
It was so wonderful to see our dear friends!
Thankyou for your personal emails, I will try to reply this week, but please bear with me. I am still tiring easily and reading is still a bit difficult for me. I took my time doing this post.
Love to all, and special hugs to my two new nephews!
Lorie
Last time I posted I mentioned going to the doctors for weakness and too much med in my system, well after a couple days of extra fluids etc that the doctor prescribed I was feeling a little better but still having some severe head pain, more than should have been there with the Typhoid headache, as well as shaking, dizziness and blurred vision. Last Weds. I went back to the doctor with some more serious issues, he sent me to the hospital and I ended up staying for 5 days..... the doctors were very good as well as the hospital clean and staff very accomodating. I had Meningitis. It was figured out that the Meningitis started two weeks Before I was diagnosed with Malaria and Typhoid, the infection was advanced and they had to use some strong injections to bring it down. It was not cantagious and not the menigicoccal meningitis you hear of in the US. I wont bore you with hospital details, but be assured Jehovah was truly there for us. More than 30 friends visited me in the hospital and many more called Dennis to send their love and prayers. I am home now and deffinately on the mend. They say I will be tired for a while and it will take some time to get my leg muscles back, as I have been laying for nearly 3 weeks now... but I will be back in the field again soon.
There are many missionary homes in Freetown as well as Bethel, over 28 of the missionaries and bethelites called Dennis or I. Many kept reminding us that the first year in an assignment is the hardest and not to give up. Some have never been sick at all, others have, but none have had what they call "the big three" all at once, oh well someone had to do it :)
Dennis has had a head cold this week, pretty much adjusting from freezing cold to 100 plus degrees, March is the hotest month here. The kids are doing great! No sickness and all cheery and energetic. School is going well too.
I am glad we have been taking the ASL sign language classes, I have been able to practice a lot. Shelby and Dennis have both had good experiences in the ministry with using what they are learning. Dennis went to a barber last week, and the two barbers working there were both deaf. Shelby had the opportunity to invite a deaf woman to the memorial this morning in invitation work. She was at one door with her service partner when they were called to by another pair of sisters to come and talk to the deaf woman they had met. What a priviledge!
I personally have really enjoyed watching the girls practice sign together, they get laughing and really have a good time. It has been a great family project too, some evenings we have "voice off" and all use sign. It can be pretty funny, since we don't know too many signs yet and have to just try to act out what we want to say.
The end of this month will be very busy. We have our Kingdom Hall Dedication , Memorial and Zone Overseer Visit all the same weekend.
Dennis has been able to volunteer at Bethel two days a week. Mondays Shelby and he are there together and have lunch together. Dennis has been working with the maintenance crew working with cement. Shelby has been working both housekeeping and laundry, alternating.
March being the hottest month means low water levels, we never will run out here as there are three natural springs on the property behind the house. However, the natural water coming out has been very low, many of the people living around us are allowed in the compound during the day to fetch water with buckets. The city water line has only been coming on to our area of the city for about 20 minutes to an hour very early in the morning. Not long enough to collect enough water for our large household. Dennis is in the process of having a water tank installed, then we will have a truck of water delivered so that we will always have water available in the pipes. We can always go out back with a bucket but having the running water is so much nicer and easier. He really knows how to spoil us, he even got a tv and dvd player this week and a microwave! We have been getting electricity nearly every night from 8 pm to 7 am. The microwave really comes in handy for heating meals when coming between service mid day. We just turn on the generator for a few minutes and can run the microwave to heat the leftover rice meal from the night before. We eat lots of rice and african food, we had been eating it cold, but it taste so much better hot.
The first thing we watched together on the TV was the Wolfeboro Cong. talent show :)
It was so wonderful to see our dear friends!
Thankyou for your personal emails, I will try to reply this week, but please bear with me. I am still tiring easily and reading is still a bit difficult for me. I took my time doing this post.
Love to all, and special hugs to my two new nephews!
Lorie
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