Fertile Field

Hello Friends and Family,

We are all doing well, typical small colds, sore throats but nothing serious.

Dennis brought such wonderful blessings from his travel, thankyou so much! It was a special day of gifts and sweets and mail! And Daddy Home!

The field here is continuing to be the highlight of living here. I was finally able to get back in service a little more since my illness, what a blessing and joy. Some of the bible studies that I was not able to do are overjoyed to resume, two even asked to study twice a week!

I went on the most amazing 1st RV I have ever seen. Three weeks ago two sisters in service met a woman who was very receptive, she accepted the What Does God Require brochure with great enthuisiasm, the sister doing the door has many studies and is unable to conduct more, she offered (without asking :) for the missionary sister accompanying her to study with the woman. The missionary sister is also overbooked with studies and is traveling soon, she asked me if I could please go back and call on this woman. I went on Thursday, not knowing how it would go, the lady runs a small open air tin and stick shop selling candy, biscuits, drinks, soap etc.
When Dennis and I arrived I asked for Alicia, there were about 7 men sitting in the shade visiting
there was a young girl behind the shop counter, she said Alicia was here mother and was out at the time. I turned to go when the girl said, "Look she dun come" The woman came and went directly into the shop talking with the girl and arranging the things she had delivered, she was busy, Dennis and I sat with DJ and Jessica (2 year old sister with us in service). After a little time the woman came out with bible and brochure in hand, I hadn't even gotten to talk to her yet, they just knew we were witnesses. The brochure looked old and used, so now I wondered if my memory was correct that she only had had one initial visit in service 3 weeks prior. After social greeting, I asked if she had been studying, she said yes she was on Lesson 3. I was surprised and asked who with, she said "myself". I was able to suggest we start with Lesson 1 together and she was overjoyed, we did the first lesson, she reads very well and looked up all the scriptures. After the first few scriptures she asked to use my bible as she said it was better to understand. She said I can come anytime to study as she is there everyday running the shop.

Shelby took over one of my studies a couple months ago when I was not able to walk in service, it was with an old gramma and her grandaughter Rachida age 8, after the first couple studies more and more children joined usually between 6 to 9 little girls and 1 or 2 boys. Over time the gramma discontinued studying but the grandaughter and her 9 year old friend continued to take the study seriously. The other girls all range from age 3 to 12. Two weeks ago Shelby was not feeling well and did not go to the study, the gramma sent Rachida and her 9 year old friend Samuela to our house for the study. The next week we had CO visit, we asked the granny if the girls could come on Sunday, she said yes, since then the girls have requested to come to every meeting. Thursday night on the school one of the talks was a householder saying she didn't want to study anymore and the sister convincing her of Gods love and forgiveness to encourage her to continue. When the householder first said she didn't want to study, Rachida grabbed Shelby's arm and with big worried eyes wispered, "Why does she not want to study the bible!?" It was so adorable. Shelby explained it was a play or skit and then Rachida really enjoyed the meeting.
Samuela commented at the first book study she attended, Rachida is a bit more shy, and so cute, last Sunday she was putting Shelby's hand up for her :) Then when we got home after meeting and started to eat some rice, Rachida asked to do the text with us, she had done it with us on Tuesday evening when they came early for meeting and met us eating dinner. She said "can we do that bible book you read everyday?" Both girls are very polite and appreciative, Rachida does a little curtsy whenever she says Thankyou.

Last Friday we took the little ones to a new playground near the ocean, it had mary go round, ball pit, blow up bouncy room and lots of swings and other things. They even had a small aquarium with giant turtle, little turtles and fish. It was a beautiful outing we packed a lunch and enjoyed the off shore breeze. When we first arrived we were a little worried as there were over 100 kids in the park, a school outing. But the kids were all very polite and well behaved, it really was a joy! Dennis and I spent a good half hour helping kids accross the monkey bars, they were too small to reach on there own. The park is set up for kids ages 2 to 9 years, with a small entrance fee. They have a small swimming pool also but it was closed that day for cleaning. After playing at the park, we went across the street to the beach and threw frisbees, chased waves and Daddy took a nap.

Love and Greetings to All,
Lorie