Friends we had met here in Sierra Leone are now serving in Central African Republic, they came to visit. Wall hanging gift is made of various types of wood. 
Day at the beach, 15 minutes from our place.Thursday, November 6, 2008
The Truth
Hello,
We are having a wonderful time with the campaign, "would you like to know the Truth".
It is amazing to see the one of the six that people choose, and then their response.
DJ, Hunter and Kadence all worked with friends today in the campaign, Shelby and I had bible studies all day. Thursday is a full bible study day for us, we go out door to door on other days.
Kadence is a publisher now, she is so amazing, well I know I'm partial, cause I'm the mom :)
She has always been so outgoing and talkative and always wanting to go preach every chance she gets.
The other day I went to see their tennis lessons for the first time, usually I am running errands or in service during their lessons. After lessons, I took some time to sit at a small outdoor bar and catch some news on the tv (we don't get new at our place). One of the workers started to ask what work I do in Sierra Leone, before I could answer a man said, she is one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I was surprised as this was the first time I had met them. I asked how he knew, he said "your children tell me all the scriptures they learn and explain them to me". We had a great conversation he took some magazines and I am to see him Friday to answer some more questions he has. Two of the other men there were also joining in the conversation, one says he has the "What Does the Bible Really Teach Book", he said he really enjoys reading it.
Preaching here is nonstop, even when you don't plan to preach, we must always be prepared. I can't ever go out without some literature and a bible. A new missionary couple from Gilead Graduation, just arrived, they said "there are so many people", it is so true. I guess now that we have been here nearly a year, we are getting used to the crowded streets and transportation. Service is constant, even walking between doors you talk to 1 to 5 people or more.
Unfortunately, we cannot offer studies to all that would study. Our schedules are already so busy we really have to try to fit in door to door preaching around the studies we have. A few months ago I was going to some studies but really wanted to join the group for door to door. Figured I would do two or three doors and then head to studies. The first door I went to I met two young men, they invited us in to sit in their small cement home. I went through the presentation, but they were shy to answer, then from the other room I heard a women say, "speak up, answer", it was their mom :) She came out and joined the conversation, in just a short time we realized she had really studied the bible, she was talking of the resurection and the 144,000...... and more. She then said that she really wanted to study, and asked if I would "please" study with her. My schedule was very full, but how could I say "no" I must study with her. She is doing very well with her studies still and has been coming to meetings for over a month now. Today during the study her 14 year old daughter joined in, she asked to study too. She is usually in school during the study time, but today they had no school. We will be starting her study next week. I have since learned that the mom had studied years ago, when she couldn't even read, one of the missionaries studied with her and taught her to read. The "seeds" of bible truths had been planted. Today after our study she said, "I am So Glad to Know the Truth". I had not yet given her the campaign tract, so her comment led right into it. She was so thrilled to have the tract, she is going to write the scriptures in the margins and carry it with her in her bag. She says alot of her friends ask her about the changes she has made in her life and now she has a very concise way to show them, and she really liked how it had all scriptures from the bible, so they could see right away the information was from God, not her.
Keep warm New Englanders, we heard you got some snow.... brrrr.
It is really a bit of jet lag still her, like a time warp, the dry season is starting, so it is getting hotter and hotter, it was 90's today. The offshore breeze is really nice though, and our place is on a hillside with lots of breeze so the house stays cool. One sister that visited said she thought for sure we had fans on. This isn't possible as we don't even have electricity but once in a blue moon..... :) But Jah provides natural AC, so we are fine.
Greetings to All,
Swifts
We are having a wonderful time with the campaign, "would you like to know the Truth".
It is amazing to see the one of the six that people choose, and then their response.
DJ, Hunter and Kadence all worked with friends today in the campaign, Shelby and I had bible studies all day. Thursday is a full bible study day for us, we go out door to door on other days.
Kadence is a publisher now, she is so amazing, well I know I'm partial, cause I'm the mom :)
She has always been so outgoing and talkative and always wanting to go preach every chance she gets.
The other day I went to see their tennis lessons for the first time, usually I am running errands or in service during their lessons. After lessons, I took some time to sit at a small outdoor bar and catch some news on the tv (we don't get new at our place). One of the workers started to ask what work I do in Sierra Leone, before I could answer a man said, she is one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I was surprised as this was the first time I had met them. I asked how he knew, he said "your children tell me all the scriptures they learn and explain them to me". We had a great conversation he took some magazines and I am to see him Friday to answer some more questions he has. Two of the other men there were also joining in the conversation, one says he has the "What Does the Bible Really Teach Book", he said he really enjoys reading it.
Preaching here is nonstop, even when you don't plan to preach, we must always be prepared. I can't ever go out without some literature and a bible. A new missionary couple from Gilead Graduation, just arrived, they said "there are so many people", it is so true. I guess now that we have been here nearly a year, we are getting used to the crowded streets and transportation. Service is constant, even walking between doors you talk to 1 to 5 people or more.
Unfortunately, we cannot offer studies to all that would study. Our schedules are already so busy we really have to try to fit in door to door preaching around the studies we have. A few months ago I was going to some studies but really wanted to join the group for door to door. Figured I would do two or three doors and then head to studies. The first door I went to I met two young men, they invited us in to sit in their small cement home. I went through the presentation, but they were shy to answer, then from the other room I heard a women say, "speak up, answer", it was their mom :) She came out and joined the conversation, in just a short time we realized she had really studied the bible, she was talking of the resurection and the 144,000...... and more. She then said that she really wanted to study, and asked if I would "please" study with her. My schedule was very full, but how could I say "no" I must study with her. She is doing very well with her studies still and has been coming to meetings for over a month now. Today during the study her 14 year old daughter joined in, she asked to study too. She is usually in school during the study time, but today they had no school. We will be starting her study next week. I have since learned that the mom had studied years ago, when she couldn't even read, one of the missionaries studied with her and taught her to read. The "seeds" of bible truths had been planted. Today after our study she said, "I am So Glad to Know the Truth". I had not yet given her the campaign tract, so her comment led right into it. She was so thrilled to have the tract, she is going to write the scriptures in the margins and carry it with her in her bag. She says alot of her friends ask her about the changes she has made in her life and now she has a very concise way to show them, and she really liked how it had all scriptures from the bible, so they could see right away the information was from God, not her.
Keep warm New Englanders, we heard you got some snow.... brrrr.
It is really a bit of jet lag still her, like a time warp, the dry season is starting, so it is getting hotter and hotter, it was 90's today. The offshore breeze is really nice though, and our place is on a hillside with lots of breeze so the house stays cool. One sister that visited said she thought for sure we had fans on. This isn't possible as we don't even have electricity but once in a blue moon..... :) But Jah provides natural AC, so we are fine.
Greetings to All,
Swifts
Saturday, November 1, 2008
spring or fall?
Hello Friends and Family,
here are some pictures from a while ago that I didn't get to send, enjoy, there is more posting below.
Lorie
Hunter helping slaughter chicken... with Inny, Israel and Musa. "Look Ma no Feathers"
Our kitten Mayson
DJ, Kadence, Hunter and Jessica (Jessica lives with us with her mom Kadi) This was an outing to a nearby park.
here are some pictures from a while ago that I didn't get to send, enjoy, there is more posting below.
Lorie
Hunter helping slaughter chicken... with Inny, Israel and Musa. "Look Ma no Feathers"
Our kitten Mayson
DJ, Kadence, Hunter and Jessica (Jessica lives with us with her mom Kadi) This was an outing to a nearby park.hello to all,
Wow time sure goes by fast.... has it really been a month since I posted last, sorry for the delay.
We have been really busy and this new campaign is wonderful! So many want to know the truth.
Rainy season has ended and it feels like summer approaching. Shelby says it always feels like summer, every month is August. The other day was 101 on the vehicle thermometer! But with the breeze off the ocean it wasn't bad at all.
All three little ones, DJ, Kadence and Hunter are able to swim now without floats. They enjoy having swimming races. They are starting to jump off the diving board. Yikes! They sure grow fast. Its exciting to see them get along so well and be one family! Something we had waited so long for.
Dennis and Lorelle have been really enjoying their visit. Thanks to all that have shown hospitality. It's not easy for the family to be apart. It is comforting to know we have so many supportive family and friends around the world.
We haven't had electricity much at all this week, just twice. Now and once on Weds. night midnight, not much good at that time. So I am going to send this before electricity outage stops me. I will try to post more photos too.
Take Care, (not the Seinfeld, take care) (we've been watching old episodes of Seinfeld someone let us borrow) :)
Lorie
Sunday, September 28, 2008
xtra pix
Top pix is of our hike near Makeni. With some friends from the congregation.Next is of Hunter helping sweep at convention, last year.
Then a couple of the girls swimming. Kadence is on the far left in first picture, then Rachida, Samuala and Marion, the girls that came to stay with us over school summer vacation.
Lower picture has Samuala, Kadence and Rachida.
Please don't miss todays earlier post and photos below! Enjoy!
more pix
Kadence preaching. We had spent the day as a family visiting a neighboring rural congragation service group. We enjoyed visiting some of the neighboring missionaries and their hospitality after service was greatly enjoyed. Below is a picture of the little ones taking a break sitting in back of the vehicle. 
Dalton, Kadence and Hunter taking a much deserved break!
The kids really do great in service. Last week, Tuesday, Kadence worked with me all day. We were out past 4 oclock. We had bible studies all day. When in service it is difficult not to start new ones, we weren't trying, but that day 3 new ones asked to study. They are friends and relatives of existing studies.
We thoroughly enjoy the studies and see Jehovahs blessing daily, but with 13 now my schedule is really maxed. This morning, I had a wonderful phone call. I had not been able to go to meeting as Shelby and Hunter have the flu, nothing serious don't worry. The phone rang after meeting time, it was a study. She had gone to meeting! I was so happy! She had studied years ago and had attended meetings but family and friend opposition had caused her to stop. About 4 mos. ago I met her in service, she requested a study and has really progressed. She is a joy to visit with. The past 2 mos. she has said she will come to meeting, but hadn't. When she called today I could hear the joy in her voice, she said she will be coming regularly from now on as she really enjoyed the meeting! Praise Jah!
This Friday I went to check on a study that had traveled up country for some time, she has not returned yet, however four persons at the house said they wanted to study. One was planning to travel the next day to a small remote village, the woman asked if she could have some magazines to take to the village as she says they never get preached to. She gladly took 2 brochures and 3 magazines. We studied one lesson that day, and will continue this coming week.
Dennis and Lorie at convention.
Lyam, Kadence, Dalton and Hunter at convention.
Service here is nonstop, even when in town to run errands we are approached by marketpersons asking for the latest magazines. Above is a photo from in town, we met some of the deaf and had a good time preaching and getting aquanted with them. It was a fun experience. I was standing a little away from Dennis and the girls while they were signing. We all had been signing for a bit. Then I heard a person nearby say, "look the whole white family is moomoo" moomoo is Krio for deaf. I then realized that we had all been signing and not talking at all, I turned and said "Kusha" Krio Hello, the person was amazed. We had a great conversation and she was excited to get a brochure to read.
Dennis and Lorelle are currently enjoying their visit with Friends and Family in the US.
It's great to hear of ones getting baptized and the new kh projects, wish I could be in Concord for the new build. My heart is there with you all.
Big Hugs from Us here in Sierra Leone,
Lorie and kids
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