The decision to go to South America has been a long time in the making. Waaaay back in 97 I began learning Spanish with the idea of expanding my theocratic opportunity's to serve where there is a need. There are needs everywhere of course as the harvest is great and the field is the world.
So for the last 11 years or so I have been busy enough in N.Z but South America seemed to be calling. I recall pioneering in Kamo circa 1997 going house to house around fisher terrace learning and practicing numbers in Spanish.(A memory aid to remember N.Hs) I set a goal to serve where the need was greater before turning 21, which lead me to serving in Tikipunga.
Before long though I was in Bethel. This is the place I learnt to sing in Spanish! As I would wash mountains of plates, pots and pans I would practice some kingdom melody's learning some lines off by heart. I remember Spanish speaking tours would come by to the kitchen and the dear tour guide would love to point out that I was learning Spanish and would irresistibly suggest that we should talk in Spanish!! (When you are shy and learning a language you do not feel particularly talkative) With time I gained confidence that yes people could understand what I was saying, and along with that goes that wonderful feeling of accomplishment and joy of actually being able to communicate in another language.
To build my theocratic vocabulary I would prepare the watchtower in Spanish. To gauge and challenge it, at meetings I would take notes in Spanish as best I could.
I had the Joy at Bethel to at times work with missionary's serving in the pacific and also other parts of the globe. One time we had a Kiwi couple over from Colombia who were back for a convention, the day they were leaving our dear sister had her passport stolen at the airport! This was good news for me because I was able work along with her in the kitchen and improve my Spanish. I remember always their love for people, so important so succeed and endure anywhere especially in the missionary field.
At one time things of theocratic interest could be seen posted on the notice board.One time particularly I recall an experience from Nicaragua, an experience which now be found in the year book. The experience of the missionary's who built a floating Kingdom Hall to better serve the isolated people living around Nicaragua's remote rivers. From that moment on Ive wanted to go there.
Moving on through time opportunities opened for me to practise and use what I had been learning. In the November of 2005 a Spanish group was started in Auckland. This meant field ministry and conducting bible studies in Spanish. It wasn't long before I was encouraged (coerced may be a better word) to take to congregation bible study. Sometime others have more confidence in us then we may do ourselves, these ones can really help us to grow by pushing what we think our limits are. Now days we have grown in many ways as a group and I have had the privilege to really jump in the deeper end, doing things like public talks and even taking the school.
Many of the non native Spanish speaking members of the group have served for a time in South America. All of these ones went there to serve. All improved there Spanish remarkably. All were busy in the ministry. All had many bible studies. All have wonderful experiences to share. And all I believe would loved to have stayed there longer. It would seem that if you want to serve where there is a need, wherever that need may be there are good reasons to seriously consider it. The field is the world.
Looking back with the goals Ive set and the association Ive sought it seems getting to this point has been a matter of course..12 years in the making. or rather perhaps it would be better expressed 12 years and still going.
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