Assembly's in South America

 

The English Convention at Guayaquil (on the Bethel grounds) Was very encouraging. It is almost like a huge Pioneer meeting as most there attending are here in Ecuador for the purpose of serving where there is a great need.

It also had a very international feel and was very beautiful to see such a wonderful mix of people happy brothers and sister gathered and grouping to have photos taken, and with the backdrop of melodies playing it really created a joyous atmosphere that made it a very special Convention.

 

 

 

For the convention in Spanish we meet at Coloseo Shell in Puyo. I was able to help out with the sign department and doing night shift security. I remember watching the thunder storms from the elevated windows as they passed by.

Recently We had the circuit assembly in the same coloseo. Only this time it happed to fall on the same date as a public holiday. I went a day earlier to attend the pioneer meeting thinking I could find a place to stay. But NO!!! I rang 30 different places(all I could find the phone book) and they were all full with no rooms available!

I slept in the reception of a hotel upon a spare mattress. The next day there was a hotel with available rooms but at a cost higher than I had hoped to pay. It seems the Ecuadoreans like to get out and see there own country when they have the opportunity, its a good thing they do but even better when it doesn't coincide with an assembly!

On the Friday when I was walking about to find they Kingdom Hall for the pioneer meeting I met a brother from the states returning home from the field. I told him I had learnt where the Kingdom Hall Isn't and he showed me where it was, which happed to be close to my hotel and to his house. (You are never truly alone in a city when you are a witness)

He invited me to visit. He and his wife live above an Italian Pizzeria with a genuine Italian chef! But what was most interesting to learn was that he supported himself pioneering for 8 years working only 4 days A MONTH! Window cleaning.

At the circuit assembly I sat to a generous and friendly family I have never met before in my life, at lunch time they asked if I would like to share there lunch with them, I asked if they had enough and they replied that they always bring an extra portion to share with some one else. What a wonderful family and lesson in kindness and generosity.

That assembly also included for the first time ever in the history of Ecuador a couple of talks translated into the language of shuar. There is much work to be done in that field. Its was exciting to be there and see history in the making.

There are to many of such things to relate but they do remind me of how special it is to belong to such a wonderful worldwide family.