Glimpse Into a Day Part II - VI

Part II - We head out

Part IIIa - Changing Facilities

Part IIIb - The Meeting Begins

Part IV - Field Ministry

Part V - Preaching

Part VI - Return to Moen

Glimpse Into a Day

We were thinking that we would bring you along for one of days working with the congregations here in Chuuk. Hope you enjoy being with us for the day...... Part 1 of 6

NEW ARRIVALS

As we posted a few months ago we were assigned to care for the maintenance and preparing some meals for the local translation team on a part time basis. We enjoyed the change in our assignment, but all good things come to an end. A week ago from Friday we had the arrival of the new Maintenance couple, Dave and Valerie Daniels. For the past few years they have been with the construction team in Micronesia before they were sent to help out the Hong Kong Branch with their construction work. However since it was decided to scale down the branch in Hong Kong, no longer necessary to continue with the construction, they were reassigned here in Micronesia after 9 months there. They are originally from California, but moved to Hawaii where they raised their two daughters and son. Their two daughters serve as Special Pioneers in Guam. We are so glad to have them here in Chuuk. Back in 2010 they were here to help with the remolding of the RTO and did all the tile work. Now they are back for at least 16 months. 

Dave & Valerie Daniels

LITTLE REMINDERS

Even though we are very busy here in Chuuk we have to stop and remember and take in the sights from time to time! Last week we were in service going from door to door in the downtown area of Moen and realized how beautiful the day was. Sometimes you can be so busy that we don't stop and take a look. So I wanted to post just a couple of pictures from our view in service last weekend. Enjoy the view.

SIGHTS OF MOEN

Clothes Line?

The ministry here in Moen, or Wene for the locals, is always interesting. At almost every door we meet people who love the Bible and invite us in to study the Bible. However the challenges we face are getting interested ones to the meetings. This is because of family opposition and pressure. One of our Bible studies said that his Uncle called Jehovah's Witnesses "Satan Worshipers." This is not uncommon here in Chuuk. Most people either honor the dead or fear them. When one dies the rituals for the burial are very detailed such as the size of the grave, when and where to bury. They spend weeks in honoring the one who has died. Each year following, they will have an Achechchem or a memorial for the deceased. This will go on for many years depending on the individual and their status in the clan. Yet after a while it seems that they find other uses for the burial sites as you see here in this picture.

Dublon aka Tonoas

We traveled to Tonoas last Thursday for the meeting despite the change in weather. We are now getting winds from the south which causes more severe storms and which results in rougher seas. We experienced waves between 3 to 5 feet. You can imagine the toll that takes on the body in a small 19' skiff. In most other countries it would call for a small craft advisory and one would probably be discouraged to be out in conditions like that. Yet we arrived safely and the brothers and sisters were very happy we made it for the meeting. Most months we travel to this island at least 4 times and sometimes up to 7 times. Yet we always enjoy the meeting there. 

In the months of November and December the other missionary couple will be heading out for vacation, thus leaving the two of us to go over each of the weeks by ourselves. 

MINA

Kathleen has started studying with a women, Mina, who has made some progress in learning the truth. She had studied with a brother who was serving here from South Africa and has realized that Jehovah is the true God and it is important to make changes in her life. 

She has made some changes, such as not celebrating Christmas and not attending her former Church among other things. However she is facing opposition from her family who do not like Jehovah's Witnesses. Her brother is prominent among her clan and wants to be in politics and realizes that if she becomes a Jehovah's witness it could hinder his aspirations. Kathleen recently viewed the Faith in Action Part I video in hopes of helping her to make the stand for Jehovah.

TIME TO RELAX

Last week we were without power for several hours on a couple of days. We thought it would be nice to try and work on a puzzle by candle light. It was a big challenge, but three days later this is what we created.......

Public Safety Officer

His name is Mickey Shirai and is from the island of Tonoas. He has been very supportive of our study with Joe Kachuo. He is anxious to receive his magazine each month and speaks positive of Jehovah's Witnesses. At times Kathleen and I have been able to witnesses to him extensively. We hope with the changes Joe has made that he will accept the truth one day.

RTO WORK

As of June we were asked to help out at the Remote Translation Office (RTO) here in Chuuk. Two to three times a week we support the work of the translators by being commuter bethelites. Kathleen is assigned to the kitchen and prepares lunch and cleans the common areas. We also care for the maintenance of the building such as lawn care, cleaning, and taking care of necessary repairs such as leaks and other problems that may arise. Below you will see a picture of my very first tile job. There was a leak in one of the showers and thus we had to remove some tile to reach and repair the leak. You may notice the color of some of the tiles is a little off due to them being wet from the leak, hopefully they dry back to match the other white tiles. 

The RTO consists of two teams of three and the RTO overseer, Lito DelaCruz. (Pictured below.) They have been able to produce a number of books and our Watchtower each month. We are grateful for their work in supporting our ministry here in Chuuk. I forgot to mention that our assignment is only temporary and hope to receive some help soon. The branch office said that it may be a few months to a year. We will just wait and see.

Our Beautiful Chef

Lito DelaCruz - RTO Overseer