Back To Guyana I Go...

Ok, well I wrote this last week - better late than never:

After four weeks of business suits, stifling heat and crazy driving in Qatar, it is back to business suits, stifling heat and crazy driving in Guyana! See what I did there. 

Four weeks of working has come to an end and now I get to escape back to the ‘real’ life in Guyana. Qatar has been fun, don’t get me wrong, but it is a surreal place and just non-stop when it comes to work. People don’t live in Qatar for the heat, the food or the culture - they move here because it is a tax-haven, they get amazing bonuses and the salaries are about twice or three times the norm. So, of course, what do people do here? Work. Work. Work.

Go play golf and talk about work. Go to the restaurant with people and talk about work. Art gallery? Sure, lets go with work people and meet with the director and arrange… Blah blah. Its just never ending. Weekends are for wimps, evenings for pansies. People come here and work their little booties off for two years and then get out of Dodge as quick as they can with a little nest-egg in their pockets.

It has been nice though - a little trip abroad, some good food and no humidity (no mossies!!!), change of scene - but I am done now. I have spent some time with a lovely bunch of people but I sadly can’t tell you a lot about that due to political reasons. People’s lives are really interesting here, especially those who are in the same ‘club’ as we are. Its funny seeing 24 year olds driving around in porches and BMW’s and using platinum cards. Despite that, they are trying to keep themselves in the ‘club’ and do their best.

Ill put a few pics up when I get back to the apartment. I fly out tomorrow - 32 hours from Qatar to Guyana and then a 4 hour drive to my house. Ugh… Later people. Hope all are okay.  x

Griffin

Just Found This...

Its an old blog post about Robin!

http://griffdoesguyana.blogspot.com/2012/10/going-extra-mile.html 

So nice reading that and saying that I am going to leave it in Jehovah's hands... He has very good hands and this weekend was the proof!

Off for a lil rum now

Two Cool Things...

Hey all

September saw the arrival of two Scottish lads - Tim and Simon - who are going to be keeping me company for a little while. Actually, Simon was here for two-odd weeks as he has a wedding to be getting on with and this was his last hurrah with Tim. Tim, though, hails from the same congregation as my mum and brother and is staying until December. It was so lovely having some British (they are getting annoyed when I refer to everything as 'English') banter in the house and some real ripping of each other apart. Sounds strange but when you are trying to be ever-so-polite all the time to the locals or trying to navigate the cultural and satirical differences between us and the Americans, well, some Britishness is a welcome shot of reality.


So... Cool Thing Number One...

We have just enjoyed our new one-day Circuit Assembly. As with everything, Jehovah has been very kind in reducing the two-day to a one-day. The talks were on the mark and everyone was really fresh and eager. It also makes the interpreting a lot easier with half the talks!

This was a very special assembly for me because we saw Robin get baptized. My instagram followers all know Robin's face as I have had the pleasure of studying with him for the last 6 months or so. I have known him for the last 3-odd years, as he has been studying since he was young. He is Deaf and has been supported and helped by so many different brothers and sisters over the years. Due to some family problems, he stopped coming to meetings last year and got into the worldly Deaf scene. We didn't give up though and gradually he saw the friends he had for who they really were and asked me to re-start his studies... well, since then he has been on fire and yesterday saw the culmination of all his hard work and Jehovah's spirit. He is going to be an amazing elder! Since becoming a publisher, he hasn't reported less than 40 hours in a month and he has several active RVs on the ministry. He is a pleasure to be around for all of us and we all fight over who gets to work with Robin, as on a study you can just sit back and he can do it all. The real work starts now for him, but he will do it with a smile on his face, I am sure.

Robin 3 years ago when I first went on his study...

So nice seeing these two getting on and DZ signing to Robin

The obligatory shot

The YES

The BREATH

The TEARS

Bro and Sis

Eeny Meeny Miney Mo...

And Cool Thing Number Two...

We took a trip to Kaieteur Falls (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaieteur_Falls), which is one of the wonders of Guyana. Its claim to fame is that it is the world's tallest single drop waterfall and is four times higher than Niagara Falls (thanks wiki). Its actually something that most Guyanese wouldn't get to visit, as it is nestled deep in the interior and you have to take a flight to get there. Over the last 3 years I have booked it 3 times and each time was cancelled... At last!

So, tickets bought, off we went, with Denzel and Michael along for the ride. It was their first time in an airplane and they loved it!



Enjoy the photos. Im off to Qatar again on Thursday for some work, so will have some pics to share I am sure. Here it is the start of rainy season and mosquito month so will be glad to be out of the country for a couple of weeks.

Later!

Tim doesn't seem to understand why we ask him everytime he is heading out the door what he is going to wear... "Whaaat" is his usual reply...

Michael didn't know what to make of this stripey Care Bear and the guy with the weird hair

Proof

A determined tourist

Sponsored by Apple

Yep... they are tall

These boys got all artsy

Ignoring the 'stay ten feet away from edge' signs

This was our plane - 13 seater, including the co-pilot seat. I wanted Denzel to get the co-pilot seat but some Dutch man nabbed it.

They let you get right up to the edge - not at all like Niagara!

DZ showing off his country like a good Amerindian

Hoping to kick-start his modeling career

Michael got on with these two too well

Pretty chuffed

Playing it cool on his first ever time in a plane

The rainforest was as beautiful as ever

They fly you around the falls to get pics and stuff and then you land and walk to viewing sites

Good day all round... Special memory

From the Wilderness, He Returned!

Once again I start this post with my head in my hands and apologies on my lips - Sorry! I know most of you have been getting by without hearing my drivel but I like to think that some of you enjoy reading this thing from time to time. It is funny that with the ease of Instagram, my blog has somewhat migrating to a visual medium that can be updated at the touch of the button and doesnt require so much cerebral action.

Anyhows, I have a few mins, so here I am. I am ashamed to see that the last time I posted was back in May! So, now we are in October, what has happened...?

I guess the major thing is that the temporary move to New Amsterdam Sign Language Group has become a permanent thing. It has been a strange transition as I came over for a brief 'toe in the water' and have just ended up staying (familiar story for those that know about my Bethel and original Guyana stories). Deciding to stay and assist has opened up a whole load of new blessings and challenges, along with some of those rather special ones that come with serving in sign language. That said, I do feel Jehovah's support on the decision and don't regret it. I have still been going back to Skeldon to conduct one study that I am not ready to give up and so I manage to catch up with most people still.

So, I am now in my new 'pad' - which is next door to the house I was squatting in, next to Luke and Laura. Although I am sure I annoy them, they look after me really well and Laura is the 'back-step fairy' who leaves amazing dinners on my steps and disappears into the night. I have a strange apartment that feels like a villain's lair (original Batman series reference) as it is basically like the leaning tower of Pisa. The place is big, though, and has been great to be able to entertain a little. My favourite thing is I have a veranda where I can sit outside on a morning and watch the world go by with my coffee.

I guess one of the most amazing things that has happened was the convention - I know you will all agree for your own reasons. I decided not to come back to the UK for the convention as many from here were going home for their conventions and we were running on skeleton crews somewhat. After all the instagram posts, I really regret that decision as Twickers looked amazing. Thanks for all of you that posted from there though, as I could live vicariously for a month with all the preparations and the actual event. Here in Guyana, though, we had a special time with the baptism of two of our young Deaf ones: Niasia from Skeldon and Anthony from New Amsterdam. Both of these have been studying since they were young. Anthony is now 17 and Niasia is 16. They have both blossomed into amazing young people. Niasia is the proof that a village raises a child - she has been studied with by every sister that has come through Berbice. A few years ago she was a Beyonce wannabe who could not string a coherent sentence together - just garbled sign language. With great effort and many prayers, though, the sisters have worked with her to become a publisher, be able to take picture notes in talks, give assignments on the school and get baptised. I had the privilege of conducting one of the sets of questions with her and she blew me away with her maturity and ability to articulate her understanding of the truth. Her baptism was a really emotional time for many of us. I also got to interpret the baptism talk and direct the questions - seeing them both sign 'YES' with conviction was a tear-jerker. 

Other news is Robin - a young lad who has appeared through this blog from time to time. He was actually my first instagram post from over three years ago - a 13 year old lad who showed such promise. Sadly, due to his parents splitting up and some other big changes in his life, he kinda dropped out from coming to meetings and got caught up with the world. Scott and I never gave up with him though and kept visiting him even though at times he would walk past us without saying hi or would tell people that he was never going back to meetings. Eventually, he saw the world for what it was and he suddenly asked me to resume his study. Since then (around May), he has progressed to become a publisher, giving assignments on the school once again and has the goal of baptism firmly in his sights. He is absolutely amazing on the ministry and has been reporting over 40 hours a month each month - so cool for a 16 year old Deaf lad. He has a few RV's and is developing into a beautiful teacher.

I have two guys from Scotland staying with me at the moment - a brother from my mother and brother's congregation, and another brother. It is so nice to have the humour and banter from home, thought they are both 21, so I am definitely feeling my age! Going to bed at 9pm and hearing them play fight and laughing til gone midnight is doing nothing for my self-deception of being young and fun. They are finding Guyana a challenging place and are very intimidated by the more special parts of living in Guyana and a 'third-world' country. It has been funny to hear them and reflect on how much I have made this place my home.

Anyway, enough of all that - here are some pictures:

Robin and I on the campaign. He loved it! He did over 50 hours and
was definitely what we needed to keep us motivated

Dillon! This lad and I are in the group together. He and his wife are here from the States
and have moved here and work from here. They are an amazing energy.

This was one of my happy days where Skeldon's Denzel came to NA and attended the sign group.
Having him and Robin side by side was so lovely

A happy day! Denzel's sister and cousin got baptised at the convention!

Niasia and Anthony. Can you spot them in the picture below from years ago?

Robin teaching another of my studies! So cool

The campaign was a weird one as most people do not have internet or computers. Regardless,
we have the new signs on our halls!

Robin and his hair - a constant battle lol

Having fun with this group on the ministry 

Another one of Robin - this time with a 5 year old deaf boy!

Me and the lads - Michael is now 18! and Denzel is in his final year of school!

Michael's first legal cocktail!

Im Not Dead...

Hi all

Well, I guess I should begin with what is fast becoming my default opening statement: SORRY for not posting! I know that many don't really care whether I post or not, you just like reading it. But I feel that I have failed myself and some others, so let me just get that off my chest.

The reason that I haven't been posting is because I have been really busy, so that is a good thing right? I think the last time I put something up, I was in Qatar and was being pulled here, there and everywhere.

Since then... Lemme catch you up (briefly):

Homeward Bound

I decided that to secure my place in the will, and to not be overtaken by those pesky siblings, I should return to the homeland and remind my family and friends that I am still around. Actually, my sister and brother in law were heading off to the Big Apple to take up their assignments in Brooklyn, so I thought it might be nice to give my parents a lil surprise.

Thanks to help from my brother, my parents were none the wiser about me coming across. Sadly, due to the CO visit here in Guyana, I wasn't able to see my sister before they left for the USA, so we let her think that she had missed the opportunity also. What they hadn't reckoned on was that I am an evil genius: Operation Heart Attack commenced.

I flew from Guyana to Trinidad, Trinidad to London and then London to Inverness (in the Scottish Highlands where my parents live) - a whopping 30-something hours in flight and transit. Arriving at 10pm, I was a little worried that the parents would die of shock (having not been home in over a year and no warning). My brother - the empathetic soul that he is - refused to let me call ahead, so there I was at 10pm on a cold Thursday night, knocking on the window of my parents house - cue Mum screaming and almost dying (I forgot about the heart condition!).

A lovely week was spent with them and my brother's family, though the cold was a little hard to bear.

The parents garden and view

I have soooooo missed salmon and healthy stuff like this

Im behind you Dad!

The Rents

Scotland is amazing

London
After Scotland, I headed to my real home of London (wear you hang your hat and all that). Due to our Circuit Assembly being held in two week's time, I had little time in London and no real chance to see people. Most didnt know I was even in the country as I couldn't risk my mum seeing it on Instagram or whatnot. Hosted by two lovely friends - Nelson and Ingrid - I was allowed a week to play around, see friends, visit the sea-side and generally relax.

Some new additions since I left

But some things stay the same

Tried to get a bit of ministry in

The coast where I grew up

Camden

The dude on the right I have known my entire life and we
shared a room at Bethel and now he is at couples school!

Planes, trains and automobiles

New York, New York
I couldn't be in the air and jetting around and NOT go and see my twin now could I? Thanks to the equally nefarious Matt and Rachel, the plans were set for me to fly to New York on my way home to Guyana. A massive blessing was that this coincided with the Gilead Graduation - so I was able to watch that amazing spiritual feast with my twin and really good friends - stupendous let us cry!

As I said, Jo didn't know anything about it, which kinda prompted this reaction:

To put the ice-cream on the cake, douse it in alcohol and set fire to it, we were joined by two of our oldest friends from our London days: Tiffany and Adele. Adele was on a shopping pilgrimage and Tiffany having a well-earned break, we all spent an amazing weekend together. I shan't go into it, but the generosity displayed by these two ladies was just incredible and I can't thank them enough for a weekend I shall never forget for all the right reasons:

Partners in Crime - the illustrious Matt and Rach (sans backpack for once!)

The fabulous twin

Amazing place

End of an era

Good Friends (the wine helped)

Wintery day

These girls were soooooo generous - like American portions!

Back to Guyana
After two weeks of pure hedonism, it was back to Guyana for the CA and some heavy ministry to catch up on hours...

Macedonia
I guess my biggest news is that I have decided to serve where the need is great, whilst serving where the need is great.

I have been in Skeldon now for almost three years and whilst my heart is truly there, I was beginning to feel that I could be doing more, especially in the realms of sign language. Skeldon is attended by two faithful Deaf ones (a baptised brother and a young unbaptised sister). We have some others that come semi-regularly, but most of the deaf we meet will not travel to the meeting, are not that interested, or are unable for various reasons. Despite there being many deaf in the area, the fruitful ministry is definitely with the women, who are more open to chatting, more easily found at home and more appreciative of the attention and support. I was feeling a little isolated as if I went on sign ministry, I was alone and travelling up and down the coast, which was not much fun

To mix up my ministry a little I decided to link up with the New Amsterdam Sign Language Group - who are about an hour and a half up the coast. I arranged to work with one brother - Scott - one afternoon a week just to have a change of scene, to have some company and to benefit from his experience on a few matters. It quickly became apparent that there was a huge need in the group, with studies slowing down, a large section of the territory not being covered, and a general desire to improve but not having the opportunities.

So, when the CO came to Skeldon prior to my visit home I had been talking with him about whether my being in Skeldon was the best thing. Added to this the needs of the group, and after a lot of praying, I decided to come to New Amsterdam (NA) for a few months to see how it would be blessed.

So, for the last few months I have been here in NA, attached to the sign language group and living in my friends house who have gone to the UK to work. To date, things are going really well. I have been able to assist on some studies who people were struggling with, have picked up a few studies for me to concentrate on and have been part of some very exciting discussions about how to move forward. The CO just passed through also and we had a chance to chat about things which was a real encouragement.

The Memorial this side for sign language was 75 in total, with 45 Deaf from all over the coast (some traveling about two hours). It was a lovely time and a testament to the work being done by all.

So... all caught up? Im gonna try to put the pictures and media in now... And Ill try to do this more often :) Promises, promises.

Friendly faces

Missed this one

A fire after ministry with two of our deaf boys

Some of the deaf in NA

Out and about

The small and the great

Campaign