Hey again! Twice in one day!
I felt bad that I kinda jumped over the Zone Visit - my notes are in my iPad, which is on the other side of the room! So, to make amends, I will refer you to my friends' blog - Nick and Emily. They are in New Amsterdam (an hour or so away) and did a nice little write up.
http://nickandemilyguyana.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-zone-visit.html
Enjoy ;)
Sunday, 24 February 2013
OK... So I Am Lame...
Belay the last, call off the search helicopters, calm the sirens calling for justice - I am alive! I have had a little absence from the blogosphere, but as I lie in my bed waiting for the minutes to turn, I thought I would share my non-stop life with all of you vicariously gaining your thrills through me - so many to have! ha... :/
So, I have been back in the fair old Guyana for just over a month now and, well, thing have been busy. I arrived with a week or so before the Zone Visit to a lovely and warm welcome home from the congregation here in Skeldon. I really missed quite a number of the characters here, not least my 'lads' - my studies and the collection of youngsters who always manage to bring a smile to my face. It is great to be back amongst everyone here and feel so at home in a place so foreign.
The Zone Visit was amazing and was so encouraging. I think it felt better than all others as this is the first time that we have not had to sign at the Visit. We had the sign language interpreting beamed from Trinidad this time round, allowing us to sit and enjoy the programme - coming up in the world! The programme was much more 'user-friendly' this time, almost modelling itself on a Gilead graduation - there were lots of interviews with missionaries and lots of experiences and such. We all left on a high. There were massive amounts of people, but sadly I cant remember off the top of my head!
What has happened since? Well, not a lot that I can think of...
We had a 'lads night' with some of the brothers from the hall. It was the first time we have ever done anything like that and it was lovely. One of the guys cooked Creole fowl and duck, dhal and rice, whilst we played dominoes, swung in the hammocks and drank coconut water and as the evening progressed, a touch of rum. Was a lovely afternoon and evening, although we stayed too late and were stranded up the coast in the pouring rain trying to flag down cars!
Since then, things have been business as usual. My ministry seems to have become english-heavy since being back, with my meeting and starting studies with some really interesting people. One of the has started coming to meetings right away, and others are very open and sincere with their questions. They are all testing my knowledge and I sit there frantically pawing my Reasoning book as they speak. It is a nice change from sign language and the inherent feeling of limitation. The ministry has been fun of late, with the congregation really making an effort. We have 78 publishers in our cong, and at the Wednesday group there has been a steady number of at least 34 each week - thats half our cong! The rains havent even dampened people's spirits, with us taking up the challenge of letter writing one very wet day, and taking on some of our muddier territory. We had the talk about the memorial campaign and we were advised to take it slow as we generally finish in 2 weeks - we are selling our services to neighbouring congregations to help with their territory, as we always finish so early - a nice problem to have!
So, the only news left to say is that there will be a short absence from the blog-net for a week or so (makes a change, eh). I am - very excited!!! - heading down to Lethem for a week, leaving this Friday. We are heading down to attend their Special Assembly, and to help with the campaign. Lethem is in the proper rainforest of Guyana, and borders Brazil, for which we need no visa. So a week of play and walking and waterfalls and wildlife awaits me - oh and ministry. This road you see is the road down to Lethem - when it rains, the drive can turn from a 14 hour drive to a 24 hour drive, comprising of pulling and pushing the bus. So... I am flying! I promise to return with plenty pictures.
x
So, I have been back in the fair old Guyana for just over a month now and, well, thing have been busy. I arrived with a week or so before the Zone Visit to a lovely and warm welcome home from the congregation here in Skeldon. I really missed quite a number of the characters here, not least my 'lads' - my studies and the collection of youngsters who always manage to bring a smile to my face. It is great to be back amongst everyone here and feel so at home in a place so foreign.
The Zone Visit was amazing and was so encouraging. I think it felt better than all others as this is the first time that we have not had to sign at the Visit. We had the sign language interpreting beamed from Trinidad this time round, allowing us to sit and enjoy the programme - coming up in the world! The programme was much more 'user-friendly' this time, almost modelling itself on a Gilead graduation - there were lots of interviews with missionaries and lots of experiences and such. We all left on a high. There were massive amounts of people, but sadly I cant remember off the top of my head!
What has happened since? Well, not a lot that I can think of...
We had a 'lads night' with some of the brothers from the hall. It was the first time we have ever done anything like that and it was lovely. One of the guys cooked Creole fowl and duck, dhal and rice, whilst we played dominoes, swung in the hammocks and drank coconut water and as the evening progressed, a touch of rum. Was a lovely afternoon and evening, although we stayed too late and were stranded up the coast in the pouring rain trying to flag down cars!
Since then, things have been business as usual. My ministry seems to have become english-heavy since being back, with my meeting and starting studies with some really interesting people. One of the has started coming to meetings right away, and others are very open and sincere with their questions. They are all testing my knowledge and I sit there frantically pawing my Reasoning book as they speak. It is a nice change from sign language and the inherent feeling of limitation. The ministry has been fun of late, with the congregation really making an effort. We have 78 publishers in our cong, and at the Wednesday group there has been a steady number of at least 34 each week - thats half our cong! The rains havent even dampened people's spirits, with us taking up the challenge of letter writing one very wet day, and taking on some of our muddier territory. We had the talk about the memorial campaign and we were advised to take it slow as we generally finish in 2 weeks - we are selling our services to neighbouring congregations to help with their territory, as we always finish so early - a nice problem to have!
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| Hanging at the missionary home writing letters (I drew pictures for deaf people) - fresh stream of coffee and Kingdom Melodies... nice |
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| At one house, this man came back from the back-dam (bush) with his bow and arrow. He had been killing wild boar and small animals called Watrash that have been eating his crops. Brian (missionary bro) couldnt resist. The man yelped a bit when he realised Brian was pointing it right at him! |
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| Denzel - my little star right now. He has the goal of 20 hours this month and called me yesterday fretting about his hours as he only has 16! Love him |
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| The reason I was late for hall cleaning yesterday - I went to see one of my hearing studies and he was telling me about this snake he had killed that was really poisonous (he laid it out on a barrel for me to see). Then as I was leaving I went around the street and this was lying across my path - I almost stepped on it. Not sure if this one is as poisonous as the last, but freaked me out. Had to call the study for him to announce he was scared too! We left it to his wife to come out and flick him back into the trench to give me time to get past and out. They ran back to their house! Very funny. |
x
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
We are not in Kansas anymore Toto...
Well my lovely readers, are you ready for it? The "Post-London-Scotland-Wales-London-Debrief!" - something I know you have all been waiting for... ’where did he go’, ’what did he do’ - all those questions bubbling out there in the combined consciousness... Well, who would I be if I deprived you of this? (Thanks for playing along with that).
So, off to London and to be met by my lovely twin with life saving tools of two jumpers, a hat, scarf and Costa-coffee was just amazing! Here are a few highlights of my first week in London:
Then it was a crazy trip up to Scotland to see my lovely parents and family. It has been a hard year for the rents and my absence has probably not helped much either. A twelve hour drive from London to Scotland with my sis and hubbie was... Well, a hairy but funny highlight. Seeing my nephew playing the cello (!) and watching my dad climbing a frame in the park, all topped of with a lovely pic of mum and dad having a chuckle. The visit was short (sorry mum) but so worth it:
Through wales and back to London, it was so good to see everyone and catch up:
Well, I have been away from my pseudo-assignment for about a month. Jetting from Guyana, my first stop was the lovely Che and Natalie in Trinidad. These guys hosted me for pioneer school and well, opened Spa Afong, by treating me to an awesome time each time I have visited. A week of sleep, food and beach led to a great pre-London chill out and the start of the great weight gain, blimping-out, of moi. ;)
So, off to London and to be met by my lovely twin with life saving tools of two jumpers, a hat, scarf and Costa-coffee was just amazing! Here are a few highlights of my first week in London:
Then it was a crazy trip up to Scotland to see my lovely parents and family. It has been a hard year for the rents and my absence has probably not helped much either. A twelve hour drive from London to Scotland with my sis and hubbie was... Well, a hairy but funny highlight. Seeing my nephew playing the cello (!) and watching my dad climbing a frame in the park, all topped of with a lovely pic of mum and dad having a chuckle. The visit was short (sorry mum) but so worth it:
Through wales and back to London, it was so good to see everyone and catch up:
This trip has been an amazing time for me and I want to thank everyone for making it so. The kind words, unexpected generosity, down-to-earth conversations. The seeing of old friends, the making of a few more and the re-alignment of others. I have realised that I have an amazing group of people back in the uk and that has made it even harder to leave this time. But, I have. I am going to try and use the really positive experience I have had to more appreciate the opportunities I have in Guyana and figure that if I am going to leave the special place that is London, then I had better make it worth it.
Enough rambling... Onwards with the poo stories, ministry stories, rants about Americans (sorry!!!) and all that jazz...
Posted with BlogsyFriday, 30 November 2012
My last post for today...
After delighting you all with recent photographs, I thought, "enough of this loveliness and Guyana fancy. Why not have a break for a change and give the Guyanese something to look at"... So, for reasons of parity and fairness to all, I am changing the focus of this blog from GUYANA to the UK!!!
That's right peeps - I am finally following through on my threat and am coming home. I have a few false starts on making this happen, but tickets are booked and bags... well, they are still empty, but you know what I mean.
I leave these fair shores on Tuesday, to have a week in Trinidad with my friends who hosted me for pioneer school (I know you read this Che and Nats - get cooking!) and then Dec 12 I arrive in the arctic and foreboding Gatwick airport. I am in London / Scotland / Wales (sorry Ireland, not you) and back to London until Jan 7. Then I am yo-yo'ing back to Guyana to continue with my adventures.
I am sure I won't get to see all of you in the short time I have, but I hope you know it is not intentional. It is so over-whelming thinking about coming home and seeing everyone. I can't believe it has been a year and a half - the bets were on for a return within two months! I have had some amazing experiences and am sure Jehovah has many more for me to revel in. But, it is definitely time to come home and take stock, have some mulled wine and bask in the best season on the calendar - WINTER (not the pagan festival that goes with it... naughty!!! ;) Tho Matt Humps has promised me some traditional fare in the form of cooked meats and pigs in blankets!).
I can't wait to walk the Embankment with a mulled wine in my hand, walking around the tree in Covent Garden, taking a stroll on the Heath and having a touristy pic outside of the Science Museum and the V&A. Big jumpers, scarves, Indian curry, some good wine and some even better hours spent with long-not-seen friends. Fish, dim sum, SOUP (oh how I have missed SOUP), slow cooked lamb (actually, cook it quick and get it in my stomach), TELEVISION!!!, did I mention Indian curry!?!?!
Watch out Londondinium, your child is returning...
Coffee
Okay,
This deserves its own post. For the last year and a half I have been asking everyone who is coming in and out of the country to mule some coffee with them (thanks Jo). You see, here we cannot buy it - nowhere in Guyana! On our trips to Suriname, we can sometimes unearth a pack or two, but that is all. We are indeed in the last days...
Well - imagine our shock and horror at learning that not only does Guyana have coffee plantations, a sister owns one and another owns a factory. They process and export the coffee, but never does it touch the lips of a resident of this fair land.
It was such a lovely smell. The sister gave us a huge sample bag and I am now in talks to hook up a supply to Berbice, through a brother who sells in the market. Good times ahead!
Pay attention now:
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| These, my friends, are the where the magic begins. The red beans on the right are the coffee beans in their natural state. I am not sure why the ones on the left were dried, as I dont think they are used like that... not sure... not a good start |
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| The beans are put through the first machine that strips the skin and they make a lovely big pile |
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| Their now naked selves waiting for a make-over |
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| Then they are planed in this sun-bed to dry |
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| Once dried, (perhaps the black ones up top) they are placed in this roaster. It was amazing to see the machines - it was like walking around a museum, but that is what they use everyday to do their work |
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| The smell coming off this was amazing |
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| And that is it - then they are sent off to grind in another machine |
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| And are then dressed into their bags - 180 GUD for a pack, which is about 50p |
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| And then into my belly... Mmmm
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A COFFEE BEAN - FASCINATING!!!
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More Essequibo...
Sorry for the hiatus in posts - the all-day blackouts and tropical rain is thwarting my uploads: Rainy Season has begun!
Forthwith - more pics:
Forthwith - more pics:
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| My transport to the assembly - soooooo cooooooool |
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| Stayed with a family who are rice farmers. They let me drive a tractor baby! |
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| This was our lil river preaching crew on the second time out |
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| This is bro and sis McAlman - of the Guyana yearbook fame. They have been preaching on the river for over 30 years and pretty much everyone you talk to at the hall studied with them. Hilariously, despite 30 years on the river, neither can swim!!! |
Wednesday, 28 November 2012
Essequibo...
Hi All
It has been a long time since my last post, or so it feels. Things have been very busy indeed. I was invited back to the north of the country - to Essequibo - and the delightful Charity. They were having their two day assembly and needed help organising and delivering sign language interpreting. I jumped at the chance to go, as it is a beautiful area, on the Pomeroon river, at the mouth of the interior and literally the other end of coast to my home, Skeldon.
So, myself and a team of brothers and sisters from Skeldon and Georgetown headed over to Charity. I stayed for what ended up being two weeks, whilst others came for just the weekend. Here are some highlights (I have to break this into two posts, I fear, else the post will be too heavy).
It has been a long time since my last post, or so it feels. Things have been very busy indeed. I was invited back to the north of the country - to Essequibo - and the delightful Charity. They were having their two day assembly and needed help organising and delivering sign language interpreting. I jumped at the chance to go, as it is a beautiful area, on the Pomeroon river, at the mouth of the interior and literally the other end of coast to my home, Skeldon.
So, myself and a team of brothers and sisters from Skeldon and Georgetown headed over to Charity. I stayed for what ended up being two weeks, whilst others came for just the weekend. Here are some highlights (I have to break this into two posts, I fear, else the post will be too heavy).
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| My adventure began with this! MMMM - I ate them all - kinda like mini-burgers |
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| Charity is so different to Skeldon. People really take care of their house lot - so lovely |
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| Charity is on the mouth of the Pomeroon, so we got to go river witnessing! So cool. |
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| You just pull up to the jetty and yell 'INSIDE', like we do with the normal ministry.
More to come in the next post...
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