But enough complaining. On a positive note, our car now has a name. It was christened the other day. We have had it for about 7 or 8 years and I think the name fits it very well. We were taking a sister to visit her mother for an extended stay and she was asking about some of the noises our car makes. We assured her they were normal noises and not to worry, it's just that our car has 350,000 kms on it but still keeps going. She then called our car "Timothy." Then she explained it was because it had a good disposition to keep going even when others wouldn't. Thus, we now have a Timothy.
Lately with all the bad weather, holidays, sicknesses, deaths among extended family of our publishers, etc our service has slowed down. Not as many people are in the ministry. That is always a challenge with a congregation under 30 publishers. But, don't worry, we'll pull through. In the meantime, even when the door-to-door slows we still have studies and RVs. The other night I was out until 2:30 am again in the ministry. I'm getting tired and worn out. Not good because now I'm sick. Anyone want to come help with our cong?
I had wanted to keep the blog updated weekly, but I failed. One cause is we had 3 weeks of visitors and out of town stays. First we got the opportunity to meet Michael and Eboni from Massachusetts. They stayed with us for a week before our District Convention. It was just the "pick me up" we needed! Vicariously we were able to experience the newness of serving in a foreign assignment again and this bolstered our love for the ministry. As we watched the joy in someone elses eyes from experiencing what we feel is now just routine, we were refreshed and reinvigorated.
After that we enjoyed the "Keep on the Watch" District Convention - FINALLY! And what a refreshment that was! At the Gilead meeting there were about 50 people, or more. At the Bethel meeting there were about 70 people or more. There were only 2,200 at our convention and quite a few of those are interested persons and visitors. It really shows how this field is used by a lot as a 'preparation course' for greater activity. We got to meet a few new ones who were moving down here to "test the waters" for Gilead service. One couple from Kansas had been sent to a small town there as the husband had gone through MTS a few years earlier. They had since got married and wanted to see if they were 'gileadite' material. So they wrote to the branch and asked if they could help in Mexico English. After getting approval for that they were taking the first step of coming to spy out the land and attend the District Convention. They were all lit up when we got the chance to meet them outside the main entrance on the last day of the convention. Joy like that cannot be equalled in value by anything else in this world!
After the convention a hurricane hit Pachuca. Well, actually just our house. That hurricane was the Goodman Family! If any of you know Crystal and kids you will understand. They have a lust for life and want to experience EVERYTHING. So we showed them around a little and they used Efrain, a brother from our Cong as a tour guide when we wore out on them. They also had Linda and Misael in tow when they arrived. Thus we had air mattresses, beds, clothing, painting supplies, heaters (it was cold then too) etc everywhere for a week. We had lots of fun and made tenative arrangements to go visit them soon. I know the weather will be much nicer out there.
Now that life has slowed down to a manageable pace we look forward to the visit of our CO. We'll see what changes we will have at that time.
If you are good at reading between the lines you'll see that we are doing well but overworked and worn out. We cherish the friends who make life here more enjoyable and endurable, friends from abroad and those serving shoulder to shoulder with us here. Keep us in your prayers and be assured we remember you often too.
Lots of love,
Troy & Rachel
