Friday, May 29, 2009

The EASY Hike....

I started to blog about our trip to Banos, but some friends of mine reminded me that I never posted our little mini-adventure that we had in Vilcabamba with Doug and Judy!!!! So, first things first. We (well mostly Judy haha) were excited to see that there was an EASY hike around our hostel, so we convinced the group to go with us! Little did we know......



On another note, I am so excited because Berta, the woman that had been attending the meetings, has come to the last 2 meetings again. There is no greater joy than to see a bible student come walking through the Kingdom Hall doors!
Yesterday, another bible student, Maria, had a really good study! I have been studying with her off and on for a few months, but she is still just a "doorstep study". She never has invited me in and sometimes I was not even sure she was that interested, but I continued to stop. Yesterday, I stopped and she was there (although moving out of the territory next week boo hoo). Anyway, we had a really nice study, and then she started to open up to me. She started thanking me profusely for studying with her. She said that the one thing she is so grateful for is that we taught her God's name. She was talking to some friends the other day and they were telling her that is NOT God's name, it is a demonic name (some of the catholic priests actually tell their congregation that). But, Maria said she was so proud that she could show them in her Bible that is WAS God's name. She then proceeded to tell them that if it weren't for Jehovah's Witnesses stopping by and teaching her the Bible, she wouldn't know the truth either. I also found out the reason that she doesn't invite me in...Her mother-n-law lives there with them and she gives her a hard time everytime that we come. But Maria said that she always defends us, and even her husband wants us to keep coming because he has seen changes in Maria for the good and he really appreciates that. She just went on and on about all the wonderful things she has learned from studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. In the end she made sure to give me her new address...it is about 20 minutes from here..so that next week I could still come and study with her. She said that now she will be living near her sister, who is also interested in studying the Bible with us. So, I promised that I would come next week and see if I can find a sister from that congregation who can continue to study with her....We'll see what happens, but you just never know what people are really thinking, do you?
We miss you all very much and hope to hear from you soon!...
Oh, I almost forgot!! For those of you losing sleep over Scrappy and his well-being...Mark and I saw him yesterday! He was rooting through some garbage on the other side of the territory! And walking just fine! I can't be sure, but I think he smiled at me....

7 comments:

Elizabeth in Ecuador (de nuevo) said...

Fantastic video Michele - brought back some bad memories though that I had tried to block out!!!

Deb n Doug said...

I got quite a few chuckles from your adventure movie. Thanks for sharing!

Judy A said...

So glad that you found the Gilligan's Isle music. It was perfect. Unlike Beth, it brought back good memories. A little adventure is always good. So glad you are still having wonderful experiences.

Soko :) said...

Michelle! That video was so funny! I have to say that i am pretty happy we werent there for that trip. Although it didnt look like very many hills on that hike..of that i am jealous. Thanks for the laugh..ill be looking foward to what you do with our banos trip!. Talk to you soon.

Just Me said...

Beautiful!!! I think that you deserve an award for the making of that video.

Back Road Wanderer said...

I loved your video presentation. It is so funny! We just got back from a trip to Mexico to preach with an English congregation for a week and we had an "extended tour" that went on way too long and one of the sisters in our group said that we should do a slide show with the theme to Gilligans Island. I started cracking up when I saw yours! That was great.

By the way I know that I am a total stranger but I came across your blog from another one that I found about need greaters in Ecuador.

I recently started one about our trip and have a couple of contributors from our group who have posted. If you would like to see it is at www.pueblatrip.blogspot.com

Thanks for posting. Hearing from other need greaters around the world is always encouraging!

Isaac

jrshaw said...

My wife and I are in North Carolina US and wanting to come to Vilcabamba in April to see about a move. We are English speaking. I am an elder and we are both R Pioneers.
Do you have any recommendations as far as travel? Airlines, route etc
John & Lisa Shaw