Friday, August 27, 2010

...non-stop activity!

WOW!! I must be getting older...I do NOT remember being so tired the first time I went to Pioneer School! hahahaha
But, what a great school! It was really nice to get to know the other students...there were 40 of us! And our instructors were great...
We have had such an exciting and spiritually up-building last few weeks! The District Convention was 2 weeks ago in Spanish...we thoroughly enjoyed that! I have to say, although the quality of the program in the English convention far surpasses, and hearing it in our mother tongue surely is special...I LOVE the spanish one! It is so nice to see everyone and visit with the lovely brothers and sisters. They truly have come to be like our family here.
We had (or rather Banos congregation) had 7 newly baptized ones...and of course, we were extremely excited about them all....but 2 have a special place in our heart: Jessica, my bible student from the mountains...and Josue, Fernando's younger brother that Chad studied with.
It was a very emotional baptism...and they both have made us sooo proud with their progress spiritually. It was the first time one of my bible students has gotten baptized...it is such a special feeling and privilege that Jehovah gives us, no? Although, I think at times it would be better for him to use the rocks! hahaha
In other good news, for those of you who have visited us and have met some of the brothers and sisters...there were some new appointments on Wednesday in Banos! Four new ministerial servants....Fernando, Javier, Jorge and Rommel. We are sooooo proud of all of them!!!!....

and.....drum roll please......TWO new elders!!! YAY!!!!!! Mark will have some help on his side! Bryan Haines (from Canada) and a local brother, Bernabe! As Doug said when he made the announcement, "Jehovah surely is blessing our congregation!" and it is sooo true! How awesome it has been to see the growth, both in numbers and in spiritual maturity!!!

Well, that is about all the news and excitement here! I am posting some pictures of the highlights so that you can see everyone!

We are looking forward to seeing you all in a few weeks!!!
Here I am with Jorge at Pioneer School...(you may remember I did a blog on him a few months ago...he came back from the states to progress spiritually!) and so he has....he was at Pioneer School with us...and was just appointed a M.S.!!! This was one of our favorite parts of the school...LUNCH!!!!

Our beloved CO and his wife, Manuel and Ester Estevez...they are the ones that came from Spain and have been here for 13 years! They truly are a special couple and we were privileged to have him as one of our instructors!

Many of the brothers from our congregation were in the drama this year...they did a GREAT job! Do you recognize this elderly fellow???? It's Doug Willis! He rocked it!

Here we are picking up our Pioneer School books from the CO!!!! This is Mark and Becky McClesky...they are expert need-greaters who have been here for 13 years! It was a pleasure and a hoot to be in school with them!!!!

...with Fernando and Bernardo Pinos backstage!

Sheila and Juan Echeverria, Mario Mosquera, and Josue Salas...
(eating my chocolate chip cookies I brought them!) hehehe

Hanging out in town after the assembly!....the possie...
...with the Criollo family!!!
Jessica is the one on the right...she really is a happy person,
she just does not like to smile for pictures!!!!

Awwwww....with Josue...we are so proud of all of them!!!

The "chicos"...congratulating Josue after his baptism!!!!
They all look like trouble don't they?





5 comments:

Michele said...

We are going to the beach!!! Can't believe we will be there in less then 2 weeks, can't wait to see you guys and the whole gang. As long as the hurricanes don't decide to take out the house before we get there.

Just Me said...

There are no words for how happy I am for everyone there. Please give a special hello and hug to Jessica, Fernando and Josue. :-) what an amazing job they are all doing.

Deb n Doug said...

What a wonderful kind of non-stop activity! Loved the pictures!

Soko :) said...

WOW! I am so happy that everyone is doing great and progressing spiritually for Jehovah. Please tell Fernando and Josue i said a very big congratulations. I miss everyone very much. Michele i am very happy for you that you got to experience seeing one of your students get baptized! Yay Jessica! O and hi Chad!!!!! Haha
Be Safe!

Aggidio - JoAnn said...

So incredibly awesome about everything!!!! Well except that we won't get to see you when you visit - Aggidio misses his chuckle twin, Michele. :b You guys are amazing!!!