and Debbie (for those of you who don't know, they are long-time friends of my family). It was great to catch up and even to get to know them better. Debbie is still at the same job she's been in for 16 years! Brian is working as a secretary, and his wife let him use zebra striped reading glasses to see the menu. Brian!!! He's changed so much I can hardly believe it! (By the way, dad, you can't really tell in the picture because I took it with my camera phone, but Brian's hair is SHORT!)I can't believe what
an opportunity I've had even to get to know Liz better. She's still had to work but we have been spending tons of time together. Today I got to go in service with a local congregation in Visalia, the Walnut Grove Congregation. What friendly and inviting brothers! One brother told me at least four times to be sure send love from their congregation to mine. I've only been there once! For service, I got to go with a sister named Gina who is visiting from Green Bay, Brandi who is a native "Visalian", and M
aria who was born in Arizona. We quickly became friends as we walked door-to-door. We took a coffee break at a local coffee shop called Tazerria.
an opportunity I've had even to get to know Liz better. She's still had to work but we have been spending tons of time together. Today I got to go in service with a local congregation in Visalia, the Walnut Grove Congregation. What friendly and inviting brothers! One brother told me at least four times to be sure send love from their congregation to mine. I've only been there once! For service, I got to go with a sister named Gina who is visiting from Green Bay, Brandi who is a native "Visalian", and M
aria who was born in Arizona. We quickly became friends as we walked door-to-door. We took a coffee break at a local coffee shop called Tazerria. Maria is amazing! I loved all of the stories she told me. For example, one was an experience of a man who was really rude to Jehovah's Witnesses. At one visit he told the brothers at his door that he didn't w
ant Witnesses to come by anymore and that if they did he would hurt them very badly. Sure enough, when Witnesses visited him the next time he went to get a knife and started slashing one of the brothers' legs. He hurt the brother so badly that two others had to carry him away. When he arrived at the emergency room, he simply said that the injury had taken place while he was in the work that he does. Never did the brother tell authorities who had done this to him. Meanwhile, the man was at home waiting for the police to come to his house, but they never came. Months passed before the
man saw Witnesses in his neighborhood again, but when he did, he noticed they avoided his house. He went outside, which only caused the brothers to run away from him. He called out to them, saying "Please, come back, teach me whatever you're teaching people." He began studying and even advanced to the point of baptism. The day of his baptism, waiting in line, he saw the brother whose leg he had slashed. That brother was in a wheelchair because the doctors were unable to save his foot. The man rushed over to the brother in the wheelchair, fell on his knees and began crying at the sight of what he had done, begging for his forgiveness. He said he couldn't get baptized until he knew he had been forgiven. Needless to say, the man got baptized that day, as his brother looked on.
ant Witnesses to come by anymore and that if they did he would hurt them very badly. Sure enough, when Witnesses visited him the next time he went to get a knife and started slashing one of the brothers' legs. He hurt the brother so badly that two others had to carry him away. When he arrived at the emergency room, he simply said that the injury had taken place while he was in the work that he does. Never did the brother tell authorities who had done this to him. Meanwhile, the man was at home waiting for the police to come to his house, but they never came. Months passed before the
man saw Witnesses in his neighborhood again, but when he did, he noticed they avoided his house. He went outside, which only caused the brothers to run away from him. He called out to them, saying "Please, come back, teach me whatever you're teaching people." He began studying and even advanced to the point of baptism. The day of his baptism, waiting in line, he saw the brother whose leg he had slashed. That brother was in a wheelchair because the doctors were unable to save his foot. The man rushed over to the brother in the wheelchair, fell on his knees and began crying at the sight of what he had done, begging for his forgiveness. He said he couldn't get baptized until he knew he had been forgiven. Needless to say, the man got baptized that day, as his brother looked on.Maria invited me to go to lunch with her at a Taqueria in Downtown Visalia. Since my favorite Mexican fo
od is Tacos Asadas, she immediately thought of this place. When we got there, we were greeted by a few witnesses who had also been taking a lunch during service. One of the sisters knows a family in Preston. Small world, I guess. Anyway, when Maria and went up to order, the man behind the counter asked if we worked with those other ladies. "Yes, we do," I responded. We proceded to enjoy what were possibly the best tacos asadas I've ever tasted. Then I thought it would be a good idea to try and talk to the man behind the counter about what it is that we do in our "work." He was very happy to receive the magazines about Mary and about water. I doubt Maria will have difficulties finding people to go with her to talk with that man again!
od is Tacos Asadas, she immediately thought of this place. When we got there, we were greeted by a few witnesses who had also been taking a lunch during service. One of the sisters knows a family in Preston. Small world, I guess. Anyway, when Maria and went up to order, the man behind the counter asked if we worked with those other ladies. "Yes, we do," I responded. We proceded to enjoy what were possibly the best tacos asadas I've ever tasted. Then I thought it would be a good idea to try and talk to the man behind the counter about what it is that we do in our "work." He was very happy to receive the magazines about Mary and about water. I doubt Maria will have difficulties finding people to go with her to talk with that man again! I met back for service that afternoon and was even further encouraged. My group consisted of Rosandra who was born and raised in Visalia, Carrie, and Joellyn the Circuit Overseer's wife. Did I mention Walnut Grove Congregation is enjoying their Circuit Overseer's visit this week? Well, I'm enjoying it too! Anyway, I was talking to a couple sisters and they related an illustration from the 2-day assembly. Two men were riding along on a country road in their horse-drawn buggy. All of the sudden, the horse, whose name is Buddy, slip
ped on some rocks and the whole buggy went careening into a ditch. When the one man got himself out of the ditch, he then turned his attention to getting the horse and buggy out. So he said, "Come on, Betsy!" But the horse didn't move. Then he said, "Come on, Charlie!" But the horse didn't move. Then he said, "Come on, Buddy!" And the horse mustered all of its might to pull itself and the buggy out of the ditch. When the other man asked "Why did you call your horse the wrong name twice?" the other man replied, "I didn't want him to think he was doing the work by himself!" The moral? Sometimes we might think we're working all by ourselves, but we're surrounded by helpers. Even if we're in service all alone, the angels are there with us the whole way along. Because of that unseen help, we are strong enough to continue. Anyway, this last picture on the right is Randy and Joellyn Meadows. They worked unassigned territory in Soda Springs back in 1981! Yet again, small world.
ped on some rocks and the whole buggy went careening into a ditch. When the one man got himself out of the ditch, he then turned his attention to getting the horse and buggy out. So he said, "Come on, Betsy!" But the horse didn't move. Then he said, "Come on, Charlie!" But the horse didn't move. Then he said, "Come on, Buddy!" And the horse mustered all of its might to pull itself and the buggy out of the ditch. When the other man asked "Why did you call your horse the wrong name twice?" the other man replied, "I didn't want him to think he was doing the work by himself!" The moral? Sometimes we might think we're working all by ourselves, but we're surrounded by helpers. Even if we're in service all alone, the angels are there with us the whole way along. Because of that unseen help, we are strong enough to continue. Anyway, this last picture on the right is Randy and Joellyn Meadows. They worked unassigned territory in Soda Springs back in 1981! Yet again, small world.So now, I'm resting my poor feet from a long day of walking and dancing (we just got finished with our Salsa lesson). Speaking of which, I think we should get together, April, Maddy, Aaron, and whoever else would like to go, and do a dance lesson. It was super fun and they break it down so it's easy to learn. After just two classes, I'm hooked. Sorry, guys. Anyway, it's time to finally relax and get ready for a new day of adventures.
With much love,
Katie
How cool! I was in tears! I know Jehovah answers all our prayers, and he did so for me resoundingly! I could hear the change in your voice this morning on the phone, and I am overjoyed with our conversation and after reading this blog I can confidently say, PRAISE JAH! all YOU people!!! I cannot imagine our lives without Him
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