HOPETOWN

Me at the world famous (or imfamous) Hopetown Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses

Hello, sorry I do not really keep in good contact, even with tools like this. Soon everyone in Ohio will forget who I am. So here is an update...

I am currently serving in the Hopetown Congregation, where I have been since November 2009. It has been very enjoyable spending all this time in one place, as I have seen the congregation and individuals grow and improve.

Hopetown has grown to have over 70 publishers. These publishers have over 140 bible studies each month, so there is a lot more potential.

When I first went to Hopetown there were 1 elder and 2 servants. Now there are 2 elders and 5 servants, so there is a nice improvement there. While that my seem like a small number of appointed men, it is really quite a lot for this branch. In fact, it might be the most in this circuit, or close to it. There are only 120 elders and 90 servents in the entire country of Guyana, spread out over more than 40 congregations. So that is really the major need here, as there aren't enough to go around. There are vast territories that are mostly unworked with no groups or congregations, but who could serve there?

There are also 12 regulare pioneers in Hopetown plus 2 special pioneers, so thats very good.

Because most brothers do not have personal transportation, it is practical to meet in the territory to be worked that day, rather than at the Kingdom Hall or a fixed location. We would all work that territory together, even if the group is large.

One of my assignments is to post where the service groups are for the week on the board at every meeting. Some randome funny examples of where I might assign the meetings...

Monday-   Hardware Store Street, Bath

Wednesday-   Big Tree, #11 Village

Friday-   Bus Shed, #8 Village

Typical Meeting for Field Service on the street

 

Sam and I doing return visits

Group preching in front of a Masjid, or Mosque

I have enjoyed some progressive bible studies this year. One of my first studies was Carleton. Even though he is really really shy and quiet, he built up the strength to join the school. Now he is excited to be a publisher. He was incredibly nervous, but his first assignment was smooth as silk. Now he is getting over his shyness and began asking brothers bible questions after the meetings.

 Carleton on the left, with brother Kepler

I will have more updates later and some more info about Guyana...it might not be like you picture it...

Cheers,

Micaiah Young

Convention

The convention for Guyana circuit 1A (including Hopetown congregration) was held on August 16-18 at the Rose Hall Welcome Center, located in an area called East Canje in Berice. Only ten congregations were assigned, but the peak attendance was 1332, well over double the amount of publishers. It was one of two in this Branch.

PICTURES!

An overall view of the seating at the venue...

The stage...as you see, all outdoors, meaning no A/C.

Could you sit here for three days?

Fifteen were babtized, 15 sisters and 0 brothers. This included 2 from Hopetown.

The weather didn't cooperate when preparing the convention site. The rain poured all week, turing the place into a mudhole. Many brothers worked hard to make walkways and spread sand to combate the mud. The wind of these storms also threatened the stage, but they were able to repair it.

Some endured some hardships to make it to the convention. For instance, many delgates were from the isolated Orealla congregation. The trip to East Canje involves a 8 hour ride on a boat down river (small cargo boat, no seats or facilities) and traveling by bus for over an hour. The trip could have also been very cost prohibitive for the brothers of that native village. But they were happy to be there and for the rare oppurtunity to associate with brothers from other congregations



The "Ann Maria" boat to Orealla

Brothers from Lethem also attended the convention. They were able to go to the one in Georgetown because heavy rainfall caused the "highway" the Lethem to become impassable. But they didn't want to miss the program all together.

So eight brothers and sisters braved the road conditions and decided to travel to Berbice. The road was still in poor condition so it took them FOUR DAYS to get to Georgetown. Not for days in a nice car or bus, but four days sliding and boucing around in the back of a "bush" truck and wading though mud. A sister picked them up in Georgetown and took them to Berbice.

I asked one of the brothers about the trip. He said, "it is a priviledge to be here." They didn't know when or how they would return home, but they didn't worry becuase they made it the the convention.

The "Highway"

If this like works, you can see where in the world the convention was...

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=6.2445719&lon=-57.4869061&z=14&l=0&m=b

The venue is directly in the center.

That's it for now, but more to come soon!