I am now in my new congregation

Moving was fun, and with our crazy packing skills we got the job done pretty quick.The hall I go to now is on the other side of the river, and this is how we have to cross.
By the way, the guy that is with me in these pictures is one of my new roomies, Eric.

So now I am in the same hall as the Cooks. Got a picture of them here waiting for their turn to cross the river.

We have our CO visit this week, as if I wasn't already busy enough. But no complaining, it has been a very good visit, and I am having a good week in service in this new territory. I already have a few potential studies, including an older couple that we talked to for over and hour this morning and they want us to come back Saturday.

I will keep you posted.

Matt´s New Friend

Matt makes a new friend in service.

Our Circuit Assembly

This past weekend we had our circuit assembly and pioneer meeting. Both were very good. I'm sure that most of you already know that, because you have already had yours. Some points that I will share are some that are specific to the DR. For example, perhaps you would like to know some of the statistics about the circuit that we are in down here. We have 1415 publishers, but had 2139 in attendance at the assembly. There are 192 regular pioneers in the circuit and 16 specials. We have 109 elders and 180 servants. Here is a good one: at last years assembly, they set a goal of having at least 500 different auxiliary pioneers in the year, and last year we made it with 607. That is well over a third of our publishers.

Another good experience was at our baptism. We had 22 baptized at this assembly, but when they announced the count, they announced 23. Where was the extra one? They later informed us that the Sunday before, a new brother was baptized in his own home, because he is paralyzed after a motorcycle accident. The circuit overseer actually went to his house and gave a baptismal discourse just for him and the friends from his congregation that were there. They played for us at the assembly a recorded interview with our new brother, so we all got to hear his appreciation in his own words. The CO told us that he is already an exemplary publisher, averaging over 20 hours a month, even though he is confined to bed. He makes arrangements with another brother to come over to his house and basically pull people in off the street so that he can preach to them. He has already started several studies that way.

All in all, a very good program. I am looking forward to hearing it again. Next month the branch office is holding the same program in English as a gift to all the foreigners that are serving here. The entire program is re-tooled to the needs of pioneers serving in another country.

Sorry if I haven't been posting much here. In addition to the assembly, I am also getting ready to move. fun fun