So since we have gotten into more of a routine here we have started a schedule we are trying to stick to. With 3 small children, we have to be flexible and expect the unexpected but we are trying to make our schedule work as best we can. Sometimes it’s easy to feel discouraged we can’t do more but, we are so thankful for the privilege of being here and have to remember our limitations…or should I say the limitations of needgreating with a 6,4 and 2 year old!!!
So this is something like a “typical” week for the Bates Family in Guyana….
- Sunday – we have afternoon meeting at the Kingdom Hall @ 1:30 pm
- Monday- we spend the day doing laundry, errands and if it’s not raining we are flexible about possibly going in service for a couple of hours in the morning
- Tuesday- we have the meeting at the Kingdom Hall which is @ 6:30 pm (there is no service group that meets on Tuesdays)
- Wednesday- Although we would LOVE to have Wednesday be a service day as it is a very big turnout for many members of the congregation, our children are not well rested enough to handle all that is expected for service (like be happy and pleasant =). It’s tough because although our meeting ends much earlier than at home, we have a 20 minute walk after associating and so the kids end up in bed pretty late after we get them settled down. Sooo during the day we do more laundry, housework and running errands to help the rest of the week run smoothly. We also have our family worship in the evening.
- Thursday- This is a designated field service day. We try to prepare for all weather conditions and bring plenty of water to keep us hydrated for the day!
- Friday- This is also a designated field service day.
- Saturday- Another designated field service day.
Also, anytime either of us has to walk into the nearest town (Enmore) or run errands we take literature and our bibles with us. Always looking for opportunities to preach. It isn’t difficult at all as just about everyone reads their bibles and is so willing to take the time to chat. I have gotten 2 return visits with this method! Brandon is also going to start getting up very early and walking out by the bus stops so he can catch the people on the way into work as well as the students walking to school. (His 1st day doing this will be tomorrow, I will post about how it goes soon! :)
UPDATE: Wow! Was that a success! Brandon just got home and walked in the door smiling ear to ear! In 45 minutes he placed 26 magazines and 5 brochures! He said some people didn’t have time but on their way back thru would stop to talk with him. He even met someone who said they had never seen the Watchtower and Awake before! That is amazing as we see our literature everywhere we go…people love to read it and we find it in places like the visor of the buses or just sitting by them for when they have a free moment! Something tells me this will be Brandon’s favorite time of day! :)
Each evening (or anytime we can squeeze even a few minutes in during the day) Brandon and I prepare for the week’s meetings starting on Sunday night. It sounds like it wouldn’t be a big deal but, believe it or not we are so active with the children and just trying to live daily life that it has proved to be very challenging to be able to sit down and study. Sometimes we have to work together and take turns watching the children while the other one studies. We can see why it is most definitely easier to be need greaters without children, but despite the constant effort just to complete “the basics” we are so happy we are here!!!
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