Our Costa Rica Life : Buenas from Costa Rica!

It has been an exciting 2 weeks here. We started meeting with our host congregation last weekend. So our meeting is now on Sunday at 5pm and then the spanish have their talk at 6:30. Its a bit of a tricky transition because the spanish usually arrive while our meeting is still going on and we leave during the song midway through their meeting. Last night we were on the last paragraph during our english meeting and it started pouring rain, thunder, lightning, the works..all of the spanish were trying to huddle outside to avoid interrupting our meeting. Finally it got so bad that they all had to come inside and stand in the back while we finished up our meeting. Tyler gave the final prayer and it was so loud from the rain that we all had to just keep our eyes opened. We couldn't hear a thing!
In the future we will be able to have a full english meeting on Sunday but only if we have a speaker. Otherwise we stay for the spanish public talk. Right now we do know key words like faith, other sheep, anointed and so on. So we listen for those words and get what we can out of the talk that way. We tell the kids to use their imagination:) We also listen for the bible book, chapter and verse so that we can at least see what scriptures are being used. Honestly, I'm thrilled if I get in the right chapter by the time he stops reading it! The kids are just picking up spanish like crazy! I wish I had their little brains!
Tyler joined the school and he also has his first service meeting part the first week of November. A 10 minute part! I haven't joined the school yet ....but I'm mustering up the courage:) We don't have any meetings this week because the spanish have an assembly this weekend and there are 4 bible studies getting baptized. We are all really thrilled about that! We are planning on attending the morning session and baptism, so exciting!!! Due to us having no meeting we are looking forward to listening into Firgroves meeting this Thursday and Sunday!! OH and speaking of the Assembly..we were suppose to have ours in December but just found out that it has been canceled. So we don't have another one until April. I will say it again..Thats Costa Rica!

In Service news..Wow the territory here is just awesome. I haven't done a whole lot of english service lately but I'm feeling more comfortable speaking at the door in spanish. Sometimes I actually have to open my bible and read directly from my notes but I explain that I'm trying to learn and people are very sweet. I loved the Kingdom ministry article about using the video. I downloaded it in spanish as soon as I saw that KM several weeks ago and it has become a huge part of my ministry! Here is what I say:

(Okay all of you spanish speakers this may not be correct but I get by! Ha Ha)

" Hola, Soy Amber. Somos Testigos de Jehova. Ayudamos a la gente a aprender acerca de la biblia a traves de la casa estudio de la biblia. Mi espanol es limitado pero estoy aprendiendo. Puedo mostrarte un video corto que explica mi visita? ..En Espanol"
( After the video I say..) Gracias Usted puede solicitar un estudio de la biblia gratuitamente desde JW.org
( Also just for fun this is how you say JW.org .. phonetically ..(Hota due-blay OO punto orag) That is NOT spanish lol but allows you to see how it sounds:) Much different than simply saying JW.ORG:)

Translation:" Hi, Im Amber. We are Jehovahs Witnesses. We help people learn about the bible through home bible study. My spanish is limited but Im learning. Can I show you a short video that explains my visit. In Spanish. "
Thank you! ( I give them the tract on the website at this point and point to the website address on the back) You can request a free bible study by going to JW.Org.

Some of my wording is probably incorrect and sometimes people do correct me but they ALWAYS listen. I mean always. I have been able to show this video in spanish to so many people and place literature along with it. Usually it ends in a hug:) ..and usually the tighter the hug, the worst my spanish was. :) After my presentation, I would love to offer a bible study and Im working up to that but for right now I feel pretty good about what I am able to do. So if you find someone that speaks another language and are able to leave them anything with the website info on it..you may have started a study! Ya never know:)

I have also talked to a lot of english as well and have been able to have some really nice conversations. The problem is that most of them don't live here permanently. The up side though is that when we do find them, because they are on vacation, they are relaxed and willing to listen and talk. I think a lot about that scripture at 1 Corinthians 3:6. Some plant, some water, but Jehovah makes it grow. It has a whole new meaning for me now that I am in the situation that I am in. The ministry is so different here and I really rely on Jehovah. A lot more than I did before so that was eye opening for me. When I walk up to a door I am so nervous because I can really only say what is on my sheet of paper or what I have memorized. Somehow thats been enough, every time. It really keeps me motivated everyday to learn spanish even faster because there are so many people hungry for the truth here. Okay thats it for this installment! I know I sound like a broken record but thank you for the emails and for keeping us a part of your lives:) We have the greatest friends and we miss you all so much but its awesome to hear all of the wonderful things everyone else is doing! We have so many friends moving to other countries, areas, language groups and halls that need assistance, auxiliary pioneering and making adjustments during the week to support others who want to! It just shows that Jehovahs people are willing to take on any assignment Jehovah has for them:) Love you all!!!!!!

This is Jason. He's teaching us spanish. He is a bible study and a great teacher himself! Every Sunday he has a spanish class for all of the English friends.