2 + 2 =5???

Had long day yesterday, but was rewarding. We were going to La Paz early, then changed when  no one was going early, and friend in Dolores needed to work Dolores , so we spent AM in Dolores, then headed with Lipperds & Vicky to La Paz in afternoon. Tom was dropped off at his study, then I was at mine, since we both had 2pm appts. Miguel was waiting for me, with Miguelito, and Maria, and their little dog.
Kids left us alone for most part, they played around us in jardin, while we finished chap 6. When we started I saw Miguel didn't have para highlighted so was thinking, well we'll try to finish chap. but if not its ok. He read par 9, and when he came to Gen 2:9 quoted in par, he stopped and opened his Bible up to Gen 2:9, and read that. I saw his Bible and here he had highlighted the verse! And that is the way we went, every scripture cited or quoted we looked up and they were all highlighted. So he had looked everything up and read them. That meant he went to the Index of Bible books and found where, and read & highlighted them. He doesn't know how to find w/o looking at index yet. So he thoroughly understood the verses, which is after all the point right? It went well. I was nervous when we came to #16,17, and it stated that some" religions"teach that bad people go to hell. Didn't know how that would go over. So Miguel asked, "Why do they teach that"? I asked him to look around jardin, and said there is probably 100 people here, how many believe in hell and heaven? He agreed that 98 did, excluding him & me. I asked him why. He shrugged. So I said to him that, when we go to school we learn that 2+2= 4.
right? Can anyone tell you after you learn that 2+2=4, that 2+2=5? NO. You would never agree that 2+2=5. But now what if you went to school and the teacher taught you that 2+2=5 from the beginning, and every year after that a different teacher told you 2+2=5. When you got out of school what would you believe? Now someone that is a stranger comes up to you and tells you that 2+2=4. Would you believe them? No, at least not at 1st. They would have to go back to the original math book and show you that the real book shows different than what they learned all thru school. That is what we are doing by trying to teach people that they have been taught wrong, or a lie. Just like Satan in garden, he wanted to get Adam to believe a lie, that if you die you won't die. That is what believing in hell or heaven is like.
Its the original lie. And his reaction? " if it is not in the Bible it isn't right. The Bible is Gods word". Doesn't it thrill your heart to hear those words from your student/ It did me. I haven't had a field service study, from door to door since before going to Bethel. So you have to pardon me for going on, but it is so amazing. This is why we came here. And to see the potential is very encouraging. But of course its early in Miguels progress.. After the study and much patience on the kids part, we finished and walked over for a little ice cream (helado). Here they are with there little dog.

This is how day started, saw the unloading of the pottery near KH, when we went to meet group.

  





Man unloading the pottery.







We had a nice morning, finished a territory, made some calls, arranged for Luis a bible study to make our patio table. Today elaine is picking out the tile, color etc.
Then we headed to La Paz.

We headed over to.............La Paz. here are some pics on the way.

A Nice bull looking for a meal.

 Tried to catch this mountain top, but a little out of focus

 Green fields

  Not so green..........

We all did some good work in service, debbie Vicky & Elaine tried some calls, didn't find people home, then worked some territory. I finished with Miguel, found a Rv, Gustavo, who had almost got baptized in states, in spanish group. But moved back to La Paz, I found him and after determining he wanted and needed to continue with spanish, I had hoped to arrange a spanish brother to meet & turn over to. But didn't know how to contact them So Debbie said lets go by KH and see if a cong is meeting. Did that and got phone # of the man to the brothers there. vicky interpreted, because they are after all spanish speaking.
Before that we ate at a new place Vicky & debbie found door to door, La Isla, a fish place in an upstairs place above street. Here is our orders.

Shrimp cocktail

Avocado shrimp salad

As you can see there

 Here is the Flan (sp) we all shared for desert. was delicious.

was a shrimp theme to the meals. The soup below was a very sweet taste to it.

coconut shrimp soup

Here is desert & group, minus Tom

So we headed home after a very full day. I think tomorrow we will be needing to sleep in. But of course shopping may call. There is tile to pick out for patio table, cushions for the chairs, pots for plants & herbs, etc. But I have to go find the only true pizza place in Dolores, for "date night'. Hasta Luego.

Love Tom & Elaine

Dining room chairs & more.12-28

Well we finally gave up on the metal man, to make dining room chairs, and bought them from  Bible study on "pottery row".

So we now have 4 dining room chairs that match our table. The house now feels more like home. Also found 2 rockers for patio we liked.

Elaine reading on patio, as she thought I was taking  a nap! Waiting for our patio table to be finished.

Close up of dining chair. Elaine will find some cushions, otherwise will eat fast!







Had an ok day in FS, 1 study no show, other call was there and made progress. Going to head to La Paz tomorrow, and see how many studies and calls will be there with the holidays here. This morning is the "rancho" day for spanish group. Here they are.

Have to admire the attitude of the rancho groups. Very tight quarters, and long rides. But compared to some other places this is probably not so bad.
Here are some shots of some people we met, they weren't to ready for truth, just kids having a happy hour!

This graffiti was kind of amazing, if you didn't have to try to get it off!

the girl was taking my picture, so when I was done trying to speak to the owner, I turned around and told them it was my turn, she turned shy then.

When I was attempting to find if anyone read, understood english, after a bit a woman came up and said she did. But found she didn't read english, so I had a dec awake with social networking cover and she snapped it up.
All for now, hit my 70 hrs yesterday, so all down hill from here.
1st time since Jared was born that I have that many FS hours. Had a lot more than that when we built Quincy KH, and then the Halls Ferry double hall, but that was construction kingdom hours.
Love,
Tom & Elaine

12-26-11- Late start- late finish

After some morning business, we got down to business, heading to La Paz, with some eagerness, and trepidation. Had our meeting with english school. and some studies to try out, without knowing what the day after Dec 25th, would be like in La Paz.
We got organized for potential meeting with school by discussing what literature to bring, and how to format agenda. Decided on waiting to see exactly who would be there, and then adapt presentation to that.
Being that the school is private, and highlights teaching english, they charge students to elarn english, as well as other subjects, it was expressed we want to emphasis that we are volunteers, teaching the Bible in english, and that is all. So as not to threaten the school program, of charging tuition for learning english, and to not become "free teachers" for school. A sister who had done presentations before had made those suggestions. So we headed over to La Paz about 12:30, after spending some time in preparation and discussions about what and how to go about it. More on that later.
  Started going by jardin to see if Miguel was there, my BS, but didn't see him, was unsure of his schedule for this week. Then we made a couple calls attempting to re-contact english women, we found or heard about last week. Those came up empty, or unfruitful.
I took some pics of a wedding that had some streets blocked off.

So we headed to a BS, Carla, for Eva, she couldn't make it, so Elaine was going to see if she was home. She was.

Elaine going over point#6 in Truth tract.








After that stopped by vicky's study Angelica, but she wasn't in. So we have territory right there, just in case we have that happen, no one home, so we can be efficient. Worked a street there, and Debbie & Elaine, had a woman tell them her husband speaks english. To come back to talk to him. Noted that on territory data sheet. Finished the street. tried a couple more calls.

Then headed to Pozos, to make some calls Debbie had there, and found some there, and since we were in Pozos, had supper, and took some pics of Hotel/restaurant.

Menu-left

                                                 Menu center

Menu right.








Here are some pics of the lobby, and paintings.

This picture is by the owner/artist of hotel







Then we met a couple as we were getting in car, walking by that spoke to us! they were states people, saw the Missouri license plate and engaged us in conversation. The man 68 yrs old, old hippie, and his wife were very nice, and told us a bit of themselves, at least the man did to me. He had been in army during Viet Nam, but was stationed in Germany. But even tho he was out of direct war in Nam, he sure learned to hate war. When he got out he vowed to not pay any more taxes then he had to, to avoid putting $$ into war  effort. So he went underground earning wise. Did a lot of cash business, and moved out of country to avoid having to pay income taxes, i.e. war money to US. He had a long brown/graying ponytail. and reminded me of a lot of guys I saw in Greenwich village in NY in early 70's. "burned out" and "turned on to drugs", I think was the phrase back then. Don't quote me. But those of you old enough know what I'm referring to. But his eyes were clear now, and was obviously intelligent. He said he had to go back to states to fight the"gov't" over something, that he won in court, but cost him lawyers fees that were not small. He has a business that is in states still, and told me he spends more on a CPA, than anything else. cost wise. Tried to see if they wanted literature, but he said he had plenty to read. But girls struck a cord possibly for future development with woman. On how there was nothing but bad news from the media. Told him about retiring early so as to come to preach here in Mexico, and be able to afford that here. Had maybe a 30 minute discussion on street across from restaurant.
Then debbie took us up to an old call up by the abandoned mine area. Took some pics there. And she talked to someone at the cart, where her call works.

nativity scene on road.

Almost as hilly as San Francisco.

Street in Pozos

Field in old mine town, gold & silver extracted.
No one here now.

Abandoned buildings everywhere. Was a boom town.

Then it was time to head to school for our meeting got there right on time, went into school, and
The principal wasn't there! A secretary was, but no one else. Very dissapointing after all our prep. but this is mexico, appts are not real to many here, its more of like, "well if we see you we see you" type of understanding, and no one gets there feelings hurt if the other party misses appt. Of course I don't operate that way. But you have to go with the flow here, and not let it make you think the person isn't interested.
They very well may be. Many experiences to that effect. Had some myself already to verify that.
So its 7:05 PM. and we are tired, but I didn't see my study Miguel right? So I call him on the phone, he answers, "Mr Tom" how are you?" I told him we were close by, and did he want us to drop by? He said of course, the hospitality is amazing here. He met us at the corner of his block to guide us to his home.
He invited us in his home about a block away. Forgot camera, so will describe, the setting. he has a nice courtyard, parking area. but he doesn't own a car. Went in and met Miguelito, his 4 yr old son, and Maria, 6 yr old daughter and his wife. They were a little shy at first, but warmed up. I asked Maria idf she enjoyed the My book of BS? and she kind of snuck back behind her Daddy legs. So Miguel told her to get book. So she read to us, the 1st para, on the 10 plague story. She did well and you could see how proud poppa was of her reading. Then his wife brought out popcorn that was a nice gesture, and shows the hospitality again of the mexican culture, even when they have little.
We visited maybe 20 minutes, then headed home to Dolores. Arranged for Miguels study thursday at 2@ jardin,
All for now,
Love Tom & Elaine

Sunday, good day- from many perspectives.

What a good end to a good day. Let me digress momentarily. Last week we worked Linda Vista territory, and while there I saw a pottery factory, we have hundreds here, from small family shop to large scale, low tech factories. Dolores Hidalgo is famous for Pottery. So we pulled up to a place, girls did the house while I got camera out, and saw these.

 Here is the artist I saw out front. He was nice & let me have access to factory, which was maybe 40 ft x40 ft.

Frog molds, Very heavy, they pour a mix into, then tie up to secure, then let air dry, no heat or furnace involved.

Lobster anyone?

You begin to get idea of scope as these men crank these out all day long. The craftsman has various size sculpting tools that help fill in/ or remove unwanted clay.

 So had an interesting tour, and was wanting to get that into Blog at some point.

But now on to the nice day we had. After a omelet of eggs, ham, and fresh cheese, I told Elaine we had to leave a little early, to see if the call I had Thursday on a RV, would come to meeting. Wasn't sure he was just telling me what I wanted to hear or not. I had called on him kind of on a whim. Normal time for him is 11:30 sat morning. But I had to go pay water bill, so cut thru a shortcut, and thought if I saw he was home try to accomplish both things. Well he was home, and had a good call. ended up inviting him to Mtg. He accepted but wasn't sure as I said. Told him I would be by @2:30.
So today we headed up there, but were surprised at the volume of traffic out, and Pottery row was open, so lots of cars. Thought about skipping him, figured he wouldn't be there anyway. But Elaine said lets try anyway, that way we won't have let him down. Sure enough he was ready. Keep in mind that i had1-initial call, then went 4 weeks w/o finding him, then had another call,, 2 weeks ago, and we set up a sat morning time, which he wasn't at last sat. But was Thursday. We have only covered 2 points in the truth tract. So we arrived at hall, introduced Miguel to the friends. I had copied a WT for him. But forgot to give him an extra Bible. And truthfully i didn't know how much english he really knew. He had read Rev. 21:3,4. ok. I explained the format of meeting to him. So we got thru talk, as he watched me find scriptures etc. Then at WT I heard him singing a bit of the 2nd verse! So I thought that was a good sign.
At end of WT he joined in the 2nd verse again. So after mtg. I offered to drive David, another study of Ron Mudge's home since he was across road aways from Miguel. 1st dropped Elaine off, about a block from our house, so as to keep Miguel from knowing where we live.(explain that later) Then decided to stop by Pollo Feliz, a chicken place, and bought Miguel & David supper. I forgot to mention that thursday when I visited Miguel, he asked if I had any work for him? I had been warned that some men here will fein interest in having a study, and have the brothers "hire" them for some jobs, only to either take advantage of the brother, or get some $$, then disappear. Never to be seen again. So as a "rich" gringo we have to be cautious as to motive. When he asked me for work, I said i didn't have anything, had most of the work done I needed. But am still being cautious, thats why I didn't want him to know where I live. Want to be sure his interest is genuine. One reason for bringing David, was I wanted to get his take on Miguel, and have Miguel meet some local persons who are studying with the english.
  So after supper, I dropped him off, the took david home and checked with him, on his read. david said his neighbors ask him "how much do they pay you to go to there church?" So its not uncommon for that view to be there among the the locals evidently. Thus the need for caution. But on the surface its the 1st person I have had come to KH, from a door to door visit in decades?? I think so. set up study wed am @ 10 with Miguel.
Tomorrow we head to La Paz tomorrow to FS, and have a meeting with the principal and 2 other teachers. Will find out if they have a technical interest, in english literature, or if there is any genuine interest. Stay tuned, long day tomorrow.
Love,
 Tom & Elaine.