Hello everyone....
I have heard that some of you have been asking if we are ok. (thanks Webbs) Well we are, just super busy. During the end of Oct. to end of March we were in the states for about 75% of the time. Dad Heilig was suffering with his cancer, and we wanted to spend as much time as possible with him during his last months. Finally on Feb 23rd a little after midnight he passed away. He died faithful, and of course we so look forward to being with him and mom, in Jehovahs new world. Being out of the congregation so much, for so many months, when we finally got back to EC we wanted to just focus on our ministry and time with the friends. That has been very rewarding. Ill share a few things with you, regarding the different things that have been going on in our life, ministry and congregation.
Altiplano Congregation
As you know, if you have been reading this blog, in September 2010 the new congregation Altiplano was formed. We started with 74 publishers, 7 pioneers, 2 elders, and 5 ministerial servants. Since then, in less then a year, we have 4 elders (2 appointed in the last 6 months) 11 pioneers, 6 ministerial servants (2 newly appointed) and 98 publishers, and only 5 of the increase, have been brothers that have moved into the congregation. Growth to the maximum. Several inactive friends from the territory, who haven't been to meetings in years, have been reactivated, to go along with the many, that have started as new publishers. Additionally during that time period, we have had 5 baptized from the territory, and 2 more will be getting baptized at the next convention if all continues to go well with them. GROWTH GROWTH GROWTH! It amazing and exciting !!! All the brothers in the congregation have been caught up in the excitement from the growth, and many are reaching out for more responsibility, with a desire to progress spiritually. I can imagine, with Jehovah's blessing, in the next year we will have several more appointments of brothers to take the lead. Pioneers for those who want to make more of their ministry, and several students that will progress to baptism. These friends have become to us a family. We love them dearly, as we watch them grow and prosper spiritually.
Our Ministry
Outstanding ..... That's all I can say....
Just kidding.
Carols attitude is to try and start a bible study each day and many days she does... its the getting back to them and finding them home, that is the challenge. She has so many really good calls, her call book is full, and she has little time to get back to the calls she has, but when she does and they are home, she usually starts another study. She's a machine.
My ministry is good too, but at this point, in addition to working on my students, I am focusing on the internal ministry, working with the brothers and helping them see themselves as future servant and elders, as well as helping them make the progress necessary to qualify. Lets just leave it there.
Oh the Drama
No not the kind your thinking of, (In our life, not that we haven't had that too, more on that later) but the kind we have at the convention each year. Yes this year I have the privilege of directing the drama on Sunday, you know the one about ...... Oh, I better not ruin it for you, if you haven't been. But it's good, and we are working on it pretty much as a congregation with a few outside helpers from other congregations .... Lots of work and thyme, uh time involved, thus no blog. No Thyme!
Legal Status (Drama in our life)
It's so funny, when we talk to the locals and the brothers, and not just the ones in our congregation, about legal status, visas and getting them renewed. They just look at us like, what are you talking about. "Your Americans, you can do anything you want, go anywhere you want, whenever you want, and however you want". Nope, "not true", and of course they are shocked.
Well here is the rest of the story. On July 6th our legal status runs out, our visa expires. In the past, the branch would provide a letter that said basically, that we and others are working under the direction of the organization, and based on that, the government was willing to issue a visa that is designed for "missionaries". About 60 days before the expiration of the visa, we turn in all the paperwork, and the visa gets renewed. No big deal. It's kind of funny but for the entire time we have been in Ecuador, Carol always said "if our visa gets renewed", referring to the fact, that, we are living during the last of the last days, and the government could change it's point of view and not allow "missionaries" into the country. Well just about the time we were ready to turn in the "stuff" for the renewal of the visa, what the prophetess, said came true! We received a letter from the government saying that the visa was no longer available. But it wasn't the Ecuadorian government that didn't give the ok. It was our government. Evidently the Governing Body made a decision (they have their reasons) and advised all branches around the world that the organization, would not be providing help, for those that come to serve where the need is greater, to obtaining legal status... ie, visas. Needless to say, everyone has been scrambling, including us. (Shock and Ugh) Especially, as at that moment, we were getting down to the time wire, to get our legal status completed, so we would be able to stay and serve. Yikes! We had to get copy of our marriage certificate apostillized and sent from the USA to Ecuador. Additionally we had to make an investment in Ecuador, open a CD and keep the dough in the country. Once that was completed, we had to get the paperwork completed, and then, turned in to immigration. To do that, we hired a couple from Quito (witnesses/lawyers) to care for the process. Interesting thing happened, when they were ready to turn in all the goods to immigration. There was a notice on the door at the office saying the Ministry of Immigration was in a state of emergency and they were not accepting applications from extranjeros/foreigners at this time. Bummer, because that was the last day we had, to get the paperwork in, if not started then, (the process) we would have to go back to the US and start the process.... Not what we wanted to do. The sister called her husband and asked what she should do, "Pray for help". She did, and she was able to make contact with someone she knew, and was able to get the paperwork in, and the process with that ministry started. (Sigh of relief or Shock and Ahhhhh) Of course one thing we have learned here is, nothing is certain and we will see how things happen, going forward. We should know in the next 45-60 days if we can stay and serve. If not? ...... We will make a decision then.... what our next step will be.
Our love to all ..... and we thank you for writing and keeping in touch.
