Hello everyone, Brendan here. I thought it was about time I contributed something to Sarah’s blog instead of just helping behind the scenes.
I thought I would write about our territory here in Cuenca, Ecuador and answer the question of whether the English territory is productive. Why is there a need to ask that question you may ask? I will answer that soon but I would like to refer back to the article that first motivated us to move overseas. It was the August 2011 Kingdom Ministry. It made Sarah and I think that serving overseas could be taken in steps. The article made us think that we could first serve in an English congregation and then possibly move over into a Spanish congregation when we gained our confidence. I quote some of what the article suggested below.
“*** km 8/11 p. 4 Can You “Step Over Into Macedonia”? ***
Maybe you have not considered moving to a foreign land because you lack confidence that you could learn another language…
A retired brother from an English-speaking land, who is an elder and pioneer, moved to a popular tourist area in Southeast Asia to help an English-speaking group of nine publishers. The group preached to the 30,000 foreigners who lived in the area. Within two years 50 were attending the meetings. The brother wrote: “Moving here has brought me the most wonderful blessings I have ever enjoyed. Time does not allow me to relate even a fraction of them!”…
Language Concerns: Does the thought of learning a foreign language prevent you from moving to another land? Your language is likely spoken in other countries that have a need for more Kingdom preachers. One English-speaking couple moved to a Spanish-speaking country that has a sizable population of English-speaking immigrants. After receiving information from the branch office concerning several English congregations that had a need, they chose one and visited it twice. They returned home, cut their monthly expenses, and saved money for a year. When they were ready to move, the brothers in that area helped them locate affordable housing.”
So that is what we decided to do. And now we serve in the Cuenca English congregation. When we first came to Cuenca in April 2012 there were, I think, 32 publishers. Now we have 55 publishers and we are continuing to grow. We have 18 regular pioneers serving in the congregation and we conducted 53 bible studies in January 2014. The territory here in Cuenca, according to government authorities, has some 3000-5000 English speakers. This does not include Ecuadorians who once lived in another country (mainly the U.S.A) and speak English. One sister thoroughly went through a personal territory she had and found an additional 50 English speakers. In the next territory she worked, she found an additional 30. So there is a need here.
Which now brings me back to the question of “Is the English territory productive?”, and “Why does this question need to be asked?” I will answer the second question first.
Unfortunately, amongst some serving here in the Spanish field, there can be a prevailing thought and attitude “Why serve in English? That is not where the action is.” As an example, we had a brother from Canada visit his son (who serves in a Spanish congregation here) and come out with us in the English ministry one morning. The son said to his father “Why go out in English, it is not productive!” The son was soon to eat his words because the father came on a study with me that morning and was so enthusiastic about it that the son visited and asked if could sit in on the study with me. He also apologised for his inaccurate statement.
Which brings me back to the study mentioned above and helps answer the question of whether the English territory is productive. First though I would like to say that even if we found no one in the English field who was interested in the Bible message we would still be productive. Our role is not only to help Jesus find the sheep, but also to help him find out who will prove to be a goat (Matthew 25). That makes our territory productive whatever happens.
Now, back to the study. I would like you to meet Louie. I met Louie on December 15, 2013. Louie showed up at our Sunday meeting by himself and sat in the back row. I went and talked to him after the meeting and offered him a study. My thoughts were, if he is interested enough to come to the meeting then it couldn’t hurt to offer him a study. He accepted without hesitation.
We arranged to meet on Tuesday 17th, 10:00am, at the park in the centre of town. I was worried that he may not show up, as it had happened to me once before. I need not have worried, as Louie showed up on schedule.
We talked and Louie told me his story. Louie is Colombian, but went with his mother to the U.S. when he was 10 and spent the next 35 years in the U.S. So, he thinks of himself more as an American than as a Colombian.
Louie, to cut a long story short, through sometimes his own fault and sometimes through the fault of others, gained 3 felonies in the U.S. As a result he was deported to Colombia. In Colombia, he inadvertently came to the attention of some guerrilla factions and was told he either needed to leave Colombia or he would likely be killed. He chose to leave Colombia.
On his way out of Colombia he studied with a brother in Pasto (Colombia) for about 2 months. First, he walked and hitch-hiked to Quito (Ecuador) and spent 2 months there. He then arrived in Cuenca by bus on December 14 alone and destitute. He had spent all his money on bus fare from Quito. He slept at the bus terminal where the next morning he met a brother doing “metropolitan witnessing” at the bus terminal. The brother directed him to our hall. He went to the Spanish meeting that night and spoke to some brothers (Louie speaks fluent Spanish, but wanted to study in English). They said our meeting was the next morning, which is where I met him.
We started studying together on Tuesday 17th. It is now January 10th. In the 25 days since I met Louie he and I have had a total of 21 studies. Yes, nearly every day. When we have a study it can last a few hours (mainly because Louie likes to talk). Two of the days we missed he came to the meeting instead. He has a thirst for and a rapidly growing love of the truth.
It hasn’t been easy for him because as I said he arrived here destitute. He lives in a shelter in town along with men whom he describes as thieves, drug addicts (and dealers) and drunks. He has been offered stolen phones, drugs, alcohol, wild parties (when they have a big haul, the thieves go elsewhere and party all night) and women have offered to sleep with him. But, he has proved faithful and loyal to Jehovah and resisted all these temptations.
Initially, he saw contact with me as a life-line, but I have encouraged him to study and read the Bible more and to talk to Jehovah in prayer, which he is doing. I now often see him reading our publications while waiting for me and he says he is no longer worried about being seen reading the Bible when at the shelter. He says it is proving to be a protection for him as some at the shelter are respecting him more and leaving him alone. Louie and I either study at the Kingdom Hall (it’s amusing to see Louie waiting and studying under the veranda at the Kingdom Hall while I’m inside for the meeting for field service) or at our house (which takes Louie approximately one hour to walk to (he does not mind)).
Studying with Louie is a real blessing and a joy. His comments are heartfelt (although, sometimes a bit long!). Everyone who has sat in on the study has enjoyed the experience and I hope and pray we can continue to study together until he chooses to get baptised.
So, is the English territory here productive? I would say a definite “Yes!” when one has a study like Louie.
