STUDYING THE WATCHTOWER INFORMALLY
IN LAGUNA SALADA


 

(To help progressive Bible students - who are working towards
becoming publishers and getting baptized -
until there are congregation meetings close enough to attend)
 

In October 2003, we began a personal arrangement to study the Watchtower informally in Laguna Salada every 2 weeks in order to help the Bible studies that are progressing towards becoming publishers and getting baptized.  Each of the four times we have had the arrangement, elders or ministerial servants have helped us by conducting the Watchtower study.  The first week there were 13 in attendance with 4 families represented; the 2nd week there were 19 with 6 families represented; the 3rd week there were 10 with 4 families represented, and the 4th week there were 23 with 4 families represented despite many in the area being away visiting relatives during the holidays.

When the weather is nice, it is held in the front garden.  On rainy days, it is held inside Elfrida & Candida's house.

Gisela and Fausto, Nonyo, Candida and Diana have progressed so much more spiritually since beginning this arrangement.  In the last Watchtower study we had, Nonyo made a wonderful comment about Jehovah's witnesses and how he never understood anything when he went to the Catholic church.  But how much he is learning now as Jehovah's witnesses really explain the Scriptures and reason with people

Gisela, Fausto, Candida and Diana await the time when we can have a congregation meeting, and official talk, and Watchtower study in Las Galeras - near enough for them to attend.  Meanwhile, each time we have it in LGS, some of their friends and relatives from the area show up for it and are growing in appreciation for the truth!

Fausto, Gisela, Candida, and Diana attend the book study fairly regularly in Las Galeras.  To attend this one meeting near enough to them, requires the 2-hour round trip walk to the main road, where we pick them up to go another 12 kilometers to the book study.  Fausto refers to it as "my meeting" and tries hard not to miss it.

A great many of the brothers and sisters in the congregation love going to LGS on these Bible studies or to help out at the LGS Watchtower study every two weeks.  The people of Laguna Salada are getting to experience the joy of getting to know the brothers and what our brotherhood is all about despite the fact there are no meetings close enough for them to attend.  Most foreigners - brothers and sisters from Spain, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, sweden, Canada, and USA - coming to Samana to serve or on vacation, find themselves going with me on the studies at Laguna Salada, and love it!!!

All the studies in Laguna Salada are so impressed with the unity of our brothers from all over the world, and the love they have shown by taking the time and effort to walk so far to encourage them.

Our group filled with the "joy of Jehovah" at the end of a long day of preaching in the campo and returning from Laguna Salada after studying the Watchtower informally with these  interested persons unable to get to the meetings at present!

EPILOGUE
 

In August 2004, Gisela became an unbaptized publisher, and by May 2005, four persons she studies with were attending the bookstudy held in Las Galeras!  Fausto, Gisela's husband, continues to progress, talks the truth to everyone, Gisela is working towards baptism, and Candida and Diana are working towards becoming unbaptized publishers! 

The Laguna Salada group continues to progress and we continue to go once a week to do the Watchtower with them on a personal basis until one day an official group with meetings can be arranged!   Return to page 1