This Post will take a completely new track from the usual.
The question at the top is to start you thinking along fresh lines of thought.
Many of you have no doubt said, "I could never be a need-greater in a foreign country". And while that is true for many because their circumstances would simply never allow it, it might not be true for others.
When we look at our lives, sometimes we assume our health, or finances, or family obligations by necessity must stop us.
PLEASE DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED FRIENDS. WHERE EVER YOU ARE ABLE TO SERVE JEHOVAH, KNOW THAT HE WILL BLESS YOU.
But with this post I will outline some of the circumstances that some of the friends here are coping with successfully. Serving as a Need-Greater does not mean that your life fell into line perfectly so that everything worked out.......I've never met anyone like that...............
There will be NO NAMES. But lots of lovely pictures of all the dear souls that have made and are making sacrifices to serve here. The list will cover brothers and sisters from all over the circuit and in all kinds of circumstances.
This is one of our "local characters"......... a real cut up.......................
In this post I will list some of the obstacles that exist for a number of the friends. If your life fits one of these pictures and you wish you could serve as a "need-greater" at a future date...... approach Jehovah.
And then pray some more.
It may work out for you as it did for some of these dear friends.
So whether you can serve here in Panama, or somewhere else, someplace else, it matters not.
Only that you pray about your service and continue to make future goals in your service to Jehovah.
The question at the top is to start you thinking along fresh lines of thought.
Many of you have no doubt said, "I could never be a need-greater in a foreign country". And while that is true for many because their circumstances would simply never allow it, it might not be true for others.
When we look at our lives, sometimes we assume our health, or finances, or family obligations by necessity must stop us.
PLEASE DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED FRIENDS. WHERE EVER YOU ARE ABLE TO SERVE JEHOVAH, KNOW THAT HE WILL BLESS YOU.
But with this post I will outline some of the circumstances that some of the friends here are coping with successfully. Serving as a Need-Greater does not mean that your life fell into line perfectly so that everything worked out.......I've never met anyone like that...............
There will be NO NAMES. But lots of lovely pictures of all the dear souls that have made and are making sacrifices to serve here. The list will cover brothers and sisters from all over the circuit and in all kinds of circumstances.
This is one of our "local characters"......... a real cut up.......................
Below is the Pioneer Meeting for all the pioneers, both full-time and Aux. for our C.O.'s Visit
In this post I will list some of the obstacles that exist for a number of the friends. If your life fits one of these pictures and you wish you could serve as a "need-greater" at a future date...... approach Jehovah.
And then pray some more.
It may work out for you as it did for some of these dear friends.
So whether you can serve here in Panama, or somewhere else, someplace else, it matters not.
Only that you pray about your service and continue to make future goals in your service to Jehovah.
There are quite a few different kinds of people here. Married, single, older, younger, families with young children. Some of them have come alone, some have taken on roommates for reasons both financial and otherwise. They are able to help each other with emotional support, financial support (when they are room-mates), and as partners in the service.
One of these has a former home in the states. She has rented it out. Her grown son is not in the truth. She has retirement income and has bought a house here. She is very happily settled and pioneering.
Another sister from the states is a cancer survivor. She has received a clean bill of health on her last check ups. Every year she goes back to her doctors to see that all is OK. She has family scattered across the US and seeing her doctor is also the best time to schedule "family time". She has a room mate and pioneer partner here for the time being.
A different sister has been a widow for some years now. She was VERY comfortable in her little house in the States with NO desire to move. She has traveled before, but never considered herself the "moving" type.
She had helped out in her home area with the Spanish congregation, but DID NOT WANT TO MOVE !!
So she came for a short visit to see what Panama was like, AND SHE SAYS, "Only because her sister gave her a vacation gift/ticket to Panama". On her own she says, "I would never have done that".
After 4 months visiting Panama (her daughter was holding down the fort at home), she said,....."I'm coming back" !! She also has health problems..... A heart condition, Diabetes, and leg problems. But being here in some ways has actually helped her. The natural food here has lessened her Diabetes (another sister said the same thing). The walking has helped her legs and her weight problem. She lives quite close to the hall and just walks slowly. Gradually she has seen a benefit from NOT driving.
Now both she AND her daughter are here !! ( Her daughter was also one who said "I don't want to leave home, I'm happy here at home"). When Mom returned home last October, she told her daughter that she should come for just one month and try it out. They SOLD most of the things in their house, rented the house to another family and....... they have already been here for 3 months, with no desire to go back.
She was telling me more of her story that she said I should share with you on this post.......................
About 1 month before she was to leave the states she had a home invasion..... Mind you, at this point, her house is nearly empty. They had sold all the furniture and nearly everything was gone. The only thing left was their computers and phones and the clothing in their suitcases.....
Of course the thieves stole the computers and phones and the little bit of money left laying around.......They broke in the back door window and splintered the door................. The brothers came to their rescue. It was so traumatic that she ended up the hospital and does not remember how she got there or who took her or how long she was there. Only that the brothers took her. She recovered in the few weeks left remaining before she took the re-positioning cruise back to Panama. She is doing fine, and her determination to let nothing stop her has helped her to recover her balance.
One couple here have 5 children, 4 still in the states. They are retired now. They find it necessary to go back and forth because one of their children has medical issues and they must deal face to face with Medical doctors quite a bit. One of their adult children is with them. Making it work here for them has been a big challenge, but they are working hard to stay and hoping that their other Daughter and her family will join them here as it appears that it will be better for them.
Several families here have young children. One new family has a 13 years old. He will start public school here and begin his new life with Spanish.
One family has 2 girls aged 10, and 8. They are being home schooled and doing well. They recently had to go back to the states for a funeral and family obligations.
A third family has been here since their girls were quite young. The daughters are now bi-lingual.
Another family has 2 children, a boy and a girl. They came just to "taste" Panama and see if they could stay. Since they have been here Dad has learned that he can help them to stay by working online as an English teacher. So he is now working at finishing his TESOL Course and will soon be employed. They had originally planned to stay only 6 months, until the money ran out..... but now it appears they can stay longer.
Another family is here with their young daughter. The daughter will eventually learn Spanish, but for now knows no Spanish. Mom is disabled from health issues, but is able to get around and drive etc.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is an endless variety of people here, as you can see from above.
But without exception they have all done one thing, and have one thing in common..........................
One of these has a former home in the states. She has rented it out. Her grown son is not in the truth. She has retirement income and has bought a house here. She is very happily settled and pioneering.
Another sister from the states is a cancer survivor. She has received a clean bill of health on her last check ups. Every year she goes back to her doctors to see that all is OK. She has family scattered across the US and seeing her doctor is also the best time to schedule "family time". She has a room mate and pioneer partner here for the time being.
A different sister has been a widow for some years now. She was VERY comfortable in her little house in the States with NO desire to move. She has traveled before, but never considered herself the "moving" type.
She had helped out in her home area with the Spanish congregation, but DID NOT WANT TO MOVE !!
So she came for a short visit to see what Panama was like, AND SHE SAYS, "Only because her sister gave her a vacation gift/ticket to Panama". On her own she says, "I would never have done that".
After 4 months visiting Panama (her daughter was holding down the fort at home), she said,....."I'm coming back" !! She also has health problems..... A heart condition, Diabetes, and leg problems. But being here in some ways has actually helped her. The natural food here has lessened her Diabetes (another sister said the same thing). The walking has helped her legs and her weight problem. She lives quite close to the hall and just walks slowly. Gradually she has seen a benefit from NOT driving.
Now both she AND her daughter are here !! ( Her daughter was also one who said "I don't want to leave home, I'm happy here at home"). When Mom returned home last October, she told her daughter that she should come for just one month and try it out. They SOLD most of the things in their house, rented the house to another family and....... they have already been here for 3 months, with no desire to go back.
She was telling me more of her story that she said I should share with you on this post.......................
About 1 month before she was to leave the states she had a home invasion..... Mind you, at this point, her house is nearly empty. They had sold all the furniture and nearly everything was gone. The only thing left was their computers and phones and the clothing in their suitcases.....
Of course the thieves stole the computers and phones and the little bit of money left laying around.......They broke in the back door window and splintered the door................. The brothers came to their rescue. It was so traumatic that she ended up the hospital and does not remember how she got there or who took her or how long she was there. Only that the brothers took her. She recovered in the few weeks left remaining before she took the re-positioning cruise back to Panama. She is doing fine, and her determination to let nothing stop her has helped her to recover her balance.
One couple here have 5 children, 4 still in the states. They are retired now. They find it necessary to go back and forth because one of their children has medical issues and they must deal face to face with Medical doctors quite a bit. One of their adult children is with them. Making it work here for them has been a big challenge, but they are working hard to stay and hoping that their other Daughter and her family will join them here as it appears that it will be better for them.
Several families here have young children. One new family has a 13 years old. He will start public school here and begin his new life with Spanish.
One family has 2 girls aged 10, and 8. They are being home schooled and doing well. They recently had to go back to the states for a funeral and family obligations.
A third family has been here since their girls were quite young. The daughters are now bi-lingual.
Another family has 2 children, a boy and a girl. They came just to "taste" Panama and see if they could stay. Since they have been here Dad has learned that he can help them to stay by working online as an English teacher. So he is now working at finishing his TESOL Course and will soon be employed. They had originally planned to stay only 6 months, until the money ran out..... but now it appears they can stay longer.
Another family is here with their young daughter. The daughter will eventually learn Spanish, but for now knows no Spanish. Mom is disabled from health issues, but is able to get around and drive etc.
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There is an endless variety of people here, as you can see from above.
But without exception they have all done one thing, and have one thing in common..........................
THEY COUNTED THE COST !!!!
Having said all this about coming to Panama and serving as a Need-Greater, there is more to consider.
Jesus said, "Count the Cost". (Luke 14:28)
"Who of you who wants to".......{ be a need-greater.}......."does not first sit down and calculate the expense?
"Who of you who wants to".......{ be a need-greater.}......."does not first sit down and calculate the expense?
So what are the costs?
It is wisdom on your part to check out the area that you think you want to serve in. Come for a short stay of a least one month. Until you actually live in a place for at least a month you have NO idea what it is really like, and even then there will be continual surprises. When you arrive do not just play the tourist. Really make sure that you go in service and live like you would live if you were here already. Tourist life and real living are not the same thing...... !!!!!!
Make sure that if you don't like it you are not stuck.
Make sure that if needed you can go home. Have a plan in place before you come.
GOING HOME DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DEFEATED !!!!!
THERE MAY BE BETTER CHOICES FOR YOU SOMEWHERE ELSE.
Please do not become a burden to the congregation that you are coming to help. (1 Thess 2:9 "Surely you remember, brothers, our labor and our toil. We were working night and day, so that we would not put an expensive burden on any one of you, when we preached the good news of God to you.").
The scriptural principle is not to be a burden to your brothers and sisters. In a foreign country it is more difficult for those that are already here to stay....... Many of them have sold everything !!
This is not true of all that serve in a foreign countries, but as much as 45% of those here have left houses, fields, and families behind.
Make sure that if you don't like it you are not stuck.
Make sure that if needed you can go home. Have a plan in place before you come.
GOING HOME DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DEFEATED !!!!!
THERE MAY BE BETTER CHOICES FOR YOU SOMEWHERE ELSE.
Please do not become a burden to the congregation that you are coming to help. (1 Thess 2:9 "Surely you remember, brothers, our labor and our toil. We were working night and day, so that we would not put an expensive burden on any one of you, when we preached the good news of God to you.").
The scriptural principle is not to be a burden to your brothers and sisters. In a foreign country it is more difficult for those that are already here to stay....... Many of them have sold everything !!
This is not true of all that serve in a foreign countries, but as much as 45% of those here have left houses, fields, and families behind.
YOU WILL NEED A CAR ---------OR-------Be willing to walk EVERYWHERE and take the buses.
Every time you want to go to the store are you willing to take the bus or walk? If you come with that in firmly in mind then you will not be a burden.
Every time you want to go to the store are you willing to take the bus or walk? If you come with that in firmly in mind then you will not be a burden.
The use of cars is not limited to field service, BUT shopping or being dropped off takes more gas, more wear and tear on the cars and more time and energy for the friends that are already here.
And trust me when I tell you, here in Panama at least, the wear and tear on cars is TREMENDOUS !!!
The roads here tear up a car, and unless you are driving a TANK, the car will need repairs (major repairs) within 3 years of being purchased NEW.
Please friends bring lots of money for taxis or as gas contributions for those times that do you get a ride in service or to go shopping. Gas here is currently over $4 per gallon.
And trust me when I tell you, here in Panama at least, the wear and tear on cars is TREMENDOUS !!!
The roads here tear up a car, and unless you are driving a TANK, the car will need repairs (major repairs) within 3 years of being purchased NEW.
Please friends bring lots of money for taxis or as gas contributions for those times that do you get a ride in service or to go shopping. Gas here is currently over $4 per gallon.
You need to be self supporting financially. You can not work in a foreign country and considering what they pay the average worker ($10 dollars per day !!!) you don't want to work here anyway. And expecting others to help you out is not following scriptural guidelines.
Service is VERY DIFFERENT HERE.
In some places the studies are abundant, but in others you work just as hard in this territory as you might back where you came from.
And prepare yourself for a culture shock. The people here will NEVER DO IT THE WAY YOU DO IT BACK HOME. They don't care what you did back home. They don't do it that way, It doesn't make sense to them here.
Telling them how to do it better............. will not make them appreciate you more. They will only look at you strangely and keep right on doing what they are doing......
Depending on where you choose to go in Panama you will see abject poverty (next to a home owner that is filthy rich), filthy conditions as bad as open sewer pits and garbage everywhere, "modern" slavery, severe prejudice, mistreatment of women, abuse of children......
Yes, things are strange................................................ from your point of view.
Yes, things are backward.............................................from your point of view.
Yes, things take 3 times longer than they should............from your point of view........
(Take a minute to reflect on all the wrongs that Jesus saw in his days. It is little different now. It is still Satan's world order of things)
1 Timothy 4:10--"That is why we are working hard and exerting ourselves, because we have rested our hope on a living God, who is a Savior of all sorts of men, especially of faithful ones."
Love the people for WHO THEY ARE, not who you want them to be.
This was our service group one Friday morning..........37 people............................COME SEE US !!!
Telling them how to do it better............. will not make them appreciate you more. They will only look at you strangely and keep right on doing what they are doing......
Depending on where you choose to go in Panama you will see abject poverty (next to a home owner that is filthy rich), filthy conditions as bad as open sewer pits and garbage everywhere, "modern" slavery, severe prejudice, mistreatment of women, abuse of children......
Yes, things are strange................................................ from your point of view.
Yes, things are backward.............................................from your point of view.
Yes, things take 3 times longer than they should............from your point of view........
(Take a minute to reflect on all the wrongs that Jesus saw in his days. It is little different now. It is still Satan's world order of things)
1 Timothy 4:10--"That is why we are working hard and exerting ourselves, because we have rested our hope on a living God, who is a Savior of all sorts of men, especially of faithful ones."
Love the people for WHO THEY ARE, not who you want them to be.
This was our service group one Friday morning..........37 people............................COME SEE US !!!
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