Just wanted to give you a taste of the bethel life here in Mozambique...
That's right, BEER. (sorry that's a pretty blurry picture, maybe you couldn't make it out) In the commissary. Anytime you want it! There are also various wines and the typical snacks and sodas. Also there is the best popcorn ever. But I digress.
Also on the 2nd floor there is a small 'coffee cafe.' It has little cafe tables and a coffee bar with espresso machine and everything. I guess they use it for little parties and get togethers.
Here is the laundry room. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I know that the only thing you put in nets is your underwear, so I'm guessing the rest is sorted, washed, dried and folded in batches. There are 3 big washing machines and dryers and 1 small washer and dryer. They don't have those cool pressing machines for shirts either. Just 3 sets of ironing boards and irons. They do have a pressing machine for pants though.
The tour itself was really fantastic. Our tour guide Jillian has been here for quite a few years. She explained the history of the preaching work in Mozambique. Most of you are probably familiar with it from the yearbook, but its always moving to hear it retold. Some of the brothers serving here at Bethel were born in those camps in the north.
She also told us about a vist a few years back from the president of Mozambique. He was scheduled to visit the branch as part of his tour of all the churches in the area. He was supposed to just come through for a brief 15 minute visit. The brothers at Bethel worked hard to prepare lunch for him and his entourage (300 people!) and prepared some displays to showcase. He ended up spending much more time and was very impressed to hear about the work the brothers were doing to help many learn to read and write and the amazing work they were doing in the deaf population. He was so impressed by his visit that later that night in a public address to the nation, he praised the work the witnesses were doing and made a formal apology for how the government had treated them and how mistaken they had been. Jillian said that it had quite an impact on their territory since many people still viewed the witnesses with aversion. But after the president's speech they were more accepting and less critical of the witnesses.
That's about all I can think of for now.
Love and greetings to all :)
First off...
Ahhh! Morning worship at 6:30 am!!!! There is, of course, the small compensation that the work day ends at 4:30... but still. 6:30 is 6:30. Good news is it is only 2 flights downstairs and into the dining room for us. No crowded elevators 'on key' to fight with :) There are 2 assigned to comment on the text each morning plus the chairman's comments. Right now there is a Bible School for Single Brothers class going on, so many of the commenters have been from that class. A reader for the bible reading or yearbook is assigned each week as well. Another difference between Mozambique and Brooklyn is Wednesday's. In Brooklyn it was normally the long morning worship day, but here it is the short day! Since there are not usually any special reports or presentations, we are back to our room by 7:06am :) These small things are nice perks to us!
The branch itself is beautiful. There is the main residence and office buildings which is 3 stories high. The dining room and laundry are also in those bulidings. Then there is the Kingdom Hall which is used for Monday night WT study and for the various schools like Bible School for Single Brothers, and soon it will also be used for the Bible School for Christian Couples. The only small obstacle is finding enough rooming for everyone. There is also an annex residence building which was meant to house the brothers for MTS, but since then it was been used for many Bethelites as well. The rooms are a little different in that building. They have a "loft" bedroom. The only downside is there is no bathroom. There is a shared bathroom and full kitchen in the hallway.
Our room is really cute too, I wish I had a better picture, but this is the one we took when we first arrived. Thus all the luggage:) Also when we arrived there were 2 twin beds, but they gave us a full bed after a couple of nights fortunately.
The couple that picked us up at the airport were Wayne and Leoni Wridgeway. They are from South Africa but some of you may know them from the 10 years they spent in Brooklyn. Its been very nice getting to know them a little better.
We took the branch tour last week so we were able to get acquainted with the different buildings, the personal laundry, and, of course, the commissary (tuck shop as it's called). Check it out...
That's right, BEER. (sorry that's a pretty blurry picture, maybe you couldn't make it out) In the commissary. Anytime you want it! There are also various wines and the typical snacks and sodas. Also there is the best popcorn ever. But I digress.
The tour itself was really fantastic. Our tour guide Jillian has been here for quite a few years. She explained the history of the preaching work in Mozambique. Most of you are probably familiar with it from the yearbook, but its always moving to hear it retold. Some of the brothers serving here at Bethel were born in those camps in the north.
She also told us about a vist a few years back from the president of Mozambique. He was scheduled to visit the branch as part of his tour of all the churches in the area. He was supposed to just come through for a brief 15 minute visit. The brothers at Bethel worked hard to prepare lunch for him and his entourage (300 people!) and prepared some displays to showcase. He ended up spending much more time and was very impressed to hear about the work the brothers were doing to help many learn to read and write and the amazing work they were doing in the deaf population. He was so impressed by his visit that later that night in a public address to the nation, he praised the work the witnesses were doing and made a formal apology for how the government had treated them and how mistaken they had been. Jillian said that it had quite an impact on their territory since many people still viewed the witnesses with aversion. But after the president's speech they were more accepting and less critical of the witnesses.
That's about all I can think of for now.
Love and greetings to all :)
3 comments:
That's so awesome! Imagine if President Obama visited Brooklyn and made mention of the witnesses in the State of the Union Address.
I have been checking Google Reader obsessively for every post. I read them. Squeal a little. And then reread them to Christopher.
Okay, I would love to live in that adorable little loft bed. And your room is the cutest of all time!
Wow pretty cool to have the President give a shout out! the rooms are super cute, enjoy your stay!
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