Old Friends...

 So, how do four people do 30 studies in one day - 24 of them being in the afternoon? That was our little problem. We came to this area to do our initial 7, then asked for help from our friends when we realized that we were over our heads. When they came, family of studies came around and asked for studies themselves, and studying with a 'tienda' owner means that everyone who comes to buy something usually hangs around to listen, generating more studies.
So, how is it done?

 Start early, and finish VERY late.

 We're facing a serious problem in our territory. Many people are ngäby and have studied at one time or another in the past, but have now been been left behind or forgotten.

We don't preach in Ngäby as we're in the Spanish congregation, but every week we have a handful who stop by the tienda or hang around family that's studying to mention that ______ used to visit and study, but hasn't come back in months, or even over a year.

Because people's lives are at stake, a conscientious minister will make every effort to return regularly at the scheduled time, but we've found that to not be the case among the ngäby community. Many end up literally begging for us to study with them, simply because they see our truck pass by every week, visiting friends punctually, while they wait for someone who says he will come but doesn't.

In turn, they themselves have come to meetings and want to study.

In an effort to support our ngäby brothers, we have decided to follow the faithful slave's recommendation to study with these interested ones - in group studies if necessary - until they can be taken care of weekly in their own language. The service overseer in the ngäby congregation is very happy these sincere, humble people are being looked after now, and it has worked out very well.

 There's nothing quite like belonging to an organization composed of real friends. Here, we had a chance to visit an old group we were associated with about 2 1/2 years ago. The group meets at a school on the Panama / Costa Rica border, and is doing very well. Our C.O. was visiting, and there were about 35 in attendance. Our friends Antonio and Carmen had come along to meet new faces, and were greeted very warmly.

 On the way there, we passed this massive ant hill. In Canada, Ant hills can be measured in centimeters. Not here. This one was about 3 meters wide (9 feet). Tunnels popped out nearly everywhere, and I had to be careful where I walked to keep from having the ground collapse under me.

You may have seen Danilo's face before. He's doing exceptionally well in his study. Chris is in the background helping a native person learn to read.

 Monaco, my friend and Thursday companion, is mystified at the object laying a few yards away.

 A serious problem found in central american countries is the sub-standard living conditions. Back home, places like these would be condemned, but here, everything goes as long as the building is standing.

 Same house. Look at the floorboards. On the left, a still warm pot of 'frijoles', or beans, is left smouldering for the worker's lunch.

 EVERY pig likes his head scratched. Mama pig here is kept for breeding purposes. Father was in the earlier picture at the river.

 This stunning beauty is rare. When the bush flowers, dozens of these can be seen. You can see more pictures like this here.

 What in the...
Mystified? Look below...

Yes, they baby is in this traditional ngäby hammock. Mom swings it to keep the baby sleeping. She had never heard the bible message, and laughed when she saw the picture. For some reason, most ngäby do.

We saw this well worn trail leading off into the bush, and Monaco guessed correctly that it led to a ngäby home...

 ...some distance away.
I wanted to take pics of the home, but a Peace Corps volunteer was there, and was none too happy with our visit. This is a first for us. We've met half a dozen P.C. volunteers, and they were all very friendly. Not this one - her faced changed immediately when she saw us pulling out our literature. Everyone else in the household was very quite, which was odd. Monaco did a quick presentation and we left without taking a single picture. Better to come back when she isn't around.

Another ngäby home. All these homes belong to latinos. Most ngäby have their homes in the Comarca, and leave temporarily to work on farm fields to raise cash.

Of course, all work and no play makes for a dull day, so we have this little hideaway:

 A deserted tropical island only two hours away from here.

 Nobody is permitted to live permanently on the island, and we usually spend a few days there every few months.

 Waters are crystal clear and perfect for snorkeling.

 Everything is carry in and carry out, but that doesn't stop us from enjoying a good meal.