Can you make a difference?????

Have you ever wondered if you, no one else, can make a difference? Have you ever wondered if some feeling you have is so right that you want to see it happen, but then second guess yourself? Have you ever wanted to take a step spiritually, perhaps after a convention talk that moved you to tears, where if you could you would be the one to say "here I am send me"? Or an experience from a talk or convention that demonstrated how by following the Governing Body suggestion to pursue spiritual goals, either simplifying, arranging your affairs to serve as a pioneer, or move to where the need is great
and then watched how Jehovah blessed your decision? Well you never will experience those things without taking the "leap" of faith.
  Well today I was privileged to see some amazing things in FS. We have the visit of our new CO, who gave a nice talk last night. Then this morning we met for FS and he gave a very good scriptural discussion to get us in the right frame of mind, then we went out door to door. I was put in his group, and listened to his recap of his working with 1st brother, as he wrote down his calls & not at homes.
Then it was my turn to listen to his presentation. We found 2 people home, 1st call he did the same exact presentation he did in morning at meeting, the woman responded, and accepted a bible study! He set it up for Elaine to go back next wed, to continue it. Now you might say, well was she really a good BS, that agreed to study and meant it? Well after lunch I realized I couldn't go back because of being gone next week, so I dropped by woman's house and introduced Elaine to her, so she would know what Elaine looked like, and Elaine would understand this woman wants a study. Confirmed it, and they set a time.
In our 4 person group this morning we arranged for at least 6 studies.!!! And this is just the 1st day of his visit! I wonder how many more will come from his suggestions on how to go about it?
  Then at lunch, he talked to our group about pioneering. He showed us how each of us could do it. Despite most of our initial reluctance, he showed us on paper how it could be done, then promised us more info after service if we wanted to meet back with him. 8 of us did, and since there was 3 pioneers at meeting, 5 others were there, and 4 turned in pioneers applications or are seriously considering it. What a great help and encouragement he is, and how exciting to see publishers respond to his invitation. He told the group that if they apply during his visit, that they could start Sept 1, thus qualify for Pioneer school.
  I will have several pioneers to go to pioneer school with next september, Jehovah willing, and 1 will be my wife! We may have at least 2 married couples going from our congregation to pioneer school! Plus several more, and we are only into the 2nd day of his visit. I wonder how many more will respond to his call for Pioneering? Can you? It boils down to 17.5 hours a week. If you can do 6 hrs on a Sat, maybe start at 7am for 2 hrs of early morning, then 4hrs rest of sat. Then 1 hour on Sunday. That leaves 10 hrs to get rest of week. 2- 5 hr days. start at 7 end by 12;15- Viola 5 hrs each day and your at 17 for week. Do you work part-time? Easy schedule. Or maybe you can't go long days, Can you do 1 hour each day per week= 5, then do a long day saturday. Your almost there.  If you can get to 50 hrs or so, and are on RBC, if you are reg pion. you can count the time doing RBC, or work at assembly halls toward your pioneer hours.  He opened many eyes to see it is doable. He is quite the encourager.
Many have feared not making the hour requirement as a hindrance to taking the step of pioneering.
But he showed us that not to let that stop us, because once we take the step, Jehovah will bless us. Even if we only do it 1 year, How much more praise will we bring to Jehovah. Will we ever regret it? No. way.
  Had my study with the school teacher this week, and it was very interesting. We had arranged to look at the appendix in back on God's name. Why did I want to cover that so soon? How does a person develop a personal relationship with Jehovah without using his name? Do we not want an interested person to be able to know WHO they have been missing in there life? It went so well. He had read info, we stuck to the material in BT appendix, and looked up all the scriptures, even if they were quoted
fully. Why. To impress on student that what they are reading from the BT book is from the Bible. About 1/2 way thru, he commented that it must be satan who had removed Gods name. When we read a scripture that read Lord, when the text should have had tetragrameton, or Jehovah name there. He said that he in his mind he always thought that it meant Jesus, now he is seeing that it is Jehovah.
What a lightbulb moment for him. So important to get our students to using Jehovah name, so they can develop that intimacy with the only God. Its so gratifying to see them grow in understanding.
  So if you want to, or ever thought about it but worried you couldn't do it, just try it out and see how Jehovah will bless you.  And then you too my have a day like today. And hear a person say, "I want to study the Bible".
Much more coming I think before this visit is over.
Love,
Tom & Elaine

Spanish...English...spanish....

it's Been awhile, but lots going on, and while things here are somewhat not as exciting as Mexico on the surface, there is still activity to report on.
we had a nice vacation down to Myrtle beach, about 10 days, and tho the weather
was a factor  And a balky back, we enjoyed the beach and some fresh seafood, etc.
we visited with an old friend of mine Tom Bowen, and met his wife Lorraine who allowed us to stay with them on the way to SC. so Tom & I got a chance to catch up with 41 years of history and experiences, and raising families etc. Wonderful time & maybe looking forward to staying in touch more in future. Tom & Lorraine live in NC near Raleigh. we left the Bowen's Sunday AM and headed to Myrtle Beach. had a rom on the beachfront, and spent 5 days there before heading back to St. Louis vis Tenn. Stoped to visit with the Whipps and really enjoyed our time with them. Angela has 2 great kids who we love, and get a kick out of visiting with.
  when we got home it was full speed ahead on FS til the end of month. then heard from our friends in Dolores Hidalgo, that helped arrange for my study, Miguel & family to attend their 1st district convention. there was a assist from some friends in Spanish cong. And the english, to house them , transport them, and take care of them during the convention. Jehovah' s people extend themselves and will help whenever and with whatever resources they have to help people hear and respond to the good news. I'm hoping to hear a report on how it went, and how they enjoyed the convention.
I've had some good experiences here with finding Spanish speaking in our territory. Today we were in FS, and we piled into a driveway to the rear of a home, where a man and his wife were throwing a frisbee in the back yard, 3 little girls about maybe 4, 6 and 9, a Mexican man who spoke a little English and I had a nice conversation, as I had a Spanish BT bk, and used the Listen to God brochure, and went over pictures. sked him if he had "La Biblia" in Spanish, and he said no, so I asked if he would like 1, he said yes, so I arranged to bring him back 1, on a Sunday since that is his only day off. So had a nice day, in spanish & English. 
Here in Missouri there are lots of deer, everywhere......

Its kind of like FS, you are looking where you think the best odds are of finding Jehovah's "DEER", but as long as your out sometimes He brings them to us, right in front of us. Like these deer along the highway across from our territory. Right out in the open. So whether we are 'looking" here or there, in Mexico, or Pacific, Mo. the angels will see to it we find his sheep, we just have to keep looking, right?
Even tho we didn't get to spend as much time as we planned, I learned from some really good servants of Jehovah there, to "look" for his sheep everywhere. On the way to the market, the Dr's office, paying water bill. getting auto repaired, and isn't it interesting how when we use every occasion to PGN, in a relaxed circumstance, we just may reach 1 of those sheep. 
Love to all,
Tom & Elaine