Isolated Territories!

Tomina, Padilla and Serrano

Wow!  What a three-day weekend!


A brother in my hall was assigned to give the talk in Serrano and Padilla so I asked to go with him, his wife and sister to help out.  The four of us headed out by bus to three of the isolated territories that our congregation is assigned.  Serrano is an established group, Padilla has a little place in town for the Sunday meetings and Tomina is still a working progress.  

First stop, Tomina.  

Tomina has at least 5,000 residents.  The four of us didn't even make a dent in the territory during the time we were there.  The couple that I came with, Jimmy and Keylet Tamay, have been coming to Tomina once a month for the past year and a half.  However, this was the first time that they had been back to Tomina in 5 months.  So they were anxious to see their studies again.  As soon as we arrive we head off to the first study to ask where they serve the best food for lunch since we were all famished.  She was so happy to find out that Jimmy and Keylet hadn't moved back to the states and to never return.  Unfortunately, the restaurant that she recommended was out of lunch so we had to search town a bit to find lunch.  On successfully finding lunch we were ready to start preaching.  I found that the little town was very receptive to the the good news.  Of course, the majority had never been preached to before and were eager to learn.  I only saw two churches in town.  Both churches did a very poor job at teaching their members.  I'd say about 80% didn't have a bible and 50% couldn't read.  However, the majority spoke Spanish which was a relief to me.  It is really hard preaching to some of the isolated towns since many speak only Quechua and can't read.  

Their was one very hospitable woman that is worth relating.  One of Keylet's studies is named Exhaltacion who has a husband and three kids.  As soon as she saw Keylet she about fell over.  She wanted to make sure that everything was ok since they hadn't been back in so long.  Then insisted that we ate at her house for dinner.   So the four of us went back to her house at dinner and stayed til 8:00 witnessing.  Then Keylet and I were just done and went back to the hostel.  But Jimmy and his sister had arranged a study for 8:00 and so they didn't get back to the hostel til 10:00.  Talk about a long, productive day!

The whole time that we were preaching passersby would stop us to ask what we were doing and some asked us to visit them next time.  I wish that we could work this territory more.  Keylet and Jimmy are the only ones that preach to this town.

Next stop, Serrano.  


Serrano has about 7,500 residents.  We arrived at lunch on Saturday.  I just wanted to nap all afternoon after walking the streets all morning in Tomina and the bus ride to Serrano but somehow I recovered some energy to go on some return visits with Debbie McKay, a sister that is from the United States that is living in Padilla.  She comes to Serrano every Friday and Saturday to attend the meetings and attend to her bible students.  
The above picture shows the packed meeting.  There were a lot of students there for the first time.  We had 36 in attendance!  Some that were attending for their first time gave comments and read scriptures.  It was cute, too, that some of the regular attenders were proud of the attendance as well.  There was only three baptized brothers in attendance so I had to do microphones.  Then since there were people still coming in during the Watchtower study I lost my seat.  There wasn't a empty seat in the house and some of the kids were sitting on parent's laps.  There is major need and good response in this group's territory!  

Last stop, Padilla.


Padilla has about 7,500 residents as well.  It has even more need then Serrano since there is only one baptized sister, Debbie, and two newly unbaptized publishers in this town.  
In order to get to Padilla from Serrano we had to take a "Micro" at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday.  A mirco is a dirty, old, mini school bus (the short bus).  It only is an hour drive in this dirty, cramped, smelly, and did I mention it was dirty, cramped and smelly.  haha!  It actually wasn't that bad of a ride.  No horror to stories to recount this time.  Debbie has some good stories since she takes this ride every week.  You can put up with anything knowing that it is only an hour.

Chicken anyone?

Or maybe a turkey?

The whole Serrano group of brothers and sisters came to help us in Padilla.   

After going door-to-door all morning we were beat.  So it was nice of Debbie to let us crash at her house during "siesta".  Siesta is the time period between noon and 2:00.  Everyone goes home for lunch and then takes a nap before returning to work or school.  I'm really getting to like this custom.  

At 3:30 starts the Padilla meeting.  Jimmy gave the talk here as well then, due to their only being two brothers, he read the Watchtower.  Guess who had micro duty??

Debbie with one of her students that attended the meeting.

This the is family of the two new publishers, Aime and Rodrigo.  The older girl, Aime, has been studying for less than two years and has the goal to get baptized.  I worked with her in the ministry during the morning.  I was impressed with how put together that she was.  She talked to the people at the door like she had been doing it all her life.  Her little brother, Rodrigo, is very mature for his age.  After the other brothers left to do studies at mid-morning, he took the lead of the group and took note of all the not-at-homes.  Very impressive!

Don't you want to be part of this group? ? ?
Apartments are cheap.  Roughly $100/monthly.  Or you have the option of renting a room for literally next to nothing.  Then, there is the option of staying at the hotel for $4-$5 a night.  Debbie isn't going to be able to stay in Padilla for a whole lot more time so who is going to keep an eye on the new publishers after she leaves? Why not try it out for a month or two?