I received this from an active JW:
Fun, busy, and some courage.
The tract campaign is exciting here.
(Around the world close to 7 million volunteers are
giving out a tract entiled 'False Religion's end is
near)
Why exciting? Ramadan has been at the same time.
Ramadan is the Holy month of fasting to focus on
spirituality and especially exersizing self-control.
(According to Local Indonesians)
Nothing like giving out a tract with lightning on the
cover to those who have not had food or drink for over
12 hours.
Although I have not heard stories from all over
Indonesia I can tell you a little about here in our
Province in Northern Indonesia.
About a week after the campaign started Ramadan came
to a close. That means everyone has a vacation.
Who do we focus on giving the tract too?
Amazingly -it's a lot like Sign Language. This tract is
for everyone, but the instructions from the local
brothers was to use your eyes. If you notice the
householder (Muslim) expression, or general demeanor
becomes negative, or upset, then it's best to make
friendly conversation and politely leave.
We have not really had to do that. Everyone seems to
accept. Although most of the local friends have given
a lot of tracts to the Christians and Buddhist's, ALL
faith's have been accepting. Why? (it's FREE, and
they're spiritually- minded people here)
During the vacation, I had the circumstances of buying
a cheap, wooden boat called a "PomPong" I called it
"Pompong 37."
Two other brothers and I, went to 20 islands bringing
this warning message. Out of those 20 islands only 3
were "Christian islands."
That means, nearly everyone we gave the tract to,
were of the Muslim faith. Problems? Believe it or not,
the worse problem came from a woman- "christian
pastor."
The Muslim faith believes in signs of a 'last days'
before "Qiyamat" such as earthquakes, wars,
homosexuals, tsunamis, stealing and other factors that
we belieive in.
I would mention to them this is one more BIG SIGN
before "Qiyamat."
-Please see "Mankind's Search for God Book", for more
info-
Other problems? Our boat was always leaking and
breaking down.
Ya, we also hit a few coral reefs, went to a "off-
limits military training and artillary- shell firing
island. Got lost, had the local muslim leaders
surround us and ask us questions. Had to rush one of
the brothers back to the mainland to the hospital, had
the boat break in the middle of the ocean with no one
around. Got caught in a monsoon- like rainstorm where
the literarture got wet. (All normal stuff)
But, to sleep in a tent on an abandoned island,
make a fire, and get to know some new
friends. Go to islands that have never heard the good
news. Eat fresh fish and food straight from the ocean.
See how people live without needing electricity, hot
water, "proper bathrooms," or money. Also, to see
everyone read the tract after we gave it to them was
incredibly rewarding.
If you want to see pictures, a video of what these
village's look like, and swimming with dolphins...
Yes, one island you could swim with the dolphins.
(Nothing like preaching and swimming with dolphins at
the same time!) Please go to my blog which explains
more.
www.indotom.blogspot.com
WE ALSO MET DEAF PEOPLE! Go figure right. No Sign
Langauge at all of course.
OK, all the best to you in your area. We are all out
of tracts here, and Indonesia Bethel has been from the
start. The "warning message" has and is being
delivered here. Our faith's our strengthened.
Indonesia Tract Experiences
by truthsetsonefree 14 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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truthsetsonefree
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purplesofa
The "warning message" has and is being
delivered here. Our faith's our strengthened.That says it all.
purps
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valkyrie
Thanks for tipping this one, TruthSetsOneFree. I read the blog you linked, and was appalled by the uncalculated arrogance of the blogger in this passage:
The previous owner of the boat brought us to our first island. We asked to go to a “Christian Island.” We met the chief of the village (usually oldest male), and asked for permission to give it to the families on the island. He had no problem.
[...]
Things were going well, until the local “pastor” on the island tracked me down with 3 other men, while I was in a hut talking with a local.
Now this was fun. I have been in Indonesia a month and a half, I don’t know where the other 2 brothers are and I got an upset Indonesian speaking “WOMAN” pastor after me.
-Basically she was mad that we did not come and consult her and ask permission to talk to her “flock.” She also knew Jehovah’s Witnesses, and does not like them. It’s amazing here in Indonesia the tainted, falsified reputation that Christian religions have given JW’s.
So I read Matthew 28:19,20 and explained Jesus said, “GO.” Or Indonesia “PERGILAH”
She wasn’t having that, then she said “I am the one who ‘controls and oversees, the people on this Island.’
I’m not having that. I’m sorry. I told her, “YOU CONTROL?” I thought Jesus was head of the congregation? I’m not head over anyone, nor can I convert, change, or dictate what a person does? You can though? Be very careful. Then I read Ephesians 5:22,23 about proper subjection of Christ, the congregation and a woman.She then apologized…
It was funny, the other 4 guys in the house starting smiling and chuckling a little bit. When it was all said and done, there was no hard feelings, but the 4 men, were really happy! They must have been glad to hear the scriptures talking for themselves.Then, this passage provides the key to the organisational/congregational policy of keeping faithful JWs undereducated, ambition-less, and underachieving:
Nearly all of the people have next to nothing financially. Were talking less the $10.00 US for life savings. Everyone is so friendly and happy with nothing. You can see the truth in Jesus words “KEEP YOUR EYE SIMPLE.” They fish to eat. Bathe outside at a well with the whole village. All eat their meals together. Always sit around and play music at the opportune time. Their all about sitting and friendly conversation. It was going back in time. Their homes are all made of large sticks that run down into the sand basin below.
[...] It’s the way life should be. Never thinking about money. Never busy, or stressed about events. Weddings, is for the whole village, and all of family. No invitations, all are welcome. The little boys and girls grow up together, play, go to school, fall in love and get married from the very same village. Everything is made by hand. Families mean family. All live together. They all sleep in a living room together when guests visit. All work together for cleaning, helping out. Men bring home the fish or squid. Different women will prepare, different will clean up later. When a guest visits always focus on them first.
It’s almost as if the Mosaic law is still in operation, mixed with the Christian way of love, giving, and simplicity, but following the teachings of Mohammed. It really is something. You see soooo many areas and principles in the Western world that we lack in, all summed up together in these villages of old women who are missing teeth, and little children who run around with no shoes… The combined income of these villages on these remote islands could not even pay our taxes on our home, or our are car insurance for 6 months. YET they are HAPPY.There you have it: the key to happiness is to live just above the starvation level!
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truthsetsonefree
Yup, and that is why the WT will eventually starve as these people can't make the donations. Poetic justice. tsof
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jgnat
Valkyrie, I bet these Indonesians ARE very happy people. Somehow in our race for wealth, we've lost track of how to live here in the West. My take on this brother's experience is a little different. I think these easygoing people are too polite to turn away the tract. They likely use it to pad the outhouse just like we do here. I would have liked to be a fly on the wall in that Christian preacher-woman's village.
It was funny, the other 4 guys in the house starting smiling and chuckling a little bit. When it was all said and done, there was no hard feelings, but the 4 men, were really happy! They must have been glad to hear the scriptures talking for themselves.
Or, they were having a whale of a time watching the Christians bicker amongst themselves, and watch their local spitfire take the JW's on. Hilarity all around.
The combined income of these villages on these remote islands could not even pay our taxes on our home, or our are car insurance for 6 months. YET they are HAPPY.
I believe it, I do.
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valkyrie
Jgnat,
That the island villagers were "happy" people, I cannot (and do not) dispute. Yet, what is the likelihood that they are happy in spite of their economic deprivation and not because of it? Is it not fairer to state that the perceived social deficiencies of wealthy, industrialised societies are - to a greater extent - due to their imbalanced attitude toward the importance of material goods than due to the availability and accessibility thereof? Universal access to clean water, adequate health care and education (all of which are facilitated by someone's coin - whether earned first-hand or charitably donated) could but enhance a well-grounded happiness.
A further quote from the blog (and, hopefully, a picture):
Not everything is pretty in this side of the world. Sad to say people live in utter poverty. These houses run along the open air sewage drainage.
(Plenty of Rice on the islands, just ask the dog's)
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jgnat
Universal access to clean water, adequate health care and education (all of which are facilitated by someone's coin - whether earned first-hand or charitably donated) could but enhance a well-grounded happiness.
Heartily granted! I wonder how many wells the JW's in their leaky boat helped dig?
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betterdaze
***Weddings, is for the whole village, and all of family. No invitations, all are welcome.***
***Families mean family. All live together.***
Sadly, once they succeed in getting a few baptized, the shunning and family divisions will begin. This idyllic scene, the picture of Paradise itself, will will be utterly destroyed by the Watchtower as it undermines the family foundations of their peaceful society.
Dear, innocent, unsuspecting folks. If only they knew!
~Sue -
parakeet
betterdaze: "Dear, innocent, unsuspecting folks. If only they knew!"
I'm sure some of them are innocent and unsuspecting, but these people have been dealing with Christian missionaries for centuries. I would wager that they're more shrewd and informed than we give them credit for. -
unclebruce
Wow when was the ban lifted? Out of touch unc who helped smuggle Truth books over the New Guinea / Indonesia border.
Smile, you're being blogged!
