Something i came across via email.
There has been a lot of change recently; we had the announcement a few months> '> back that there would be a large reduction of personnel in the US Bethel because of [the] new efficient equipment and also lots of the work has shifted to other branches. Jehovah's chariot keeps moving forward. Many have already been asked to leave, some to go to Bethel in another country, some as special pioneers, some as missionaries and others as regular pioneers. There is a huge emphasis being put on the ministry, as it's the most important work we could all be doing at this time. Every day, more and more are leaving, but they all have positive attitudes and trust that Jehovah will take care of them. Gilead Notes Yesterday we had the Gilead graduation, and got to listen in on the three-hour program that was so full of spiritual gems and treasure. Bro Lett of the Governing Body was chairman and opened up the program with 2 Cor 10:4,5 - weapons of our warfare are powerful and can overturn strongly entrenched things. He listed some of these strongly entrenched things missionaries will overturn with the sword of truth: such as false religious beliefs, deeply ingrained bad habits, adherence to unscriptural traditions, and deeply embedded worldly goals. Next, Bro Jackson gave the talk 'A Few Things to Remember.' He reminded the missionaries of how they would be able to overcome the many challenges they would face. Quoting Matt 6:33, when kingdom interests are put first, then everything else will be added to you. When faced with a decision you can ask yourself, 'How does this decision affect my relationship with Jehovah?' 'What bearing does it have on my determination to keep seeking first the kingdom?' The students had learned much from their 6-month course and, if asked, they couldn't possibly recite all the information they learned. But that is not the purpose of Gilead, the knowledge will be there when the need arises, Jehovah will make sure of it. But the knowledge is from Jehovah (1 Cor 4:7) so there is no reason to boast. Knowledge puffs up, love builds up. Then Bro Jeff Jackson of the GB gave the talk > '> Are you responsible?> '> Answering that question leads either to blame, or praise. In order to succeed in missionary life one must have a healthy feeling of responsibility. He mentioned that when he served in the S. Pacific islands, you could always tell a married man from an unmarried one. Because the unmarried one walked around without much of a care, but the married one always had a stick in his hand. It was to collect coconuts for his family so they could eat. Missionaries have the Bible as their stick, and Jehovah holds them personally responsible. For what? Not necessarily to change the living conditions of those in the country, or to carry every burden of those in the congregation, or for what the other missionaries do with their assignment. The greatest responsibility is to love Jehovah, and love those you serve. He concluded with the advice to remember to smile. You are there to love, don't let the responsibility make you forget the reason you are there. Bro Liverance gave a good talk titled > '> Hear the Word Behind You.> '> Isa 30:21 was the theme scripture. Jehovah calls out behind us through his word, which was written long ago 'behind' us. Also, through his "Faithful and Discreet Slave." As the system progresses, each generation of the Slave have trained the next, and these have built on what they were taught, with each gem of truth discovered the light gets brighter, like the sun peaking through an overcast sky. What are you to do with the Word behind you? Those stored treasures of knowledge and understanding that study of the Bible has taught us should be shared publicly, not buried like the wicked slave with his one talent. He concluded with Jer 6:16.> Next were some interviews with 3 Circuit Overseers. Some good points they brought out were: Life experience had taught these brothers that whenever a real need presents itself, Jehovah provides what is necessary. It is so important to love the local friends. Let them know you are there for them, let them teach you, even let them take you to the markets. You are not more important than they are, you have to become one of them and be willing to roll up your sleeves and work alongside them. Love of the Christ surpasses knowledge. We respond more readily to examples of humility instead of polished expressions of wisdom. Have an attitude of patient endurance and cheerful constancy in adversity. More interviews followed with 3 missionaries with the theme > '> What must anyone righteous do?> '> Ps 11:3 was the theme. They brought out that happiness is not contingent on your circumstances, but on serving Jehovah. Even when you have to live very simply, material comforts come and go, but Jehovah is always there. The best part of Gilead for these was not the intellectual part but the feeling of love and appreciation for Jehovah that you gain. Everyday life as a missionary requires faith. Extraordinary things do not happen all the time; you are not going to get eaten by lions and chased by snakes every day. But it is the faith and love for the brothers that gets you from one day to the next. Bro Mills quoted Bro Glass and gave a formula to succession everything in life: Respect headship, forgive freely, maintain a humble viewpoint, and manifest the fruits of the spirit. Finally Bro Pierce concluded with the talk > '> Jehovah Will Never Fail.> '> We stand in awe of Jehovah. He lived for eternity before he created humans and will continue to live for eternity. But out of love he wanted others to enjoy life. He had us imagine the happiness of living on a perfect earth > -> God> '> s original purpose, the one that Adam lost, Jesus life course demonstrated that Adam had no excuse to fail; he was not a flawed creation. He said that you will never regret the time spent on study and meditation. 2 Cor 5:14, 15 talks about how the love of the Christ compels us. It is why we are here. We have work to do, a life-saving activity. Pour yourself into that job. Through self sacrifice everything is gained. And in due time we will enjoy the blessings intended for all mankind. So, those are a few highlights from the program, hope they are encouraging to you all. Hello Everyone, Well it finally happened. My conscience was bothering me so bad I just had set aside some time to write you all, as well as whoever this gets passed on to. Due to a recent inquiry as well as a visit, I thought you all would enjoy hearing about something that happened last Friday. Since we are all part of Jehovah> '> s organization, which is united as it is worldwide, I figured you would like to hear a little about the current Gilead School students. Last Friday they received their assignments. Now this does not mean they have graduated yet. That doesn> '> t happen until the second weekend of March. The assignments are given near the middle of the schooling course so the students will have the opportunity to research where they are going and what they will need; all that preparation stuff. All the couples seemed to have mixed emotions of nervousness, suspense, joy, and eagerness. After all the assignments were given, only some of the suspense was gone. However, the joy and eagerness far overshadowed all other feelings. I> '> m sure you all want to know where they were sent so I> '> ll stop rambling. Here> '> s a list of all the countries that they were sent to. They are in order as they were given to the student according their last names in alphabetical order. I don> '> t have the names; my apologies. But here they are:> Albania Indonesia Nicaragua Guatemala Honduras Malaysia Panama Tanzania Burundi Bolivia Cameroon Senegal Kenya Botswana Nicaragua Indonesia Uganda Honduras Republic of Guinea Bulgaria Moldova Barbados Bolivia Malaysia Nicaragua Cameroon Sierra Leone To save you the counting, there are 54 missionaries (27 couples). Ten were sent to Africa, seven to Central America, four to Southeast Asia, three to Europe, two to South America, and one to the West Indies. This will give you some what of an overview as to where there is a lot of need in the worldwide preaching work. It is amazing to think about that we are all part of this disciple-making work that obviously backed by the Most High, Jehovah God. Bro Herd, of the Governing Body, gave all the missionaries their assignments. He started out by relating all the missionaries in the room to Abraham who was a missionary as well. He read the scripture at Genesis 12:1 where Jehovah instructs him to "go your way out of your country and from your relatives and from the house of your father to the country that I shall show you." Brother Herd didn> '> t focus on what they will be leaving behind, but rather who was giving them their assignment. Their assignment was coming from Jehovah. He reiterated this throughout the program by saying that this is where Jehovah is sending you. For those of you have had the privilege of hearing Brother Herd, know he is quite the character. He enjoys joking with people in ways that only he can get away with. He did this on numerous occasions while doing a long pause before actually saying the country the missionary couple was being assigned to. This kept the couples in suspense while entertaining the audience. He even asked a couple where they wanted to go. The couple wisely said that they didn> '> t care. Somehow one of the brothers in the class hurt himself and bravely went in front of the entire Bethel family to receive his assignment on crutches. Brother Herd couldn> '> t pass this one up by remarking that he was barely standing before us all and that he was being sent to serve in a hospital at the country they were assigned to. I> '> d have to say it was probably the funniest program I> '> ve experienced here, although I admit I don> '> t really have an extensive history of such. Speaking of members of the Governing Body and foreign fields, there is a short one-page article in the March 15th Watchtower on the two new Governing Body members. It gives a brief history of the two as well as the current list all who serve on the Governing Body. Also if you haven> '> t already, I highly recommend the 2006 Yearbook, and not just because the Guam Branch dedication is in there. Right now, I am about to start the second country. But the first country has so many amazing experiences of oppression, opposition, and outright persecution. All the brothers and sisters there really lived up to our year text of obeying "God as ruler rather than men." (Acts 5:29) But you> '> ll have to read it for yourself. All of this really emphasizes how much of a worldwide organization we are all part of. I think I have had comments on it before, but being here at the world headquarters, you really see Jehovah> '> s organization from a different viewpoint. You see visitors from all over the world, work with people from all over the country, and you see literature go to places you can> '> t pronounce. Sometimes, working here -- it> '> s hard to see the connection between cleaning a toilet and supporting the kingdom preaching work; but it> '> s there. And that> '> s what we> '> re here for - to support the preaching work that is done by all of you. Statistics show that worldwide each Bethelite will support three hundred publishers. The point, however, is that no matter where we are, we are part of the most loving, united worldwide organization. In a world like today, the only way is with divine support. Whether we are in a congregation with a hundred pioneers or the sole witness within a hundred miles, we are in this together. With all the trials that Satan attacks us with, subtle or outright; we have Jehovah on our side. Deuteronomy 31:8 is very comforting when it reassures us that "Jehovah is the one marching before you. He himself will continue with you. He will neither desert you nor leave you entirely. Do not be afraid or be terrified." Looking back over our past year, we may think of all we endured and be reminded of the previous year> '> s text. "My strength is from Jehovah." (Psalm 121:2) May Jehovah continue to be with all of you.I welcome your comments :)