We were preaching in the block closest to my house (we live outside of our Spanish territory).  I talked to a ton of people, almost all of which listened very attentively and asked questions.  One exceptional call I had was a very happy and smiley woman named Jenny.  Although she was working, she stopped to listen.  She accepted the magazines and told me that her 11 year old daughter had studied when they lived on the coast, but they moved to Cuenca recently when Jenny's mom died.  I asked her if her daughter still had the book, but she wasn't sure, so I told her I would return with a copy in case she didn't have the book.

The next day, her daughter, Andrea, greeted me at the door.  I asked her if she still had the book, but she didn't.  I showed her the Bible Teach book, but she said that she'd been studying the Great Teacher book.  I told her we'd start the Bible Teach book the next day.  

When I arrived, Andrea went right to the desk to study and told me that she was interested in knowing about death, since her grandma had recently died.  While we studied, I knew her mom and uncle were listening, even though they were working.  Andrea, although young, knows her Bible and is very impressive.  I couldn't help but smile throughout the entire study because she is precious and so smart!  When we finished studying, I asked Andrea when I could come back.  After thinking for a moment, she said, "Monday... Wednesday... and Thursday."  How adorable!  

Then, her uncle started asking me questions for over an hour.  He didn't understand why bad things happen to good people.  He said he had lots of Bible questions, including questions about prophecy in Revelation about the beast with the seven heads and diadems, but he didn't know where that was...  Andrea took the Bible and found the chapter!  

I went back that Monday and she immediately went to the desk to study.  Jenny was listening in and answering along with Andrea, even though she was on the other side of the room working.  Andrea and I read James 1:13 and talked about how Jehovah never puts us under trial.  From the other side of the room, Jenny turned around and said, "Well then why do we suffer!?"  She, like her brother, wanted to know why bad things happen to good people.  Jenny explained that her mom and Andrea both had been studying the Bible and that she didn't think it was fair that her mom suffered and that she was now suffering with the pain of losing her.  We talked about how Satan is the ruler of the world and I told her I'd come back and talk with her about suffering.

Here is a picture of Andrea so you can see how incredibly cute she is! 

Everyone that has met her falls in love with her because there is nothing not to love!  I'm really excited to continue her study because it is not uncommon here in Ecuador for young children to pave the way for their family in learning the truth.  We have several young kids that attend our congregation without their parents.  Plus, her example is already getting her mom and uncle started with awesome Bible questions... and as many of you know, I am very persistent and it's only a matter of time :o)

Also, another gal with whom I'm studying asked me about the cross two weeks ago because we were finishing chapter 4 and she'd seen it in the appendix. She was pretty upset that she'd been lied to her whole life about the cross, but, after considering the information and what her own Bible said, she decided that she would have to change because she didn't want to venerate an image with pagan roots!

Lost sheep!

I have had a plethora of awesome experiences the past two weeks, but, alas, I only have time to share a few right now.  I will try to post more when I get time and pictures!

Monday, I met a 20 year old girl that said she used to study the Bible.  I asked her where she had stopped in the Bible Teach book and she told me she had finished the book and was in chapter four of the God's Love book!  Apparently, her teacher had moved and no one has studied with her for four months!  We made plans to study the next day.  

When I returned, Vanessa's brother let me inside and she came downstairs with her books. Shortly behind her were her brother and her mother, all with their books in hand!  They had studied as a family and all of them want to continue!

Also, as for the little old woman that asked me about idols and saint, when we studied on Monday, her idols were all gone!

The bus is never a bust!

The Ybarras and I were on the bus and we saw a guy very intently reading the January Watchtower about the Garden of Eden, so Sara got his attention and asked him if he was a Witness.  He said that he was not, but that he’d found the magazine on the floor and picked it up because it looked interesting.  The man said he’d never actually talked to Witnesses before!  Then, he pulled another brochure from his jacket and said he was excited to read it too... we never know who will end up getting the literature!

What about saints and idols?...

I finally found this cute little old lady, Leonor, at home again after a month of trying.  She invited us in and we chatted for a bit about her health.  I shared Isaiah 33:24 with her about a time when there will be no more sickness then turned to chapter three of the Bible Teach book and asked her if she thought Jehovah wanted her to live with sickness. 

Leonor stopped me and said, “Someone told me that it’s not good to pray to saints or use idols because Jehovah God exacts exclusive devotion.  What do you think?”

I asked what she believed and when she said she didn’t know, I insisted we use the Bible to see what Jehovah says.  We read Exodus 20:4, 5 Psalms 115:4-8, and Isaiah 42:8.  She still wasn’t getting the point…  Her husband walked in and introduced himself and we chatted with him for a bit.  When he left the room, I asked her, “You love your husband, right?”

Leonor, of course, said yes. 

“Would you like to share him with another woman?” 

She very emphatically said “NO!  That would be terrible and I'd be so jealous!”

I explained that Jehovah feels the same way.  He doesn’t want to share the devotion that only he deserves with saints or idols. 

Her mouth dropped and she said, “I am NEVER going to use an idol or pray to a saint again!”

We made plans for the next week and when I went, she wasn’t there, but her daughter invited me to their family dinner the next day because, she said, her mom loves me a lot and wants me to come.  I’ve talked to her twice in my life!  People here are so nice!  That same day, Damaris got invited by a stranger sitting next to her on the bus to come to her house for coffee….  That’s why there I love Cuenca!