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!