El Salvador English Convention

Hi all,

We just got back from the special English convention in El Salvador, and it could not have been a more encouraging way to kick off my time here!

We took a bus from Nicaragua with a group of Witnesses, all in English congregations. It was a long trip, about 12 hours, but compared to other groups who had to travel three days to get there, our trip didn't seem so bad!

The brothers in San Salvador gave us a very warm welcome!

The brothers helped us find a hotel for our first night there, and it was a really nice place. However, we couldn't stay there the whole week. But the hotel we ended up in was still a good place.

El Salvador generally has a bad reputation as far as safety goes, but the city we were in, San Salvador, is VERY Americanized. I felt like I was visiting Florida! It was a beautiful place, though. We were in close proximity to Wendy's, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, and Starbucks. Life is tough, isn't it?

Even though I've already attended this convention back in Maine, it was an entirely different atmosphere in El Salvador. To be around so many people who are doing the same thing you are was really encouraging. Many applications of the material in the discourses were made to the need-greaters. For instance, one brother was talking about Nehemiah, and how he stepped out of his comfort zone to go help out in a foreign land. He asked the audience how many of us had done that, or stepped out of our comfort zone to learn a new language. Then he said, "You are all Nehemiahs!"

A brother from Granada English.

Brother Schelper, the circuit overseer, originally from Canada. He was so warm and enthusiastic in his talks!

With all the speakers on the program, eight countries were represented, including Canada, Australia, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and the United States. The peak attendance on Sunday was 858.

This is Brother Robert Batko, serving on the branch committee in Mexico. He gave the closing talk for each day, and always had the audience in tears. During his first talk, he said, "I know that this is referred to as the 'English convention.' I don't know about you, but I've heard greetings from all over the world here - 'Hola, hello, bonjour.' This IS an international convention!" 

Brother Schleper giving the baptism talk. There were three candidates - ages 14, 16, and 17! One girl had traveled from the most southern point in Nicaragua, and the other girl all the way from Bluefields. Eduardo, from Honduras, had gotten to the border of El Salvador, but was denied entry into the country without his parents! But he didn't give up - he rushed back to get his paper work sorted out and made it just in time for the convention. Brother Schleper's talk was so good - he had us open up to song 89, and talked us through the lyrics. He emphasized the title of the song, "Jehovah's Warm Appeal: Be Wise, My Son," that it was a message from Jehovah. Everyone was very emotional when we sang the song at the end of the day.

Here are some pictures from the various demonstrations and soliloquies.

And of course, we couldn't wait to see the drama. It was cool to see it put on by a different cast, and they did a great job!

The couple who played Meagan and Zack (they wanted him to be a little unshaven for his part).

Simon & I with Bob (left, from Granada English), and Moises (Chinandega English)

Me with Keaton, Brother Batko's nephew from Canada. He's awesome and wants to come visit us in Nica.

Simon & I with Brother Batko and his wife.

Amber (left, Chinandega English) and her cousin Jessie, visiting from Australia. 

With Josh, serving in Granada English and originally from North Carolina. It's always nice to be around other Americans!

Massive group photo with the San Salvador English congregation. You can see me on the bottom row to the right, popping out of Brother Batko's shoulder. :)

With some of the brothers from San Salvador. Mauricio, the brother all the way to the right, was very helpful to us, and wanted to make sure that we didn't believe all the bad things we'd heard about El Salvador. :)

Simon & I excited about the new releases.

Emily & Joe, an awesome couple serving at the Floating Kingdom Hall.

Watching the new "Walk by Faith" video on the bus ride back to Nica!

All in all, we had a great time. It is a memory that I'll always cherish! This week, we're settling into the place where we'll be serving for these next eight months. Can't wait to tell you all about it!

Oh, and one more picture of a sister living the good life during the session.

Take care,

Sam