Our choices were Saba(a small island off of Puerto Rico), Peru, and Guyana. I’ll be honest, I was all for Peru! I always wanted to get involved in Spanish, and I thought what perfect way than to just dive head in first to a Spanish speaking country! Saba was next on my list, and Guyana was last. I wasn’t too thrilled about Guyana. I had never even heard of the country! But while out in service a brother in my Kingdom Hall encouraged me to choose Guyana. He was told from different brothers and sisters that Guyana was a “pioneers paradise.” This peeked my interest, so Guyana bumped up to second place. Then, the sister I was going with had said that Guyana would be the best place for us since it is English speaking and we wouldn’t have to worry about the language barrier. But even with our decision being Guyana, I still wasn’t thrilled about it. Then I started looking at a blog that a need greater couple had created. Their experiences were amazing! To see all that they were doing made me want to go to Guyana. I then started to email this couple, asking different questions. They were not only patient, but very encouraging! It was then that Guyana was bumped up to number one!
Of course there were some speed bumps along the way. I had originally planned to go for 6 months, but I had to cut it down to 3. Then the house we were going to stay at originally was abandoned because it was infested with rats. Then the sister I was originally going with was not able to come with me anymore. It was then I felt like giving up. I thought maybe Jehovah didn’t want me to go. I quickly learned that no problem is too big for Jehovah. If he can bring 10 plagues upon Egypt, part the Red Sea, and lovingly provide for his people during their 40 year trek in the wilderness, he can certainly provide for me! Let me tell you how.
First I had felt like a failure because I couldn’t go for the time period I wanted to. But after talking to a few people, they said realistically 3 months is a good amount of time. One sister who served in Nicaragua and is now serving in the Dominican Republic with her husband said that the first 3 months are the hardest. And if I can get through that, then I can eventually go back for a longer amount of time if I want to. Then I had to find new housing. But that came sooner then I expected! In the very same email that said that our house was abandoned, the couple that I had been emailing readily offered their home since they would be back in the States for the period of time that I would be in Guyana! It’s always amazing to experience the world wide brotherhood. We had never met in person and only talked on the phone once. Yet, they were happy to help me in anyway possible. I couldn’t thank them enough for that! Then came the roommate situation. My parents didn’t want me to travel alone. I honestly felt that I wouldn’t find ANYONE! It was then that I talked to a friend of mine that serves in the Dominican Republic. He had been serving there for 2 years. I had told him how a lot of people were telling me to not go. It was then he said “Jessie, have any of those people served in a foreign assignment?” My answer was of course no. His next question was, “I’ve been serving in a foreign assignment for 2 years, and what am I telling you?” Obviously he was telling me to go. It was then he said something that always stuck with me, “It’s not a question of if Jehovah will help you, its a question of how he will.” That really helped me! What also helped was a gift that this brother gave me. When he was back in the States he let me see a DVD on Guyana and the experience of a couple that lived there for 4 years. Then a few days later in the mail, he sent me my very own DVD for me to keep! That DVD encouraged me so much! I am forever grateful for that gift!
But still, how was I going to find a roommate! Well, a certain text message was sent to me from a Dania Sharpe. We had went to pioneer school together and had recently visited Bethel. She wanted to congratulate me on getting my letter from the branch. I told her thank you, but I wasn’t sure if I was going because I needed a traveling partner. I’ll never forget what she said. “I hope I’m not being rude by inviting myself, but I’d love to come.” Can you believe it! All three of my problems solved in a matter of days. That day I met with my elders because I wanted their advice on what I should do for a roommate. Come to find out Jehovah solved the problem for me!
Dania quickly got her letter together and sent it out. In the meantime we both saved and started buying things we would need. We waited for her letter, and waited, and waited! Dania then called the branch office in Guyana. Come to find out, the branch never got her letter. She had to resend and we waited in anticipation. We were less than a month from leaving and we didn’t even have our plane tickets! It was then that I remembered a scripture in Micah 7:7 which tells us to have a waiting attitude. I remembered Jehovah’s hand in the past few months, and knew that he would provide for us. That very night Dania got her letter! We met the next day and bought our plane tickets.
And here we are! 7 days from leaving and still planning and packing! Jehovah has blessed me in so many ways. He gave me confidence in his abilities to provide. He is refining my teaching skills through the 2 day assembly and pioneer meeting. It’s true what one Gilead trained couple said. Whatever you may think will be a problem in serving in a foreign assignment, Jehovah will fix it! What you need is the desire and the circumstance. Anyone who wants to serve where the need is greater and has the circumstances to do so, make it a matter of prayer and see how Jehovah answers you! It’s important to “count the cost”, that is something I wish I would have done better. Also, do research and talk to others who have served in a foreign assignment. Ask them not only the blessings, but the challenges. That way you can have a balanced view on it.
Okay, that’s enough talking for me! Please leave me a message and keep in touch over the next 3 months!
p.s. Thank you to everyone who came to my going away party, it meant a lot to me!!!
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| Dania and I visiting Wallkill, NY. |
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| The best going away gift I got, a visit from My Mikey :) |
