Finding our Joy
For me, it has been a pretty rough year. Negative thoughts have consumed me more than they ever have. I started to think that my service to Jehovah was not good enough. However, the Chinese Convention was really encouraging. Afterwards, I prayed to Jehovah to help me find joy in the ministry again. I thought that maybe, if I had a Bible student, that those feelings of worthlessness to Jehovah might subside.
The week after the Convention, we were out in service. Truthfully, it had been the first time I had been out in, well, months due to circumstances. We were about to call it a day, when I remembered I had been in a massage parlor that we were going to pass to get back to the Interstate. I had been inside four years prior, and I confirmed that the lady was Chinese, but I had never followed up on her. Adrienne and myself walked inside. At first it was quiet, but then two Chinese ladies came out to greet us. Adrienne introduced herself and their eyes lit up. It was a sparkle that reminded me of my early days in the Chinese ministry. They were extremely excited that Adrienne was speaking Chinese to them. Once I had the chance to say something, the excitement only grew.
There it was. That energy. That excitement. This was the feeling we received when we first became a group. The feeling that I had been missing. Adrienne presented them with the offer for the month. Like most Chinese people, they asked us where our church was. Adrienne told them that it was in Blythewood- about a 30 minute drive from their shop. They said it was too far for them to go. We were about to leave it at that, but then I explained to them that I could come pick them up. It hit me all of a sudden. I had to offer a way for these two ladies to get to the meeting. And Jehovah blessed our efforts. The next day they were able to attend the meeting. When we pulled up, they were turning away a customer.
They loved the meeting. They got to meet the rest of the group and were impressed with everyone's Chinese. Before we left, Adrienne said she already had many Bible Students and expressed that it would be tough to take on two more, so she then offered me the chance to take them on as my studies. After we dropped the ladies back off at their shop, we started to study right away.
Almost three months later, I'm conducting a regular Bible Study every week. And because we live in Satan's system, he will always try to throw a wrench into anything. So of course, when we visit them, they all of a sudden get customers. They have even expressed how weird it was that all day they will have no one come in, but then we will show up and there will be customers. We only laugh because we know the reason. Judy usually has to go and work, so I study with Jolly in the Good News brochure. When Judy has time, she will sit in and read scriptures then explain them to Jolly for us.
We've become good friends, and we usually talk for about an hour before starting the study. They have told me that my understanding gets better every week. (For they know very little English, so all of our conversations are in Chinese). They have taught us new phrases and corrected us when we say something wrong.
When you think all is lost, remember that Jehovah is much greater than any of your problems. He will help you. And he will bless you. All you have to do is pray and put forth a little effort. If you are looking for a Bible student yourself, tell Jehovah. Don't leave it to yourself to find one. Jehovah knows exactly what we need. Because of him, I have started to find my joy once again. Are we not blessed to have such a loving God?
The week after the Convention, we were out in service. Truthfully, it had been the first time I had been out in, well, months due to circumstances. We were about to call it a day, when I remembered I had been in a massage parlor that we were going to pass to get back to the Interstate. I had been inside four years prior, and I confirmed that the lady was Chinese, but I had never followed up on her. Adrienne and myself walked inside. At first it was quiet, but then two Chinese ladies came out to greet us. Adrienne introduced herself and their eyes lit up. It was a sparkle that reminded me of my early days in the Chinese ministry. They were extremely excited that Adrienne was speaking Chinese to them. Once I had the chance to say something, the excitement only grew.
There it was. That energy. That excitement. This was the feeling we received when we first became a group. The feeling that I had been missing. Adrienne presented them with the offer for the month. Like most Chinese people, they asked us where our church was. Adrienne told them that it was in Blythewood- about a 30 minute drive from their shop. They said it was too far for them to go. We were about to leave it at that, but then I explained to them that I could come pick them up. It hit me all of a sudden. I had to offer a way for these two ladies to get to the meeting. And Jehovah blessed our efforts. The next day they were able to attend the meeting. When we pulled up, they were turning away a customer.
They loved the meeting. They got to meet the rest of the group and were impressed with everyone's Chinese. Before we left, Adrienne said she already had many Bible Students and expressed that it would be tough to take on two more, so she then offered me the chance to take them on as my studies. After we dropped the ladies back off at their shop, we started to study right away.
Almost three months later, I'm conducting a regular Bible Study every week. And because we live in Satan's system, he will always try to throw a wrench into anything. So of course, when we visit them, they all of a sudden get customers. They have even expressed how weird it was that all day they will have no one come in, but then we will show up and there will be customers. We only laugh because we know the reason. Judy usually has to go and work, so I study with Jolly in the Good News brochure. When Judy has time, she will sit in and read scriptures then explain them to Jolly for us.
We've become good friends, and we usually talk for about an hour before starting the study. They have told me that my understanding gets better every week. (For they know very little English, so all of our conversations are in Chinese). They have taught us new phrases and corrected us when we say something wrong.
When you think all is lost, remember that Jehovah is much greater than any of your problems. He will help you. And he will bless you. All you have to do is pray and put forth a little effort. If you are looking for a Bible student yourself, tell Jehovah. Don't leave it to yourself to find one. Jehovah knows exactly what we need. Because of him, I have started to find my joy once again. Are we not blessed to have such a loving God?
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