An Introduction to MEPS

com·pan·ion

 

kəmˈpanyən/

 

noun

 

1.

a person or animal with whom one spends a lot of time or with whom one travels.

Eg "his traveling companion"

 

What I love most about this particular definition is that not only can this "companion" be a person, but it can also be an animal. Here's a question for you readers: what about if having an animal is just too much of an expense? I absolutely LOVED having pets, but they're not usually travel-friendly or cost-efficient for a need-greater on the go. Is there, perchance, a fair middle ground for those of us who crave the furry company without the heavy responsibility?

 

Enter the stuffed animal.

 

I know, I know, you might be thinking, "...and HOW old are you, Alyssa?!? A tad too grown for playthings, maybe?" Well, age notwithstanding, I can't help but admit that yes, I have said fuzzy partner! My Instagram followers are quite familiar with him already, but I think it's high time for my blog readers to meet him.

 

Everybody, meet Mark!

 

 

I cannot fully introduce Mark to you all without two fun facts about him: his full name and his humble origins. You see, Mark's full name is Mark Euodius Pebble-Stone. Each part of his name has significance: Mark after his uncanny gentle-faced similarity to Br. Sanderson of the Governing Body, Euodius ("good journey" in Greek) after my favorite human, and Pebble-Stone for the idea of travelling over all sorts of ground. His initials together make MEPS, which for all of you familiar with the translation work at Bethel means Multilanguage Electronic Publishing System, which has advanced spreading the Kingdom good news to people of all tribes and tongues. If I was to have a constant companion, he'd have to be as adventurously adventurous and ready to go to the ends of the earth.

 

Where Mark came from, I cannot say. I have asked my parents and they could not recollect either exactly where they got him. He was like many toys in a child's home, just THERE. What I can recall, however, was rummaging through our storage room when I was maybe around 14 or so and rediscovering him. There he was, slightly battered up, his tiny left ear torn, but his beady plastic eyes shining brightly. I don't know what came over me, but I found myself telling this small toy that someday we would travel and serve somewhere together. I was only baptized around a year at that time but I had already from quite a young age entertained the goal of being a need-greater.

 

Fast forward to August 2014. I was in the middle of a fine productive blueberry harvest over at Wallkill Bethel. I had had high hopes of maybe being called to stay a couple of months longer to assist with the later apple and grape harvests, but the quota of needed temp workers was filled already. Fortunately, a sweet friend of mine from Washington DC invited me to join her group to do unassigned territory down in Kentucky right after my Bethel assignment was done. A lightbulb went off; this should be Mark's first adventurous adventure!

 

From that point forward, Mark has been to the following places:

 

Hazard, Kentucky (August 2014)

 

The light of truth is shining bright with this one BEAR-ing thorough witness

 

Washington, DC (August 2014)

 

At the Museum of the Native American

 

Montreal, Canada (July 2015)

I do occasionally switch out bow-ties for him, for a change of pace.

 

 

Warwick Bethel Project, NY (June-August 2015)

 

Going Green!

 

and finally his most recent excursion, Skeldon and Orealla, Guyana (November 2015)

Our first flight together out of JFK

Brighton Congregation, Skeldon

Up Big Mama Hill!! Orealla

I have grown so very endeared to this toy; he almost is the physical representation of the child's dream that I have retained throughout the years: setting my goals of serving elsewhere and finally reaching them. For all you dear friends out there, keep your goals, whatever they may be, alive and burning bright. We do not always have control over our particular circumstances or situations, but Jehovah knows and sees all that you are doing. He remembers all that you wish to do and all you can do, even if they are not the same thing due to imperfect limitations. Just keep doing your very best, and let Jehovah take the reins. Who knows what sort of story He's writing for you...

That's it for today's entry, Jehovah's blessings to you all! Keep your eyes peeled, maybe you'll see the bow-tie bear heading your way. Thanks for reading!

Love,

The Adventurous A (and Mark)