Student to Student

How important something is to us determines the plasticity of our brain and function..."  - Dr. Andrew Huberman

Something that you should know about me: I love learning.  Though having grown up predominantly homeschooled, if you put me in a classroom setting, I will THRIVE.  There is something about the prospect of sitting and being in the position of being taught that has always appealed to me. The thing about being a student, however, there is an end goal.  One can continue to be a student forever, of course, but when it comes to a theocratic sense, we have to grow to a point BEYOND staying in that state.  As per Hebrews 5:12-14, there HAS to be some growth seen, with the desire to not just learn but to teach as well.  As the third year of my foreign language learning journey quickly approaches, I have found myself ruminating on this fact more and more. I'd like to share with you, beloved BlueBearies, a small anecdote that recently highlighted this for me.

I was out in service with my brother (the famous Ribz from other blog entries) and a couple from our congregation.  It was our final door of the morning, and the brother leading had us two go out.  Mind you, between the two of us, we have the collective vocabulary of, hmmm, a 4-year-old, maybe a 5-year-old?  Anyways, we got out and approached the door and, lo and behold, the very person we had wanted to speak to was coming out. My brother began his presentation and was doing a fine job at it.  I was hanging back a bit, not wanting to interrupt his flow.  At some point, however, the gentleman responded in rapid-fire Hindi, and Ribz turned to me.  In his eyes, I could see him pleading for help.  I could hear the question, "what did he just say?"

At first, I thought, why turn to me? Then, it struck me like a bolt of lightning: oh...OH! I need to translate for him. Nearly three years of weekly Hindi lessons, asking experienced friends for help translating comments, listening to Bollywood songs, and getting guilt-tripped/bullied by the Duolingo owl led to this very moment.

My inner monologue was first screaming "OH NO THAT'S MY CUE BECAUSE TECHNICALLY I UNDERSTAND MORE SO I NEED TO STEP UP AND STEP IN WHAT DO I DO AHHHHHH!" 

Mood

Do you know what ALSO came to mind?  I was NOT alone.  As quickly as the rush of nervousness came, peace washed over and replaced it.  At this moment, I said a quick Nehemiah prayer, and let Jehovah take the reins.  He truly lives up to His name, not only by "causing to become," but by equipping us to be whatever He wants us to be. 

I would be lying if I said that I didn't feel like a total novice as I fumbled through clumsily translating, but it's not really about us, is it?  Jehovah could make the rocks talk if He so desired.  We are simply the mouthpieces to a life-saving message, with the most powerful Being in the universe backing us up.  This is why I started learning Hindi in the first place.  All the fails and mistakes and oops moments are simply the stepping-stones in this lovely journey.   It is impossible to get anything done without His help, and as was recently brought out in a talk, we are interdependent creatures.  We need Jehovah and our brothers and sisters, and this work MUST be done; this language-learning adventure would be for naught otherwise.  It has been quite humbling to recognize this, definitely. 

On December 19th, I conducted my very first Hindi Bible study.  This was a goal I had set for this service year but had not thought of it being "checked off" outside of going out in service more and trying to find and cultivate interest in our local field.  In a series of events that can only be described as, well, improbable (aka a normal day when Jehovah is involved), the opportunity arose to be able to reach this goal.  When I think about how it came to be, I still shake my head in absolute awe, deeply impressed at yet another stylish feat of our Father.  Maybe someday I will share the story here, but for the time being, please just message me and I'll happily recount it to whoever will listen.

As changes loom over the horizon, may each and every one of you, my dear friends, keep up the fine work.  Times are certainly not the same as they once were but look at you!  You are enduring faithfully and staying strong, giving our Heavenly Father a fine representation.  I'm proud of you.  Thank you so much for reading and accompanying me on this journey.  See you in 2023!

Love,

The Adventurous A.

At the Edge of the Courtyard (Reflecting the Decade)

"For a day in your courtyards is better than a thousand anywhere else!

 I choose to stand at the threshold of the house of my God

Rather than to dwell in the tents of wickedness."

Greetings, beloved readers.

Yes, it HAS been over a year since I last wrote here.  The last time I updated this blog, I had just reached my goal of serving a full year in the Hindi congregation.  I am happy to report that I have continued with the language and am now in my second year.  मैं बहुत खुश हूं।

But this is not why I am writing today.  Today, in fact, marks a very special milestone in my theocratic career, and, seeing as I have been pondering over it, I decided to share it with you all.

The words of Psalms 84:10, as quoted above, have been a mainstay in my life for as long as I can remember.  Growing up within a 30-minute radius of a Bethel facility made this scripture continue to be relevant.  I can recall riding to my childhood Kingdom Hall, gaping with awe at the marvelously large buildings at Watchtower Farms.  I had countless drawings, a few journal entries, and plenty of dreams of someday being able to serve there.  My parents were at the forefront of this endeavor, moving our little family across the country to achieve this goal for my brother and me in the late 90s.  Proximity does not a goal make, however; the parental units kept the fire stoked by fostering friendships with the goal-oriented, the same friends who would encourage us two young ones to keep on a course of theocratic busyness for years to come.

Being young is a funny sort of thing.  It carries with it an impatience that can make you forget that growth and goals take time.  I blush a bit remembering my 16-year-old self, bemoaning at how LONG it was taking to reach particular goals and that it would take FOREVER to make it.

Now, seemingly within the blink of an eye, I've had the privilege of serving in some sort of Bethel capacity for 10 years. 10. WHOLE. YEARS. How....when???

These 10 years of Bethel service have taught me so much about myself, Jehovah, dealing with my spiritual family, and the value of good hard work.  I have been humbled by the experience on multiple occasions, be it running in late for Morning Worship, cutting my finger with a clipper IMMEDIATELY after getting safety training, or sobbing because I didn't want my assignment to change.  I can't count how many lessons have been gifted to me from the examples of my fellow workers, a self-sacrificing visitor, or a wise word at the breakfast table. How the hallways have sung with guffaws and ad-libbed melodies, delighted whispers and stories a-plenty!  Even now, at the point where all I can do is simply admire it from a distance, separated by circumstances, it still feels like home in my heart.  In vain I attempt to not think too hard on it lest it makes me sad, but honestly, sadness does not root itself for long.  How can it, when the memories flood me with such joy?

I do not know what the future will hold in this particular facet of my life.  I would like to think that I would be content to serve and go wherever Jehovah so desires, be it back again at Bethel or not.  I am beyond grateful for the supportive family I was blessed with, the incredibly diverse and wonderful friends I've made, and, most importantly, for the undeserved honor of being allowed at the edge of the courtyard for this past decade. Thank you, Jehovah. The threshold has such a lovely view.

"Jehovah, I love the house where you dwell,

The place where your glory resides."

May each of you stay strong, enduring faithfully in all that you do. 💖

Love,

The Adventurous A.