Saturday morning started out with a bit of a scramble. There are so many brothers and sisters staying at our hotel that they had to open up separate “dining halls” to feed us breakfast. We have to catch our bus at 7:30, which means we have to be ready to load at 7:15, which means we have to get up super early. Anywho- Katie and I decided to go to the smaller dining area, and it was like a circus! We managed to get a muffin and a glass of juice and we scooted off to the buses!
When we got to the Convention we put our bags down and went off to meet others. We met so many wonderful brothers and sisters today, I’m sorry I can’t tell you about all of them. Here are just a few things that touched me-
Katie and I crossed the arena to go to the local side to visit our elderly and infirmed brothers and sisters. We figured it would be nice, since they can’t get p to walk and come visit us. We met so many ones. A mother and daughter in law who referred to themselves as Ruth and Naomi! A local white sister who’s been in the truth her whole life (I’m guessing 85 years) living in South Africa the entire time, I can’t imagine what she’s experienced and seen! Lastly, a BIG Zulu sister who was dressed in orange from head to toe, hat and all! She’s been in the truth 11 years. I spied on her regularly through the program (she was directly across from us and easy to spot). After talking to us for a minute or two she looked at me and in all seriousness asked if Katie was my daughter. I think her eyes were bad- Katie thinks I need to use more moisturizer. Anyway- it really made Katie’s day, considering I’ve been telling everyone here her age. Jehovah was correcting me!
Then we stumbled upon Tyrone. I’ve been stalking all the babies here, wanting to hold one. The problem is they are piggy backing their mothers, wrapped up so tight. They are so cute though so I’ve been on the lookout. When we were walking to the bathroom, almost at the end of the lunch break we spotted him. He was in a carriage, about a year old, smiling and grabbing people’s legs! Katie bent down to talk to him and I talked to his grandmother. I asked with a smile if he belonged to her and she said “yes, he’s my grandson but I’m raising him”. So many thoughts ran through my mind then she said “his mother died, right after giving birth to him. She was diagnosed with Leukemia and they wanted her to abort him. She sacrificed her life for him”. I started to cry and asked if she was her daughter. She was. Then our sister said “It was last December, right before the big assembly. It makes the resurrection hope so real. I can’t wait to hand him back to her”. I cried about that all afternoon. He was a beautiful boy and she was a beautiful sister. We have a wonderful hope. In the new system I would really like to meet his mother.
Today was FREEZING cold. I never thought in a million years I’d be cold in Africa! It was also the baptism. We had 96 baptized, including 2 sisters and 7 brothers from the deaf congregation! They set up 2 pools next to the stage and filled them with water using a hose. Our brothers and sisters lined up and went and changed and came back. Old ones, young ones, black, white, Indian, every race and nationality here! Most of them didn’t have swim suits, they changed into other clothes and sometimes other dress clothes and no one made a big deal about the cold water or cold air. They are amazing!
We met a sister in the Morningside congregation named Melissa Williams on Friday. She found us and Saturday and invited us to a “secret” gathering in the Durban Central Kingdom Hall. Some of our Zulu brothers were going to be singing there that night for the delegates, since they were not assigned to this assembly and some couldn’t visit! She offered to pick us up at the hotel! We were in. My parents came and we invited a couple on our bus the Kings. The hall was amazing and our brothers are amazing. I’ve never felt so much love in my life. The Zulu singing took our breath away. I can’t do it justice with words; again we’ll try to put it up. It lasted about 2 hours and then they fed us! KFC! Amazing. Everything is just wonderful!
Attendance on Saturday was 12, 112 in Durban, 8,324 in Cape Town and 18, 467 in Pretoria for a total of 38, 903!
Thanks for checking in we love you and miss you!
Corrine,
ReplyDeleteI am so touched by the grandmother raising her grandson and having that hope to see her daughter in paradise conditions with the son she never got to see grow up. I am right there crying with you. Thanks so much for posting your experiences. I miss you all.
Ruth
Katie and Corrine, What a touching experience. I cried while reading it and I'm still crying. I'm also trying to imagine the singing of all the brothers. Hope we get to hear it sometime. What a wonderful hope and brotherhood we have. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. We love and miss you guys. Send more when you can. Love yah lots and lots Tracy Mom =)
ReplyDeleteWow-I am also crying-so so so beautiful-
ReplyDeleteMiss you guys and love you lots!
Love,
Dawn
Wow. Sounds awesome. And about that grandmother raising her grandson...it's sad but amazing at the same time.
ReplyDeleteAnd I bet the Zulu singing was great, hope you get some videos up.
And the big orange sister ((lol)) just goes to show that there's one in every convention. :)
How cold was it? It was, like, 20 yesterday.
Glad you're having such a great time, do you miss us? We sure miss you guys! *huggles*
Mom's counting down the days until you get home. Just thought you might like to know. xD
I've noticed how closely some of the commenters are examining the photos (patio furniture, little boy with the candy...) so I decided to examine this new batch very closely and I am happy to tell you that I see no evidence whatsoever that you are looking like you might be Katie's mom. :)
ReplyDeleteThe secret gathering at the local Kingdom Hall sounds so special. What a blessing that the sister you met invited you!!
What a blessing too, for that dear sister raising her grandson, to meet you & Katie and to be able to share her story with you.
Thank you again for all the posts. I will miss them!
Wow, you are seriously trying to kill me with the tears. The good news in that story (to get me to stop crying) is how real the resurrection hope is to her and you know she will pass that onto her grandson so that they can all be reunited. I hope you guys have some warm clothes or have been able to get some. Corrine you certainly don't look like you could be Katie's mom so don't think about that anymore. Wow, if I were there she would have thought I was the grandmother. Love you guys very much! Give each other a big hug for me, including the parents. Everyone is asking about you and we all miss you and are so happy we could share these glimpses with you.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great day!
ReplyDeleteCorrine, you definitely don't look like Katie's mom, more like her grandma.
Can you spot the orange in section X?
Also, I would like to point out while the brothers and sisters are getting baptized in the cold (if you zoom in on the pict) there is a small child hurling herself over the seats in the stands. :) Very amusing. Love the picts and experiences, especially the secret meeting. Thanks!
Whoops! I meant to put a smile after grandma. Sorry, of course you don't look like you could be her mother... or grandma. :)
ReplyDeleteWow Alissa I hadn't noticed the small child...I guess it was just too cold that day for some people. :P
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great trip home! Hope the weather is better and no turbulance. See you in a few days!
ReplyDeleteThank you! For those of us who couldn't go, this is so special. It's just amazing how Jehovah's organization works! Thanks to our wonderful Father and God, Jehovah!
ReplyDeleteBarbara Larabee (Tarri Hulme's aunt in VT)