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Beautiful report. I don't know why, but it has always irked me how much trouble people have with a little apostrophe S in "Jehovah's Witnesses." Even some fellow believers struggle with it. To me, that little apostrophe S carries real weight. It's the difference between simply being witnesses and being Jehovah's witnesses, people who belong to him and represent him specifically. Getting it right feels like a small way of honoring what the name actually points to. I do understand that in some pidgin and creole languages, the apostrophe S isn't used, and that's simply a language thing.

EL NIÑO/SOUTHERN OSCILLATION (ENSO) DIAGNOSTIC DISCUSSION issued by CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER/NCEP/NWS 13 August 2026 ENSO Alert System Status: El Niño Advisory Synopsis: El Niño is strengthening, with a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event during the Northern Hemisphere fall and winter 2026-27. El Niño strengthened over the past month, with sea surface temperature anomalies exceeding +2.0°C in the eastern equatorial Pacific [Fig. 1]. The July Niño index values were +1.4°C in Niño-3.4, +1.7°C in Niño-3, and +2.9°C in Niño-1+2 [Fig. 2]. The equatorial subsurface temperature index (average from 180°-100°W) increased during July [Fig. 3], reflecting a deeper-than-average thermocline [Fig. 4]. Subsurface temperature anomalies were significant, reaching +10.0°C at depth. Low-level westerly wind anomalies and upper-level easterly wind anomalies extended from the western to east-central equatorial Pacific. Convection and rainfall were enhanced from the central to eastern Pacific and were suppressed over Indonesia [Fig. 5]. The traditional and equatorial Southern Oscillation indices were significantly negative, with values near 2 standard deviations during July. Collectively, the coupled ocean-atmosphere system reflected a strengthening El Niño. The CPC Official ENSO outlook, which synthesizes multiple models from North America and abroad, indicates El Niño will continue to strengthen through the end of the year [Figs. 6-7-8]. During the October-December 2026 season, there is a 69% chance of a historic event that would exceed the strength of previous El Niño events dating back to 1950 (+2.5°C or more for a 3-month RONI value). With an event of this magnitude, the chances of experiencing impacts consistent with El Niño are larger, but they are not guaranteed (see CPC outlooks for probabilities of seasonal anomalies). In summary, El Niño is strengthening, with a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event during the Northern Hemisphere fall and winter 2026-27. This discussion is a consolidated effort of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NOAA's National Weather Service, and their funded institutions. Oceanic and atmospheric conditions are updated weekly on the Climate Prediction Center web site (El Niño/La Niña Current Conditions and Expert Discussions). A probabilistic strength forecast is available here. The next ENSO Diagnostics Discussion is scheduled for 10 September 2026.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0gvsx3xZl4

Zoom is definitely a good provision. I especially like the live streams for assemblies, this particular venue was my one of my first experiences of an assembly when I was about 11, it was an international assembly, 4 days! Although apparently years before that assemblies were much longer and went on much later. Yes, it's not the same as being there , for a few magical days you really feel you have come out of this drastically terrible system. Will just have to close my eyes and imagine 😁💭💭

It's getting hotter everywhere brother. It's not the same world as back then. We have KHs without AC that have had to go Zoom only in London during the 5 heatwaves so far this year. This is unprecedented and will only get worse. All fans and AC units in the UK sold out in June and we have none in the shops. Last week in our monthly Announcements from branch we got a reminder to check our go bags because of the risk of wildfires in the UK. Yesterday we got the fulfilment ... From BBC news.

I don't care if AC makes me soft, at least I'm not sweating. 🥵

Yes the scence of this world is getting worsen everytime as it is closer to the GT. But remember what Jesus said "...for these things must take place, but the end is not yet." (Mat 24:6) We need to endure all of this things in the last days until GT. Eduring this means our lives. fruitage of Jehovah's holy spirit helps us to make until the new world.

Yea Life is getting harder these days I couldn't imagine the GT. Oil reserves is depleting now because of war.

That’s what I’m thinking. We don’t even know what hard is I’m sure.

Well said sis, it's shocking how many disasters this poor old earth is going through. Love to all.

I feel for you Julie, this heat is unbelievable. Good to be on Zoom, not like being there but I do understand as I haven't been able to attend for about 5 years. Streaming helps us feel included. 🥰

Of course you are all in our prayers, as well as our family in Venezula. These disasters happen so fast and furious that it is hard to wrap our minds around it all. How Jehovah's organization keeps up with all the disasters is beyond me! The cost and the volunteer manpower needed for disaster relief committee's has to be enormous, yet it is always there and ready for the next disaster. Keep donating, keep praying and keep the faith!

The earth is definitely in peril. The weather patterns are so far off and every single decision greedy men and corporations make just plunge it further into disaster after disaster. These data centers going in all over the world are the last nail in the coffin I think. They will cause untold damage to the water and atmosphere and sink innocent people who depend on these resources further into despair. It's no wonder the Bible tells us that "men will become faint out of fear". The news media is geared to make people afraid of absolutely everything - everything we eat, every kind of medicine we take, every phone call or message we get, every place we go, - every decision we make is a wrong one. The stress of life is getting too great and people are going nuts because they can't handle it. Seems like life is nothing but mass murders, natural disasters, fear of another world war and general craziness. And this all BEFORE the GT happens! Life after the GT starts is something we all must spiritually and mentally prepare for now - I have a feeling what we are experiencing now will feel like a cakewalk compared to after the GT starts.

One of the other things in cart work is ants. Our bench is sitting on top of about 5 small but busy red ant hills. Last week we got harassed by them, badly. This week I bought peppermint and cedar oil spray to help deter them, made a bit of a difference but they kept coming back. I'm familiar with diatomaceous earth, I'd love to attack these nests with this powder so I called Jack, the cart work brother, who called the city. So far they'll let me coat the nests under our bench and possibly more benches and play places in the park that's having problems with ants. I understand it's a real problem. Yay, bring on the ants! Any other suggestions? I'm open!

With all the cooking I did a few days ago I still had some things to use up so I took out hash browns, peppers and onions out of the freezer. fried them up. Had 8 eggs shaken up/scrambled in a quart jar, 2 oz left over sharp cheddar, 8 sausage links and 2 sausage patties. Whew, trying to use up all the things in the freezer and show the man-child we don't always need to buy more groceries. Put the potatoes/onion/peppers in a greased 9x9 pan, added cut up sausage, scrambled egg and topped with cheese. Yes I could have added spinach but I can't stand cooked spinach and its green.......son won't eat green! Baked for 45 minutes. That was done Monday night, today I needed a simple day of cooking after service so I reheated the 'Quiche' and added garlic bread, happy man!! Easy for mom! win, win.

Might we all be getting a bit soft. Oh I enjoy air-conditioning but I reflect back on the first 40 years going to the KH with no air C.

Our KH (northern inland NSW, built in 1988) only had AC installed with the latest refurbishment in April/May of this year. Before that, it was ceiling fans only. Could get a tad warm mid-summer

Praying 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏💝

Our Hall was upgraded with AC last year. Meanwhile, Twickenham Convention starts tomorrow and we have received advice re. the hot weather: “We care deeply about those most at risk in hot weather and many have expressed appreciation for the option to enjoy the live convention programme using JW Stream. Congregation elders have the details to access this provision. We’re sure you will carefully weigh Bible principles when deciding what is best for you personally.” Along with sensible advice for those that do decide to attend.

Many prayers my brother.

Friday, August 14 Each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire.—Jas. 1:14. Do you know in which areas you are most easily tempted? It does us no good to fool ourselves by denying our weaknesses or concluding that we are too strong to fall into wrongdoing. (1 John 1:8) After all, Paul indicates that even those “who have spiritual qualifications” might give in to temptation if they do not keep on guard. (Gal. 6:1) We must be honest with ourselves and acknowledge the areas in which we are not strong. (2 Cor. 13:5) Once we have identified those areas in which we are most susceptible to temptation, what should we do? Strengthen our resistance! To illustrate, in Bible times the most vulnerable part of a city wall was its gates. Therefore, the gates were the most heavily guarded. Similarly, we need to give special attention to any areas in which we know that we are especially weak.—1 Cor. 9:27. w24.07 15 ¶5-7

I miss Musky. I really enjoyed his sense of humor, or humour if you live outside of the US...

If you keep feeding them prunes you will end up with more than that...

Boiling in the UK, 38 degrees! We have our assembly tomorrow and it's going to be 31, I will be on zoom 🔥🔥🫠

I've had squirrels and gray diggers as friends for years, they love nuts and seeds as we all know. Today in cart work all I had was prunes (now, now no snickering😃) in my bag. One of the gray diggers came over and stood on my shoe then took off. I thought maybe she would like a prune. I tossed one out and yep! She loved it! So cute to watch her scuttle off with it in her mouth. Then she stopped and buried it. I guess this is conclusive proof as to why one year as I fed oiled sunflower seeds I ended up with about 75 sunflowers all over my yard and garden 💓