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Good coffee while manning the cart is wonderful too! ☕😂

At 4:30 in the morning, the world feels different. The sky is still ink-dark, the air has that sharp little bite that sneaks under your jacket, and the thermometer has slipped a few extra degrees just to keep things interesting. A light breeze drifts across the Kingdom Hall remodel site, rattling tarps and whispering through scaffolding. Four of us are on security duty—just a handful of sleepy volunteers wrapped in hoodies, reflective vests, and good intentions. I’m already wearing my “Kingdom smile”—that quiet, contented warmth that comes from knowing why you’re here and who you’re serving. But I keep thinking: What else can I do for my three fellow volunteers out here in the cold? Foot washing crosses my mind for half a second🤔. Then I feel the wind, glance at the dusty ground, and laugh to myself. Yeah… no. That’s not happening at 4:30 AM. Then it hits me. Coffee. Not just coffee—coffee. Somewhere inside the hall, there’s a Keurig machine waiting for after-hours use. It’s convenient, it’s fast… and it’s absolutely not what I’m going to use. Not tonight. Not for my brothers and sisters standing guard in the cold with me. I’m a pour-over person. Ritual, patience, and care in every cup. So if I’m going to show love, I’m going to show it with a kettle, a dripper, and beans that still remember the roaster’s hands. The Quiet Joy of Preparation My routine starts long before I get to the site. I buy fresh-roasted beans from roasters all over the US. Not supermarket tired, not “roasted sometime last month,” but beans that are never more than five days off the roast. Just enough time to degas and mellow, but still brimming with aromatics waiting to be released. Before each shift—three or four nights a week—I pull out my burr grinder and set it to that perfect grind, somewhere between sand and sea salt. I grind only what I need, just before heading out the door, so every cup will bloom with fresh oils and fragrant steam. I have eight different ways to brew coffee at home, but for the project, I keep it simple and reliable: my Kalita 102 dripper. Kalita makes decent paper filters, sure—but I’m picky. I bring Cafec filters instead. They’re my favorite: beautifully made, consistent, and forgiving enough at 5:00 in the morning. “Pour-Over Bar Opens at 5:30!” By the time the others are shuffling their feet and blowing into their hands for warmth, I’ve already set up my little makeshift coffee station—kettle, scale, dripper, cups lined up like eager students. “Hey crew,” I call out, smiling, “pour-over station opens at 5:30 AM!” Suddenly, the cold doesn’t seem quite as brutal. My recipe is simple but precise: 15 grams of coffee 250 ml of purified water Water at about 190°F, just right for a dark roast First, I pour 50 grams of water and let the grounds bloom—forty-five slow seconds while the coffee swells and releases trapped gases, the aroma rolling up in warm waves. Then a second 50-gram pour at thirty seconds, and another at the next thirty. Finally, a last gentle pour to reach 250 grams total, and we wait for the drawdown—watching that steady, reassuring drip. In the dim pre-dawn light, steam curls out of the cups like little signatures of comfort. A Different Origin in Every Cup Last week, the star of the show was a Costa Rican, Black Honey processed, medium roast—sweet, layered, and luminous in the cup. This week, I’ve brought something bolder: a blend of Ethiopia, Sumatra, and Vietnam—medium-dark roast, with tasting notes like a breakfast menu: bananas foster, French toast, wild bergamot, cacao nib. Someone takes a sip and closes their eyes for a moment, and I know the late-night drive and careful packing were worth it. Next week, if the mail cooperates, it’ll be Organic Sumatra, deep and dark, ready to stand up to any cold morning on-site. That one’s already on its way, quietly traveling across states to end up in our hands, in these cups, on these nights. And of course, I don’t forget those who prefer to skip the caffeine. For them, I’ve got a decaf blend: Ethiopia and Papua New Guinea, dark roast, with tasting notes of chocolate ganache, New Orleans–style beignet, and orange zest. Just because it’s decaf doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be an experience. More Than Just Staying Awake Out here, in the chilly stillness before sunrise, the coffee is doing more than keeping us awake. It’s warming hands wrapped around cups. It’s softening tired faces into smiles. It’s turning a simple security shift into a small act of hospitality and love. When the word gets out that there’s real coffee—thoughtful coffee, carefully made coffee—suddenly 4:30 AM doesn’t feel quite so harsh. There’s laughter, there’s teasing about flavor notes (“Did you say French toast? In a cup?”), and there’s that easy, quiet joy that comes from serving one another in small, practical ways. Life can be tough, no doubt about it. But with good friends, a shared purpose, and a pour-over in your hand while the first hint of dawn lightens the sky? Well… life can be pretty wonderful, too. ☕ Cheers....🤣

Claire Danes eats figs gladly K S T M E

DDDDD Do Dunkin Donuts dry dirtily CDEFG

Antarctica has the highest winds, 8 types of penguin, no time zones, and no government.

You brothers are so amazing with the help and resources for Mahad!!! Threads like this really make me think deeply about what a wonderful brotherhood we have, I never want to be without it in my life.

Very helpful information, Nat; hopefully some of these fine suggestions give him a range of possible opportunities.

Well this thread got high jacked rather quickly!

I think the translator didn't translate my idea correctly and I didn't have time to check, but I meant that Brother Peter was referring to himself as being one of the other sheep.

Could Caesar Create Cottage Cheese? D D D D D

A STRANGE DAY... FIRST I FIND A HAT WITH SMALL CHANGE IN IT, THEN I GET CHASED BY A MAN WITH A GUITAR.

Thank you for this topic and link! I found the article very interesting because Jehovah is making it possible for us to reach out to many Chinese people outside of China!

Your memory serves you right, brother Cristino.

Better Business Bureau berates badness C C C C C

Mahad, the comments already posted by our brotherhood are sound advice. What follows is ONLY a list of things you may want to consider: Given your urgent need for stable, full-time employment during the current strikes and economic disruption in Madagascar, I have prioritized companies that have established legal entities within Madagascar or specialized remote programs for African talent. These "Business Process Outsourcing" (BPO) companies are your safest route to a 40-hour workweek. Unlike pure freelancing, they offer employment contracts (CDI/CDD), reliable monthly salaries, and often pay directly into local Malagasy bank accounts (BNI, BOA, MCB) or Mobile Money, avoiding complex international transfer issues. LEGITIMATE REMOTE & HYBRID OPPORTUNITIES FOR MADAGASCAR 1. SmartOne (Best for Data Entry / Basic Skills) SmartOne is an "impact sourcing" company specializing in AI data annotation (labeling images/text for Artificial Intelligence).1 They are ethical, stable, and specifically target workers in Antananarivo. Industry: AI Data Processing & Annotation Position Types: Data Entry Operator, Annotator, Quality Controller. Headquarters: France (Operations center in Enceinte Galaxy, Antananarivo). Contact/Apply: SmartOne Careers Page or apply via LinkedIn. Email: jobs@smartone.ai (Verify on their site before sending). Employment Type: Full-time (CDI available). Payment: Local salary in Ariary (MGA) via bank transfer. Skill Level: Entry-level friendly. Requires focus and basic computer literacy. Legitimacy: Verified ethical employer with a massive presence in Andraharo. Notes: They often require on-site training at Galaxy before allowing remote work. Given the strikes, ask about their current "Work From Home" (télétravail) policy for new hires. 2. Concentrix + Webhelp (Best for Customer Service) One of the largest employers in Madagascar. They handle customer service for major French and American brands. Industry: Customer Experience / Call Center Position Types: Customer Support Advisor (Conseiller Client), Technical Support. Language Requirements: High demand for Bilingual French-English speakers. Headquarters: Paris/USA (Local HQ: Galaxy Andraharo, Antananarivo). Facebook: Webhelp Madagascar (They are very active here). Website: Join Concentrix + Webhelp Employment Type: Full-time (40h). Estimated Compensation: Competitive local salary + performance bonuses. Equipment: They usually provide the computer (Thin Client) for remote workers. Legitimacy: Global giant, 100% verified. Notes: They often recruit via their Facebook page or local job portals (PortalJob). Watch for "English Project" recruitment posts. 3. Vivetic Group The pioneer of outsourcing in Madagascar, operating since 1996. Very stable. Industry: BPO / Data Processing / Customer Relations Position Types: Data Entry Operator (Opérateur de Saisie), Web Editor, Customer Service. Headquarters: Pantin, France (Ops in Antananarivo). Website: Vivetic Jobs Email: recrutement@vivetic.mg (Verify this via their official Facebook page first). Employment Type: Full-time. Legitimacy: Highly reputable, historically stable employer in Tana. 4. Teleperformance Madagascar Another global giant. They have "Cloud Campus" (remote) initiatives, but local policies vary. Industry: Customer Service Position Types: Customer Service Representative, Moderator. Language: English speakers are paid a premium. Headquarters: France (Local sites in Tana). Website: Teleperformance Careers Warning: Scammers often impersonate Teleperformance. Real: Emails from @teleperformance.com.2 Fake: Interviews via Telegram or emails from @gmail / @outlook. Legitimacy: Verified Global Company. 5. Sourcefit Madagascar A BPO originally from the Philippines that has expanded to Madagascar, known for better "Western-style" remote culture. Industry: Staff Outsourcing Position Types: Virtual Assistant, Back Office Support, Customer Service. Headquarters: Philippines (Local office in Antsakaviro). Website: Sourcefit Careers Legitimacy: Verified international expansion. Notes: They often hire specifically for English-speaking roles to support US/UK clients. INTERNATIONAL FREELANCE / CONTRACT WORK (USD/EUR) If local BPOs are not hiring due to the strikes, these platforms allow you to find direct international clients. Note: Income is less guaranteed than a salary. 6. TELUS International Role: AI Community Contributor, Rater, Media Search Analyst. Why: You work on your own schedule. It is task-based. Apply: TELUS AI Jobs Language: Look for "French (Madagascar)" or "English" projects. 7. WeLocalize Role: Translation, Transcription, Ads Quality Rater. Why: Legitimate remote work often available for bilinguals. Apply: WeLocalize Careers MADAGASCAR-SPECIFIC LOGISTICS & ADVICE 1. Handling the Internet & Strikes Connectivity: You likely use Telma Fiber or Orange. Critical: If the strikes affect JIRAMA (electricity), your fiber will cut out even if you have a laptop battery. Solution: You must have a backup 4G Key (Clé 4G) or a phone with tethering (partage de connexion) ready. Employers will check this during the interview. Power: Invest in a small UPS (Onduleur) for your internet router to keep it running during short power cuts (délestage). 2. Payment Methods Local BPOs (Webhelp, SmartOne): Pay directly to BNI, BOA, BFV, or MCB accounts. This is the easiest method. International (Freelancing): PayPal is difficult in Madagascar (often "send only" or restricted). Payoneer: This is the best option for Madagascar. You can link it to your local bank account to withdraw funds. Wise (formerly TransferWise): Also excellent if the client supports it. 3. Red Flags (Scam Warning) Since you are looking for work urgently, you are a target for scammers. "Equipment Check" Scam: They send you a fake check to buy a "laptop" from their "vendor." The check bounces, and you lose the money you sent the vendor. Real companies send the computer to you; they never send you a check to buy one. Telegram Interviews: Legitimate companies (Webhelp, TP, SmartOne) NEVER interview via Telegram or WhatsApp text.3 They use Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or phone calls. Paying for Training: Never pay money to get a job. 4. Your Strategy Immediate: Apply to Webhelp and SmartOne immediately. They have the highest volume of jobs and are accustomed to hiring quickly. Highlight your Bilingualism: Your resume (CV) must explicitly state: "Fluent in French and English (C1/C2 Level) - Experienced in Customer Support." This is your biggest asset over other candidates. Strike Explanation: In interviews, be proactive. Say: "I have a dedicated home office with backup power and backup 4G internet, so national strikes will not interrupt my work." This reassures international managers. Next Step I recommend you start by visiting the Webhelp Madagascar Facebook page and looking for their latest "English Speaking" recruitment post. Send your CV there today, as they often recruit faster via social media directions than their global website. Would you like me to help you draft a cover letter highlighting your bilingual skills and home-office readiness? -end 😊

Brother Peter Price delivered the funeral talk for Sister Susan Lett, and as far as I remember (if my memory serves me right), he referred to her as being one of the other sheep.

I would like to have a "Download All" option for various categories ... like the Original Song videos

For context, it is possible - he is still within the 'time frame', having only been appointed as a helper in January this year, and no new GB members have been announced since he was appointed as a helper, so 🤷‍♂️ Absolutely not saying it is likely, just that it is still possible, with the publically available information/data of GB appointments over the last 33 years ....

Restaurants do not care about you, but your money. They are heart cloggers.

Burnt out, out of gas, fatigued, exhausted, spent, drained, worn out, enervated, run down, bushed, stressed out to the nines...pick your poison...but every single one of those feelings have attached themselves to me like leeches recently. Pulled in different directions, worried about saying too much...scared I'm not saying enough. Avoiding certain obligations due to stress and my ADHD while digging deep into my personal distractions of chess and personal research. Working more hours due to weather conditions in the winter, not spending enough quality time with my wife. The ability to give good advice to others while simultaneously somehow conveniently forgetting to apply it to myself. Attending more meetings on Zoom then in person, feeling disassociated through absence, experiencing lack of love and empathy due to exhaustion, frustration, anger, hurt, and pain. All of this is what I expressed to an elder yesterday as we sat in two chairs on the back room of his empty Kingdom Hall, our ears perked up occasionally by the sounds of the howling wind and driving snow outside...and this is what he said in return: SIX BILLION TONS!! That's how much just one teaspoonful of a single star weighs...and that's how stupid, (my word, not his), Tim really is. All this time, I've been reaching for stars...trying to stretch out on my tippiest of tippy toes in order to grab just one and SHOW Jehovah that I am a capable man...a good man...a man he could love and respect. I was trying so hard, for so long...but to Jehovah...I must have seemed as pathetic as a tiny ant reaching out to carry the whole muffin back to it's colony...when all it was ASKED to do was carry a crumb. As this very kind elder pointed out to me yesterday...Jehovah never asked me to carry the whole muffin...he never required me to grab a star and carry it around...he only asked me to take his hand...hold on tight...and allow HIS light to penetrate deep into my mind and heart. He didn't ask ME to be the "source"...and he never told me to "reach" for it...like I had to carry around the source myself...he simply asked me to reflect HIS light. Those are MY expectations...those are my OWN personal thoughts and feelings about what I felt I should be doing...not Jehovah's. After a few minutes of listening to more of my excuses and self lies...he quietly, gently...led me to a set of scriptures I know very very well...or at least...I THOUGHT I did. Matthew 11:28,29: "Come to me, all you who are toiling and loaded down, and I will refresh you. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am mild-tempered and lowly in heart, and you will find refreshment for yourselves." Refresh: In Greek, the word is anapausis...and it means rest from burdens...or refreshment... that's true. But this brother pointed out that the meaning is deeper, especially when you look at how this word is used in the Greek Septuagint at Exodus 23:12: "Six days you are to do your work; but on the seventh day, you are to cease from your labor, in order that your bull and your donkey may rest and the son of your slave girl and the foreign resident may REFRESH themselves" The Israelites didn't JUST receive refreshment by pausing physical labor...here the word means SABBATH rest...restoring equality!! It means relief from pressure, a pause that restores a person's dignity and self-worth. THAT'S the "load" that Jesus offers...and here's why: https://www.jw.org/finder?srcid=jwlshare&wtlocale=E&prefer=lang&docid=502300130 Under "I will refresh you"...look at HOW Jesus provides relief: "Jesus promised to give relief, or rest, to those who accepted his kind invitation. He did so by helping them to understand what God truly expected of them. In other words, he was relieving them of all the unfair rules and restrictions that had been piled upon the Israelites by the Pharisees...and this brother pointed out that, while we don't have physical Pharisees doing that today...each one of us has a "Pharisee" INSIDE us...constantly piling on added rules and restrictions to ourselves, criticizing our every move, condemning our every thought...and all in the name of US attempting to be self righteous. "I should be doing more because..." "I'm not good enough because..." "Jehovah expects too much from ME, because I just can't do what everyone else can do!!" 😔 This dear dear brother then gave me a piece of paper and a pen and asked me to write down ten things in which I felt I am not "ENOUGH". After I had finished, we went over them one by one. In each and every instance, I was absolutely shocked to see how my inner "Pharisee" was condemning me...piling on small and subtle "adjustments" to Jehovah's actual requirements. I always knew I would have to face reality one day...I just didn't think that reality would take the form of a Pharisee. Starting now, I am going to strive every day to see myself as Jehovah sees me...not as I THINK he should see me. Starting now, I am going to improve where I can, pray about what I can't and allow Jehovah to work out the details. Starting now, I'm going to listen to Jehovah's voice more than my own and stop piling up unrealistic expectations based on where I think I SHOULD be in Jehovah's organization...not where I actually am. If Jehovah opens the door, I'll walk through it. But I'm going to try my best to stop creating my own doors...I'm going to stop reaching for a star...and be content with reflecting Jehovah's light.

I cook and pack my lunch because they use bad oils at resto.. I used cocnonut oil.