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So to catch everyone up, David and I were married on 29th March. It was, basically us two, David's parents and two friends at the registry office. Then we had a Zoom talk and get together. It was incredibly nice. I might post some pics soon. Thank you all who showed concern and kept us in your prayers.

Just finished a Sheparding call with an Elder and the Overseer. Was nice. I was surprised though at the request/offer if I'd like to serve the congregation in a greater way, I was basically being asked on the spot if I could be in the position of a MS! Of course, I had to explain the condition of my health and why I couldn't hold such a position, but it was a nice compliment regardless to be encouraged to reach out for such a role.

Spiritually, sometimes we fail. And sometimes we may fail badly. But may we remember this - “Never confuse a single failure with a final defeat.”

A 36 year old ELDER, with a seriously rock solid theo family background, beautiful wife, happy marriage, new home, trips around the world, very active in every way,... just took his own life and no one understands why. There were no red flags, no known depression, no clues. We are related. I'm used to feeling sorry for myself, having a sub-standard life with non-believers BUT, in terms of pain, what pain could ever compare to this scenario?? A brother commented tonight "We may see more of this..." A reference to the times we live in. It is terrifying to watch a "stable" one fall. May Jehovah help us all. PLEASE, pray for our elders, we need them, each and every one of them.

Update on Gertrudes health. The neurosurgeon decided that Gertrude has had enough time to show improvement. Lacking any tangible improvement calls for surgery. To late in the day to schedule anything. We will be heading to Seattle's Swedish Medical Center to take advantage of their Bloodless Surgery paractice first thing tomorrow morning.

I moved from Crimea back to Ukraine! Left everything behind... And more than that I'm now in English congregation! Finally....

Good evening Everyone! I just wanted to share what has been going on since April due to the Pandemic. As some of you already know, I work at a school. Well, my Superintendent has been connecting and listening in on our congregation zoom meetings since April and has not missed but three since she began (one was due to a funeral). She has even listened in when we have abbreviated Watchtower lessons due to our Circuit Assembly last week. She and her 89 year old mom listen in and said they love listening in and learning. They are Catholic. I send her via text the public talk title each week and the Watchtower lesson for that week. About a week ago after she missed a couple of Sundays she said to me, "Please don't forget us!" I told her she can rest assured that we would not. Anyways it is encouraging to see ones of a different faith connecting to our Zoom meetings.

I was just served divorce papers after 39 years. Please, I really need your prayers, I'm breaking down badly.

My brother was reinstated last week

Was assaulted yesterday, punched 5-6 times in the head by violent neighbour. Still shaken. Need prayers.

I had to put my husband in Hospice care 😪

A pioneer and dear friend, lost her daughter in a brutal murder. I curled up with her in her bed as she sobbed. We know how to offer comfort to the world but, how do we comfort a JW? Yes, it "should" be the same but, it's not. We know why God allows suffering, until it happens to us. Feeling helpless, wanting this wickedness to end.

Just letting everyone know we are safe and sustained no damage to our home.😊

RE: Gertrude 8/9/18 It hs been a rough day. As many noted from my firs t post of the day, the operation was succesful, the Doctor spoke toLelie and I, and was very pleased with Gertie's resilence and even went so far as to say "If she maintains this rate of recouperating she might be released as early as tomorrow afternoon. We just need to get her from recovery and up the to ICU so you can visit her. Expect about 40 minutes before she is settled into ICU." That is when I sent out the happy notices. 15 minutes later he returned to the lobby where we were and said "I am sorry, but your wife is showing symptoms that something is not right, she is loosing function of here right side.We are taking her back to the operating room. It looks like she has started bleeding just beyound the incision area. That is when I posted that things were not good. To add to the worry, they post on a monitor that shows where the surgery paitients are at any given time. It looks much like the monitors at airports that show arrivals and gate locations. We are sitting on the edge of our seats when Gertrude asigned number dissapears form the monitor. We waited an hour, her number stayed gone. Dave Benbrook had come up to lend moral support and he was in tears as the clocked ticked away. Leslie wasn't doing much better. I kept thinking that her last picture might be the one I poster with her great grand daughter. This does not look good. Leslie went over to surgery registation to find where her Mom was. The women at the desk said she went back into surgery so we gave her new number, it has been posted for an hour. "Thanks peoples for not telling us." Another thirty minutes went by before the surgeon came back "So sorry to put you through this, but Gertrude is doing fine and as soon as she is transferred to ICU, she can have visitors." (I think we heard this once before.) THE REST OF THE STORY The second operation was succesful. He decided to remove a little more of the crainium than he prefered, but felt the need to get all of the potential leakers cauterized' As of 6:30 t his eveningshe was wide awake, though drugged. All vitals in the green, taking liguids including chicken soup, which is the hospitals last ditch to cure anything. Both our sons came to see her, the DFd one we hadn't seen in five years. The three of us left Seattle for Leslies house at 7:00 PM. I had been up since 3:30 AM. We started for the hospital at 6:00 AM this morning, a very long day, but all's well that ends well. Again I thank all for their concern and prayers. YB Jerry

Finally! I'm at the happiest I've ever been! My dark, gloomy self is finally coming into the light! Hope in Jehovah, be courageous and strong of heart! Yes hope in Jehovah!

Received a UPS package last night. In it was a small ring size jewel box with a message card attached. Opened the jewel box and found a brand new baby pacifier? Attached card from our grandson and wife saying, “We wanted to make sure we have a spare when we come to visit in the Spring.” This will be our first great-grand-child. I got on Amazon and sent them a jar of dill pickles

Please join me in thanking Jehovah for his loving protection. I had a Major Surgery on Friday.. Was discharged from the hospital on Monday. It was indeed a scary experience. But now I am more convinced that Jehovah isn't just near, he is with each one of us.. Very attentive and ready to show his strength on our behalf. Always trust him.

Today I had the part about not being disloyal. My computer suddenly lost power in the middle of a comment. Fortunately it was a brother who always gives looooong comments. I ran to a different device and logged into Zoom and he was still speaking. Apparently nobody noticed.

I had to conduct the prison Bible study last night. I was so nervous, but prepared well. Fortunately the women participated well (sometimes they don’t). I felt that Jehovah definitely helped me. It went well.

It’s a sad day for me. My sister has died. She’s resting now at last. In Jehovah’s perfect memory. I will find time for tears, but, I just made a salad, and, it is time for service. I think I’m afraid to start crying.

The convention was so impressive, so important I've decided to turn in my notice on one job and the other is moving down from 5 days to 3. I need energy for more service. Feel very good about my decision.

Been fighting depression. I’m on the uphill swing now. (Yes, it’s bad enough for me that I take medication) My point is, none of us ever know what, down deep, we are all going through. Except Jehovah. It was harder this time. You know what you are supposed to do Dragging myself to the meetings when I’d just like to stay home, in bed, was, easier when that meant going to the Kingdom Hall. Now, it’s too easy. It’s a matter of not turning the computer on. To be honest, it was scary. The first thing I think is, “Have I done something g to offend Jehovah?” But, if I keep on keeping on, (no matter what I think, or feel) I eventually surface on the other side of whatever I’ve been going through. I mention this, because I suspect there are a lot of us out there. I know we are I am never alone, but, for little snippets of time, I may feel like it. Thanks for being out there, Dear Family. ❤️

we had 6 new appointments last night at the meeting 4 elders and 2 servants one of them is me

Very sad day for me today. Before 8:30 am this morning my spiritual mom messaged me to call her. I went to pick her up to bring her to the hospital where a couple brothers met us and they went with “mom” into the room. Dad past away early this morning. He was in the hospital for a while, put in a nursing home for about 3 weeks or so. Came home about 3 weeks ago on Monday, Tuesday night he was taken by ambulance and ended up in ICU. never leaving that floor. Started him on dialysis this week. Took 30 pounds of water out on Wednesday and another 40 on Thursday and told mom they wanted to take another 20 today...she wouldn’t sign the papers. With 5th stage kidney disease, heart disease, and a host of other issues, dad’s no longer in pain. Dad’s in Jehovah’s memory. As a sister told me when my “real” mom passed away, “There’s no better place to be.”

I've just been informed by Social Security that I am no longer considered disabled according to their rules and will lose all support in a couple of months. I've never worked in my life, never able to maintain a strict schedule or cope long term with the chronic pain, irritable bowel and insomnia. It always inevitably leads back into chronic depression and mania. I can do a little, but then I have to follow up with resting for a day. They don't have a majority of my physical issues on file from doctor's reports which is a problem, as I was considered disabled for mental issues... but they were caused by the physical issues in the first place, just haven't been able to find a doctor who understands or properly tests for them yet. Of course, one should expect to read such a letter on one's anniversary of baptism, amirite? (Luke 22:31) “Simon, Simon, look! Satan has demanded to have all of you to sift you as wheat. I just wanted to say that I love this forum and am thankful for the time I've been able to spend with everyone I've met here. ❤️Before I inevitably regress into insanity and say and do things which I will surely regret.

Gertie is home to Leslies house for a week to ten days or so of recouperation. Then I can bring her home. Her scars about 8 Inches and 3inches, They gave her a Vince Tayback hat to wear while things heal. (See TV show "Alice") Thanks to all who shared their concern.

Update to "Gertrude is still..." Dear Friends, Thank you for you interest and support. The last two days have been more than a little nerve racking. For those that didn’t see my prior description of what my we have been going through I am providing a brief summary: In early April Gertrude came down with the shingles. It ended up that most of the irritation was internal involving her left leg. It was a little difficult to get a diagnosis. She was sent to the neurology facility to investigate the extreme neuralgia pain that persisted when other symptoms had disappeared. While being examined the attending asked a Neurosurgeon to take a look at her. The Neurosurgeon was not concerned about Gertrude’s leg symptoms, but noticed her eyes weren’t tracking correctly. Had she banged her head lately? She had taken a tumble and banged her head on a doorjamb in April, but didn’t even get a headache from it. The Doctor scheduled a series of brain scans as well at MRI of the damaged leg. The brain scan revealed a subdural hematoma, likely caused by her fall. If it showed no increase in size surgery might be avoided, it still required monitoring on a two week basis. If it was shown to be increasing in size surgery would be indicated. Over six weeks of monitoring by brain scans it appeared to be stable, which was good news. The brain scans are done locally with a follow up appointment with the Neurosurgeon later in the week. The DRs appointment is a little difficult as she is located an hour and a half inland, and is almost always delayed by an hour or so. Back to last Monday, as usual we went to the local Newport hospital for the scan, easy peasy. We were leaving and almost to the parking lot when the technician came running after us and said the radiologist wanted to talk to us ASAP. The radiologist was very concerned and showed us the latest scan. The hematoma had increased by a third in size and fresh bleeding was clearly visible. We told her that we had an appointment with the Neurosurgeon scheduled for Wednesday. The radiologist said she would give the Neurology a heads-up phone call. Before we got home, about 20 minutes, there was a phone call from Neurology saying Gertrude’s appointment was now bumped up by 24 hours to Tuesday. We let the family know that the bleed had restarted. I called Swedish Hospital Bloodless Surgery in Seattle (Blood Management is the official program name) Seattle to see if they could fit Gertrude’s potential surgery into this week if needed. I was informed it would not be a problem. Note: there are two closer hospitals that use bloodless procedures, OHU and Legacy both in Portland, but Gertrude had volunteered for many years with the program at Swedish, plus all our adult children live in the Seattle area. There were phone calls and text messages flying back and forth all evening. We had a sleepless night hampered further by a medical emergency next door. Fire engines and emergency vehicles with their flashing lights and motors idling right beside our bedroom window. 3:30 AM was the end of sleep for the night. It was my idea to throw a minimum of overnight things into a bag just incase we had to drive to Seattle after our up-scheduled visit to the Neurosurgeon. The blood issue had not been discussed specifically with her. They do have our ‘Advanced Medical Directives’ on file, but my experience is doctors seldom look that deep into our files and have to be reminded for any procedure. After all the nerve racking, sleep defying previous 24 hours the doctor was a little ho-hum about the whole thing. “Yes, continued bleeding would require surgery, but lets continue monitoring.” “Did you have a fall, or over exert yourself this last week?” Gertrude, “Yes I helped Jerry move a king size mattress Saturday.” Doctor: “That probably upped your blood pressure enough to restart the bleeding, I should have warned you not to do anything more strenuous than walking until this thing is cleared up.” (Now she tells us!) We are now back to square 1-1/2. Monitoring is now every week and I still need help to unload the old mattresses. Thank you all for your concerns and prayers, who is to say that the prayers didn't work? Not me. (Sorry this was so long.) YB Jerry

Who wants a sneak peak at a new design? Like and comment on this status

I want to thank the moderators of this discussion forum for keeping the forum clean from all apostate material. You are doing an excellent job of making sure that only appropriate things are posted. I feel safe here. Thank you very much and may Jehovah bless you, Inge Niagara Falls, Canada

Just finished our memorial. Yet again Jehovah has ensured I was able to commemorate by helping my turn my wild sleep patterns around in time for it within just a couple of days, as I always pray for.

Baptism approved for August's convention. 😥

The Governing Body cannot legislate what websites and videos we see on our electronic devices. But there is a "firewall" for every device, and that is "our love for Jehovah"! (Based on talk by Mark Noumair: “This Is the Way” (Isa. 30:21)

Last Sunday I had two talks in Northern Spain, so we stayed in a rural B&B with a farm. The site was wonderful and the owners were extremely nice to us. Then when we were leaving we found out they are JWs.

The watchtower conductor all say Thank you after someone commits Some had their phone on and siri said your welcome

Well, we have a new Christian brother ....My Brother Rod was baptized at our circuit assembly yesterday. He was the oldest of 9 baptized yesterday. 7 brothers and 2 sisters. I cried like a baby when Rod was baptized. It reminded me of my other brother who I was privileged to study with and he was baptized in 2011. He died 2 years later. Memories flooded back. By the way, Rod's wife who is not studying or interested YET came that whole morning and watched his baptism. He was one happy camper. I am also.

TODAY we are celebrating our 66th wedding anniversary. He has been a faithful Brother for 50 years, a MS who pioneered many years. He is now in hospice in a nursing home so I don't know if there will be a 67th. 😢 So please celebrate this day with us....💕

Last I developed a serious case of pneumonia. Because of the covi/hospital cituation I put off going to the emrgency a little too long and required immediate hospitalization. No beds to be had on the Oregon Coast. Nearest bed was 100 miles away. Ambulance was ordered, they too are busy, it took 5 hours for them to show up. Two hour run to the Hospital in Spring field. Checked in at 11:30 PM. The worst part besides haveing to do it without my wife's presence was the two hour ambulace ride. I was told it would be very uncomfortable and it was. Given the choice of the ambulance trip or having my fingernails pulled out one by one, I think I would lean toward the fingernails.

I have read through this forum again and again and it simply can't be left unnoticed how much you love these spiritual discussions. 👨‍👦 If its proves anything, its your love for Jehovah. Every one of you; you are awesome. Don't give up! ❤️

I think I'm over a lot of the feelings that led me to leave. I think I was touchy about certain things because of things that have been happening in my personal life. It was like a grieving process when I had to stop and realize that I wasn't going to have the life I planned for at the time I planned for it, but now I think I've gotten into the acceptance phase, and learned to make the best of this situation.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRANSLATION A translator can explain the meaning of words from another language, but... Music has the unparalleled ability to “translate” human feelings and emotions so that a person can relive those same feelings again by means of a song/score/lyrics. Those feelings can also be “translated” for the benefit of others, helping others to identify certain feelings or unexpressed thoughts within them self. LIke a wind turbine that converts the wind’s kenetic energy into electrical power, the song writer or musician can covert a human experience into a special language that can express beauty or sadness. Music can take something from the inner depths of a person and converts it, translates it into a powerful “sonic” language. Even a particular musical note or chord can be a “harmonic match” for a specific emotion. Who is responsible for this ingenious “translation” ability that humans have?

After 34 yrs, I am no longer a spiritual widow, or my children orphans, thanks to Jehovah. My husband Julian was baptized on Aug 24,2019. I have a new assignment now:To help him be the best servant he can be for Jehovah.

Tomorrow will be my 58th year of marriage. Wow who knew the system would go on this long.

Struggling with new kind of culture/way of doing things in the ministry and in my new congregation. But just wanted to share my Instagram post here concerning our very special attendant showing people to their seats

My great grand daughter was baptized today. 🧡

Auxillary pioneering this month so I can sit in on that top secret meeting with the new CO

My Mom's body is failing her. Hope to get her on hospice care today. Talked to her about her funeral preferences. She doesn't want one. I was so relieved, because I just could not have tolerated a catholic church service and all those Satanic lies. Not with the marvelous resurrection hope Jehovah gives us. So we will be holding a celebration of her LIFE, instead.

Before I came on here, I joined a few Facebook groups to help me with my issues. One on depression, one on ADHD, and one for introverts. Most of those groups have a policy of not talking about religion, politics and the such. So many people are in a sad state. There's only so much encouragement and comfort we can give others without directing them to God's word for comfort and hope. Thank you for this forum brothers where we can have an interchange of encouraging words that build one another up.

A random biker fella felt like attending a meeting 2 weeks ago. He's been to every meeting since. Today he, instead of a pony tail, has a very nice short haircut. He seems quieter, more humble, less aggressive. Still in leathers and riding a Harley (nice Harley) but it seems the meetings are having an impact. I was in the back during prayer, noticed he stood with head down, hands folded, then actually said AMEN at the end. Keep you posted...

I have just arrived from Brazil and I am glad to report that during the Olympic Games we gave an extensive witness in all areas of Rio with the carts. There was not a single touristic area without carts. The 1.2 million people in town saw us everywhere. Hundreds of brothers participated covering the areas 12 hours or more every single day. Nice time to be in Rio.

Gertrude is home. I have been too exhausted to post. We brought Gertrude home to Leslie's two days ago. They had for wait for her blood pressure to stabilize between 140 over__ to less than 180 over -- anything lower than 135 and she would lose her speech. Anthing over and they were worrie about a stroke. Some thing to do with blood vessels shrinking in size due to brain injury. Her blood press should return to normal in a couple of weeks and she will be able to return to Newport. Today is our 59th wedding aniversary. Leslie and I are preparing a low key party for this evening. Four difficult months: Shingles causing loss of leg control, a minor fall, bleeding on the brain, two brain surgeries, two ambulance trips, 15 days in ICU. We hope it is over.