The end of Times, starts to be very tired

[Dages]

53 minutes ago, Korotkiy said:

Many congregation in Ukraine that are located near of war line are still conducting their meeting in Zoom from beginning of pandemy in 2020.

In other cases, publishers are still stay in zoom. We had have Local needs about it yesterday... About 35-40 are in Zoom every tiime (in general we have 88 publishers).

  

May Jehovah bless your courage, Yura.

[fix it shop]

16 minutes ago, HappyDumpling said:

Reading everyone's comments in this thread is sad but encouraging. I can only imagine how Jehovah must be so proud of all of us just trying. Here in Namibia, it is the same thing. People are struggling. And many have anxiety more so than ever before in coming to the meetings and places where there are crowds for whatever personal reason they may have.  I think it is the same thing worldwide. The pandemic did not just hit the world and us as individuals economically but it has created a new social challenge and spiritual challenge. In human history there have always been events that made a mark on mankind as a whole on human psyche. Even those I speak to in the world at work or in the ministry struggle as well. @Andress Last weekend when engaging in house to house - my field service partner started her presentation. The woman at the door broke down at the front door in tears unable to talk. She was not interested in having a Bible Study, she was just tired and done with this life. Life is different. Even for those in the field. I did not say anything to this householder. I just walked up and gave her a hug and walked away. A complete stranger. Everyone is feeling it.

 

We who serve Jehovah have an extra load to carry. Big world events that hit global makes a dent on humans individually and therefore determines the social stage as a whole of humankind. It was the same for humans during the world wars, the great depression and so forth. The pandemic was a big one. So the outcome we are all facing is to be expected unfortunately. We were in isolation. That affects the mind and the mind affects most other things. 

 

Energy and joy - well, for one thing reading this thread. Knowing that this feeling is felt and that no one is alone. Looking at all of you and knowing some of your struggles and seeing you are still trying - That gives me energy!!! We have got this! All of us! No matter if it's residue after the pandemic we are dealing with or unfortunate and unfair situations we did not choose that are affecting us. We have each other and more importantly we have the most powerful force in the universe! Jehovah. ❤️ I am so proud of all of you! It does not matter if we are face down barely crawling or crouching or walking or running - we are all trying to move! I am so incredibly encouraged by all of you!

Extra portion of " thanks " for sharing , caring ,your deepest thoughts to all of us ,we are not alone .  With the warmest Christian love to everyone and to our God ........ Praise Jehovah !

[fix it shop]

24 minutes ago, HappyDumpling said:

Reading everyone's comments in this thread is sad but encouraging. I can only imagine how Jehovah must be so proud of all of us just trying. Here in Namibia, it is the same thing. People are struggling. And many have anxiety more so than ever before in coming to the meetings and places where there are crowds for whatever personal reason they may have.  I think it is the same thing worldwide. The pandemic did not just hit the world and us as individuals economically but it has created a new social challenge and spiritual challenge. In human history there have always been events that made a mark on mankind as a whole on human psyche. Even those I speak to in the world at work or in the ministry struggle as well. @Andress Last weekend when engaging in house to house - my field service partner started her presentation. The woman at the door broke down at the front door in tears unable to talk. She was not interested in having a Bible Study, she was just tired and done with this life. Life is different. Even for those in the field. I did not say anything to this householder. I just walked up and gave her a hug and walked away. A complete stranger. Everyone is feeling it.

 

We who serve Jehovah have an extra load to carry. Big world events that hit global makes a dent on humans individually and therefore determines the social stage as a whole of humankind. It was the same for humans during the world wars, the great depression and so forth. The pandemic was a big one. So the outcome we are all facing is to be expected unfortunately. We were in isolation. That affects the mind and the mind affects most other things. 

 

Energy and joy - well, for one thing reading this thread. Knowing that this feeling is felt and that no one is alone. Looking at all of you and knowing some of your struggles and seeing you are still trying - That gives me energy!!! We have got this! All of us! No matter if it's residue after the pandemic we are dealing with or unfortunate and unfair situations we did not choose that are affecting us. We have each other and more importantly we have the most powerful force in the universe! Jehovah. ❤️ I am so proud of all of you! It does not matter if we are face down barely crawling or crouching or walking or running - we are all trying to move! I am so incredibly encouraged by all of you!

Thank you for allowing myself and others to get to know you . CHRISTIAN LOVE TO ALL

[Ludwika]

2 hours ago, WD-40 said:

I believe we are trying. A Cong 13 minutes  away had 13 in hall - rest on zoom .Covid back again . Satan attacking every direction  . Show love, care ,kindness , especially  on this site ! We're trying our best - honest - we   are   trying   our    best !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Half our congregation, including me, were stuck at home for most of August and September with COVID or a very nasty flu that just wouldn't go away. Times are difficult.

[JennyM]

Im struggling with mental health now. I think majority of people. 

Our advantage is that Jehovah listened to our prayers. We have the most loving Father. 

Half of our khall attended face to face. 

Some migrate to US and Canada. 

As the system drags, we are losing people . Good thing our elders are showing good leadership in the congregation. 

 

[fix it shop]

5 minutes ago, JennyM said:

Im struggling with mental health now. I think majority of people. 

Our advantage is that Jehovah listened to our prayers. We have the most loving Father. 

Half of our khall attended face to face. 

Some migrate to US and Canada. 

As the system drags, we are losing people . Good thing our elders are showing good leadership in the congregation. 

 

I'm glad for your elders that they watch over the congregation  and you both  .You are very ,very special Jenny  and your daughter , too to be in Jehovah's  loving family .Never forget that - promise ? Great . Take care Our little ones . Love , The entire Christian  Congregation  and our Heaventy  Father , Jehovah

[Sambo85]

It really touches the heart to read all the love and support. Having just gone through a pretty severe injustice in the congregation, sometimes you can feel all alone, but to read your stories and the loving expressions of encouragement, really helps me to appreciate, even more, that we’re in this together. We are part of such an amazing family, thanks to Jehovah. Keep fighting dear friends. 

Jude 3 - “I found it necessary to write you to urge you to put up a hard fight for the faith”

[Matthies]

14 hours ago, Andress said:

Dear all

I just want to start a discussion on this topic to hear whether it is unique to where I live or if it’s a feeling that everyone is experiencing right now (and if so, something that is of utmost importance for our angels and Jehovah to help us with).

Since the pandemic and all the misery happening in the world (climate issues, a slowing economy, insecurity, etc.), I feel like the wind has been taken out of my sails a bit, and I almost feel like my energy is depleted. I serve as an elder, pioneer, and am part of the hospital committee. My wife is a pioneer, and my two boys are as well. Personally, we have no problems—we have jobs, everyone is healthy, etc. But it feels like the atmosphere and joy at the meetings, and among the friends, hasn’t fully returned. Perhaps many were hoping too much for the end, which hasn’t come despite everything, and we’re now in a sort of "waiting period."

I get the sense that this applies to many congregations in Northern Europe (our region). Is it the same in other parts of the world? If not, how do you maintain energy and joy ?

how is field service going, Any diffrence in your territory last years ?

I am personally expierencing a similiar tiredness. I decided to stop focusing on prophecy for a while, which kept me in the whole ''almost at the end'' mindset. The new preaching campaign has shown promising results, which is very encouraging. Now i just mainly focus on my bible studies, it helps take my mind off things. As for the people around me, i have seen some discouragement for field service, i am the servant in charge of organizing the territory in my local congregation and i have many friends in other congregations that have the same task. Most of us are noticing a decrease in the amount of territory worked compared to previous years. 

 

I am currently reading ''faith on the march'' by A.H Macmillian. His commentaries on the dissapointment and discouragement regarding unfullfilled promises in 1914 has helped trying to keep my eyes on the work, instead of the date or the amount of time left. Macmillian sadly learned that the hard way. When reading it i remembered Matthew 10:23, where Jesus tells us our work will not be done by the time he comes back to judge the world (Matthew 10:15), i try to share the same perspective with brothers and sisters who experience similiar emotions. 

[Dages]

14 minutes ago, Matthies said:

Most of us are noticing a decrease in the amount of territory worked compared to previous years. 

It has been a congregation goal in our area for some months. Many buildings are impossible to access but we have to do them... about 50 territories of our 400 territories haven't been touched for more than a year.

[ChrisW]

9 hours ago, bagwell1987 said:

My dear, I know personally that how you feel is the RULE not the exception. Your feelings, as one staying committed to serving whole souled, are echoed among the vast majority of Jehovah’s people. I have even said, although being committed to my precious Father, that I'm sick of living in this stupid system. I'm tired of the fight, tired of how many hoops I have to jump through, how many people I have to pacify. Those who know me understand I'm going through a divorce from an abuser, having been financially abandoned trying to keep the house to sell it and have suffered a ruptured disc in my lower lumbar, then a storm came and blew down 12 trees around my house taking part of my roof and a section of my bear fencing. Now my spiritual mom is losing her husband of 43 years and facing knee replacement. 

This system is kicking us around but NOT DOWN! Stay strong knowing we're all in this together and feel the very same as you. Fellow feeling my dear, fellow feeling.

My sis you're in my prayers. 💜 @Andressknow that you aren't alone in your feelings. my younger sister's husband has cancer so does my father. My husband also is dealing with health issues Anxiety and stress is heavy on everyone.  And yet i know i need the support of my spiritual family and our Heavenly Father. I know the meetings even though hard sometimes to get to,  is the place that refreshes me. I can't imagine not having my hope that this awful system is ending. And I thank Jehovah for this forum because I know friends around the world who are going through this awful system but maintaining and enduring in loyal love. 

[fix it shop]

3 hours ago, Sambo85 said:

It really touches the heart to read all the love and support. Having just gone through a pretty severe injustice in the congregation, sometimes you can feel all alone, but to read your stories and the loving expressions of encouragement, really helps me to appreciate, even more, that we’re in this together. We are part of such an amazing family, thanks to Jehovah. Keep fighting dear friends. 

Jude 3 - “I found it necessary to write you to urge you to put up a hard fight for the faith”

You got the right place, don't leave ,unless you need a snack !

[fix it shop]

4 hours ago, Sambo85 said:

It really touches the heart to read all the love and support. Having just gone through a pretty severe injustice in the congregation, sometimes you can feel all alone, but to read your stories and the loving expressions of encouragement, really helps me to appreciate, even more, that we’re in this together. We are part of such an amazing family, thanks to Jehovah. Keep fighting dear friends. 

Jude 3 - “I found it necessary to write you to urge you to put up a hard fight for the faith”

"US Jehovah's Witnesses would rather fight than switch !

[Patience87]

Thank you everyone for the encouragement on this thread as well as on this site. Keeps me motivated when I can connect with worldwide brotherhood  Even with things being more difficult for me, I am reflecting on the goodness of Jehovah. Perhaps you will enjoy this story. September JW broadcast could not be timelier for me on this story. 

 

My mother who is in her 70s is a regular pioneer. She has been a faithful mother and wife for many years. My father passed away during covid and she took care of him for years as he had health conditions for years. She never complained just did what she could. So now she is alone, but she picked up regular pioneering again after my father died. My mother is a quiet person but firmly determined to serve Jehovah, never waivers in her faithfulness. I do not know anyone else like her. She is my go-to person for spiritual conversations. Anyways, I was able to find her a suitable apartment... well I should say Jehovah found her this apartment (that is another story for another day). She has bad knees and cannot walk far so it had to be either ground floor or an apartment with an elevator. During covid, places to rent in our local area were snatched up immediately especially ones with affordable rents. Her apartment is on the 2nd floor right near the elevator, so it was perfect for her. It also is a secure building with secured underground parking. I don't have to worry about her falling on the ice! This is unheard of in her area. They usually don't have apartment buildings like this in her town. Even better it was in her congregation's territory. But wait the story gets better...

 

My mother has a limited income and we've tried to get her on every waiting list for reduced affordable housing. Most of the options we've looked at wouldn't work for her, weren't safe. etc. So we figured we would have to support her at some point when she ran out of money. Just recently the wait list for Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher became available to add her to the waitlist. This waitlist has been closed a very long time but I've been diligently checking for her, and somehow she got on the list which I was very surprised. Once you get on the list, I've heard it can be 5-10 years before your name gets to the top. But once again her name somehow got to the top of the waitlist. I was shocked... nothing short of a miracle!

 

For those of you not in the US, section 8 vouchers are used to supplement your rent. The government pays for a portion of your rent and you pay a reduced amount based on your income. Most of the housing that accepts these vouchers in our area are not ideal, but this particular type of voucher can be used at any apartment so long as the landlord is willing to work with you. It requires inspections every year, and lots of other hoops to jump through. I really didn't think that her current landlord with her apartment would want to deal with all the requirements of the program. It can be a hassle.

 

Well the timing couldn't have been more perfect as her lease on the apartment was coming up in 2 months. All of my family and I have prayed to Jehovah for her to be able to continue living where she is at, she is safe, she can pioneer. It dignifies her to be able to take care of herself after so many years of taking care of others. But you know, I hesitated to pray so specifically that she could remain in her current apartment, feeling like I shouldn't be asking Jehovah for special treatment. The fact is none of us are in a position to be able to move her. My husband and I are dealing with health issues, cannot lift or move things. Neither is my sister and husband who live close by able to help. It was going to be difficult to find her another apartment anyways with her bad knees. This apartment was just perfect for her.

 

I decided what did I have to lose in being so specific in my prayer. I learned to not be afraid to tell Jehovah all my concerns. I think so many times we worry and worry about how to solve a problem and we may even talk to Jehovah about it, but when we are desperate and we can't do anything ourselves and we have to leave it with him, that's when he blows us away and takes care of things better than we could have imagined.

 

Long story short, her current landlord agreed to work with her. She doesn't have to move, and she can continue pioneering and taking care of herself. Jehovah really does step in and take the place of a deceased mate! 

[Sambo85]

4 hours ago, WD-40 said:

"US Jehovah's Witnesses would rather fight than switch !

Absolutely, my brother!

[fix it shop]

Touching story, loving Family ,loving God 

[cme]

22 hours ago, Andress said:

Dear all

I just want to start a discussion on this topic to hear whether it is unique to where I live or if it’s a feeling that everyone is experiencing right now (and if so, something that is of utmost importance for our angels and Jehovah to help us with).

Since the pandemic and all the misery happening in the world (climate issues, a slowing economy, insecurity, etc.), I feel like the wind has been taken out of my sails a bit, and I almost feel like my energy is depleted. I serve as an elder, pioneer, and am part of the hospital committee. My wife is a pioneer, and my two boys are as well. Personally, we have no problems—we have jobs, everyone is healthy, etc. But it feels like the atmosphere and joy at the meetings, and among the friends, hasn’t fully returned. Perhaps many were hoping too much for the end, which hasn’t come despite everything, and we’re now in a sort of "waiting period."

I get the sense that this applies to many congregations in Northern Europe (our region). Is it the same in other parts of the world? If not, how do you maintain energy and joy ?

how is field service going, Any diffrence in your territory last years ?

This is happening all over the world.   Here in Warwick we feel the heaviness of the times and the noise of this system of things which is meant to distract us.  The scriptures say  "expectation postponed makes the heart sick" how true that is.

 

However, Satan knows his time is up and is pumping up the volume and  noise of this world to distract us.  Remember Matt. 26:41-43 when Jesus asked his disciples to keep on the watch and pray continually, that you may not enter into temptation.  "The spirit, of course, is eager, but the flesh is weak".

 

"Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur, and in standing before the Son of man".

 

If this is a worldwide issue with the friends, know that the Great Tribulation is about to begin. If we heed Jesus counsel and follow his example in the matter of prayer our heartfelt supplications to Jehovah will help us to stay spiritually awake.

 

At this late hour in time we ALL can feel the heaviness of the season we are living in.  Just like the apostles when they fell asleep while Jesus was just a throw stone away and he asked them to stay awake but, they were heavy with slumber and fell asleep.   It is because we are that close and Satan would like nothing more then to distance us or stop us from serving Jehovah. 

 

Take heart my brother.  You are not alone in this matter.  This is not a figment of your imagination.  We are about to go through the most critical moment in our lives.  Remember one convention where the brother said "if you can't run with footmen how can you run with horsemen"?  

 

At least you know that this is not just you, its all of us worldwide.  It's the whole world association of JWs that are struggling and, if that is the case, which it is.  We are close.

 

[HappyDumpling]

7 hours ago, Patience87 said:

Thank you everyone for the encouragement on this thread as well as on this site. Keeps me motivated when I can connect with worldwide brotherhood  Even with things being more difficult for me, I am reflecting on the goodness of Jehovah. Perhaps you will enjoy this story. September JW broadcast could not be timelier for me on this story. 

 

My mother who is in her 70s is a regular pioneer. She has been a faithful mother and wife for many years. My father passed away during covid and she took care of him for years as he had health conditions for years. She never complained just did what she could. So now she is alone, but she picked up regular pioneering again after my father died. My mother is a quiet person but firmly determined to serve Jehovah, never waivers in her faithfulness. I do not know anyone else like her. She is my go-to person for spiritual conversations. Anyways, I was able to find her a suitable apartment... well I should say Jehovah found her this apartment (that is another story for another day). She has bad knees and cannot walk far so it had to be either ground floor or an apartment with an elevator. During covid, places to rent in our local area were snatched up immediately especially ones with affordable rents. Her apartment is on the 2nd floor right near the elevator, so it was perfect for her. It also is a secure building with secured underground parking. I don't have to worry about her falling on the ice! This is unheard of in her area. They usually don't have apartment buildings like this in her town. Even better it was in her congregation's territory. But wait the story gets better...

 

My mother has a limited income and we've tried to get her on every waiting list for reduced affordable housing. Most of the options we've looked at wouldn't work for her, weren't safe. etc. So we figured we would have to support her at some point when she ran out of money. Just recently the wait list for Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher became available to add her to the waitlist. This waitlist has been closed a very long time but I've been diligently checking for her, and somehow she got on the list which I was very surprised. Once you get on the list, I've heard it can be 5-10 years before your name gets to the top. But once again her name somehow got to the top of the waitlist. I was shocked... nothing short of a miracle!

 

For those of you not in the US, section 8 vouchers are used to supplement your rent. The government pays for a portion of your rent and you pay a reduced amount based on your income. Most of the housing that accepts these vouchers in our area are not ideal, but this particular type of voucher can be used at any apartment so long as the landlord is willing to work with you. It requires inspections every year, and lots of other hoops to jump through. I really didn't think that her current landlord with her apartment would want to deal with all the requirements of the program. It can be a hassle.

 

Well the timing couldn't have been more perfect as her lease on the apartment was coming up in 2 months. All of my family and I have prayed to Jehovah for her to be able to continue living where she is at, she is safe, she can pioneer. It dignifies her to be able to take care of herself after so many years of taking care of others. But you know, I hesitated to pray so specifically that she could remain in her current apartment, feeling like I shouldn't be asking Jehovah for special treatment. The fact is none of us are in a position to be able to move her. My husband and I are dealing with health issues, cannot lift or move things. Neither is my sister and husband who live close by able to help. It was going to be difficult to find her another apartment anyways with her bad knees. This apartment was just perfect for her.

 

I decided what did I have to lose in being so specific in my prayer. I learned to not be afraid to tell Jehovah all my concerns. I think so many times we worry and worry about how to solve a problem and we may even talk to Jehovah about it, but when we are desperate and we can't do anything ourselves and we have to leave it with him, that's when he blows us away and takes care of things better than we could have imagined.

 

Long story short, her current landlord agreed to work with her. She doesn't have to move, and she can continue pioneering and taking care of herself. Jehovah really does step in and take the place of a deceased mate! 

I absolutely love this experience!!! ❤️ I will keep this sentence close and dear to me “I decided what did I have to lose in being so specific in my prayers”.

[Patience87]

1 hour ago, HappyDumpling said:

I absolutely love this experience!!! ❤️ I will keep this sentence close and dear to me “I decided what did I have to lose in being so specific in my prayers”.

Thank you. I am beyond words after thinking about all the things that were maneuvered for my mother, but she is one of the most faithful sisters I know. She was at meeting the day after my father died because she said she wouldn’t rather be anywhere else except in the house of her best friend. I will surely hate to lose her if this system keeps going. But it’s so good to remember all the good things Jehovah does for us. 

[fix it shop]

1 hour ago, HappyDumpling said:

I absolutely love this experience!!! ❤️ I will keep this sentence close and dear to me “I decided what did I have to lose in being so specific in my prayers”.

Jehovah doesn't work with generalities  ,but when we talk to him in great detail he sees and feels the hurt . He can fix anything ,sometimes  right away  , other times we wait ,other times it is put on hold ,We have to see and feel his love .It's original  ,no one can duplicate it. It is the greatest treasure we can ever,   ever have .

[fix it shop]

56 minutes ago, Patience87 said:

Thank you. I am beyond words after thinking about all the things that were maneuvered for my mother, but she is one of the most faithful sisters I know. She was at meeting the day after my father died because she said she wouldn’t rather be anywhere else except in the house of her best friend. I will surely hate to lose her if this system keeps going. But it’s so good to remember all the good things Jehovah does for us. 

Your mom's words are touching on the heart .The feelings of the heart are good when you feel it. When you don't feel the feelings your heart could be hardened . Not good.            CARE

[Sambo85]

8 hours ago, cme said:

Take heart my brother.  You are not alone in this matter.  This is not a figment of your imagination.  We are about to go through the most critical moment in our lives.  Remember one convention where the brother said "if you can't run with footmen how can you run with horsemen"?  

Love this!

And as hard as the trials we face may be (running with footmen) it’s all to prepare us to for the greater trials in the future, (when we run the race with horses) 

Powerful scripture. (Jer 12:5)

[Katty]

I don't know this would be helpful. I can share what's helped me be patient.
What's helped me is to just focus on what gives me joy in serving Jehovah in this system and just look forward to the next spiritual event: the next convention, assembly, CO visit, next last Saturday of the month, even. It also helps to have people to regularly get together with and have a meal. I've been trying to focus on things that give us joy in this system of things, no matter how simple that joy might be for now.
I also think it helps to not watch the news or to watch it as little as possible. Having a toddler has really shaped our entertainment choices even further than being a Christian has, because we want our toddler to be innocent of bad things she's not old enough to really be able to rationalize with her understanding of our hope for the future. Therefore, we watch a lot of kid friendly stuff, and, honestly, it really has enhanced my mental health the past couple of months. You realize there is so much going on in the world that you don't really need to know about. There's nothing we can do about it anyway. I mean, yeah, it good to know some current events for the ministry, but my personal opinion is that you don't really need to get into current events too much, because we're preaching the good news of the kingdom, not the bad news of this system of things. 
When it comes to branching out in the ministry, something that's helped me is to try not to stress about it or overthink about it. The best approach is typically to just be a bit more conversational. Take an interest in people, and, at first, you might just wait for obvious cues that it's a good time to give a Witness such as "what are you looking forward to this weekend?" when it's an assembly or convention weekend, or one that's very relevant now: "what are your plans for Christmas?" and as someone with a lot of Witnessing anxiety, I've just had to pray and keep my answers as simple and positive as possible.

I don't know if the above will be too helpful for everyone. After all, a lot of people have far worse problems than I do at this point in time, but I can share advice that I really took to heart from our current Circuit overseer: He compared time to a submarine which has water tight compartments, so that the water in one chamber would not leak into the others. Sometimes it helps to take life in "day tight compartments" and he continued with the thought that if you don't think you can handle weeks or months or years more of a particular situation can you take a day? and just focus on today. Then the next day, just focus on today. I'm training myself in my view of time is to try to limit whatever anxiety or dread I might feel to today's events, but to look towards beyond today for things I look forward to or want to plan for. 

Edited September 26 by Katty

[cme]

Katty, I love your outlook on today's problems.  We know its not going to go away but, it will get worst before getting better.  So....with that said, yes it is advisable to take each day one at a time, focus on our ministry, conventions, our meetings and our friends.

 

Especially if we can encourage them to the best of our ability since we are all in this together.

 

We are so close let's focus on the next dinner in paradise.  Who will be coming?  And, our resurrected loved ones.  Most of all, lets trust in Jehovah and not lean on our own understanding. Pro. 3: 5,6.

 

Our understanding is flawed and riddled with anxiety.

 

Thank you.

[Andress]

On 9/25/2024 at 9:19 AM, HappyDumpling said:

Reading everyone's comments in this thread is sad but encouraging. I can only imagine how Jehovah must be so proud of all of us just trying. Here in Namibia, it is the same thing. People are struggling. And many have anxiety more so than ever before in coming to the meetings and places where there are crowds for whatever personal reason they may have.  I think it is the same thing worldwide. The pandemic did not just hit the world and us as individuals economically but it has created a new social challenge and spiritual challenge. In human history there have always been events that made a mark on mankind as a whole on human psyche. Even those I speak to in the world at work or in the ministry struggle as well. @Andress Last weekend when engaging in house to house - my field service partner started her presentation. The woman at the door broke down at the front door in tears unable to talk. She was not interested in having a Bible Study, she was just tired and done with this life. Life is different. Even for those in the field. I did not say anything to this householder. I just walked up and gave her a hug and walked away. A complete stranger. Everyone is feeling it.

 

We who serve Jehovah have an extra load to carry. Big world events that hit global makes a dent on humans individually and therefore determines the social stage as a whole of humankind. It was the same for humans during the world wars, the great depression and so forth. The pandemic was a big one. So the outcome we are all facing is to be expected unfortunately. We were in isolation. That affects the mind and the mind affects most other things. 

 

Energy and joy - well, for one thing reading this thread. Knowing that this feeling is felt and that no one is alone. Looking at all of you and knowing some of your struggles and seeing you are still trying - That gives me energy!!! We have got this! All of us! No matter if it's residue after the pandemic we are dealing with or unfortunate and unfair situations we did not choose that are affecting us. We have each other and more importantly we have the most powerful force in the universe! Jehovah. ❤️ I am so proud of all of you! It does not matter if we are face down barely crawling or crouching or walking or running - we are all trying to move! I am so incredibly encouraged by all of you!

 

So interesting and encouraging! In some way, it’s reassuring to see how everyone is affected similarly on a global scale. What I still want to mention is that we have seen some who had distanced themselves from the congregation starting to return. My wife got in contact with a woman from the Middle East who was raised Muslim. She had prayed to God for help, and in the same week, a 90-year-old sister preached to her. When she got home, there was a letter from another sister in her mailbox. A study has now started, and she hasn’t missed a meeting since. These kinds of things have hardly happened in our area for the last 30 years, but now the interest from the districts is increasing again.

It is incredibly joyful! But somehow, one still feels a bit weighed down by everything else that is happening in the world at the same time.

I really hope the annual meeting will offer some new exciting details, we need that so much right now.

 

[Ludwika]

8 minutes ago, Andress said:

These kinds of things have hardly happened in our area for the last 30 years, but now the interest from the districts is increasing again.

It is incredibly joyful!

That's exactly how we understood here, as soon as we went back out on territory after the pandemic, why Jehovah has this waiting period right now. Our territory had always been an incredibly hard one, but even do not calls came and said "nice to see you back". A man received a letter from a brother who is ill and has sent out literally hundreds of letters. He requested a bible study. People smile at us even if they are not interested. Our territory has completely changed in character. 

Yes it feels like we're walking through treacle at times, but we know that's because we're near the end and Satan is throwing everything into stopping the preaching work as never before on a world wide scale. Jesus words have greater meaning for all of us now than ever:

"the one who has endured to the end will be saved".