America's first floating Kingdom Hall

Dear All

Hope you are all well. As usual it's been a while since our last update.

Please forgive us but the time to type an email and go to the Internet café. Has been time we never seem able to find. But that's because we are so busy enjoying our assignment.

Our assignment has become a lot more interesting and to be honest a lot more work now that we have finished central America's first floating Kingdom Hall. As most of you will know we had the need of a place to meet within the islands, yet with land so very hard to find and the difficulties of the people living on islands, it was decided that a floating Kingdom Hall was the way to go.

Within a week this went from my scribbles on a notepad to a real project as the first donations arrived. We purchased all the steel we needed and decided to get started. As we have never built anything that floats or attempted to weld before, you can imagine our many concerns. We enlisted about 6 local brothers and sisters to help with the task at hand.

After the first few days we had the first section of the framework made and then we really started to worry. We think even a few in the Branch felt the same as a few from the Branch came to take a look and share in the testing of the first section at the lake. You can imagine our joys as it seemed to float very well. Although our worries returned as we realized that we still needed two more sections, floor, roof, veranda, seats and people.. We can honestly say we prayed earnestly every night and literally one month later, through blood, sweat, and tears, it was time to launch. We spent the day on, in and under the water putting the Hall together again.



The Branch had been a great support and Brother Ken Brian of the Branch Committee decided to visit for the weekend with his wife Sharon and give the first two talks as this Hall will be used in more than one place.. In total, we had over 45 in attendance and we didn't sink!!

The Hall has really become quite famous in the islands. Everyone waves as they see us towing the hall from one side of the islands to the next.

We were happily surprised with our first meeting attendance as we had not preached or informed most of the people in the area that we would be having the meeting. When we arrived and started to anchor the Hall, it started to rain incredibly hard, like it does in a rain forest. We were thinking that we would have a very low attendance. The three o'clock time arrived and passed - and no one was there. We were really down but, at about 4 o'clock, people started to arrive. We were amazed but couldn't be angry over their time-keeping. They had walked more than half an hour, in the rain, through the jungle. One carried 3 children. They were literally drenched. When they arrived, all were over the moon to finally have there own place to meet.

One thing that has been made clear and commented upon by all is that, for sure, Jehovah's spirit is at work in this remote area. In such a little time, we have seen so many families who desire to study. Our Memorial attendance was over 70.

Several families have separated from their prior religion, and made great sacrifices to visit the Assembly.
Starting from scribbles in a pad and 5 dollars, now we have been able to construct a floating Kingdom Hall!
All of this could only have been possible with the help of Jehovah's spirit and you loving brothers who helped in many different ways.

Please pass on and forward this email and the loving thanks of not only ourselves, but the two groups that have now been formed in the Islands of Nicaragua.

We have received emails and donations from Aruba to Iceland. There were many loving comments and experiences. One family from the states told us how the children made the decision to go without Pizza Night and pocket money to help with the funding of the Hall. Another brave brother decided to take his guitar and vocal talents to the high street in order to raise money, and we are sure that many others sacrificed time effort and money too. Its certainly at times like this we are reminded of what a privilege it is to be part of such a world-wide brotherhood.
As mentioned in the beginning, please forgive us if our updates are not too often but perhaps you will understand when we tell you that it has literally taken 4 days to write this e-mail due to shortage of electricity, rainstorms and various other things. Please be assured that we appreciate your kind words and support every time we make it to the Internet Café. We are attempting to attach a few photos so that you can see the floating Kingdom Hall.

We are currently looking for a truck in order to take our studies from the islands to the special assembly day which falls at the end of the month. As all have shown such an interest in being there.

We are awaiting and organizing for a couple who are arriving from Canada who are going to work along with us in the more than 100 islands that we still haven't preached in, so we are also looking for either building or buying another small boat that they can then use on the other side of the islands.

(Photo - John on deserted island)

So as you can tell there is plenty going on, so remember if you feel like a change why not come and visit.

So that's about all the news from this side apart from the various new wild animals we have been given as donations but that can wait till the next email.

So take care and keep in touch. All our love and best wishes

Agapé,
Your friends
John & Heidi Sealey