In one word - Whirlwind!
We started out in upstate New York, well it was actually Sherman, Connecticut and stayed there for 3 days. While here we visited Patterson Bethel. Patterson is the primary training facility where they hold Gilead, the Branch Overseers school as well as others. It also is where they produce the videos for the society's website including the Caleb & Sophia animations. We also had the privilege of having lunch at Patterson with the family we were staying with. So nice to enjoy a meal in Jehovah's house. We attended 2 meetings and also went out witnessing in 1 degree celcius!! Crazy!! Never been so cold in all my life!!
After Sherman, we moved on to visit some more friends in Pawling NY (not realising it was only 15 mins away!). It was so great to spend some time again with Matt & Nicole Rappa and to meet their parents. They are such a great family and wish we could've spent more time with them. If you haven't checked out the video on JW.org about helping prisoners - check it out - http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/activities/help-community/video-clip-bible-truth-helping-prisoners/. We stayed a few days with the Rappa family (briefly featured in the video). While with them, we toured Wallkill and as Nicole is a commuter to Wallkill, she was able to get us in for lunch as well which was also really nice. Wallkill is where all of the printing is done for the US and the area's that fall under the USA Branch. Pretty amazing to see!! We got to catch up with Tim & Barbara Holden, a couple that stayed with Mum & Dad back in 1998. They are still serving faithfully in Wallkill and have very fond memories of their time in Cairns.
After Pawling, we headed down closer to New York City and stayed with a sister in Yonkers. Yalanda took us on a whirlwind tour of New York, visiting the Empire State Building, walking over the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square and of course Brooklyn Bethel. As she is a commuter to Brooklyn, working as a Nurse in the infirmary, we kind of got to see places of Bethel that are not usually on the tour, like the tunnels underground linking the buildings and the rooftop of the building that has the Watchtower sign lit up. I also did our laundry at Brooklyn as we needed to do it, and that is where Yalanda does hers. Just like going to a laundromat without having to pay! We also met up with Chris who stayed with us earlier this year and got a tour of the infirmary. It's so loving how Jehovah's organisation cares for the older ones who have dedicated their lives to full time service and don't have any family to care for them. Our brothers do a great job looking after them, allowing them dignity and treating them with love. A lot they care for are suffering from Alzheimer's and similar ailments. The Bible display was a highlight, but I was more impressed with the Archives tour which is set up at Brooklyn as well. It shows the growth of Jehovah's organisation from the first century right down to our day with items from the Brother Charles Russel's time. Really well worth a visit.
The night before we flew out to Mexico, Chris and Haciel from Brooklyn, took us out to a Brazillian restaurant in Newark. The food was great with the meat on the huge skewers that just kept coming!! Overall a great night!
So that's pretty much a wrap of what we got up to in New York, and as usual I have attached some pics below, only of our Bethel visit, but will post more NY pics soon. Enjoy!
Hope you are all well!!
Love Jonno, Nay & Kiri
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A display at Patterson Bethel |
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With Caleb & Sophia |
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With our Tour Guide at Patterson |
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With Tim & Barbara Holden |
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Brother Russel & Brother Ruherford's bibles |
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Wallkill Printery |
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The new World Trade Centre (Freedom Tower) |
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In the Tunnels at Brooklyn Bethel with Yalanda |
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Chris gave us a tour of the Infirmary |
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The Bible Display |
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The Archives Display |
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