I was thinking today, that when you go to an International Convention, it's like stepping into one of our yearbooks. You feel like you're meeting some of the ones we read about. We all get that we have a united worldwide brotherhood, but sitting in a plastic seat in sun and in rain, in another country, next to people from all over the world, and the reason they are so happy is because they are experiencing something from Jehovah like you are....i see it from a bigger

perspective....it's hard to describe right now, just know that it's big. It breaks all the molds...you see what Jehovah is talking about when He says to pray for our bros' and sis'. It's getting late so let me just go through these pics....to the left is my view of the drama. We sat in the sections where many Zulu and Indian
(Durban has a huge Indian pop.) sat. It was great. More pics of the drama when we get home.

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This is Shakar. He spoke English better than we do, and is in the process

of learning Hindi, which, he says, is "very, very hard". We gave him candy.

This is a THREE year old, who spoke Zulu, and English. He's 3. And he didn't speak like a baby, he was polite, used inflection...the four of us looked at eachother and then...gave him candy.

I wish I knew what this sign says. Something loving for sure.

While Br. Morris was concluding the last talk, it started to rain, and the wind really picked up fast. It was almost intense. We were already sitting up high, some people moved to higher and dryer places, but we stayed put and let the ones fleeing the pelting drops come up with us or higher. Brother Morris kept speaking, getting pounded by the rain and wind. The chairs on the stage fell over, the "keep on the watch" signs fell over, and still he kept his spot. I didn't see any of his papers fly away even in all of that. He concluded with thoughts about how soon the Great Tribulation will begin, and also some comforting thoughts from Isaiah about Jehovah waiting to show us favor....then we started singing.

We've all heard some way or another African singing, right? We sang in English of course, voices cracking, off key, in the midst of naturally talented musicians harmonizing in Zulu and other languages. All the while sharing and huddling under wimpy umbrellas. It was perfect.

Hope you all got encouragement from the convention! At the top is a pic of a Zulu (i think) songbook, and a classicly rugged, beautiful Landrover. Waiting for the bus, I got bit by a fireant (no reactions yet, no worries). Let the safareeees...begin! :-D