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00:12 It was very difficult to reach these territories 00:14 because we had to navigate through part of the Orinoco 00:17 and then onto other smaller rivers. 00:21 Many of their communities are far away. 00:24 The first time we came, we traveled on the roof of a boat. 00:28 We are within days (approximately seven days) 00:32 from our place of origin, where our family is. 00:36 Another challenge is the language. 00:40 We realized that many did not understand a word. 00:42 In this assignment, 00:45 we have come across seven different languages. 00:48 Initially, this was a demanding task. 00:52 Imagine having so much to say and not being understood. 00:56 We were able to overcome it because, at this point, 01:00 we feel that what we preach in their language —it is reaching their hearts. 01:04 They understand. 01:06 They understand. 01:06 We can see it in their faces. 01:07 And that motivates them to make changes in their life. 01:11 This led a group of brothers to put forward 01:14 the idea of having our own boat for the purpose 01:16 of preaching the good news of the Kingdom in this area. 01:22 And that’s when finally the project 01:25 of El Precursor del Amazonas was born. 01:30 The branch arranged for a committee to handle 01:34 the task of managing and caring for the boat. 01:38 They also prepare the travel itinerary during the year. 01:42 They conduct important meetings, 01:45 such as the pre-departure meeting 01:48 —which aims to train the assigned passengers, 01:51 giving them necessary guidelines and instructions 01:54 to be observed during the trip. 01:57 They also assign the different crews to man the boat. 02:01 In the morning, you get up before dawn 02:05 —most likely six in the morning, 02:08 half past five. 02:10 It’s still a little dark. 02:13 Morning worship is conducted at approximately seven o’clock; 02:18 some instructions are given; and after offering up a prayer, 02:23 we eat calmly at about half past seven. 02:28 During the trip, there’s a chance to read. 02:31 There are assignments, such as cleaning the boat, cooking. 02:34 Actually, we stay pretty busy. 02:37 And at the end of the day, we arrive at a beach or a community. 02:40 No comparison between traveling before and traveling now. 02:43 Now we travel by limousine. 02:46 It’s luxurious —“five star” or something like that. 02:49 Yes, 02:51 traveling in seats, for example, 02:54 with a group of brothers, 02:57 with a formal meal service, 03:00 with electricity. 03:02 Meetings are held; we consider the daily text. 03:04 We share experiences, tell stories; we do everything! 03:09 It’s like being in a miniature Kingdom Hall, 03:12 traveling for five days. 03:14 We also preach in the different communities along the way. 03:16 It has its own publications and a literature cart. 03:20 That makes it a very spiritual 03:23 and upbuilding experience for all of us. 03:27 The way the boat looked to them, 03:29 captured the indigenous peoples’ interest. 03:32 The dignified presentation of the boat 03:34 is something worthy of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 03:37 I also noticed that where we were sitting, 03:40 we had a little area, like a locker for each person. 03:43 That made it very comfortable 03:45 —things that didn’t exist in boats for rent. 03:48 El Precursor del Amazonas has been a blessing for us. 03:53 We were able to bring our food and some of the things we needed, 03:56 such as a refrigerator to keep it in. 03:59 Those things have been made possible, 04:01 thanks to Jehovah, who allowed us to have this boat. 04:03 At times, we have arrived at a point where 04:07 we nearly run out of all the supplies, 04:09 and something always happens —brothers arrive 04:12 or El Precursor del Amazonas comes. 04:15 At the end, we learned to be in want 04:18 but also to have an abundance. 04:20 Seeing all this makes us feel protected 04:23 —even though we are here in the middle of the jungle. 04:25 People here in Amazonas know that there is a God 04:29 who gives them food, provides them the river, 04:32 gives them the rain that keeps them alive. 04:34 But they didn’t know 04:36 that Jehovah is that God. 04:38 And that is our job 04:40 —to teach these people that Jehovah is the true God. 04:43 When you see the sparkle 04:45 in the eyes of your Bible students when they understand the truth, 04:48 there is nothing like it. 04:50 It compensates for any discomfort. 04:53 That’s priceless! 04:55 So being in this work is the best thing you can do 04:57 because it causes true happiness. 05:00 I am proud of being with Jehovah’s people. 05:04 Now I enjoy watching the videos with my family. 05:08 I conduct a family study, and I preach with my children, 05:11 giving the message to the people. 05:15 Sometimes you have to reject Bible studies —something that seems a strange thing 05:18 for a Jehovah’s Witness to do, turn down Bible studies. 05:22 Rather, we always want to have studies. 05:24 But there are so many 05:26 that if we start giving them all, it will be impossible. 05:28 So, then, sometimes we choose to tell people to wait a bit 05:31 and that we’ll return on another occasion. 05:34 And sometimes up to one year will pass by. 05:36 We have visited people from a year ago 05:39 that had not been spoken to since, and they say: 05:41 “Hey, a year ago you said you’d return, and now here you are. 05:44 But it’s been a year, brother!” 05:48 I feel good, 05:51 and I am teaching them in Curripaco. 05:53 So they can speak to people about Jehovah in Curripaco. 05:58 To share in one of the preaching trips 06:01 of El Precursor del Amazonas 06:04 is a unique and unforgettable experience. 06:07 Your faith is strengthened when you return, 06:10 and you are made more aware of the need 06:12 for additional workers for the harvest.
00:12 It was very difficult to reach these territories 00:14 because we had to navigate through part of the Orinoco 00:17 and then onto other smaller rivers. 00:21 Many of their communities are far away. 00:24 The first time we came, we traveled on the roof of a boat. 00:28 We are within days (approximately seven days) 00:32 from our place of origin, where our family is. 00:36 Another challenge is the language. 00:40 We realized that many did not understand a word. 00:42 In this assignment, 00:45 we have come across seven different languages. 00:48 Initially, this was a demanding task. 00:52 Imagine having so much to say and not being understood. 00:56 We were able to overcome it because, at this point, 01:00 we feel that what we preach in their language —it is reaching their hearts. 01:04 They understand. 01:06 They understand. 01:06 We can see it in their faces. 01:07 And that motivates them to make changes in their life. 01:11 This led a group of brothers to put forward 01:14 the idea of having our own boat for the purpose 01:16 of preaching the good news of the Kingdom in this area. 01:22 And that’s when finally the project 01:25 of El Precursor del Amazonas was born. 01:30 The branch arranged for a committee to handle 01:34 the task of managing and caring for the boat. 01:38 They also prepare the travel itinerary during the year. 01:42 They conduct important meetings, 01:45 such as the pre-departure meeting 01:48 —which aims to train the assigned passengers, 01:51 giving them necessary guidelines and instructions 01:54 to be observed during the trip. 01:57 They also assign the different crews to man the boat. 02:01 In the morning, you get up before dawn 02:05 —most likely six in the morning, 02:08 half past five. 02:10 It’s still a little dark. 02:13 Morning worship is conducted at approximately seven o’clock; 02:18 some instructions are given; and after offering up a prayer, 02:23 we eat calmly at about half past seven. 02:28 During the trip, there’s a chance to read. 02:31 There are assignments, such as cleaning the boat, cooking. 02:34 Actually, we stay pretty busy. 02:37 And at the end of the day, we arrive at a beach or a community. 02:40 No comparison between traveling before and traveling now. 02:43 Now we travel by limousine. 02:46 It’s luxurious —“five star” or something like that. 02:49 Yes, 02:51 traveling in seats, for example, 02:54 with a group of brothers, 02:57 with a formal meal service, 03:00 with electricity. 03:02 Meetings are held; we consider the daily text. 03:04 We share experiences, tell stories; we do everything! 03:09 It’s like being in a miniature Kingdom Hall, 03:12 traveling for five days. 03:14 We also preach in the different communities along the way. 03:16 It has its own publications and a literature cart. 03:20 That makes it a very spiritual 03:23 and upbuilding experience for all of us. 03:27 The way the boat looked to them, 03:29 captured the indigenous peoples’ interest. 03:32 The dignified presentation of the boat 03:34 is something worthy of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 03:37 I also noticed that where we were sitting, 03:40 we had a little area, like a locker for each person. 03:43 That made it very comfortable 03:45 —things that didn’t exist in boats for rent. 03:48 El Precursor del Amazonas has been a blessing for us. 03:53 We were able to bring our food and some of the things we needed, 03:56 such as a refrigerator to keep it in. 03:59 Those things have been made possible, 04:01 thanks to Jehovah, who allowed us to have this boat. 04:03 At times, we have arrived at a point where 04:07 we nearly run out of all the supplies, 04:09 and something always happens —brothers arrive 04:12 or El Precursor del Amazonas comes. 04:15 At the end, we learned to be in want 04:18 but also to have an abundance. 04:20 Seeing all this makes us feel protected 04:23 —even though we are here in the middle of the jungle. 04:25 People here in Amazonas know that there is a God 04:29 who gives them food, provides them the river, 04:32 gives them the rain that keeps them alive. 04:34 But they didn’t know 04:36 that Jehovah is that God. 04:38 And that is our job 04:40 —to teach these people that Jehovah is the true God. 04:43 When you see the sparkle 04:45 in the eyes of your Bible students when they understand the truth, 04:48 there is nothing like it. 04:50 It compensates for any discomfort. 04:53 That’s priceless! 04:55 So being in this work is the best thing you can do 04:57 because it causes true happiness. 05:00 I am proud of being with Jehovah’s people. 05:04 Now I enjoy watching the videos with my family. 05:08 I conduct a family study, and I preach with my children, 05:11 giving the message to the people. 05:15 Sometimes you have to reject Bible studies —something that seems a strange thing 05:18 for a Jehovah’s Witness to do, turn down Bible studies. 05:22 Rather, we always want to have studies. 05:24 But there are so many 05:26 that if we start giving them all, it will be impossible. 05:28 So, then, sometimes we choose to tell people to wait a bit 05:31 and that we’ll return on another occasion. 05:34 And sometimes up to one year will pass by. 05:36 We have visited people from a year ago 05:39 that had not been spoken to since, and they say: 05:41 “Hey, a year ago you said you’d return, and now here you are. 05:44 But it’s been a year, brother!” 05:48 I feel good, 05:51 and I am teaching them in Curripaco. 05:53 So they can speak to people about Jehovah in Curripaco. 05:58 To share in one of the preaching trips 06:01 of El Precursor del Amazonas 06:04 is a unique and unforgettable experience. 06:07 Your faith is strengthened when you return, 06:10 and you are made more aware of the need 06:12 for additional workers for the harvest.
