Lethem: A Place of Opportunity

Hello Everyone!

I'm so sorry this had taken me so long to post, things have gotten really busy here, really fast! But we're finally back from our trip and boy are there a lot of stories to tell. Suffice it to say this trip has changed my perspective on life, both spiritually and physically. Above all other things it has drawn me closer to Jehovah in his ability to support and sustain us all. And because we were often in desperate need of his help for almost the entire trip, we got to see his hand maneuvering matters in our favor many times. There is so much to tell but before I go into the details of our actual trip I would like to give some info and experiences from our stay in the village of Lethem.

Here's the Route we took From Correntyne to Berbice.
Rose Hall is just a few minutes from our House.
From Georgetown to Lethem is 12 Hours!


Lethem is far south of where we live on the coast, and sadly it takes about a 12 hour bus ride to get there. I say sadly because this village has a tremendous need and an amazing ministry to match! The ride down is also not cheap, $15,000 GYD or about $75 US which is more than the average person can afford. So it's not often that the brothers and sisters travel to or from Lethem, but there have been a few recent additions from out of the country. So far there are about Four Need-Greaters serving in the congregation, and one new Elder with his wife, both pioneers.

About Halfway thru the trip we have to cross this River by Ferry
Our Bus is in the back



Lethem need Greaters!
From the Left: Jordan Harrison, Robert Lopez, Leah Loepez, Felicia and Desiree


As we recently learned this one congregation in Lethem has a vast territory to cover, almost half of the country. With the new help they have been very zealous about covering it, but there are many areas of the interior that they can't reach. That's where trips like the one we just took come into play, but the need greaters in Lethem are focusing on cultivating the seeds sown nearby. There are two new "Groups" that have been started, which mainly consist of studies. I was amazed to learn that despite the groups being only months old, all these studies come regularly to the meetings. I think the average attendance is about 15-30. But in just one of these remote areas the memorial attendance was over 100. Normally One Elder or Servant are assigned to conduct meetings for these groups and to give parts in the Lethem Congregation as well. So whenever brothers come in to visit they automatically are assigned a part on the meetings to give the local brothers a break. I was assigned two parts while there during our brief visit. A Service meeting part in Lethem and a public talk in one of the smaller groups called Shulinab. So, needless to say, there is a huge need for brothers in Lethem. Then new Elder, Rob Lopez, commented that they need brothers who are trained in two areas; Teaching Theocratic Organization and Practicing Theocratic Organization. So in other words; brothers who not only talk to talk but can walk the walk, by setting a good example.

Lethem Kingdom Hall


Bikes are our Best Friends!


Giving the Public talk in Shulinab


Bible Studies of Shulinab


As I've learned on the coast, the great thing about serving in a congregation of need is you get intense training as a teacher. True it may be difficult at first, but like anything, once you start to get good at teaching, it really becomes enjoyable. Plus Lethem has its share of perks that the coast doesn't have. For one the area is truly beautiful, the drive in was like driving thru a vast savanna with beautiful hills and mountains in the distance and beautiful sky to match. Also it's only an hour from the border to Brazil, which has a lot to offer in shopping and restaurants. There are also many waterfalls and rivers nearby which are great for a refreshing swim. And last but not least, you can get some of the best homemade ice cream for miles. It may not sound like much, but good ice cream is very hard to come by here in Guyana, let alone homemade! So if anyone is looking for a new place to serve, which has incredible beauty and an equally pleasing ministry, please feel free to let us know.











After staying in Lethem for a little over a week all of us were actually sad to leave. It had become to us like a home away from home. Plus the warmth and love of the local brothers and need greaters made for a very memorable experience. Lara and I will definitely have our eye on Lethem as a possible place to serve in the future.