Kotzebue - Week 20 (34)

As usual I hope that this reaches each of you doing well and busy in the field.

This week was a full and busy one as we are coming to the end of another month in the Springtime of the Arctic. Walking thru the territory is something we have had to get used again. Why do I say that?

We now are having to walk thru a very unique and interesting combo of extremely uneven and treacherous snow, mud, slush and ice along with getting splashed regularly by those who are passing by on their Snowmachines, 4 Wheelers and Vehicles.

Ironically, this week was the 1st time I have seen some of the actual earth and ground of Kotzebue in the 6 months we have been here. It's been a new sight as the ground is completely covered in ice and snow for the majority (9 months) of the year.

On the subject of ice, the Frozen Chukchi Sea is begining to break apart and melt in sections as we experienced 1st hand walking across this week in the ministry. (See attached)

The days continue to be long and full of sunlight. As of now, the Sun rises at 6AM and sets after 11PM. As I had mentioned earlier, this has had a very nice effect on the town and people in general for the most part. With temperatures in the 20s and 30s the milder weather is a pleasant welcome for all that call this ancient hunting village home.

Last week I got a phone call from a very interesting young man. He was previously contacted by mail by one of the brothers in a local congregation in the Anchorage area. He asked me to come by and see him in his home during the week because he wanted some study material. He warned me that I was going to be in for a ride with him in the call. After speaking with him and setting a time to visit I contacted the local brother to get some more background on him. The brother informed me that he had a very "colorful" past, being a 3 time Felon, extreme alcoholic, drug user and very violent. He recommended that it would be best not to go alone to his home.

I visited him early in the week and we were able to talk at length and answer many of his questions. He told me about his past in Prison and some of the "dark issues" he has to contend with. Interestingly, he told me that he didn't want to study with me because he wanted to do it on his own. I asked him why? He let me know that he frequently gets drunk and becomes violent and that he wanted me to be careful with him as he could get out of control most times. I thanked him for letting me know and told him that I would respect his wishes.

Before leaving I asked him to call me if he needed anything or had any questions to which he said he would do so. He thanked me for coming and taking the time to see him. I look forward to seeing how Jehovah will guide him and help him to make the necessary changes in his life.

It truly is a joy and privilege for each of us as servants of the Most High to carry "the glorious good news" to all sorts of people, to the most distant corners of this Planet. Yes, to you and I, it's been "entrusted". (1 Tim 1:11)

Praying Jehovah's rich blessing on you, I remain,

Your fellow worker,

M. J. Penfield

Alaska Fact of the Week: The Yukon River, almost 2,000 miles long, is the third longest river in the U.S. There are more than 3,000 rivers in Alaska and over 3 million lakes. The largest, Lake Iliamna, encompasses over 1,000 square miles.

Kotzebue - Week 19 (33)

I trust that each of you are doing well.

We have reached the conclusion of another busy week in the field here in Kotzebue.

There's not very much to report to you by way of new updates at this time, other than the fact that we continue covering the territory and cultivating our return visits. Some have the potential to turn into Bible Study's with some time and patience.

Harriet continues to progress and enjoys her new Bible. I will have to order her a Large Print copy as she has some trouble seeing and reading the smaller print. I will also do the same with the Publications such as the Bible Teach book for her once she is ready to begin considering that publication. Hopefully that will be soon in the near future with the aid of the Holy Spirit on her heart and my continued endeavors in her behalf.

She has a profound love for the bible and when I visited her this week, she shared with me some of her favorite verses. In the 7 times that she has read the bible over she has found quite a few of them as you can imagine. She continues to read it each day in spite of her limited eyesight and health issues.

I continue to keep you all in my thoughts and prayers daily. May Jehovah bless your whole souled efforts to exert yourself in the ministry, in the days ahead.

With love and greetings,

M. J. Penfield

Alaska Fact of the Week: The state of Rhode Island could fit into Alaska 425 times.

Kotzebue - Week 18 (32)

I hope as you read this you all are well and enjoyed your Special Talk today. No doubt each of us is looking forward to Perfect Family Happiness soon to come in the near future.

This week proved to be another good one as we continued making our way thru the territory. Our progress is being seen in the people we are reaching on a daily basis in this village we have been assigned to cover.

We continued in the field taking the time to reach new homes and returning to visit those who we had previously met. This includes Harriet from last week at the Memorial. As you may remember, she expressed interest in the New World Translation as she has a deep love of the Bible and various translations. I was able to get one ordered for her and deliver it to her this week. You can imagine her joy and appreciation for God's Word as I handed it to her still in the plastic wrapping. She took it from me and held it close, thanking me for braving the cold to walk and bring it to her home. The beginning of this week she will be traveling to Anchorage for some matters and will return later. I'll visit her again to see her thoughts on what she will read in those pages that she dearly cherishes.

Interestingly, she took a Bible Teach book from me at the Memorial so I am keenly interested to hear her thoughts on that as well. If the opportunity presents itself perhaps a small study may be started with her soon. I continue to pray that Jehovah touch her heart with His word.

On another note, the weather continues to remain milder and more favorable to reach people in a relaxed and inviting state then previously when we 1st began in the assignment back in December. The extended days of Sunlight are welcomed by one and all including myself. As of now, the Sun rises around 8am and sets closer to 11PM each night with the time getting longer by 10-12 minutes each day that passes. This will prove itself to be very interesting when the sun is still up at 1 or 2 AM with continual light for 24 hours soon. I will be sure to share pictures with you when this starts to occur.

Please continue to remain faithful to your ministry and may Jehovah bless your efforts this week as you persevere in the work he has given all of us, that of "making disciples of people of all the nations." (Matt 28:19) Continue joyfully enduring any trials you may be faced with, fully confident in Divine victory. You all remain a subject of my daily prayers to our Tender Father Jehovah.

With warm love and the best of wishes,

M. J. Penfield

Alaska Fact of the Week: Alaska is the United State's largest state and is over twice the size of Texas. Measuring from north to south the state is approximately 1,400 miles long and measuring from east to west it is 2,700 miles wide.

Kotzebue - Week 17 (31)

I hope you're all doing well as this special week concludes.

No doubt you're still deeply reflecting and thinking of this past Friday with the celebration of the Lord's Evening Meal and your own appreciation of the offering of Jehovah, and His only son as a sacrifice in each of our behalf.

You will be happy to know that after another full week in the field of inviting others, on Friday we held the Memorial here in Kotzebue. Ironically, it was also the 1st ever meeting of Jehovah's Witnesses that was held in the community.

We held it in a modest meeting room of a small hotel here in town that is used for the local community events. We had 5 visitors to make a total of 7 in attendance for our program. (please see attached pictures)

One of them was my Return Visit named Harriet. She is an elderly woman about 89 years old very kind, warm hearted and hospitable. Earlier in the week I visited Harriet in her home to invite her and her family and friends to the Memorial. After talking for almost an hour there in her home, I picked up on something very notable about her. What was it? She has a genuine love for the Bible.

This is something I would later recall on Friday evening when she attended the program and spoke one on one to me.

Why do I say this? Well, after expressing to me how many different translations of the bible she has and how many times she has read the entire bible over, she stared in amazement at my New World Translation. I handed it to her and watched as she turned each of the pages carefully examining it's contents and touched the words on the leather with a respectful reverence. After I showed her the features of it and why it's a special translation I offered to get her a copy which she agreed to with tears in her eyes.

She has a mild and gentle personality having endured many trials, including various of her own health problems and losing her husband in death to Cancer. Through it all, she has maintained her faith, which she told me gives her an inner strength, enabling her to cope with the challenges of life.

She listened intently as I gave the discourse and afterward expressed to me that she wasn't going to attend at 1st as she wasn't feeling well earlier in the day but that she had prayed and felt that she needed to be in attendance because of her appreciation of Jesus' Sacrifice.

Also in attendance was Alice and her 3 children who we met in the door to door minstry. They also were encouraged to attend from Harriet. Most families in town know each other, or are related thru blood or marriage. This gives them very close bonds that enable them to have close contact with each other.

They too seemed to enjoy the program and all 5 of them, including the little ones took our literature and expressed interest in the message. We look forward to continuing to cover this territory and reach many, many more with this life-giving message.

I am glad to share this brief update with you regarding our Memorial. Thank you for your support, thoughts and prayers in behalf of each of us. What a joy to be unitedly serving with you from this vast and distant land!

You all continue to be in my expressions of sincere appreciation to Our Father. May Jehovah be with each of you in the days to come.

With Warm Love and Greetings,

M. J. Penfield

Alaska Fact of the Week: Alaska has an estimated 100,000 glaciers, ranging from tiny cirque glaciers to huge valley glaciers. There are more active glaciers and ice fields in Alaska than in the rest of the inhabited world. The largest glacier is the Malaspina at 850 square miles. Five percent of the state, or 29,000 square miles, is covered by glaciers.