Sunday, September 28, 2008

Hey there everybody.
We had a great day today. Because we have not received an Congregation assignment yet Capri & I went to the meeting with some good friends of ours, Terry & Katrina Turner.
The congregation is in the south Bronx by the name of Bruckner-English. Our day began with a pancake & oatmeal breakfast in the 90 Sands dining room @ 7:00 a.m. From there we went back to the room to finish studying our Watchtower, we were then picked up at 9:00 to head off to the meeting. However, just before that about 15 minutes before leaving, we got a phone call in our room from a brother who introduce himself and asked if we needed a ride to the meeting. He said that he had received notification that we had been assigned to the 'Pratt' Congregation in Brooklyn, a congregation with 75 publishers and with only 4 elders.
He said that he looked forward to the help we would be able to give, especially the help of another elder.
Since we already had made plans to go to the meeting with the Turners, I just told the brother we would begin attending meetings Tuesday.
The Bruckner congregation has only 4 elders also, with about 80 publishers, they were wondering if Capri & I could be assigned there, that they need the help.
Anyways after the meeting we went immediately in to the field Ministry in the Bronx... What an experience. A group of us 10, went to the top of a 21 story tenement with 7 or 8 residences per floor.
All ten of us would stand in front of the common hallway if front of the elevators, and then brother Turner would then send two from the group to go do 3 or 4 doors while the rest of us just waited for them to finish. they would then return, give Brother Turner the not-at-homes, he would then assign two more to finish the other three doors while the rest of us wait. Then, when finished, we would all take the stairs down to the next hallway and repeat the routine. (By the way in many cases the stairways were filled with a stench, reason: we had to walk over puddles of urine!)
What an experience!
No one actually opens the door either, you just talk to the peep-holes, giving your presentations and reading Scriptures.
Capri & I got to go on a couple of Bible studies, and Brother Turner & I made a couple of Shepherding calls too.
We finished our day back at Bethel with a hearty Meatloaf dinner.
we are now back at the room eating chocolate cake.
Life is tough!!!
Love You, Vince & Capri.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Vince & Capri Alvarez

Vince & Capri Alvarez
We are in our second day here in Brooklyn Bethel, we have an awesome room in 90 Sands on the 24th floor overlooking Brooklyn and the 'East river' (Haven't seen anyone in cement goulashes yet).

Being up this high gives us a nice view of the city. We get to see the sunrise in the morning, and the moon clearly in the evening.

Today we got our official Bethel ID with our picture on them, we will upload a picture later.

We know that you must have been encouraged to hear of the announcements of Gene Jensen as an elder, and Chris Forward as a new Ministerial Servant. You won't even miss Capri & I with these new assignments.

We love and miss all of you and will continue to update you about our wonderful experience here at world headquarters.

We have yet to get our work assignment, a congregation assignment and locker assignment.

Phi-lia, Vince & Capri