Hello from World Headquarters!
Here are some recent news items that we would like to share with you.
At morning worship, Jeffrey Jackson of the Governing Body, gave a report about our brothers in Texas, after Hurricane Ike.
No fatalities, 22 Kingdom Halls were damaged, 1740 homes damaged, with 15 totally destroyed.
Dallas was the first to respond, brothers brought 300 tons of supplies. A major oil company donated 45 generators, and two truckloads of food. they brought these to the witnesses because they knew that we would not turn around and sell these for a profit.

This evening, Monday, after Family Watchtower Study, we had the privilege of hearing the introductions of the 126th class of Gilead.
Brother William Malanfant introduced each couple, there are 28 of them from 6 different countries. Average age - 32, Average years in the truth - 17, average years in full-time service - 13.
We are looking forward to meeting some of them as they will be touring Brooklyn on Friday.

As each couple is introduced, they share some background information about themselves, for example, how they came into the truth, the goal to serve as missionaries and the obstacles, trials, negative thinking, etc... they experienced in reaching their goal. Some were raised around the truth, others came into the truth later, some have broken families, raised in single-parent households, and divided families. Others have disfellowshipped or inactive parent or siblings.

For example; one brother was raised in Christian home, however as he explained it, his parents fought the entire time he was at home. Abusive speech, throwing things at one another, black-eyes and the like were common occurrences. through all of this his mother remained with him. His father became inactive for several years. He left home, and after a while things improved. After some 20 years , his father is now reactivated, and for the first time since he was a young boy he recently had the privilege of going out in field service with his father. And now he & his wife have the awesome privilege of attending Gilead.

We miss you all, and look forward to sharing many more experiences with you,
Phi-li-a, Vince & Capri