From Mr. Dexter Faulkner: My wife Shirley and I attended the Feast of Tabernacles with brethren in Goa, India, and Sri Lanka this year. And again, no matter where we go in the world we find God's people show the same fruits of His Spirit.
To show you how one Indian member got to the Feast, picture this: Start with a bus ride of 170 kilometers (about 105 miles) over rugged, hilly country. Then board a plane to fly to Calcutta. After spending the Day of Atonement in Calcutta, board a train to cross India to Bombay — that's two full nights and a day and a half journey. After spending the Sabbath in Bombay, board a bus for a night and a half day's journey to the Feast site. And, believe me, our brethren don't travel first class.
The Goan site was a large resort hotel on a lovely beach. All the brethren stayed in the hotel and met in the hotel's conference hall- convenient because of occasional heavy rain. Meals, a varied selection of Indian and Goan dishes, were served under a canopied patio.
Mr. and Mrs. Rob Kelly and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Dixon attended the Goan site as well. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Sidney couldn't get back to India because their visas didn't come through, so Mr. Kelly found himself Festival Elder in Goa.
After the first Holy Day we had a banquet with Goan dancing for entertainment and a sing-along that all of us children enjoyed.
From Goa Mr. and Mrs. Dixon and Shirley and I left the same day to return to Bombay, but on separate flights. Ask the Dixons some time about their trip from the hotel to the airport. Space doesn't permit a full account here, but I can say after experiencing a five-hour delay because of rioting Goans, they did finally make it to Bombay.
In Sri Lanka, the Festival site was also a resort hotel, about 2 hours drive south of Colombo on the Indian Ocean. Again, all the brethren stayed in the same hotel and ate together, making fellowshipping convenient. In both Goa and Sri Lanka, heavy rain caused power problems during services. I think that must be one of a speaker's greatest trials, trying to read notes in the dark.
The hotel's extras included an elephant to ride along the beach. At a beach party, brethren had a tug-of-war with the giant creature. When they leaned back, giving it their all against the beast, he would let go of the rope. I'm sure I saw that elephant smile.
One morning, while walking to our room after services, we saw an elderly man with a long white beard reading in a lounge area. With a magnifying glass he was going over Mr. Armstrong's book "Mystery of the Ages." We learned he was a new member keeping his first Feast. He could not see or hear very well and didn't speak to many, but he was there keeping God's Feast.
God is calling a high caliber of people in both India and Sri Lanka. What a massive responsibility these few have to teach God's way to millions of their own brethren in the future.
It makes one pray more fervently, "Thy Kingdom come." God's servants and our brethren in those areas need our prayers daily.
Feature Feast Report
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