Yearbook—1992

Title Page/​Publishers’ Page

1992 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Containing Report for the Service Year of 1991

While people of the world push more and more for independence, may we, as Jehovah’s Witnesses, adhere closer and closer to one another as we rejoice in our unifying hope and keep steadfast in prayer. Thus, for 1992 our yeartext is: “Rejoice in the hope. . . . Persevere in prayer.”​—Rom. 12:12.

Index

Page

3 Highlights of reports from around the world

33 1991 Service Year Report, 211 Countries or Territories

Acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Modern Times:

66 Kenya and Other Countries

208 Solomon Islands

253 Coping With the Turbulent Seas of Restless Mankind (Letter from the Governing Body)

Jehovah’s Witnesses​—1992 Yearbook Report

SOUTH of the Cogamis River sat the Lydian city of Philadelphia. Perched on a hilly plateau in the region’s fertile heartland, it presided over a broad valley leading west through Sardis to Smyrna on the coast of the Mediterranean. Philadelphia, now named Alasehir, in western Turkey, was once a prosperous center for wine production. Little wonder that its chief deity was Dionysus, the god of wine! But in stark contrast to the mirth that stems from wine sipping, the city was also the location of what Jesus called “the synagogue of Satan.” (Rev. 3:9) It was in this unseemly environment, where holy acts of conduct would seem out of place, that a congregation of true Christian workers flourished. It was one of the seven that Jesus Christ personally addressed in the book of Revelation. A door to theocratic activity had swung open before those loyal worshipers of Jehovah.

“I know your deeds​—look!” stated Jesus, the holder of the key of David and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. “I have set before you an opened door, which no one can shut​—that you have a little power, and you kept my word and did not prove false to my name.”​—Rev. 1:5; 3:7, 8.

Imagine, Christ’s fearless followers, a small, close-knit band who struggled against persecutors, were the ones blessed with a widely opened door of sacred service! No such privilege went to the religious leaders or the rulers of the city. They had earned no favor with Jesus as they wielded their power in Philadelphia​—a choice spot because it lay on the frontier of culture and acted as the gateway to central Asia Minor. On the other hand, Jesus encouraged the Philadelphia congregation to take full advantage of their opportunity to preach the Kingdom of God. They had endured and shown that they had enough power, with help from God’s spirit, to continue with further deeds in Jehovah’s service. Neither Gentile nor Jewish opposition had stopped, nor will it ever stop, the Kingdom proclamation work.

Today’s Opened Door

Today, as a result of the preaching spearheaded by the anointed brothers of Christ, large numbers of people have entered through the opened door into Kingdom service. As you consider the worldwide service report, no doubt you will agree that during this past service year, Jehovah’s Witnesses have truly marched through a gateway of activity.

Peak publishers: 4,278,820, a 6.5-percent increase over the 1990 service year. A new high in the average number of pioneer publishers: 558,514. Total hours spent preaching the good news: 951,870,021.

What good results have come from all this theocratic activity during the 1991 service year? For one, 300,945 newly dedicated servants of Jehovah have been baptized. For another, there were 3,191 more congregations than in 1990​—an average increase of 8.7 per day—​resulting in a total of 66,207 congregations in 211 lands. Also, the total number of branch offices has increased from 93 to 97, including 2 branches in countries that were formerly behind the old Iron Curtain. And lands that have come legally to recognize Jehovah’s Witnesses are Mozambique in Africa, Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean west of Africa, Nicaragua in Central America, Paraguay in South America, Bulgaria in Europe, and Russia and the Ukraine in the Soviet Union.

How thrilling it is to see the prospects for future growth as evidenced by the number of those at the Memorial of Christ’s death. On Saturday, March 30, the night of the sacred celebration, the attendance was 10,650,158!

In Mexico, the Memorial attendance was 1,230,099, an 8-percent increase over the year before. This means that 1 out of every 67 inhabitants of Mexico was present for that celebration. And Brazil, with 302,367 publishers, had 897,739 persons in attendance, 106,813 more than the previous year. No wonder that, on the average, one new congregation had to be formed each day during the service year in Brazil, and 21 new circuits and two new districts began to function on September 1, 1991. The Memorial celebration in the Philippines brought joy to the brothers as they welcomed 332,830 to their places of meeting. This is three times their peak number of publishers. Eastern Europe also experienced a good increase in Memorial attenders. The Soviet Union reports 108,633 in attendance, 43 percent more than last year! Poland had 200,422 persons fill the Kingdom Halls and other facilities on that sacred night.

Violence marked the night of the Memorial in many townships in South Africa, causing many interested persons to stay home because of fear of being molested while traveling to or from the site of the Memorial. To give an example of the difficulties that some individuals faced, consider the situation of the Montebello Congregation in the rurals of Natal. This is a small congregation of ten publishers who have just built and dedicated their own Kingdom Hall. On Saturday morning, factional fighting broke out in that area. An elder in a neighboring congregation was assigned to give the talk. As he and his wife approached the village of Montebello, a local man who knew this brother asked him: “Where are you going?” He explained that they were going to the Kingdom Hall, where he would give the Memorial talk. The man then warned: “No, you must not go there because that is where people are killing one another.”

Sure enough, as the brother got near the hall, he counted ten dead bodies, victims of factional fighting. In spite of these dangers, 16 attended the Memorial. The hall was the only place in the area that had lighting. All the homes were in darkness out of fear of attracting troublemakers. After the Memorial the brothers and interested persons all slept at the home of a brother near the hall. The next morning, after they returned home, the factional fighting broke out again.

“Generous in Your Contribution”

The amazing growth of Jehovah’s people worldwide has meant an increase in the number of full-time ministers serving in missionary homes, as well as the number of special pioneers and traveling overseers. Although they are all volunteers who receive only a small monetary reimbursement for necessary personal items, nevertheless, the housing, feeding, and general care of these dedicated workers in their field service assignments required $40,219,589.01 last year. You are to be commended for your generosity, just as the apostle Paul commended the congregation in Corinth for their readiness to share. He wrote concerning the glory that goes to God “because you are submissive to the good news about the Christ . . . and because you are generous in your contribution.”​—2 Cor. 9:13.

When honesthearted people see the earnest effort that Jehovah’s Witnesses put forth to advance the good news, even in the way they work together to build a new branch facility, many desire to do what they can to help further the Kingdom work. Ruth, a schoolgirl in Nigeria, is an example. After she visited the Bethel and factory complex at Igieduma, which was officially completed in April 1990, she wrote:

“I felt so happy to see the beautiful buildings and amenities provided at Igieduma Bethel. All of these were made possible by the voluntary contributions of brothers and sisters. While I was thanking Jehovah for this great work at Igieduma, a question came to mind. What had been my contribution toward the erection of these structures? Being a schoolgirl of 16 years of age, I had nothing to contribute financially. However, at the time of my visit, I had a hen that was laying eggs. Later it hatched them. On the day the hen came out with her chicks, I selected one of them and named it Igieduma Fowl. Unfortunately, some weeks later the chickens were plagued with a disease. One by one they died, including the mother. But Igieduma Fowl refused to die! Recently I sold the fowl and am now sending the money as my ‘widow’s mite contribution’ to the spreading of the good news.”

Another example comes from Ecuador, where a pioneer is studying the Bible with a blind couple who have begun attending meetings. Soon they wanted to know how they could prepare for the meetings. So the pioneer began recording the Watchtower lesson and book study material on tape. Do they appreciate this help? One day as the husband tended his stall at the market, a customer told him that she was giving him a bill equal to about five dollars for the goods she bought. In reality, she gave him a bill worth less than 50 cents. The loss was equal to a month’s rent for the blind couple. Nevertheless, this disappointment did not keep them from being present that night for the meeting. And, before leaving, he asked for the contribution box so that he could put in something for the Kingdom work. Noting this, the pioneer said: “Their appreciation really amazes me.”

Surmounting a Wall of Prejudice

Jehovah’s Witnesses highly value life, and they seek good medical care. But they do not take blood transfusions; this is a nonnegotiable religious stand. (Acts 15:29) How is it possible to overcome the wall of prejudice and rejection that the Witnesses often meet on the blood issue? HIS (Hospital Information Services) at Brooklyn trains and supervises elders to assist fellow Witnesses in a time of medical need. One instructor from this department said: “Jehovah’s Witnesses do not bang their heads against this ‘wall’ but rather try to surmount it. We are reminded of Psalm 18:29: ‘By my God I can climb a wall.’”

Since 1988, by means of 32 seminars, HIS has trained and set up 811 Hospital Liaison Committees in 62 major branches in North and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Pacific area. These committees, made up of 3,846 elders, serve certain special needs of the 3.4 million Witnesses who may be hospitalized in those lands. Have the seminars equipped the elders to do this effectively?

One elder said: “We were equipped to make our viewpoint clear, with firmness and due respect but without being shackled by fear.” Another delegate said: “We learned how we can point to real alternative nonblood treatments, refer to medical sources, or offer to arrange contacts in order to uphold the principle of abstaining from blood.” A chairman of the department of surgery at one major hospital said: “You men, as I perceive it, are on the cutting edge of medical and legal information on blood use.”

Of course, expert medical knowledge was not the main point. A delegate observed: “Human knowledge was not the focus of attention, as it was constantly pointed out that Jehovah and his holy spirit are behind the arrangement.” A brother who came from what was formerly East Germany said: “The seminar also worked as an incentive to show even greater interest in sick brothers.” Yes, true Christians are under obligation to visit and be helpful to ailing fellow believers. (Compare Matthew 25:36.) Offering help and encouragement to brothers in emergency situations, including those who face a confrontation on the blood issue, is an expression of Christian love.​—Eccl. 4:12.

‘Stretching out the Tent Cloths’

“Make the place of your tent more spacious. And let them stretch out the tent cloths of your grand tabernacle.” (Isa. 54:2) What Isaiah wrote about the birth of a new nation may, in principle, be applied to the growth of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Presently, more than 20 branches around the world are involved in major construction projects, to say nothing of the number of Assembly Halls and Kingdom Halls being built.

In the United States, there has been much progress during the last year on the construction of the Watchtower Educational Center at Patterson, N.Y. The 670-acre [270 ha] site is strategically located in a scenic rural area approximately 70 miles [110 km] north of Brooklyn and 45 miles [70 km] east of Watchtower Farms, Wallkill, N.Y. Construction is continuing on a number of buildings. Two of these are five-story residential buildings, while another is a three-story building for a kitchen and a dining room that will seat over 1,600 people. There are more than 650 brothers and sisters working on the project each day. More than 80,000 persons have visited the construction site since the visitors’ center opened in September 1990.

In Japan, when construction of the Tokai Assembly Hall started, a neighbor strongly opposed the project and tried to organize a campaign to stop construction. He came every day to check what was being done on the property, always grumbling. But one day when he came to the site, saw in hand, the brother in charge of construction stopped him. To the brother’s surprise, the man said: “I’ve been watching what you’ve been doing until now. And it looks like the bamboo grove is blocking your way. Let me share in volunteer service today.”

Not only do halls and branch buildings need to be built or enlarged but the number of languages in which we print literature also needs to be ‘stretched out.’ For example, the Computer Department at Watchtower Farms supports the Society’s worldwide computer system identified as MEPS. This system now assists with the composition, translation, and publication of written material in 205 languages.

Ministerial Training School​—An International Door Opens

During the 1991 service year, the Ministerial Training School was conducted for the first time in languages besides English. These were French, German, Italian, and Spanish. The United States had its seventh class convene in Belleville, Michigan, and the eighth class in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. The second and third classes in Britain were conducted in Surrey and Manchester. Foreign-language classes were held in Creil, France; Möllbergen, Germany; Roseto degli Abruzzi, Italy; and Barcelona, Spain.

Each morning the students assemble in a dining room at the school location, usually an Assembly Hall or a Kingdom Hall with auxiliary rooms, to consider the daily text as it is done in all the Society’s branches. As part of their training, students are assigned to comment on the daily text or to offer prayer at mealtimes. After breakfast, school begins at 8:30 a.m. There is a one-hour break for the noon meal, and then from one to two in the afternoon, the students engage in their work assignments, which may involve cleaning, washing the dishes from the noon meal, taking care of maintenance and repair jobs at the facility, or caring for the grounds outside. At 2:00 p.m. they resume their classroom activities. After classes they enjoy the evening meal at their accommodations, and they finish the evening with three hours of homework.

In harmony with the school’s purpose, these graduates are encouraged to be found faithful in doing the will of God whole-souled as they dutifully care for their various congregation responsibilities and other assignments.​—1 Cor. 4:2; Eph. 6:6.

Legal Cases Open Doors for Preaching

“I well know that Jehovah will execute the legal claim of the afflicted one, the judgment of the poor ones,” stated David when subjected to persecution. (Ps. 140:12) Jehovah will come to the defense of his faithful worshipers in his due time and in his own way. He is on the side of the oppressed, the afflicted, and the wronged. In certain lands he may even use the legal system to open, or keep open, the door for the preaching work.

To assist in keeping the door open, the Legal Department in Brooklyn, with its staff of some 40 brothers and sisters, works under the direction of the Governing Body to care for necessary legal matters. Although legal systems vary from country to country, the great majority derive from nearly uniform principles of “natural justice” and “common,” or constitutional law. Recent world events like the impending economic unification of much of Western Europe and the dramatic political changes in Eastern Europe also highlight the increased interdependence of legal systems. As a result, the Legal Department is increasingly involved in assisting the Society’s branches when these are confronted with legal matters, such as our rights relative to the refusal of medical use of blood and the public ministry.

Restoring Property in Africa

When the 14-year ban in Benin was lifted last year, the government returned a number of previously confiscated Kingdom Halls, as well as the former missionary home in Porto-Novo and the former branch office building in the financial capital, Cotonou. These buildings are being renovated, and the government has permitted eight missionaries to enter the country.

When the ban came suddenly in 1976, our missionaries had less than a day to pack their bags and leave Benin. What happened to the branch literature and equipment at the branch office that the government seized? The answer became known finally in November 1990, when a man telephoned to say that some things belonging to the Witnesses had been stored at a house in the capital. Could the brothers come and collect them? To their astonishment, the brothers found over 5,000 books and booklets, including the personal libraries of the missionaries. Other items belonging to the Society included two washing machines, a gas cooker, gas bottles (some still filled with gas), a water heater, a bathtub, and a lawn mower. Though some of the books had yellowed, most of the material recovered was in good shape despite 14 years of storage. The books were made available to the brothers, who snapped them up to complete their personal libraries.

Publishing in Europe

A report from France states that after numerous efforts for more than a year, on May 16, 1991, the France branch finally received governmental permission to use their new four-color press. The first full-color issues of our magazines that were sent out to the congregations were The Watchtower of July 15 and Awake! of July 22.

Although Yugoslavia has been shaken by unrest, the Kingdom work continues, and in contrast with previous years, there were no fines imposed by the authorities because of the house-to-house preaching work. The full-color literature and magazines, which are printed in Germany, have greatly boosted the preaching activity in Croatian, Macedonian, Serbian, and Slovenian, as well as in Albanian. Thus, despite legal roadblocks, Kingdom preaching advances. Jehovah’s work prevails!​—Jer. 15:20.

Translation Services​—A Tool to Spread the Good News

The confusion of man’s language during the building of the Tower of Babel caused the human family to become multilingual instantly. This created the need for a new profession​—that of interpreter, or translator. In contrast, at Pentecost 33 C.E., holy spirit miraculously enabled men and women to speak in the languages of people from 16 different districts of the Roman Empire, without losing their own language. Although no superhuman translation occurs today, nevertheless, spiritual food is regularly supplied in more than 175 languages, much of it simultaneously.

All Watch Tower publications are first prepared in English, a language spoken by almost 9 percent of earth’s population. To dispense this material in the languages of the world, the Society has more than 900 skilled translators in 65 branches globally. The Writing Committee of the Governing Body orchestrates the worldwide translation effort from headquarters in Brooklyn. This includes establishing new translation departments, arranging for the training of translators, answering questions from branches, and providing appropriate tools for research. To assist this translation endeavor, in April 1989 a new department called Translation Services was formed.

Since words often have multiple meanings, translation is not a mechanical process of making a word-for-word replacement from a dictionary. Idioms present unique problems to translators because they cannot be translated literally. For example, the English expression “bite your tongue” in the June 8, 1991, Awake! does not mean to ‘inflict personal injury’; it means to ‘keep quiet.’ Also, the full sense of the original must be accurately conveyed in the translated language. Moreover, the spoken and written word is alive because it grows, expands, and changes as usage alters over time. A few years ago, who had heard of “glasnost,” “perestroika,” “right to life,” “pro-choice,” and “computer hacker”? Such expressions present a never-ending challenge for the translators.

Working closely with the writing staff of the Society, translators try to capture the exact strength and flavor of the English text. To ensure consistency, translators are provided with comments bracketed in the text that explain idioms and other grammar-related aspects of the English. How have the branches responded to this service?

Germany writes: “Our translators welcomed this long-awaited feature with great enthusiasm.” Ghana says: “The system of inserting the meaning of certain expressions has in a large way relieved us of much time-consuming research and pondering over the English material to be translated.” And Italy states: “We find it useful also when the Latin names for plants and animals are given. This saves a lot of time that the translator can now devote to the actual translation.”

Translation of the Bible is another major undertaking of the Society. The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures is currently available in whole or in part in 13 languages, and translation into 20 more languages has been approved. Until now, translators have labored an average of 15 years to translate it. In order to reduce the time needed for Bible translation, the Writing Committee directed an investigation to evaluate the effectiveness of computers. Human minds are infinitely superior to computers because they can get the sense of expressions and are able to select the “correct words of truth.” (Eccl. 12:10) However, it was found that computers can be very useful tools. So Bible translators take advantage of a flexible computer system to store and retrieve vital information on Bible words and expressions. It has exhaustive research capability to locate the Society’s explanations of Scripture texts. It is hoped that this will speed up Bible translation while maintaining the highest quality.

The Society is committed to giving the good news the widest possible publicity. The Watchtower, as of the January 1, 1992, issue, is translated into 113 languages, with 66 of these appearing simultaneously with the English. In other words, 95 percent of Jehovah’s Witnesses receive the same spiritual food at the same time. New publications are appearing in additional languages, including Albanian, Cambodian, Estonian, Georgian, Macedonian, Ndonga, and Nepali. The Governing Body will continue to direct efforts to strengthen the translation teams for the enormous task ahead. With Jehovah’s smile of approval, this should result in even more Bibles and Bible study aids being made available for all peoples, nations, and tongues.

Conventions That Open Doors to Godly Freedom

“I will laud you in the big congregation; among a numerous people I shall praise you.” (Ps. 35:18) Jehovah’s Witnesses take hold of opportunities to praise the Universal Sovereign, and they do so unanimously at their annual district conventions. During the past service year, when the “Pure Language” conventions remaining from 1990 were wrapping up in one part of the globe, the 1991 conventions with their theme “Lovers of Freedom” began in another section of the earth.

The highlight for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Brazil took place during the months of August, September, and October 1990. It was the series of four-day “Pure Language” conventions. Some of the 110 conventions that were held in 68 cities scattered throughout the vastness of Brazil were international and served also delegates from many other countries. There was a total of 548,517 persons in attendance, and the 13,448 baptized delighted all.

These international conventions received good coverage by the local press and television. Jornal da Tarde, in a full-page report, said: “Contrary to other religious events, the convention gives no evidence of fanaticism​—no one shouts, the religious hymns are soft, there are no showy cures nor persons with sacks after the money of the faithful. There is, on the other hand, an atmosphere of complete attention.”

This past year the “Lovers of Freedom” District Conventions held in Brazil in July and August 1991 were also a great success, and the discourses helped our brothers to cherish more deeply their God-given freedom. A festive atmosphere prevailed at these three-day spiritual feasts. The total attendance for all 98 conventions combined was 482,034, with 8,991 persons baptized.

In Italy a Catholic priest was one of the 245,161 people who attended the “Lovers of Freedom” District Conventions. He mingled with the crowd at the convention held in Brescia on July 19 to 21. He was so moved that he put a note in a contribution box. He wrote: “I am a Catholic priest, naturally in plain clothes, who wanted to see personally what these people, whom the church has always considered as just a handful, really do and say. Well, the 15 minutes that I spent in this stadium was enough for me to realize just how much time I had wasted until now. You are really an example to follow. You have made me think, and you have used that which I should use more often​—the Bible. Who knows, one day I may also be with you, dressed in tie and jacket.”

Eastern Europe was the stage for three international conventions this past service year. Budapest, Hungary, hosted 40,601 delegates; Prague, Czechoslovakia, saw 74,587 attend; and Zagreb, Yugoslavia, greeted 14,684 conventioners. Delegates from the four corners of the earth made the crowded streets around the convention sites beautiful by their cheerful presence. Joy abounded among the delegates as they received good Bible instruction and renewed old acquaintances and made new friends.

The international convention held at Nepstadion in Budapest, July 26 to 28, had delegates visiting from 35 countries. It had been only two years, since June 1989, that Jehovah’s Witnesses were recognized legally. By contrast, several years ago, at the time when the stadium was being constructed, some of the brothers were in prison for their religious beliefs. The jailers bragged to them: “You’ll never see this stadium.” One of our brothers replied: “Who knows? Maybe someday Jehovah’s Witnesses will be there.” Because of that statement, he was beaten. But how happy that brother was to be present at this convention and to see the stadium filled with over 40 thousand in attendance!

Conventions were held openly for the first time in the Soviet Union. Tallinn, a coastal city in the now independent nation of Estonia, provided an ironic setting for some convention attenders. From the site where 447 persons were baptized, the brothers and sisters could see an old fortification that in 1950 and 1951 was used as a holding prison for some of them while they were awaiting their time to be carted off to prison camps in distant Siberia. Thus, sobering memories were momentarily awakened at this time of great rejoicing.

Branch Dedications: Another Opened Door of Opportunity

“Happy are those dwelling in your house! They still keep on praising you,” sang the faithful sons of Korah. (Ps. 84:4) Today, branch facilities open doors of opportunity to advance the worship of Jehovah. And when a new facility is dedicated, it is a special opportunity to sing praise to Jehovah.

Fiji

Tuesday, December 25, 1990, was a beautiful, warm, tropical day in Suva, the capital of Fiji. Thousands gathered for the dedication program of the newly completed branch office and residence extension. Fiji is made up of over 800 islands, of which about a hundred are inhabited. Fiji is home to more than 736,000 people, known for their contagious smiles and kind hospitality. It was not until 1913 that the first Witness of Jehovah arrived in Fiji. By the 1930’s, there was only a small band of three families holding meetings in Suva. In 1940 the work was officially banned. Following World War II, the ban was lifted. Hence, the way was opened for the first Gilead missionaries to enter Fiji on April 5, 1947, to work along with the 12 publishers then active in the service.

In 1957, Len Helberg, now living in Australia, and Len Heatley, a local pioneer, were sent to Gilead School. Upon their return to Fiji a year later, a branch office was opened in Suva. “We did not think it was a branch in those days,” recalls Brother Heatley. “We called it a ‘twig.’” Brother Helberg added: “But Jehovah knew what he was doing.” There was one congregation in Suva in the late 1940’s, but the good news has now spread throughout the whole South Pacific, so that today there are branch offices also in New Caledonia, Tahiti, and Western Samoa.

Lyman Swingle of the Governing Body delivered the dedication talk to 434 persons in attendance at the actual branch location and to an additional 3,489 at a nearby stadium hooked in by telephone landline to hear the day’s program. Considering that there are fewer than 1,600 publishers in Fiji, that was an excellent attendance. That evening, the Fijian brothers treated many of the delegates to a festive two-hour performance of singing and dancing.

Greece

April 13, 1991, was a historic day for the 334 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Greece, the date set for the dedication of the new branch facilities situated at Eleona, a rural area some 40 miles [70 km] north of the capital, Athens.

The day for the dedication dawned with overcast skies. Rain seemed imminent. But the lowering clouds could not detract from the serene beauty of the green carpet of barley fields around the 54-acre [22 ha] site dappled with blood-red poppies and yellow daisies. As representatives from all the congregations began to arrive, so did the rain, but this did not dampen the joyful spirit of the 3,815 persons present. The dedication program was also relayed by telephone to assembly grounds near Athens and Thessalonica and to the island of Crete. This link tied in a total of 13,484 persons.

The first convention in Greece was held 66 years ago, in 1925. Yet, the Greek Orthodox Church still actively opposes the Witnesses, as if they were a new religion. The clergy even organized a demonstration outside the premises at Eleona during construction of the branch. Riot police were on hand to maintain order and protect the property. The opposition backfired​—the project was finished six months ahead of schedule.

Two members of the Governing Body, Milton Henschel and Albert Schroeder, were present for the dedication program. The day ended with a meal shared by the Bethel and construction families, as well as the delegates that had come to Greece for the occasion. The visitors enjoyed some traditional Greek dancing performed by brothers and sisters.

Hong Kong

On January 1, 1980, the branch office moved from a tiny facility to a more spacious and quieter one at 4 Kent Road in the suburb of Kowloon Tong. These premises were to serve the needs of the branch very well for eight years. Time then came for further expansion. Right on time a beautiful building suitable for a small branch office and Bethel Home became available at 12 Kent Road, and this was purchased. However, after only three years, it became obvious that another property would soon be needed. Again Jehovah provided.

One afternoon, a Catholic priest living at 16 Kent Road told the Branch Committee coordinator, “Our friends have gone.” He was referring to a Chinese family who owned 14 Kent Road. This family had moved out that weekend, and their house was for sale. It was ideal. The property at 14 Kent Road is an excellent addition to our other properties at numbers 4 and 12. This is a two-story, white reinforced-concrete building. The Bethel family now numbers 19, and there are accommodations for 30.

January 15, 1991, was the evening set aside for the dedication of this additional property. Lloyd Barry, a member of the Governing Body, gave the dedication talk, “Jehovah Keeps Making It Grow.” He is familiar with Hong Kong, having first visited there in 1956 with Nathan H. Knorr, then president of the Watch Tower Society. Since that time Brother Barry has often visited the branch, serving as zone overseer. His talk traced the history of the work from early beginnings down till today, when there are 2,320 publishers in 23 congregations in Hong Kong.

New Caledonia

Tucked away in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean is New Caledonia​—the “Island of Light.” It is an island with natural sites of extraordinary beauty that have always been a favored haven for artists and a source of inspiration to them. In recent years, an increasing number of people have looked for a light that brings eternal life.​—1 John 1:5.

Since 1977 the branch office has been located in a missionary home. Two existing bedrooms were converted into offices for use during the day. Translation, composition, and printing, as well as the handling and shipping of publications, were all done in an area measuring only about a thousand square feet [100 sq m]! This explains why the Governing Body approved the construction of a new Bethel building with a total area of more than 12,900 square feet [1,200 sq m]. It has six bedrooms and is located in Nouméa, the capital of New Caledonia. The main excavation started in January 1989.

The small group of 9 publishers back in 1956 has grown to 1,265. Including the Witnesses in New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna Islands, the branch office is now caring for the needs of more than 1,400 publishers. On December 15, 1990, the audience of about 2,700 were happy to hear David Mercante from the Society’s world headquarters, who was serving as zone overseer, deliver the dedication discourse. After the program, brothers from different islands put on a musical program with Kingdom songs and local dances.

Philippines

In 1972, when the branch was last expanded, there were 54,212 publishers in the Philippines. By the time new branch construction got under way in May 1988, the number of publishers had increased to more than 97,000.

The spiritual harvest began when the message of the good news was first heard on January 14, 1912, at the Manila Grand Opera House. Charles T. Russell, the Society’s first president, delivered the talk “Where Are the Dead?” to an audience of about a thousand. These early seeds of truth gradually bore fruit, and by 1930 a regular weekly Bible class was being conducted, with about ten in attendance. The first Philippines Bethel was a rented apartment, which began to be used in June 1934. The first parcel of land at the present location of the branch office in Quezon City was purchased in December 1947, and the building on it began to be used as a branch office in February 1948. Additional buildings were erected on the original two-acre [1 ha] property in 1953, 1962, and 1972.

With the growth of publishers during the 1970’s, there was a real need to “stretch out the tent cloths” of the branch. (Isa. 54:2) Initially, the neighbors were contacted to see if any would be willing to sell. No one was interested at that time. In fact, one neighbor said: “Chinese do not sell property. They only buy.” Amazingly, one by one, the neighbors who originally showed no interest in the Society’s inquiries to buy their property began to offer their lots and houses for sale. Over a period of six years, ten plots of land were purchased, thus tripling the property owned by the Society.

Construction of the 2-story factory and 11-story Bethel Home began in May 1988. International servants and local volunteers cheerfully joined forces to erect the new branch. The Japan branch helped with drawings from their engineering department and with monetary contributions to augment the Filipino brothers’ contributions.

Jehovah’s direction was repeatedly seen. For example, when procuring the roof sheeting and floor decking, the brothers learned that only one company in the Philippines handled the design that was needed. However, the branch project was number 301 on that company’s waiting list. An appointment was made to speak directly with the vice president of the company, and the volunteer nature of our work was explained. The board of directors of that company approved our request, and the branch order was moved to number 1 on the production list. This was very providential, as just after the delivery of the materials, workers in that company went on strike.

April 13, 1991, dawned bright and clear. The audience of 1,718 were delighted to welcome John E. Barr of the Governing Body for the dedication address. His subject? “Song of Theocracy’s Increase.” What an appropriate theme not only for this branch dedication but for all others.

[Chart on page 22]

Conventions Held in the Soviet Union and in Estonia

Date City Attendance Baptized

July 13, 14 Tallinn, Estonia 4,808 447

July 19, 20 Usolye-Sibirskoye, Siberia 4,205 543

Aug. 2, 3 Kiev, Ukraine 14,654 1,843

Aug. 3, 4 Lvov, Ukraine 17,531 1,316

Aug. 24, 25 Odessa, Ukraine 12,115 1,943

Sept. 7, 8 Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan 6,802 602

Grand Total: 74,252 7,820

(Baptism total is an amazing 10.5 percent of peak attendance total.)

[Graph on page 18]

(For fully formatted text, see publication.)

Progression of Simultaneous Publishing

The Watchtower

Year Languages Published Simultaneous Languages Published

1980 106 0

1985 103 24

1991 110 65

Number of Languages

140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0

Awake!

Year Languages Published Simultaneous Languages Published

1980 34 0

1985 54 14

1991 64 30

Number of Languages

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Simultaneous Publishing Benefits 95% of Jehovah’s Witnesses

[Picture on page 5]

Last year, 10,650,158 people earth wide attended the annual celebration of the Lord’s Evening Meal

[Pictures on page 12]

Most of the graduates of the eight classes held this year are now serving in the six countries where the school has been held, but others have taken up assignments in the following countries: Austria, Benin, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Caledonia, Portugal, and Romania. Shown above is the first class in France and in Germany

[Picture on page 13]

All the ministerial servants and elders who graduated from the school this year have been assigned different service privileges. Depending on their previous experience and present qualifications, these include special pioneer assignments, missionary service, circuit work, and branch work. Shown above is the first class in Italy and the first one in Spain

[Pictures on page 20]

This little Polish delegate was one of 74,587 who attended the convention at Prague, Czechoslovakia

[Pictures on page 21]

Conventioners of Prague were moved to tears when the New World Translation Bible was released by A. D. Schroeder in the Czech and Slovak languages

Budapest, Prague, and Zagreb held international conventions. Delegates at Zagreb, Yugoslavia, rejoiced to sing Kingdom songs during the noon break

[Pictures on page 22]

Tallinn, Estonia, now independent, was the site for the first convention ever held in the Soviet Union

The book “The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived” was released in the Russian language and in other Eastern European languages

[Pictures on page 27]

Fiji

The Fiji branch in Suva, the capital, was dedicated on December 25, 1990. The reception area is tastefully decorated

[Picture on page 27]

Greece

On April 13, 1991, the new Greece branch facilities at Eleona were dedicated

[Picture on page 28]

Entrance courtyard to the new Greece branch

[Picture on page 28]

The reception area at the Greece branch is ready to welcome visitors

[Picture on page 28]

Hong Kong

The new addition to the branch facility in Hong Kong was dedicated on January 15, 1991

[Picture on page 29]

New Caledonia

The New Caledonia branch building in Nouméa, the capital of New Caledonia, was dedicated on December 15, 1990

[Picture on page 29]

Philippines

April 13, 1991, was the date for the dedication of the new Philippines branch complex in Manila, with office building and 11-story residence building. Printery is at far right

[Picture on page 30]

The 500-seat Kingdom Hall at Philippines branch office

[Picture on page 30]

Dining room with capacity for 400 at Philippines Bethel Home

Worldwide Report​—1991 Grand Totals

Number of Countries 211

1991 Peak Publishers 4,278,820

1991 Average Publishers 4,071,954

Percentage of increase over 1990 5.9

1990 Average Publishers 3,846,311

1991 Number Baptized 300,945

Average Pioneer Publishers 558,514

Number of Congregations 66,207

Total Hours 951,870,021

Average Bible Studies 3,947,261

Memorial Attendance 10,650,158

During the 1991 service year, the Watch Tower Society spent $40,219,589.01 in caring for special pioneers, missionaries, and traveling overseers in their field service assignments

Memorial partakers worldwide: 8,850

Number of branches: 97

[Chart on page 34-41]

1991 SERVICE YEAR REPORT OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES WORLDWIDE

(See publication)

Worldwide Report

Africa

The wicked, writes the psalmist, “sits in an ambush” and “from concealed places he will kill someone innocent.” (Ps. 10:8) Down through the centuries, worshipers of Jehovah have been innocent victims of the viciousness of the wicked. It is no less so today in some parts of Africa.

Civil war in Liberia killed 33 of our brothers and forced many others to flee the country and seek refuge in Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone, escaping with only the clothes on their backs. Relief committees, set up in two cities on the borders of Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire, not only have looked after these destitute refugees but have also sent aid to the remaining suffering Witnesses in Liberia. Witnesses in Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Ghana trucked tons of clothing, as well as medicine, food, and money, into Liberia. The brothers in Abidjan have also rushed to the rescue and are tenderly caring for a large group of refugees who also are in dire need of help.

Many of these brothers have undergone hair-raising, traumatic experiences. For example, an elder serving in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, recounts: “On July 27, 1990, my family and I were forcibly removed from our home at about two in the morning. The rebels marched us outside, where we joined several hundred of our neighbors. We were assured that after a brief search of the area, we could go back home. Well, we never did see our homes again. Instead, we were led to the main refugee camp 30 miles [50 km] away. I carried my wife’s aunt, who is an invalid, on my back the entire distance. We prayed constantly to Jehovah for strength, as we saw dead bodies strewn about everywhere.

“After about an hour of nightmarish staggering with the rebel escort just behind us, we fell into an ambush by government troops. Bullets were flying from all directions as we dived for the ground. Many people were killed; some escaped. Suddenly, I realized that my own 14-year-old son was missing! Quickly, 45 of us townspeople were captured and taken to an abandoned gas station. There it was decided that all of us would be executed. A soldier took his gun to fire at me, but he could not fit the ammunition clip into his gun. At that moment, the group’s commander arrived and ordered that we be taken to the military barracks. That night, nine persons were executed. We prayed to Jehovah to help us remain faithful.

“The next morning the commander decided that all of us could leave. He even offered to drive us in one of his trucks. We declined and asked instead for a wheelbarrow in which to carry my wife’s aunt, and then we set off by ourselves. Halfway to our destination, the army trucks zoomed by. As they reached the intersection in front of us, a deafening explosion ripped the air. Heavy machine-gun fire followed for almost 30 minutes. Stray bullets were zipping in all directions while we scrambled for cover. The military convoy that had offered to transport us had been completely wiped out. How thankful we were not to have accepted the commander’s offer of a ride!

“Although my wife was five months pregnant, she managed bravely to walk 36 miles [58 km] in just one day. We still faced a problem of escaping. A Lebanese brother, learning of our predicament, arranged to pay our fares on the only means of transport out of the country, an old bus.

“We finally made it safely across the border into Côte d’Ivoire. We were very sad, though, because we had lost track of our 14-year-old son during the ambush mentioned earlier. We thought he was dead, killed. However, to our greatest joy, we learned six months later that he had survived. Arrangements were made for him to join us here in Côte d’Ivoire.”

Other Witnesses had terrifying experiences. Clement from Nigeria had lived for 17 years in Monrovia, but he had to flee. Rebel forces were hunting for all Nigerians and Ghanaians in the country. If caught by the rebels, he would be shot. As many as a hundred checkpoints, from Monrovia to Danané in Côte d’Ivoire, lay between Clement and safety. He was able to talk his way through most of these checkpoints by saying that he was an alien desiring to leave the country. At one checkpoint, his explanation did not work. He was to be executed. Clement decided to give a good witness before he would be put to death. He preached to the commander about God’s Kingdom and showed him the Watchtower and Awake! magazines. Perplexed, the commander bellowed: “Listen, we have a work to accomplish for the moment. When this is taken care of, we will turn our attention to what you are saying. Now, just leave!”

Later, as Clement had the calmness of mind to reflect on this incident, he said he knows what Proverbs 18:10 means when it says that the name of Jehovah is a strong tower. It was only by using Jehovah’s name and preaching about God’s Kingdom that he was able to maneuver his way through the remaining checkpoints. Eventually, he crossed over the border into Côte d’Ivoire. He had reached safety! Recently some of the branch personnel have been able to return to Liberia.

Not all countries have so sad a story to tell. Mozambique gives us good reason to rejoice. On February 11, 1991, the government in Maputo granted legal recognition to the corporation named Jehovah’s Witnesses of Mozambique. We are very grateful indeed for this development because it means that missionaries can now be given residence in Mozambique. Literature and magazines can be imported without hindrance. Missionary homes have been established in three cities, housing a total of 18 missionaries. A Society-owned depot is located at each of these homes.

Nevertheless, young ones are called upon to maintain their neutrality and display their loyalty to Jehovah during the ongoing guerrilla war in that country. A 12-year-old girl who is deaf and mute was kidnapped for immoral purposes by the rebel forces. But her parents had trained her well in Bible principles. When her captors wanted to violate her, she staunchly refused. The young sister would point to heaven to show that immorality was against God’s law. Because of her firm resolution, her captors beat her viciously one day and left her for dead. Two months passed before she returned to her parents, accompanied by a woman who had been with her during her captivity. “I don’t know what you taught this young girl,” the woman said, “but I’m impressed by her moral conduct. She never gave in to pressure from the soldiers. She was just outstanding! What is your religion?” Because of the firm stand of this deaf sister, the woman is now studying with the Witnesses and making fine progress in learning the truth.

Asia

“Your blessing is upon your people,” sang King David of old. (Ps. 3:8) Today, Jehovah’s blessing is upon his people too. Jehovah’s Witnesses living in countries situated in Asia can give positive testimony to that fact.

In Korea a sister’s life was saved in a rather unusual way by having her Medical Document on her person. As she was getting out of her parked car, she was suddenly attacked by four men, who forced her into the back of her car and onto the floor. She offered her ring and purse for her freedom, but they were not satisfied. The dreadful thought that they might sexually attack her rushed through her mind. She began screaming at the top of her voice. “We will have to kill her,” growled one of the men. She was stabbed in the leg and thigh. Then they taped her eyes shut and her feet together. Desperately, she began praying and weeping out loud, using the name of Jehovah.

Abruptly, the men became stone-quiet. At last, one asked: “Lady, are you one of Jehovah’s Witnesses?” They had found her Medical Document as they rummaged through her purse. They decided not to kill her but drove her to a place near her home, left her in the car, and quickly disappeared. The sister prays that all these men will repent of their lawless action and become worshipers of Jehovah.

As is true for many countries, more and more housewives in Japan are joining the labor force, which makes it difficult to reach them at home with the good news. So a pioneer sister in Niigata City decided to take the Kingdom message to the center of the city​—where the people were. She signed out a business territory from her congregation and began preaching, briefly offering a home Bible study to the businesspeople she would meet. She used the brochure “Look! I Am Making All Things New” and followed up the interest by making return visits on all persons who showed even a little interest. She suggested to interested ones that they could study in a teahouse, in a department-store lounge, or at a park for 30 minutes during lunch break. She concentrates on only one particular point during each study session and has been conducting up to eight studies at a time in this business territory.

More than 60,000 Filipinos have come from the Philippines to work as domestics in Chinese homes on the island of Hong Kong. The majority of these workers are Roman Catholic. One sister met such a person in an elevator and simply asked her if she was interested in learning more about the Bible. The reply was: “I have been praying to learn more about the Bible.” A Bible study was started just that quickly.

In Cyprus a young publisher from Nicosia wrote: “My name is Marcos; I am 12 years old. In the class for religious instruction, the teacher planned three lessons about religion. I made sure I brought to class the book Mankind’s Search for God. Before the first lesson began, I showed the book to my teacher. She paged through it and placed it on her desk. A little later she said to the class: ‘I am going to use Marcos’ book for the lessons, as it contains more thorough information than the book provided by the school.’” Young Marcos concludes: “I encourage all young publishers to have always with them some of the Society’s literature at school.”

Lucas, a Roman Catholic by birth, started studying the Bible in Sri Lanka. He was one of a crew of four men who worked on a fishing boat owned by a Buddhist. His employer desired the blessings of the sea gods on his fishing business, so he asked the crew to make a pilgrimage to a famous center of worship for adherents of both Hinduism and Buddhism. Lucas explained that he would not be able to participate, since he believed that Jehovah is the only true God. “Either join us or you’re fired!” snapped the owner. Lucas resigned immediately. He returned to his village and in just a few days found a job on another boat. Now he is able to study regularly.

When Bangnam, a young married woman who lives in Thailand, began studying the Bible, her parents fell sick. The parents consulted a witch doctor who said that the spirits of their dead relatives did not approve of their daughter’s changing her religion and if the parents wanted to recover, they must stop their daughter’s Bible studies. The parents begged their daughter to quit the study. The special pioneer who was studying with Bangnam showed the parents from the Bible that it could not be the spirits of the dead causing the trouble, but instead, it was wicked spirits. (Eccl. 9:5, 6) The parents then concluded that they should send their daughter far away. However, the sister showed them how the Bible teaches children to love their parents and how Bangnam wanted to live with them to care for them because she loves them. When the mother heard this, she relented and agreed to go with the sister to town to see a medical doctor. The doctor found nothing wrong with her. On the way home, a rainstorm developed, and as it was getting quite late, the special pioneer suggested that the mother spend the night with her at her home. Next morning Bangnam’s mother woke up refreshed and was very excited, since she had slept well all night, without any problem breathing. When the father learned about this improvement in his wife’s health, he agreed to get rid of all their spiritistic trappings. Quickly his health improved as well. Bangnam is now baptized, and her husband is progressing toward dedication.

Than lives in Myanmar. He was a soldier, but his military career ended in bitter disappointment. His life of despair started this way: During intense fighting with rebel forces, a shell exploded near a bunker where he had concealed himself. The bunker collapsed, burying half of his body. After he was dug out from under the rubble, he discovered, to his dismay, that he could not move his legs​—he was paralyzed. Soon the army discharged him. In his hopeless state, he began to brood over his misfortune, lost all faith in God, and contemplated suicide. About this same time, a special pioneer brother was visiting Than’s neighbor, regularly conducting a Bible study. Once Than learned who the regular visitor was, he invited him into his home also. The pioneer comforted Than with the Scriptures. A Bible study was started. It did not take long for him to recognize the ring of truth, and he enthusiastically started witnessing to others. He also wanted to attend the meetings at the Kingdom Hall, which is about five [8 km] miles away. He acquired an old pair of bicycle wheels and built himself a wheeled cart. With great determination, he pulls and pushes himself up and down the slopes leading to the Kingdom Hall and attends meetings regularly. His bitter disappointment has been replaced by a radiant hope of a better future.

Europe

“Our soul is like a bird that is escaped from the trap of baiters. The trap is broken, and we ourselves have escaped. Our help is in the name of Jehovah.” (Ps. 124:7, 8) How well this psalm describes our brothers in Eastern Europe!

The past service year was a remarkable one in the history of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Soviet Union. Besides record peaks in the publisher and pioneer ranks, seven peaks in book placements and ten peaks in magazine placements gave added reason for our brothers to rejoice in their newly obtained freedom. These peaks were attained because, for the very first time, shipments of literature could be received.

On Monday, March 18, 1991, the branch in Germany dispatched the first truck, containing about 20 tons of literature, to the Soviet Union. Prior to this, the brothers received their literature in small parcels by mail. How did the arrival of the first truckload of literature turn out?

It was midnight in the city of Lvov, when a local elder answered an unexpected telephone call. It was the Germany branch on the other end of the line notifying him that a large truck with a yellow cab and a blue body was being loaded with literature stamped for its destination, the Soviet Union. They agreed upon a rendezvous​—the Polish-Soviet border. By the time the Soviet Witnesses arrived at the border on Wednesday, the weather had turned bitter. Undaunted by the biting cold and rain mixed with snow, the brothers resolutely took turns in scrutinizing each truck as it approached the border. One of them exclaimed: “We’ve been waiting for decades for this memorable moment. Therefore, we consider it a privilege to wait for hours or perhaps even days.”

Finally on Friday, March 22, at exactly eight in the morning, a truck with a yellow cab and a long, large blue body could be seen rolling toward the border. From the depths of the brothers’ hearts, prayers rose heavenward. The truck passed over the border and entered Soviet soil. When the two puzzled customs officers gazed at the amount of literature, they wondered how to handle this situation and began to discuss the matter. After a document and cargo check, the officers nodded their heads and, with a quick wave of their hands, allowed the truck to pass through. “Our joy was unbounded!” said the brothers in retrospect. “After many decades of severe persecution, our brothers are finally supplied with an abundance of spiritual food.”

A permit to unload the cargo was issued. More than 70 brothers waited eagerly to help with the work. They formed two “conveyer” lines, with literature packages moving systematically, almost in musical rhythm, from hand to hand. On the next day, Saturday, brothers came from faraway territories throughout the vast land to pick up the literature. Two brothers who had traveled about 2,200 miles [3,500 km] were the first to arrive. “Jehovah God did what no man is able to do, and we were eyewitnesses of these happenings,” said the one.

From the city of Dresden in what was once known as East Germany comes this experience: “For a long time, my wife and I had been trying to win my parents over to the truth, but all we received was opposition. However, in November 1988 my wife had to go to the hospital for three weeks. We had no choice but to leave our 18-month-old daughter, Sara, in Grandma and Grandpa’s care.

“Things started happening right on the first day. At the breakfast table, Sara wondered why Grandma and Grandpa just sat down and started eating. So she nudged Grandma, folded her hands, and said: ‘Grandma, pray!’ She bowed her head and shut her eyes tight. Grandma did not respond; Sara repeated her request. Finally, my mother realized what Sara wanted, so she said grace in the Lutheran manner. That evening my mother asked me which religion we were affiliated with. She only knew that we had resigned from the church. She had never allowed us to explain anything else. I explained things to her. Grandma agreed to treat Sara the way she was used to being treated by us, so I gave her My Book of Bible Stories, since Sara was used to hearing a story every evening.

“Sara talked Grandma into reading three or four stories each night. My parents were surprised at Sara’s Bible knowledge, since she would sometimes interrupt the stories and finish the account herself. My mother began getting curious about the things she was reading to Sara night after night. In May 1990 we began a home Bible study with my parents. Soon, they resigned from church membership and came to the meetings with us. A year later, in May 1991, my mother became an unbaptized publisher and is now preparing for baptism. My father is also progressing very well. We thank Jehovah for having used our little girl and the Bible Stories book in order to accomplish something we tried to do for such a long time without success.”

In Austria many young people are taking a firm stand for true worship. Melanie, an 11-year-old girl, is an example. Because of family circumstances, the custody of Melanie was taken from her mother and given to her stepsister. The stepsister and her husband started to study the Bible with the help of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Melanie joined in too. They all made good progress. Melanie desired to leave the Catholic Church. However, according to Austrian law, this can only be done after one reaches the age of 14. Did this end the matter for Melanie? No! She went to the director of the Youth Welfare Office and made known her desire. After an interview this director said in a letter to Melanie: “After a thorough deliberation, I would like to let you know that I give my consent for you to leave the Catholic Church. However, as to the existing law, it will also be necessary for the local court to be in agreement with the decision I have made.” So Melanie had to appear all on her own before the judge and to give reasons why she would like to leave the church. On September 21, 1990, she received a favorable decision by the local court. What a fine victory for an 11-year-old girl! Melanie now is taking a joyful part in the preaching work as an unbaptized publisher.

A woman in Finland, severely hurt in a car accident, was lying in the hospital, thinking: ‘If my life would have ended, would this have been all there was to life?’ When she returned home, she searched the Bible for an answer but did not find one. She sighed: “God in heaven, please, let me know what is the purpose of life. I know it should be in the Bible. I ask you sincerely, help me to understand it.” Hardly had ten minutes gone by, when the doorbell rang, and who stood at the door? One of Jehovah’s Witnesses with a warm smile. “I was shocked,” she said. “My first thought was: ‘Oh, no! Did it have to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses?’ But I restrained myself and asked her to come in. From then on my understanding of the Bible has continued to improve.”

Latin America

“I shall laud Jehovah according to his righteousness, and I will make melody to the name of Jehovah the Most High.” (Ps. 7:17) For the past service year, this psalm of David has been a constant theme of the publishers living in Latin America.

Should creation be given equal time along with the study of evolution? That is a question often asked in Ecuador. In the seaport city of Guayaquil, a teacher decided to consider the information in the book Life​—How Did It Get Here? By Evolution or by Creation? with his 104 students. At the end of the school term this past January, he asked his students a series of questions. One was: “Taking into consideration all the scientific and Biblical proofs given in this class, to what conclusion have you arrived as to the origin of life?” The answers were overwhelmingly in favor of divine creation. One student replied: “I have come to the conclusion that the earth and all that is in it must have been brought into existence by a perfectionist. There must have existed someone very loving who had a purpose for people that live here. It is absurd to think that something as complicated as living persons could be created by chance. It is not in the hands of man to create something as complex as life.”

Bible truth has had such an impact on this teacher that he was baptized in December 1990. Present to witness the baptism at that local circuit assembly were 42 of his students. Coincidentally, 31 of the students were also studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses in Guayaquil!

A Bible student living deep in the interior of Guyana near the Moruka River studies by mail. She strongly desired to be united in pure worship with Jehovah’s Witnesses on the night of the Memorial of Christ’s death. At great expense she rented a dugout canoe and with her 13-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter paddled 21 hours to the nearest congregation in Charity. The journey entailed traveling the Moruka River out to the Atlantic Ocean and paddling back inland again on the Pomeroon River. She started out at 9:30 p.m. and arrived at 6:20 p.m. the next day, stopping for just one hour to rest. After the Memorial she had to return right away, as the canoe was rented at a daily rate. She is an unbaptized publisher and at the time of the Memorial was four months pregnant!

Last March in Venezuela, a Roman Catholic priest came to the branch office seeking literature. Then he asked to speak to someone about certain doctrinal points. He introduced himself as being over 65 years old and having served as a priest for 37 years. He studied for the priesthood in Rome, Italy. For the last four years, he had been reading information related to the councils of the Catholic Church and was surprised at what he found. “The church is far from having the truth,” he said.

“These days I have been reading more in the Bible than during my whole life,” he said. “I’m confused. The teachings of the church do not harmonize with the Bible. I have to teach, but my conscience does not permit me to teach lies. I’m seeking how to get out of this torture. I’ve dedicated my whole life to the church; now I’m an old man, and what can I do at my age? Where would I find a job? I live in a fine place, I have a luxury car, I have money in the bank, but if I leave the church, I lose all of this. I don’t know what to do.”

The brother showed him some scriptures establishing that Jehovah does not abandon those who serve Him. The brother, knowing the priest had studied Greek, showed him The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures, referring him to Matthew 10:28. Excitedly the priest exclaimed, “But this is very clear, very clear​—the soul dies! So this has been another lie!”

After they talked for some time, the brother asked the priest why he had come to the branch office. His answer was quite interesting. A 14-year-old publisher entered his church in Caracas, found a lady praying, and asked her where the priest was. “There in the back,” was the answer. So the young brother went to the back of the church and found the priest’s office. “What do you want?” the priest asked the boy. Our young publisher said he had come to talk about the Bible; he told the priest that Babylon the Great will be destroyed, and if the priest did not get out of false religion, he would also be destroyed. The priest was so surprised that a 14-year-old boy could explain so many things so boldly to a man his age that he was speechless. The young publisher gave him the address of the branch office. That is why this priest showed up at the office.

After about a two-hour discussion, the priest left. We hope that he will have the courage to face his superiors and accept the truth.

North America and the Caribbean Islands

Witnesses in North America and the islands of the Caribbean echo these words of the psalmist David: “Bless Jehovah, O my soul, even everything within me, his holy name. Bless Jehovah, O my soul, and do not forget all his doings.”​—Ps. 103:1, 2.

Sometimes, interested individuals may take the position that they are too old to change religions. However, one elderly lady in British Columbia, Canada, does not share that view. She was well-known in her small community, being an art teacher and one of the principal supporters of the Anglican Church. She had personally paid for the altar in the church and was a lay reader in religious services. Being interested in the Bible, she had been on the magazine route of the local Witnesses for a number of years but had made no progress beyond that. About five years ago, her daughter and her daughter’s husband moved into her home, ostensibly to help her in her advanced years. However, they were opposed to Jehovah’s Witnesses and badgered her to move into a home for the aged. She was certainly not ready for that! So while her daughter and son-in-law were away on vacation, she moved into a mobile home.

Finally, one of our sisters used the direct approach, demonstrated our Bible study method, and asked her if she was interested in studying the Bible. Her response was: “I was wondering when you were going to ask me!” Since she was a sincere believer in the Bible, she quickly understood basic Bible truths, stating: “If it’s in the Bible, it must be true.” However, she continued attending her church, feeling that she would in this way be able to help fellow church members.

After studying for about a year and a half, she learned that an archbishop of the Anglican Church had misappropriated church funds and gone on a vacation trip to the Caribbean with his secretary, even though he was a married man. She also understood that the archbishop then tried to pin the blame for the misappropriated funds on a church deacon. This whole affair was brought to light during a heated open discussion in the church. During the discussion, she publicly labeled the archbishop an “old hypocrite,” following which she walked out of the church and loudly slammed the door behind her, never to return.

When she first attended meetings at the Kingdom Hall, she remarked: “I can’t believe how many men you have and how involved and active they are in congregation affairs. In the church I was in, the few men that did come just sat and slept.” On September 29, 1990, at the age of 87, she was baptized.

After his latest visit to Greenland, a circuit overseer rejoiced: “The miracle goes on! And this is only the tip of the iceberg.” Many new ones are attending meetings, studies are being started, new ones are joining in the field ministry and are being baptized.

Several of the new ones have had to fight a long-lasting struggle to gain an approved relationship with Jehovah. For example, Andy (not his real name) was in his mid-30’s. He was living with Eunice (not her real name); he was an alcoholic with bad associates. This undermined their relationship, and his troubled conscience sometimes showed itself in unpleasant ways. But then Eunice began studying the Bible. She gradually understood that if she wanted to be acceptable in Jehovah’s eyes, she must clean up her life, and so she moved away from Andy.

This made Andy understand the situation he was in: He had chosen liquor​—she had chosen a Christian way of life. Eunice continued her progress and was baptized, and she is a zealous sister in the congregation.

Then Andy asked to have a study. He made some spiritual progress, rejoiced in the things he learned, but still had relapses into his old weakness. He only rarely attended the meetings and could not stay away from bad association. In 1989, Andy attended the district convention​—and that was a turning point. He now believed that he could overcome the problem, and he went to his doctor for help. He was hospitalized, and when he returned to his home, the congregation was ready to help him. He says: “I felt I had a much better foundation for going into spiritual matters. I was free of liquor, and my life was stable. My old associates were replaced by new ones in the congregation. My relationship with Jehovah became more real, and it was only now that I felt I could approach him in prayer. Since then, prayer has been of great importance to me. Ever so frequently I have prayed to Jehovah, and he has heard me. When temptation became too great and my desire to do wrong almost overwhelmed me, I always seemed to meet some of my friends from the Kingdom Hall, who encouraged me to hold on to my new way of life.”

This is the third year that Andy has been free of liquor. God’s Word, His spirit, and His organization have helped Andy. He began preaching and was baptized at the “Lovers of Freedom” Convention in Godthaab (Nuuk) this past August.

When someone is determined to share in the worship of Jehovah, physical disability is no barrier. For example, Kenwyn, who is now 17 years old, lives on the island of Grenada. When he was 4 years old, he had a fall that seriously affected his ability to walk. As he grew older, walking became more and more difficult. By the age of 15, he was forced to walk with the aid of wooden crutches. At age 17, an operation intended to correct his walking problem was not successful.

It was about this time that Kenwyn began to study with one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a missionary. He made good progress in accepting Bible knowledge but hesitated when invited to share his knowledge with others in the house-to-house ministry. He was afraid because of his physical condition and would reply: “I’ll tell you when I’m ready.” He was encouraged to read for himself experiences from Awake! and The Watchtower of Witnesses who had a physical disability yet regularly preached from door to door. After reading these experiences, he announced to the missionary: “I’m ready now.”

And ready he was. He spent 19 hours witnessing to others his first month in the field ministry. The following month, he reported 63 hours. He was baptized in March of this year and enrolled as an auxiliary pioneer the next month. Kenwyn can be seen walking with crutches up and down the hilly terrain of his witnessing territory. What an outstanding example and source of encouragement he is to all in his congregation! Since hills are no barrier to his preaching work, the brothers affectionately call him “Four-Wheel Drive.”

Islands of the Pacific

“He will have subjects from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth,” foretold Psalm 72:8. True to those words, the greater Solomon, Christ Jesus, has subjects around the earth, including the islands of the Pacific.

The inhabitants of the small islands and atolls of the western Pacific under the Guam branch are receiving a witness in many languages. The book You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth has found its way into many homes. From one island comes this experience: One woman who accepted a copy of this book noticed that her father, who is the pastor of their church, was using the red book in his sermon from the pulpit. After the sermon she saw him discreetly put it into his attaché case so that others would not notice it. But she did, and after the service she asked him: “Papa, why are you using that red book?” He replied: “What the book says is true.” She asked him where he got his book. “It’s your book,” he said. After this experience she and her husband were eager to study the Bible with the help of the local Witnesses. One day her neighbors began to ridicule her for allowing the Witnesses to study with her, since her father was a pastor. But when the pastor heard of this, he rebuked them and said: “Do not say anything against them [the Witnesses], as they are God’s people bringing the good news to us.”

The branch in Papua New Guinea received the following letter from the Morobe Province: “We here in Lengbati live in thick bush country where there are big mountains and no roads for cars. There is a small airstrip, but the plane does not come often. In 1987 there was only one Witness who did field service and conducted Bible studies. The circuit overseer and his wife came and looked after us, and at this time opposition struck. Enemies of the Kingdom tried to stop our work and burned down the Kingdom Hall before the eyes of the circuit overseer. What was the result of this opposition? We now have seven publishers and meet in a new Kingdom Hall we built. When we do the Kingdom work, we feel very happy, just as all our brothers and sisters elsewhere are feeling when they do the same work.”

Young ones can do a lot to help other young ones learn the truth. In Australia, nine-year-old Linda was asked by her teacher to sit next to Rebecca, who was sitting alone. Linda made friends with Rebecca and talked to her about the Kingdom. Eventually she started a study with Rebecca during the lunch hour at school, using the book Listening to the Great Teacher. They then spoke to another pupil, Ebony, and she joined the study. Then, along came Sarah, yet another pupil, to ask if she could join in the game they were playing. Linda explained it was not a game​—they were studying the Bible. So Sarah joined in too. Another girl asked if she could join in, and now at times there are two groups of children studying the Great Teacher book, Linda taking one group and Rebecca the other. Then the teacher became curious and wanted to know what they were doing, so Linda showed her the Great Teacher book, and the teacher gave her approval.

Countries Under Ban

“Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I am,” cried David to his Savior, Jehovah. (Ps. 142:6) Today, in countries that have restricted the witnessing work, Jehovah’s people look to Him for their salvation. And Jehovah hears their pleas and comforts them.

This past service year, their 15th consecutive year under ban, has proved to be a very busy, as well as a blessed one for Jehovah’s Witnesses in one country in Asia. A new peak of Kingdom publishers was reached​—a 9-percent increase! However, caution is still needed. For example, one congregation meets in the home of an elder. For no apparent reason, the neighbors became displeased with the meetings and began to heave bricks and stones onto the galvanized roof of the house. Tempers rising, some brothers at the meeting wanted to confront the culprits. However, the elder calmly convinced them to depend on Jehovah’s spirit and not to resort to force. The next-door neighbors dug a trench along the outer side of the wall of the brother’s property, three feet deep [1 m] and one and a half feet wide [0.5 m], hoping that the wall would collapse and, therefore, the meetings would be stopped. The elder patiently waited on Jehovah. About a month later, the neighbor who was the instigator became sick. As he left for the hospital, he inadvertently backed his car into the trench that was dug along the brother’s wall. Neighbors helped him out of his predicament, but no one could improve his health. He continued to get weaker and died shortly thereafter. Rather than retaliate, the brothers were patient and learned that relief from persecutors comes in some unexpected and unusual ways.

A youth organization of the ruling political party in one country in Africa continues to brutalize the Witnesses because they refuse to carry political party cards. Persecution has continued relentlessly for the past 24 years. During all this time, Jehovah’s people have remained submissive to the superior authorities, never insulting them or seeking revenge.​—Rom. 13:1.

Their steadfastness to Bible principles has won the respect of some opposers. For example, one brother was arrested and taken to prison a little over a year ago. The police officer in charge said: “So, we have finally caught you.” However, the police had known all along of his pattern of theocratic activities but had taken no action against him until the vehicle he was driving, which was carrying a load of Bible literature, was involved in an accident with a police vehicle. Although the brother was sentenced, he was treated well while incarcerated.

The brother in whose name the vehicle was registered also appeared before the police. He had to explain why his vehicle was carrying so-called unlawful literature. During interrogation he was asked: “Are you one of Jehovah’s Witnesses?” He replied: “Before the ban I became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Since the ban I have not changed to another religion. My family and I pray at home, and we do not interfere with anyone else. So, what do you think, Officer?” Amazingly, all charges against him were dropped, and he was allowed to drive the vehicle home. Thus, the Witnesses have remained faithful to their God during all these years, and Jehovah has given them increase and the strength not to give up.

Acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Modern Times

Kenya and Other Countries 66

Of all the regions of the earth, few hold the excitement, color, beauty, and glamour of Eastern Africa. And few have witnessed a people whose tested faith has stood firm under such fiery persecution. Read of faith in action in Kenya, Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, as well as the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean and Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula.

Solomon Islands 208

Spread like two necklaces of precious pearls across the turquoise-dappled waters of the Pacific lies the Melanesian nation of the Solomon Islands, fondly called “the Happy Isles” by its inhabitants. Read how a deep love for the spreading of Bible truth has helped some islanders accomplish amazing things in the making of disciples and the construction of halls for worship of Jehovah God.

Kenya and Nearby Countries

ONE hundred and forty-four years ago, London was buzzing with excitement. Johannes Rebmann, a German explorer, had reported seeing a great mountain in East Africa, a mountain so tall that its peak was crowned with snow. Though many marveled at this sensational news, professional geographers shook their heads. Snow on the equator? Only in Rebmann’s imagination, they concluded.

In later years other European explorers brought secondhand stories of a primitive, dwarflike people living in the forests, people that no white man had ever seen. Again the experts were skeptical. Surely this was the stuff of fairy tales.

But the experts were wrong in both cases. Further exploration confirmed the existence of lofty Kilimanjaro, adorned with snow the year around. Also confirmed was the existence of Pygmies: The men average four feet six inches [137 cm] in height.

East Africa, what a land of wonders! Of all the regions of the earth, few hold the excitement, color, beauty, and glamour of that corner of Africa. Within its domain are not just snowcapped mountains but also blistering deserts. Living in that area are not only the shortest people in the world but also the tallest, the Tusi (Tutsi) and the Dinka, among whom seven-foot-tall [213 cm] men are not unusual.

Peoples and Languages

It is a land of tremendous variety. The 150 million people who live there are divided into more than 350 ethnic groups. Tanzania alone has about 125 such groups. In Kenya, there are about 40 different groups, ranging from the Kikuyu, well represented in Nairobi’s modern business district, to the Masai, a pastoral people who feed primarily on the milk and blood of their herds.

Not surprisingly, the languages of Eastern Africa are also numerous. While they basically fall into several major language families, the subfamilies and local tongues boost the number into the hundreds. Over a hundred languages are spoken in Ethiopia alone, including “a pure language” that will unite not only Eastern Africa but the whole world.​—Zeph. 3:9.

Mountains, Lakes, and Animals

While most of Eastern Africa is tropical, the interior, consisting of high tablelands, is cool compared with the hot coastal regions. Cutting through the area from north to south is the Great Rift Valley, a 4,000-mile-long [6,400 km] cleavage in the earth’s crust. Along this valley are extinct volcanic mountains. The most famous of these is Mount Kilimanjaro. At almost 20,000 feet [6,000 m], it is Africa’s highest mountain. Farther north is Mount Kenya. A paradox of topography, its base rests on the sunbaked equator, while its twin peaks are perpetually snow clad.

The lakes between the mountainous ridges host waterfowl of tremendous variety and abundance​—pelicans, kingfishers, geese, cranes, herons, storks, ibis, and spoonbills, to name a few. The high soda content of the rift lakes supports the brine shrimp and blue-green algae that flamingos require. Nearly two million of these graceful birds reside in East Africa. Truly one of the most stirring sights on the whole continent is a great flock of flamingos in flight, a pink splash across the blue vault of open sky.

Everywhere you look there are birds​—strange, exciting, and beautiful. An iridescent sunbird sips nectar from a blossom. A bright-yellow weaverbird constructs its intricate nest in the papyrus. A vulture glides effortlessly amid the clouds.

Of course, there are also the big animals. Come to the grasslands and see elephants, zebras, rhino, buffalo, giraffes, lions, leopards, and over 60 kinds of antelope. There you can watch a herd of wildebeests, ten thousand strong, thunder across the plains, a vervet monkey peering from an acacia tree, or a gangling ostrich foraging for food.

Yes, whether on the Danakil Plain, one of the hottest places on earth, or on the Mountains of the Moon, where gorillas play, or on the white sand beaches, where century-old tortoises creep, you will find that Eastern Africa is a land unlike any other.

A Religious Spectrum

Historically, the people of Eastern Africa have generally followed tribal religions, except in Ethiopia, where the Ethiopian Orthodox Church held sway from the fourth century C.E. But with Mecca just across the Red Sea and the seasonal trade winds bringing Arab dhows (sailing boats) from the Persian Gulf to the coast of East Africa, Islam soon found followers. The profitable slave trade during the 18th and 19th centuries, with a major source between Africa’s great lakes and the port of Zanzibar, brought Muslims farther south and inland. Today about 40 percent of the population of East Africa follow Islam, although the percentage is much lower in some of the area’s individual countries, such as Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and the Seychelles.

The 19th century also brought European explorers and missionaries, who laid the groundwork for colonialism. The British Empire staked its claims in what came to be known as the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan and British East Africa. Somaliland was divided up by the British, the French, and the Italians. Belgium administered Rwanda and Urundi (today’s Burundi). For shorter periods Italy ruled Eritrea (Ethiopia), and Germany controlled German East Africa, now Tanzania.a Christendom’s missionaries divided the areas into spheres of interest, allowing one particular “church” to have something like a monopoly in a certain area. Schools were built, hospitals were set up, and Bibles were translated into a good number of languages.

Today, two thirds of Kenya’s population are nominal Christians, while in the whole of Eastern Africa, the figure is just under half. Some tribes have persisted in their animistic beliefs, and today these traditional worshipers make up between one fourth and one fifth of the population. Asian immigrants have held on to Eastern religions.

During more recent times, African nationalism grew potent, and during the 1960’s, country after country gained independence. In most cases this meant more freedom of worship. Nationalism also opened the doors for many new self-proclaimed prophets, who Africanized Christendom’s religions and founded hundreds of new sects, with much rivalry and confusion among them. When those differences of belief turned to hatred, persecution burned red-hot against followers of some religions.

Christendom’s churches, with their involvement in colonial politics and business ventures, did not set a Christlike example, nor did they bring about lasting moral changes among most of their believers. The time had come for Bible truth to shine in Eastern Africa.

Early Pioneers Light a Torch

About 60 years after the famous explorers Livingstone and Stanley met on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and at a time when the southernmost sources of the Nile River had not yet been discovered, the first efforts were being made to bring rays of Bible truth to this part of Africa. By this time the Bible Students had already become very active in other parts of the world, exposing religious falsehoods and alerting mankind to the significance of current events. In Africa a start was made on the west coast and at the Cape, the southern tip of the continent.

In 1931, the year in which the International Bible Students adopted the new Scriptural name, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Watch Tower Society’s branch office in Cape Town looked for ways of sowing seeds of Bible truth on the eastern coast of the continent and, where possible, in the interior. Gray Smith and his older brother Frank, two courageous pioneer ministers from Cape Town, set off for British East Africa to explore the possibilities of spreading the good news. They took a car, a De Soto that they had converted into a caravan (house car), loaded it on a ship along with 40 cartons of books, and sailed for Mombasa, the seaport of Kenya. A recently built railroad connected Mombasa with Uganda, crossing Kenya’s highlands. So, at Mombasa, the two pioneers sent their precious books by train to Nairobi, the mile-high [1.6 km] capital city that about 20 years earlier had been nothing but a few rickety railroad supply sheds.

The Smith brothers then tackled the 360-mile [580 km] road to Nairobi. Today’s travelers cover this distance in about seven hours on a modern, paved road, but in those days such a trip in a loaded caravan was sheer adventure. The report sent to Joseph F. Rutherford, then president of the Watch Tower Society, and published in the August 1, 1931, Watchtower, gives us a glimpse of their journey and the witnessing work in Nairobi:

“Beloved Brother Rutherford:

“Many times have my brother and I thanked you for the privilege of coming to do this virgin country from South Africa.

“We duly shipped our motor caravan from Cape Town to Mombasa per S.S. ‘Llamtepher’; and after a pleasant sea voyage we started on the most terrible nightmare of a motor trip I have ever undertaken. It took us four days, going all day, to do 360 miles, from Mombasa to Nairobi, sleeping in the bush with wild animals all around us.

“Mile after mile I had to get out with a shovel to level ridges, fill in holes, also cut elephant grass and trees to fill in swamp for the wheels to grip. We kept on day and part night, being anxious to get on with the witness.

“Eventually we got to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, and near the equator and Central Africa; and the dear Lord blessed our efforts with results that make a world record. We both worked twenty-one days, including all Sundays and Saturdays, and in this short time distributed 600 booklets and 120 full sets of nine volumes [of books]. We were threatened with the police, called liars, insulted, ordered out of offices; but we went on, and our work is nearly finished. A torch has been lit that will burn through darkest Africa. Judging by things we hear, the work has turned religious Nairobi inside out.

“I am returning to Cape Town; but my brother is arranging to carry the message on through the Congo and North Rhodesia down to Cape Town, where we shall meet again ready for the next privilege.

Yours in the Master’s service,

F. W. Smith, Colporteur.”

Under colonial rule, contacts with African people were restricted, so the Smith brothers placed most of their literature with Catholic Goans, who had come from Goa on India’s west coast to build the railroad. But the Catholic priests, furious about the truths explained in this Bible literature, collected and burned all the books that they could get their hands on.

Later, the Smith brothers contracted malaria, a disease that had cut short the lives of many travelers. Gray recovered after four months in the hospital, but his brother Frank died before reaching Cape Town.

Courageous Follow-Up

Meanwhile, back in South Africa, pioneers Robert Nisbet and David Norman prepared to follow up that first venture. Robert Nisbet recalls how, on arriving from Scotland at the Cape Town branch office, he was shown 200 cartons of literature ready to be sent to East Africa. This was five times as much as the Smith brothers had taken!

Protecting themselves against malaria by sleeping under mosquito nets and by taking daily doses of quinine, they launched their campaign in Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanganyika, on August 31, 1931. This was no easy assignment. Brother Nisbet relates: “The glare of the sun from the paved streets, the intense, humid heat, and the need to carry heavy loads of literature from call to call were just some of the difficulties we had to face. But we were young and strong and enjoyed it.”

Calling at shops, offices, and homes, these two pioneers placed nearly a thousand books and booklets within two weeks. Among these were many so-called Rainbow Sets consisting of 9 books of various striking colors and 11 booklets explaining the Bible. It did not take long for the Catholic Church to issue a notice forbidding all Catholics to have such literature in their homes.

From Dar es Salaam the two pioneers moved on to Zanzibar, an island about 25 miles [40 km] off the coast, once an important center of the slave trade. The old town of the same name, with its maze of narrow, twisting streets, was enveloped in a constant aroma of cloves, as Zanzibar was the leading exporter of that spice. The population, then about a quarter million, was composed mostly of Swahili-speaking Muslims. Since the literature was in English, most of it was placed with English-speaking Indians and Arabs.

After ten days in Zanzibar, the pioneers boarded a ship to Mombasa in Kenya en route to the Kenyan highlands. From Mombasa they traveled by train, preaching in the territory along the railway line all the way to Lake Victoria, which lies just south of the equator.

Next they proceeded by boat to Kampala, the capital of Uganda, where they distributed many books and obtained subscriptions for the Golden Age magazine (today known as Awake!). One man who saw his friend enthusiastically reading the Government book journeyed 50 miles [80 km] to find the brothers and obtained all the available books along with a subscription for The Golden Age.

Next, via Jinja and Kisumu on Lake Victoria, the two pioneers headed back for Mombasa. There they again placed much literature and gave two Bible talks, which many Goans attended. From there they sailed back to Cape Town, a journey of 3,000 miles [5,000 km]. In all, Brothers Nisbet and Norman placed over 5,000 books and booklets plus many subscriptions.

Overland Across Half of Africa

In 1935, the year when progressive Bible understanding revealed the ingathering of a great crowd to live in an earthly paradise, a team of four Witnesses undertook the third campaign into East Africa. They were Gray Smith, the survivor of the first campaign, and his wife, Olga, and the two Nisbet brothers, Robert and George. George had arrived in Cape Town during the month of March.b

This time they were well equipped with two three-quarter-ton delivery vans fitted out as living quarters, complete with beds, kitchen, water supply, spare gasoline tank, and removable frames with screening for protection against mosquitoes. Now additional towns could be reached, although the roads were sometimes overgrown with grass up to ten feet [3 m] high. These pioneers often slept out in the wild and could see, hear, and feel the throbbing heartbeat of Africa, with its wide horizons and abundance of wildlife: lions roaring at night, and during the day, zebras, gazelles, and giraffes grazing peacefully​—along with the ominous presence of rhino and elephants.

They motored along part of the Cape to Cairo Road. The reality behind this illustrious name was long, lonely stretches of dust as well as stony stretches broken by mudholes and soft sand and by rivers that had to be forded. Upon reaching Tanganyika, the four parted company. The Nisbet brothers headed for Nairobi, while Brother and Sister Smith concentrated on Tanganyika, which was then under British rule.

Soon the police arrested the Smiths and ordered them to return to South Africa. Instead, following the Nisbet brothers, they headed north to Nairobi, where they were given permission to stay only after paying a refundable deposit of $160 to the local police. The pioneers worked hard, placing over 3,000 books and about 7,000 booklets along with many subscriptions for the Golden Age magazine. Eventually, mounting religious opposition led to deportation orders. After vigorous but futile protests against deportation, three of the pioneers began the journey back to South Africa, leaving Robert Nisbet, who was sick with typhoid fever, behind in a Nairobi hospital. Thankfully, he recovered and was able to return to South Africa also.

Later, Robert and George Nisbet had the privilege of attending the Watch Tower Bible School of Gilead and were assigned as missionaries to the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius in 1951. Robert Nisbet is now in Australia, while his brother George served in the South Africa branch office until his death in 1989.

Like the first-century missionaries mentioned in the book of Acts, these pioneers demonstrated deep love for Jehovah and their fellowmen despite hardship and danger. Of the six pioneers who came to East Africa, four had extended stays in hospitals and one even died. Yet, a witness was given, and literature bore fruit. For instance, about 30 years later, working remote rural territory in Kenya, a Witness found a man with a copy of the book Reconciliation, obtained in 1935. This man has now become a Witness himself.

Another Pioneer​—In the Hidden Empire

Around the same time, another courageous pioneer, Krikor Hatzakortzian, entered Ethiopia to present spiritual enlightenment in his native Armenian language as well as in Greek and French. His venture was into a country that was unusual in many ways. A good part of the country is a vast triangular plateau with an average elevation of 6,500 feet [2,000 m]. There are lofty peaks and bare mountain cones cut flat, topped with fertile plains and surrounded by valleys. The Blue Nile has its source here and passes through spectacular canyons. Similarly, the Tekeze River flows through a canyon that reminds some travelers of the Grand Canyon in North America. This mountainous terrain isolates Ethiopia from the Sudanese lowlands to the west and the Danakil and Ogaden deserts to the east.

Ethiopia became a separate empire early in history; Emperor ʽĒzānā made it adopt Christendom’s faith about the time of the Council of Nicaea in the fourth century. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church, with its emphasis on the worship of Mary and the cross and with its links to ancient Judaism, has been a powerful force in Ethiopian history and made Ethiopia a hidden “Christian” empire that resisted Islamic advances from the lowlands. Emperor Haile Selassie, whose name signified the “Might of the Trinity,” bore titles such as “King of Kings,” “Lion of Judah,” and “Chosen of God.” Furthermore, he was constitutionally obliged to defend the interests of the Church. But the people were kept in spiritual darkness and could easily be stirred to fanatic actions.

In this setting in 1935, Brother Hatzakortzian found himself without a pioneer partner but with full trust in Jehovah. The following excerpts from his letter giving a report of his activity, published in the November 1, 1935, Watchtower, give us an idea of what he was facing:

“I don’t consider it strange to be persecuted for righteousness’ sake, and I expect more to follow. . . . Jehovah of hosts has protected me in the past, and he will do so also in the future.

“At noon I was coming home from my work, and one of the agents of Satan, suddenly coming out of his hiding place, struck me twice on the head with a big staff; he hit me so hard that the staff broke to pieces. But by the Lord’s help, and to the astonishment of the neighbors my wound was not very serious. I stayed in bed only two days. On another occasion the representatives of the enemy attacked me with knives; but the very moment they were going to stab me, by the influence of some unknown power they threw their knives and left me alone.

“But [they] continue their persecution. This time they made up false statements about me, and sent me to the capital (Addis Ababa) to appear before the emperor. During my stay (four months) there in the capital, I went everywhere and gave the witness from house to house, as well as in the hotels and café houses. At last I was brought before the emperor. He heard me; and not finding any fault, he set me free and commanded me to go home. Praise the Lord for this victory!”

“The people live in fear and perplexity, but I rejoice in the Lord. May Almighty Jehovah bless you richly, and strengthen you to finish the work he has given you to do.

Your brother in Christ,

K. Hatzakortzian.”

No word was heard from Brother Hatzakortzian during the turmoil of World War II, but in the early 1950’s, when Gilead-trained missionaries arrived in Addis Ababa, they got wind of rumors about a man in Diredawa (Dire Dawa) “who talks like you.” Haywood Ward reached this eastern town and found an old man who spoke no English. As the missionary identified himself, the old man broke down in tears, looked toward the heavens, and mumbled something in Armenian including Jehovah’s name. It was Brother Hatzakortzian. The day he had longed for had come! Weeping with joy, he embraced Brother Ward. Brother Hatzakortzian then proudly pulled out old boxes and showed dog-eared Watchtowers and books, all the time talking happily in a language that his visitor did not understand.

Brother Ward felt wonderful about this encounter and expected to visit again, but that was not to be. When other missionaries went to see him, they found people mourning. Brother Hatzakortzian had died.

To the missionaries he was like a “Melchizedek.” (Heb. 7:1-3) There were many unanswered questions: Who was he? Where did he come from? Where did he learn the truth? What happened to him during the troubled years of World War II? In any event, he was a courageous early pioneer in Ethiopia.

Finally, a New Foundation in Kenya

In November 1949, Mary Whittington immigrated to Kenya from Britain with her three young children to join her husband, who worked for the East African Railways in Nairobi. Although she had been baptized barely a year before, she soon learned to stand on her own feet. A slim and disciplined woman with a strong pioneer spirit, she did not dwell on loneliness in a country larger than her native Britain but instead looked at this great field as an opportunity to spread Bible truth.

Those being colonial times with enforced racial segregation, Sister Whittington had to limit her circle of listeners to the Europeans when she began to preach from house to house in her neighborhood. The householders were very friendly; they often invited her in and accepted Bible literature. She was frequently asked: “Where do you hold your meetings?” Her reply was that as far as she knew, she was the only one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the entire country!

Soon a test of integrity arose. Within three months her husband was informed by his superiors at work that his wife’s preaching activity had been noticed with disapproval by the police. If she persisted, she could be deported from the colony. Her husband, in turn, told Sister Whittington to preach only to her friends. She replied that she had no friends in Kenya and that her Christian faithfulness made it imperative to carry on with her work. Her husband made it clear that if she was deported, he would not permit her to take the children.

A few months later, members of a special branch of the police visited Mr. Whittington at his office, demanding samples of the literature distributed by his wife. Sister Whittington gladly supplied quite a few items. The officer who returned these said that he had enjoyed reading them. He did not forbid her preaching activity but stressed that she should not preach to the African population. At that stage this posed no problem, since there was more than sufficient work to be done among the non-African inhabitants of Nairobi.

Soon a companion appeared on the scene but not quite in the way Sister Whittington expected. The Northern Rhodesia branch of the Watch Tower Society advised her about a Mrs. Butler who was interested in Bible matters. Olga Butler, of Seychellois origin, had received the Society’s literature in Tanganyika for more than ten years and had come to Nairobi following the recent death of her husband. Contact was made by mail, and they arranged to meet at a café in downtown Nairobi, and soon a Bible study was in progress, at first in a public park, since association between different races was still prohibited. Two years later Olga Butler was baptized in the Whittingtons’ bathtub.

Efforts to Assist

To open up this vast field and also to help Sister Whittington in her isolation, efforts were made to send in missionaries, but the colonial government would not allow it. In 1952 the Watch Tower Society’s president, Nathan H. Knorr, and his secretary, Milton G. Henschel, visited Nairobi and spent an evening with a tiny cluster of brothers and sisters from Kenya and Uganda. Another application for missionaries was made, but it too was refused.

Added difficulties came from another source. Mau Mau uprisings brought about a state of emergency, making any meeting of more than nine persons unlawful unless registered beforehand with the government. In 1956 a request to register Christian meetings was denied. During those years a number of foreign Witnesses came to Kenya for brief stays, but only Mary Whittington, her children, and Olga Butler remained to publish the good news.

Arrival of Gilead Graduates

It was under these circumstances that in 1956, Gilead graduates William and Muriel Nisbet from Scotland arrived in Nairobi. William Nisbet was the brother of the two early pioneers who came to Kenya from South Africa during the 1930’s. In order to stay, Brother Nisbet had to get a job, but he was still able to oversee the little Bible study group. In the meantime, Sister Nisbet along with Sister Whittington quietly spent every morning in the house-to-house activity.

For the Nisbets, Nairobi was a beautiful assignment. The city was growing into a well-kept, modern metropolis. The temperate climate and the Ngong hills on the outskirts reminded them of their native Scotland. Looking southeast on a clear day, one could see the snows capping Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, glistening in the sun. To the north appeared the jagged outline of Mount Kenya, the mountain that gave its name to this country. And there was the animal lovers’ paradise right at the doorstep​—Nairobi National Park, with its lions, cheetahs, rhino, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, and antelope.

However, the Nisbets’ main interest was to start Bible studies. One of these was held with the family of a special branch police officer. Though the Nisbets did not know it, the officer had been given the assignment to investigate Jehovah’s Witnesses. But his inquiry ended differently from what he had expected. Not only was the officer able to turn in a favorable report on our activity but he had also found a priceless treasure, the truth. In due time this family of four were all baptized Witnesses!

Others studied too. Unfortunately, the Emergency Laws were still in force, and anyone attending meetings of over nine people faced deportation or up to three years in prison. Reluctantly, the brothers had to meet in small groups.

1958​—A Year to Remember

This year opened with the assignment of four more Gilead graduates to Nairobi, the Clarkes and the Zannets. Like Brother Nisbet, the two men had to take up secular employment while their wives pioneered. A new peak of 35 publishers was reached, mostly foreigners.

This was also the year of the Divine Will International Assembly in New York, attended by over 250,000 people from all over the world. It was a thrill for Mary Whittington to be among them and to give a brief report on the work in Kenya. Adding to the joy of that year, a chartered plane full of Witnesses from Rhodesia stopped in Nairobi on its way to New York, allowing time for a spiritually stimulating get-together.

At the New York convention, an appeal was made for capable Witnesses to move to countries where the need for Kingdom preachers was greater; Kenya was on the list. So between December 1958 and September 1959, more than 30 brothers and sisters moved from Canada, the United States, and England to help in Kenya. Some of these new arrivals went to Mombasa, on the Kenya coast, with its beautiful beaches. Others started to preach in the Rift Valley town of Nakuru, famous for its lake by the same name, the home of a million flamingos.

“Need Greaters” Make a Contribution

These “need greaters” were a zealous group, setting a high standard of Christian maturity. They had left friends, careers, and comforts but were richly blessed. Kenya was their modern Macedonia.​—Acts 16:9.

Speaking for many, Ron Edwards, from England, said: “Right from the beginning of this period of time, a very strong bond of love and affection grew among us who had come to serve where the need was greater. No doubt this was due to our unity of purpose and similarity in circumstances. Most of us were of the same age-group (30 to 40 years) and married, and we had lived settled family lives before coming here. However, we pulled up stakes and embarked upon an unknown future in response to the Society’s call.”

Over the years many had to leave because of personal difficulties with health, work permits, and other things. Some, though, like Alice Spencer, were able to remain for many years. She braved the heat of Mombasa for over 25 years. And Margaret Stephenson, who is over 80 years old, has lived in Kenya more than 30 years and still serves as a regular pioneer.c Working with missionary zeal, these brothers and sisters laid much of the foundation upon which many Kenyans have built their love for true worship.

Despite the influx of the “need greaters,” however, the work was still hampered​—preaching was done mostly among the Europeans, which meant foreign whites, and among the Asian community. Although some of the foreign Witnesses studied Swahili, their witnessing was limited mainly to house servants.

Arrangements for Further Expansion

In 1959, Brother Knorr again visited Nairobi. By that time the small group of nine had become a congregation consisting of two groups, with 54 publishers. As more brothers were now available to take the lead, Brother Knorr arranged for the two groups to split into four. Brother Nisbet was to serve as circuit overseer, visiting these groups while maintaining his secular work. During those times, a surprising number of interested persons were found among the foreigners.

As the end of colonial rule approached, Jehovah’s Witnesses were the first to contact the indigenous population, as is shown by the following experience. When one of the European sisters was buying shoes in town, she asked the shop assistant where she lived. The assistant said, “In Jericho.” Our sister replied, “I know Jericho very well. I go there frequently.” The shop assistant immediately exclaimed, “Oh, then you must be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses!”

The Kingdom work was now on the move in Kenya. But before we proceed further, let us pause and look at some nearby countries where efforts were also under way to preach the good news.

Uganda​—The “Pearl of Africa”

Uganda, Kenya’s western neighbor, is a lush country where one could stroll along the green shores of Lake Victoria, climb the snowcapped Ruwenzori Range (thought to be the legendary Mountains of the Moon), cruise the Nile, or drive through a majestic rain forest. Abundant rainfall assured good harvests of cotton and coffee as well as excellent vegetables and fruit. The heat was tolerable, and the perpetual summer pleased the British administrators as well as the Asian businessmen. They enjoyed the outdoors at their clubs, golf courses, swimming pools, racetracks, and cricket fields. Little wonder people called Uganda the “Pearl of Africa.”

Life was calm and pleasant in April 1950 when a young Witness couple came to Uganda from England, eager to share their Bible knowledge with others. Within a year they had helped a Greek and an Italian family to appreciate the truth.

A small congregation was formed in Kampala, a city, like Rome, that is built on seven hills. Preaching was gradually introduced to the African field, and it certainly helped that English was the lingua franca in Uganda. The first use of a local language was a public talk translated into Luganda for an African audience of 50. By 1953 six publishers were active.

Two years later, the first baptism in Uganda took place in Lake Victoria near Entebbe. Among the five baptized was a very enthusiastic George Kadu, who still serves as a faithful elder in Kampala.

A crisis followed when the bad conduct of some led to disfellowshippings, departures, and the stumbling of others. Thus, toward the end of 1957, Brother Kadu found himself to be the only publisher in Uganda. But he knew he had the truth, and he loved Jehovah.

In 1958, showings of the film entitled The New World Society in Action, along with the release of the booklet “This Good News of the Kingdom” in Luganda, gave new stimulus to the work. Also, “need greaters” from Canada and Britain moved to Uganda to assist, and by 1961, three years later, 19 publishers were reporting. More about this country later.

The Sudan​—Africa’s Largest Country

The White Nile, part of the earth’s longest river, flows from Uganda into the Sudan through grassland, bush, swamp, and semidesert. Tall pastoralists live along its banks. After about 1,200 miles, [2,000 km] the river joins the Blue Nile, which comes from the Ethiopian highlands toward the east. At this point, alongside the river lie three large cities with millions of people: Khartoum, Omdurman, and Khartoum North.

Farther downstream the Nile rushes through a series of cataracts and enters a richly historic region. Here stood the empire of Cush, its ruins still visible in the Saharan sands. This was the Ethiopia of Bible times, from which came Ebed-melech, as well as the court official baptized by the disciple Philip.​—Jer. 38:7-16; Acts 8:25-38.

The Sudan, once the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, is Africa’s largest country, with an area over a quarter the size of the United States of America. Arabic is the main language. The north is almost entirely Islamic, while in the south more animists and nominal Christians are found. Usually, the Sudanese people are outstandingly hospitable and kind.

It was in 1949 that Demetrius Atzemis, a Gilead graduate from Egypt, came to the Sudan for the first time. As in Egypt, the riverbanks in the Khartoum area were colored green with cultivated fields of cucumbers, leeks, and onions. Some avenues near the water provided welcome oases of shade under huge banyan trees. But these narrow areas of luxuriant green soon gave way to the bleak desert. The dominant color was brown. The sky was brown. The ground was brown. The mud brick houses were brown. And even many clothes were brown.

Then there was the searing heat. Temperatures at night reach 102° F. [39° C.] In the sun the thermometer soars to 140° F. [60° C.] Since water pipes were exposed to the sunshine, a “cold” shower could burn you if you didn’t first let the water run for a while.

In this setting, Brother Atzemis got busy. He preached mainly in Omdurman, obtaining 600 subscriptions. Then he went on to a smaller industrial town named Wad Medani, before returning to Egypt. Later, a family of three moved to Khartoum from Cairo. The brother, a wool merchant, witnessed to his customers, offering subscriptions and literature before doing business with them.

A small congregation was soon formed, and the number of publishers grew monthly from peak to peak, reaching 16 by the end of August 1951. The highlight of the following year was a talk given to 32 persons. For the benefit of the foreigners in the audience, it was translated into three languages.

In 1953, Brother Atzemis returned from Cairo, this time for five months, and organized systematic coverage of territory in Khartoum. He was rewarded when the three Orphanides brothers came into the truth. Only a month after being contacted, George Orphanides offered a large part of his house as a meeting place. This brother eventually became the congregation overseer and, along with his brother Dimitri, was energetic in spreading the Kingdom message to others. George could be very firm and persistent and at the same time extremely hospitable in caring for the sheep. He served for many years, until 1970, when he had to leave the country. Dimitri was able to help many into the truth. Despite the merciless heat and periodic sandstorms, these brothers persevered with a fine attitude. George once said: “Although without worldly recognition, with heavenly recognition and the help of Jehovah’s spirit, we enjoyed every day of our lives, trying to accomplish our ministry according to Paul’s words at 2 Timothy 4:2-5.”

Brother Atzemis still returned for periodic visits, and in 1955 it was possible for the Society to send another missionary to Khartoum, Emmanuel Paterakis, who was able to stay for ten months. By then, several publishers had left the country. Application for legal registration was made in June 1956, but because of the influence of Coptic priests and Islamic mullahs, it was rejected. For a short time, the Witnesses were under surveillance, but there was no severe persecution, and the preaching work never stopped.

Faithful Sisters

In the first century, devoted women became spiritual pillars in the congregation. The same is true during the 20th century in the Sudan. (Acts 16:14, 15; 17:34; 18:2; 2 Tim. 1:5) In 1952 an energetic Greek sister who was married to a Sudanese man in Lebanon came to the home country of her husband to stimulate the preaching work. This sister, Ingilizi Caliopi, soon became a regular pioneer and later a special pioneer. She was exuberant, dynamic, and persistent​—needed qualities when preaching among members of the Orthodox Coptic Church, who were very emotional and easily upset, afraid of priests and relatives.

Among those whom she was able to help to a knowledge of the truth was Mary Girgis, who also became a special pioneer and whose life story appeared in The Watchtower of February 15, 1977. Mary lived in the historic city of Omdurman, the ancient capital of the Sudan. She had just been praying when Sister Caliopi first visited her in 1958. Sister Caliopi found a woman troubled about the fearsome beasts described in Revelation. What could these mean? The terrors of “hellfire” also upset her. She wondered if this could be God’s will. But her bigger question was, Where is the truth?

Sister Caliopi answered all these questions. Mary rejoiced to hear that Jesus is now King. But her husband, Ibrahim, told her, “Do not listen to this woman. She must be bad. When she fell off the bus the other day, people said, ‘It serves her right because she changed her religion.’”

In spite of this, Ibrahim still obtained the two books “Let God Be True” and “This Means Everlasting Life.” Soon after, when attending his Coptic church, Ibrahim stewed while listening to the priest berate men for allowing their wives to study and preach a different religion. It was easy to see whom the priest was talking about! Ibrahim quit the church. Now he and his family became targets of persecution. One day a stone came flying over the wall, hitting him and knocking the spectacles off his face but not seriously injuring him or his little boy in his arms!

In 1959 police accused Mary Girgis of going to houses with intent to steal. The matter came to court. Two prosecutors lined up against her, but of course, proof could not be established. The case was dismissed.

In another court case, priests brought accusations of Zionism. In court our sister magnified the name of Jehovah before the four judges. The presiding judge ruled in her favor saying, “Go, madam, to every place in Sudan, and preach as you want. The law of the country is on your side and will protect you.”

Sister Girgis and, until her death, Sister Caliopi have been outstanding examples for the younger ones. Over the years these two zealous sisters have helped many others. Ibrahim Girgis also took a stand for the truth and was a faithful Witness up to his death.

Attempts to gain legal recognition failed, so that the work continued in a state of nonrecognition, with occasional persecution. Nevertheless, steady increases followed, with 27 reporting in 1960 and 37 in 1962. In 1965 the work came under the oversight of the newly established Kenya branch, and a circuit assembly was arranged once every year. During the following year, 81 persons attended the Memorial of Christ’s death. We will hear from this country again.

Ethiopia​—The “Region of Burned Faces”

Between the Sudan and the Red Sea, and half the size of the Sudan, lies Kenya’s northern neighbor, Ethiopia. In Greek the name means “Region of Burned Faces,” and in ancient times it designated the region of Africa south of Egypt. Thus, the Biblical Ethiopia covers mainly northern Sudan and a tip of today’s northern Ethiopia. As Brother Hatzakortzian had already found in the 1930’s, this country was unique in many ways, with a culture of its own and a dominant Ethiopian Orthodox Church. This was the assignment of three single missionaries who arrived in the capital, Addis Ababa, on September 14, 1950.

There were many new things to get used to. First was the altitude of Addis Ababa, which at 8,000 feet [2,400 m] is one of the highest capitals in the world. Next was the Amharic language, with its explosive p’s, t’s and s’s, along with the Ethiopic script of 33 characters and over 250 variations. In addition, there were over 70 tribal languages and some 200 other languages and lesser tongues. Furthermore, the priests still used a semiextinct language called Geez (Ge‛ez), similar to the use of Latin by some European scholars.

There were the people with attractive, tanned faces, unusual hairdos, distinctive garments, and festive costumes. Some had crosses tattooed on their foreheads. They had interesting names. Men could be called Gebre Meskal, meaning “Slave of the Cross”; Habtemariam, meaning “Servant of Mary”; or Tekle Haimanot, meaning “Plant of Religion.” A woman could be named Leteberhan, meaning “Slave of Light,” or Amaresh, “You Are Beautiful.”

Schoolteachers-cum-Preachers

At their first missionary home in an apartment in the Case Popolari section of Addis Ababa, the missionaries were surprised to have a colobus monkey as a regular visitor. This mischievous monkey was constantly into everything and made one mess after another. It was not enough just to get into the tomato paste, but he had to track it all over the house and smear walls with it! Of course, human visitors came too, and Bible studies were conducted on the front porch of the missionary home.

To protect the interests of the Ethiopian Church, the law prohibited proselytizing among Christians. It was permitted only among Muslims and “pagans.” Thus, the missionaries were allowed entry only on the provision that they would establish schools to teach such subjects as English, typing, and bookkeeping.

When the adult night classes were properly established in Addis Ababa, the missionaries had to move into a larger home on Churchill Road, the main street of the capital. The brothers decided not to mix religious teachings with academic subjects, but students were invited to attend meetings of our congregation on a voluntary basis. At meeting times one of the classrooms became a Kingdom Hall.

In 1952 eight additional missionaries from the 18th class of Gilead School arrived in Addis Ababa. Among them were Harold and Anne Zimmerman, who were assigned to help with the night classes in the capital city. Two couples from the 12th class, the Brumleys and the Lucks, opened a school in historic Harar, close to the Somalian border in the east, formerly forbidden to foreigners and still regularly visited by hyenas. In fact, so-called hyena men provide a nightly spectacle by feeding these powerful beasts for the enjoyment of spectators.​—See Awake! of November 22, 1985.

Gilead missionaries Dean Haupt and Raymond Egilson established a similar school in Diredawa, a commercial center not far from Harar, strategically located on Ethiopia’s only railroad line from the port of Djibouti to Addis Ababa. It was here that Brother Hatzakortzian had died.

Life was far from being posh. Brother Haupt explains: “Our first night was an unforgettable experience. We had no furniture as yet, so we used a trunk as a table and sat on suitcases to eat our meal. We put mattresses on the floor, as our beds had not arrived yet. This was not so bad, but when we switched out the lights, bedbugs started coming down the walls to get a taste of us! It seems that this part of the house had been vacant for some time, and the bugs were out to get fresh blood! I don’t think we slept a wink that night.”

A Small Branch Office

Despite the pests, a missionary explains that the work was enjoyable: “I was walking along the road one day when I met a young Ethiopian man and stopped to speak to him. Upon learning that I was a missionary, he asked, ‘Please, Sir, tell me about Jesus Christ.’ I invited him to our home the following day, and within ten minutes of his arrival, a study in the book “Let God Be True” was in progress. He returned the next day for another study, bringing with him another young man. These two became the first Ethiopian publishers.”

A steady flow of interested persons would visit the missionary home asking for Bible studies, so one missionary always had to be on hand. Some people had walked for hours to get there and wanted to study for two or three hours at a time. Soon the number of publishers reached 83.

In 1953 a small branch office was established in Addis Ababa. Handwritten translation of meeting material was prepared in Ethiopic script and was manually duplicated. This certainly helped the newer ones to become better grounded in the truth. The local brothers learned to do house-to-house work, conduct Bible studies, and hold instructive meetings. Because of their zeal, the good news was spread into 13 different locations in the interior of the country, from where close to 20 publishers were reporting by 1954.

A Student Priest Lays His Hand to the Plow

One of those who responded well to the Kingdom message was a student priest who could not speak a word of English. His first discussion with one of our missionaries was through an interpreter. When controversial points arose, the student priest would check his Bible in the ancient language of Geez. It shocked him to learn that his favorite support for the Trinity at 1 John 5:7 was not in his Bible. Other wrong doctrines were quickly exposed with this Bible.

He came for studies three or four times a week, bringing others with him. When he left the seminary to move in with a Witness, the school clerk of the seminary came with a policeman and dragged the student priest away. Later, when he was locked up in the seminary for four days, he sent a note telling the brothers not to feel sorry for him, since he was rejoicing that he was a prisoner for the sake of Jehovah. “Do not think I will go with them,” he said. “No man who has put his hand to the plow looks at the things behind.” After his release, he moved to the capital city, where he attended meetings and came to be among the first Ethiopians baptized as Witnesses of Jehovah.

Amharic Literature​—At Last!

In 1955, after a special talk, to the delight of all in attendance, the first Amharic language publication, the booklet God’s Way Is Love, was released. Soon after, a tract followed, and the next year the study booklet “This Good News of the Kingdom” became available in Amharic.

The following year, 1956, was another milestone of theocratic history in Ethiopia. The brothers organized the film showing of The New World Society in Action. Handbills in English and Amharic advertised the film, which was to be shown at the largest theater in Ethiopia, right on the main square of Addis Ababa. Posters were put up in all busy sections of town. The outcome? Large crowds converged on the theater. So many packed the hall that it was necessary to arrange a second showing, with the result that 1,600 saw the film that evening. A free booklet was given to each one in attendance. Other film showings followed in Asmara, Gondar, and Dese, three important centers in the north of Ethiopia. All told, 3,775 persons saw this instructive film about the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

More special pioneers were appointed, and a local circuit overseer started to encourage the congregations. The brothers preached boldly, backed up by a revised constitution that guaranteed basic human rights of free religious expression, free speech, and a free press. The number of publishers reached a peak of 103.

Persecution! Missionaries Expelled!

All this activity and spiritual prosperity had stirred the ire of Christendom’s clergy. In the provincial capital, Debre Markos, about 175 miles [280 km] northwest of Addis Ababa, people were still very loyal to the Ethiopian Church.

When special pioneers arrived there, violence broke out immediately. Influential men gathered a mob in the main square, shouting that these new people trampled the picture of Mary with their feet and ate cats and dogs! The police had to rescue the brothers from being beaten to death. The crowd, ready to force its way into the police station, had to be held back at gunpoint. In the melee, the two pioneers lost all their belongings.

The government used this incident to proclaim that Jehovah’s Witnesses were a danger to the peace and security of the nation. The government closed down the missionary home and branch office and on May 30, 1957, ordered the missionaries to leave the country. Although some officials privately expressed sympathy and pointed to the role of the clergy in the matter, appeals even to the emperor himself were in vain.

Though many letters of protest were written from all over the world, the missionaries were forced to leave the country. Arrests and interrogations followed. Now came a period of testing and sifting. Some became fearful and left the truth. A few turned traitor. The special pioneer work was discontinued, and several former pioneers had to be disfellowshipped. Others, however, remained faithful. One brother suffered 42 days in leg irons and was then released with stern warnings to cease his preaching.

Thus, the work went underground. Far away, at the 1958 Divine Will International Assembly, the first Amharic book, “Let God Be True,” was released, but only a few copies managed to seep into Ethiopia. Tests of loyalty and courage in the face of opposition caused some to drop by the wayside, so that by 1962 the number of those still active had dropped to 76.

Somalia​—Into the Horn of Africa

After his expulsion from Addis Ababa, missionary Dean Haupt was instructed by the Society to proceed to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. Mogadishu has been a trading center for a thousand years. Was this city once part of Ophir, the source of fine-quality gold for King Solomon? It could be, although the weight of opinion points to Arabia as the lode.

Nevertheless, when Brother Haupt arrived in 1957, Somali was not yet a written language; Italian and Arabic were used instead. Brother Haupt decided to work the European section of town first, offering subscriptions by showing sample copies of the magazines without placing them, since very few were available. In this way he obtained over 90 subscriptions in about three months. Then his visa expired and could not be renewed. So Brother Haupt had to leave and has continued his service in Italy.

A Tough Assignment

After Brother Haupt’s departure, the Society arranged to send four missionaries to Somalia. They arrived in March 1959, but since the preaching was basically limited to witnessing to foreigners, only Vito and Fern Fraese of the 12th class of Gilead remained.

Soon the Catholic clergy began to visit those showing interest in the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses. One person who was thus visited by a priest said: “Why all this interest in me now, as it is a number of years since I stopped attending church? Is it because I am studying the Bible?”

In September 1959 the Fraeses conducted 11 Bible studies. Many of the Italian families visited had no Bible and had never been told who Jehovah is, although they had heard about Jehovah’s Witnesses in newspapers. So there was much interest in the Bible message; it was not unusual for the brothers to spend an hour or more in each house they visited.

In 1961 two Bible students began preaching. The following year another person became associated with Jehovah’s Witnesses, making a total of three publishers in addition to the missionaries.

After four years in Somalia, the Fraeses were reassigned, since opportunities to visit the local Islamic population were very limited. But they had made an impression. As one observer noted: “Of all the groups of Europeans, including lay missionaries and the clergy, you Jehovah’s Witnesses are the only ones who have remained moral!” Of the three publishers left behind, two later went to other countries, and one stopped his activity. However, the Fraeses are still in full–time traveling work in Italy.

Tanzania​—The Quintessence of Africa

Down the coast from Somalia is Tanganyika, now Tanzania, a beautiful country larger than Kenya, its northern neighbor. It is a land of the Serengeti Plain​—often called the quintessence of Africa—​where a wildlife pageant of more than two million large animals roam the savannas and woodlands, and it is home to the Ngorongoro Crater, a 100-square-mile [260 sq km] bowl teeming with wildlife. Most of the people are farmers, who produce sisal, cloves, coffee, and cotton.

During the 1930’s the Kingdom good news had been preached in Tanganyika, so that by 1948 there was a small number of publishers serving in the southwestern part of the country. Who were they? How did they learn of the truth?

They were mainly the people of the Nyakyusa tribe, located in the highlands near the northern tip of Lake Malawi where the two branches of the Great Rift Valley converge. From here men went to work in the Rhodesian copper mines. Friendly and teachable people by nature, for some this employment opened the way to come into contact with the truths from God’s Word.

Hosea Njabula, born in 1901 near Tukuyu, abounded in zeal for his Moravian Protestant faith. He became a deacon, teaching Sunday school in many villages. Among his students was Nehemiah Kalile. One day in 1930, while working in Vawa (Vwawa) as a cook for European settlers, Nehemiah found himself in a deep Bible discussion with another cook.

Nehemiah discovered that this man knew amazing things from the Bible. This was the truth! Soon thereafter he crossed the border to Mwenzo for baptism. Here he was deeply impressed when, for the first time, he saw the seven volumes of Studies in the Scriptures.

Nehemiah Kalile was full of enthusiasm. He yearned to tell his former Sunday-school teacher about his discovery. So the next year, he again met his older friend, Hosea Njabula, and told him about the truth.

Over 60 years later, Hosea remembers that day and says: “I argued very much, but when he showed me the Scriptures regarding the Sabbath, I knew it was the truth. Without delay I started to preach to others, including Job Kibonde. The three of us started meetings in my house. I also went to see my other Sunday-school students. I then invited them to our meetings. Several accepted, among them Joram Kajumba and Obeth Mwaisabila.”

On Foot All Over the Highlands

After Brother Njabula’s baptism in 1932, these brothers, without knowing what a pioneer minister was, preached like pioneers. They walked 36 miles [60 km] toward Lake Malawi and witnessed in the area of Kyela, where Hosea Njabula and Obeth Mwaisabila met strong opposition. Even though they did not know how to swim, they were seized and thrown into a river full of crocodiles. Somehow, perhaps with Jehovah’s help, they escaped with their lives. Soon after this they built their first Kingdom Hall near Buyesi village in a place they called Bethlehem.

In the meantime, more interest developed in Vawa, where Nehemiah Kalile had first heard about the truth, and such men as Solomon Mwaibako, Yesaya Mulawa, and Yohani Mwamboneke took their stand. Those in Buyesi made the loving arrangement to send one of their number to the village of Ndolezi near Vawa once a month in order to strengthen these newer ones. This meant hiking 60 miles [100 km] each way. Sometimes they trudged even over 120 miles [200 km] to Isoka in Northern Rhodesia to send their reports to the congregation there and have them passed on to the branch office.

Today, six decades later, at the age of 90, Hosea Njabula is still a “deacon,” now in the true sense of the word, a ministerial servant in the Ndolezi Congregation. Brother Njabula has the satisfaction of seeing his faithful wife, Leya Nsile, continue steadfast by his side, as well as having several grandchildren active in the pioneer work.

Others also had many years of zealous preaching. Among these were Jimu Mwaikwaba, who endured imprisonment because of the good news; Joel Mwandembo, who later served as a circuit overseer; Semu Mwasakuna, who preached by bicycle and song; Ananiah Mwakisisya; and Timothy Kafuko.

Another brother who helped greatly to advance Kingdom witnessing was David Kipengere, who was born in 1922 and learned the truth in 1935 in Mbeya. He preached far and wide and was later sent to open up the work in Dar es Salaam. He was a regular pioneer for the last 18 years of his life, right up until his death in 1983. Often he was arrested, but he did not give in to discouragement, saying: “There is much work in prison that Jehovah wants me to accomplish.” His brother, Barnabas Mwakahabala, who learned the truth with him, is still serving as an elder to this day. These brothers did what they could in their isolated circumstances, without literature in their own language and with limited reading ability.

Contacts with the branch office in Cape Town were sporadic, and reports were unreliable. The 1943 Yearbook indicates that 158 in this area shared in the preaching work, and in 1946, there were 227 reporting in seven congregations. During previous years, the activity of the Witnesses in Tanganyika was apparently included in the reports of the Isoka Congregation in Northern Rhodesia, and some reports probably got lost. Several years were still to pass before better supervision could be given to the ingathering work in southern Tanganyika.

Supervision From Northern Rhodesia

Help was certainly needed, as the Witnesses faced much opposition from false religion and, at the same time, battled with the problems of polygamy, tobacco smoking, and other unchristian customs.

In 1948 a new branch office was organized in Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia, which was to oversee not only Northern Rhodesia but also most of East Africa. This proved to be providential because after a long pause, new beginnings were about to be in evidence in Kenya and Uganda. Although the branch office was still over 1,500 miles [2,400 km] of rough road away from Nairobi, it was a lot closer than Cape Town, which was more than twice that distance.

Thus in 1948 the branch office in Northern Rhodesia sent Thomson Kangale to help the brothers. When he arrived in Mbeya in March of that year, there was much to be taught and readjusted.

Brother Kangale was a patient teacher, and our brothers were quick to make needed adjustments. For one thing, they learned to identify themselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses and no longer as Watchtower people. They had known and accepted the name Jehovah’s Witnesses earlier but had not featured it publicly. In harmony with the counsel at 1 Peter 3:15, our brothers also learned to be more tactful when presenting the Kingdom message. Now they featured good news instead of just attacking false religious teachings. And misunderstandings about the correct way to report time spent in the field ministry were rectified. Additionally, the brothers cleaned up the appearance of their homes. They also improved their personal appearance; several needed to cut their wild-looking beards.

At meetings, all learned to follow a more orderly and effective program and to do away with Babylonian relics, such as the use of religious bells. In the Theocratic Ministry School, they could see the value of ceasing to announce the names of those who had scored well in the written reviews. Some Witnesses needed to abandon certain customs connected with honoring the dead. For others it was the time to break the tobacco habit. But probably the most difficult adjustment was legally registering their marriages, making them honorable before all.​—Heb. 13:4.

Legal Attempts for Official Recognition

The branch office in Northern Rhodesia made numerous attempts to get the British colonial government in Tanganyika to permit missionaries to enter the country and to grant official recognition for our preaching work. In 1950 an application was refused with the explanation that “conditions in Tanganyika were not quite the same as in other African territories.” In 1951 another application was made but again without success. In the meantime a district commissioner had attempted to slap a local ban on the preaching work. In September 1951, personal representations were made to the government at Dar es Salaam, along with a written memorandum explaining the stand of Jehovah’s Witnesses regarding religious organizations and patriotic ceremonies. This gave rise to hope, but during the following year, another negative reply was received. Other representations were made in 1956 and later, all in vain.

Despite this unfavorable attitude of the government, there were no real hindrances to worship for the publishers of the good news. Special pioneers and circuit overseers continued to give help from Northern Rhodesia without problems.

Training Efforts Continue

In 1952, Buster Mayo Holcomb, a Gilead graduate serving as district overseer in Northern Rhodesia, was able to cross into Tanganyika and serve a circuit assembly near Tukuyu. He said: “We were close to the assembly spot in the late afternoon and had hopes of arriving by dark; then the heavens literally fell on us in a torrent of water. To go ahead was impossible, as we could not see the road for the driving rain. We stopped the van and prepared to spend the night the best way possible, for, far from giving any indication of abating, the storm seemed to be increasing in intensity. However, the next morning the rain did stop, and after wading for a distance, we finally reached the assembly site and found some brothers. Much to our surprise, they were amazed that we should even suggest that the assembly could not be held. Of course the brothers would come!

“And come they did, although it meant that some had to walk in that weather for two to three days. The attendance on Sunday afternoon reached 419, and that morning 61 symbolized their dedication by water immersion.”

The brothers responded well to counsel, and interested ones made dramatic changes in their lives. For instance, the Bible does not allow for plurality of mates. It states that each man should “have his own wife and each woman . . . her own husband” and that a Christian overseer should be “a husband of one wife.” (1 Cor. 7:2; 1 Tim. 3:2) Thus, a chief who had many wives dismissed all but his senior spouse and afterward was baptized. In time he became a congregation elder. Another man who had two wives gave his younger wife to his younger brother and said that he would not like to have three souls die in his house because of his selfishness. He too then qualified for baptism.

Other Witnesses manifested their unselfish love by renouncing their traditional rights to ask for a bride-price when giving away their daughters in marriage. Such bride-prices could be prohibitively high for young Witnesses, especially pioneers. But many fathers were happy to see their daughters marry “in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 7:39) It also made the beginning of married life much easier for the new couple by removing the burden of the bride-price. Initially this caused astonishment, but with time more and more people appreciated and respected this expression of loving concern.

In Tanganyika too, the clergy tried to stir up trouble, but it did not work. When Brother Kangale was arrested by the police in Mbeya, he was able to explain that he was just visiting his spiritual brothers. The police then became cooperative and asked him to leave his route sheet of scheduled visits to congregations with them so that they could inform other stations about his arrival, and then they would not have to worry about him. In this manner Brother Kangale was able to travel freely around Tanganyika for years. Other special pioneers and traveling overseers from Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland joined him to build up the sheep, Frank Kanyanga, James Mwango, Washington Mwenya, Bernard Musinga, and William Lamp Chisenga to name a few. Interestingly, Brother Chisenga met Norbert Kawala in the city of Mbeya in 1957. He was thirsting for the truth, had a Bible study twice a week, qualified for baptism, and later served as a translator in the branch office in Nairobi, Kenya.

Film Showings and Expansion Northward

In the meantime, from 1956 onward, showings of the Society’s film The New World Society in Action were introduced into Tanganyika, and over 5,000 attended. Another boost came in 1959 when Witnesses from overseas began to arrive to serve where the need for Kingdom preachers was greater. The number of publishers in Tanganyika started to climb again, to 507 for the 1960 service year.

However, progress did not always come easily. Many towns had a large proportion of Muslims, thus challenging the preaching skills of the publisher. Also, the hot, humid climate was taxing for foreign brothers. But they had Isaiah’s spirit, saying: “Here I am! Send me,” and they were blessed for that.​—Isa. 6:8.

By the Slopes of Kilimanjaro

In 1961, Tanganyika became independent, and by 1964 it was united with the island of Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanzania. However, back in 1961 a new area in Tanzania, around the slopes of mighty Kilimanjaro, blossomed with the good news. Africa’s highest mountain is a massive, extinct volcano covered by perpetual snow. The slopes rise gently and receive a good share of rainfall from the east and the south. Rich soil and heavy rainfall make its slopes good for agriculture, hence the area is heavily populated. Here a special pioneer from Northern Rhodesia started a Bible study with a group of five interested persons.

During the following year, in August 1962, a circuit assembly was held at the Kibo Hotel near Marangu, facing the majestic mountain. Witnesses from Kenya supported the event and traveled in a convoy of cars the 250 miles [400 km] from Nairobi. The baptism was performed in a cold mountain stream, and it was the first time in this part of the world that a European, Helge Linck, was baptized by an African brother.

Helge Linck became acquainted with the truth during his childhood in Denmark but had not pursued it. He came to Tanganyika to work on a sugar plantation. In 1959 his fleshly brother from Canada visited East Africa and rekindled his interest in the truth. When in 1961 a special pioneer was imprisoned for his preaching, Helge arranged for his release. After Helge’s baptism in this idyllic setting at the Kibo circuit assembly, he entered the pioneer service and later was expelled from the country for his preaching.

Let us leave the mainland briefly for the island of cloves, Zanzibar, the largest coral island off the African coast.

Zanzibar​—The Island of Cloves

Located just 25 miles [40 km] off the mainland, Zanzibar served as a starting point for expeditions into Africa’s interior, for Arabs as well as Europeans. Its population is almost entirely Islamic and of mixed Afro-Arab descent. Swahili is spoken there, the language that the slave trade carried all the way to the borders of Angola in western Africa. During the 19th century, Zanzibar was a major market for slave trading.

In 1932 two pioneers from southern Africa made a brief call on this island of cloves. Twenty-nine years later, in 1961, Roston and Joan MacPhee, newly baptized publishers of the good news, moved to the island from Kenya. They went straight to work, placing much Bible literature. Soon they were conducting two Bible studies. The congregation in nearby Dar es Salaam arranged for a monthly weekend visit to Zanzibar for mutual encouragement.

Soon after the MacPhees were transferred back to Kenya, another Christian family, the Burkes, arrived in Zanzibar from America. They took good care of the established interest and added to it by starting studies of their own. Suddenly, at the end of 1963, a revolt swept through the island, and the Burke family had to flee, leaving most of their possessions behind.

With the departure of the Burkes, Kingdom interests soon faded on the island. Then, in 1986, a new start was made when interested persons moved to Zanzibar. Soon a small group of publishers developed. An interested man of exceptional zeal used all his free time to conduct Bible studies with up to 30 people. What a task, since he had secular work to care for as well! At meeting time as many as 45 people showed up. What a surprise to see five of them ready for baptism in December 1987 at the Dar es Salaam district convention! Now the foundation was in place for a congregation on this historic island.

Let us leave the island of cloves and return to the African mainland.

Joys and Problems

During 30 years of preaching in Tanganyika, our brothers had few problems with the authorities. In most cases the police were very respectful and cooperative, sometimes even offering public-address equipment for our assemblies. In May 1963, when Milton G. Henschel from the Society’s world headquarters in Brooklyn visited Dar es Salaam, an assembly was arranged in the Karimjee Hall, the finest auditorium in the country. Two hundred and seventy-four attended, including the mayor of the capital city, and 16 were baptized. A branch office had just been established in neighboring Kenya so that better attention could be given to Kingdom interests in Tanganyika, now Tanzania.

Arrangements were made to publish The Watchtower in Swahili. The first issue came out on December 1, 1963. During the same year, a Kingdom Ministry School course gave needed guidance and direction to the overseers in the 25 Tanzanian congregations. In September and October 1964, district conventions were held, with a combined peak attendance of 1,033.

But there were problems. Entry for missionaries of Jehovah’s Witnesses had never been granted, and all attempts to obtain legal recognition had been rejected.

A Turn for the Worse

While the situation remained calm for most of 1963 and 1964, word was received of a letter to all police officials advising them that Jehovah’s Witnesses had been banned and should be arrested. Another blow came on January 25, 1965. A press release announced that the Watch Tower Society was illegal. Yet, doubts surfaced about whether this was official. In this atmosphere a circuit assembly was arranged in Tanga for April 2-4, 1965.

A hall was booked, arrangements for accommodations were made, and a large number of Witnesses came by train from sisal estates. On the way they preached to fellow passengers, one of them being a policeman. On arrival, he had all the Witnesses arrested and carted off to the police station, but they were soon released.

On April 3, the second day of the assembly, a radio announcement said that the government had banned the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses and all associated legal bodies. Nevertheless, the assembly was completed without incident. No announcement of the ban appeared in the official government gazette. News came from neighboring Malawi (formerly Nyasaland) and Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia) that the ban had been announced and afterward withdrawn. This was confirmed by Reuters, the news agency. But the inevitable finally happened. On June 11, 1965, the government gazette issued a notice that the Watch Tower Society and all associated legal bodies had been declared unlawful.

Now the police became more alert, and attempts to hold a circuit assembly in the south of the country failed. A few scattered arrests followed. At times literature was seized, but occasionally it was returned. The brothers found it wiser to meet in small groups. In places where religious missionaries from Christendom egged on the police, the situation grew more tense.

Lingering Misunderstandings

Just before the ban was imposed, William Nisbet from Kenya spent eight hard weeks trying to meet with officials in Dar es Salaam in an endeavor to gain recognition for Jehovah’s Witnesses. He was given opportunity to speak to the secretary of the Minister of Home Affairs. Apparently because of a campaign of misinformation by Christendom’s missions, many government officials associated Jehovah’s Witnesses with outlawed radical religions in Zambia and Malawi.

Unwarranted fear of Jehovah’s Witnesses hovered over the officials like empty storm clouds. The officials confused Jehovah’s Witnesses with the indigenous groups termed “Watchtower,” or Kitawala, that had no relation to the Witnesses.d These sects practiced adultery and witchcraft and often rebelled against established governments. They also misused the divine name and some of our publications. They were the ones to be feared, not the peace-loving true Witnesses of Jehovah. Brother Nisbet’s visit and written documentation prepared by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society cleared up these misunderstandings of some officials.

Before Brother Nisbet left Dar es Salaam, he applied for registration of the International Bible Students Association. What a surprise to receive a telegram from the brothers in Dar es Salaam, six months after the official ban, saying that the International Bible Students Association had been registered under the Companies Ordinance on January 6, 1966. Yet, Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watch Tower Society remained banned. On November 24, 1966, a government notice stated that the International Bible Students Association had been dissolved as a company because of failure of its congregations to obtain registration under the Societies Ordinance.

Zambian or Malawian brothers who had come to help in Tanzania now had to leave the country. Their loss was deeply felt, but true worship in Tanzania was by no means dead. In 1966 the number of people who attended the Memorial of Christ’s death was 1,720, and 836 were active in Kingdom preaching.

The Seychelles​—The “Paradise Islands”

“Unique by a thousand miles” is the slogan used to advertise the Seychelles, about a thousand miles [1,600 km] off the coast of East Africa and home to giant tortoises, big enough to ride. About 100 islands form the Seychelles, and they stretch to the vicinity of Madagascar. Some are granitic, like the main island, Mahé, and others are composed of coral. They have everything that makes tropical islands attractive​—mountains, picturesque rocks, silver-white beaches, turquoise waters, gorgeous reefs, luxurious vegetation, exotic birds flitting through air scented by wild spices, and the absence of tropical diseases.

The population​—90 percent of whom live on Mahé—​speak a French patois called Creole. They descend mainly from Africans, English and French colonials, Indians, and Chinese.

In 1961 a person interested in the teachings of the Bible as explained by Jehovah’s Witnesses arrived from East Africa. During the following year, Witnesses, including four members of the McLuckie family from Southern Rhodesia, arrived and began informal witnessing. However, public Bible talks were prohibited because of the strong Roman Catholic presence. Yet, in April 1962, at the first organized meeting, 12 were in attendance, and by then 8 were sharing in the field ministry.

Opposition Boomerangs

But soon, the familiar pattern of persecution from Christendom’s churches emerged. The Immigration Department asked the McLuckies to leave by July 25, 1962. Police told another foreign brother not to preach and that his visitor’s permit would not be renewed. Catholic priests gave sermons and wrote long articles in the local newspapers warning the populace against the Witnesses.

This boomeranged. Many people had not yet heard about Jehovah’s Witnesses. However, with their curiosity now piqued, they began to inquire. The march of Bible truth could not be stopped in the Seychelles! On July 15, 1962, one week before the departure of the family, the first indigenous Seychellois couple, Norman and Lise Gardner, were baptized. The departing family considered this a fine reward for the money and efforts they spent to start the work in those distant islands.

Five months later two retirees, both Witnesses from South Africa, came to Mahé in order to settle and help with the preaching work. After a short while, they inserted an advertisement in the local newspaper inviting those interested in Bible study to contact them. The very next day, they received a letter canceling their visa. But during their four months in the Seychelles, they had placed much Bible literature and gave a fine witness. Now, however, no Witnesses lived on the islands, since the Gardners too had left.

After an interval of only a few months, the work resumed when the Gardners returned from a brief job transfer in Khartoum, Sudan. During their absence, they had fine association with faithful brothers in the Sudan, as well as in Kenya and Southern Rhodesia. They settled on Cerf Island, which is about half an hour by boat from Mahé. Since there were only a dozen or so families on the island, the isolation was not advantageous for their witnessing activity. Yet, as the only publishers in the Seychelles, they put forth great effort and maintained an average of 30 hours per month in the field ministry.

In 1965 the first visits by circuit overseers were organized. Other good things happened in that year. A Bible film was shown to an audience totaling 75. Three interested persons joined the Gardners in their preaching activity and were baptized during that year. Proper arrangements were made for regular meetings.

Despite the strong love the Gardners had for Cerf Island, their love of neighbor was stronger, so in 1966 they moved to the main island of Mahé in order to provide a center for the advancement of true worship. A Kingdom Hall was constructed adjoining their house, opening the way for further expansion.

Stephen Hardy and his wife, Barbara, English missionaries serving in Uganda, made repeated circuit visits to the Seychelles. During a visit on December 6, 1968, there were 6 active publishers, and 23 were present for the dedication of the new Kingdom Hall.

In 1969 an attempt was made to register the work and apply for the entry of missionaries. Both applications were refused. No reason was given.

Growth was slow, as some young people emigrated to seek jobs, and many others were held back by fear of man, fairly common among a rather small population. Also, illiteracy, a general attitude of nonchalance, and widespread immorality were real obstacles to many people. But others​—like the government employee with a large family who pursued his Bible study daily during his lunch breaks—​progressed quickly. Thus, in 1971, there were 40 who attended the Memorial of Christ’s death and 11 who were active in the field ministry. The message of the coming Paradise earth continued ringing out in the beautiful Seychelles.

Burundi​—The Early Years

Before serving in Uganda and visiting the Seychelles, the Hardys had been assigned to the beautiful country of Burundi, a small, picturesque land with thousands of hills, located between Tanzania and Zaire. It is densely populated by hardworking farmers, mostly growing plantains (a type of banana) on terraced hillsides.

During Belgian colonial rule, the Watch Tower Society applied to send missionaries to Usumbura, now Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, but permission was denied. Independence in 1962, though, created different political circumstances, and in October 1963 two Northern Rhodesian special pioneers were successful in obtaining a three-month visa, which was renewed without difficulty. Just three months later, in January 1964, four Gilead graduates arrived with visas of indefinite duration.

Religious Pressure

Right from the beginning, people responded eagerly to the Kingdom good news. When the missionaries arrived in Burundi, the special pioneers were already conducting numerous Bible studies, and nine publishers were preaching the good news. But the following month, the missionaries were told that it would be necessary to register their organization in order to be granted work passes.

The brothers were confident that registration could be obtained. However, during the weeks that followed, the chief immigration officer and other officials displayed a sour attitude. Behind the scenes the officials had religious pressure put on them. So at the beginning of May, the missionaries were given ten days to leave the country. Imagine their disappointment at having to leave behind 70 people with whom they were studying the Bible!

By the end of May, the special pioneers had to leave too. This left a Tanzanian brother with quite a task, the care of about 30 people who were studying the Bible. Despite the loss of the pioneers and missionaries, the local publishers kept on preaching. By 1967 a peak of 17 publishers reported, and 32 attended the Memorial. Unhappily, the following year difficulties arose, as some of the brothers did not accept the appointed overseers. This resulted in a drop to a service-year low of eight publishers. Spiritual counsel was the cure and was administered. Eventually the brothers resolved their problems. So the year 1969 found 25 active in the field ministry and 58 attending the Memorial.

New Ones Withstand Torture

The diligence of these Witnesses aroused the ire of the clergy, who brought pressure on the government. In August 1969, seven Witnesses were arrested and tortured by being made to stand in waist-deep water for two days. But like the early apostles, they were not deterred. Two months later nine new ones were baptized. Twice thereafter, officials asked the brothers to register their religion, but both times their applications were refused. Each of the following years brought new peaks of 46, 56, 69, 70, and 98 publishers, along with the formation of the congregation in Bujumbura in 1969.

In 1972 serious tribal fighting broke out between the Tusi and Hutu people. Over 100,000 Hutu are reported to have been killed during the conflict, including at least four of the Witnesses. Other Witnesses were imprisoned, some for eight months. Despite the turmoil, the brothers were diligent in the field service and averaged more than 17 hours per publisher per month.

After ten years of growth, there still remained the nagging problem of giving proper theocratic oversight. Although a large proportion of the brothers were steadfast, in other ways they showed themselves spiritually young, lacking depth and discernment. From nearby areas an undercurrent of Kitawala influence, the false “Watchtower movement,” affected some. These problems were not surprising, since the brothers never had a visit from a zone overseer, a showing of the Society’s films, a special course for congregation overseers, assemblies, or any publication in their language. Thus, in 1976, oversight for the country was transferred to the Zaire branch. In this way French- and Swahili-speaking brothers could give needed help to the Witnesses in Burundi.

Interestingly, at the time of the intertribal killings, the ousted leader of Burundi received a thorough witness before his death in exile. A visiting missionary met this man at Mogadishu, Somalia. Long discussions ensued, with many questions, leaving this former ruler deeply impressed. It was only later that the missionary discovered to whom he had been witnessing.

Golden Years for Missionaries in Uganda

The expulsion of missionaries from Burundi benefited Uganda, where, by 1964, a solid nucleus of publishers were active. Finally, after over 30 years of effort and along with the arrival of the first missionary couple, mature brothers and sisters came to serve where the need was greater. More missionaries were to follow.

After the first missionary home was established in Kampala, a second one was opened in the industrial town of Jinja, where the Nile River flows north out of Lake Victoria. Progress was rapid; soon a congregation was formed.

Meanwhile, the Kingdom message had reached smaller district towns all over Uganda, and by 1967, publishers numbered 53. The following year another missionary home was opened in Mbale, a growing town on the western flanks of Mount Elgon, near the Kenya border. By 1969, there were 75 publishers and that number reached 97 the following year, and 128 in 1971.

Since August 12, 1965, the work had been officially recognized. In 1972, things looked very promising. A new peak of 162 publishers had been reached, and five new missionaries had just been admitted into the country. Preparations were under way to hold the largest convention ever for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Uganda in the Lugogo Stadium of Kampala. Witnesses came from neighboring Kenya and Tanzania and even from as far away as Ethiopia. Sixty-five Ethiopian brothers traveled by chartered buses, some of them journeying almost 2,000 miles [3,200 km] for two weeks.

Turmoil in Uganda

The visitors entering Uganda were surprised to see streams of foreign schoolteachers and Asian families going in the opposite direction, fleeing the country in haste. The political scene had changed after a coup, and people feared for their future. It seemed that everybody, except the Witnesses, wanted to get out. The situation was tense. Yet, in the middle of all this turmoil, a 60-foot [18 m] banner across the main street of Kampala boldly announced the public talk of the convention. The brothers were thankful that the “Divine Rulership” District Assembly was successfully held, with a peak attendance of 937 for the public talk. Old-timers all over East Africa still have fond memories of this Kampala assembly.

Although there was much interest in Bible truth and literature was being distributed in large quantities, dark clouds were forming on the horizon. Extension of the work passes for two missionary couples was refused, so that they had to leave within three months. Then, on June 8, 1973, without warning, the government banned 12 religious groups, including Jehovah’s Witnesses. The remaining 12 missionaries had to leave by July 17, 1973. This was a sad event for all the foreign helpers, and it happened at a time when even in Kenya there were difficulties with freedom of worship.

Most missionaries had to go back to their home countries, but some couples who had served where the need was greater in Uganda were able to settle in Kenya and be of further assistance. Among these were Larry and Doris Patterson, as well as Brian and Marion Wallace. The Hardys went on to serve in Ivory Coast and then at London Bethel in 1983.e

Law and order had now taken on new meaning in Uganda. For example, one pioneer brother was arrested and taken to the military barracks for interrogation. His crime? Receiving money from European “spies.” He had been seen visiting the missionary home. Despite his clear explanations of the nature of his voluntary preaching work, he was beaten and then handed a spade to dig his own grave. On finishing his grave, he was told to dig two more for the European “spies,” that is, the missionaries! When this was completed, three soldiers with rifles knocked him down and then shot at him. They missed! A bullet glanced off the instep of one soldier’s boot, which started an argument among the soldiers and diverted their attention. The brother lay there for some time and was released the following day.

The congregations now had to meet secretly and adjust to new circumstances. Life in general had become cheap, and working for a banned religion posed additional risk.

The Southern Sudan Opens Up

During the late 1960’s, the Sudan had its tensions too, mainly between northerners and southerners. Far away from the branch office in Nairobi and quite isolated from brothers elsewhere, the Khartoum Congregation bravely pressed on. In August 1970 a peak of 54 publishers was reached shortly before the congregation elder with the most experience, George Orphanides, left the country.

Just then a number of the Witnesses were accused of being Zionists and were interrogated by officials for two full days. Also, two pioneer sisters, when witnessing to an interested lady, were surprised by a Coptic priest, who then called the police and reported them as Israeli spies. At police headquarters the sisters were able to give a good witness and were then released. While such experiences caused some Witnesses to become fearful, for others they proved to be faith-strengthening.

So far all our Sudanese history centers on Khartoum. But there was a large untapped field: the south, which teemed with people of nominal Christian background. How would the truth penetrate into this vast area? In 1970 came the breakthrough, when a young man from the south, an editor of a Catholic magazine, was contacted by the Witnesses. He made rapid progress in his Bible study and soon began his own studies with friends and relatives. One of his friends courageously spread the Kingdom message in his school even though pamphlets were printed against it.

By 1973 there were a number of small groups of interested ones in the south of the country, and 16 Bible students from that area were baptized. Aside from the clear ring of Bible truth, these southerners were attracted by seeing a religion practice unhypocritical love, one where true brotherhood transcended tribal and racial divisions.

In the early 1970’s, the Sudanese south had a charm of its own, perhaps because of its isolation. A journey from Khartoum to Juba by train and boat took over one week. World events were far from the minds of many. People were exceedingly kind and hospitable. Some hotels did not even have keys or locks for their guest rooms. People would go out of their way to guide, feed, or lodge passing travelers without expecting any payment. In fact, in most cases payment was vigorously refused. More and more of these kindhearted people heard and accepted the truth about Jehovah’s purpose.

With the opening up of the south and a more ready reception of Bible publications, steady growth followed, and by 1974 a peak of 100 publishers was reached in the Sudan.

Eritrea Aflame With Persecution!

Just across the eastern border of the Sudan lies Eritrea. In the early 1960’s​—after the expulsion of the missionaries—​radio, newspapers, and other media were extensively used in a campaign to malign Jehovah’s Witnesses. Under such headlines as “False Prophets” and “Beware of Religious Pretense Leading to Denial of True Faith,” the Witnesses were portrayed as haters of the emperor and the church and as rejecters of the Trinity and the Virgin Mary. They were said to be agents of foreign enemies, immoral people who do not fight for their country. Demands for drastic action to rid the country of Jehovah’s people were heard.

Priests of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church were the main fomenters of hatred. At a baptismal feast attended by more than 20,000 people, the chief priest broadcast a resolution excommunicating Jehovah’s Witnesses, commanding the people neither to greet them nor to employ them nor to bury their dead.

Many had the impression that it was “open hunting season” on Jehovah’s Witnesses​—they could now be killed by anybody without legal consequences! Landlords were supposed to expel any tenants who were Jehovah’s Witnesses. Parents were told that if one of their children was a Witness, he should be expelled from the home, cursed, and disinherited. In one large household, 18 young people were forced out for studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses.

In one town, a mob set out to beat a well-known brother but did not find him. The police began to arrest brothers, trying to force them to sign statements denying their faith and admitting that they were working against the security of the government. Because of a lack of understanding, a few brothers signed but upon realizing their mistake immediately disavowed their signatures in writing, regardless of the consequences.

Others faced the trap of gentle persuasion: “You can have your faith in your heart, but just tell us that you are not one of these Witnesses,” implored the officials. Or for the young Witness prisoners, the officials would use a more diabolically subtle temptation. On a given day, they would single out a young Witness prisoner and arrange for a large number of his gray-haired relatives to visit. Upon arrival, the relatives would first stare at him in silence, then break out in tears, fall to their knees, and beg him to renounce his faith in Jehovah. Brothers who faced these pressures recall this as their hardest test. Such intense persecution and pressures kept up for years.

Respite and Consolidation in Ethiopia

During the same years, the Witnesses in Addis Ababa and the Ethiopian south had their share of persecution though not to the same degree as in Eritrea. In 1962, Ethiopia and Eritrea were united as one country, which resulted in political troubles that reached into the 1990’s.

In 1964 it proved practical to transfer the supervision of all the congregations in Ethiopia to the newly formed Kenya branch. Branch representatives from Nairobi were able to do circuit work in Ethiopia and, upon visiting the congregations, help ameliorate some serious disagreements among the appointed congregation elders. In a number of congregations, the Watchtower Study was conducted in the style of a debate. A local circuit overseer was promoting his own ideas and not those of the Bible, so he had to be replaced. Such problems slowed down increase for the years between 1964 and 1966, when the number of publishers remained at about 200.

Still, the truth spread. A Witness who vacationed in the hot Red Sea port of Massawa contacted an interested person at the post office and began a Bible study. Other interested Ethiopians joined in, and soon a congregation was established. About this time another new congregation sprang up farther south in Aseb, Ethiopia’s other seaport.

Even though there had been a ban on the publications since 1957, the Witnesses found ways to supply spiritual food in the local languages. In 1966 a Kingdom Ministry School course was conducted for two weeks in the capital city, instructing appointed overseers in theocratic organization and Biblical matters. Thus the brothers came to have a more theocratic and forward-looking attitude, and the 1967 service year showed an increase of 21 percent, with a total of 253 publishers.

Despite an easing of religious pressure, the Witnesses had to continue meeting in small groups because of political tensions in the country. While the official newspaper of the imperial government assured freedom of worship for all and listed Jehovah’s Witnesses along with other religions granted such rights, all applications for registration met with refusal.

Priests Learn About Jehovah

Similar to what occurred in the first century in Jerusalem, a number of honesthearted priests paid attention to Bible truths. (Acts 6:7) A fair-minded priest confessed to a Witness: “You are really doing a work that I should be doing. Your visit today is really a blow to my office as a priest.”

Another priest began to inquire of the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses and found satisfying answers to his Bible questions​—in discussions lasting up to 12 hours each at times! The outcome? He legalized his marriage, became zealous for the truth, and witnessed to a nun. She arranged for a debate between her son (a church elder) and a Witness, promising that if the Witness “won,” she would start studying the Bible.

Well, the son “lost.” Later he cornered the visiting circuit overseer and besieged him with questions for 20 hours, with only a 4-hour break for a nap! The result? The whole family studied, and 15 progressed well in the truth; even the nun was baptized, and her son became a special pioneer minister.

Better Times of Short Duration

By early 1971 the brothers in Ethiopia had many reasons to rejoice. Brother Henschel of the Governing Body visited Addis Ababa and Asmara and spoke to an audience of 912. The number of publishers in the country had reached some 500. And a large shipment of literature had come into the country.

But trouble lay ahead. As the year progressed, radio broadcasts angrily condemned Jehovah’s Witnesses. More than 20 apostates cooperated with the clergy, helping them to write slanderous articles.

In one area, police entered a meeting hall, confiscated 70 Bibles, and briefly detained some Witnesses. Subsequently, the Kingdom Hall in Asmara was closed, forcing the congregation to meet in small groups again. Yet the work did not slow down. In 1971, new ones baptized totaled 142, and 2,302 attended the Memorial of Christ’s death.

New groups were being formed in isolated areas, and two circuit overseers made their rounds to care for 25 congregations and groups and additional isolated interested persons. Soon the mark of 1,000 publishers was passed, with a peak of 1,844 in 1974.

Persecuted but Not Left in the Lurch

Opposition did not stop. In 1972 the police called in several brothers for questioning and warned that action would be taken if their activity did not cease. Then, on August 27, 1972, big trucks arrived at the locations of the regular Sunday meetings; the police arrested 208 Witnesses and interested persons. In one congregation the speaker was discussing Ezekiel’s prophecy of Gog’s (Satan’s) attack and asked: “What would you say if police came here to arrest us?” Curiously, this very thing happened a few minutes later!

Police herded 59 brothers into a bug-infested room about nine feet [3 m] square. They squeezed 46 sisters into another room of similar size. They forced the others to sleep in the cold outside. Bail was denied. So was defense counsel. Though the brothers gave a fine witness to prison officials, 96 were sentenced to six months in prison. A few days later and after having their hair shaved off, they were released on bail.

The remaining 112 were charged with establishing an illegal religious association and given six-month prison sentences. After one month these brothers were released on bail. Later they were again called to court, reimprisoned, and subsequently released on bail after 12 days. Almost one year after the first imprisonment, the High Court heard the appeal and upheld the decision of the lower court but suspended the sentence with stern warnings. The Witnesses had been persecuted but not left in the lurch. (2 Cor. 4:9) Meanwhile, during their time in prison, the brothers preached fearlessly and helped to the point of dedication two prisoners who were serving a life sentence.

A Helpful Visit and More Spiritual Food

William Nisbet from the branch office in Nairobi visited Addis Ababa and encountered an additional problem. A growing group of young, emotional brothers claimed to be anointed, with the heavenly hope. They shared in field service only with one another and resented counsel from anyone who did not profess to be anointed. Their meetings featured noisy manifestations of the “holy spirit.” For instance, at the Memorial celebration of Christ’s death, some would shout, snatching the emblems from servers, and stand up to partake, focusing attention on themselves. Dealing with these problems took much time. In subsequent years a number of the most vocal and adamant partakers did not remain faithful Witnesses.

In 1973 some much-needed publications became available, including the books The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life and True Peace and Security​—From What Source? in Amharic and the book Organization for Kingdom-Preaching and Disciple-Making in Tigrinya. This fine spiritual food, along with a series of small circuit assemblies that 1,352 attended, had a faith-strengthening effect on the brothers.

In addition, a group of Ethiopian Witnesses went overland to the “Divine Victory” International Assembly in Nairobi, where Brothers Henschel and Suiter of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses participated. But political changes were in the air, and a revolution was soon to alter the theocratic picture in Ethiopia.

Legal Recognition and a Branch Office in Kenya

Now let us go back to Kenya to catch up with developments there. The country had just become independent from British rule when, at the last picnic-style circuit assembly in February 1962, Harry Arnott, the visiting zone overseer, made a historic announcement to the 184 present. This would be their last unlawful assembly in Kenya. Legal recognition had just been granted to Jehovah’s Witnesses! The five small Nairobi congregations could now unite in a pleasant hall near the center of town. How glad the brothers were to discover that they were now a larger congregation with 80 publishers! The Memorial, their first meeting in freedom, was attended by 192.

Events hastened one after another. Peter and Vera Palliser from the Zambia branch were assigned to help in Kenya. The Pallisers and the recently graduated McLains moved into the first missionary home in Nairobi South, and a branch office was opened on February 1, 1963. At that time, there were about 150 publishers in Kenya and Uganda, requiring little work in the office, perhaps one or two days per week. A small room, eight by ten feet [2.5 by 3 m], in the apartment sufficed as an office.

But soon other countries, such as Tanzania and Ethiopia, came under the direction of the Kenya branch, more than doubling the work. Arrangements were made to have registered marriage officers among the brothers. Circuit assemblies were organized in public halls or schools, and Brother Henschel visited and gave needed guidance on how to operate the new branch office.

A Segregated Field Opens Up

It took effort to overcome the segregation left over from colonial days. Stories held that it was unsafe to enter the African parts of town, even in daylight. But the new missionaries and the brothers serving where the need was greater were anxious to expand their activities. A location of railway workers was chosen as the first territory.

It was the rainy season, and big lumps of mud stuck to the shoes of the zealous preachers. These were their first attempts to use their carefully prepared Swahili Bible presentations. The response? Many women listened with a blank look on their face, gesturing to the effect that they did not understand English. What a relief to find out, when their English-speaking husbands came home from work, that their wives did not know much Swahili either!

Learning Swahili was quite an experience for the foreign brothers, since few words resemble those in any European language. But there is a logical grammar, and soon things fall into place. The pronunciation is easy, and the vocabulary is larger than that of most African languages.

Of course, during the learning period, things did not go without mishap. One sister wanted to speak about “serikali ya Mungu” (God’s Government) but instead spoke of “suruali ya Mungu” (God’s trousers). For one brother it was hard going when he mixed up the common greeting “Habari gani?” (What news?) with “Hatari gani?” (What danger?). One missionary sister felt she was not able to slaughter a chicken and wanted to ask a special pioneer, “Will you kill a chicken for me?” Instead of “kuua” (to kill), it came out “kuoa,” making it “Will you marry this chicken for me?” A missionary handling a question-and-answer part called all brothers “Dudu” (insect) instead of “Ndugu” (brother).

For the many children, of course, these foreigners were a novelty. Some would touch the brothers’ hands to see whether the white would come off. Dozens of children would follow the publishers around from house to house. The stories of ill feelings toward foreigners proved to be mistaken. On the contrary, many people showed a sincere hunger for Bible truth. In most cases visitors would be invited in and offered seats, sometimes even tea or food. It was a completely new experience!

Our foreign publishers also had to learn to be selective in offering Bible studies​—so many were eager to accept, and it was impossible to study with everyone. Before the end of the year, a second congregation was formed in Nairobi, in the productive Eastlands territory. The Witnesses felt right at home when their territory included such estates as “Jerusalem” and “Jericho,” and soon the brothers had all the studies they could handle.

Interestingly, about a dozen of those who learned the truth then and associated with the two original congregations in Nairobi are still serving faithfully some 30 years later.

The first book in Swahili, From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained, was released in June 1963. This was an appropriate tool for truth-seekers of all levels of education. After this the Swahili Kingdom Ministry was duplicated and The Watchtower was produced in Zambia in Swahili.

In the meantime, Alan and Daphne MacDonald from Gilead School moved to their new assignment on the island of Mombasa on the Kenya coast, while the McLains had been assigned to Kampala, Uganda, as the first missionaries there. This made room for William and Muriel Nisbet to move into the branch office. How happy they were to be free again to share together in full-time service. For seven years, in order to stay in the country, Brother Nisbet had worked at a secular job. The Nisbets now set out in circuit work in Kenya along with some district work in neighboring Tanzania.

Expansion Into Kenya’s Towns

In Mombasa, the MacDonalds found a small congregation composed of foreign Witnesses who had come to serve where the need was greater, as well as a small group of African Witnesses who had come from Tanzania to Mombasa for work. Now that the preaching activity was free, these brothers lost no time in organizing their first meeting. They were 30 strong. However, most of the African brothers were not legally married. So one Sunday one of the Society’s marriage officers married 14 couples. The following Sunday all were rebaptized.

The territory in Mombasa presented quite a challenge to the brothers, since so many religions were represented. The Zoroastrians were fire worshipers who claimed that their religion began in Nimrod’s days. Different sects of the Hindu religion included not only the turbaned Sikhs but also the Jains, who would not step on an ant or kill a fly. Then there were a large number of Muslims and nominal Christians. Mombasa was blanketed with temples, mosques, and large churches. Presenting the everlasting good news required good flexibility and skill.

In time more missionaries arrived and were assigned to regional centers, such as Nakuru, Kisumu, Kitale, Eldoret, Kericho, Kisii, Thika, and Nyeri. By the end of the 1960’s, a number of Kenyans had taken up the special pioneer service and were well suited to preach in smaller population centers.

The Little One Became a Thousand

Now things really began growing. At the time of legal registration of the work, there were 130 publishers in Kenya. Two years later the number had nearly doubled, and by 1970 the little one had literally become a thousand.​—Isa. 60:22.

People learning the truth had to make outstanding changes, such as overcoming immorality, drunkenness, witchcraft, and illiteracy. Many also had been brought up with an excessive love of land, livestock, education, or money. Personal pride and face-saving also had to be overcome. Thus, while the interest was there, it took years before people had put on the Christian new personality sufficiently to make a dedication to Almighty God.

Generally the younger people progressed faster than older ones, since they could read and were not so steeped in traditions. A case in point was a teenager named Samuel Ndambuki, who was confused and disgusted by the hypocrisy in Christendom’s religions. At the age of 13, he began a wayward life involving smoking, stealing, lying, immorality, and drug addiction. In 1967, eight years later, two former classmates contacted him with the good news from the Bible. He was impressed by how these young people used the Scriptures. How different Jehovah’s Witnesses were with their insistence on clean conduct! Samuel made dramatic changes for the better, changes his neighbors noticed. Despite his moral improvements, he encountered great opposition to his newfound belief, but he continued progressing and was baptized later that year. During the following year, he started regular pioneer service, followed by special pioneer service, Bethel service, and circuit work. Today, he is a family man and has helped a number of people to come to a knowledge of the truth, laying the groundwork for a growing congregation in Ukambani.

Another example was Raymond Kabue, in Nairobi, who learned the truth together with his fleshly brother and another group of young men. Full of zeal he went to his home area in the Aberdare Range and preached to the people there. As a result, a congregation sprang up that produced many regular and special pioneers. One of his children became a pioneer, and another one served at Bethel.

His brother Leonard helped Ruth Nyambura, a woman who had read the entire Bible without getting answers to her questions. She had a list of questions ready when he visited. With the help of a brother from overseas, Brother Kabue was able to answer these, including the significance of the number 666 found at Revelation 13:18. This sincere woman was one of the very first Swahili-speaking people to accept the truth. That was in 1965. With a husband who was not a believer, she is typical of many other faithful sisters in Kenya, where, unlike other African countries, the women often outnumber the men in the congregations. She raised seven children in the truth, served as a regular pioneer for a time, and still serves faithfully as a publisher.

One of her daughters, Margaret MacKenzie, endured the tragic death of her husband in an accident in 1974. She was left with three small children. Following tribal customs, her husband’s unbelieving relatives had planned for her to be abducted at the funeral and to “marry” her brother-in-law. However, she was forewarned and fled the scene, thus giving up all her claims to the house she had helped build and the field she had helped develop. The relatives succeeded in snatching her little boy away from her, leaving her with only her two daughters. It was not easy to provide for the children and at the same time give them enough spiritual attention, but with Jehovah’s help Sister MacKenzie succeeded. She took family study and the field ministry very seriously. In 1987 she had the joy of seeing both her girls, one 14 years old and the other 15, baptized at a circuit assembly. Also, her son returned home after 11 years of absence and has progressed to the point of serving Jehovah.

Enlarge the Scope of Kingdom Work

The branch office made a real effort to enlarge the scope of the Kingdom work. Tracts and books were translated into Kikamba, Kikuyu, and Luo. Additional books were released in Swahili, namely, “Things in Which It Is Impossible for God to Lie,” The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life, and “Your Word Is a Lamp to My Foot.” The Swahili edition of The Watchtower increased to 24 pages. Thus, literature placements ran high.

The publications were popular among the Asian population, who normally received European Witnesses well and readily took literature but generally remained attached to their religion. However, there were exceptions. One teenage girl held on to the truth despite severe family opposition and pressures from the Sikh community. Her father expelled her from the home and even threatened to kill her. She moved in with a Witness family and, after extensive Bible study, dedicated her life to Jehovah, entered pioneer service, and eventually attended Gilead School. Now married, Goody Poulsen is still a zealous pioneer, having good success, particularly in the Asian field.

A Marriage Problem Solved

Throughout Kenya many people were not legally married. Some married according to tribal custom, with very liberal provisions for divorce; others lived together in a consensual arrangement. This did not meet Jehovah’s high requirements.​—Heb. 13:4.

Therefore, more brothers were registered as marriage officers under the African Christian Marriage Act. These brothers traveled extensively as interested people took their stand for true worship and came to the point of wanting to legalize their marriage. In most cases this coincided with their qualifying as publishers of the good news. It also laid the basis for a better family life because it eliminated fear that marriages would be dissolved if no children resulted or if the bride-price payment was not completed. Over the years that followed, well over 2,000 couples benefited from this provision.

A New Branch

At the 1970 district convention, it was announced that the Society had purchased a new branch facility on Woodlands Road in Nairobi. The one-room office in Nairobi South had moved to an apartment in the same neighborhood, but by now there were close to 3,000 publishers reporting in the eight countries of the branch territory. This required more shipping, more translation, and more correspondence.

The new building on a one-and-a-half-acre [.6 ha] plot in quiet surroundings and yet near the city center was an ideal setting for further expansion. The many trees and sunken lawns bordered with flowers of many colors and with hedges made it a little paradise.

The dedication program was arranged for Saturday, June 26, 1971. Later, alterations were made to the building to make it more suitable for office and residential use. More bedrooms were added. The fine space on the lower part of the property was used to build a large Kingdom Hall​—Nairobi’s first. It would serve two congregations, and there was still a large lawn available for additional construction at a later date. This Kingdom Hall was completed about the same time as the halls in Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru.

Increase Sparks Clergy Jealousy

As more and more interested persons resigned from their churches, the clergy became more and more incensed. Attempts were made to discredit Jehovah’s Witnesses. A misinformed member of Parliament told the House that the Witnesses do not send their children to school and do not allow members to receive hospital treatment. This parliamentarian soon looked foolish when corrected by the Speaker of the House, who had received accurate information from an official who was related to one of the Witnesses.

So a democratic, freedom-loving attitude continued to prevail. Near the beginning of 1972, Brother Knorr made another visit to Nairobi, and later that year a large convention was held in Mombasa, with an attendance of 2,161 at the public talk. Prospects were bright, and things looked calm and peaceful.

A Shock​—Ban in 1973

What a shock to hear a radio announcement on April 18, 1973, that Jehovah’s Witnesses were considered dangerous to good government and were banned in Kenya. True, there had been some stirrings and a bit of adverse publicity here and there but no formal accusations or police action anywhere. Suddenly, true Bible education was illegal!

Efforts were made to see high-ranking officials to clarify matters. A formal appeal was lodged on May 8 but was rejected six days later. In the meantime the registrar-general canceled the registration of the Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses. An audience with the president was subsequently refused. On May 30 an appeal was lodged against the cancellation. The headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Brooklyn, New York, followed this up with a personal letter from the Watch Tower Society’s president.

On July 5, Jehovah’s Witnesses were a major topic before Kenya’s National Assembly. They were still being confused with a small political sect and portrayed as disrespecting secular governments and refusing hospital treatment. They were even called the Devil’s Witnesses. Of course, all of this showed clearly how misinformed people can be, similar to those who leveled accusations against God’s Son, Jesus Christ.​—Mark 3:22; Luke 23:2.

Next, the government took swift action to expel the 36 missionaries. These had to leave on July 11, 1973. It was indeed a sad moment in Kenya’s theocratic history. In haste, equipment in the ten missionary homes throughout the country had to be disposed of, personal effects had to be crated and stored for shipment to various other assignments.

Yet, the branch office continued open. Preparations were made for a legal case challenging the ban as a violation of Kenya’s Constitution, which guaranteed freedom of worship.

The Ban Rescinded!

Reasonable officials soon recognized that the whole matter was not in keeping with the desire that Kenya be viewed as a moderate, reasonable, democratic country, open to tourists and adhering to human rights. Thus, in August 1973, the government took the courageous step of rescinding the ban. A government notice appeared to the effect that the ban had never really existed. The brothers were jubilant!

For the Witnesses remaining at the branch office, work was not easy. Several Witnesses from outside the Bethel family came in to help, including Helge Linck, Stanley Makumba, and Bernard Musinga. Only a few of them were familiar with office procedure and what was required. They had to learn how to handle correspondence and accounts as well as keep records.

Assemblies were rightly considered a priority under the circumstances. A series of circuit assemblies held in October gave new stimulus and direction to the brothers in the field. Also, plans for the international district convention scheduled for December 26-30, in Nairobi, were reorganized. After the ban, the convention theme “Divine Victory” was most appropriate and timely. Although it meant much hard work on short notice, what a joy it was to see foreign travelers arrive to give added encouragement to the local brothers! The peak attendance was 4,588, and 209 were baptized.

There was good newspaper publicity along with a 28-minute televised interview of Grant Suiter, a visiting member of the Watch Tower headquarters staff in Brooklyn. All of this showed that Jehovah’s Witnesses were still alive and active. More circuit assemblies followed, and the elders were stimulated by training they received at the Kingdom Ministry School.

For the Witnesses this sudden ban had been a shocking experience and a test of their faith. Yet, it had the healthy effect of sifting out those who had no close relationship to their loving Creator and had not built their faith on the real foundation, our Exemplar, Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 3:11) It became obvious that the Kenyan brothers had to learn to take on more work and responsibilities themselves, not relying solely on missionaries and brothers from other countries who had come to serve where the need was greater. There was also need for more personal Bible study and fervent prayer.

Soon other missionaries were able to come to Kenya to help, including John and Kay Jason, who had already spent 26 years in missionary, circuit, and Bethel service in Zambia. Jehovah had demonstrated that there was still very much to be done in Kenya, and the Witnesses set out with determination to continue with the work.

Expansion With New Momentum

Progress was also made in spirituality. Up to that time, publishers had mainly witnessed with magazines. Now special emphasis was placed on using the Bible, as outlined in the Kingdom Ministry. How heartwarming to see even small children in field ministry open up the Bible and witness, much to the amazement of the householder and older publishers.

For the first time, the Kingdom Ministry also tackled the subject of unchristian traditions. It pointed out that while there may be good and beneficial traditions, there are others based on wrong teachings, such as the immortality of the soul, that could involve Christians in false religion. Thus, progressively, the brothers and sisters freed themselves from unclean practices such as those connected with wakes for the dead, funeral rites, fear of the evil eye, the wearing of charms, tribal initiation ceremonies, and ceremonial circumcisions.

Another important step forward was the establishing of a single language in each congregation in the cities, either Swahili or English. Previously, congregation meetings featured both languages, so that the constant translating from one language to the other meant that only half as much material could be covered. Now the brothers could enjoy a full program in either language.

“Macedonia” Becomes a Household Word

In the meantime a zone overseer’s visit by Wilfred Gooch from the branch office in London helped to reorganize things in Kenya and to lay the groundwork for the first systematic campaign into isolated territory in East Africa. In Kenya, for instance, three quarters of the population lived in isolated territory.

The publishers responded with great enthusiasm, and ever since 1975 the words from Acts 16:9 regarding Macedonia have been common knowledge. Even non-Witnesses have been heard to say: “Today the Witnesses hold their meeting in Macedonia.” Three months of each year are set aside for work in modern-day Macedonia.

In addition the branch office encouraged all publishers to use their annual leave from secular employment to preach in their rural home area. One sister wrote in response: “After arriving home, I let the people hear Jehovah’s good news and soon found many Bible studies, among them eight of my relatives, six of whom started attending meetings, which were held ten miles [16 km] away.”

All this witnessing generated much correspondence from interested people. Hundreds of letters every month requesting publications or Bible studies made it necessary to enlarge the correspondence staff at the branch office.

Another important new feature of the year was the Kingdom Ministry School for elders in seven countries of Eastern Africa. Not only was there much spiritual instruction but there were also a number of eye-openers. For a good number of the brothers, it was the first time in their lives that they had helped with cleaning chores​—washing dishes and preparing food—​something that was customarily left entirely to women. But the elders proved humble and willing to adapt. For some overseers it was also a new thought that a father would play with his children. As one elder put it: “After all those years, my children will be surprised when following my return they see me enjoying games with them.”

Thus, the year 1975 ended with a new peak of 1,709 publishers in Kenya. Over 300 were baptized. However, how was the Kingdom work progressing in its southern neighbor, Tanzania?

Changed Circumstances in Tanzania

Unlike in Kenya, the ban on the Witnesses, in force since April 3, 1965, continued. This situation, along with changing family and economic circumstances, led to other developments. One after another of the foreign brothers who had come to serve where the need was greater had to leave. Also, most of the Zambian special pioneers had to return to their homeland, often for economic reasons linked to the rapid increase in the size of their families. For instance, a special pioneer assigned in 1961 with two children had a family of seven children by 1967.

An exception to the exodus of pioneers was Lamond Kandama. He accepted the truth in 1932 in Zambia and in 1940 and 1941 was arrested and imprisoned there because of his belief. In 1959 he took up the pioneer service at the age of 47 and was sent to Tanzania. There also he was arrested. Finally, he was reassigned to Kenya, where he has served in several assignments, and now, as he approaches 80 years of age, he is still a special pioneer and still unmarried. What a fine example of faithful endurance!

“Sheep” in Court

The next two decades brought dozens of arrests and court cases throughout Tanzania. The Witnesses were not surprised at this. Jesus said: “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. . . . A slave is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” (John 15:18, 20) So they endured joyfully without making much ado about it.

The brothers’ peaceful and cooperative nature often played into the hands of hateful accusers. Opposers would pretend friendliness or interest, and the Witnesses would innocently invite them to their homes, proudly showing them their theocratic library. At times they even let these people borrow some of their Bible study aids that were later produced in court as evidence against the Witnesses. The brothers readily admitted that they were members of the association of Jehovah’s Witnesses, which in legal terms meant supporting an unlawful society. Since some brothers admitted legal guilt at the police station, they were not allowed to give testimony in court. Again, because of their cooperative bent, they would allow raids on their homes, leading to their arrest, even though no court order was obtained. Others felt that they had to answer every question when interrogated, thus swiftly incriminating themselves.

The Witnesses were charged with being members of an unlawful society simply because they attended Bible study meetings or preached the good news or possessed Bible literature. The courts levied fines and handed down prison sentences ranging from three to nine months.

For example, although the Witnesses in Tanzania were not numerous, numbering only about 1 in 10,000 of the country’s population during the 1973 service year, their zeal did not go unnoticed. On September 7, 1974, while a Christian meeting was in progress at the home of Isaack Siuluta in Dar es Salaam, policemen surrounded the Siuluta home. Of those present, 46 were arrested, including two pioneer sisters. The police sent the other women home. Any Bible study aids found in briefcases or in the hands of the attenders were used as exhibits during the ensuing trial.

The court heard the case on November 29. Evidence presented showed the Witnesses to be peaceful and law-abiding. Yet, the judge ruled that “their religious aspect being a mere front,” all were guilty. They were sentenced to fines or six months in prison for the possession of Bible study aids or for being in attendance at the meeting of an unlawful society.

In prison the Witnesses encouraged one another with Bible study and Bible talks, such as “Making Jehovah Your Joy Each Day.” After six months all were released. The Kingdom work in Tanzania did not stop; a peak of 1,609 publishers reported during the 1975 service year.

At first it took a while for the Kenya branch office to become aware of the legal difficulties of these inexperienced brothers. When it did, helpful advice was given to all congregations about legal rights in the case of arrest and court action. This was published in simple Swahili and proved to be a great help.

In later years, there were a number of court cases in which the brothers were acquitted. Some judges ruled that witnesses for the prosecution had no proof regarding any “preaching related to a banned society” and that the “mere possession of books constituted no proof of being a member of an unlawful society.” All of this provided a convincing witness against Jehovah’s great Adversary.​—Prov. 27:11.

Jehovah Provides Strength

The wave of persecution against fellow Witnesses next door in Malawi had bad effects, especially in the nearby area around Tukuyu. While it egged on opposers, it also gave insight to others. One prison guard put it this way: “In Malawi they wasted their efforts persecuting and killing these people. Likewise here. They will never compromise. They just increase.”

Yet, the persecution was by no means uniform throughout the country. There were congregations that could build new Kingdom Halls and meet openly, even singing with enthusiasm. In most cases, the publications reached the Witnesses safely by mail. The Kenya branch continued to send traveling overseers to upbuild them and branch representatives to meet with elders and some congregations. More publications in Swahili proved faith-strengthening for the Tanzanian brothers. A number of Witnesses took up pioneer service and even qualified to replace the Zambian special pioneers.

A highlight for many Tanzanian brothers was a yearly trip to the district conventions in Kenya. Usually it was not difficult to reach Kenya by bus. In fact, in October 1968 and even in later years, large groups of some 80 brothers would charter a bus to make a trip of about 950 miles [1,500 km] from southern Tanzania to Kenya. Quite a sacrifice, as they had to save for months to pay for this big event of the year. Some Tanzanian border officials were reasonable and even told the brothers, “Go and pray for us please.” In 1970 four buses were needed for the 350 Witnesses who traveled from southern Tanzania to the Nairobi convention.

Witness While You Work

The Tanzanian brothers were fearless and ingenious in their preaching activity. Witnesses working in communal labor with large numbers of non-Witness laborers would arrange among themselves for one brother to pose as an interested person and start shouting Bible questions to the other Witnesses, who were only too happy to reply. This was done in a loud voice so that soon the other laborers joined in, and hours of Bible witnessing could be given​—without interrupting their work, of course.

When the book The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life was released in Swahili, it became so popular that soon even the enemies of the good news came to know it very well by its blue cover. For that reason the Society decided to produce a different edition of the Swahili Truth book with a cover in a less conspicuous color.

The Truth Sets Free

In some parts of the country, trouble came from the clergy of Christendom. On the slopes of Mount Meru, just west of Kilimanjaro, a group of six people zealously studied Bible truths. At the close of one study, a Lutheran priest organized a mob to cause a noisy disturbance outside the place where they were studying. Some days later these interested persons returned home from a congregation meeting 13 miles [20 km] away and found trouble awaiting them. The father of one had been at the student’s house swinging an ax, threatening to kill him. Another found his house damaged, his goat missing, and his child gone. A third student was beaten and robbed of his cattle. Were these interested people discouraged in their pursuit of Bible truth? Far from it! They each wrote their resignations from the church.

Soon all of them progressed to the point of becoming unbaptized publishers except for one thing; for this they needed to produce their marriage certificates. But those certificates were still in the hands of the priests, who refused to relinquish them. The matter had to be taken to court. The priests argued that these people belonged to an unlawful society, but the magistrate became irritated with the priests, fined them, and had the certificates handed over to their owners.

Assistance for the Seychelles

Remember the 11 isolated publishers living so far away from the African mainland in Seychelles? They urgently wished to have outside help. Early in 1974, Ralph and Audrey Ballard with their children came from England to serve where the need was greater and were able to obtain residence. Their enthusiasm and zeal in the field helped start many new Bible studies. Although missionary entry had been refused in 1969 as well as in 1972, the International Bible Students Association gained legal recognition on August 29, 1974, and this too gave added impetus to the work.

There were 32 publishers reporting then, and the following year the figure swelled to 51. It was not easy for the local people to take a stand for Jehovah, since the Catholic priests would threaten people with loss of jobs or homes. As the years passed, clergy influence waned, and truth lovers took courageous steps.

Also in 1974, after the good news had been preached throughout the main island of Mahé, the Witnesses made the three-hour sea voyage to the second-largest island, Praslin, famous for the Vallée de Mai with its fan palms. These palm trees produce the so-called double coconut, or coco de mer, possibly the world’s heaviest seed (30-40 pounds [14-18 kg]), which is coveted by many collectors for its unusual shape. Of course, with a population of under 5,000, everybody knew everyone else. It would take people of mettle to stand firm for the truth against that type of peer pressure. Yet, some did, though it took time to train them to preach the good news tactfully instead of simply attacking idol worship or preaching the doom of the wicked at Armageddon.

Finally, in 1976, one missionary couple settled in Victoria on Mahé. They helped stabilize the congregation spiritually and assisted the many children of Witness families to walk in the truth. This was not an easy task, since some were used to a very easygoing way of life, one with few moral scruples. Only a few of the local Witnesses exerted themselves in personal study and field service. So some were easily tossed about by every new worldly trend, causing many of them to fall by the wayside. Also, a number of those associating with the congregation, instead of serving with eternity in view, had their minds set on a date for the end of this wicked world. All of this put the brakes on spiritual progress.

Standing Firm Without Outside Help

On June 5, 1977, a coup d’état ushered in a new government and a new experience for these once tranquil islands. The new Parliament discussed Jehovah’s Witnesses and their stand of neutrality toward all earthly governments. One parliamentarian suggested a ban on the Witnesses, but others wisely upheld constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion.

Nevertheless, in 1978, the missionary home was closed and the missionaries were reassigned to Kenya. The Ballard family had also moved away. Now the local brothers had to stand on their own. However, they were better equipped to care for the Kingdom work now, having benefited from association with experienced brothers in the truth and the elders having attended several Kingdom Ministry Schools. Despite widespread illiteracy and attachment to spiritism, sheeplike ones were still found. By 1982 there were once again 50 publishers in the Seychelles, and some began regular pioneer service, Lise Gardner being one of them. Finally, the registration of the Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Seychelles was approved in January 1987, but the application for missionary entry was still not granted.

Harvest in the Islands

The first district convention was held January 16-18, 1987. Until then all meetings and circuit assemblies had been held in the Kingdom Hall; the convention would be the first meeting at another place.

Where was the location? It was a beautifully situated pavilion of a major tourist hotel. The semiopen building, with its thatched roof, was nestled among rocks and overlooked one of Mahé’s most beautiful bays. The delegates not only enjoyed the spiritual program but relished the soothing sound of the ocean waves and the refreshing sea breezes that passed through the auditorium.

The attendance on the first day was a thrilling 173. On Sunday the facility overflowed with an attendance of 256. With only 80 publishers, what a potential for growth in the islands!

Among those baptized at the convention was a woman who was once an opposer. What changed her mind? Her attendance at the Memorial of Christ’s death. That is when she saw what Jehovah’s Witnesses are really like. She needed, though, to make some changes in her life. For her livelihood she had a little shop by the roadside where, among other items, customers could buy tobacco. She was warned that to stop selling tobacco products would ruin the business. Undaunted, she put her trust in Jehovah and ceased stocking tobacco. Her business has not suffered. In fact, in order to find more time for the important Kingdom-preaching work, she posted opening and closing hours at the shop, thus organizing her time to spend the prime hours of the day in the preaching work.

The evangelizing efforts of the publishers are reaping a healthy harvest. In 1990 a Kingdom Hall was dedicated on the island of Praslin. A number of Bible studies are being conducted on the third-largest island, La Digue. Also, in September 1990, the supervision of the Seychelles was transferred to the Mauritius branch, where a similar Creole is spoken.

Rwanda​—Africa’s Hidden Switzerland

Now back to the mainland. To the north of Burundi, just as beautiful and hilly, nestled between Tanzania, Uganda, and Zaire, is Africa’s most densely populated country, Rwanda. It is over a hundred miles [160 km] from east to west and from north to south, but during the last 20 years, the population has grown from three million to more than seven million people. Rwanda contains some of the world’s best tea and many of the world’s mountain gorillas. It is a land of mountains, lakes, and more than 10,000 hills, and it claims the farthest sources of the Nile.

As in neighboring Burundi, in Rwanda too we find a Hutu majority and a minority from the tall Tusi tribe. In this ‘Hidden Switzerland of Africa,’ most people live in isolated rural homesteads surrounded by banana groves. (See Awake! of February 22, 1976.) All inhabitants speak Kinyarwanda; the more educated also know French.

How would the life-giving truth from God’s Word reach this remote mountainous country? In 1969 the Governing Body assigned four Gilead graduates to Rwanda, but their entry applications were refused, perhaps because of the still strong influence of the Catholic Church.

The following year, however, two special pioneers from Tanzania, Oden and Enea Mwaisoba, settled in Kigali, the capital, and began preaching. As they did not know Kinyarwanda, they started to visit Swahili-speaking people, mainly from Zaire and Tanzania. By February 1971 four congregation publishers were reporting time in the field ministry. A change in government opened the door for more religious tolerance, but the language problem slowed growth, since no publications were yet available in Kinyarwanda.

Other pioneers from Zaire and Tanzania came to help. By 1974 there were 19 active publishers. In 1975 they placed over a thousand books. In that year other notable events occurred too: A brother visited from the branch office in Nairobi, six people were baptized, and a Kingdom Ministry School course benefited seven Rwandan brothers. Indeed, a good foundation was being laid for expansion. Small Bible study groups started to spring up outside Kigali.

An Emigrant Returns

In the meantime, a Rwandan man, Gaspard Rwakabubu, learned the truth while working in the copper mines in Kolwezi in southern Zaire. He helped with the oversight of a local congregation, thus gaining helpful spiritual experience. Yet, his thoughts and prayers often turned to his homeland, Rwanda, where hardly anyone was hearing the good news.

What was he to do about it? Gaspard spoke to an instructor at the Kingdom Ministry School who was also a missionary. The instructor asked him: “How about entering full-time pioneer service and moving back to Rwanda?”

He rejoiced at the possibility, and neither a job promotion nor dissuasion from relatives could hold him back. Jehovah’s help was evident too. Not only was the necessary paperwork completed in record time but his employer, the mining company, even gave him airplane tickets back to Rwanda. He arrived in Kigali in June 1975. This move meant material sacrifices for Brother Rwakabubu; he no longer had a large company house in which to live, only simple accommodations built of adobe.

His enthusiasm and his understanding of the Rwandan personality helped propel theocratic progress. Other Rwandans came into the truth with the same drive as Brother Rwakabubu. In Kigali meeting attendance rose, and the number of publishers climbed from 29 in 1975 to 46 in 1976, then to 76 in 1977. Forty attended the first circuit assembly, which was held in his living room.

In 1976 the first publication in Kinyarwanda appeared, the booklet “This Good News of the Kingdom.” Then, in 1977, another attempt was made to bring in missionaries to Kigali. Two couples were allowed into the country on temporary visas. After a hard search, they found a suitable missionary home. Alas, while the house was spacious, the water was not yet connected, and the missionaries had to shower under the rainspout. With every downpour, they scurried to set out all available containers in order to collect rainwater. Once, with great effort, they filled the bathtub, only to discover later that the plug leaked and all their precious water had gone down the drain!

Speak the Language

The missionaries knew that to touch the natives’ heart with the good news, they had to speak their language, and so they immediately set out to study Kinyarwanda. They made good progress, even impressing local officials, many of whom were favorable to the Kingdom message. Soon, though, the influence of false religionists was felt; the missionaries were not issued new visas. Thus, after only three months in the country, the missionaries left for Zaire.

Foreign special pioneers also had to leave Rwanda for various reasons. The local Rwandan brothers picked up the slack, started to pioneer, and expanded the preaching activity into all the districts of the country. The results? The Witnesses preached the Kingdom message in over a hundred rural markets. How wonderful it was to see this advancement after such a late start!

Burning with enthusiasm for the truth, the Witnesses in Rwanda desired to taste the joy of associating with their brothers from other places. So in 1978, there were 30 from Rwanda who journeyed to Nairobi, a distance of over 750 miles [1,200 km], to attend the “Victorious Faith” Convention. It was a difficult trip for a number of reasons. Unreliable transportation was one problem. Another was that traveling through politically unstable Uganda meant dozens of checks at gunpoint at the roadblocks, even arrests and threats of execution. Added to this were frequent vehicle breakdowns and border-crossing problems. In all, the journey to Nairobi took four days. How, though, these brothers rejoiced to see thousands of fellow Witnesses from various nations peacefully united at the Nairobi convention!

Turbulent Years in Uganda

Sounds of rejoicing were not heard in neighboring Uganda during the mid-1970’s. Stressful conditions reigned. Not only had all the missionaries and foreign brothers been forced to leave the country but daily the whole population feared for their lives. Economic problems and a reinstated ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1975 added to the brothers’ woes. An appeal to lift the ban had no success, even though the government had earlier pledged religious freedom.

In those years, being at odds with the law did not lead to court cases but, rather, to torture and death. This was no place for the fainthearted. It took steely courage to remain a witness for the true God. And with the deteriorating economy, material concerns loomed larger and larger in people’s minds, and tendencies toward immorality had by no means disappeared either. So the Witnesses battled on many fronts: Fear of man, materialism, immorality, spiritism​—these were just a few of the problems encountered. A decline in publishers resulted, from 166 in 1976 to 137 in 1979. Of course, part of this drop could be explained by the large numbers of people fleeing the country. More than 1 in 4 publishers left. Still, many people who had a high respect for God and who were friendly to the Witnesses remained in the country.

These were trying years for everyone in Uganda and even more so for the Witnesses because of the ban. Fortunately, this ban was not strictly enforced everywhere. In some localities the special pioneer work still functioned and, in fact, expanded. Special pioneers were assigned to northern towns in the country, and additional congregations were soon formed. In Soroti, a town in the northeast, the district commissioner even allowed the use of one of the best schools in town for congregation meetings despite the ban!

Yet, in Kampala, two brothers were caught preaching and were thrown into the country’s most notorious prison. Friends feared they would never see them again, but thankfully, they were released after one week. In Lira three Witnesses were imprisoned for three months for preaching.

For the local population, disappearances of relatives and neighbors, shootings by night, empty shops, triple-digit inflation, and lack of transportation became commonplace. Hundreds of people would wait at the bus stop, ready to storm a vehicle with room for only eight passengers. Fixed government transportation prices were largely ignored. Paying for the “tickets” was normally done when the vehicle stopped at a lonely stretch, and every passenger had to render whatever was demanded by the driver.

Literature sent from Nairobi and the visits of brothers from the branch office were like manna from heaven​—spiritual food at the right time and a refreshing source of encouragement to the Witnesses in Uganda. Some were able, despite all the obstacles, to attend district conventions in Kenya. Also, small local assemblies continued; at one such gathering, a woman was baptized just one day after she had given birth.

Sustained by Jehovah

The Witnesses who continued as full-time preachers under those turbulent circumstances were remarkable examples of faith. Among them was Anna Nabulya, an elderly sister from Masaka. A highlight in her life was when she attended the Pioneer Service School in Kenya. She would come to class arrayed in her flowing Uganda-style dress with its big flower design and just be overjoyed with the depth of the spiritual material and the practical information presented.

Sister Nabulya’s relatives pressured her not to return to Uganda but rather settle with them in Kenya, thus avoiding economic hardships, dangers, and inconveniences. She was adamant; she wanted to preach in Uganda, where people needed the comforting message of the good news. She said: “Despite the weaknesses of old age, the little strength I have I will use to help my fellow people come to a good relationship with Jehovah.” So she returned to Uganda and served her people and her God faithfully until her death.

Another example of faith was a pioneer brother who bravely preached to all the military and police officials in his isolated assignment. When he ran out of money to buy firewood for cooking, he would burn chairs and other pieces of his furniture until money and a much needed shipment of Bible literature would arrive. People in his territory had such a hunger for the spiritual food that in one day he could easily place 40 or 50 books.

The Witnesses continued to be harassed, arrested, and interrogated, but they persevered. Jehovah granted his people “the tongue of the taught ones,” and they witnessed courageously to the authorities.​—Isa. 50:4.

Widowed sisters were a source of encouragement for many Witnesses in Kampala. Not only had they gone through the hardship of losing their husbands but they had also suffered loss of their material possessions. Yet, they put Jehovah’s interests first, working hard in the ministry and instilling godly values in their children. They helped their neighbors learn the truth too, and they later had the joy of seeing some of the children of their Bible students become pioneer ministers. (See the February 15, 1985, issue of The Watchtower, pages 27-31.) Jehovah blessed the zealous work of such faithful ones, and the number of Kingdom publishers increased.

Djibouti​—Hot and Dry

Opposite the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, between Ethiopia and Somalia, is the small country of Djibouti, formerly French Somaliland. It houses an important military base for the French Navy. The country’s capital, also called Djibouti, is listed in some almanacs as the hottest town in the world. Despite the desert conditions, this small land has its attractions, especially offshore, where there are superb coral reefs teeming with marine life.

It is here that the Great Rift Valley, stretching from Lebanon through the Red Sea, enters the African continent. Around Lakes Assal and Abbé are found wondrous natural spectacles​—salt and gypsum formations, limestone spires, hot springs, and multicolored waters.

More than half the country’s population is of the Afar tribe, whose territory reaches into the Danakil Desert in Ethiopia. The other tribe, the Issas, a Somali people, live in the capital city, which is near Somalia. The ovenlike heat leaves people lethargic, and they will sometimes ride a bus to travel a mere 300 feet [90 m]. Many are addicted to khat, a mildly stimulating drug found in leaves on trees that grow in the highlands of Yemen, Ethiopia, and Kenya. In fact, the afternoons are usually devoted to imbibing khat; most other activities stop at that time. The great majority of the people are Muslims and speak French, Arabic, Somali, and Afar.

The first preacher of the good news in Djibouti was Claudine Vauban, a French sister married to a military man. In that Islamic country, it was dangerous for a white woman to go out in public alone. This did not curb Sister Vauban’s activities. She kept active in the field ministry and conducted two Bible studies during her three years in Djibouti. About two years later, at the end of 1977, a young Djiboutian arrived who had studied the truth in France. However, he developed spiritual problems and later had to be disfellowshipped.

In 1978 an Ethiopian refugee sister moved to Djibouti. She later learned the French language and has remained faithful despite long periods of complete isolation from other Witnesses. Brothers visiting from France and Ethiopia brought her spiritual encouragement. This was intermittent, however, until 1981, when Jean Gabriel Masson, a young ministerial servant from France, arrived with his wife, Sylvie, to serve where the need was greater. This was a bold step for the Massons in view of the isolation, their newness in the truth, the adverse climate, and the high cost of living.

Soon their organized preaching began to yield fruit. Several Ethiopian refugees accepted the truth before leaving Djibouti for other countries. By 1982 there were 6 active publishers; 12 attended the Memorial. Two months later, during the visit of a circuit overseer from France, three were baptized.

In those days meetings were held in the courtyard of Brother Masson’s modest dwelling, sometimes under quite unusual circumstances. Once a brother visiting from Nairobi was giving a Bible talk when cats started spitting, screeching, and fighting in the creeper plants that were tied to a trellis above the courtyard. The noise became deafening and, of course, very distracting until the two battling cats fell from the trellis and landed right in front of the speaker! To top it off, soon afterward the electricity went off, so that all sat there in complete darkness. Nevertheless, the meeting concluded successfully. Attendances grew to 18. It was strange to see that even with such a small attendance, meetings were held in four languages: English, French, Amharic, and Somali.

A Monk Takes His Stand

It was not easy for Brother Masson to secure work, but eventually he found a teaching position. At school he met Louis Pernot, a Catholic monk and headmaster of the school, who had lived there for almost 20 years. When Louis showed a keen interest in Bible truth, Brother Masson invited him to the Memorial of Christ’s death. “Impossible,” said Louis. “Here in Djibouti everyone knows me and knows who I am. How can I attend a meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses?”

Brother Masson, however, had an idea. He proposed that Louis come to his house during the afternoon siesta when all Djibouti was asleep under the blazing sun. He could then sit in the bedroom behind a curtain and wait for the meeting to start. Nobody would know he was present, and he could sneak home after the meeting was over, safely concealed by darkness.

So that is what he did​—Louis attended his first meeting sitting behind a curtain in the Massons’ bedroom! While he did not understand much of the Biblical information, he was impressed by the depth of the Bible discussion.

Brother Masson then encouraged him to choose one of his books to take home to read. Since Louis was an educator, he chose the book Your Youth​—Getting the Best Out Of It. He had often wondered why his religion presented no clear-cut information to help youngsters with their problems in today’s world. He thought that God’s true religion should give sound guidance to people without compromising His words. Louis began to read the Youth book that evening. He could not put it down. The next day he told Brother Masson that he had found the truth. During the same week, he resigned not only as a monk but also as a Catholic!

This, of course, caused quite a stir, and shortly thereafter Brother and Sister Masson were told to leave that small republic. A sad blow for the local Witnesses, since 44 had attended the Memorial. Brother Masson appealed to the government and was given an extension of one month; after that he left for the French territory of Mayotte, in the Indian Ocean.

Until the Massons’ departure, daily Bible studies were held with Louis, who by then realized that he had to stand on his own feet. After the Massons left, a pioneer minister was able to go to Djibouti to assist Louis spiritually.

However, for various reasons, Witnesses would come and go. Thus, newly baptized Louis had to stand firm despite years of relative spiritual isolation. Time and again he was summoned by the authorities, questioned, and then warned about his preaching activities. He never wavered; he even served as an auxiliary pioneer. Eventually, though, his job was taken away from him because of his faith. Louis left matters in Jehovah’s hands and forged ahead until he found another means of livelihood.

Today, the small group of publishers in Djibouti continue to present Bible truths to the populace. Recently, Witnesses from foreign countries have moved to Djibouti, providing a new stimulus.

Renewed Efforts in Somalia

For years after the missionaries Vito and Fern Fraese left for another assignment in 1963, no clear Kingdom witness was given in Somalia. Finally, a European brother who was born in Somalia vacationed in that coastal land late in 1980. While there, he located people interested in the good news. These sheeplike ones were helped further by various Witnesses who visited the country periodically.

Later, an Italian brother came to work in the seaport city and capital, Mogadishu, on a construction contract. What he lacked in experience, he made up for with enthusiasm. He threw caution to the winds and spoke the good news to anyone he met, including Muslims. Among the Muslims, a middle-aged man listened carefully. He saw the light of truth. Since this man had traveled widely, he had an open mind and accepted a Bible study. Then the Italian brother’s work contract expired, and he had to leave the country. However, another Italian family moved to Somalia, and they gave the interested man continued assistance.

Then, a woman who had previously shown interest in the truth while living in Europe returned to Somalia with her husband. She sought out the Witnesses. Thus, a small group was formed. Meetings were held, and even circuit overseer visits followed. Finally, in 1987, this woman was baptized. She was overjoyed. It had taken her many years to come to this point. With her frequent shuffling from country to country and having to learn new languages, it is no wonder that her spiritual progress was slowed, but now nothing could hold her back. Soon she was conducting Bible studies with others and was thrilled when a married couple joined with her in praising God. The wife became the first Witness of Somali origin.

Unfortunately, the economy and the security of the country deteriorated so much that many foreigners and even local people left the country. By the end of 1990, all the publishers were gone too. This may have been providential, since the 1991 civil war turned the country upside down, with random killings terrorizing Mogadishu.

Somalia was not the only country rocked by revolution. Almost two decades earlier, the storms of civil strife rolled through Ethiopia.

Revolution in Ethiopia

In 1974 the historical empire in Ethiopia came crashing down. Eager to promote a new ideology, military men seized power from the aging emperor and initiated sweeping reforms. For the first time in their lives, young revolutionaries felt the power that comes from toting weapons that can instantly kill. Curfews were imposed, slogans rang out, such as “Ethiopia First!” And no political reactionaries were tolerated.

This coincided with a time of promising developments for Jehovah’s people in Ethiopia. A peak of 1,844 publishers was reached in 1974, and the Truth book had been translated into Amharic. Memorial attendance swelled to 3,136. The witness work, with the help of newly appointed special pioneers, spread into all of Ethiopia’s provinces for the first time. Yet, it was a time of inconsistency. Some congregations were able to meet openly, while some special pioneers were imprisoned.

Guerrilla war continued in the northern province of Eritrea. The congregation in the town of Cheren (Keren) was cut off from the outside world. There was no water, food, or electricity. With dusk-to-dawn curfews, how could the Memorial of Christ’s death, which cannot begin until after sunset, be commemorated? The solemn celebration became a particularly unusual event, since all Witnesses had to arrive early, before sunset, and then be prepared to spend the entire night at the meeting place until the curfew lifted at dawn. What a beautiful night of fellowship that was!

For the Witnesses other positive developments followed. During 1975 the first Kingdom Ministry School in nine years was held for the benefit of Ethiopia’s elders. The circuit assembly program was presented to an audience of well over 2,000. A permit was obtained allowing the importation of our literature. A shipment of seven tons, including 40,000 books from abroad, reached Addis Ababa. The next year, 1976, the city of Asmara experienced a period of unusual calm in guerrilla activity, and so the Kingdom Ministry School could be held. The local Witnesses reported that just after the school had ended, shooting and rocket explosions began anew.

Red Terror!

Changes for the worse were thundering toward the Witnesses. Early in 1976, the authorities issued a circular against Jehovah’s Witnesses. About the middle of the year, the Red Terror Campaign began and stormed against the enemies of the revolution. Jehovah’s worshipers were targeted too. They were wrongly accused of being enemies. Arrests followed.

How the Ethiopian Orthodox Church must have gloated! They used the situation to launch their own attacks against the Witnesses. South of the capital, in the small town of Mojo, priests formed a mob of over 600 people to attack and kill the Witnesses, but police blocked them from causing serious harm. A similar mob action occurred in Bahir Dar, at the source of the Blue Nile River.

All over the country, house searches followed, with unprecedented thoroughness. Even gardens were plowed and floor planks lifted in search of Bible publications, typewriters, and related material.

In Asmara, police accosted a special pioneer who had come from the guerrilla-infested countryside. They searched him and found his field service report form. On the form were several handwritten abbreviations that made them suspicious. They then forced the pioneer to lead them to the location of the city overseer, Gebregziabher Woldetnsae. Hoping to catch a guerrilla leader, several truckloads of armed soldiers quickly rumbled to Brother Gebregziabher’sf place of work. They surrounded his office, then charged in with their rifles ready. They called out Brother Gebregziabher’s name, seized him, and carted him away. His workmates were sure they would never see him again.

At army headquarters the soldiers interrogated Brother Gebregziabher. He answered all their questions frankly, giving a witness about our preaching work and explaining the mysterious abbreviations “mags, rv, B.S.”, and so forth. They were just innocent notations listing what the special pioneer had accomplished in his field ministry that month, such as the number of magazines placed, return visits made, and Bible studies conducted. They fired questions at him: “What! Do you mean this does not pertain to weapons, ammunition? Who can believe this? Why this code?”

Brother Gebregziabher’s sincerity and cooperation impressed them, yet doubts lingered. Finally the superior officer asked: “How can we be sure that you are really one of Jehovah’s Witnesses?” The brother searched through his belongings but could not find anything suitable for identification. But wait a minute!​—tucked away among his other things was a card printed with these words: “No Blood Transfusion.” When the superior officer saw that, he said, “Yes, that will do. You may go free.” When our brother returned to the office, his workmates thought he had been resurrected!

An Unexpected Turn

In Asmara a number of brothers were gathered in a house. A group of youths spied out this place and immediately informed the police of the meeting. They explained that there were two villas and that in front of one of them, a little girl was playing. It was in this house that the Witnesses were meeting!

The police set out to find the Witnesses. In the meantime the little girl shifted her position. She began to play in front of the other villa. The police stormed that house and found only a small group of people in a family setting. The police were embarrassed and returned to the station, annoyed with the youths, believing they had misled them.

The political and social climate was not a healthy one for the Witnesses. People were encouraged to repeat political slogans, participate in elections, and contribute money, food, and equipment to the war effort. Yet, in the middle of all of this, with the help of courageous brothers, precious Bible literature from abroad slipped into Ethiopia.

Self-Sacrificing Shepherds

In Eritrea the guerrillas had cut off several congregations from the outside world. Yet, there were loving shepherds to encourage the brothers there. One circuit overseer arranged to make the 57-mile [92 km] trip to Cheren via a supply convoy. Imagine, motoring along with 100 trucks, protected by 5 tanks and 30 armored vehicles.

On the way, heavy fighting broke out, with guerrillas surrounding the convoy. The attackers were intent on capturing all supplies, as they had often done in the past. After 30 minutes of heavy combat, the convoy punched through and escaped. Thus, the circuit overseer was able to visit the isolated congregation and build up the brothers.

However, for the circuit overseer’s return trip, there was no convoy and no other means of transportation. The only way left was to walk the whole way back. This was highly dangerous. The trek took him three days and included long marches straight through the night.

During this time of fearful unrest, some publishers, including some prominent ones, disassociated themselves. Others fell inactive, and still others fled the country. A drop in publishers resulted.

By 1979, there were 80 brothers in prison because of their neutral stand. In April of that year, the city overseer of Asmara, Gebregziabher Woldetnsae, on his way to visit brothers in the beleaguered countryside, tragically, was killed in an accident. Despite all the saddening news, those who loyally endured never failed to see Jehovah’s loving backing.

A Further Refining and Testing of Faith

When the first phase of the revolution was over and the country began to settle down, the citizens felt as though they were in a spiritual vacuum. Before their own eyes, they saw their churches compromise and popular support for them crumble. Some of the Witnesses too became spiritually unstable. It was painful, but necessary, to see 23 elders and ministerial servants lose their privileges of service in 1981. They had become irregular in their field ministry. A turnabout for the congregations ensued, and happily most of those brothers have since regained their former congregation privileges.

Other tests, including periods of great food shortage, followed. In fact, years of trial have produced in the Ethiopian brothers a solid, tested faith.​—1 Pet. 1:6, 7.

Sudan​—Growth Under Hardship

It had taken two years, from August 1974 to 1976, to reach a new peak of 101 publishers in the Sudan. Tense moments characterized this period. Coup attempts were frequent, political suspicions were rife. At times publishers and elders were interrogated by police. Economic difficulties, with rising prices and shortages of goods, created material worries that enslaved many. Thus, publisher growth came slowly. By April 1981 the peak was only 102.

In the south two things interfered with regular visits of the circuit overseers to the congregations: Guerrilla warfare or fuel shortages, which could disrupt transportation at any time, and problems with the mode of travel. It could involve squeezing into the back of a crowded truck and being bounced up and down for an entire day or creeping along at six miles [ten km] per hour in a packed train, with two passengers per seat and squatters on the roof of the cars. Air travel was no picnic either. It could mean being on standby for an entire week, waiting for an airplane to arrive, and then have less than an hour advance notice of departure. But how the congregations appreciated circuit overseers’ visits! Their joy and hospitality defied description.

In 1982 a pioneer spirit was kindled. This resulted in an overflow of blessings. In five years, the number of pioneers increased to 86, up from 7. During one month, 39 percent of all publishers were in full-time service, and that was one of the hottest months of the year, with average noon temperatures of over 100° F [40° C.]. By 1987 over 300 publishers were active, and almost 1,000 attended the Memorial of Christ’s death. Congregation publishers averaged 20 hours in the field ministry each month.

Scores of young men made rapid spiritual progress and qualified for appointment as ministerial servants and, in time, as elders, thus further strengthening the congregations. In 1987, finally, a congregation was established across the Nile in historic Omdurman. The congregation had a territory of one million people. Also, in the city of Port Sudan, a group of Witnesses sprang up.

Most of the growth, however, has come from the southerners, tall dark-skinned people of athletic build who are often marked with abundant incisions and decorations on their face or body. Northern Sudanese or those of Egyptian stock have accepted the truth too, and various refugees have seen the light of God’s hope for mankind. All groups have shown zeal and endurance in Jehovah’s service. The witness work still often requires long walks under a scorching sun. Ingenuity has to be used to organize meetings, since the work is not yet legally recognized.

Tasting God’s Bread of Life

In 1983, Muslim fundamentalists introduced Shariʽa, Islamic law, in the Sudan. Enemies of Jehovah’s people used this religiously charged situation to focus attention on the Witnesses, who now had to hold their congregation meetings in smaller groups.

As was widely publicized, in recent years a serious drought has swept through much of the Sahelian region of Africa, including the Sudan. This came at a time when civil war flared again, resulting in much hunger and suffering. Yet, it had an interesting side effect: Many young people migrated to the capital city from the most remote regions of the Sudan. There they tasted God’s Bread of Life, which they might not have found in their former isolation. (John 6:35) This sped up the increase.

Physical Famine, but Spiritual Abundance

In 1988 freakish weather brought downpours of unprecedented proportions to the Khartoum area, leaving thousands homeless and some dead. Dozens of Witnesses and their children were hard hit. One father stood out in the open in total darkness, holding aloft his small child while the downpour continued and the water level rose to his hips. Light poles toppled, adobe houses collapsed, and outside toilets caved in, leaving hidden pits and contaminated waters. Roads were flooded, cutting off whole sections of town. Cars were stuck in oozing mud with little hope of being pulled free. It took many days before the new “lakes” dried up.

Braving these hazards were the caring elders. They swiftly set out to contact their suffering flock. Relief measures were soon begun. The Governing Body ensured that additional provisions were made. Amazingly, through all of this, field ministry continued on a high level.

A storm of a different kind also blew hard across the Sudan. A coup brought a change in government and renewed prominence for the Islamic community. Continuing civil war, droughts, and import restrictions squeezed the economy severely. Hunger still stalks the big cities to claim its victims.

As many fled hunger and war, Juba, the main town of the south, swelled in population to over a quarter million people. Guerrillas, though, tightened their grip on Juba. So for long periods of time, the town was completely cut off from the outside world. Relief supplies for our brothers have repeatedly reached them in the nick of time, just before their stock had been depleted.

Yet, training for the increasing number of pioneers continued, as did regular spiritual association. The spiritual food supply did not run out. As the truth spread farther and farther in the south, new groups and congregations kept springing up in town after town.

Amid all these pressures, some surprising things happened in 1990. First, one southern province gave legal recognition to Jehovah’s Witnesses.

A Witness by a Non-Witness

Then, on November 2, a Muslim lecturer of international repute gave an extremely favorable presentation about Jehovah’s Witnesses to a large group of government officials gathered at a seminar. He explained our beliefs to them, our neutrality in political matters, our public teaching efforts, and our beneficial work for the community at large. To top it off, his entire speech was broadcast on national television the following Sunday, thus giving a witness to people of all walks of life and on a scale that would have seemed unimaginable. The results of this grand witness? Many favorable comments were heard, misunderstandings were cleared up, and further interest in the truth was generated. In fact, government officials had been encouraged to imitate the self-sacrificing spirit seen in Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The Witnesses in the Sudan truly continue to seek God’s Kingdom first and gladly spend close to 20 hours per publisher in the field service each month. Therefore, in spite of many tribulations, including the scourge of famine, the truth about God’s Kingdom as the only lasting solution to man’s problems is being preached in the Sudan as never before.

Yemen​—The Frankincense Route

In recent years a devoted sister from the Sudan had the unusual opportunity of letting her light shine in the secluded country of Yemen, the southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula. In wise King Solomon’s day, the frankincense route started there, and it passed through the probable domain of the queen of Sheba. Now, along with our Sudanese sister, a few Witnesses from other countries were in Yemen on work contracts. With Jehovah’s help they met one another. In a discreet way, they preached to others about their faith and even found people who wanted to study the Bible.

Islam is still strong in this mountainous country, where age-old traditions dictate. Most women are completely veiled, and men proudly display daggers in their belts. It was sad to hear that a middle-aged brother from Africa, who was in good health, suddenly died one evening. The cause remains unknown. Yet, the preaching work continues.

In 1986, the Memorial of Christ’s death was attended by 15. Since then some of those have moved out of the country. Thus, field service and meeting reports are sketchy, but meetings continue to be held. A sister from another country, though separated from the other publishers, conducts several Bible studies. Thus, in fulfillment of Matthew 24:14, even in this country some witness is being given.

Across the Red Sea from Yemen is a country where, back in the late 1970’s, giving a witness became a life-and-death matter.

Integrity Keepers in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, opposition by the State became severe. The authorities handed down death sentences to two Witnesses, but the brothers were not executed. Witnesses have been pressured to violate their consciences, their persecutors even pressing guns to their temples.

Economic pressures brought an almost literal fulfillment of the Revelation prophecy that states that “nobody might be able to buy or sell except a person having the mark, the name of the wild beast or the number of its name.” (Rev. 13:17) Bibles became rare. The State exercised increasing control over people’s lives. Visas were required for travel in the interior. Men, women, and children were organized into party organizations.

In March 1978, Wubie Ayele was beaten to death for his adherence to Scriptural principles. During the following months, Ayele Zeyelew, a pioneer and elder, and Hailu Yemiru, a publisher, were killed, and their bodies were left lying on a street of Addis Ababa for a whole day, exposed for all to see.

Pressures mounted. Radio broadcasts, newspapers, and police attacked the Witnesses. At times, over a hundred of the brothers were in prison. Some were released, including those who had spent two and a half years in prison under torture. A number had even been auxiliary pioneers in prison!

Then a vicious plot was hatched​—eradicate Jehovah’s Witnesses. When some Witnesses learned of this, fear of man overcame them. In addition, there were economic hardships; meat and cereals became scarce, along with automobile tires, gasoline, and other essentials.

Over a hundred Witnesses stood faithful, even after losing their jobs​—a real test of faith for men who had large families to feed. But how heartwarming to see Witnesses with jobs help shoulder the economic load for those needy ones, a loving expression in imitation of the early Christians! (Acts 4:32) In all these horrific situations, the Witnesses needed much spiritual guidance and encouragement, and this was given under Jehovah’s direction.

Ever Courageous

Arrests and trials persisted like a festering boil. One special pioneer has been arrested 15 times since 1972. Children as young as 14 years were imprisoned, some spending over 4 years in confinement. They did not compromise! Then came conscriptions for the war effort. Now young women were included. Many Witnesses used their time in confinement to serve as auxiliary pioneers, helping other prisoners to learn Bible truth. One sister was allowed to leave prison briefly to give birth, after which she had to return to her cell.

A courageous brother on a journey into the countryside by car suddenly realized that he had forgotten to hide his package of Bible literature. There it lay under the car’s dashboard, easily seen. He prayed for a fitting hiding place, but there seemed to be nowhere to stash this bulky material. He had to leave it where it was, trusting in Jehovah. Imagine his amazement when at the nine road checks, some of which included a thorough search of the car, not once did an official suspect this package!

In December 1982, six Witnesses were arrested because of their neutral Christian stand. They too were men of courage and helped many fellow prisoners to gain hold of the Kingdom hope. After three years, they were removed from prison, never to be seen again. All were executed.

In Dese, in the north-central part of the country, Demas Amde, a schoolteacher and father of five, spent more than five torture-filled years in prison: First, hard labor; then six months in solitary confinement chained in a bent position, followed by sickness with no medical attention; next, nakedness for two months, infected with lice; thereafter transfer to a cell where other prisoners lay dying of typhoid. Finally, after his health was wrecked and his body was weakened by cancer, he was released from prison to die. He died, February 4, 1991, faithful to the end and with the firm hope of a resurrection.​—Compare Hebrews 11:37-40.

Other Witnesses were spared. One brother on a trip to the countryside was arrested as a suspected member of a guerrilla movement. He could not keep silent and though at great risk, he boldly declared that he was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Nobody believed him, and he was thrown into a cell with other prisoners.

How did he spend the night? Instead of lamenting over his wretched lot, he seized the opportunity to speak the good news to the others. In the morning what a surprise when fellow prisoners were taken from the cell and interviewed by officials. “What kind of man is the one we put into your cell last night?” asked the officials.

“Oh, you mean that one who preached most of the night, keeping us from sleep?” they answered. The officials could easily recognize that this man was indeed one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. His public declaration of faith opened the jail doors; he was released!

In the south of the country, an interested man endured imprisonment faithfully for over four years. For the first year, his legs were bound with chains; he spent six months in solitary confinement. When his personal belongings were returned to his relatives, they were convinced that he had been executed. He subsisted on low food rations and then, in this weakened state, was sentenced to death. This sentence, however, was reversed by higher officials.

At other times prostitutes were put into his cell to tempt him. After three years, he was encouraged when he was able to share his faith with another interested man, who was imprisoned with him. Yet, regarding his release, it looked hopeless. One day, completely by surprise, he was told that he was free! Now, at last, he had an opportunity to symbolize his dedication to Jehovah by baptism!

Eight Times Sentenced to Death!

In Debre Zeit, a town near the center of Ethiopia, a pioneer, Worku Abebe, was arrested because of his neutral stand. The sentence​—execution that very night. However, before the sentence was carried out, 20 other brothers and sisters were arrested in a nearby town. The authorities believed that these 20 would compromise when they saw Brother Worku killed. (The officials assumed that he was the “leader.”) So the officials in this nearby town wanted Brother Worku handed over to them for execution.

The prison transfer allowed Brother Worku to explain his belief before 300 persons. Benefiting from the local custom that someone not be interrupted when speaking, Brother Worku took four hours to tell his story, recounting the history of Jehovah’s Witnesses from Abel up to the present. When he concluded, an official said: “This man should be separated from the rest. He has almost convinced me!”

One evening, jailers marched him and the other Witness prisoners to a riverside for execution. Aiming their guns at the Witnesses, they asked: “Will you renounce your faith or not?” The Witnesses answered as one, in a resolute voice, that they would never deny Jehovah. They were not executed; instead, severe beatings started that lasted several hours. “The suffering was so severe we begged them to kill us instead, but they would not stop,” the brothers said.

Next, Brother Worku was singled out for execution. One shot rang out. For a moment he was perplexed. He did not fall down and was not hurt. Then it dawned on him​—the bullet did not hit him. The persecutors lost no time. They viciously struck him with the butt of a gun. He fell unconscious and was returned to his cell.

Back at the jail, the guards received instructions to make sure that all the Witnesses would compromise that night. Soon sharp cracks of gunfire reverberated through the cells. The Witnesses were told: “Did you hear those shootings? Well, your brothers have been killed. You will see their dead bodies on the streets tomorrow. And if you do not compromise, you will be killed as well.”

The Witnesses answered: “From the cup from which our brothers drank, we are willing to drink.”

During the night, guards began to beat Brother Worku and the other Witnesses with sticks. One particularly violent guard tied Brother Worku’s arms so tight that the skin on his fingers burst open and blood began to flow. Brother Worku hid his mutilated fingers from the other brothers so as not to discourage them. When temporary relief came, the Witnesses prayed before falling asleep. But at one o’clock in the morning, angry persecutors rushed in and beat them again and again until four o’clock. Afterward the Witnesses prayed once more, thanking Jehovah for his strength and asking him to continue sustaining them.

The morning brought other bullies to the cell. These began kicking the Witnesses. In the afternoon Brother Worku was again singled out, and a total of 20 persons hit him and trampled on him. Still he did not give up. Again it was decided that he should be killed. At 10:00 p.m., 20 more guards arrived and beat him until about 2:00 a.m. One tormentor was so furious that he grabbed another Witness from behind and viciously bit him, leaving the Witness permanently scarred. For four days the Witnesses were confined in a dark room without any food or drink and were repeatedly beaten. All had fractures of various bones, including ribs and skulls. Physically they grew very weak.

When a high official visited the jail, he felt pity when he saw their condition and ordered that they be given some sustenance. However, a guard, the violent one, was furious to see the Witnesses provided with food and drink. He concocted a plot and accused them of trying to escape. His ploy was believed, so another execution was scheduled. The brothers prayed intensely to be delivered, especially in view of the false, shameful accusations. An even higher official prevented the execution, but the brothers suffered beatings with sticks the whole night.

After a few days, another official came, announcing that Brother Worku would be executed and the others released. Surprisingly, not only were these brothers released but Brother Worku was told a few days later that he could go also.

Immediately he seized the opportunity to meet with and encourage other brothers in a private home. He did not realize that he had been followed and reported on. So the next day, he was again arrested and sentenced to death.

Yet another attempt was made to trick him into compromising. He was approached in a friendly manner and kindly invited to shout certain slogans. Brother Worku refused; he only repeated his own Bible slogans in favor of the true God. Now these “friendly” people turned into ugly torturers.

A few days later, his jailers wanted to talk things over with him. The discussion lasted four hours. He was offered an important political office. He refused. Their words to him were: “You will certainly be gunned down to become food for the maggots.”

Finally, some fair-minded officials took an interest in Brother Worku’s case and voted for his release. He counted his ordeals as a joy; he had not given up. (Heb. 12:2) Before his trials began, he had always been serious about regular family study and prayer. No doubt this helped him to endure. He related what one “Nicodemus,” a pastor of Christendom, said concerning the Witnesses in the crucible of persecution compared with those of his religion: “We feared and compromised. We let God down, but you stood firm for him, not fearing even death. Well done.” So, in all, Brother Worku had been sentenced to death eight times, but Jehovah preserved him alive!

A Big Lesson Learned

During those years of fiery trials, the Witnesses in Ethiopia found that the apostle Paul’s words rang true for them: ‘From a weak state they were made powerful.’ (Heb. 11:34) One humble sister, a housemaid, who was learning to read, found herself imprisoned with a group of well-educated Witnesses. While some of the Witness prisoners prayed for release, her prayers centered on strength to remain faithful. One day the persecutors brought in a bowl of boiling oil and threatened to dip the fingers of every prisoner into it. Some Witnesses crumbled under fear, but the humble sister remained firm. And her fingers never were hurt. Subsequently she was released.

This proved to be a big lesson for those who had attached great importance to social status and education. They now saw that what mattered most was faithfulness.

Not Left in the Lurch

How rewarding to see maturity, balance, trust in Jehovah, and a greater spirit of self-sacrifice develop among these Witnesses who endured so much! As elsewhere, they had not been left in the lurch. True worship was victorious.

During this time, people came to side with Jehovah in unusual ways. For instance, at his place of work, one elder witnessed to a woman from Eastern Europe. Because of her keen interest, he lent her a Bible publication that was precious to him. To his dismay, she left the country and never returned it. Years later, a letter sent by this same woman delighted him. She explained to him that the publication had changed her life and that she was now his baptized spiritual sister!

Another example was a shy maid who secretly listened in from another room to a Bible study conducted with her employer, a schoolteacher. She felt so unworthy, yet she desired to embrace those marvelous truths. ‘Those Bible lessons must cost a great deal of money,’ she thought to herself. So she quit the job with the schoolteacher and sought employment where she could earn more money and pay for such a Bible study. When she saved what she thought would be enough funds for the Bible lessons, she went straight to the home of the Witness who was studying with her former employer, the schoolteacher. Was she surprised to learn that the lessons are free of charge! She made good progress in her studies and later married the schoolteacher; now both are dedicated servants of Jehovah.

Young Witnesses of Jehovah came under particular pressure in this country. By reason of their neutrality, they were denied many basic necessities of life, such as hospital treatment, school examinations, and employment. Did this make them feel forsaken? No! With full faith that their tribulations are momentary, they advanced in the power that Jehovah imparts to them.​—Phil. 4:13.

The Real Solution

The problems plaguing Ethiopia are similar to those afflicting the rest of the world. The Witnesses believe that they have found the remedy and are pleased that since 1990 many of the pressures they have lived under have been relaxed, so that they can share that solution with others.

For example, in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, authorities have issued instructions to stop discriminating against Jehovah’s Witnesses. Another example: More than 50 Ethiopian brothers were furnished with proper travel permits, thus allowing them to attend a district convention in Nairobi, Kenya. And two more examples: Special pioneers can once more be sent to various territories to preach the good news. And some congregations have started house-to-house preaching again, with promising results. Nevertheless many problems remain for Ethiopia.

With the fall of the strategic port city of Massawa, the civil war intensified in 1990. The whole town was in ruins. Thankfully, no Witness living there was injured. Famine plagued Asmara and large pockets of the countryside. The Governing Body stepped up relief aid to that stricken corner of the world. In order to reach Mekele, capital of Tigre province, and give needed encouragement to the Witnesses living there, two special pioneers risked their lives, stealthily wending their way through a war zone. In May 1991, guerrilla fronts drove the revolutionary government from power and subsequently signed a charter promising more freedom. Eritrea now had a separate administration and was largely cut off from the outside world. In all this turmoil, the Witnesses have remained strictly neutral, since they know that the permanent solution to man’s problems will come only by God’s Kingdom. By the end of the service year, special assembly days had been held in freedom in several Ethiopian towns. Preparations were under way for circuit assemblies and a district convention, a large literature shipment, and legal registration. In Ethiopia, as in many other places, “the scene of this world is changing” rapidly, and the brothers have an enthusiastic outlook for a great final ingathering.​—1 Cor. 7:31.

But what else has happened on the East African mainland since the mid–1970’s? Let us see.

Endurance Tested in Tanzania

An amnesty in Tanzania during 1976 allowed some of the imprisoned Witnesses to be released. Unfortunately, there were still government officials who viewed our brothers as dangerous. Why? They were confusing the revolutionary followers of Kitawala in Sumbawanga with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Brothers were kept under close surveillance, and many special pioneers were in ‘prison bonds as evildoers,’ just as the apostle was in Rome.​—2 Tim. 2:9.

There were additional difficulties. In February 1977 the border between Tanzania and Kenya was closed, and it remained closed for over six years. For a while mail service was disrupted, and much mail was lost. Drought posed a problem in some areas, and cholera outbreaks hindered the travel of circuit overseers. Tanzania’s participation in the 1979 Uganda war produced other pressures. The deteriorating economy brought material worries. All this distress put much pressure on the elders, so that in some congregations they were not able to do as much shepherding as was needed.

But there were positive points. In 1979 the southeastern part of the country was finally opened up for the preaching work, so that Witnesses were now active all the way from Kilimanjaro in the north to the border of Mozambique in the south.

Court magistrates began making decisions favorable to the Witnesses. A prison guard from Tukuyu became a Witness, his interest in the truth being sparked by the fine conduct of the Witnesses. In July 1981, the 1975 peak of 1,609 publishers was finally topped when 1,621 reported.

Perseverance Rewarded

In 1979 and again in 1981, the brothers approached the authorities in an attempt to gain legal recognition of the work. These initiatives were unsuccessful. The legal efforts continued with a letter from the Governing Body dated May 5, 1983. Further approaches later in August 1984, by Brothers Faustin Lugora and Elikana Green received a polite refusal.

The Witnesses persevered and appealed. An audience at the Ministry for Home Affairs led to another refusal in 1985. The matter seemed hopeless, yet there were indications that the congregations were being examined. Perhaps there were fair-minded officials who wanted more facts about the Witnesses.

In 1986 our brothers continued their efforts for recognition. They were treated with fairness and courtesy. Eventually their perseverance paid off. After a host of thorough investigations, long-standing misconceptions were corrected, and on February 20, 1987, representatives of the Witnesses were handed the governmental letter granting legal recognition to the Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Tanzania. After 22 years under ban, it was a time to rejoice!

A Missionary Paradise

Jubilation spread over all Tanzania. Circuit assemblies were organized. Among the baptismal candidates at those assemblies, some were found to be preaching as much as the regular pioneers and conducting nine or more Bible studies. In fact, one new brother got baptized together with his own Bible student!

Permission for missionaries to enter Tanzania was requested and granted during 1987. That very year Gilead graduates arrived in Dar es Salaam, by then a city of over 1.5 million people. What a territory for only two congregations, with a combined total of less than 200 publishers!

The preaching territory was a missionary paradise. Householders invited them in and gladly accepted publications. A missionary home was opened in Mbeya, the focal point for over half the publishers in the country. A few months later, more missionaries came to Arusha and Dodoma.

Much organizational training is needed to lay the groundwork for helping more honesthearted Tanzanians to worship the true God. The potential is excellent, and the zeal is there, as the following comparison reveals: In 1982, there were 160 pioneers​—in 1991, there were 866; in 1982, the Witnesses spent 374,831 hours in the preaching activity compared with 1,300,085 in 1991; in 1982, the Memorial attendance was 5,499​—in 1991, it was 10,441; in 1982, there were 41 who got baptized compared with 458 in 1991.

Again, in 1988, legal questions about the Witnesses surfaced, and these have kept several missionary applications for entry pending until now. However, for the first time, the government did accept the Witnesses’ application for their elders to act as marriage officers.

A series of floods and droughts made relief actions necessary in the far south and near Lake Victoria, and these efforts have been continuing into 1991. But despite difficulties and uncertainties, Jehovah’s people pursue the ingathering of sheeplike ones with a spirit of urgency.

Swept Clean in Kenya

The years following 1975 swept the congregations clean. Those in the truth only with the date 1975 fixed in their minds as to when the end of this wicked system of things would come dropped out as that year became history. From one survey during this period, for 77 new ones 49 others became inactive. Those who had skipped meeting attendance and personal study fell prey to Satan’s snares of immorality, drunkenness, and materialistic greed. Sadly, during certain years, over 3 percent of all publishers had to be disfellowshipped.

Of course, many congregations were small and lacked good direction. In fact, in 1978, of 90 congregations in Kenya, 49 had fewer than 10 publishers, and only 12 congregations had more than 40 publishers. So the theocratic load usually rested on the shoulders of one or two brothers. Natural disasters also added to the elders’ load. The area east of Nairobi experienced such drought conditions that relief assistance had to be organized.

However, everything was not doom and gloom. Many good, positive things happened too. The 1977 Memorial attendance was 5,584. Demand for literature was great. The visit of Lloyd Barry of the Governing Body fanned the Kingdom zeal of all. And the new Branch Committee arrangement, operating since 1976, gave impetus to the work.

A Larger Bethel

By February 1979, a new peak in publishers was reached, 2,005. The number of publishers caused the Bethel family to outgrow the branch building, so that the Branch Committee requested approval from the Governing Body for a four-room addition to Bethel. To the surprise of the committee, the reply came in a big envelope that contained building plans for the addition of a completely new building with 16 more bedrooms!

Excavation for the new branch building started in December 1978, and by June 1979 part of the attractive new building was already in use. In January 1980, Don Adams from world headquarters visited for the dedication program and spoke to 2,205 at Nairobi City Stadium. Afterward, in drizzly weather, about a thousand toured the new Bethel premises, many of them getting their first glimpse of the workings of their branch office. That year ended with smaller conventions, including an English convention in Nakuru that was attended by brothers from war-torn Uganda.

The following year brought another big step. Up-to-date printing equipment arrived at the Kenya branch. Now forms, programs, letterheads, the Kingdom Ministry, and even magazines could be printed right on site. No more long waiting for these supplies from overseas! While about 120,000 pieces were printed in 1980, two years later total production swelled to 935,000 and by 1990 to over 2,000,000 pieces.

In 1983, Nairobi passed the 1,000-publisher mark, and Kenya as a whole reached 3,005. In April, 28 percent of all publishers were in full-time service. Also, more missionaries had come to help.

Publications Help the Word to Move Speedily

The Society’s publications are popular in Kenya. Some schools use My Book of Bible Stories in their religious instruction. The magazines became more attractive in appearance, so that during the two years, 1984-85, placements rose by well over 50 percent, publishers averaging over ten magazines per month at times. Some issues had an immediate impact on the public. One example is that of a man who approached a publisher who was witnessing on the street. The man pointed to the magazine featuring the article entitled “Is Smoking Here to Stay?” and declared: “I am an ex-smoker.” What prompted him to quit? That article, which he had read some days earlier!

The year 1982 was marked by the arrival of the brochure Enjoy Life on Earth Forever!, a publication that proved particularly adapted to the African field. Even people with a good education wanted it, some literally picking it out of the publishers’ bags. This happened to one Witness who had only one precious brochure left in his field service bag. He was saving this brochure for his new Bible student. A traveler spotted the brochure. He wanted it. No other publication would do. The Witness explained that this was reserved only for someone who would agree to study the Bible regularly. “No problem,” the determined traveler said. “That’s all right with me.” The result? A new Bible study for the publisher!

This brochure gives an unmistakable witness about Jehovah and his purposes, the Kingdom government, and the Bible’s righteous standards. Because of the potential of this fine tool, it was translated into 35 additional languages spoken in the Eastern African territory, 14 Kenyan languages and 21 for nearby countries. In some of these languages, this brochure is the only literature available other than the Bible. In fact, one of Christendom’s missionaries said this about the brochure in the Masai language: “This is the best thing that ever happened to the Masai.”

Pioneer Spirit

Something else transformed the field in Kenya: an increasing pioneer spirit among the Witnesses. Gone were the days when pioneers were regarded as eccentrics or failures in life. It became evident that Jehovah was richly blessing pioneers with joyful experiences and Kingdom fruitage. Some pioneered even though blind or having had a leg amputated. It was not unusual for a parent with eight or more children to care for to be counted in the pioneer ranks.

In April 1985 some 37 percent of all publishers were in full-time service. With the help of these many pioneers, more than a million hours were spent in the service that year.

Zealous Rwandans Make Up for Lost Time

In Rwanda things were also on the move. Bible truth had come there comparatively late, yet many hungered for the life-giving message. In February 1980 the appearance of the book The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life in Kinyarwanda gave a strong boost to the publishers, then at a peak number of 165. In Kigali, a large but simple Kingdom Hall was built during 1980 and soon over 200 attended the meetings, the crowd overflowing into the courtyard.

Interest in the truth by the Rwandans did not please the enemies of the good news. In October 1979 a list of accepted religions for the country had not included Jehovah’s Witnesses. Efforts were made to have the Witnesses legally registered. In March 1980, Ernest Heuse, who was from Belgium and had served in Zaire, came to Kigali to see the authorities. Though he submitted much documentation, no legal recognition was granted.

Kingdom witnessing, though, kept moving forward. In 1982 the district convention attendance was 750, with 22 baptized, and in March, 302 reported time spent in the field ministry. At four circuit assemblies, the combined attendance was over 1,200, and 40 were baptized. The Kingdom Ministry School was held and gave needed training to the responsible ones in the small congregations. Zeal did not diminish; publishers averaged over 20 hours in the service each month. Two special pioneer sisters opened a new territory and within three months were conducting 20 Bible studies, all of whom were present at the meetings. Rwanda was astir with the message!

More and more people asked questions about Bible truths. Much of this was prompted by material from Awake! magazine that was regularly read on the radio. The airwaves were abuzz with Bible truth that exposed the falsehoods taught by the various religions. Little wonder that soon religious newspapers, which wield great influence in Rwanda, attacked Jehovah’s Witnesses. As usual, this attracted more people to the truth. About the same time, though, Witnesses began to be stopped and interrogated, and fines were levied for operating an illegal society.

Trouble by Decree

In November 1982 the three special pioneers who had previously signed the application for legal registration were summoned to Kigali, arrested on arrival, and imprisoned without court trial or legal recourse. The Kingdom Hall was closed. The preaching work was forced underground.

A letter from the minister of justice to all the prefectures (districts) put the Witnesses under a ban. More arrests followed. Most foreign pioneers had to leave the country. For the local brothers, it was a period of testing, a time of refining. At just the right time, The Watchtower in Kinyarwanda began to be printed, providing additional spiritual food.

For the three special pioneers, Gaspard Rwakabubu, Joseph Koroti, and Ferdinand I’Mugarula, there was much work in the large Kigali prison. They regularly held Bible studies with other prisoners, and a number of them learned the truth that way. Months went by without a court trial. Finally, in October 1983, a trial was held. These three brothers were accused of embezzling people’s money, rebellion against the government, and other totally unfounded charges. Not a single figure or financial document was presented as evidence during the entire court case, nor were any witnesses presented to support the accusations.

The brothers were sentenced to two years in prison and were not given a single day of grace. (Murderers benefited from an amnesty in the meantime.) In Gisenyi five other Witnesses faithfully endured almost two years of imprisonment without a court sentence.

A short respite in 1985 allowed some of the brothers in Rwanda to attend the Nairobi district convention and meet with brothers of the Governing Body. But by March 1986, arrests had already become common throughout the country. Many were arrested at their homes. Pregnant women and little children were not spared. In some areas the Witnesses were hunted down by naming them on lists of wanted persons. Eventually, over 140 Witnesses were thrown into prison​—almost one third of all the active Witnesses in the country!

An Arm of Flesh or Trust in the Almighty?

On October 24, 1986, the matter of the Witnesses finally came to court. By this time some had been in jail for over six months. In fact, a baby had been born in prison and was aptly named Shikama Hodari (Remain Steadfast). The sentences handed down were shockingly cruel, ranging from 5 to 12 years. One interested woman, who was not yet a publisher, was sentenced to ten years in prison.

These cases became well-known internationally and were even the subject of conversation among chiefs of state in Europe and Africa. Many people outside Rwanda sent letters of protest to responsible officials. A radio announcement mentioned that on certain days 500 letters in behalf of Jehovah’s Witnesses reached the government.

All of this opened up fine opportunities for giving a witness in prison. The Witnesses showed an outstanding example of togetherness: praying together and studying God’s Word together. Many fellow prisoners became curious and began studying the Bible, and now, former criminals and prostitutes are making good progress on the road to eternal life.

The Witnesses maintained a joyful spirit despite the long sentences imposed. They would say: “We got 12 years, but Satan gets 1,000!” They would also say: “Here we have more freedom than our brothers outside because we can sing at our meetings, and they cannot.”

A Pleasant Surprise

On July 1, 1987, the 25th anniversary of Rwanda’s independence, in a radio speech, Rwanda’s president apologized for violations of human rights, announcing that all those sentenced on October 24, 1986, would be released. What a courageous, laudable decision! A few days later, all 49 of the brothers and sisters who had received sentences were released.

However, this left in question what would happen to those who had not yet been sentenced. Several weeks passed, but eventually all of them were called before the court and told that they would do more good for the country by going home and farming and doing other useful work.

Naturally, this was a reason for much joy. Following their release, over 30 unbaptized publishers and Bible students who had made fast progress during their imprisonment presented themselves for baptism. After this prison “school,” all have matured rapidly. Immediately after baptism most of them entered the auxiliary pioneer service! And all those Witnesses who were released found secular work again.​—See Psalm 37:25, 28.

Pascasie was one of those who joyfully endured trials. Unnerved by the ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses, her husband took her to the police station to have her arrested. Even though she was not yet baptized, she was imprisoned with the sisters. Her sentence was ten years. Although it pained her to leave her children at home, she recognized it was necessary to suffer in behalf of true worship. She made spiritual progress in prison and was among those baptized upon release. But what an additional joy when she returned home and found that her husband was ready to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses! Her steadfastness has truly been rewarded, as her husband has become her spiritual brother, uniting the family in true worship.

Early in 1990, in another part of the country, a pending accusation from 1985 was resurrected and four brothers were sentenced to ten years each in jail. Happily, this did not affect other areas, where circuit assemblies and pioneer school courses could be held. A zone overseer also visited for the first time, and increased spiritual food in Kinyarwanda resulted in greater spirituality. Further, after six months’ imprisonment, our four brothers were released by a presidential decree.

Late in 1990 a sudden invasion brought civil war also to Rwanda. The neutral stand of our brothers in harmony with the Bible principle of John 17:14, “they are no part of the world,” made former opposers realize that Jehovah’s people are not enemies of anybody. Early in 1991 famine brought added worries and made a food relief program necessary for Rwanda, especially in the south of the country. Recently, circuit assemblies have been held freely. The brothers hope that one day complete religious freedom along with legal recognition will be granted to them in Rwanda, but in the meantime they continue helping the many truth-seekers among Rwanda’s growing population.

Theocratic Revival in Uganda Amid Trouble

In 1979 the “liberation war” brought changes. Looting, violence, and suffering necessitated relief measures; mail and telephone communications were interrupted. But then a new government came to power, and the Uganda Times of November 19, 1979, announced the lifting of the ban on the Witnesses along with freedom of worship, under the headline “Missionaries Are Free to Return.”

A new series of circuit assemblies was soon organized in Uganda, and 241 attended. But the economy was in ruins, and life was cheap. Many people toted weapons, and former soldiers turned criminal. Shootings rang out almost every night. The roads were not safe to travel.

The branch office in Nairobi took a keen interest in upbuilding and encouraging the brothers by seeking brave volunteers to bring literature into Uganda. Remember, the people were armed, and often soldiers led a double life, being bandits by night. The volunteers had to pass through a forested stretch between Jinja and Kampala that was notorious for attacks. Generally people had to drive at top speed until they reached a more populated area.

One missionary was spending the night with a brother in Mbale when he heard people tampering with his car parked in the courtyard. Realizing that the thieves would likely be armed, he decided to let them steal whatever they wanted. The next morning the car was missing two wheels, and they also stole the spare wheel and the windshield. With two borrowed wheels, whose tires were almost bald, and no windshield to protect him from the rainy weather, he faced a trip of 150 miles [240 km] before he would reach Kampala. His route ran through the dangerous stretch of forest. But everything went well​—no puncture, just much wind and rain in his face!

In December 1980 a new peak of 175 publishers was reached. The next year started with a district convention held at Lugogo Stadium in Kampala, with 360 in attendance. Amid continuing violence, people learned the truth, and by July, 206 were publishing in the country, placing an average of 12.5 magazines each a month.

Since there was only one elder for eight congregations in Uganda, there was a great need for help. So the decision was made to apply for missionaries once again. By September 1982, Ari Palviainen and Jeffrey Welch, two unmarried missionary brothers, had arrived in Kampala amid the continuing turmoil. The 6:30 p.m. curfew was still on, and shootings, even gun battles, were the order of the night. Some publishers disappeared and were feared dead but resurfaced. Others did not. In all, eight Ugandan publishers lost their lives during the disturbances following the 1979 war.

In February 1983 the permits for the missionaries were approved, and by April of that year a missionary home in a fairly secure location functioned, with four gallant Gilead graduates, including Heinz and Marianne Wertholz. The Ugandans’ politeness and respect for the Bible made it easy for these missionaries to forget the economic difficulties, the bad roads, the lack of security, and the nightly disturbances. It was not unusual to have 10 or 15 Bible studies each. During one particular month, the four missionaries placed 4,084 magazines!

“That’s Him!”

In a village in the interior part of Uganda, the Truth book came into the hands of a middle-aged man who soon discerned what a treasure he possessed. He read it over and over again and then started witnessing to everyone he met. In fact, he proclaimed himself a witness of Jehovah although he had never met one and knew there were none in the area.

He realized he had to find his “brothers.” So one day he set out on the journey to Kampala by bicycle to search for Jehovah’s Witnesses. When he saw crosses on churches, he knew that they could not be found there. The people he asked knew of Jehovah’s Witnesses but could not give him an exact address. In despair he entered a bookshop and asked about the Witnesses. The cashier said that occasionally Witnesses would stop by with magazines, but he did not know where they lived. “When they come again,” said the interested man, “please give them my address. They have to visit me.”

At that moment two missionaries were making return visits on those who had previously shown interest; however, none were home. Looking through their notes again, they came across the cashier’s name and said, “Well, let’s visit him again.”

When the pioneers arrived at the bookshop, the cashier told them, “There was someone who needs you.” He looked out the door and pointed down the road, and he added, “In fact that’s him!”

Within moments these European missionaries met the interested villager. He embraced them both! Of course, he became a very diligent Bible student. Soon a little Kingdom Hall was built in his village, and since his dedication and baptism, he has, in the full sense, become a brother.

War Again!

For most people, life in Uganda was grim. There was little security. People were hauled away by the army, never to be seen again. Prices skyrocketed. For example, the price of bread rose 1,000 percent from 1974 to 1984! When buying goods, some gave up counting money and instead just measured the stack of bills with a ruler!

Discontent paved the way for guerrilla warfare in the country. Finally after months of fighting, the National Resistance Movement wrested control from the government. Meanwhile, fleeing troops looted property and shot people at random.

Fighting broke out right around the missionary home. The next day, shooting started while the missionaries were on their way to Christian meetings. Bullets whizzed past their heads, but nobody was injured. Then, on a Sunday afternoon, they received uninvited visitors: fleeing, looting soldiers. The soldiers were angry that the front door was locked. But when their leader saw the missionaries’ identity cards, he changed abruptly and became friendly, not touching any of their things. In an apologetic way, the men took some clothes and bedding but nothing of greater value.

Upon leaving, they advised the missionaries to put the whole house into disarray, pulling down curtains, emptying drawers, scattering things on the floor, thus giving the impression that the house had already been looted. This worked; comparatively little was stolen by anyone. Before calm returned and while heavy fighting surrounded them, the missionaries spent a whole day and night in a small pantry. It was the safest room in the house. Through all of this, they felt the protection of Jehovah and the loving bond of their brotherhood.

Ugandan brothers have stories to tell of Jehovah’s protective hand over them. Some can point to bullet holes in their walls and clothes. For more than five hours, one special pioneer had to lie flat on his stomach as cross fire between government soldiers and rebels zipped over his head. When things calmed down, he found himself encircled by dead bodies.

Improved Security and New Joys

During the following months, security improved, and surprising things took place. For instance, on their way home, the missionaries had to pass the large house of a high official, which was always guarded by soldiers with such an unpredictable disposition that people feared harassment by them. The missionaries themselves breathed a sigh of relief every time they passed this spot, and visitors to the missionary home became few. But with the new government, this house was suddenly up for rent at the same time that the missionaries had to move from their home. Soon they found themselves living in the very house that they had feared to pass, enjoying outdoor suppers on the large terrace in the tropical evening breeze. Had anyone suggested this a year earlier, no one would have believed it!

The work in Kampala prospered. Many areas of the city had not been preached to for well over ten years, and much remained to be done. Ugandan brothers stepped up their activity, averaging 14.3 hours of service a month per publisher in 1987.

A close bond of love formed among these Witnesses. They were most willing to make sacrifices despite their very limited material means. (John 13:34, 35) For many it took several months’ earnings to travel to the district convention. They would always show hospitality to one another and help the missionaries with any problems. No doubt Jehovah assisted them in many ways, and often it was a “miracle” that assemblies could be held at all, at times without sound equipment or even without seats.

After the missionary homes were opened in Kampala and Jinja, a third home was set up on the other side of Kampala. Now Uganda has 18 congregations, a peak of 820 publishers, a peak Memorial attendance of 3,204, and more than 140 regular and special pioneers. Kingdom Halls have been built in Jinja, Tororo, Mbale, and Kampala. However, conditions still are not easy for witnessing, and the future is uncertain.

Since 1989 renewed opposition has surfaced, starting with comments from the clergy, followed by critical newspaper articles, arbitrary oral cancellation of an approved building permit, refusals to permit assemblies in certain locations, and other interference by misinformed officials. In due course, all associations were asked to register anew, and registration for the International Bible Students Association was refused. Most missionaries had to leave the country. Despite all of this, the district conventions in December 1990 were successfully held. Some high officials have proved to be very helpful and fair-minded, giving rise to the hope that all missionaries can return soon to Uganda and continue with their educational work. This field has great potential, and the brothers beg the Master of the harvest to send out more workers.​—Matt. 9:37, 38.

Kenya Gears up for Greater Expansion

With Jehovah’s organization moving ahead earth wide and with steady increases noticeable throughout East Africa, the time had come for the use of improved technology in Kenya. What excitement at the branch office in 1984 when the first of two IBM personal computers arrived from the Germany branch!

At first everyone was baffled by these new machines, but with Jehovah’s help and some simple instruction books, it did not take long to put the computers to work. Computers made it possible to enter text, which would be transferred to diskettes that could be sent to overseas printing branches. This offered great new possibilities. No longer did two or three proofs have to be sent back and forth between Britain and Kenya before the Swahili Watchtower could be printed. Now the Swahili Watchtower is printed at the same time as the English Watchtower, and all of Kenya’s congregations can study the same Bible material the same week.

Hand in hand with the steady increase in publishers came noticeable growth toward solid spirituality. Witnesses increased the time they spent in the service, keeping a simple eye focused on Kingdom interests. More put forth greater effort to help their numerous children by a family Bible study. New elders have been appointed, and more and more young brothers have reached out to qualify as ministerial servants. Many have showed integrity in tests of Christian neutrality. More have been willing to make material sacrifices in order to have their own Kingdom Halls.

The 1985 “Integrity Keepers” Convention

At the end of 1985, Kenya was among the countries selected to have a special international convention with overseas visitors. Almost 2,000 of these came. While the visiting delegates did enjoy Kenya’s scenery and wildlife, they unanimously said that the highlights of their visit were the convention and the field ministry, in which local brothers accompanied them.

When the people of Nairobi saw all these wazungu (white people or Europeans) appear with their local guides, it created quite a stir. In turn, the visitors were impressed by the interest the Kenyan people showed in the Bible and by the crowds of small children that followed them around.

At the convention too, the visitors were charmed by the thousands of attentive little children. Over 8,000 people filled Jamhuri Park in Nairobi, the biggest convention held so far. A special treat for the audience was the presence of two brothers of the Governing Body, Theodore Jaracz and Albert Schroeder.

During the following years, the staff at the branch office increased, and additional missionaries came to Kenya. The missionaries were rewarded with many spiritual children. For example, with missionary help the Eldoret Congregation grew from 45 to 129 publishers in four years. With the increasing pioneer spirit, Kingdom interests continued to move ahead. In 1987 over 1.5 million hours were spent in the field, and more than 4,000 publishers were active, each spending 16.4 hours on the average every month.

The Memorial attendance had gone up to 15,683, and 466 were baptized. On the average, over 1,000 were in pioneer service every month, and over 500 of these were regular pioneers. New Kingdom Halls were built, and plans for a new assembly facility on the outskirts of Nairobi were drawn up. For the first time, there were over 10,000 publishers active under the branch’s oversight, including 1,000 regular pioneers. Then, something shocking happened.

Another Ban

Soon after completion of the circuit assemblies dealing with trials of faith, and when preparations for the “Trust in Jehovah” District Conventions were being made, that trust was put to a real test. On November 19, 1987, a legal notice dated November 9 appeared in the Kenya Gazette deregistering the Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses of East Africa, though it had been operating for over 25 years. The decree allowed 21 days to wind up affairs and distribute assets to members. That same afternoon, a letter received from the registrar general confirmed the decision. No reasons were given.

The next morning one of the newspapers reported this news as a small item on page 5, not as a headline, as had been the case in 1973. But foreign press agencies immediately phoned and then published this shocking news. Without delay efforts were made to contact government officials, but these were either preoccupied with a state visit or unwilling to discuss the matter.

Legal counsel was sought, and after much prayer, appeals were submitted. On November 27 a judge ruled that the case could be heard, which brought the Association back into legality pending the outcome of the matter. Thus, meetings and preaching activities continued openly throughout Kenya, providing a measure of relief for the time being.

What about the conventions? It took faith to press forward with plans, but what a delight to receive the necessary approvals! After some struggle, contracts for convention locations were made, and so all three “Trust in Jehovah” District Conventions were held in December. Attendances and baptisms for the entire country totaled 10,177 and 228 respectively.

After that, conditions appeared normal. The Witnesses were fully aware that matters now remained in Jehovah’s hands as to the future of the branch office and the work in Kenya.

The legal situation has continued in this pending state for years, with the court having postponed the case repeatedly. This caused many incidents on local levels, where officials, unaware of our continuing legality, arrested brothers, delayed permits, or even refused to allow assemblies. In the meantime Christendom’s clergy have interfered in politics as never before, which has helped many to see the contrast between the clergy and the law-abiding, peace-loving Witnesses.

This has resulted in more increases in Kingdom proclaimers. About the time of the Memorial in 1991, there were close to 6,000 publishers in the country, and 19,644 attended that celebration. In Nairobi and in Nanyuki, which is on the equator, Assembly Halls have been built. The publisher increase put a greater load on the branch, so the Bethel family has increased to 38, and expansion of the existing building has become an urgent matter.

Facing the Future With Trust in Jehovah

Space does not permit mentioning many other important developments and thrilling experiences in Eastern Africa. Countless other faithful ones have expended themselves in behalf of the good news and suffered evil as servants of the true God. Many have shouldered heavy responsibilities and, like the apostle Paul, borne the anxiety for all the congregations for years. (2 Cor. 11:28) Economic, legal, and political difficulties continue. A lasting solution to all these problems will come only by means of Jehovah’s Kingdom, and in the meantime, much ingathering remains to be accomplished.

The population of this part of the earth has doubled in the past 20 years. In August 1991 all the countries under the branch had a combined publisher peak of 15,970. The branch states: “We know that Jehovah knows his sheep and pray that ‘the word of Jehovah may keep moving speedily’ before the fast-approaching end and the time when this beautiful area of the earth, with all its marvels of creation, will be part of a true, earth-wide paradise.”​—2 Thess. 3:1.

[Footnotes]

[Charts on page 206]

(For fully formatted text, see publication.)

Kenya 8,000

1950 3

1960 108

1970 947

1980 2,266

1991 6,300

Peak Publishers

2,000

1950

1960 5

1970 132

1980 317

1991 1,256

Av. Pioneers

[Charts on page 207]

(For fully formatted text, see publication.)

Nine Countries Under Kenya Branch

17,000

1950 119

1960 865

1970 2,822

1980 5,263

1991 15,970

Peak Publishers

4,000

1950 1

1960 49

1970 296

1980 599

1991 3,127

Av. Pioneers

[Box/​Map on page 66]

(For fully formatted text, see publication.)

Red Sea

Gulf of Aden

YEMEN

SUDAN

Nile

Omdurman

Khartoum

Eritrea

Asmara

DJIBOUTI

ETHIOPIA

Addis Ababa

SOMALIA

Mogadishu

KENYA

Nairobi

Mombasa

Equator

Lake Victoria

UGANDA

Kampala

ZAIRE

RWANDA

BURUNDI

TANZANIA

Zanzibar

Dar es Salaam

Mbeya

MALAWI

ZAMBIA

Indian Ocean

SEYCHELLES

MADAGASCAR

[Box]

KENYA

Capital: Nairobi

Official Languages: Swahili and English

Major Religion: Diverse beliefs

Population: 23,000,000

Branch Office: Nairobi

[Picture on page 69]

Young shepherds in Kenya

[Pictures on page 71]

Kenya, home to fascinating wildlife

[Pictures on page 74]

Olga Smith and her two children say good-bye to her husband, Gray, and to his brother Frank at the start of their sea voyage to East Africa

Frank Smith in Nairobi, near town center, in 1931

Gray Smith witnessing in Kenya in 1931

[Picture on page 76]

David Norman and Robert Nisbet at Durban, South Africa, in 1931, just before their departure by boat to Dar es Salaam

[Pictures on page 79]

George Nisbet, Gray and Olga Smith, and Robert Nisbet cross the Limpopo River and pause along the road to East Africa in 1935

[Picture on page 88]

A reunion of “old-timers” over coffee and tea, near Nairobi in 1985: from left, Muriel Nisbet, Margaret Stephenson, Vera Palliser, Mary Whittington, and William Nisbet

[Picture on page 93]

Ingilizi Caliopi with Mary Girgis, in Khartoum, Sudan

[Picture on page 96]

Gilead missionaries: Dean Haupt and Haywood Ward in Addis Ababa

[Picture on page 99]

Ethiopia’s small branch office in Addis Ababa in 1953

[Picture on page 105]

Hosea Njabula and his wife, Leya, were among the first ones to spread the good news in Tanzania

[Picture on page 107]

Nine of those who learned the truth in southern Tanzania during the 1930’s. From left to right: Andrew Chungu, Obeth Mwaisabila, Timothy and Ana Kafuko, Leya Nsile, Joram Kajumba, Jimu Mwaikwaba, Stela and Semu Mwasakuna

[Picture on page 108]

Thomson Kangale, a patient teacher of his East African brothers

[Picture on page 123]

George Kadu and Margaret Nyende reminisce on the early days in Uganda, when they heard the truth over 35 years ago

[Picture on page 131]

Kenya’s first missionary home and branch office in Nairobi was opened on February 1, 1963

[Pictures on page 139]

In 1965, Kenya’s second branch office, in Nairobi, was the top-floor apartment, and pictured below is rear view of third branch office in 1970, before expansion

[Picture on page 141]

Lamond Kandama, a special pioneer active in Zambia, Tanzania, and Kenya for over 50 years, with Esinala and Stanley Makumba, who have spent over 40 years in special service in Uganda and Kenya, mostly in the traveling work

[Picture on page 142]

John and Kay Jason, at Nairobi Bethel, have over 50 years of full-time service each

[Picture on page 157]

A group of happy Rwandans after their baptism

[Picture on page 158]

Anna Nabulya, one of Uganda’s steadfast preachers

[Picture on page 169]

Gebregziabher Woldetnsae, an overseer who spent himself, up to his death

[Pictures on page 177]

Faces we expect to see in the resurrection. All were murdered for their loyalty to the good news. From top left: Ayele Zeleyew, Hailu Yemiru, Wubi Ayele, Kaba Ayana, Gebreyohanes Adhanom, Adera Teshome, Wondimu Demera, Kasa Gebremedhin, Eshetu Mindu

[Picture on page 192]

Gaspard Rwakabubu, Joseph Koroti, and Ferdinand I’Mugarula after their release from prison in Kigali were delighted to attend the international convention in Nairobi in 1985

[Picture on page 199]

Circuit assembly at Mbale, Uganda, 1987

[Picture on page 201]

Kenya’s present branch office and Bethel Home in Nairobi after expansion

[Picture on page 202]

Bernard Musinga spent 20 years in East Africa in the traveling work and was a member of the Branch Committee before his return to his native Zambia

Solomon Islands

SPREAD like two necklaces of precious pearls across the turquoise-dappled waters of the Pacific lies the Melanesian nation of the Solomon Islands, fondly called “the Happy Isles.” This double chain of volcanic islands and atolls begins with the Ontong Java Atoll just south of the Equator, bordering Papua New Guinea on the west, and stretches for some 930 miles [1500 km] farther southeast to the Santa Cruz Islands, which include the Reef Islands, not far from its southern neighbor Vanuatu. Dense, luxuriant forests cover most of the islands in the Solomons archipelago, and razorback ridges and stiff spurs form mountain ranges, between which run deep, narrow valleys. With a total land area of some 10,600 square miles [27,500 sq km], this isolated country is the second largest, after Papua New Guinea, of the South Pacific island nations.

The first of the European explorers to step on these sandy-white shores was the Spanish mariner, Álvaro de Mendaña, in 1568. He was seeking the legendary lost gold mines of King Solomon; instead he discovered what he called the Isles of Solomon, but no gold was to be had, other than the alluvial gold in rivers on Guadalcanal.

A Diverse People With a Common Thread

The islands are home to a rich diversity of some 300,000 people of skin color ranging from blue-black to creamy-brown, with hair varying from the masses of tightly woven, shiny blond curls to the bright red of the many Melanesians, which attractively contrasts with the sleek, straight black hair of the Polynesian people. Communication is a polyglot affair in the Solomons, with over 90 local languages and dialects being spoken. However, most people use English or English-Melanesian Pidgin when talking with neighbors from different islands and tribal groups.

The far-flung islands of Ontong Java, Rennell, Bellona, Sikaiana in the Stewart Islands, and Tikopia and Anuta in the Santa Cruz Islands are where the Polynesian population live. Large groups of Micronesian people from Kiribati have gathered and settled on Wagina and Gizo islands in the western Solomons, as well as in Honiara, the capital, on Guadalcanal.

Besides their Solomon Islands citizenship, the one common thread running through this variegated populace is a deep interest in the Bible. Intensely religious, the people enjoy vigorous hymn-singing at their village church, which they attend several times a week, some even every day. Bible prophecy fascinates them immensely, especially the books of Daniel and Revelation. They believe strongly that we are indeed living in the last days of this old system. This belief makes them, in the main, a very easy people to talk to regarding Jehovah God’s promises to bring about lasting peace and happiness by means of his heavenly Kingdom.

The Happy Isles Hear About “the Happy God”

The “good news of the happy God” has been vigorously preached throughout six of the main islands and among dozens of smaller islands since 1953. (1 Tim. 1:11) During those earlier years, the oversight of the evangelizing work in the Solomons was cared for by the Australia branch of the Watch Tower Society and then by the Papua New Guinea branch.a Intrepid Witnesses from Papua New Guinea, such as John Cutforth, R. L. (Dick) Stevens, Les Carnie, and Ray and Dorothy Paterson, visited the growing number of brothers and sisters in the bush. Often they lived with them in their leaf houses whose roofs and sides were made from long, bladelike palm leaves. The association Jehovah’s Witnesses of the Solomon Islands Trust Board was legally incorporated on April 18, 1977, opening the way for further expansion and easier organization of the preaching work.

July 1978 saw the Solomon Islands achieve political independence. The brothers were pleased that their local corporation, Jehovah’s Witnesses of the Solomon Islands Trust Board Inc., had been registered before the change in government, as restrictions were later placed on the introduction of religions new to the area. With a view to expanding the preaching work to even more of “the Happy Isles,” it was decided that the Solomon Islands should have its own branch office. Shortly after the decision was reached, Glenn Finlay from the Papua New Guinea branch arrived there with his wife, Merlene, to coordinate the work.

This was not the first time Brother Finlay set foot on the Solomons. Besides serving as a circuit and district overseer at various times, in 1965 he spent three months in north Malaita as a special pioneer under assignment from the Papua New Guinea branch.

First Branch Office

“Our first branch office was set up in the basement of Bob Seccombe’s house on Lengakiki Ridge, Honiara,” writes Brother Finlay concerning the year 1978. That small basement room had already made theocratic history. It served as the first Kingdom Hall on the island of Guadalcanal and later as the first literature depot for the Solomon Islands. And since Brother Seccombe provided a small one-bedroom apartment at the rear of the building, his house also served as the first Bethel.

Brother Finlay continues: “We were set up with only one manual typewriter and one hand-operated duplicator, but we had a million-dollar view over the deep blue waters of the sound.” Almost 50 years ago, on November 13, 1942, that sound was the scene of one of the fiercest battles in naval history. The Americans came to call it Ironbottom Sound, so nicknamed for the number of ships rusting beneath its surface.

After 30 years of service, Brother Seccombe and his wife, Joan, returned to Australia for health reasons. While they never had any children of their own, their countless spiritual children and grandchildren warmly treasure their loving labors.

Let us return to Brother Finlay’s report: “Denton Hopkinson and his wife arrived from the Philippines in 1978. He was the first zone overseer that most of the brothers had ever seen. The next few years saw the construction of a two-story branch office and Bethel Home.” What a project that was! The brothers and sisters in Honiara excavated huge chunks of razor-sharp coral with nothing but hand tools. Although branch construction was a lengthy and difficult process, taking almost three years, it was also a great display of Christian love. And as an added bonus, some of the workers drawn to the site would later labor for Jehovah in other special ways.

Ten young brothers came to work full-time on the site under the direction of one of the Branch Committee members, Rodney Fraser, an Australian, who was also a builder. Most of those volunteers were from bush congregations. Hence they had never used construction tools before. However, after three years of working with Brother Fraser and a number of other brothers from Australia, they not only developed sound construction skills but also gained a great appreciation for the workings of Jehovah’s earthly organization and a greater skill in presenting the good news to others.

Seven of these young men went on to increase their service to Jehovah in one way or another. Omega Nunu went back home to Taba’a village located high in the mountains of the Kwara’ae section of Malaita. He became the only elder in the congregation. Lilio Liofasi stayed for eight years as one of the first members of the Bethel family. He now serves with his Philippine-born wife, Priscilla, in another feature of full-time service. The two fleshly brothers, Joe Kwasui and David Kirite’e, who became carpenters, entered the full-time service as well. They shared in bringing the truth to the Santa Cruz Islands in the eastern Solomons. Billy Kwalobili, who became skilled in laying tile, served as a special pioneer on Ndeni, the largest of the Santa Cruz Islands, and is now pioneering on the isolated Reef Islands. Pedro Kanafiolo, a strong, energetic brother from Malu’u in north Malaita is now serving as a special pioneer in relatively new territory on the island of San Cristobal. Simon Maedalea, who left the branch project as a carpenter, later pioneered in east Malaita. These diligent and energetic brothers have been at the forefront of the preaching effort along the scattered “Happy Isles.”

Conventions​—Joyous Milestones

Conventions were joyous milestones, each requiring a considerable amount of preparation. Every talk and drama had to be translated into Solomon Islands Pidgin. Then the dramas had to be retaped, using the voices of Honiara Witnesses while dubbing music and sound effects from the English tapes. After hours of work, the tapes were sent in cassette form for use in rehearsals. Using small battery-operated tape recorders, brothers and sisters rehearsed under the flickering light of lamps in small thatched-roofed Kingdom Halls. Some conventions were so small that there were not enough actors to put on the dramas. So for some dramas, slides from Europe were shown in conjunction with the tape. The brothers in these far outposts were thrilled to see these dramatized Bible accounts!

Toward the end of 1979, two islands were used for one small convention in the Santa Cruz Islands. In order for the delegates to see the slide presentation of the drama, the whole audience had to move from the small island on which most of the sessions had been held to a larger one that had the proper electrical power for the slide projector. Imagine watching this cheerful and excited crowd as they traveled across the sea in dugout canoes to pack out the hall, while interested onlookers crowded every window! Then they happily paddled back, reminiscing under bright moonlight as they crossed that glistening, crystal-clear sea. You would be left with a never-to-be-forgotten memory.

The Good News Spreads

For years the preaching activity centered on just two islands, Malaita and Guadalcanal, which had just one congregation. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, small groups of interested people were formed in Munda and Gizo in the western Solomons. But progress was slow. Eventually, interest spread to other areas as pioneers traveled to Choiseul in the west and the Santa Cruz Islands in the eastern outer islands group.

Malaita is known for two things: one, as the origin of the famous shell money that was once used for paying the bride-price; and two, as home to a rugged people, who have a craving for travel. Malaitans are hard workers, many of them maintaining mountain gardens of truly heroic proportions. Because of their migrant spirit, they can be found in every province of the Solomons, some even living outside their tribal areas for more than 50 years. It was therefore no coincidence that when Norman Sharein, from the Papua New Guinea branch, went to the north of Malaita in 1962, he found hundreds of them, many willing and eager to accept Bible truth.

Many Malaitans had been involved in a failed political movement striving for independence from British rule, called Ma’asina Ru’u (The Brotherhood). Feeling alienated from the established churches, they formed their own religion, Boboa (Foundation). However, that name proved to be prophetic. A large number of them accepted Bible truth and became baptized Witnesses who went on to become sturdy preachers and pioneers. They have served not only in the scores of isolated mountain villages in their own tribal area in Malaita but everywhere throughout the Solomons, no matter how remote and isolated the territory.

The Good News Comes to the Western Province

One of the first Witnesses to be used in the local missionary work in the Western Province was Fanidua Kirite’e from east Malaita. He was a young family man back then in 1967. He and another brother volunteered to travel to the Western Province as special pioneers, concentrating their efforts first on Gizo Island.

During Brother Fanidua’s stay in Gizo township for two weeks, he was encouraged to continue in his preaching work by the district police superintendent, who also told him and his partner to contact him if they should meet with any problems in his jurisdiction, which covered the New Georgia island group. It did not take long for pioneers to arrive in Munda, a settlement on Roviana lagoon on New Georgia Island.

Munda is actually a series of small villages that dot the perimeter of a landing strip built in the early 1940’s by the Japanese Army. The U.S. Air Force later took over the landing strip, enlarged it, and used it throughout the remainder of World War II. The tribes in this area are matriarchal societies. Brother Fanidua remembers: “When we arrived in Munda on the government mail boat, we began wondering where and with whom we would stay and what kind of reception the truth would get in this new area. We walked along the road edging the lagoon and shortly arrived in front of the house of Taude Kenaz, a Malaitan. I knew Taude would make us welcome, as he was a fellow Kwara’ae, but whether we would be able to stay at his home while in Munda depended a great deal on the reception we would get from the landowner, his widowed mother-in-law, Miriam.”

Miriam was a well-known and respected member of the Roviana tribe of New Georgia Island. Miriam not only wielded power as landowner but was very influential in the United Church. Her late husband had been instrumental in introducing that religion into their area. Because Miriam dreamed earlier that she would receive some unusual visitors, she could not believe her eyes when she saw the two pioneers with briefcases and Bibles in hand, standing at her door. She immediately invited them to stay at her house, much to the surprise of the pioneers. Her hospitality proved to be a blessing for her whole family. The pioneers concentrated on studying every evening with all those who showed such kindness. Miriam and her daughter Esther and Taude, Esther’s husband, were three such people.

It was during this period, in 1970, that traveling overseers John Cutforth and Jim Smith visited Munda on their way back to Papua New Guinea. Quickly discerning the potential interest at Munda, Brother Smith told the pioneers that it would be good if they could stay until a congregation was established. These two overseers diligently helped the pioneers to organize meetings. For the first time, songs of praise to Jehovah could be heard on the island of New Georgia! Leaving the pioneers in Munda to care for the sheep, the traveling overseers set out for other territories.

Suddenly, one evening, the pioneers were rudely awakened by a crowd of angry people. The mob was led by an off-duty policeman, who sternly ordered the brothers to vacate the area immediately. Brother Fanidua turned to the crowd and told them what the police superintendent had said to them back on Gizo: “Should you have any problems in any of the areas under my jurisdiction, be sure to contact me.” On hearing this, the policeman became frightened, and the crowd dispersed. However, this disturbing news quickly spread and was heard in Gizo by the superintendent himself.

The superintendent immediately boarded a plane for Munda. Soon after his arrival, he asked Brother Fanidua to come to the local police station. On entering the station, Brother Fanidua noticed that two high-ranking local police officers were present. Then it dawned on him; the interview with the superintendent was for the benefit of those two local police officers. After Brother Fanidua explained why he and his partner had come to Munda, the superintendent summed up the hearing by saying: “I have a religion; you, Albert, [pointing to one officer] have a religion. You, Alex, [the other] have your religion. The law of the Solomon Islands guarantees freedom of worship to everyone. The Witnesses are staying at Miriam’s home at her invitation. She is the customary landowner, and she is quite within her legal and tribal right to have people of any religion visit her in her own home, and you as officers of the law, either on duty or off, have no right to try to prevent Miriam from showing her interest in Jehovah’s Witnesses.” He concluded by placing the two pioneers in the special care and protection of the local police officers.

Though Brother Taude died some years ago, the small congregation in Munda continues to thrive and regularly praises Jehovah’s name in song and in the preaching work. And as for Brother Fanidua, he remains a faithful proclaimer of the good news.

Missionaries Permitted to Reside

In 1980, Gilead-trained missionaries were granted visas for the Solomon Islands. The first to arrive were native New Zealanders from the 67th class, Roger and Shona Allan. Previously, missionaries and circuit and district overseers from the Papua New Guinea branch had been permitted to enter on a temporary basis only. In April 1982, more missionaries came, Arturo Villasin and Pepito Pagal from the Philippines. More help was needed when Brother and Sister Finlay had to depart for Australia because of family commitments in 1985. In that same year, two seasoned missionaries arrived, Josef Neuhardt of the 45th class of Gilead and his wife, Herawati, who had served for ten years in Indonesia and eight years in Papua New Guinea. He was appointed Branch Committee coordinator. Then Loreto Dimasaka arrived from the Philippines, and later, Douglas Lovini of the 70th class of Gilead and his wife, Luana, were permitted to enter the country, after spending some years in Papua New Guinea. He serves as a member of the Branch Committee.

Down Comes the Cross in Temotu Province

About 600 miles [900 km] southeast of Honiara lies Temotu Province, embracing the eastern outer islands of the Solomons, including the Santa Cruz Islands. Temotu Province was unusual. Only one religion was represented there, the Anglican Church. For years no other religion had been able to make any impression on the serious-minded people of those islands. But in 1976, John Mealue, an Anglican lay preacher, was sent to Papua New Guinea by his church for training as a translator of local languages. The religious fabric of the province was about to change.

While residing in Papua New Guinea, John opened the door one morning to one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He got his first taste of the good news of the Kingdom. After several discussions, John quickly recognized that what he was hearing was Bible truth. Although he had been selected to be the next Anglican bishop of the Santa Cruz Islands, he resigned from his linguistic studies and returned to the Solomon Islands. On his way back to the Santa Cruz Islands, he stopped at the branch office in Honiara and asked if someone could visit his island for the purpose of starting a congregation. The branch immediately began making arrangements.

Back in his village, John began witnessing to his fleshly brothers, James Sopi and Drawman Alilvo, both schoolteachers, but they opposed his message. His brothers as well as others wanted to know why he had returned. He answered them directly and told them about his disappointment with the clergy. “They have lied to us all along,” he said, and he gave them examples. Remember, up to this time, John had never been taught how to give a tactful witness. One time, with ax in hand, he marched to the center of Malo village and chopped down its huge cross, dragged it along the ground, and threw it into the sea. No one dared lay a hand on him. Nevertheless, not only did his deed cost him a day in court but because he had cut down their holy symbol, religious leaders predicted that in eight days John would be struck dead.

Eight days later John was still alive. This marked the turning point for sheeplike ones. News of this spread like wildfire, and when John appeared in court, not only was the local courthouse packed out but all of Lata Station, the capital of Temotu Province, was swarming with people.

You could hear a pin drop in the courtroom when John stood to defend himself. He appealed to the conscience of the crowd as he spoke in detail about the origin of the cross, the hypocrisy of Christendom, and how the clergy had kept him and his people, spiritually, in the Dark Ages. In handing down his verdict, the judge said: “Charges dismissed. However, you must pay a fine of $20 for destroying private property.”

The clergy were defeated; they had wanted John sentenced to hard labor in prison. Quite a few people, including his brothers, James and Drawman, were affected by what they heard in court and later came into the truth.

The Peaceable Way to Preach

In 1981, Billy Kwalobili and Joe Kwasui arrived at Lata Airstrip in Temotu Province fresh from two years in branch construction. They looked forward to helping the truth grow in this new territory. Newly qualified publishers needed to learn that ‘a slave of the Lord does not need to fight but needs to be gentle toward all, keeping himself restrained under evil.’ (2 Tim. 2:24) For example, one day when a publisher group was out witnessing, a mob of irate Anglicans, urged on by the clergy, assaulted one of the publishers and ordered the rest not to preach in their village. The new publishers thought that the only way to get the witnessing work done was to remove the barrier by force. So they beat up the whole mob, breaking the leg of one of the opposers! Happily, as a result of instruction from the Society and the example of the pioneers, with some anxious moments along the way, the new publishers eventually learned the peaceable way to preach.

Billy and Joe faced other challenges too. The circuit and district overseers were due to arrive in three weeks to hold the very first circuit assembly in the Santa Cruz Islands. However, there was one big problem; they had no assembly site. Immediate efforts were made to obtain a piece of land for a Kingdom Hall. But where? Although there were many interested ones in Nemba, there was strong opposition from the Anglican Church. Unfortunately, the traditional landowners were all members of the church and very much against having any Kingdom Hall constructed in their vicinity. So the decision was made to build in John Mealue’s home village, on the island of Malo, a three-hour canoe ride from Nemba.

When the pioneers approached John with this suggestion, he replied: “This is exactly what I have wanted for a long time.” So that very same day, construction started at a frantic pace. Partway through the construction, the circuit overseer arrived for his regular visit to the congregation, and he too joined in the building work. Right on time, a neat, well-constructed leaf hall, with a roof, a platform, and three open sides, stood ready to house the crowd expected for the assembly program.

In time John, James, and Drawman, along with their wives, were baptized. These three fleshly brothers were highly valued by the Anglican Church, but after they accepted the truth, the clergy put pressure on education officers and had James and Drawman fired from their jobs. This did not deter the two brothers. They decided to live off the land and sea and use their time to preach from house to house about real treasures, the marvelous Kingdom truths. Soon many more joined them. Finally a Kingdom Hall was built at Nemba. The congregation was later transferred to the village of Belamna.

Special pioneers Festus Funusui and his wife, Ovature, were assigned to Belamna in 1988 to organize the preaching work further. Witnessing on the streets and in the markets was introduced at Lata Station. Recently, at a circuit assembly at Belamna, close to 200 persons attended. Future growth looks promising. They are planning to build a 500-seat Assembly Hall right in the heart of Lata Station. Certainly, Jehovah has blessed the growth.

A “Different” Bite on the Reef Islands

Sometime after John Mealue accepted the truth, Michael Polesi of Gawa in the Reef Islands, in the eastern outer islands group, attended the College of Higher Education in Honiara. Michael was an Anglican. One morning, as he was walking by the market where Witnesses stand under the trees while engaged in street witnessing, he noticed that young boys were making fun of some of the older publishers. Their verbal barbs would often single out Benjamin Ru’u, a Witness with part of one of his legs amputated. As Michael saw him walking with the aid of a peg leg strapped to his knee joint, he felt sorry for Benjamin and obtained from him the book The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life. He took it back with him to Malo in the Santa Cruz Islands, where he was teaching primary school.

There he was contacted by John Mealue’s brother Drawman, who was then still a primary-school teacher. Michael was happy that someone could help him understand the Bible. Unfortunately the school year was drawing to a close, and Michael would soon return to his home and family in the Reef Islands. By the time he was ready to return home, he had read only three chapters in the Truth book. However, in spite of such a limited understanding of the Scriptures, he began to preach back home.

Because Michael would not stop speaking publicly about the truth, the clergy pressured the education officers at Lata Station to have him fired, just as they later had James and Drawman fired. Michael decided to live off the land. He and his wife, Naomi, along with their children, were finally forced to leave their village as outcasts. Far from the village, they built a new home and later a Kingdom Hall. When they left their village, they took with them a puppy named Different, since, as Michael put it, “This is a sign to show that we are certainly different from the world.” To this day, according to Michael, Different appears to know the difference too because “he bites the seat only of those who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses or interested ones.”

But back to our story. Later, James Sopi, Billy Kwalobili, and Joe Kwasui arrived by ship from the Santa Cruz Islands for seven days in order to give Michael spiritual encouragement and to help him care for the interested ones. Michael became a zealous publisher and was later baptized at a district convention in Honiara. The number of those who joined Michael as publishers in the Reef Islands kept increasing. So in 1984, David Kirite’e and Ben Ramo arrived as special pioneers. However, things did not go smoothly for them.

The Leaves Cry Out

One of the problems David and Ben experienced was caused in part by the enmity that exists between some Reef Islanders and Malaitans. This hostile attitude developed after a fight between rival Anglican factions in Honiara broke out around the time of the pioneers’ arrival. Thus it became difficult for these Malaitan special pioneers to go anywhere on their own to preach. To compound their problem, the people live in fear of their bishop and priests. The clergy would often visit the people to see if any of the Society’s literature was in their homes. If any was found, the homeowner was sure to receive a stiff dressing down and would be forced to hand over the literature so the priest could have it destroyed. Hence, it became extremely difficult to preach to anyone; people would run away as soon as they spotted the Witness coming.

The pioneers realized that they would have to use another way to preach. “We decided to use leaves,” they said. “We would go to a place where the bush tracks crossed and pull a large leaf off a nearby tree and write a scripture on it in big print and, in smaller print, an explanation of that scripture. Then in really small script, we would write: ‘Suppose you like for savvy more long this-fella scripture, please write go long all’gether Jehovah’s Witness long Solomon Islands, or askim any Witness where stop close up long you.’”b

David and Ben tell us another example of their leaf witnessing: “We would write a theme, ‘Kingdom belong God’ [The Kingdom of God], and then underneath, the first scripture, Matthew 24:14, with the words ‘Me-fella must preach about this-fella something.’ [We must preach about this one.] And then, underneath, a question, ‘Wanem now Kingdom belong God by-by doim?’ [What is this Kingdom of God going to do?] And then, the final scripture, Revelation 21:4.”

If the pioneers were witnessing in an area where people were strongly set against the truth, they would use Psalm 37:9 as the final scripture on the leaf: “Every bad-fella people by-by finish, but everyone where hope long Jehovah by-by stop long earth.”c They would then put the leaf in the middle of the most-traveled bush tracks and walk away. Did this method of preaching produce good results?

One day one of the pioneers wrote a sermon on a leaf with a ballpoint pen and carefully placed it right in the middle of a well-traveled roadway. He walked a short distance away and stood concealed among the trees. He waited, curious to see who would pick up the leaf. To his surprise a dog came wandering along the road and paused to sniff at the leaf. “I think the dog could read,” said the pioneer humorously, “because he started barking at the leaf. The dog became excited and made so much noise that a hunter in the bush nearby thought the dog had a possum or a lizard trapped up a tree. The hunter ran to the scene only to discover the dog barking and pawing at the leaf. He pushed the dog aside and carefully picked up the leaf. He spent a few moments reading the sermon on the leaf and then just as carefully replaced the leaf-message in the middle of the road.

The pioneer concludes the story: “Later as I passed this hunter’s house, he called out to me, ‘Did you put something on the road?’ We started a Scriptural discussion that soon became a regular Bible study. Now that man and his entire family are publishers of the good news.”

The Blind One Sees

Billy Kwalobili got married in 1986, and he and his bride, Lina, were assigned to the Reef Islands as special pioneers. One of their favorite Bible students was a young man, Eriki, who was blind. Eriki was fascinated with the sounds of birds and insects and could mimic them perfectly. By means of his Bible study with the Kwalobilis, he learned about the One who created all those creatures. He also learned why people are ill and why he was blind. Billy would read all the paragraphs of the study lessons out loud; Eriki would listen intently and then answer questions on those paragraphs in his own words. Eriki memorized more than 30 scriptures.

When a traveling overseer visited Eriki, he recommended: “Don’t hold him back. Let him preach.” That very weekend Eriki joined eight publishers as they trekked through dense bush to the territory. The traveling overseer held one end of an umbrella and Eriki held the other end, quickly following along. Every now and then, a cry would ring out: “Log coming up!” or, “Watch out for the rock on your left!” and then Eriki would raise his leg and climb over the log or do a side step to avoid the rock. Many of the people listened to Eriki as he told of his hope, and when he quoted scriptures from memory, they shook their heads in amazement as they followed along in their Bible.

At the end of the visit, Eriki said to the traveling overseer: “There are three things that I would love to have if only I could get them.” When asked what these things were, he replied: “A Bible, a songbook, and a witnessing bag!”

“But why would you need those things, Eriki?” asked the overseer. Eriki answered: “So that when I go to the Kingdom Hall or out in the field, I can be one with my brothers and sisters. When I go witnessing, people may not believe what I say, but when I show them those words in my Bible, they can follow along. And in order to carry my Bible and songbook, I need a bag.” Soon after, Eriki was presented two gifts​—a new Bible and a songbook. Since the brothers do not have leather bags, they cut rice bags in half and sew shoulder straps to them. Eriki was presented with his own witnessing ‘rice bag’ too. It was like a dream come true for him. All the congregation shared his joy!

Soon after, Michael Polesi was employed as a schoolteacher again. In this position he could now contact more people on the Reef Islands. Further joy was realized when the first two women from the Reef Islands were baptized in 1990 at the circuit assembly in the Santa Cruz Islands. Certainly, many more good things are in store for Temotu Province.

The Good News Reaches Makira Province

In 1984 a territory that had not before been explored by any Witnesses opened up. It was the island of San Cristobal, where tribal village areas were still dominant. It was difficult to assign pioneers to preach on the island because the tribal way of life made no provision for visitors. However, things began to look brighter when a brother who was a heavy equipment machine operator was sent to San Cristobal by his company. The branch quickly took advantage of this and dispatched James Ronomaelana, a special pioneer and now a member of the Branch Committee, to San Cristobal to evaluate the possibilities of opening up the work.

While witnessing on the island, James endured much opposition initially, and one day he was surprised to come across a sign that warned: “People of Jehovah! Do not trespass without permission to enter.” Many such discouraging moments, though, did not dampen his zeal, for which he was blessed with a thrilling experience. He relates: “In one village, I came to a large house. The man of the house owned a coconut plantation and cattle and was obviously much wealthier than his neighbors. So I turned away from this house, thinking that this man would not have the time for the truth. As I walked away, I began to judge my timid actions. I sternly asked, ‘Why am I turning away from this place?’ and then courageously answered, ‘Jehovah sent me here, and maybe it is the last time I will be here. I must go and talk to the man!’”

When he reached the house, he met the owners, Oswald and Rachel Oli. James enthusiastically opened the discussion by pointing out that God has a name, and he has a purpose for the earth. The couple were elated to learn that God will restore the earth to a paradise. On the second visit, a Bible study was started. Oswald and Rachel quickly began to conform their lives to Jehovah’s righteous principles. Since Oswald was a big contributor to the church, it was no surprise when fiery opposition from the Anglican Church was hurled against him. At that time also, special pioneers were assigned to open up the territory further, which added to the anger of the local pastors, so much so that they even instructed their members to use violence to silence the pioneers.

Neither the pioneers nor Oswald and his family were deterred. For example, when Hankton Salatalau, a special pioneer, was witnessing to an interested man, a member of the Anglican Church began screaming abuses at Hankton. When Hankton respectfully walked away, the man viciously attacked Hankton from behind and knocked him down onto sharp coral rocks, mercilessly kicking his body for more than 15 minutes. The village people were shocked as they looked on in horror. However, their great fear of their pastors prevented them from coming to his aid. Hankton lay helplessly on the ground defending his head and body with his arms. His blood-covered back looked like a piece of raw meat from being cut by the rocks. Finally, some villagers mustered up enough courage to intervene. They grabbed the attacker and held him back while Hankton, badly battered, made his way home.

It is too bad that many islanders are still caught within the church’s cobweb of fear. Nevertheless, some are beginning to see the distinction between true Christianity and Christendom. In the meantime the endurance of the four special pioneers has been rewarded. Two hardworking, happy congregations flourish on San Cristobal. Oswald, Rachel, and their children, as well as Rachel’s family, are now fearless publishers of the good news too.

Unusual Customs

In many of the inaccessible regions of Malaita, especially in the mountains, as well as on the other islands, there are tribes who have had little contact with either Christendom or true Christianity. In the main they are ancestor worshipers, but some are animists.

Elson Site, formerly a circuit overseer and now a special pioneer with a family of eight children, explains what conditions are like in some of these areas: “It is the custom among the tribes to wear little clothing or none at all, and anyone wearing clothing who visits such a village is viewed with suspicion and often barred from entering the village.”

How would they tackle this sensitive situation? Elson continues: “On one occasion a group from a small congregation arrived at a village to preach, and the chief objected to the wearing of any clothing by either brothers or sisters while in the village. The brothers explained that it was not a Christian custom to go naked. Since they had traveled all this distance to share some important information from God’s Word, they would very much like to solve this small problem that was preventing his people from hearing some good news. The chief conferred with the older men of the village for quite a long time and finally decided that it would not be possible for the brothers to preach to the villagers on that day. But arrangements were made to make future visits more successful. The villagers promised to build a leaf house just outside the village boundary so that the brothers and sisters, fully clothed, could use the house to meet with any of the village people who wished to come to the house to hear what the Bible teaches. This system worked quite well, as the villagers enjoy talking about spiritual things.”

Besides having to respect the restriction regarding clothing in some villages, the brothers must observe other restrictions that are in force among these people because of their beliefs. Arturo Villasin, now a circuit overseer, reports: “The brothers leading any group for witnessing are very careful to respect the fact that the villagers do have very strong feelings about doing anything that will offend the spirits. In some villages it is absolutely forbidden to mention certain words or names, such as saying the personal name of a dead ancestor who is believed to have power over the village. Some trees are also viewed as sacred, and only males may sit down in their shade. In one particular seaside village, the wearing of certain colors is offensive; red or black cannot be worn. So, discreetly, a book or Bible with a red or a black cover will not be used while witnessing.

“A woman is strictly forbidden to enter some areas in a village. A man may not sit down on the same seat with a woman who is not his wife. If any of these customs are broken, compensation must be paid immediately. So it is vital that the brothers and sisters have a detailed knowledge of the rules, laws, and restrictions of each particular village if a successful witness is to be given. Thus, before entering a village, the brother leading the group will discuss in detail exactly what those in the group, especially the sisters, who are more likely to break unknowingly the male-oriented customs, should and should not do while in the village. Adjustments that do not compromise Jehovah’s righteous principles are gladly made so that the villagers get a fair opportunity to hear the good news. Many villagers have responded and have gladly shed practices that displease the true God.”

Surrounded by Demons

In the mountainous district of Kwaio on Malaita lies the village of Aiolo. This village consists mostly of families of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Aiolo is like a haven for Jehovah’s people, surrounded as it is by demon worship. As you look out of the village, you see many areas that are sacred grounds, dense bush on the top of hills, with the sides of the hill trimmed to distinguish between the sacred ground and neutral territory. There the priest sacrifices pigs to the gods. Part of the sacrifices are eaten by the priest and, at times, by other men. However, no woman is allowed to eat any of the sacrifice nor share in the actual offering of the sacrifice on penalty of death, although she has a major part in the raising of the pigs. After the sacrifice, the priest or others who offer the sacrifice must stay in a holy house within the confines of the village for a set number of days before returning to their family.

A ‘quick build’ house made from bamboo and other bush materials was erected in Aiolo. A Witness provided this new house for the so-called runaways. These are interested persons, even families, who have run away from demon worship. They have fled their demon-worshiping village to find refuge in Aiolo. At one time, a runaway family, a husband, his wife, and some of his brothers and sisters, arrived because the villagers were seeking to kill them for having offended their demon by not sacrificing a pig to him. The penalty​—death!

Several days later a traveling overseer visited Aiolo. Listen to what he has to say: “My wife and I were invited for a meal at the home of one of the brothers. In their midst sat this runaway family. We fell in love with them straight away, but they were frightened and had their backs toward us. However, by the time the meal was over, they had full smiles and sat facing us. They had come to realize that we were just the same as all the other brothers and sisters who love Jehovah and who are loved by him in return!”

No Long Pants

But let us go back to Brother Villasin and ask him why he now wears shorts instead of long pants. He says: “In one village our group of publishers had witnessed to everyone in the village. However, one brother had been talking at length to the village chief. Finally, the brother came out of the chief’s house. A worried look was on his face. The chief told him that he wanted my long trousers! Now I looked worried! I did not have a spare pair of trousers, and it was not proper for a circuit overseer to walk around without trousers. I begged the brother to go back quickly and convince the chief that while he and his people may feel perfectly comfortable wearing nothing at all, I was a man from a different country with completely different customs, and one of them was that we did not under any circumstances appear naked in public. The chief, though, coveted my trousers. However, after a long discussion, the brother convinced the chief to leave my trousers with me. I was relieved! From that time on, I have not worn long trousers to any village. I wear shorts just like the rest of my brothers do!”

Another foreign traveling overseer went through a hair-raising experience. In one village, a person may not use the banned English words “wicked” and “war.” Those two words are the names of two of their demons. To utter these names is an offense and a high compensation must be paid by the offender. When the local Witnesses went preaching there, the new traveling overseer told the brothers that he would rather listen at each door. The brothers disagreed; they insisted that the traveling overseer speak at a door, since he had been well drilled in the local customs. The visiting brother finally agreed. As he walked up and down the mountains along the bush track, he kept muttering to himself: “Don’t say WAR, don’t say WICKED.”

When they eventually reached the territory, a man invited the traveling overseer and two other brothers into his house. The two brothers began the conversation and then introduced the nervous traveling overseer. He gave a short Scriptural presentation, and everything went well. The householder seemed pleased by what he heard. The traveling overseer felt quite pleased with himself too and opened the book You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth and started to show pictures about Paradise. But then, to his horror, he added: “And God shall wipe out war.”

The man’s eyes widened, and so did the eyes of the traveling overseer. He quickly looked at the two brothers for help and took a deep breath, but they looked at the householder as if to say, “He didn’t say ‘war,’ did he?” The householder looked back at them as if to say: “No, I guess he didn’t.” And so the conversation ended without any compensation having to be paid. But as for the traveling overseer, he could not wait to get back to Aiolo.

Not only are customs and clothing styles of the Solomons different from Western ones but also construction methods are different. Nonetheless, two major construction projects have helped many local people see that Jehovah God’s spirit is upon his worshipers. In 1989 the people of Auki on Malaita were amazed as they watched a congregation of 60 publishers build an Assembly Hall that could seat over a thousand conventioners. Then, in June 1991, the people of Honiara stared wide-eyed as a 1,200-seat Assembly Hall seemed to spring up from its foundations in just two weeks, the first quickly built hall of this size in the Pacific region. The first stop on our construction site tour is the island of Malaita.

“The Hall That Jehovah Built”

Start with two hammers and two chisels as tools. Add scores of willing workers and all the timber you can cut from a surrounding swampy forest. You now have the makings of a 1,500-seat Assembly Hall, Solomon Islands-style. Such a miracle of construction has fueled a great shout of praise to Jehovah’s name on Malaita. So many apparently insurmountable problems had to be overcome in the construction of the 10,000-square-foot [930 sq m] facility that it has become known as “the hall that Jehovah built.”

In June 1982 the missionaries assigned to Malaita held a meeting in the main provincial town of Auki and reached this conclusion: A new Kingdom Hall for the local congregation of 65 publishers was urgently needed. At the meeting were Roger Allan and two Filipino missionaries, Pepito Pagal and Arturo Villasin.

The old Kingdom Hall was infested with termites. It had become so rickety that even the slightest gust of wind threatened to knock it down. Originally built to provide temporary shelter from the sun and rain for the 400 people who had attended a convention in Auki 15 years earlier, it was now in its last days.

The Auki Congregation had only two fully employed brothers, and their income amounted to about $50 per month each. So the congregation members all agreed to concentrate first on raising money to start the project. Brothers Pagal and Villasin were assigned to organize a congregation “union”​—a group of volunteers from the congregation who would work to obtain the needed funds.

The congregation grew its own crops of sweet potatoes and cabbage. The produce was then packed in coconut-leaf baskets and sent by boat to Honiara. There, an elderly pioneer sister, Cleopass Laubina, sold the vegetables for the best price she could get and sent the money back to the congregation in Auki. Also, on Mondays, 40 to 50 brothers and sisters toiled in the sweat of their brows to earn funds, by digging ditches, clearing coconut plantations of undergrowth, and mixing concrete by hand. Thus, by 1985, after working for 3 1/2 years, the congregation had accumulated a building fund of $2,000.

Expand the Project

Meanwhile, it was decided to expand the building project significantly to benefit all 23 congregations on Malaita. “Instead of building a Kingdom Hall for up to 70 publishers, why not build an Assembly Hall for up to 1,500 people?” reasoned the local Witnesses. So a large structure was planned that could seat 1,500 people and provide shelter not only from the intense equatorial sun but also from the frequent downpours that are characteristic of the Solomon Islands.

A roughly sketched plan was drawn up, depicting a hall 98 feet [30 m] long by 105 feet [32 m] wide, with a roof sloping gradually upward to allow rising warm air to escape along the ceiling. The hall was designed without any center posts so that the view of the audience would not be obstructed. It would be situated on the congregation’s five-acre [2 ha] lot.

In 1985 the congregation building committee obtained a low-interest loan. A short time later, Witnesses in Sweden made a sizable donation, thus giving the Assembly Hall fund a total of $13,500 to commence the building work.

The manager of a timber mill in Honiara also promised to supply all the 300 milled logs required for the main support pillars and the veranda and porch posts as well as the roof trusses along with purlins and rafters. The trusses would be constructed in Honiara and then dismantled and shipped by barge to Auki, where they would be reassembled and erected on top of the main support pillars.

The construction work crew was eager and ready to start! However, the only equipment they had was two claw hammers and two chisels. Of course, there were a lot of willing helpers ready to lend their hands to the task. But none of the Witnesses on Malaita had any commercial building experience. “The brothers and sisters were looking to me to oversee the construction work, but I had never even built a chicken coop!” said Brother Allan.

How were the Witnesses going to get the roof trusses​—each consisting of eight large logs bolted together and weighing from two to five tons—​off the ground and onto the top of the 20-foot-high [6 m] support pillars? And, besides, how could they lift the roof apex some 40 feet [12 m] into the air without the use of heavy construction cranes?

“I don’t know,” confessed Brother Allan at the time. “We’ll just have to rely on Jehovah to help us.”

Assistance Welcomed

Skilled assistance came from far across the sea in October 1986. Jon and Margaret Clarke, who had shared in the construction of the New Zealand branch office, heard of the plight of the Auki Congregation and were able to get a three-month visa to visit Malaita.

With a concrete mixer received as a gift, the congregation proceeded with building a large stage and a concrete-block wall with side wings behind the stage. Using their bare hands as shovels, they dug deep holes and filled them with concrete, into which they set the 18 main support pillars for the wall, roof, and veranda.

Having received training from Brother Clarke, the native brothers themselves reassembled the auditorium roof trusses and the three porch roof trusses. But they still had the problem of setting these heavy trusses in place. It was quite an engineering feat, since the trusses were made by bolting eight logs together into a huge triangle. The brothers’ determination and ingenuity defies description.

A Log Ballet

The only equipment available for such a mammoth lifting job was a block and tackle on a makeshift crane. The crane itself was made from eight logs. The first truss, weighing two tons, had to be lifted over the newly constructed concrete-block wall and mounted on two support pillars behind it. When the crane lifted the truss by its peak into an upright position, the brothers realized, to their dismay, that the crane could not lift the truss high enough to clear the wall. It was three feet [1 m] too short! For two days the truss was left dangling from the crane​—supported with logs underneath—​while the brothers lamented and pondered over the problem.

People would pass by and ridicule, saying: “Can’t Jehovah lift the truss for you?”

“Good!” exclaimed the brothers. “Now Jehovah will help us for sure!”

A sudden spurt of creativity inspired the workers. A jack from a pickup truck was slipped under one end of the truss and lifted it a few inches higher. That end of the truss was then further supported. The jack was then moved to the other end of the truss to lift that end, and it too was raised higher and supported. This procedure was repeated until, after a four-day juggling act, the first truss had been inched up and over the concrete wall and put onto its designated support pillars. This tremendous accomplishment prompted the brothers to dance around the site in a large circle, clapping their hands and singing happy tunes.

It was only after the project was completed and the jack had been used successfully to lift three trusses​—one weighing as much as five tons—​that the brothers realized that the blurred words stamped on the side of the jack indicating lifting capacity did not say “15 tons,” as they had believed, but in fact, only “1.5 tons”!

“On reflection, what the brothers and sisters did defies logic,” says Brother Allan. “Watching those enormous trusses rise in the air was like watching a log ballet!”

“Can’t Jehovah Build a Hall?”

In January 1987 two native brothers in the building trade visited Auki from Honiara and after inspecting the trusses said that the mill had unknowingly shipped unsuitable fruit-tree logs and that these logs tended to rot deceptively from the inside out. They believed that decay had started in the cores and that all the logs would have to be replaced. Four months later the devastating diagnosis was confirmed​—most of the logs supplied were rotting, and the greater part of the heavy construction work that had been accomplished would have to be redone.

Brother and Sister Clarke arrived back in Auki in July, accompanied by Steven and Allan Brown of Auckland. They brought with them equipment donated from the completed New Zealand branch construction site. The New Zealanders planned their visit with the intention of finishing off the roof structure of the hall, but instead, their work centered around demolishing much of the previous year’s structure.

However, the greatest difficulty for the brothers to bear was the constant taunts shouted by passengers speeding by the site in open trucks, as well as humiliating remarks made by people in the market or on the streets of Auki.

“Can’t Jehovah build a hall?” they jeered. “This proves you worship a false religion,” they scoffed. “Only crazy people build a hall then pull it down again.” As people of other religions passed the building site, they danced and sang in front of the dejected workers​—rejoicing at their misfortune. The local brothers were so downhearted that they told the four missionaries that they “would walk away from this hall right now if Jehovah’s name wasn’t on it.”

Mockery Short-Lived

The mockery of the ridiculers was short-lived at times. For example, a group of carolers heading for a special church event ten miles [16 km] away shouted insults and laughed at the construction workers as they passed the site in a truck. A mile beyond the construction site, their truck broke down, and stranded, they were unable to reach their destination.

When news of the breakdown reached the building site, counsel was given against ‘returning evil for evil.’ (Rom. 12:17) But as some of the brothers riding in the back of the construction truck passed the immobile carolers a little later, they could not resist quietly dancing a little jig!

Kona Village to the Rescue

Only 38 logs from the mill were free of rot, so the balance of the required 300 logs would have to come from somewhere else. But from where? The Witnesses from Kona village, located three miles [5 km] from the building site, approached the construction workers to offer to donate special hardwood trees from their own land. The timber would replace the main support pillars, the veranda and porch posts, and the auditorium roof trusses. This was a large sacrifice by those Witnesses from Kona village, since Malaita had been devastated by Cyclone Namu, and these trees had been specially set aside to rebuild their ruined homes.

To obtain the logs, the sisters of the Auki Congregation built a 20-foot-wide [6 m] road, cutting a half-mile-long [0.8 km] swath through thick jungle from the logging site to the main road. They mustered all their strength to cut down trees, build bridges over ditches, and remove obstacles from the new roadway. Then the selected trees could be felled, trimmed of their branches, and milled square with chain saws.

“We Are Like Ants”

The new timbers had been cut 14 inches [36 cm] square and 21 feet [6.4 m] long. But how would these huge logs reach the main road half a mile away?

The congregation members responded: “We are like ants! With enough hands we can move anything!” (Compare Proverbs 6:6.) When additional brothers and sisters were needed to carry the logs, the cry would resonate in the logging area: “Ants! Ants! Ants!” Brothers and sisters would come streaming from all directions to lend a hand. Forty brothers and sisters would lift a half-ton log by hand and carry it down the road to the main highway, to be carted to the building site by truck.

Setting the pillars and posts in place was a risky operation. Once again, the native way of doing things proved to be most successful. On arrival at the site, each pillar was placed about three yards [3 m] away from the deep hole into which it was to be lowered and then set in concrete.

Thirty brothers and sisters lifted the top end of a pillar onto a crisscross frame. They then pushed the pillar rapidly across the ground, with the bottom end skidding toward its designated hole. Two of the most courageous brothers stood holding thick pieces of board on the opposite side of the hole, and when the skidding log hit those boards, it would come to an abrupt stop, so that the forward momentum propelled the pillar into an upright position, whereupon it dropped into the foundation hole.

A Mistake Turns Into a Blessing

Next, the roof was scheduled to be put on the hall. However, by this time the building fund was completely depleted, and the congregation could not afford the steel roofing for the building. Thankfully, when the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses was notified of the plight of the brothers, a gift of $10,000 was made available, enough not only to purchase the roofing but to complete the Assembly Hall auditorium.

A deposit of $6,000 was paid to a sheet-metal company for some steel roofing that was painted light gray. Although this was an undesirable color and was not the thickness or quality the building committee wanted, it was all they could afford. However, to the horror of the construction crew, the needed steel roofing had already been sold to another religious group in Honiara for the construction of their new church. The supply company was apologetic about the mix-up, but it had no more roofing material of that type in stock.

A week later, the company informed the Witnesses that a stock of higher quality, heavy gauge roofing material had arrived. But because of the firm’s mistake, it would let the congregation purchase it at a greatly reduced rate​—which was well within the budget of the building fund. Even more remarkable, the new steel roofing was prepainted a more attractive dark-green color, which the brothers had originally wanted but could not afford.

In December 1987, Brother Henry Donaldson, a roofing contractor from New Zealand, arrived. The project was crowned with a beautiful 12,000-square-foot [1,100 sq m] roof. Now, as passenger trucks carrying their tormentors passed the construction site, the brothers and sisters at last could sing and dance​—pointing excitedly to the nearly completed structure!

Imagine their joy when, a few days later, the hall was used for the first time. Viv Mouritz from the Australia branch, serving as zone overseer, addressed an audience of 593. He commended all the volunteers who had worked so hard on this massive project for their spirit of self-sacrifice and endurance.

Making Do

This Assembly Hall on Malaita serves as an example of how great things can be accomplished without modern construction equipment and commercial materials. It stands as evidence of how Jehovah blesses the efforts of those who put full trust in him. Frequently the work went ahead without even the most basic tools, such as spades or shovels, which would be regarded as an absolute necessity in more affluent countries.

When it was necessary to have coral-based dirt excavated and loaded into sacks for transportation to the building site, sisters dug the coral gravel from a quarry with sharp sticks and then scooped the sharp, jagged gravel into bags with their bare hands. In just one day, the sisters dug and loaded 13 three-ton truckloads of coral fill!

Another example of making do with what is on hand occurred when the wheel on the only wheelbarrow on the site was damaged beyond repair and a replacement could not be found anywhere in the Solomon Islands. This did not deter the Witnesses one bit. After filling the wheelbarrow with concrete, they simply lifted it up and carried it to the location until a replacement wheel arrived from New Zealand five weeks later.

Finally, after much additional work was done, the Assembly Hall was used for the “Divine Justice” District Convention during October 1988.

The next stop on our construction site tour is Honiara, on the island of Guadalcanal.

“Two-Fella Week No More”

“Two-fella week no more!” Soon the word spread around the city of Honiara. The reaction was one of curiosity, surprise, and skepticism. How could a large structure to seat 1,200 people be erected in two weeks? Just how could this happen on an island so far removed from the technological facilities of the developed world?

Modern technology and individual skill were not the key to the success of this project. Nevertheless, a cyclone-proof, yet comfortable, Assembly Hall with stage and audio facilities was desperately needed in this country where transport and civil engineering are planned in terms of months and years, not days and weeks.

As the foundation took shape, local interest grew. Yet, many looked on with increasing skepticism as they began to comprehend the size of the future building by looking at the footings. They asked: “How now you-fella savvy workim this-fella big-fella building inside long two-fella week no more?”

Soon containerloads of large steel sections arrived and were unloaded from ships. Honiara government officials were most helpful and reasonable, going out of their way to explain import procedures. The Solomon Islands authorities also gave permission for a team of about 60 volunteers, all Witnesses from Australia, to come to Honiara and work with the local Witnesses for the actual two-week construction period. How the brothers appreciated the kind concern and assistance of the officials!

On June 7, 1991, the construction team was greeted at Honiara Airport by brothers with shiny white teeth set like jewels in smiling dark faces, along with garlands of frangipani and the love that makes this international brotherhood unique. Any initial shyness soon vanished when all workers started the very next day to build the big house for the worship of Jehovah. Each tradesman cheerfully passed on his skills to those assigned to work with him. One local supplier looked up at the steel structure and said in amazement: “I once had a project to erect 25 tons of steel that took three months. Here you have your 30 tons up in just two and a half days!”

Just 15 days after work on the quickly built Assembly Hall began, the first meeting was held. All too soon the visiting brothers and sisters had to depart. The scene at the airport was in many ways similar to the one at their arrival​—the garlands of frangipani and everyone weary with handshaking and hugs, only this time there were few dry eyes.

“The Happy Isles” Today

Although more than 35 years have passed since the good news of the happy God first reached the Solomon Islands, there remain whole islands, such as Santa Isabel, Shortland, Rennell, Bellona, Tikopia, Sikaiana, and Ulawa, where the Kingdom good news has not been preached in an organized way. The time is certainly ripe for a more extensive witness to be given. Although the Solomon Islanders themselves call their country “The Happy Isles,” pressing problems still exist. For many islanders these are indeed “critical times hard to deal with.” (2 Tim. 3:1) The people are hard-pressed economically. The transition from village life to a more urban living is causing social stress. People are searching for answers to their problems, and honesthearted ones are finding that Jehovah’s Witnesses can point to the correct, soothing answers in the only source of wisdom and comfort, God’s Word.

Many local people can see the workings of Jehovah’s spirit among his people. In Auki, on Malaita, they were amazed to observe a congregation of 60 publishers with very little material wealth build a beautiful 1,500-seat Assembly Hall with loving help from their spiritual brothers from New Zealand and Australia and financial help from United States and Sweden. As a result, many interested ones there are associating with Jehovah’s people.

A false impression is often held by those who have heard tales or have seen pictures of the South Pacific islands. They believe that the islands are paradises, where living is without toil and pioneering is an undiluted pleasure. Photographs, unfortunately, do not show mosquitoes, sand flies, cyclones, or earth tremors. They do not reveal 100 percent humidity, with resultant mildewing of clothes, books, and other possessions, nor do they highlight tropical diseases, snakes, and crocodiles. Thus, the treasures of the Solomon Islands are not material. They are found in the people who have taken a stand to worship Jehovah​—these are the ‘desirable things of the nations’—​people who love Jehovah and who have adjusted their lives to do his will. (Hag. 2:7) Their kindness, their willingness to learn God’s laws and apply them, and their loyalty to God’s Kingdom are what make the Solomon Islanders desirable in the eyes of Jehovah.

May Jehovah continue to bless abundantly the work of his humble, happy servants in the faraway “Happy Isles” as they pursue the only real and lasting happiness, by putting spiritual things first in their lives.​—Matt. 5:3; 6:33.

[Footnotes]

[Charts on page 252]

(For fully formatted text, see publication.)

Solomon Islands

1,200

1954 1

1960 135

1970 553

1980 497

1991 851

Peak Publishers

100

1954

1960 3

1970 57

1980 69

1991 70

Av. Pioneers

[Box/​Maps on page 208]

(For fully formatted text, see publication.)

SOLOMON ISLANDS

ONTONG JAVA ATOLL

South Pacific Ocean

CHOISEUL

SHORTLAND ISLANDS

GIZO

NEW GEORGIA ISLANDS

Munda

SANTA ISABEL

MALAITA

Malu’u

Auki

GUADALCANAL

Honiara

BELLONA

RENNELL

Makira Province

ULAWA

SAN CRISTOBAL (MAKIRA)

Temotu Province

REEF ISLANDS

SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS

Lata

[Map]

EQUATOR

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

AUSTRALIA

[Box]

SOLOMON ISLANDS

Capital: Honiara, Guadalcanal

Official Languages: Solomon Islands Pidgin and English

Major Religion: Anglican

Population: 328,723

Branch office: Honiara

[Pictures on page 210]

The harbor of Honiara on the northern coast of Guadalcanal

Children of the Solomon Islands

[Picture on page 212]

Branch office in Honiara on the island of Guadalcanal

[Picture on page 213]

Joan and Bob Seccombe in front of first branch office

[Picture on page 217]

The good news has vigorously been preached throughout six of the main islands and among dozens of smaller ones

[Picture on page 218]

Kingdom Hall in Gizo, Western Province. Bush timber and woven or sewn leaves of palms are used to construct some halls

[Picture on page 227]

Taro leaves are used as umbrellas. Messages can also be written on the leaves

[Picture on page 233]

Elson Site, a special pioneer, and his family

[Pictures on page 243]

Logs carried from swamplands and cut square with chain saws are loaded onto a truck. Squared-off log (wall post) is put in foundation hole for Assembly Hall at Auki

[Pictures on page 244]

Huge roof trusses weighing up to five tons are made by bolting eight logs together. The trusses are positioned on top of 20-foot-high [6 m] support pillars without the aid of heavy construction equipment

[Picture on page 245]

The completed 1,500-seat Assembly Hall at Auki, Malaita

[Pictures on page 249]

The cyclone- and quake-proof frame takes shape

“Big-Fella building” seats 1,200 at Honiara, on Guadalcanal

[Picture on page 251]

Branch Committee. From left to right, James Ronomaelana, Josef Neuhardt, and Rodney Fraser

Coping With the Turbulent Seas of Restless Mankind

The prophet Isaiah compared the wicked to the sea that is being tossed about, and he foretold that ‘there is no peace for the wicked ones.’ (Isa. 57:20, 21) How well this describes the turbulent situation we see about us! As the time approaches for the “great tribulation” to be unleashed, the “seas” of mankind keep churning up tidal waves of world-shaking events. (Matt. 24:21) However, we have experienced that Jehovah offsets such shocks by strengthening our worldwide brotherhood with infusions of his holy spirit and by keeping us spiritually fed with a steady flow of publications together with remarkable conventions. Thus, he guides us safely through these turbulent last days.​—Isa. 30:20, 21.

For example, during the 1990 service year, on November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall began being demolished. This resulted in a flood of newly liberated peoples as well as fresh situations that would affect our global preaching work. How would our brothers in the many lands of Eastern Europe be strengthened and become spiritually up-to-date? The Governing Body immediately initiated a spiritual rehabilitation program. In line with Matthew 24:45-47, translation in these lands was quickly adjusted so that, in short order, The Watchtower was appearing semimonthly in full color in some nine of their languages. The Society’s factories in nearby countries have done marvelous work in printing and shipping magazines and other spiritual food to those who have needed it so much.

It was decided also to arrange for special international conventions that would extend into the 1991 service year. The Berlin international convention of July 24-27, 1990, nine months after the opening of the wall, was part of the program. What a time of thrilling developments this year has been, as is borne out in the global report published in this Yearbook!

Recounting what had been done during the 1991 service year in Eastern Europe and the vast area of the Soviet Union, nine of us members of the Governing Body spoke to the entire Bethel family assembled in their various locations on Monday, September 9, 1991, following the Watchtower Study. It was a unique meeting of the Bethel family that lasted over two hours. Further doors of theocratic opportunity were described as being opened, with new congregations sprouting everywhere! Pioneers in these former Communist lands eagerly swelled the ranks of full-time preachers around the world. Once again Jehovah’s Witnesses were seen preaching publicly in cities where the work was formerly banned! The New York Times of September 1, 1991, reported that “Jehovah’s Witnesses looking for converts” could be observed publicly on the streets of the city of St. Petersburg, formerly Leningrad.

On the heels of the sweeping changes, three special international conventions were held during 1991: Budapest, Hungary, July 26-28; Prague, Czechoslovakia, August 9-11; and Zagreb, Yugoslavia, August 16-18. As the many delegates from more than 30 countries met their Eastern European brothers for the first time, their cheerful smiles turned into tears of joy.

At the same time, during July and August, several district conventions were held in the Soviet Union. At seven of these conventions, namely, Tallinn in Estonia (now an independent nation), Usolye-Sibirskoye in Siberia, Alma-Ata in Kazakhstan, and Kiev and Lvov in the Ukraine, plus Odessa and Chernovtsy, the total attendance peaked at 74,252, with 7,820 persons baptized​—a striking 10.5 percent! What a great blessing it was that these conventions could proceed to their completion even through the period of the turbulent events of August.

Letters of rejoicing over the conventions came in to us from our brothers in the Soviet Union. Here is one example, dated July 10, 1991: “Dear Brothers: We are very grateful for the beautiful literature we are receiving. Every time I go on return visits and put literature into my witnessing bag, I thank Jehovah very much and give thanks for those who worked hard in supplying this literature for us in the Soviet Union. You have prepared such attractive spiritual food for us. Also, the people that we place the literature with in the field tell us to thank you for it. P.S. I have prepared five persons for baptism at the coming convention in Tallinn, July 13, 14.”

The thirst for accurate knowledge is demonstrated by the desire for the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures to be translated into the local languages of the peoples living in the countries formerly behind the old Iron Curtain. Such rejoicing filled the stadium at the Prague international convention when the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures was released both in Czech and in Slovak. The audience stood up and applauded for ten minutes. These are the first New World Translations available in the languages of any of the former Communist lands.

In order to carry out our accurate Bible education on a high, global level, it is planned for the complete New World Translation, now available in 11 languages, to appear in many more tongues spoken by Jehovah’s continuously incoming great crowd. To oversee this work, we have set up in Brooklyn the Translation Services Department. Also, in view of the opening of so many doors for preaching, the number of missionary students in the forthcoming 93rd class of Gilead, to be enrolled during the service year of 1992, will be doubled. And the Gilead School Extension Class in Germany and in India will be opened again to train full-time servants for the Eastern European and Asian fields. All these wonderful developments show the importance of continuing to trust in Jehovah.

We continue to hold firmly to what Paul stated at 2 Timothy 3:16, 17: “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.” We are glad to be following our King and High Priest, Jesus Christ, in approaching the time for the sanctification of Jehovah’s majestic name! We rejoice in the prospects of the new service year, and with you we take to heart our 1992 yeartext: “Rejoice in the hope. . . . Persevere in prayer.”​—Rom. 12:12.

Your brothers in Jehovah’s active service,

GOVERNING BODY OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES