Yearbook—2003

Title Page/Publishers’ Page

2003 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Containing Report for the Service Year of 2002

“Draw Close to God, and He Will Draw Close to You.”​—James 4:8.

What a marvelous blessing it is to enjoy a warm relationship with the Sovereign of the universe! He is the Supreme One and has both the power and the desire to give us endless life in health and happiness. Our yeartext for 2003 assures us that Jehovah not only observes our efforts to please him but also responds with warm appreciation. How loving the God whom we worship is!

[Picture Credit Lines on page 2]

Page 11: World Trade Center: Andrea Booher/FEMA News Photo; lava flow: AP Photo/Sayyid Azim; page 13: Courthouse: Photo by Josh Mathes, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States; page 211: Refugees: U.S. Navy photo; page 235: Newspaper clipping: Manila Chronicle

Contents

3 A Letter From the Governing Body

6 Highlights of the Past Year

31 Worldwide Report—2002 Grand Totals

Acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Modern Times

67 Nicaragua

151 Philippines

A Letter From the Governing Body

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

WHAT a delight it is to write to you! We commend you for the love and self-sacrifice that you continue to display. You will see from the pages of this Yearbook that much good has been accomplished during the past service year. Once again, we have spent more than a billion hours in the preaching and teaching work, directly encouraging people to draw close to Jehovah. Is it not an honor to be fellow workers with our glorious God and heavenly Father?​—1 Cor. 3:9.

As we look to the work ahead, we are confident that you will continue to imitate the zeal and faith of God’s servants, as described in the Bible record. The apostle Paul, for example, was eager to be as effective as possible in promoting Kingdom interests. Evidently, it was during the last year of his stay in Ephesus that he penned his first letter to the Christian congregation in Corinth. Concerning his immediate plans, he wrote: “I am remaining in Ephesus until the festival of Pentecost; for a large door that leads to activity has been opened to me, but there are many opposers.”​—1 Cor. 16:8, 9.

Paul had planned to travel to Macedonia and Corinth. However, he discerned an opportunity to do useful work by remaining for a time in Ephesus. Paul was flexible; he saw a favorable situation in which he could promote Kingdom interests right where he was, so he adjusted his schedule accordingly. A large door leading to activity had been opened to him, and Paul was eager to take advantage of the opportunity to enter it.

To do so would take a lot of work​—both preaching the good news and building up the congregation in Ephesus. To the older men of the congregation in that city, Paul later said: “I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house. But I thoroughly bore witness both to Jews and to Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.”​—Acts 20:20, 21.

Similarly, many of you dear brothers and sisters have taken advantage of opportunities that have opened up to you. During the past service year, on the average, 798,938 have been able to arrange their affairs so as to share in some form of the pioneer ministry. Some of you have traveled to the ends of the earth in order to serve as missionaries. You are zealously spreading the good news and building up congregations. Others of you have learned another tongue so that you can help foreign-speaking people who live nearby. Still others have arranged their affairs to work unassigned territory or to serve where the need is greater. Some have even found that a large door to activity has opened at school, on the job, or in other situations where an effective witness could be given, such as by telephone. Experiences from around the world testify that God’s people, young and old, are eagerly seeking and finding opportunities to impart knowledge of the truth to people everywhere.

Be assured that Jehovah sees and deeply appreciates your efforts. The Bible says: “God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name.” (Heb. 6:10) Continue to be alert to opportunities that allow you to promote pure worship. Some of you may be able to expand your ministry. All of us can strive to make our ministry more effective.

We do not fulfill our preaching commission without opposition. Recall that after Paul spoke of a large door to activity that had been opened to him, he wrote: “There are many opposers.” For Paul, those opposers included both Jews and Gentiles, some who openly attacked him and others who slyly plotted against him.​—Acts 19:24-28; 20:18, 19.

We face a similar situation today. As we approach the destruction of this wicked system, we expect increased opposition. Satan is filled with “great anger,” and that anger is especially directed against those who serve God. (Rev. 12:12) Never forget that Satan is “the ruler of the world.” Jesus told his disciples: “If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you.”​—John 14:30; 15:19.

We are determined not to allow anyone to weaken our faith in God or slow us down in our preaching work. We know that there will continue to be those who attack us and plot against us. Yet, we press on in preaching the Kingdom good news, confident that Jesus will crush Satan and his hordes in Jehovah’s due time. Opposers did not silence the apostle Paul; nor do they silence Jehovah’s servants today. Despite Satan’s anger and the world’s hatred, Jehovah’s spirit is powerfully at work among His people. What a joy to know that the number of those proclaiming the good news has reached a new peak of 6,304,645!

It is our prayer that you continue to take advantage of opportunities to further the interests of Jehovah’s magnificent Kingdom. Be assured of our loving interest in you personally as we stand “shoulder to shoulder” in the service of the Most High God, Jehovah.​—Zeph. 3:9.

Your brothers,

Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Highlights of the Past Year

“COME to me, . . . and I will refresh you.” Those words of Jesus Christ, found at Matthew 11:28, served as our yeartext for 2002. During the past service year, many did come​—265,469 accepted the divine invitation, were baptized, and found refreshment with the more than six million others who serve under the kindly yoke of Christian discipleship.

In the pages that follow, you will read how Jehovah continues to bless abundantly his people throughout the earth. Let us now consider some significant theocratic developments from the 2002 service year.

District Conventions Promote Zeal

As is their custom, Jehovah’s Witnesses gathered at hundreds of locations worldwide to attend their annual district convention. The 2002/03 convention theme was “Zealous Kingdom Proclaimers.” The keynote address pointed out that God’s people today imitate the zeal and courage of Jesus Christ in carrying out their ministry. Other talks explained that zeal is cultivated through a study of God’s Word and is displayed through the doing of good and especially by the enthusiastic proclamation of God’s Kingdom.

A full-costume drama entitled “Stand Firm in Troublesome Times” focused on the prophet Jeremiah. He, like Jesus, displayed outstanding zeal and endurance despite difficulties. Jeremiah trusted in Jehovah and fearlessly proclaimed God’s message. What a fine example for Christians today!

Two books were released at this convention. On Friday delegates received Worship the Only True God. This 192-page book will be used as a second Bible study aid to sound the truth of God’s Word down into the hearts of Bible students. We are confident that this publication will help new ones to grow spiritually and to walk the narrow road leading to life in God’s righteous new world.

The book Draw Close to Jehovah was released on Saturday. It is divided into sections that discuss Jehovah’s four cardinal attributes: power, justice, wisdom, and love. Its purpose is set out in the prologue: “May this book help you draw ever closer to Jehovah God, to forge a bond with him that will never be broken, so that you may live to praise him forever.” The convention program, together with these new publications, will help honesthearted ones everywhere to grow in their love for our Creator.

Coping With “Critical Times”

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy that “the last days” would be marked by “critical times hard to deal with.” (2 Tim. 3:1) Disasters, both natural and otherwise, bring challenges and difficulties. Yet, they also afford Christians opportunities to display the love they have for one another. There were many disasters during the past service year. Here we focus on two of them.

The World Trade Center Disaster: The graduation of the 111th class of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead was held on Saturday, September 8, 2001. Three days later, on September 11, graduates and their families were touring New York City, in the United States. That day began warm and beautiful with clear, blue skies. Then, at 8:46 a.m., a commercial jet crashed into the World Trade Center north tower in lower Manhattan. Minutes later another commercial jet slammed into the south tower.

At 9:59 a.m., the south tower collapsed, sending a dense cloud of dust and debris throughout lower Manhattan. After that, the north tower collapsed. Nearly three thousand people died. Each tower, completed in 1973, was 110 stories high. Thick dust from the collapse of both buildings was carried on the wind and reached Brooklyn Bethel, less than two miles [less than three kilometers] away.

Brothers at the United States branch office immediately began to find out which Witnesses had been affected by this terrible tragedy and what assistance might be needed. By Tuesday evening, September 11, the Bethel family members from all three Bethel complexes​—Brooklyn, Patterson, and Wallkill—​had been accounted for. By Thursday afternoon all of the Gilead graduates had communicated with the Gilead Office, confirming that they and their families were safe. Meanwhile, 37 circuit overseers in the New York area were reached by telephone. They contacted the congregation elders, and the elders checked on each publisher. By Friday morning, September 14, the branch had learned that 14 of our brothers and sisters were either dead or missing. That figure never changed in the days to come.

Survivors related their experiences. Cynthia Tucker, a regular pioneer, worked in the World Financial Center across the street from the World Trade Center. She was on the 37th floor when she saw the first jet crash into the tower. Believing this to be a terrible accident, she went outside and looked up at the building that the plane had hit. Debris was everywhere. Then another plane flew overhead, very low. Sister Tucker said: “The plane was huge. I realized that it was going to crash into the building. I wanted to run, but I just froze​—I did not know what to do. The plane seemed to go right through the building. The noise was so loud that it was like being underwater; I felt the sound. The air was heavy and seemed to have sand in it. Breathing was difficult. People were running in every direction. I ran into a building and watched as the first tower came down. People were taking off their shirts to cover their faces because of the dust. People with children and pets came out of the buildings. Everyone was terrified. Even the animals were not acting normally. I cannot describe the fear.” Sister Tucker is grateful for the help of the elders who came and shared with her soothing words of comfort from the Bible.

In the months that followed, the brothers in the New York area took the Bible’s message of comfort and hope to those in the community. Several brothers were allowed to minister at Ground Zero, the site where the Twin Towers collapsed. One of these brothers was Roy Klingsporn, a pioneer. He said: “With appreciation, an air force sergeant who was involved with the relief work said: ‘Everyone brings us food, hot coffee, and dry clothes, but you are the first to read a scripture. We need God at a time like this.’”

Volcano Eruption in East Africa: Many of our brothers in eastern Congo (Kinshasa) have experienced civil war, sickness, poverty, and unemployment. Some have been or still are refugees. Adding to these problems was the sudden eruption of Mount Nyiragongo, a volcano situated not far from the town of Goma. During the morning of January 17, 2002, the mountain began to eject smoke and fire. By evening, lava poured down from the volcano and advanced toward Goma. Thousands of frightened people fled toward the nearby town of Gisenyi, in Rwanda. The roads were choked with people carrying what few belongings they could. Gisenyi was also endangered, but the brothers there arranged for the Kingdom Hall to serve as a refugee camp for the brothers from Congo. Some brothers in Gisenyi immediately volunteered to open their homes to those fleeing the volcano.

A local elder said: “When we saw what was happening, some brothers and I went immediately to the main road linking Goma with Gisenyi. We had Watchtower and Awake! magazines in our hands and held them up. It was dark, but we went to places where it was possible to be seen. When our brothers saw the magazines, they recognized us as Witnesses, and we directed them to our Kingdom Hall, which was serving as a refugee camp. We stood along the road until the morning hours. In this way we imitated what the brothers in Goma had done for us some years ago. After the war in Rwanda, hundreds of thousands fled toward Goma. At that time Witnesses from Goma stood day and night along the roads holding up magazines to help us identify the brothers. They directed us to the refugee camps organized by the Witnesses.”

Most of those fleeing the volcano had to spend the night in the open. This included brothers who because of chaos or darkness had not seen those holding up the magazines. One elder commented: “Early the next morning, the brothers and sisters went out again with magazines in their hands. They went all over Gisenyi so that everyone could see them. In this way they found all the brothers from Goma who had not seen the Witnesses during the night before. Soon our Kingdom Hall was threatened by the lava, which was still advancing. We immediately arranged for five other Kingdom Halls to serve as refugee camps.” Some brothers from the 24 congregations in Goma fled toward the interior of Congo, but most​—about 2000—​fled to Rwanda.

The branch office in Kigali, Rwanda, quickly purchased food, medicine, blankets, and plastic containers for water. These supplies were immediately sent to the camps. How happy the brothers from Goma were when only a day after the disaster, a truck arrived with relief supplies! Many favorable comments were heard from non-Witnesses. One brother overheard people say: “This is a good religion. They really love one another.”

About one third of Goma was destroyed. Many brothers and sisters lost everything. However, the Witnesses whose houses had remained intact volunteered to accommodate the families of the brothers whose houses had been destroyed. (Rom. 12:12, 13) Later, the Rwandan brothers arranged for the safe return of all refugees to Goma. Witnesses in Europe also helped by sending two planeloads of supplies from Belgium.

The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo was a disaster. It cost many their lives and destroyed much property, but true Christians identified themselves by the love that they showed to one another.​—John 13:35.

Kingdom Ministry School Emphasizes Spirituality

The Kingdom Ministry School began in 1959 as a one-month study course. It was held at South Lansing, in upstate New York, U.S.A. In other countries, it was held at locations arranged by the branch offices. Initially, the school enrolled congregation elders (then called congregation servants) and special pioneers. In 1966, however, the course was revised; it lasted just two weeks, and only elders attended. During 1977, arrangements were made for all elders to attend a 15-hour course. Since then, similar sessions of varying lengths have been arranged every few years. From 1984, ministerial servants have also been receiving training at the Kingdom Ministry School.

This year the school consisted of three classes. The first, held Tuesday through Thursday, was for traveling overseers; the second, held Friday and Saturday, was for congregation elders; and the third, held Sunday, was for ministerial servants. The sessions placed emphasis on maintaining spirituality. Long ago Moses prayed to Jehovah: “Make me know, please, your ways, that I may know you, in order that I may find favor in your eyes.” (Ex. 33:13) This prayer was uttered after Moses witnessed the Ten Plagues, experienced the parting of the Red Sea, communed with Jehovah for 40 days at Mount Sinai, and received the Ten Commandments. At 80 years of age and after being mightily used by Jehovah, Moses recognized his spiritual need. In harmony with this example, elders and ministerial servants were encouraged to continue progressing as spiritual men, no matter how long they had been serving Jehovah.

The course material was translated and used by branches around the globe. Letters of appreciation came from many countries. An elder from Guinea wrote: “I do not regret the sacrifices and the trip of 600 miles [1,000 km] that I made to attend the school.” Another wrote: “I cannot find the words to express my appreciation for this training. Thank you very much!”

From Korea, a brother wrote: “The school helped me think seriously about whether I am a spiritual person or not.”

The El Salvador branch office wrote: “There was particular interest shown in the new arrangements for the Congregation Book Study. We feel that this will help us to provide better and closer personal attention to those in each group.”

From Germany, a body of elders wrote: “The suggestions and instructions are realistic and can be applied to the benefit of those entrusted to us.”

The Switzerland branch had this to say: “The school helped to provide the needed encouragement to fight off spiritual apathy.”

Legal Developments

ARMENIA: The court case involving Lyova Margaryan received international attention. Criminal charges were filed against Brother Margaryan for his activity as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The allegations included “preaching an unregistered religion.” On September 18, 2001, the trial court acquitted Brother Margaryan of all charges. The case was appealed, and the appeals court upheld the not-guilty verdict, stating that his religious teaching as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses is not criminal and is protected by the Constitution of Armenia. Prosecutors then appealed their case to the country’s highest appeals court, the Court of Cassation. On April 19, 2002, the six-member panel of the Court upheld both not-guilty verdicts. While we rejoice in this victory, young brothers of military age continue to be arrested and imprisoned in Armenia for refusing on religious grounds to perform military service.

GEORGIA: A brutal cycle of unpunished violence continues against Jehovah’s Witnesses in the country of Georgia. Since October 1999, there have been over 80 documented violent attacks involving more than 1,000 victims​—men, women, children, the elderly, and the disabled. Homes of some Witnesses have been looted, ransacked, and burned to the ground. Over 700 criminal complaints have been filed, but not one perpetrator has been convicted for the assaults. Finally, in September 2001, charges were brought against Petre Ivanidze and defrocked Orthodox priest Vasili Mkalavishvili for their involvement in the attacks. However, many attempts to begin the trial have been unsuccessful because of conditions prevailing in the courtroom. Followers of the defendants have been allowed to enter the court brandishing large crosses, previously used as weapons, and banners with hate slogans against Jehovah’s Witnesses. As of May 30, 2002, there had been seven postponements of the trial. Jehovah’s Witnesses filed two applications with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), one protesting the government’s inaction over the unrestrained violence and another challenging the ruling of the Supreme Court of Georgia that annulled the registration of two legal entities used by Jehovah’s Witnesses. By October 2001, the ECHR had consolidated both applications for priority handling.

On July 23, 2002, Jehovah’s Witnesses filed another legal application with the ECHR. This application details 30 cases in which Witnesses in Georgia were attacked by religious extremists, Orthodox clerics, and policemen. Pertinent to one of the cases is a significant document. The document sets out the plan, carried out by nearly 100 policemen, to shut down a peaceful convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in September 2000. This document was approved and signed by high officials of the Ministry of Interior of the western city of Zugdidi.

RUSSIA: The trial to ban Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow resumed on February 12, 2002. This is the seventh time that Jehovah’s Witnesses have had to defend themselves against the same baseless charges. On April 4, 2002, after a two-month reexamination of the application from the prosecutor’s office, the Court issued a ruling appointing expert studies of both the religious literature of Jehovah’s Witnesses and their internal correspondence. The Court made this decision even though the prosecutor presented no specific evidence to prove that Jehovah’s Witnesses incite religious discord, break up families, or infringe upon citizens’ rights and freedoms. The trial was adjourned pending the results of the expert study.

SOUTH KOREA: By the end of December 2001, the number of Jehovah’s Witnesses in South Korea serving prison sentences for their conscientious objection to military service had reached 1,640. The number grows steadily each year. The Military Service Law stipulates that those who refuse to carry arms may be sentenced to terms of up to three years. South Korea does not recognize exemptions from military service for ministers of religion or for conscientious objectors. Since the 1950’s, more than 7,000 Witnesses in South Korea have been imprisoned for refusing to bear arms. On January 29, 2002, in an unprecedented case, Senior Judge Si-hwan Park of the Seoul District Court sent the case of Kyung-soo Lee to the Constitutional Court. Judge Park requested an opinion on Brother Lee’s claims that the failure to recognize the right of the conscientious objector violated his right to freedom of religion and conscience. Upon filing the request with the court, Judge Park suspended the trial and released Brother Lee on bail. The trial proceedings will resume only after the Constitutional Court rules on the constitutionality of the disputed clause.

UNITED STATES: On June 17, 2002, the Supreme Court of the United States rendered a historic decision in Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. v. Village of Stratton. This case arose from the village’s insistence that Jehovah’s Witnesses obtain a permit from the mayor before engaging in their door-to-door ministry. The Court stated: “[Jehovah’s Witnesses] explained at trial that they did not apply for a permit because they derive their authority to preach from Scripture. [The Witnesses said:] ‘For us to seek a permit from a municipality to preach we feel would almost be an insult to God.’” In striking down the ordinance, the Court held that the permit ordinance “is offensive​—not only to the values protected by the First Amendment, but to the very notion of a free society—​that in the context of everyday public discourse a citizen must first inform the government of her desire to speak to her neighbors and then obtain a permit to do so.” The Court further stated: “Even if the issuance of permits by the mayor’s office is a ministerial task that is performed promptly and at no cost to the applicant, a law requiring a permit to engage in such speech constitutes a dramatic departure from our national heritage and constitutional tradition.”

The Court also commented favorably on the tremendous effect that Jehovah’s Witnesses have had in establishing U.S. constitutional law. The Court said: “For over 50 years, the Court has invalidated restrictions on door-to-door canvassing and pamphleteering. It is more than historical accident that most of these cases involved First Amendment challenges brought by Jehovah’s Witnesses, because door-to-door canvassing is mandated by their religion.” As the Court noted, these “cases demonstrate that efforts of the Jehovah’s Witnesses to resist speech regulation have not been a struggle for their rights alone.”

In addition, on July 1, 2002, the South Carolina Supreme Court upheld the right of one of Jehovah’s Witnesses to refuse blood transfusions. (Acts 15:28, 29) Charles Harvey sued his doctor to recover damages resulting from his doctor’s deliberate disregard of his refusal to take blood. Before surgery, Brother Harvey had clearly informed his doctor of his Bible-based stand. However, to administer blood when complications arose after surgery while Brother Harvey was unconscious, the doctor obtained consent from Brother Harvey’s non-Witness mother. In rejecting the mother’s consent, the South Carolina Supreme Court said that “a patient’s wishes against medical treatment or intervention, when made known to a physician prior to surgery, must be followed by the attending physician.” Thus, the court ruled that Brother Harvey had the right to have a jury decide whether the doctor had breached his agreement to treat Brother Harvey without blood and whether the doctor had committed medical malpractice by transfusing Brother Harvey without his consent.

In Remembrance of Their Steadfastness

For more than 30 years, the Buchenwald Memorial, at the former Nazi concentration camp, made no mention of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Witnesses simply did not fit into the concept that the East German authorities had of victims and opposers of the Nazi regime. Even today many people in Germany find it hard to acknowledge the Witnesses’ unique record of steadfastness. Therefore, May 9, 2002, was a particularly meaningful day. A plaque commemorating the Witnesses who suffered in Buchenwald was unveiled by Mr. R. Lüttgenau, the deputy director of the Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora Memorials Foundation.

The weather that day was warm and beautiful. The former camp, situated on a wooded hill overlooking a picturesque countryside, was adorned by the refreshing green of springtime. Yet, this place used to be called the green hell of Buchenwald. Most visitors nowadays find it almost impossible to imagine the despair of camp inmates who at roll call looked beyond their barracks at the same beautiful landscape but with no hope of ever enjoying it again in freedom.

Jehovah’s Witnesses, however, had a hope based on the Bible and complete trust in Jehovah. This enabled them to keep their integrity and courageously to follow the example of the apostles, who said: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) For their conviction, at least 38 Witnesses died inside the camp or outside, on one of the camp’s work crews. The scripture from Acts is quoted on the memorial plaque, followed by the inscription: “In Remembrance of Jehovah’s Witnesses Who Suffered and Died Here, Persecuted Because of Their Religious Beliefs.”

About 800 inmates identified as Bibelforscher (Bible Students) by a purple triangle sown on their garments made up part of the more than 250,000 imprisoned in the camp over the years by the Nazis. Some of the Witnesses were there in 1937 and were forced to help construct the camp. In 1945, when the surviving prisoners were liberated, the Witnesses who were freed praised Jehovah for their deliverance. Throughout most of its existence as a Nazi camp, there were always between 300 and 450 Witnesses in Buchenwald.

The plaque gives prisoners who wore the purple triangle their due place among the victims of the Nazi regime. It also reminds visitors of the steadfastness of the Witnesses. “The plaque,” said Mr. Lüttgenau, “shows that in today’s society the fate of Jehovah’s Witnesses has been seen and acknowledged.”

On Thursday, March 7, 2002, officials in the town of Körmend in the western part of Hungary unveiled a memorial plaque for three of Jehovah’s Witnesses who had died as martyrs. They were Bertalan Szabó, Antal Hőnisch, and Ján Žondor. All three refused military service during World War II and were publicly executed. The plaque reads: ‘In memory of Christians who were executed as conscientious objectors in March 1945.’ The branch reports that to share in the memorial event when the plaque was unveiled, over 500 people walked across town to the building where the brothers had been executed.

Branch Committee Established in the United States

On Friday, February 9, 2001, the Governing Body made an announcement to the United States Bethel family that effective April 1, 2001, a Branch Committee would begin functioning in the United States. During the 2002 service year, the Branch Committee continued progressively to shoulder their responsibilities. The United States branch oversees the Kingdom-preaching work in the contiguous United States as well as Bermuda and the Turks and Caicos islands. There are over one million publishers in the United States, of which 215,000 are associated with Spanish-speaking congregations. Of the over 11,700 congregations, some 2,600 are Spanish-speaking. This past service year, 210 new congregations were formed. Of these, 123 are Spanish-speaking, 63 are English-speaking, and 24 are in other languages.

Within the United States, there are now congregations or groups in 37 languages besides English and Spanish. In many Spanish and other foreign-language congregations, attendances for the Public Meeting often exceed 200 percent. Some congregations report more Bible studies than publishers. English-speaking brothers and sisters are learning other languages to help in this fast-growing field.

The United States branch is unique in that the Bethel facilities are situated at three locations​—Brooklyn, Patterson, and Wallkill. To grow fruit for the Bethel family, there are farms near South Lansing, New York, and Immokalee, Florida. In all, the United States Bethel family numbers 5,465.

There are currently 109 branches worldwide. The arrangement to have Branch Committees care for the spiritual needs of brothers living in various lands has been functioning since 1976. These committees follow the Scriptural direction and lead given by the Governing Body. Branch Committees have the responsibility to oversee the preaching of the good news in the territory assigned to the branch. The committee gives the necessary supervision to Christian congregations, missionaries, and pioneers. It also organizes the congregations into circuits and districts and makes recommendations to the Governing Body for the appointment of circuit and district overseers, Bethel family members, and students for Gilead School. Besides having general oversight of the service in the field, the Branch Committee cares for organizing the work at Bethel. There is no doubt that Jehovah’s rich blessing has been on this arrangement.

Translating to Meet Many Needs

In recent years, a flood of publications has become available in an ever-growing number of languages. Behind the scenes, hundreds of hardworking translators strive to produce publications that are accurate, understandable, and a joy to read.

A basic need of God’s people is a faithful Bible translation. To this end, the New World Translation has now been released in 44 languages. Of those, 29 are complete editions. During the past service year, the Christian Greek Scriptures were completed in three African languages​—Cibemba, Igbo, and Lingala—​and the complete Bible was released in Afrikaans.

Recently released editions of the Bible are greatly appreciated. A report from Europe stated: “Brothers working in the Chinese field especially expressed appreciation for the Bible in their language, saying that it is considered a ‘super translation.’” Some interested Chinese students in Canada exclaimed: “This Bible must have been translated by Chinese! We can easily understand it!” In South Africa a Xhosa householder asked: “Where did you get this Bible that reads so well?” In Albania a brother simply said: “The way the New World Translation puts things makes Jehovah’s thoughts reach the heart.” A publisher in Croatia wrote: “I can visualize things much better, and it feels as if I am speaking those words. The new translation sounds so simple, so natural, and yet so wise. Now I can more fully understand how beautiful Jehovah’s message and instructions for us are.”

Basic publications are still needed in order to spread the Kingdom good news to “all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues.” (Rev. 7:9) In recent years, brochures in the Lahu language, spoken by people of the hill tribes of northern Thailand and nearby lands, are having a good effect. One missionary wrote: “The Require brochure definitely is the number one tool in Lahu. It has gone out far and wide.” The result? “We have invitations to many villages, but because of the distances and road conditions, we have not been able to get to all of them. Matthew 9:37 is very true in our case. For example, we learned that in one remote village about 100 miles [160 km] north of Chiang Mai, an interested woman has regularly been teaching the Require brochure on her own to a group of orphans.”

In the United States, many Native Americans are receiving a witness in their own tongue. Several publications are now available in the Navajo language, including audiocassettes of the brochure What Does God Require of Us? One publisher wrote: “At Navajo Mountain, in the farthest corner of our territory, there is a former sheepherder in his eighties who can no longer see well. His granddaughter asked him if he would like to hear a tape about the Bible, in the Navajo language. He said yes. He got out of his sickbed and went to the couch to listen. If only you could have seen the look on his face as he listened to scriptures from the Bible in his own language. It brings tears to my eyes to relate it. Then he said, ‘Nizhoni,’ which means ‘beautiful.’”

In Mozambique, publications have been produced in five of that country’s languages. To help readers benefit, the brochure Apply Yourself to Reading and Writing was produced in these languages, and an extensive literacy campaign is under way. This so impressed President Chissano of Mozambique that he expressed his wholehearted support for our Bible education and literacy work.

The Watchtower and Awake! magazines are now available in 146 and 87 languages respectively​—a truly international circulation. They are greatly appreciated earth wide for their spiritual and educational value. For example, the approximately 80,000 inhabitants of Kiribati, a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, speak Gilbertese. The Witnesses there, who number fewer than 100, have each on an average been diligently distributing nearly 20 magazines per month in recent years. The 1,200 publishers in Bulgaria distributed over 100,000 magazines during April 2002.

There is no doubt that Jehovah equips his people to do the work he has assigned them to do. Throughout the earth, that work is being accomplished in a multitude of languages.​—Phil. 4:20.

Branch Dedications

During the 2002 service year, a branch dedication took place on the beautiful Caribbean island of Trinidad. Branch facilities there were dedicated to Jehovah in 1985, but since then Trinidad has had a 94-percent increase in publishers. Consequently, the branch facilities had to be extensively renovated and an addition constructed that doubled the floor space. The branch now enjoys new residences, offices, a library, a reception lobby, a dining room, and a kitchen. The adjoining Kingdom Hall was also renovated and enlarged. This project was accomplished entirely by local volunteers.

On September 29, 2001, some 220 delegates from 14 lands as well as 695 local brothers and sisters assembled for the dedication. They listened to stimulating reports on the theocratic history of the work, including the roles played by Evander J. Coward and William R. Brown. Several foreign missionaries, including one 88-year-old sister who is still in the regular pioneer service, related some touching experiences concerning their assignments in Trinidad more than 50 years ago.

Stephen Lett of the Governing Body gave the dedication discourse. In developing the theme “Appreciating Jehovah’s Past and Present Houses of Worship,” he emphasized that people, not buildings, worship Jehovah. Consequently, Brother Lett lovingly encouraged the brothers to be appreciative worshipers by their obedience and conduct.

The following day a special meeting was held in the city of Port of Spain for those who could not be accommodated at the dedication program itself. More than 13,000 attended. On the neighboring island of Tobago, over 300 brothers listened to the program by means of a telephone hookup. Brother Lett delivered the talk “Safeguard Your Relationship With Jehovah by Cultivating Humility.” All in attendance were “nothing but joyful” over the dedication of these expanded branch facilities.​—Deut. 16:15.

Recently, there has also been branch expansion in the Czech Republic. Samuel F. Herd of the Governing Body traveled there to dedicate a Bethel building, an annex, and two Assembly Halls. The dedication program took place on Saturday, May 4, 2002, and 2,125 were in attendance to hear Brother Herd’s talk. The following day a special meeting took place, and 5,286 enjoyed Brother Herd’s upbuilding talk entitled “Regaining Power​—Not Tiring Out.” The brothers in the Czech Republic were greatly encouraged by the programs.

Worldwide, a total of 19,823 ordained ministers staff such branch facilities. All are members of the Worldwide Order of Special Full-Time Servants of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

[Chart/Pictures on page 12, 13]

SOME EVENTS OF THE 2002 SERVICE YEAR

September 1, 2001

September 11: Destruction of the World Trade Center.

September 29: Trinidad branch dedication.

November 20: Kingdom Ministry Schools begin.

January 1, 2002

January 17: Volcano erupts in Congo.

April 4: Moscow trial to ban Jehovah’s Witnesses adjourned.

May 1, 2002

May 4: Czech Republic branch dedication.

May 9: Plaque unveiled in remembrance of Witnesses who suffered in former Nazi concentration camp.

June 17: U.S. Supreme Court upholds right to preach from door to door without first obtaining a permit to do so.

August 31, 2002

August 31: 6,304,645 publishers in 234 lands.

[Pictures on page 11]

Top: In the face of disasters like these, our brothers and sisters display Christlike love

[Picture on page 11]

Below: This Kingdom Hall in Rwanda served as a refugee camp

[Picture on page 22]

The newly established United States Branch Committee, from left to right: (seated) John Kikot, Max Larson, George Couch, Maxwell Lloyd; (standing) Baltasar Perla, Harold Corkern, Leon Weaver, William Van De Wall, John Larson, and Ralph Walls

[Picture on page 26]

The “New World Translation” in Afrikaans

[Picture on page 27]

“What Does God Require of Us?” in the Navajo language

[Pictures on page 28, 29]

Delegates from 14 lands joined local brothers and sisters for the dedication of the Trinidad branch

[Pictures on page 29]

Brothers in the Czech Republic rejoiced at the dedication of a new Bethel building, an annex, and two Assembly Halls

Worldwide Report 2002 Grand Totals

Branches of Jehovah’s Witnesses: 109

Number of Lands Reporting: 234

Total Congregations: 94,600

Worldwide Memorial Attendance: 15,597,746

Memorial Partakers Worldwide: 8,760

Peak of Publishers in Kingdom Service: 6,304,645

Average Publishers Preaching Each Month: 6,048,600

Percentage of Increase Over 2001: 2.8

Total Number Baptized: 265,469

Average Pioneer Publishers Each Month: 798,938

Total Hours Spent in Field: 1,202,381,302

Average Home Bible Studies Each Month: 5,309,289

During the 2002 service year, Jehovah’s Witnesses spent over $72.4 million in caring for special pioneers, missionaries, and traveling overseers in their field service assignments.

[Chart on page 32-39]

2002 SERVICE YEAR REPORT OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES WORLDWIDE

(See publication)

[Maps on page 40-42]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

ATLANTIC OCEAN

INDIAN OCEAN

PACIFIC OCEAN

PUBLISHER-TO-POPULATION RATIO

1 to 30-500

ALASKA

AMERICAN SAMOA

ANDORRA

ANGOLA

ANGUILLA

ANTIGUA

ARGENTINA

ARMENIA

ARUBA

AUSTRALIA

AUSTRIA

AZORES

BAHAMAS

BARBADOS

BELAU

BELGIUM

BELIZE

BERMUDA

BOLIVIA

BONAIRE

BRAZIL

BRITAIN

CANADA

CAPE VERDE

CAYMAN ISLANDS

CHILE

COLOMBIA

CONGO, DEM. REP.

COOK ISLANDS

COSTA RICA

CUBA

CURAÇAO

CYPRUS

DENMARK

DOMINICA

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

ECUADOR

EL SALVADOR

ESTONIA

FIJI

FINLAND

FRENCH GUIANA

GEORGIA

GERMANY

GHANA

GIBRALTAR

GREECE

GREENLAND

GRENADA

GUADELOUPE

GUAM

GUATEMALA

GUYANA

HAWAII

HONDURAS

HUNGARY

ITALY

JAMAICA

KOSRAE

LUXEMBOURG

MADEIRA

MALAWI

MARQUESAS ISLANDS

MARSHALL ISLANDS

MARTINIQUE

MEXICO

MOLDOVA

MONTSERRAT

MOZAMBIQUE

NEVIS

NEW CALEDONIA

NEW ZEALAND

NICARAGUA

NIGERIA

NIUE

NORFOLK ISLAND

NORWAY

PANAMA

PERU

POLAND

PORTUGAL

PUERTO RICO

RÉUNION

ROTA

ST. EUSTATIUS

ST. HELENA

ST. KITTS

ST. LUCIA

ST. MAARTEN

ST. PIERRE & MIQUELON

ST. VINCENT

SAIPAN

SAMOA

SAN MARINO

SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE

SEYCHELLES

SLOVAKIA

SOLOMON ISLANDS

SPAIN

SURINAME

SWAZILAND

SWEDEN

SWITZERLAND

TAHITI

TINIAN

TOGO

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS

TUVALU

UKRAINE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

URUGUAY

VENEZUELA

VIRGIN ISLANDS (BRITISH)

VIRGIN ISLANDS (U.S.)

WALLIS & FUTUNA ISLS.

YAP

ZAMBIA

ZIMBABWE

1 to 501-5000

ALBANIA

BELARUS

BENIN

BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA

BOTSWANA

BURUNDI

CAMEROON

CENTRAL AFRICAN REP.

CHUUK

CONGO, REP.

CÔTE D’IVOIRE

CROATIA

CZECH REP.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

FAEROE ISLANDS

FALKLAND ISLANDS

FRANCE

GABON

HAITI

HONG KONG

ICELAND

IRELAND

JAPAN

KAZAKHSTAN

KENYA

KIRIBATI

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

KYRGYZSTAN

LATVIA

LEBANON

LESOTHO

LIBERIA

LIECHTENSTEIN

LITHUANIA

MACAO

MACEDONIA

MADAGASCAR

MALTA

MAURITIUS

MAYOTTE

NAMIBIA

NAURU

NETHERLANDS

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

PARAGUAY

PHILIPPINES

POHNPEI

RODRIGUES

ROMANIA

RUSSIA

RWANDA

SABA

SLOVENIA

SOUTH AFRICA

TAIWAN

TANZANIA

TONGA

VANUATU

YUGOSLAVIA, F.R.

1 to 5001+

AZERBAIJAN

BANGLADESH

BULGARIA

BURKINA FASO

CAMBODIA

CHAD

COMOROS

EAST TIMOR

ETHIOPIA

THE GAMBIA

GUINEA

GUINEA-BISSAU

INDIA

INDONESIA

ISRAEL

MALAYSIA

MALI

MONGOLIA

MYANMAR

NEPAL

NIGER

PAKISTAN

SENEGAL

SIERRA LEONE

SRI LANKA

TAJIKISTAN

THAILAND

TURKEY

UGANDA

Worldwide Report

◼ OCEANIA

Number of lands: 30

Population: 33,773,304

Number of publishers: 92,691

Number of Bible studies: 44,999

At a remote railway station in rural New South Wales, Australia, two publishers set up a literature stand whenever one of the two interstate trains was due. Because the trains​—the Indian Pacific and The Ghan—​stop there for up to two hours, the publishers have enjoyed many fine conversations with passengers and have placed much literature. In fact, on their return journey, a few passengers have even made a “return visit” on the publishers.

The conductor on The Ghan usually announces any attractions that passengers may enjoy while the train is stopped at the various locations. Having earlier obtained approval from the Kingdom publishers, he now includes their literature stand in his announcements. Yes, thanks to the resourcefulness of these isolated Witnesses, travelers from all over Australia and from overseas are receiving a fine witness.

A missionary couple in Kosrae, Micronesia, placed a Knowledge book with a Baptist minister in his 80’s. The book was in the Kosraean language, which is spoken by fewer than 10,000 people. The minister expressed appreciation for the book. When the couple made a return visit on him, he said that he had encouraged members of his church to accept our literature. Naturally, the missionaries asked why. “Because our religion does not offer books in our own language,” he replied. The missionary couple now have regular discussions with this elderly cleric.

In the Marshall Islands, a missionary sister was asked to study God’s Word with an inactive sister. Not getting any response, the missionary asked the woman: “How do you feel when others tell you that they love you?” Puzzled, she replied: “No one has ever told me that.” The missionary then leaned over, hugged her, and said: “I love you. And Jehovah loves you even more.” The inactive sister began to cry, and from then on her attitude toward Jehovah changed. She began to make spiritual progress by starting a program of daily Bible reading, attending all the meetings, and even sharing in the auxiliary pioneer work. Then, in January 2002 she turned in her application to serve as a regular pioneer. She has since started many Bible studies and has even spent one month witnessing on an outer island where the need is greater.

While relaxing on the beach with some friends, a missionary in New Caledonia witnessed informally to a young woman from France who was in the islands visiting relatives. The woman was a soldier and had served in Sarajevo. The missionary asked the woman if she would like to live among people who truly love one another. The soldier said yes, but she felt that only a powerful government with an efficient army could bring about true peace.

The missionary then explained that her Witness friends, even though they were of different nationalities, were united by their faith in God and love for him. After an enjoyable discussion, the two arranged to meet on the following day to discuss matters further. The soldier kept her appointment and enjoyed her first Bible study. Thereafter, she began to attend all the meetings. Her spiritual appetite grew, and as her vacation drew to a close, she had a study every day. Then after attending an assembly and touring the local branch office, she returned to France, where she is continuing to make spiritual advancement.

Jeannie is a young publisher who lives in Papua New Guinea. She often takes to school the book Questions Young People Ask​—Answers That Work. One day her English teacher asked all in the class to prepare a short talk on a topic of their choice. Jeannie chose drugs and alcohol, basing her outline on section 8 in the Young People Ask book. Her teacher was so impressed with her talk that he told her she could “use up the entire class period” if she wished. So that is what Jeannie did. Her teacher then asked her if she would like to give her talk to the tenth grade class the following day. Jeannie accepted the invitation. After the talk, her English teacher told her that if the school should hold a speech night, he would try to have her on the program. As a result of her two discourses, Jeannie received requests for 64 copies of the Young People Ask book. Additionally, two girls requested copies of the Require brochure, and Jeannie was able to start a Bible study with both girls.

Because of ethnic violence in the Solomon Islands, many brothers have lost properties and are struggling financially. One couple whose house had been destroyed decided to share in working some unassigned territory, even though this meant exhausting their meager funds. They offered their canoe for the trip and enjoyed what they later described as their best witnessing experience ever. Already they are planning to follow up on the interest shown. But how will they manage financially? Well, about a week after they returned from the seldom-worked territory, a man with the necessary finances approached them and offered to buy the property from which they had fled during the fighting.

On the island of Santo in Vanuatu, the local Kingdom Hall usually served as the site for district conventions. By 2001, however, the number of publishers had outgrown the hall. So the brothers rented a small stadium that, until then, had been used only for sporting events. Concerned that the delegates might damage the facility, the manager charged a high fee, even though the brothers assured him that they would clean the stadium before and after the convention and also do some repairs.

Because the manager owns a local store, he saw the Witnesses purchase materials to clean and repair the stadium. Curiosity then moved him to go and see what was happening. When he arrived at the stadium, he saw over 100 volunteers scrubbing, sweeping, and painting, and repairing toilets. He left speechless. Soon, the stadium​—spotless and repaired—​was the talk of the town. When the brothers went to pay the fee after the convention, the manager’s attitude had completely changed. He gave them an 80-percent discount and said that in the future, Jehovah’s Witnesses could have the stadium free of charge! The 300 publishers were thrilled to have 832 attend the convention and to see 13 baptized.

◼ ASIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

Number of lands: 47

Population: 3,869,881,970

Number of publishers: 561,276

Number of Bible studies: 390,151

The India branch is delighted to report that a fine witness was given to much of the country by way of a televised video. A TV station heard about the video The Bible​—Its Power in Your Life, produced by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Subsequently, the station wrote to the world headquarters in New York for permission to broadcast the video in conjunction with the program Home Shanti (Home Peace). Approval was granted, and the India branch states that the video was “beamed to households in the entire territory” early in 2002.

In Israel a sister who knew sign language passed a deaf couple, Benny and Sharon, on the street. Instead of catching her bus home, she stopped and witnessed to the couple, and they invited her to their home. Benny’s initial curiosity turned into genuine interest in the Kingdom message, and soon he was attending congregation meetings. However, besides being totally deaf, he also has very limited vision. Hence, it was a struggle for him to travel to meetings and to understand the sign-language interpreter. But he made the effort, and at the same time, he continued to harmonize his life and personality with Bible principles.

In view of Benny’s disabilities, his progress has been remarkable. He comments at meetings, gives lively student talks in the Theocratic Ministry School​—even though he delivers them through an interpreter—​and has recently become an unbaptized publisher. His wife, Sharon, who also has limited hearing and vision, began studying later but is making fine progress. Understandably, Benny and Sharon have been sharing their newfound faith with many of their hearing-impaired acquaintances.

In Japan a sister named Fukue considers her special territory to be the people she meets through her three children. Her territory includes immediate neighbors and parents she meets at kindergarten, at school, and at school meetings for parents. Whenever she introduces herself, she makes the simple but heartfelt statement that the Bible is a valuable aid to her in rearing her children. Then she discreetly moves on to some other topic. But having broken the ice, she finds it much easier to bring the Bible into subsequent discussions. Has Fukue’s method been effective? Yes, so far she has helped 12 persons to baptism, five of whom are now pioneering. Fukue works hard at informal witnessing because that is how she herself learned the truth.

In a small town in Kazakhstan, a woman had a child who fell ill and later died. Then her second child died, just after it was born. Suffering physically and emotionally, the woman ended up in a hospital. While she was lying in bed one night, she heard a nurse whispering. Listening closely, she realized that the nurse, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, was actually praying for her, even mentioning her by name. The next morning, the nurse comforted the woman with the hope of the resurrection. Shortly thereafter, the woman was released from the hospital.

One day five years later, this woman overheard her relatives talking with someone about the same things the nurse had mentioned in the hospital. Convinced that the stranger must be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, she introduced herself, and a Bible study was arranged. Determined not to waste another five years, she studied diligently and made excellent spiritual progress. Before long, she dedicated her life to Jehovah and was baptized. Imagine her excitement when at her first assembly, she met the very nurse who had comforted her over five years earlier! In tears, she said: “I might not have accepted the truth had it not been for your quiet prayer in that hospital. It touched my heart deeply.”

A sister who works with 20 other women at a bank in Taiwan decided on a novel approach to try to interest her fellow employees in God’s Word. During one noonday break, she prepared a written invitation “to attend a free Bible discussion that will take about 30-45 minutes per week during the lunch break.” The discussion, she said, “will help you to gain a basic knowledge of the Bible.” She signed the invitation and put a copy on each desk in the office. That very afternoon, four persons accepted her offer.

In Thailand a man named Arun became interested in Jehovah’s Witnesses through a friend at work. “I noticed that ever since my workmate had begun to associate with the Witnesses,” explained Arun, “he made positive changes in his life, and I wanted to do the same.” Arun gambled and used drugs. Although he had tried to stop these bad habits, he had not succeeded. He was married and at one stage had thought that having a child might make him become more responsible. But after their little girl came along, nothing changed. “Finally,” said Arun, “my wife could endure the situation no longer, and she left me, placing our daughter in the care of an aunt.”

At this low point in Arun’s life, his workmate invited him to the Kingdom Hall. Arun went, and even though he understood little of what was said from the platform, he enjoyed the warm, friendly atmosphere. Thereafter, he regularly attended the meetings, accepted the offer of a Bible study, and began to apply what he learned. Keen to restore his marriage, he approached his wife about the matter, but she could not believe that he had really changed. “I witnessed to her and invited her to meet my new friends,” said Arun, “but she refused, saying that I was being deceived. However, I kept on visiting and encouraging her. After about five months, her heart softened and she came with me to a meeting. Shortly thereafter, she also accepted a Bible study.”

Now Arun, his wife, and their little girl are together as a united and happy family. Both parents were baptized in 2001 at the district convention in Bangkok. What is more, Arun’s younger brother, who also lived a dissolute way of life, has likewise responded to the good news and is now an unbaptized publisher.

◼ EUROPE

Number of lands: 45

Population: 727,550,200

Number of publishers: 1,456,309

Number of Bible studies: 647,279

Because of a congenital disease, 25-year-old Eva, who lives in Tiranë, Albania, is 44 inches [113 cm] tall. Despite challenges, however, she enjoys auxiliary pioneering, even though some people make fun of her because of her height. Instead of reacting angrily, Eva treats everybody with respect and always wears a smile, which thoughtful individuals notice. One such person was a woman whose 26-year-old daughter suffered from depression. The woman had taken her daughter to the hospital and to various religious organizations, hoping to find a cure. Then one day she observed Eva’s happy disposition and decided to pay her a visit. When Eva answered her door, the woman asked her if she would study the Bible with her daughter. Naturally, Eva said yes. Before long, the daughter’s health began to improve​—so much so that the mother asked to join in the study. Eva now brings mother and daughter to the meetings regularly, and both are making fine spiritual progress.

A youth named Benjamin grew up in a Christian home in Belgium. However, in his early adolescence, Benjamin began to lead a double life. While pretending to live by Bible principles, he joined a group of youths who drank heavily, took drugs, and used tobacco. Benjamin also listened to debasing music. Before long, he began to suffer demon harassment and alcoholic comas​—yet, he continued taking hard drugs. He lost all notion of personal hygiene and became seriously ill. At this low point in his life, he discovered that his so-called friends did not care for him in the slightest! Only then did Benjamin take a good, hard look at his life and where he was headed. Wisely, he decided to return to those who would show true love to him, namely, his family and Jehovah.

From the outset, however, Benjamin’s resolve was tested. He experienced intense demon attacks, and his girlfriend begged him not to associate with the Witnesses. She even had Catholic priests and apostates try to dissuade him. But with the loving, patient help of his parents and congregation elders, Benjamin began to build a living faith in Jehovah, recognizing that God’s law truly “is perfect, bringing back the soul.” (Ps. 19:7) As a result, he finally turned his back on his past life. Benjamin’s health has improved, and he has found true happiness.

While engaged in street witnessing, a couple from a French-speaking congregation in Britain approached two women from Zimbabwe. The Witnesses explained that they were offering free home Bible studies and asked whether the women spoke French. They said no but expressed a desire to study God’s Word. Both women soon began to attend the Congregation Book Study. At the conclusion of their first book study, a brother showed them the experience of Nathan Muchinguri of Zimbabwe, recounted on page 20 of the 2002 Yearbook. When they saw the photograph of Brother and Sister Muchinguri on page 21, they cried out in surprise. It was a picture of their grandparents! The women explained that back in Zimbabwe, they had lived far away from the rest of their family and had lost contact with them. Naturally, they asked if they could keep the Yearbook. The two women now study regularly, fortified by the faithful example of their grandparents.

While serving in an isolated territory in the Czech Republic, two sisters met a hospitable lady who invited them in. However, she had definite opinions on certain Bible subjects, such as what it means to have the “gifts of the spirit.” (1 Cor. 14:12) Furthermore, she refused to read from the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, preferring instead to use her Ecumenical version. After an apparently fruitless one-hour discussion, the sisters had to hurry away to catch their train. They were more than mildly relieved to have that challenging call behind them. However, one of the sisters discovered that she had left her Bible and notes back at the lady’s house, which meant returning there. What a pleasant surprise awaited them! The woman said that she took the liberty of examining the sister’s Bible and admired the quality of the translation, the cross-references, and the concordance. She then asked if she could have a New World Translation. What is more, she agreed to a Bible study. Since then, her mother has also joined in the study.

A sister in Reykjavík, Iceland, works at a Marine Research Institute that hosts a fisheries training program. Recently, 14 persons from various developing countries attended the six-month course. The sister offered each trainee a copy of the book Is There a Creator Who Cares About You? She had obtained copies in Chinese, English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese. All 14 persons accepted the book. The faces of a man and woman from Vietnam lit up at seeing a publication in their own language. “I can’t believe it!” the man said. “I am so surprised. How did you get it?” A Ugandan was already familiar with the book and recommended it to the others. A lady from Cuba said she wanted a copy because her 13-year-old daughter has started asking difficult questions about life.

Before the trainees left for their respective countries, the sister informed them that she had put some literature (10 Knowledge books, 30 magazines, and 10 brochures) on a table in the classroom for them to take to read on the plane going home. Needless to say, the first thing she did on the Monday morning after they left was go to that table. “I was expecting to find a few leftover Knowledge books and magazines,” she said, “but the table was bare!”

A young man in Latvia, whom we shall call Arthur, had no interest in God. Yet, he found it difficult to accept that humans evolved from apes. In 1996, Arthur got into serious trouble and was put in prison. There he began to think seriously about life. When his parents visited, they encouraged him to read the Bible, thinking it might help him. Then one day in 1998 as Arthur was writing a letter, a cell mate handed him a book to support the paper. That book happened to be You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth. Curious, Arthur opened it, became engrossed, and read it from cover to cover in three days. Another inmate had a copy of the Knowledge book in his cell. When he observed Arthur’s interest in the Bible, he gave the book to him. He also passed on the address of a Witness whom he knew.

Arthur wrote to the Witness and thereafter began to study the Bible by correspondence. When released from prison in April 2000, he immediately started to attend congregation meetings. But what about his parents, who had earlier encouraged him to read the Bible? Naturally, Arthur shared information about his newfound faith with them. The result? They too commenced studying God’s Word. Imagine their joy when all three were baptized at the same special assembly day in March 2002!

As a young man, an orthopedic surgeon in Spain studied for the ministry at a religious seminary. Becoming confused, after three years he left as an atheist. Although he had a negative opinion of Jehovah’s Witnesses, he was curious to know how such “simple” people could have so firm a grasp of the Scriptures, when he, who had spent years in a seminary, knew very little. His interest in the Witnesses grew when on one occasion, hospital staff showed prejudice toward him. This reminded him of the way that the Witnesses are sometimes treated. Following that experience, the surgeon accepted a free home Bible study. Before long, he became so impressed with what he was learning that he studied up to three times a week! He also began to attend all the meetings and joined the Theocratic Ministry School. Recently, he was baptized.

◼ AFRICA

Number of lands: 56

Population: 739,543,571

Number of publishers: 915,262

Number of Bible studies: 1,550,572

In Benin, Kingdom Hall construction is generating much enthusiasm among the brothers, giving a fine witness. At the dedication of one Kingdom Hall, a prominent member of the local community said to one of Jehovah’s Witnesses: “Your church is the most beautiful place of worship here, and it will always be such. Why do I, a fervent Catholic, say that? Just recently, our Catholic community was given 17,000,000 CFA [$23,000, U.S.] to finish the construction of our church, which was started in the 1950’s. But the clergy misappropriated the money. A Catholic community in another part of the city had saved 3,000,000 CFA [$4,000, U.S.] to construct a church in their area, but this too has ‘disappeared.’ That is why I can say that this building is and will remain the most beautiful one in the city.”

In certain lands an attachment to fetishes makes it difficult for new ones to take a stand for Bible truth. Consider the example of a family in Côte d’Ivoire that performed daily rites before their fetish. When one of the girls took a stand for Bible truth and refused to participate in false worship, the family feared that a curse would fall upon her. Nevertheless, the girl remained steadfast, which led to opposition and her having to leave home. Yet, she did not hold a grudge against her family but continued visiting them.

The result was that her grandmother began to take an interest in the Bible, even asking the granddaughter to return home, which she did. The grandmother continued to advance spiritually and was baptized at the age of 62. Impressed with what the grandmother had learned, the girl’s mother also began to study God’s Word, and now she too witnesses to others. Yes, three generations have been set free from false worship, and all because a girl kept her integrity to Jehovah and did not cease showing love to her family.

In Mozambique brothers regularly visit prisons to conduct Bible study classes with inmates. In 2001 a breakout occurred at one of these prisons. However, the inmates who had been attending the study classes refused to escape. The authorities observed this and commended Jehovah’s Witnesses for their work. Now the authorities encourage all inmates to study with the brothers. Because of the remarkable improvement in their conduct, two prisoners have already had their sentences reduced. One of them is looking forward to being baptized at the next district convention.

Twenty-seven-year-old Judith, who lives in Namibia, was involved in a car accident that left her paralyzed from the neck down. She became suicidal, thinking: ‘Why did this happen to me?’ People from various churches came to visit her and to pray that she might walk again. When their prayers went unanswered, they told Judith that God must be punishing her for some reason. This made Judith think even more about suicide. But first she wanted to know why God was punishing her. So one day she asked her mother to invite the pastor of a local church to their home. While Judith waited for the pastor to arrive, Jehovah’s Witnesses called. Judith accepted their offer of a home Bible study using the Knowledge book, hoping that the Bible might answer her troubling questions. When studying chapter 8, “Why Does God Permit Suffering?,” she learned that her accident was not an act of God. “Imagine my relief and joy when I learned that evil things do not come from Jehovah!” she exclaimed. Judith continued to study, dedicated her life to Jehovah, and now looks forward to the new system, when she will once again be sound in health.

During the Rwanda genocide in 1994, a young woman named Chantal fled to neighboring Burundi. There she found a copy of the book You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth and read it from cover to cover. After returning to Rwanda, she was unable to locate the Witnesses because her family lived in an isolated area. However, her mother did meet two Kingdom publishers who were witnessing at the market. So that they could meet Chantal, they wrote on a piece of paper the days they planned to be at the market and gave it to Chantal’s mother. On one of the designated days, Chantal sat by the market entrance, holding up the note for all passersby to see. How delighted she was when the brothers saw her and introduced themselves! Seeing her genuine interest, they invited her to the upcoming Memorial, which Chantal attended​—even though she had to walk for two days to reach the meeting location!

From then on Chantal went to the meetings regularly, despite the distance. Sadly, her family turned against her. One of her brothers even chased her out of the house with a machete on one occasion! But Chantal remained steadfast. A year later, meetings were being held closer to her home, although still about an eight-hour walk away. Nevertheless, Chantal was now able to have her own Bible study for the first time. Before long, she dedicated her life to Jehovah, and now she serves as a regular pioneer. And what about her family? Well, they had a complete change of heart. The brother who chased her out of the house is now a regular pioneer, another brother was recently baptized, and her mother is an unbaptized publisher. Furthermore, an isolated group has been established in their area, so now the family has a mere five-minute walk to the meetings.

Thembisile is a zealous sister who lives near one of the royal kraals, or compounds, in Swaziland. She wanted to witness to the residents of the kraal, but tight security presented a challenge. After praying about the matter, she mustered up courage and proceeded to the kraal. She witnessed to the guards, one of whom accepted the brochure You Can Be God’s Friend! After questioning and searching her, they let her in​—much to her delight. Thembisile was even more surprised at the friendliness of the residents. She now works the territory regularly and has started three Bible studies. Moreover, the police now give her a warm welcome. In fact, one day a guard said to her: “Feel free, Madam; just enter. You are doing a wonderful work here.”

◼ THE AMERICAS

Number of lands: 56

Population: 807,517,534

Number of publishers: 3,023,062

Number of Bible studies: 2,676,288

In a small town in Argentina, two special pioneers saw a couple pushing a handcart that held an injured dog. The pioneers offered to drive them and the dog to the veterinarian. The couple accepted appreciatively, especially since none of their neighbors had offered to help. The pioneers learned that the man was a Catholic catechist and participated with his wife in all the local processions held in honor of the saints. Yet, their deep involvement in the Catholic Church did not prevent them from accepting the Watchtower and Awake! magazines. After calling on this couple for about two years, the pioneers invited them to the Memorial. That night it rained heavily, yet the couple came and were impressed by the warm welcome they received. What is more, they said that for the first time, they understood the meaning of the Lord’s Evening Meal. They now enjoy a regular Bible study and attend all the meetings, without worrying about what their Catholic neighbors might say.

While witnessing in Barbados, a pioneer sister and another Witness were walking along the street when they passed a woman standing in her doorway. They began to witness to her but were taken by surprise when, as if expecting someone, she said: “Please come in. I will get my Bible.” The sisters went in, sat down with the householder, and demonstrated the study arrangement, using lesson 1 in the Require brochure. Afterward, the woman asked the pioneer sister if she was the one who had telephoned and offered her a free home Bible study to be held that very morning. “I told her that it was not I,” explained the pioneer. “So whoever had called apparently did not show up. But we are glad that we came precisely at 11:30 a.m., when the study was to be held.” This lady is progressing well and is already attending meetings.

Open-air markets can be a fruitful territory for witnessing. A missionary in Bolivia relates: “My husband placed a tract with a lady selling items from a cart at the farmers’ market. She was friendly, so I returned and offered to study the Bible with her, using the Require brochure. ‘Are we going to study here?’ she asked. ‘No problem,’ I said. ‘I’m used to it.’ So now when I arrive, she offers me her little stool, and we study right there beside her cart. When customers arrive, she attends to them, and then we resume the study.”

A woman in Canada obtained a copy of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures from a friend. She thoroughly enjoyed reading it and decided that she wanted to learn more. So she went to the official Internet site of Jehovah’s Witnesses (www.watchtower.org) and then wrote a letter requesting a Bible study and a copy of the Knowledge book. When two sisters called and gave her the book, she clutched it tightly and said that she would have the entire book read by the next morning! The following evening she attended her first meeting and felt immediately at ease among the brothers and sisters. She made rapid spiritual progress and is now an unbaptized publisher with a view to baptism in the near future.

In Colombia a woman named Sol suffered from a disability that kept her bedridden. She would refuse to see anyone except members of her own family. One day a neighbor, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, gave Sol’s mother some copies of The Watchtower and Awake! to pass on to Sol. Eventually, Sol agreed to see the neighbor, who offered to study the Bible with her. Sol accepted, and about a year later, she attended the Memorial. That was the first time she left the house in seven years. Two days later, she attended her first assembly. Although she cannot even sit up, Sol now shares in the field ministry. How? The brothers wheel her from door to door by means of a special bed they made for her. Thanks to Sol’s example and encouragement, her mother is now baptized and two of her siblings are pioneers.

A newly appointed special pioneer couple in Costa Rica visited a lady in their territory. When they arrived, they told her that the local branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses had received a call from her daughter-in-law, a Witness living in the United States, asking that someone visit her mother-in-law. “To our surprise,” the pioneer couple related, “this 65-year-old lady started crying. She said she couldn’t believe that we were already there, since she had only recently talked with her daughter-in-law, who encouraged her to listen to what the Witnesses have to say. She never imagined that we would show up so soon.”

According to the pioneers, this was the first time that the lady was willing to talk with the Witnesses. She was an active Catholic, and for the preceding 12 years had even made an in-depth study of Catholic beliefs in order to teach others. The pioneers were delighted to clear up many of her questions about the Bible and Jehovah’s Witnesses, after which she agreed to a Bible study. Her husband and daughter also want to learn more about God’s Word.

A member of the Puerto Rico Bethel family states: “I arranged to take the July 8, 2002, Awake! entitled ‘The Police​—Why Do We Need Them?’ to the captain at police headquarters. He was very impressed with the articles and recommended that I take copies of the magazine to the local mayor and also to the other police stations in the area. In fact, one of the other officers arranged to take me in a police vehicle to all the other stations. What is more, this officer also authorized me to take future articles to those under his command. ‘This will give the police force what it needs​—psychological and spiritual help,’ he said.” In one month, this Bethelite called at eight police stations, and many officers asked for extra magazines. Overall, he placed 164 magazines and added five persons to his magazine route.

In the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, a woman who had been a prominent member of the Nazarene Church for 25 years went to a circuit overseer’s talk in response to an invitation from a workmate. At the conclusion of the meeting, the circuit overseer approached her and engaged her in friendly conversation. This amazed her because at her own church, people tended to associate with one another on the basis of race and class. In fact, because she was of a different race from her husband, her church associates treated her unkindly. So her experience at the Kingdom Hall and the personal encouragement she received from the circuit overseer moved her to accept a Bible study. Within six months she became an unbaptized publisher, devoting 70 to 100 hours to the ministry each month. She was baptized at the “Zealous Kingdom Proclaimers” District Convention in 2002 and hopes to become a regular pioneer. She is also helping her seven-year-old daughter, who now gives talks in the Theocratic Ministry School.

In Uruguay a door-to-door salesman who was selling necklaces with crucifixes came to the home of a Witness. The sister took advantage of the opportunity to explain from the Bible why she could not purchase his products. The salesman not only respected her comments but expressed his interest in spiritual matters. In fact, he said that he had associated with a number of different religions in order to find answers to his questions, but to no avail. In the end, he concluded that the churches were more interested in money than in helping people spiritually. Before he left, the sister invited him to the Kingdom Hall.

That was the last she saw of him until about a year later when he again showed up at her door. To her great surprise, he said: “This time I am here, not to sell anything, but to let you know that I am up to chapter 15 of the Knowledge book.” He explained that his whole family was studying and attending meetings. Upon leaving, he said: “We will see you at the assembly next weekend.”

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New Zealand

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Tahiti

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Papua New Guinea

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Thailand

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India

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Japan

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Britain

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Albania

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Spain

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Namibia

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Benin

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Congo (Kinshasa)

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Canada

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Tobago

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Bolivia

Acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Modern Times

Nicaragua

This fascinating country is a picture of diversity in both its landscapes and its people. Sadly, though, Nicaragua has suffered disasters, both natural and man-made. Nevertheless, calamities have not stopped many thousands from embracing the good news of God’s Kingdom. See how Jehovah’s rich blessing has resulted in abundant spiritual fruitage in this tropical land of lakes, rivers, and mountains.

Philippines

Imagine the challenge of preaching the good news throughout a nation that is made up of more than 7,000 islands, many of which are difficult to penetrate because of jungle or mountains! In addition to that, typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and volcanoes are commonplace. Read how, in the face of such obstacles, pure worship has grown and flourished in the Philippines.

Nicaragua

Nicaragua has rightly been described as a tropical paradise. Its eastern shores look out on the clear, turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. Its western coast is washed by waves rolling in from the mighty Pacific Ocean. Viewed from above, the land is a mosaic of forests, farms, and rivers, with many lakes set like jewels in the craters of ancient volcanoes. Yet, these lakes seem like tiny blue pools when compared with the two giants​—Lakes Nicaragua and Managua. With an area of 3,100 square miles [8,200 sq km], Lake Nicaragua alone covers over 6 percent of the entire country!

The capital city, Managua, lies on the southern shore of Lake Managua, which has an area of about 400 square miles [1,000 sq km]. Fittingly, “Managua” in one of the indigenous tongues means “place where there is an extension of water.” The center of government and business, Managua has a population of about one million​—20 percent of the country’s five million inhabitants. It is situated in the narrow confines of the Pacific lowlands, home to about 60 percent of Nicaraguans. Another 30 percent live in the central highlands, and the rest​—just under 10 percent—​live farther east in two sparsely populated, politically autonomous regions that make up half the national territory.

At the southern border of Nicaragua, the Central American isthmus narrows, with the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean only 137 miles [220 km] apart. But because the San Juan River flows from Lake Nicaragua into the Caribbean, only the 11-mile [18 km] Isthmus of Rivas separates the lake from the Pacific. Prior to the construction of the Panama Canal, the San Juan River-Lake Nicaragua waterway was a popular route for travelers, making the region highly desirable. Indeed, history reveals that it has come under the influence of many peoples, including Maya, Aztecs, Toltecs, and Chibcha, besides foreign powers​—Spain, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, the United States, and the Soviet Union.

The influence of the many tribes and nationalities is evident in Nicaragua’s multilingual and multicultural society. While the Pacific populace comprises mainly Spanish-speaking mestizos, descendants of Spanish and indigenous peoples, the Caribbean region is decidedly multiethnic. Miskito, Creoles, and mestizos predominate alongside smaller populations of Sumo, Rama, and Garifuna​—an Afro-Carib group. Although many of these communities have retained their traditional language and culture, the people are unpretentious, open, and friendly. They are also deeply religious, and many have love for the Bible.

As we will see in this account, the Nicaraguan character has also been shaped by adversity, both natural and man-made. For instance, twice in the last century, Managua was leveled by earthquakes originating on the Pacific side of the isthmus. Eastern Nicaragua has suffered a different kind of natural disaster​—destructive hurricanes spawned in the Atlantic. On top of that, civil war, political revolutions, and harsh dictatorships have brought additional woes.

Yet, the pure waters of Bible truth have found their way into this beautiful land of lakes and rivers, bringing comfort and hope to thousands of honesthearted people. (Rev. 22:17) Yes, the torrent of spiritual provisions flowing in Nicaragua today attests to Jehovah’s rich blessing on the Kingdom-preaching work in this land, especially considering that just six decades ago, the good news was a mere trickle.

At First, a Trickle

On June 28, 1945, Francis and William Wallace, fleshly brothers and graduates of the first class of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, arrived in Managua. They began the organized preaching of the good news in Nicaragua and prepared the way for future generations of missionaries. But they did not introduce the Kingdom message to this land, for in 1934 a visiting pioneer sister had placed literature in Managua and in other parts of the country. Still, by 1945 very few had heard of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

When the Wallace brothers took to the field, they used a portable phonograph and played Bible-based recordings​—quite a novelty in those days in Nicaragua! Hence, during the first month, 705 persons listened to the Kingdom message.

In October of that same year, four more missionaries arrived​—married couples Harold and Evelyn Duncan and Wilbert and Ann Geiselman. Eager to advertise the Kingdom in every possible way, they planned a series of public meetings. Thus, in November 1945, Nicaraguans were greeted on the streets by people with handbills inviting them to a Bible discourse. Although a nearby political disturbance and street fight threatened to interrupt the program, the meeting went ahead peacefully, and over 40 listened to that first public talk. In the meantime, a weekly Watchtower Study and Service Meeting began to be held at the missionary home.

The year 1946 was a happy time for the missionaries and those who first responded to the Bible’s message. One of the latter was 24-year-old Arnoldo Castro, who recalls with a smile how he first came to a knowledge of Bible truth. He says: “My roommates, Evaristo Sánchez and Lorenzo Obregón, and I decided to learn English together. Then one day Evaristo came home from the market waving a book and saying: ‘I’ve found an American who’s going to teach us English!’ Of course, that was not the ‘teacher’s’ intention, but it was what Evaristo had understood. So when the appointed hour arrived, we three young men were happily expecting an English lesson. The ‘teacher,’ missionary Wilbert Geiselman, was pleasantly surprised to find such eager ‘Bible students’ awaiting him, book in hand.”

“The book was ‘The Truth Shall Make You Free,’ which we studied twice a week,” explains Arnoldo. “In the end, we didn’t learn much English, but we did learn Bible truth.” Arnoldo was baptized in August 1946 at an assembly in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A., after which he returned to Nicaragua to take up the pioneer service. By the end of that year, his two roommates were also baptized.

Now 83, Evaristo Sánchez joyfully recalls those early days. “At first,” he says, “we didn’t have a place for our meetings. But we were only a few, so we met where the missionaries were lodged. Later, a two-story house was rented, and 30 to 40 of us met there regularly.”

These three young men were the first Nicaraguans to accompany the missionaries in the ministry, first in Managua and then in outlying areas. At the time, Managua, with about 120,000 people, was smaller than it is now. The only paved area was a section of 12 city blocks in the center of town. “We traveled on foot,” reflects Evaristo. “There were no buses, no paved roads, only train tracks and oxcart trails. So depending on whether it was the dry or the rainy season, we were deep either in dust or in mud.” But their efforts were rewarded when 52 persons attended the Memorial in April 1946.

A Branch Is Established

In that same month, Nathan H. Knorr and Frederick W. Franz, from headquarters in Brooklyn, visited Nicaragua for the first time. During the four-day visit, an audience of 158 heard Brother Knorr’s public discourse “Be Glad, Ye Nations.” Brother Franz interpreted the talk into Spanish. Before departing, Brother Knorr set up a branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Nicaragua to supervise the work. William Eugene Call, 26 years old and recently transferred from Costa Rica, was appointed branch servant.

Over the following decades, the branch office established missionary homes in such places as Jinotepe, Masaya, León, Bluefields, Granada, and Matagalpa. Arrangements were also made for a circuit overseer to visit the newly formed congregations and groups to strengthen and encourage the brothers.

Opposers Have Fleeting Success

The zeal of the brothers quickly bore fruit, which disturbed the clergy of Christendom. The first rumblings of opposition originated in Bluefields, a town on the Caribbean Coast where two missionaries were assigned. Things came to a head on October 17, 1952, when an order was issued against Jehovah’s Witnesses. Prohibiting all Witness activity, the order was signed by an officer of the Immigration Department but was instigated by the Catholic clergy.

Missionaries in Bluefields, León, Jinotepe, and Managua were notified of the order. Appeals made to the proper authorities​—including the then president, Anastasio Somoza García—​proved unfruitful. The brothers began to meet in smaller groups, magazine street work was discontinued, and branch literature was distributed to safe locations. Our religious enemies had succeeded in getting the work banned by falsely declaring that Jehovah’s Witnesses were Communists. A lawyer was engaged to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Justice.

Although some brothers gave in to fear of man, the majority held firm. The missionaries, mature and fearless, were a tower of strength to the local brothers, who continued preaching and meeting together in obedience to God’s Word. (Acts 1:8; 5:29; Heb. 10:24, 25) Then on June 9, 1953​—after the ban had lasted just eight months—​the supreme court released its unanimous decision in favor of Jehovah’s Witnesses, reaffirming the constitutional right to freedom of worship and speech. The conspiracy had failed in every respect.

Challenges for the Early Missionaries

Clerical opposition was not the only challenge the early missionaries confronted. Consider the example of Sydney and Phyllis Porter, graduates of the 12th class of Gilead. When they arrived in Nicaragua in July 1949, Sydney was appointed to serve as circuit overseer of a circuit that embraced the entire country. He describes what the traveling work was like back then. “We used trains and buses for transportation. Often there were no brothers to stay with, so we carried our bedding and a small portable stove for boiling water and cooking. Many times we were away from the branch for ten weeks at a time. The territory was so fruitful, however, that it was a challenge to keep up with the interest in some areas. For instance, when later we had the Managua circuit, Phyllis conducted 16 Bible studies! Where did she find the time? She held her studies on our day off and in the evenings when there were no congregation meetings.” How dedicated those early missionaries were!

Doris Niehoff, who arrived in 1957, says this about her first impression: “It was the end of March, the dry season, so the countryside was brown. There were very few cars back then; instead, everyone rode a horse​—and packed a gun! It was like stepping onto the stage of a Western movie. In those days, most people were either rich or poor, mainly the latter. To make matters worse, Nicaragua was at war with Honduras over a territorial dispute, and six months before I arrived, President Somoza García was assassinated and the country came under martial law.”

“I was assigned to León, a university town,” Doris continues. “Since I didn’t understand much Spanish, students delighted in playing tricks on me. For instance, when I offered to come back to talk to certain students about the Bible, they said yes but laughed when they told me their ‘names.’ One gave his name as that of the president’s assassin, and the other gave himself the name of a notorious guerrilla! It’s a wonder I wasn’t thrown in jail when I returned and asked for the students who had given me those names!”

An Interview With the Bishop of Matagalpa

About 80 miles [130 km] north of Managua, the city of Matagalpa is nestled in the hills of a coffee-growing region. Four missionaries were assigned there in 1957. Agustín Sequeira, then a professor of mathematics at a college run by Josephine nuns, recollects the religious atmosphere in Matagalpa at the time. He states: “The people were predominantly Catholic and afraid of priests but especially of the bishop. He was the godfather of one of my children.”

This climate of fear made it hard for the branch to secure accommodations for the missionaries. For example, when arranging for the rental of a house, the branch office informed the owner, a lawyer, that the missionaries would be holding Christian meetings there. “No problem,” he said.

Describing what ensued, Doris Niehoff says: “The day we arrived with all our furniture, the owner appeared with a worried expression. He said that he had sent us a telegram advising us not to come. Why? The bishop had threatened him that if he rented to us, his son would be unable to attend the Catholic school. Fortunately, we had not received the telegram and had already paid a month’s rent.”

“We found another house that month but with great difficulty,” Doris adds. “When the bishop tried to pressure the plucky local businessman who owned it, the latter replied: ‘Well, if you pay me the four hundred cordobas each month, I’ll kick them out.’ Of course, the bishop did not pay. Undeterred, however, he went to all the stores and put up posters, warning people not to talk to Jehovah’s Witnesses. He also told the shop owners not to sell to us.”

Despite the missionaries’ zeal, no one in Matagalpa seemed keen to take a stand for Bible truth. Agustín, the professor of mathematics, however, had many unanswered questions. For instance, he wondered why the pyramids still exist when the Pharaohs who built them are long dead! He still remembers clearly that a missionary called on him and showed him from the Bible the answers to his questions. Agustín explains: “I was captivated by the scriptures showing that man was created, not to die, but to live forever on a paradise earth and that the dead will be resurrected. I quickly recognized that this was the truth.” How did Agustín respond? “I began to preach to everyone at the college where I taught, including the principal, a nun,” says Agustín. “She then invited me to visit her on Sunday to discuss ‘the end of the world.’ To my surprise, when I arrived, the bishop of Matagalpa was there waiting for me.”

“So, Compadre,” he said, “they tell me you are losing the faith.”

“What faith?” I replied. “The one I never had? It is now that I am learning to have true faith.”

Thus began a three-hour discussion, with the nun listening in. Agustín’s zeal for his newfound faith moved him to be quite frank at times. He even called the unchristian belief of the immortality of the human soul a moneymaking scheme that exploits innocent people. To illustrate the point to the bishop, Agustín said: “Imagine, for example, that my mother died. Naturally, I turn to you to say Mass because her soul is in purgatory. You charge me for the service. After eight days, another Mass. After one year, still another, and so on. Yet, you never say to me: ‘Compadre, I won’t perform any more Masses because your mother’s soul is now out of purgatory.’”

“Ah!” said the bishop, “That’s because only God knows when it comes out!”

“Then how did you know when it entered so that you could start charging me?” retorted Agustín.

At one point during the discussion when Agustín began to quote yet another Bible text, the nun said to the bishop: “Look, Monsignor! He uses a bad Bible; it’s Lutheran!”

“No,” replied the bishop, “that’s the Bible I gave him.”

As the discussion continued, Agustín was surprised to hear the bishop say that one should not believe everything in the Bible. “After that meeting,” says Agustín, “I was convinced that the clergy of Christendom, like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, prefer church tradition to God’s Word.”

In February 1962, Agustín Sequeira became Matagalpa’s first baptized publisher. He continued to make spiritual progress, later serving as a pioneer and an elder and since 1991 as a member of the Nicaragua Branch Committee. As for Matagalpa, in the 2002 service year, it had two thriving congregations with a total of 153 Kingdom publishers.

Untiring Special Pioneers

Many who accepted the good news of God’s Kingdom were moved to expand their ministry by sharing in the pioneer work. Among these ones were Gilberto Solís; his wife, María Cecilia; and his young sister, María Elsa. All three were baptized in 1961, and four years later they became quite an effective special-pioneer team. Nine different congregations in various parts of the country were either formed or strengthened by this trio. One of their assignments was Ometepe Island in Lake Nicaragua.

Ometepe has an area of 107 square miles [276 sq km] and is formed by two volcanoes, one of which is a mile [1,600 m] high. When seen from above, the volcanoes give the island a figure-eight shape. Starting at dawn, the three pioneers worked Ometepe by taking a bus as far as they could and then continuing on foot​—often barefoot—​along the sandy coast to the island’s many villages. Over a period of about 18 months, they organized a number of isolated groups of Bible students throughout Ometepe, the largest being at Los Hatillos.

Previously, tobacco farming was a main source of income for many of the new publishers in Los Hatillos, but now their Bible-trained consciences would not allow them to do that work. So most relied on fishing, even though it meant less income. What joy it gave the Solís family to see such faith, in addition to the many other evidences of Jehovah’s rich blessing on their ministry! In fact, the number of publishers in the area soon grew to 32, which raised the need for a Kingdom Hall. One of the new publishers, Alfonso Alemán, grew watermelons and kindly offered to donate a parcel of land for the hall. But how would the publishers at Los Hatillos obtain the funds to build?

Gilberto Solís organized volunteers to plant watermelon seeds, provided by Brother Alemán, on the piece of donated land. Gilberto encouraged the group to care for these “watermelons for Jehovah,” setting the example by working hard himself. María Elsa, a small but energetic woman, describes how the little group of publishers took care of the crop. She says: “We would get up early, while it was still dark, to irrigate the field. We had three good crops. Using his own boat, Brother Alemán took the melons across Lake Nicaragua to Granada, where he sold them and bought construction materials. That’s how the Kingdom Hall in Los Hatillos was built, and that’s why my brother called it the little hall made from watermelons.” From those humble beginnings, Ometepe Island now has three thriving congregations.

The humility, positive spirit, and complete trust in Jehovah that Gilberto, his wife, and his sister displayed touched many hearts. Gilberto would often say: “We should always see the new ones as young calves. They are charming but still weak. Let us never become upset by their weaknesses but, instead, help them to become strong.” Such a loving attitude no doubt contributed to these three exemplary pioneers aiding 265 persons to dedication and baptism! Gilberto’s wife has since died faithful, and at 83, Gilberto finds that his own health has deteriorated considerably. Yet, his desire to serve Jehovah is as strong as ever. As for María Elsa, when recently asked how she feels after 36 years in special-pioneer service, she replied: “Like the first day! I am joyful and always thank Jehovah for bringing us into his holy organization and giving us a little place in this marvelous spiritual paradise.” Over the years, many hardworking pioneers, like the Solís family, have seen much Kingdom fruitage in Nicaragua, thanks to Jehovah’s generous blessing.

The 1972 Managua Earthquake

Just past midnight on December 23, 1972, Managua was violently shaken by an earthquake that measured 6.25 on the Richter scale, equivalent in energy to about 50 atomic bombs. The branch office was located on the east side of Managua, only 18 blocks from the epicenter. “All the missionaries were in bed,” says Levi Elwood Witherspoon, branch overseer at the time. “When the shaking stopped, we hastened outside to the middle of the street. Then two more seismic shocks struck in quick succession. Houses collapsed all around us. A thick cloud of dust filled the city, and downtown, a red glow spelled raging fires.”

The quake’s epicenter was directly under the business district, and in just 30 seconds, Managua became uninhabitable. Survivors clawed their way out of the dust and rubble, struggling to breathe. Many did not make it. Although some estimates put the death toll at over 12,000, the exact number is unknown. About 75 percent of the homes in Managua were destroyed, leaving nearly 250,000 people homeless. In the three days following the quake, about 100,000 a day fled the city.

Christian Love Comes to the Rescue

By noon on the very day of the quake, the branch office had received a full report from the congregation overseers in Managua. Acting quickly and with one accord, these faithful brothers had called on each congregation member to ascertain his or her needs. Happily, there were no deaths among the more than 1,000 Witnesses in the city, but over 80 percent had lost their homes.

Christian love moved Jehovah’s people in neighboring lands to come to the aid of their brothers quickly, and in less than 22 hours after the quake, truckloads of food, water, medicine, and clothing arrived at the branch. In fact, the branch was one of the first centers to provide relief supplies. Additionally, volunteers poured in from various congregations in Nicaragua, and soon all were busy sorting clothes, packaging food, and dispatching these items. Relief supplies even began to arrive from Witnesses in more distant parts of the world.

The day after the quake, the branch overseer met with visiting representatives from the Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Honduras branches to organize further aid. Nicaraguan Witnesses living outside Managua lovingly opened their homes to the brothers who had to leave the capital. Remaining Witnesses were organized into groups for Christian meetings and field service. The circuit overseer visited these groups to encourage them and to deliver relief supplies.

Because of the earthquake, the whole country suffered economically. Yet, even as life became harder, the reconstruction of Kingdom Halls and brothers’ homes moved ahead. What is more, many newly interested ones swelled the congregations. Clearly, Jehovah was pleased with his people as they continued to put Kingdom interests first in their lives.​—Matt. 6:33.

The 1975 Yearbook reported: “The majority of the fourteen congregations in the Managua area are still meeting in buildings with cracked walls or just under a galvanized roof in some patio. Interestingly, the attendance at these meetings has doubled since last year. The brothers had a 20-percent increase over last year’s average of publishers. They now have 2,689 sharing the truth with others, and 417 were baptized.”

This ongoing growth soon rendered the old branch inadequate. So you can imagine how the publishers rejoiced when a new branch office and missionary home were completed in December 1974​—just two years after the big quake! The new branch was located on a quiet street named El Raizón, ten miles [16 km] south of the Managua city center.

Missionaries Set an Example in Love and Unity

Ever since the arrival of the two Wallace brothers in 1945, the missionaries in Nicaragua proved to be examples of faith, endurance, and love for people. Such admirable qualities drew the missionaries closer to one another and to the local brothers. Says missionary Kenneth Brian: “After the Managua quake, we assisted at the branch, got the brothers out of their homes, and helped them bury their dead relatives. Working together under those conditions draws you very close to one another.” Speaking about her fellow missionaries, Marguerite Moore (previously Foster) comments: “Although we were of different nationalities and backgrounds and had different personalities, a united family atmosphere helped us to be happy in our assignment, despite our personal shortcomings.”

Missionaries like Kenneth and Sharan Brian count it a special privilege to have benefited from the examples of seasoned missionaries, such as Francis and Angeline Wallace, Sydney and Phyllis Porter, and Emily Hardin. “All worked really hard,” reflects Sharan, “and it was obvious that they liked what they were doing.”

Over the years, many missionary couples also served in the traveling work. Indeed, the solid foundation laid by zealous missionaries contributed to the fine spiritual growth seen in Nicaragua over the first three decades of the work there. However, that spiritual building was about to be tested, not by another earthquake, but by something more long-lasting and spiritually dangerous​—nationalism and revolution.​—1 Cor. 3:12, 13.

Tested by the Flames of Political Revolution

In the late 1970’s, a political revolution led by the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN in Spanish) began to sweep through Nicaragua. Eventually, it led to the overthrow of the country’s 42-year-old political/military dynasty. Ruby Block, a missionary for 15 years in Nicaragua, says of that period: “Those years of stepped-up political propaganda had everyone’s nerves on edge. Violent confrontations between the military and the Sandinistas were frequent. To carry out our ministry, we had to trust fully in Jehovah.”

Despite their Christian neutrality in political matters, Jehovah’s Witnesses were often accused by Sandinista sympathizers of being agents of either the Somoza regime or the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Strong feelings against foreigners were also being whipped up. For instance, while missionary Elfriede Urban was out in the ministry, a man accused her of being a spy. “How could that be?” she said. “I have no camera or tape recorder with me. And besides, who or what am I going to spy on in this neighborhood?”

He replied: “You are so well trained that your eyes are the camera and your ears and brain are the tape recorder.”

Chanted in the streets of Managua during those days was the popular slogan: “Between Christianity and revolution, there is no contradiction!” This thinking, which had gained popularity in Latin America during the 1970’s, reflected liberation theology, a view promoted by a Marxist movement within the Roman Catholic Church. According to The Encyclopædia Britannica, the aim of liberation theology was to aid “the poor and oppressed through [religious] involvement in political and civic affairs.”

Ruby Block recalls: “The question people often asked us back then was, ‘What do you think of the revolution?’ We explained that the only solution for mankind’s problems is God’s Kingdom.” Remaining loyal to Jehovah in that volatile political climate was a challenge. Ruby adds: “I always prayed to Jehovah for the strength to remain neutral, not just in my speech but also in my mind and heart.”

After months of violent uprisings, in May 1979 the FSLN launched an all-out offensive to overthrow the government. President Somoza Debayle was forced to flee the country, and his National Guard was dissolved. In July of that year, the new junta of the National Reconstruction Government took over executive power. It is estimated that 50,000 Nicaraguans died during the revolution.

How did the brothers fare? The following announcement appeared in Our Kingdom Ministry of October 1979: “The brothers are in good spirits and are resuming their meetings and their preaching and teaching work. Throughout the period of violence, . . . three of our brothers lost their lives. Many were rendered homeless, but since they were for the most part tenants, the major loss was in the looting and destruction of their possessions. As to transportation, there is very little. Most buses are destroyed, roads are only now being repaired, and gasoline is very scarce.” Nevertheless, greater trials lay ahead for Jehovah’s people.

Arrests and Deportations

It soon became evident that the new government did not approve of the neutral stand of Jehovah’s Witnesses. For example, the Customs Department made it hard to import literature. In addition, a law enacted in 1981 required all civil and religious societies to reregister in order to be legally recognized. Until the brothers were granted this recognition, their former legal status was suspended. Regrettably, petitions to reregister went unanswered.

In September 1981, Andrew and Miriam Reed were arrested while in the circuit work in the central highlands. For ten days they were held in detention in a variety of jails and under the most unpleasant conditions. Finally, they were taken to the headquarters of the security police, who kept them in separate cells for most of the time. They were interrogated frequently, often for hours at a time, in an effort to extract from them the names of responsible brothers. Both were told that their mate had confessed to being an agent of the CIA, yet the Reeds were not even U.S. citizens! In the end, they were informed that it was all a mistake. Although no formal charges were ever brought against them, they were deported to Costa Rica. Before leaving, however, they were told that the refusal of Jehovah’s Witnesses to bear arms was unacceptable, that every Nicaraguan had to be ready to fight for his country.

Prudently, the Branch Committee intensified the training of local brothers to oversee the work should the branch office be closed down. In the meantime, a course for circuit overseers and their substitutes, a series of Kingdom Ministry School classes for elders and a number of ministerial servants, and Pioneer Service School classes were held. Large gatherings, though, were a different matter.

For example, although the Masaya city officials had guaranteed the availability of the stadium for one of two “Kingdom Loyalty” District Conventions to be held in December 1981, just 36 hours before the convention, they reneged. The decision originated, not from the mayor’s office, but from the central government. The brothers, however, were forewarned. So the day before, they made arrangements with a generous sister to use her chicken farm as an alternative site. It was about five miles [8 km] outside Managua. In order to prepare the site, volunteers worked all through the night. Over 6,800 brothers were promptly informed of the new venue by word of mouth.

Branch Closed Down

On Saturday, March 20, 1982, at 6:40 a.m., Ian Hunter was preparing breakfast for his fellow missionaries. Outside, a busload of immigration officials and soldiers armed with machine guns arrived. The soldiers surrounded the branch office and missionary home. “The officials,” says Ian, “told us to pack just one suitcase each and a small handbag. They would not say why, only that they were taking us to a house where we would stay for a short time, pending certain investigations. Discreetly, Reiner Thompson, the Branch Committee coordinator, slipped into the office and phoned the other missionary homes to warn them of what was happening.”

“What I learned that day,” reflects Ruby Block, “was the true meaning of Paul’s words: ‘Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication . . . let your petitions be made known to God; and the peace of God that excels all thought will guard your hearts and your mental powers.’ (Phil. 4:6, 7) With an armed soldier watching from the kitchen, Reiner Thompson offered a prayer on our behalf, to which we all said a heartfelt ‘Amen.’ After that, we felt a complete calmness of heart, even though we did not know how the day would turn out. We were confident that whatever happened, Jehovah would give us the strength to cope. That lesson is one I will always remember and cherish.”

Brother Hunter explains what happened next, saying: “They made us board the bus and took us to an old coffee farm out in the country. I reminded the officials that as foreigners we had the right to speak with our embassies. They replied that the declaration of a state of emergency, proclaimed at the beginning of the week, had canceled any such rights and that once outside the country, we could speak with whomever we liked. That was the first tacit admission that we were being expelled from Nicaragua.” That day, the nine missionaries living at the branch were driven in separate groups to the Costa Rican border.

In the meantime, the missionaries at the other two homes acted quickly on Brother Thompson’s phone call. With the help of local brothers, they removed much equipment, including an offset press, and cleared out many personal belongings. When the immigration officials arrived, they were surprised to find the houses almost empty and the missionaries packing their suitcases. That evening the ten missionaries from those two homes were taken to the airport. “They said we were counterrevolutionaries,” relates Phyllis Porter, “yet no one did security checks on us or our luggage. Although we had no flight tickets, our baggage tickets showed that we were being deported to Panama.” The only two missionaries left in the country​—a British couple engaged in circuit work—​were deported a few months later.

In a matter of days, the missionaries were reunited at the Costa Rica branch. There they received assignments from the Governing Body to continue their service in nearby Belize, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Honduras. However, Reiner and Jeanne Thompson and Ian Hunter remained in Costa Rica for a time so as to keep in contact with the brothers now overseeing the work in Nicaragua.

How did the Nicaraguan brothers manage? “After shedding some tears at the news of our deportation,” reported Brother Hunter back then, “our dear brothers are going straight forward. Those on the newly appointed country committee are taking a strong lead, and we are confident that they will do a fine job.” Félix Pedro Paiz, a longtime Nicaraguan circuit overseer, recalls how the brothers felt about the missionaries’ departure: “We regretted it deeply. They had truly given of themselves and remained loyal. Their example left the brothers strengthened and laid a firm foundation for the work in this country.”

Restricted, Not Banned

Governments sometimes misunderstand the neutral position of Jehovah’s Witnesses with respect to politics, war, and social conflicts. This often leads to contradictory attitudes toward God’s people. For example, under the Somoza regime during the 1950’s and 1960’s, opposers accused them of being Communists. But now the Sandinistas denounced the brothers as being agents of the American CIA. The media also chimed in, labeling them “counterrevolutionary.”

Nonetheless, Jehovah’s Witnesses were not banned, although the period between 1982 and 1990 was marked by definite restrictions on their freedom of worship. For example, they could not bring literature into the country. Additionally, a system was set up whereby their activities​—indeed, those of people in general—​could be closely monitored.

Watched by Neighborhood Spies

A Library of Congress handbook states: “Immediately after the revolution, the FSLN also developed mass organizations representing most popular interest groups in Nicaragua.” These groups included laborers, a women’s association, cattlemen, farmers, and peasants. According to the handbook, “by 1980 Sandinista organizations embraced some 250,000 Nicaraguans.” Among the more powerful of these were the Communist-style Sandinista Defense Committees (Comités de Defensa Sandinista in Spanish), or CDS. Made up of neighborhood committees, the CDS carried out a block-by-block census in cities and thus “knew everyone’s whereabouts,” says the above reference. They were an effective instrument for gathering and disseminating information on behalf of the government.

Soon the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses were being closely monitored and all the more so because of the strong propaganda campaign that had been unleashed against them. Individuals suspected of counterrevolutionary activities and “ideological diversionism” were regularly denounced by their neighborhood CDS before the Sandinista authorities. Often these people would then be arrested by agents of the General Directorate of State Security, a secret police force.

One function of the CDS was to organize nightly guard duty. Ordinary people, both men and women, were called upon to take their turn watching out for any criminal or counterrevolutionary activity in their neighborhood. The Witnesses did not participate in this duty, nor did they permit their homes to be used for weekly CDS meetings. However, they did accept other volunteer work, such as street cleaning. Even so, the Witnesses were seen as fanatics and a danger to the State. One brother says: “During most of that decade, the words ‘We are watching you’ were painted on the front of my house.”

Cautious yet Bold

The brothers were discreet when attending Christian meetings and participating in the ministry so as not to draw undue attention to themselves. Meetings were held in family-size groups out of the public eye, either in private homes or in unmarked Kingdom Halls. Depending on the neighborhood, the brothers did not usually sing Kingdom songs at the meetings. In time, publishers substituted numbers for their names on the various forms and reports used by the congregation. Additionally, interested ones were not invited to meetings unless they had been studying for at least six months and gave evidence of spiritual progress.

Assemblies were reduced in size, and the program, in length. Talk outlines and other material were sent to each congregation, where local elders organized and presented the program on a congregation level with the help of qualified ministerial servants. Country committee members and traveling overseers visited as many of these assemblies as possible.

Locations were advertised by word of mouth, and no assembly ever had to be canceled. However, some venues had to be changed on short notice. For instance, in one rural community in 1987, a brother’s backyard had been prepared for an assembly of about 300. Suddenly, a military official and his men appeared. “Well, what is all of this?” the official asked.

“We’re going to have a party,” the brother replied, discerning from the man’s boots that he was from State Security. After that, the official left. Convinced that the authorities had become suspicious, the brothers and sisters worked all that night to dismantle everything. By 5:00 a.m., the chairs, the platform, and all the cooking equipment were not only gone but set up at another location about a mile [kilometer and a half] away. Healthy young runners advised the brothers of the new venue. Later that morning, a truckload of armed soldiers arrived at the original site hoping to stop the assembly, pick up youths for military service, and arrest the brothers taking the lead. But all they found was the homeowner.

“Where are all the people?” the officer asked.

“Well, we had a party last night, but it’s over now,” replied the brother.

“Didn’t you have an assembly?” asked the official.

“See for yourself,” said the brother. “There’s nothing here.”

Unsatisfied, the official continued: “Well, what about the tents that were here yesterday?”

“The party is over,” repeated the brother. “They took everything and went.”

After that, the soldiers left. Meanwhile, the brothers were enjoying a spiritually upbuilding program at the other location.

“Look!” Jesus said, “I am sending you forth as sheep amidst wolves; therefore prove yourselves cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves.” (Matt. 10:16) The publishers took these words to heart not only in conjunction with meetings and assemblies but also in conjunction with the field ministry. Thus, they avoided forming large groups but worked discreetly in pairs in preassigned territories. Circuit overseer Félix Pedro Paiz explains: “We had to be very careful. The only thing we carried in the ministry was a Bible. Each day a different brother was assigned to accompany me in the field. When visiting certain congregations, I went to one book study group on Tuesday evening, another on Thursday, and still another on Sunday. In some parts of the country, these cautionary measures could be relaxed a little.”

Confiscations and Arrests

One night in July 1982, mobs of from 100 to over 500 people, accompanied by State Security agents, invaded several Kingdom Halls in different parts of the country, seizing them “in the name of the people.” On August 9 between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., five more Kingdom Halls, an Assembly Hall, and the former branch building on El Raizón were also taken over. After the deportation of the missionaries in March, six Nicaraguan brothers and the one remaining missionary couple had continued to live at the branch in order to safeguard the property. Eventually, however, the authorities, backed by a jeering mob, forced these ones out as well, not even allowing them to take their personal belongings.

The government granted the CDS authority over the seized Kingdom Halls, which were now termed “property of the people.” Ostensibly, the halls were to be adapted for public use. In the end, 35 out of a total of 50 properties were illegally occupied, although never formally confiscated.

Amid this nationalistic fervor, responsible brothers were not only closely watched but often threatened. For instance, in certain neighborhoods, CDS mobs harassed brothers in front of their homes for hours, chanting accusations and political slogans. State Security officers searched homes and even plundered some. A number of elders, including members of the country committee, were arrested and treated badly.

One of the first elders to undergo this experience was Joel Obregón, a circuit overseer at the time. On July 23, 1982, State Security agents surrounded the home where he and his wife, Nila, were guests and arrested him. Only after five weeks of constant effort on her part was Nila permitted to see her husband, albeit for just three minutes and in the presence of an armed agent. Joel had obviously been mistreated, for Nila noticed that he was thin and had difficulty communicating. “Joel does not want to cooperate with us,” an agent told her.

After 90 days of confinement, Joel was finally released​—40 pounds [20 kg] lighter. Elders in other parts of the country were also arrested, interrogated, and then released. How their example of integrity fortified the faith of their brothers!​—See the box “A Bout With the Secret Police,” on pages 99-102.

Conscription Tests Christian Youths

Younger brothers in particular were affected by the enactment in 1983 of a universal conscription system known as Patriotic Military Service. Males between the ages of 17 and 26 were legally obligated to spend two years in active service and then two more years in the reserves. When conscripted, they were taken directly to a military camp for training. There was no provision for conscientious objectors; refusal meant detention while awaiting trial and then a two-year prison sentence. The brothers faced this test with courage, determined to remain loyal to Jehovah.

For example, on February 7, 1985, Guillermo Ponce, a 20-year-old regular pioneer in Managua, was on his way to conduct some home Bible studies when the police apprehended him. Because he had no military identity card, he was sent to a military training camp. But instead of taking up weapons, Guillermo began witnessing to young recruits. Seeing this, one of the commanders snapped: “This is not a church; this is a military camp. Here you will obey us!” Guillermo replied by citing the words of Acts 5:29: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.” The angry commander, a Cuban military trainer, snatched the Bible from him and threatened: “We shall chat tonight”​—meaning that Guillermo was to undergo a form of psychological torture intended to erode his will.

Thankfully, the commander did not carry out his threat. Three days later, however, Guillermo was transferred to a prison where he was held for the next nine months in primitive conditions. Even so, he continued his pioneer service, conducting Bible studies and even meetings within the prison. Later during this difficult era, Guillermo became a valuable support to the country committee.

Instead of being imprisoned, some young brothers were forced into the mountains to join military units called Irregular Warfare Battalions. Each battalion consisted of five or six companies of 80 to 90 men trained for combat in the mountain jungle, where the heaviest fighting against the contras (guerrillas opposed to the Sandinistas) took place. Even though the brothers refused to don military uniforms and take up weapons, they were still forced into combat zones, besides being punished and verbally abused.

Eighteen-year-old Giovanni Gaitán endured such treatment. An attempt was made to force Giovanni into the military just before the December 1984 district convention, where he had hoped to be baptized. He was sent to a military training camp where for 45 days soldiers tried to force him to learn how to use a rifle and fight in the jungle. But in harmony with his Bible-trained conscience, Giovanni refused to “learn war.” (Isa. 2:4) He did not wear a military uniform, nor did he take up arms. Nonetheless, he was forced to march with the soldiers for the next 27 months.

Says Giovanni: “I kept myself strong by praying incessantly, meditating on what I had learned in the past, and preaching to any soldiers who showed interest. Often I recalled the psalmist’s words: ‘I shall raise my eyes to the mountains. From where will my help come? My help is from Jehovah, the Maker of heaven and earth. He cannot possibly allow your foot to totter. The One guarding you cannot possibly be drowsy.’”​—Ps. 121:1-3; 1 Thess. 5:17.

Although forced into the middle of combat on some 40 different occasions, Giovanni survived unscathed. After his release, he was baptized on March 27, 1987, and soon thereafter entered the pioneer service. Many other faithful young brothers had similar experiences.​—See the box “Forced Into the Combat Zone,” on pages 105-6.

Defending Their Neutral Stand

The government-controlled press, as well as the CDS, falsely accused Jehovah’s Witnesses of using the house-to-house ministry to campaign against Patriotic Military Service. It was claimed that the Witnesses were undermining national security by persuading Nicaraguan youths to refuse military service. Although baseless, these accusations were repeated often enough to bias prosecutors and judges. To make matters worse, leaders of prominent Evangelical churches, identifying themselves as supporters of the revolution, also accused those who remained neutral for religious reasons, labeling them “enemies of the people.”

A Witness who was a lawyer took on the appeal cases of 25 young brothers sentenced to two-year prison terms for refusing military service. Because conscientious objection was not legally recognized, the goal of the appeal was to have the sentences reduced, citing the defendants’ record of good conduct and not having resisted arrest. As a result, some sentences, but not all, were cut by 6 to 18 months.

“It is interesting to note,” says Julio Bendaña, a brother present at the trials, “that except for Jehovah’s Witnesses, no youths refused military service for religious reasons. It made me proud to see our 17-year-olds defend their neutrality with firm conviction before a judge and a military prosecutor while surrounded by opposed onlookers.”​—2 Cor. 10:4.

Printing Goes Underground

Throughout this period, the Governing Body continued to give aid and direction to the brothers in Nicaragua via the Costa Rica branch and the Nicaragua country committee. But literature imports were banned, so how was the “food at the proper time” to be provided? (Matt. 24:45) Once again, Jehovah opened the way.

In 1985 the brothers were able to obtain Watchtower study articles and other Bible-based material with the help of a commercial printer. However, this avenue was risky, for it exposed our work to opposers. Hence, it was decided to employ the offset press that had been used to print assembly programs and Memorial invitations right up to the closing of the branch. The machine was put to work at the home of a sister who lived outside Managua.

Sadly, in November of that year, the press fell into the hands of the government. Not letting this setback hold up the work, the brothers promptly rebuilt an old mimeograph machine, which they nicknamed The Rooster. Previously, it had been used to print handbills, letters, and programs. When replacement parts became hard to get, the brothers were able to acquire locally another used mimeograph, naming this one The Chicken. Later, the El Salvador branch also provided them with a machine. Sticking to their barnyard nomenclature, they dubbed it The Hen.

A less sophisticated, but by no means less successful, printing method involved the use of mimeograph boards, which the brothers called las tablitas, or the little boards. Made by Pedro Rodríguez, a cabinetmaker baptized in 1954, the devices consisted of two rectangular frames joined by hinges that held a piece of cloth mesh in the top frame and a pane of glass or wood in the bottom frame, or base. The design was simple, as was the printing process. A typed paper stencil was inserted in the top frame against the cloth mesh and a sheet of clean paper was placed in the bottom frame. Ink was applied to the mesh with a roller, and after each impression a fresh sheet of paper was inserted.

Although tedious, this printing method produced several items, including the songbook Sing Praises to Jehovah, with its full complement of 225 Kingdom songs. “Once the brothers became adept at using the little boards,” recalls Edmundo Sánchez, who was involved in the printing, “they turned out 20 pages per minute. All told, we produced about 5,000 copies of the songbook alone.”

Edmundo’s wife, Elda, was among the first sisters to help prepare paper stencils for the mimeograph machines. Using her own manual typewriter, Elda, who was also a mother, started in the early morning hours and often worked late into the night typing Watchtower study articles on stencils for the mimeograph machines. She recalls: “Edmundo would give me a copy of the magazine he received from Costa Rica. I never knew how many printing groups there were or where they operated; I only knew the portion of the work I was assigned to do. I was also aware that if we were discovered, our house, our furniture​—everything—​would be confiscated and we would be arrested, possibly even ending up as ‘disappeared ones.’ Yet, our love for and fear of Jehovah dispelled any fear of man that we might have had.”

The Printing Workshops

Guillermo Ponce remembers what the printing workshops were like. He was a proofreader and a liaison between the brothers who prepared the stencils and those involved in printing and distribution. Brother Ponce explains: “The workshops were set up in the homes of certain Witness families. Each workshop was a room built within a room, which made for a small working space. In order to disguise the sound of the mimeograph, we put a tape player or a radio just outside the workshop and turned up the volume.”

Drenched in sweat, the brothers worked nine- to ten-hour days inside these tiny rooms mimeographing The Watchtower or other publications. Often, when the neighbors got curious or when someone informed the authorities, an entire operation had to be moved to another home at a moment’s notice.

The work was considered Bethel service, and those sharing in it were young, single brothers. Felipe Toruño was 19 years old and newly baptized when he was invited to serve in one of the printing shops. “My first impression,” Felipe says, “was of entering a tiny, almost airtight room that had a strong odor of stencil correction fluid. The heat seemed unbearable, and light was provided by a small fluorescent lamp.”

There were other challenges too. For instance, when a machine needed repairs​—which was often—​one could not simply take it to a repair shop. People would ask: ‘Who owns this mimeograph? What is being printed? Is the work authorized by the central government?’ So the brothers had to make their own repairs and sometimes even fabricate parts. Another problem was the frequent power outages. “Because the printing teams never wanted to fall behind in production,” recalls Brother Ponce, “I would sometimes find them working by the light of a kerosene lamp, their noses stained with soot. The appreciation, disposition, and self-sacrificing spirit shown by these fine young men motivated me to keep going.”

Some Precious Memories

Felipe Toruño looks back with fondness on his four years as an underground printer. “I always kept in mind that the brothers were eagerly awaiting this vital spiritual food,” says Felipe. “So despite the many limitations imposed upon us, we served with joy.” Omar Widdy, who shared in this work from June 1988 until its conclusion in May 1990, recalls: “One of the things that impressed me most was the atmosphere of brotherly affection. New ones were willing and eager to learn and were taught the various jobs patiently. Working conditions were not ideal, but the volunteers, although young, were spiritual men who had a deep appreciation for the sacrifices involved in this avenue of service.”

Giovanni Gaitán also served in the printing workshops. He recalls: “What helped to sustain us was appreciation for Jehovah and his organization. None of us received a monetary reimbursement at the time, but that didn’t worry us; we had what we needed. Personally, I had already been in many situations where I had to depend fully on Jehovah. So I was not too worried about my material needs. Such brothers as Guillermo Ponce, Nelson Alvarado, and Felipe Toruño, although young, were excellent examples for me. The older brothers who took the lead also strengthened me. Yes, in looking back, I have to say that the whole experience truly enriched my life.”

All involved in the underground activities saw Jehovah’s backing in many ways, even in regard to the printing work itself. Says Brother Gaitán: “Normally, one stencil lasts for 300 to 500 impressions. We made them give us 6,000 impressions!” Why was it necessary to extend the output of stencils and other printing materials? Besides being in limited supply in the country, they were available only at state-controlled shops where the purchase of unusual quantities would have been noticed, exposing the buyer to the risk of arrest. Yes, Jehovah blessed the efforts of the brothers, for with the exception of the original offset press, the authorities neither found nor closed down any of the workshops.

Brothers who had secular jobs in order to provide for their families also helped with the work, often at great risk. For instance, many delivered printed matter throughout the country, using their own vehicles. Sometimes they traveled all day, passing through many military checkpoints. They knew that if caught they could lose their vehicles, be arrested, and even imprisoned. Yet, they were undaunted. Naturally, these brothers needed the full support of their wives, some of whom also played a vital role during this difficult period, as we shall now see.

Courageous Spiritual Women

Many Christian women showed outstanding courage and loyalty during the years of restriction in Nicaragua. In cooperation with their husbands, they made their homes available for underground printing, often for months at a time. They also prepared meals for the workers, using their own resources. “A close Christian bond developed between us young brothers and these sisters,” reminisces Nelson Alvarado, who helped to coordinate the printing. “They became mothers to us. And we, like sons, caused them a lot of work. At times, we labored until four in the morning to meet quotas and deadlines, especially when extra jobs were scheduled, such as the booklet Examining the Scriptures Daily. Two of us sometimes worked shifts of almost 24 hours. Yet, without fail, the sisters would have a meal ready for us, even in the wee hours of the morning.”

Families that had a printery in their home also took care of security. Housewives usually cared for this assignment, since most husbands worked secularly during the day. One sister recalls: “To camouflage the noise coming from the machines, we had a radio blasting away at full volume. When someone came to the gate, we alerted the brothers in the workshop by means of a switch that turned on a special light bulb.”

Often the visitors were fellow Witnesses or relatives. Even so, the sisters tried to dismiss them as quickly and tactfully as possible. As you can imagine, this was not always easy to do, for these sisters were normally very hospitable. Consider the example of Juana Montiel, who had a cashew tree in her yard. Because fellow Witnesses often came to take fruit from the tree, Juana’s yard had become an informal meeting place. “When we had the privilege of having the printing operation in our home,” recalls Juana, “my husband and I had to cut the tree down. We couldn’t explain to the brothers why all of a sudden we seemed to be less sociable, but we knew that the printing operation had to be protected.”

Consuelo Beteta, now deceased, was baptized in 1956. Her home was also used for printing. However, the brothers could not park in front of her house to pick up literature without arousing suspicion. So they stopped at a safer location​—a brother’s home about a block away. In an interview prior to her death, Sister Beteta recalled those days. With a twinkle in her eye, she said: “The magazines were rolled up and stuffed into sacks destined for the different congregations. Each sack weighed about 30 pounds [15 kg]. To get to the brother’s place, my daughter-in-law and I carried the sacks on our heads and crossed a ditch behind my house. My neighbors never suspected anything, for the sacks looked no different from what most women carried on their heads.”

How the brothers treasured those loyal, courageous sisters! “It was truly a great privilege to work with them,” says Guillermo Ponce, speaking for the many brothers who served with him back at that time. Understandably, such fine Christian women, along with their husbands, were excellent examples for their offspring. So let us now reflect on some of the challenges children faced during those eventful years.

Loyal, Trustworthy Children

Like their parents, the children of those who were involved in the secret printing operations and literature distribution also showed remarkable loyalty. Claudia Bendaña, whose two children were still at home at that time, recalls: “We had a press going in a back room of our house for five months. As soon as the children came home from school, they wanted to help the brothers. But what could they do? Instead of turning them away, the brothers allowed them to staple together mimeographed sheets of The Watchtower. How the children loved being with those young men, who encouraged them to memorize Bible texts and Kingdom songs!”

“In the interests of confidentiality,” says Sister Bendaña, “my husband and I explained to our children that we were in difficult times, that this work was for Jehovah, and that it was very important for us to remain loyal. They were not to talk about this to anyone​—not to relatives or even to our Christian brothers and sisters. Thankfully, the children were faithful and obedient.”

The home of Aura Lila Martínez was one of the first to be used as a printing center. Her grandchildren shared in collating pages, stapling, and packing. They too grew very close to the brothers working in their home. And they never discussed the work with others. Eunice recalls: “We went to school and played almost every day with the Bendaña and Eugarrios children, yet we never knew that literature was being printed in one another’s homes until years later. ‘Really? In your house too?’ we asked one another in amazement. Here we were growing up as best friends, yet none of us said a thing to the others. Evidently, this was Jehovah’s way of protecting the work.”

Those early experiences continue to have a positive influence on these young ones. Emerson Martínez, now a ministerial servant in special full-time service, says: “The brothers in those workshops were my role models. They were only 18 or 19 years old, but they taught me to appreciate spiritual responsibilities, no matter how small, and I learned the value of doing quality work. If I missed even one page while collating, someone would miss out on that information. This instilled in me the importance of doing my very best for Jehovah and for our brothers.”

Elda María, daughter of Edmundo and Elda Sánchez, helped out by delivering stencils that her mother had typed of The Watchtower and other publications. She carried these on her bicycle to Brother Ponce’s house five blocks away. Before giving the stencils to her daughter, Sister Sánchez carefully wrapped them and placed them in a little basket. “Ever since I was very small,” says Elda María, “my parents trained me to be obedient. So when this period of restriction came, I was accustomed to following instructions carefully.”

Did she understand the dangers faced by the brothers​—including her father—​who were involved in the oversight of the printing? Says Elda María: “Often Father would tell me before he left the house that if he was arrested, I must not be afraid or sad. Still, when he was late coming home, I remember praying many times with Mother for his safety. We often saw people from State Security parked in front of our house watching us. If Mother had to answer the door, I would gather up all her materials and hide them. I am very grateful for the example and training my parents gave me in showing loyalty to Jehovah and to our brothers.”

Having laid a solid foundation in their youth, many young ones of that era are now in full-time service, and many serve in positions of responsibility in the congregations. Their advancement is evidence of Jehovah’s rich blessing on his people, none of whom went without spiritual food during that difficult period. In fact, the good news of God’s Kingdom continued to make advancement, even finding “fine soil” among the thousands who were imprisoned during the Sandinista era. (Mark 4:8, 20) How did this come about?

Kingdom Seed Sown in Prison

Following the Sandinista Revolution, thousands of the defeated National Guard as well as political dissidents were held in custody prior to appearing before special tribunals that sat from late 1979 to 1981. Most former National Guardsmen were sentenced to up to 30 years in Cárcel Modelo (Modelo Prison), a large penitentiary at Tipitapa, some seven miles [11 km] northeast of Managua. As we shall now see, many honesthearted people within those harsh, overcrowded confines were set free spiritually.

Late in 1979, an elder in Managua received a letter from a fellow Witness who was incarcerated, but not yet in Cárcel Modelo, for having served in the military under the Somoza government before coming to a knowledge of the truth. In his letter, the brother requested literature to share with other prisoners. The two elders who delivered the literature were not permitted to see the brother. This did not discourage him, though, for he continued witnessing to his fellow inmates, even conducting Bible studies with some of them.

One of those students, Anastasio Ramón Mendoza, made rapid spiritual progress. “I liked what I was learning so much,” he recalls, “that I began to accompany the brother as he preached to other prisoners. Some rejected us; others listened. Soon about 12 of us were studying together during recess in an open courtyard.” About a year later, one of that original group was baptized.

Early in 1981, this small group of Bible students was transferred with other prisoners to Cárcel Modelo, where they continued sharing the good news with others. At the same time, Bible-based literature also circulated quietly among the prisoners, some of it finding even more “fine soil.”

Consider the example of José de la Cruz López and his family, none of whom were Witnesses. Six months after José was imprisoned, his wife obtained a copy of My Book of Bible Stories from Witnesses she met on the street. Her sole objective was to give it to her husband. “When I began reading the Bible Stories book,” relates José, “I thought it was an evangelical publication. I knew nothing about Jehovah’s Witnesses. The book impressed me so much that I read it several times and began sharing it with my 16 cell mates, all of whom enjoyed it. It was like a drink of refreshing water. Prisoners in other cells also asked to borrow it, so that it made its way through the entire ward, ending up worn and frayed like a pack of old playing cards.”

Several of José’s fellow prisoners were members of evangelical churches; some were even pastors. José began to read the Bible with them. He was disappointed, though, when he asked them about the meaning of Genesis 3:15 only to be told that it was a mystery. One day another prisoner, himself a Bible student, said to José: “The answer is in that book you have that is published by Jehovah’s Witnesses. I can study it with you if you like.” José accepted the offer, and with the help of the Bible Stories book, he learned the meaning of Genesis 3:15. Thereafter, he began to associate with the inmates who identified themselves with the Witnesses.

One of the things that attracted José to this unique group within Cárcel Modelo was their fine conduct. “I saw people whom I knew to have had a very corrupt life-style now manifesting fine conduct because of studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses,” says José. Meanwhile, José’s wife continued to obtain literature from the Witnesses and pass it on to her husband who, in turn, progressed spiritually. In fact, his study group even assigned him a section of a ward where he could preach from cell to cell. Thus he was able to lend his few pieces of literature to interested ones and also invite them to the meetings, which were held in the ward during recess.

Caring for the Spiritual Needs of the Prisoners

The East Managua Congregation tended to the spiritual needs of the growing number of prisoners in Cárcel Modelo who were reading the literature and making spiritual progress. To that end, the congregation set up a program whereby certain brothers and sisters would secretly take literature to the prisoners. Visits were allowed every 30 to 60 days, but a prisoner could receive a visit only from the person he had previously requested. So not all interested ones could receive personal visits from local Witnesses. Still, that did not present a major problem because the inmates would soon get together and share things with one another.

The elders of the East Managua Congregation helped to organize and direct the activities of the expanding group within Cárcel Modelo. They maintained regular contact especially with the inmates who were taking the lead spiritually, explaining to them how to conduct weekly meetings, carry out the preaching work in an orderly fashion, and report all such activities. In turn, these prisoners passed that information on to the others. Good theocratic order certainly became necessary, for by that time a large group of Bible students had formed in the jail.

Cárcel Modelo originally had four wards, each holding as many as 2,000 prisoners. “Each ward was independent of the others,” explains Julio Núñez, one of the visiting elders, “so the weekly meetings were held separately in each ward’s recreation area, with approximately 80 people attending altogether.”

Baptized in a Barrel

As new ones advanced, several expressed the desire to be baptized. Visiting elders approved the candidates for baptism and helped the prisoners taking the lead spiritually to arrange for a baptism on a date that coincided with an assembly being held on the outside. Usually a baptism talk would be given the night before in one of the cells, and the following morning when the prisoners went to the baths, the candidates would be baptized.

José de la Cruz López was baptized in prison in November 1982. “I was baptized in a trash barrel,” he relates. “We gave it a good scrubbing with detergent. Then we lined it with a sheet and filled it with water. However, armed guards arrived just as we had gathered around for the baptism. ‘Who authorized this baptism?’ they asked. The brother taking the lead explained that one needs no authorization to do what God says. The guards acquiesced but wanted to watch the proceedings. So with them looking on, I was asked the two questions put to baptism candidates, and then I was immersed in the barrel.” At least 34 prisoners were eventually baptized in this way.

Some inmates made rapid progress. One of these was Omar Antonio Espinoza, who served 10 years of his 30-year sentence in Cárcel Modelo. Prisoners were moved periodically, and during Omar’s second year, one of his cell mates was a Witness. Omar noticed that other prisoners regularly visited this man, who taught them the Bible. Impressed by what he saw and heard, Omar also requested a Bible study.

Omar began studying with the aid of the book The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life, covering a chapter a day. After 11 days, he wanted to be a publisher. When he completed the 22 chapters of the book, he asked to be baptized. However, the brothers asked him to think about the matter a little longer. They also recommended that he study a second publication, namely, You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, which had just been received in the prison. In a little over a month, Omar completed that book too. What is more, he quit smoking and made other changes as well. Clearly, Bible truth was influencing his life. Seeing these changes convinced the brothers that his desire was genuine, so Omar was baptized in a barrel on January 2, 1983.

Prison Sign Language

In order to pass on information received from the elders visiting the prison or to gather information, such as service reports, the incarcerated publishers had to communicate between wards. Brother Mendoza, who was baptized in prison in 1982, tells how they did this.

“Some of us,” he says, “learned a form of sign language that had developed among the prisoners. When it was time to observe the Memorial, we estimated when the sun had set and then signaled one another so that all of us could join in prayer at the same time. We did this year after year. Signing also helped us with our study of The Watchtower. When brothers in one of the wards did not have the study article for that week, we signed the entire article to them. At the receiving end, an observer read aloud the signs to a friend who wrote the article out.” But how did spiritual food get into the prison in the first place?

Spiritual Food Nourishes Prisoners

Elders, their families, and other publishers of the East Managua Congregation regularly came to Cárcel Modelo to visit the prisoners. For almost ten years, they brought both material and spiritual provisions for their brothers, including The Watchtower and Our Kingdom Ministry. The spiritual food, of course, had to be concealed.

One elder hid magazines in the hollow of his big wooden crutches. “Young ones also helped out, since they were rarely searched,” relates Julio Núñez. The visitors were even able to get the Memorial emblems into the prison.

Each ward had its own specified day for visitors, and approved people usually spent the whole day with the prisoner in a large courtyard. In this way, a handful of Witness inmates could meet with their brothers and sisters from Managua and obtain spiritual supplies. Then later, when these prisoners returned to their wards, they were able to share what they had received.

Not even Kingdom songs were overlooked. “In our ward,” says Brother López, “only one of us had contact with the visiting brothers. So it fell upon that prisoner to learn the tunes to a few songs at a time and then to teach the rest of us. Because we had only one songbook, we all practiced before the meetings.” Brother Mendoza was one of the few inmates who could have Witness visitors. “Carlos Ayala and his family visited me,” Brother Mendoza says. “His two daughters taught me at least nine Kingdom songs, which I taught my companions.” Brother López was one of those who learned the songs secondhand. He recalls: “Later when I began to attend meetings on the outside, I was delighted but, I must admit, a little surprised to learn that we really had been singing the same melodies.”

Staying Spiritually Strong in Prison

What kind of environment did the brothers and interested ones have to put up with in prison, and how did they remain spiritually strong? Brother Mendoza recalls: “Prison food was rationed. All the inmates were beaten on several occasions, and at times, guards fired shots around us as we lay facedown on the floor. These things were done to put our nerves on edge. When there were clashes between some of the other prisoners and the guards, we were all punished by being sent out into the courtyard naked to bake in the sun. We Witnesses used these occasions to upbuild and console one another. We recalled Bible texts and shared points we had learned in our personal study. These experiences helped us remain united and strong.”

Taking advantage of their abundance of free time, many Witnesses and interested ones read the Bible through four or five times. It was not unusual for them to study carefully, and several times over, all of the Bible-based publications that came into their hands. With special appreciation, Brother Mendoza remembers the Yearbooks. “The experiences from different countries, the maps​—we studied them all,” he recalls. “Each year we compared the increases, the number of congregations, the number of new ones baptized, and the Memorial attendance in each country. These things gave us great joy.”

Under such circumstances, new publishers quickly acquired a good knowledge of God’s Word as well as theocratic organization. They also became zealous preachers and teachers. In February 1986, for instance, Cárcel Modelo had 43 publishers conducting 80 Bible studies. An average of 83 attended the weekly meetings.

All these spiritually liberated inmates were soon to experience additional freedom, for the government decided to grant a pardon to all political prisoners. As a result, the last 30 publishers within Cárcel Modelo were set free on March 17, 1989. The East Managua Congregation promptly arranged for the newly released publishers to be contacted by the elders in the areas where they moved. These elders, in turn, welcomed their new brothers, many of whom later became elders, ministerial servants, and pioneers.

Restrictions Did Not Stop the Preaching Work

Despite difficulties and dangers, the number of publishers in Nicaragua kept growing rapidly during the era of restrictions. In fact, in some areas congregations were formed that consisted almost entirely of new ones. An example is the La Reforma Congregation. Special pioneers Antonio Alemán and his wife, Adela, traveled daily to witness in the rural communities between Masaya and Granada. One of these communities was La Reforma. Here, early in 1979, the Alemáns studied with Rosalío López, a young man whose wife had just passed away. Rosalío soon told his in-laws, with whom he lived, the things he was learning. He spoke to his mother-in-law first, then to one brother- and sister-in-law after another. Soon a group of 22 family members could be seen walking to the meetings in Masaya, four miles [6 km] away.

One day Rosalío’s in-laws said to him: “We learned at the meetings that Jehovah’s Witnesses preach from door to door, but we’re not doing it.”

“All right,” said Rosalío, “we’ll go preaching this Saturday.” And they did! With Rosalío doing the talking, all 22 went to one door together! When Antonio came for the next study, Rosalío announced, with a big smile: “We all went out preaching this week!” Although Antonio was delighted with the zeal of his students, he encouraged the young couples to get certain personal affairs in order first.

In December 1979, Rosalío and one of his late wife’s brothers, Húber López, were the first from this group to be baptized, the others following in quick succession. Just three years later, the La Reforma Congregation was established. It started out with 30 publishers​—all from the same family! In time, Húber, his brother Ramón, and Rosalío were appointed elders. In 1986, 54 members of the congregation served as pioneers.​—See box on pages 99-102.

As a result of zealous preaching by members of the La Reforma Congregation, six other congregations were eventually formed in the surrounding communities. Remember, too, that the brothers were still under the watchful eye of the authorities, who were not impressed by their zeal. “We were constantly harassed by the military,” recalls Húber López, “but that never stopped us from preaching.” In fact, the preaching work increased during this difficult era. How so? Because many brothers lost their jobs and took up regular or auxiliary pioneer service.

Jehovah blessed their efforts. In 1982, there were 4,477 publishers of the good news in Nicaragua, but by 1990​—after eight years of restrictions and persecution—​that number had grown to 7,894. That was a 76-percent increase!

Restrictions Removed

In February 1990, internationally monitored elections saw a change of government in Nicaragua. Soon thereafter, the restrictions on Jehovah’s Witnesses were lifted, military conscription was ended, and the defense committees were disbanded. While cautious, the brothers no longer feared the prying eyes of neighbors. In September of that year, Ian Hunter, who had been serving on the Branch Committee in Guatemala, became the new coordinator of the Nicaragua country committee.

For the preceding eight years, the country committee oversaw the work in Nicaragua without the benefit of an office and office equipment. Indeed, Brother Hunter was glad that he brought along the typewriter he had been using at the Guatemala branch! A local brother, Julio Bendaña, kindly offered much of his own office equipment to the brothers, who had a lot of work to do.

A house on the outskirts of Managua was obtained to serve as a branch office. A number of the brothers, however, were unfamiliar with the normal Bethel routine, for they were used to working in secret at different locations and at odd hours. But they responded well to training and made the necessary adjustments. Most of these young men continue to serve Jehovah faithfully, some in different avenues of full-time service.

To help with the work at the branch, brothers were also sent in from other countries. Missionaries Kenneth and Sharan Brian were reassigned from Honduras back to Nicaragua late in 1990. In January 1991, Juan and Rebecca Reyes, graduates of the first class of the Gilead Extension School in Mexico, came over from Costa Rica, followed by Arnaldo Chávez, also a graduate of Mexico’s first class, and his wife, María. Lothar and Carmen Mihank arrived two years later from Panama, where Lothar had served on the Branch Committee. Most were assigned to the new branch, where they helped get the work back onto a proper organizational footing. Today, the Nicaragua Bethel family comprises 37 members of various nationalities.

In February 1991 a Branch Committee was appointed to replace the country committee, and the Nicaragua branch officially reopened on May 1, 1991. The foundation was now laid for future growth, and how impressive that growth would prove to be! From 1990 to 1995, 4,026 new disciples were baptized​—a 51-percent increase. This growth created a pressing need for suitable places to meet. However, you may recall that back in 1982, a total of 35 properties were seized by mobs.

Reclaiming the Properties

When the Kingdom Halls were first illegally occupied, the brothers did not passively concede defeat but promptly appealed to the government, citing the Constitution of Nicaragua in their defense. Yet, despite the brothers’ compliance with every legal requirement, their requests fell on deaf ears. In 1985 the brothers even wrote to the then president of Nicaragua requesting legal recognition and the return of all properties. Besides that, they made numerous requests for an interview with the minister of the interior. But all these efforts bore no fruit.

When the new government took office in April 1990, the brothers promptly submitted another petition, this time to the new minister of the interior, requesting that Jehovah’s Witnesses be legally reregistered. How they rejoiced and thanked Jehovah when, just four months later, their petition was granted! Since then, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society has been given international mission status by the Nicaraguan government and can operate freely and with the usual tax exemptions accorded to such nonprofit organizations. Recovering the Kingdom Halls, however, has not been easy, for some of these were “given” to supporters of the former regime.

The brothers appealed to the newly formed National Committee for the Revision of Confiscated Properties, requesting the restitution of all properties. This proved to be a complicated, frustrating process, owing, in part, to the volume of similar appeals from other organizations and individuals. After a year of intense effort, one property was returned in January 1991. The brothers also visited the individuals occupying Kingdom Halls, in order to come to some agreement. But most of these people felt that their acquisition was a legitimate “gain” from the revolution.

The branch property was returned later that year, but an alternative dwelling had to be purchased for the family occupying the premises. Over the following years, the brothers gradually recovered 30 of the 35 properties and received compensation in the form of government bonds for those that were nonrecoverable.

Coping With Natural Disasters

Besides the earthquakes mentioned earlier in this report, volcanoes and hurricanes have also exacted a toll on Nicaragua. Since 1914 the country’s most active volcano, Cerro Negro, has erupted 12 times, smothering vast areas of crops with ash. Elfriede Urban, a missionary serving in León during the eruptions of 1968 and 1971, describes what they were like: “Black sand and ash rained over the city for two weeks. It had to be shoveled from roofs lest they cave in. People had good reason to worry because old León had been buried that way centuries ago. Wind carried fine sand everywhere. It was in our shoes, clothes, beds, food, and even between the pages of our books! Yet, through all of this, the brothers continued attending meetings and participating in the field ministry.”

In October 1998, Hurricane Mitch, which some experts called “the most deadly hurricane to strike the Western Hemisphere in the last two centuries,” deluged all of Central America. “Mitch killed between 3,000 and 4,000 people in Nicaragua and caused extensive property damage,” says Encarta Encyclopedia. “Heavy rains formed a lake in the crater of Casitas volcano, causing a landslide that covered 80 sq km (30 sq mi), wiping out several villages.” Recent figures put the death toll at over 2,000.

As in other affected countries, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Nicaragua implemented a massive relief effort. In certain cities, Witness volunteers formed teams of cyclists who rode into areas impassable to vehicles so as to inquire after the brothers and to deliver food and other supplies. Often they were the first relief workers to arrive, much to the joy of their now homeless brothers. Witnesses in Costa Rica and Panama promptly sent 72 tons of food and clothing. After immediate needs were cared for, relief workers continued for several months repairing Kingdom Halls and constructing new homes for the brothers.

The “Other” Nicaragua

In 1987 the government created two autonomous regions that form the eastern part of Nicaragua. Previously known as Zelaya, they are now called the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN in Spanish) and the South Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAS). Although these regions represent about 45 percent of Nicaragua’s land area, they are home to only about 10 percent of the population.

Dotted with gold and silver mines, the RAAN and RAAS extend from the eastern slopes of the rugged central highlands to the lagoons and marshes of the Mosquito Coast. In between lies a variegated landscape of tropical rain forest, pine and palm savannas, and numerous rivers and streams that snake their way down to the Caribbean. Over the years, villages, towns, and small cities populated by mestizos, as well as Miskito and other indigenous peoples, have been established there.

To the majority of Miskito, Sumo, Rama, and Creole inhabitants of this region, the capital city, Managua, seems like another world. Indeed, there is still no paved road linking the east with the west. Although Spanish is spoken in the Atlantic region, many people speak Miskito, Creole, or some other indigenous tongue. And most profess to be Protestant, generally Moravian, in contrast with those in the predominantly Catholic Pacific region. So in almost every way​—geographically, linguistically, historically, culturally, and religiously—​east and west stand in sharp contrast. So how would the good news be received in this “other” Nicaragua?

The Kingdom Message Goes Farther Afield

Witness missionaries made exploratory visits to the eastern zone as early as 1946 and placed literature. In the 1950’s, circuit overseer Sydney Porter and his wife, Phyllis, visited the small coastal cities of Bluefields and Puerto Cabezas, the Corn Islands, and the mining towns of Rosita, Bonanza, and Siuna. “On one trip to the mines,” Sydney relates, “we each placed over 1,000 magazines and 100 books. Everyone loved to read.” Isolated groups were soon formed in many of these towns, and since the 1970’s, these groups have progressively become congregations.

However, other areas of the RAAN and the RAAS were hardly touched for years. Isolation, a lack of connecting roads, and tropical downpours for over eight months of the year presented major challenges to the preaching work. But these were not insurmountable, as demonstrated by many zealous and intrepid pioneers. Largely as a result of their determination and hard work, there are now seven congregations and nine groups, comprising some 400 Kingdom publishers, in the RAAN and the RAAS.

To illustrate the challenges faced by Witnesses in these regions, consider the example of one 22-year-old brother. Three times a week, he travels through the mountains for approximately eight hours to attend meetings in the mining town of Rosita, where the nearest congregation is located. He serves there as a ministerial servant and regular pioneer. The only baptized Witness in his family, he generally works alone in this mountainous area where houses are often two hours’ walking distance apart. If it gets late while he is at one house, he sleeps there and resumes witnessing in the area the next day, since it is impractical to travel home for the night. Recently, his father died, leaving this young brother, as the eldest son, responsible to care for his family. Yet, he is still able to pioneer. In fact, one of his fleshly brothers is now an unbaptized publisher and accompanies him in the ministry.

Since 1994 the branch has organized yearly preaching campaigns in this vast region. Temporary special pioneers, drawn from the ranks of zealous regular pioneers, work remote towns and villages in the RAAN and the RAAS for four months during the dry season. These hardy pioneers contend with extreme heat, rugged terrain, snakes, wild animals, contaminated water, and the risk of contracting an infectious disease. Their goal is to give a thorough witness, conduct Bible studies with interested ones, and hold Christian meetings, including the Memorial. The results they obtain also help the branch office to determine where special pioneers should be assigned. Over the years, this program has led to the forming of congregations and groups in the towns of Waspam and San Carlos, along the Coco River in the far northeast.

Although the RAAN and the RAAS have seen a heavy influx of Spanish-speaking mestizos, indigenous Miskito remain the largest group in these regions. Some Bible-based publications are available in Miskito, and a number of pioneers have learned the language. As a result, the Kingdom message has made a favorable impression on many of these hospitable, Bible-loving people.

For instance, near the Likus River in the RAAN lies Kwiwitingni, a Miskito village of 46 houses, 6 of which were unoccupied during the 2001 pioneer campaign. That year temporary special pioneers conducted 40 Bible studies in the village​—one per home! After just one month, three students expressed the desire to be baptized, one having been the assistant to the pastor of the local Moravian Church. Two couples wanted to become publishers, but were not legally married. Hence, the pioneers kindly explained to them the Bible’s standards regarding marriage and baptism. Imagine the joy of the pioneers when just before they were to go home, they were approached by these two couples holding high their marriage certificates!

Since that fruitful campaign, publishers in Waspam have regularly traveled the 12 miles [19 km] to Kwiwitingni to help the newly interested ones continue making spiritual progress and to train them for the ministry.

Temporary special pioneers preaching in several Miskito villages along the Coco River met a large group of Americans doing social work. The pioneers placed a number of English-language magazines with them. In the village of Francia Sirpi, near the Wawa River, members of a Baptist church were building a small school. The leader of the construction group told one of the pioneers: “I admire the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses. You’re here teaching the Bible. I wish my religion would promote that.”

A Need for Experienced Brothers

During the era of restrictions, about 60 percent of the Witnesses in Nicaragua attended meetings that were no larger than small family groups. And they had just a few publications for the ministry. Assemblies were held on a congregation level, and the program was condensed. A number of mature brothers who were also family heads substituted for traveling overseers but could do so only on a part-time basis. Additionally, many longtime Witness families emigrated elsewhere during those tumultuous years. Hence, when the work was legally registered again, there was an urgent need for experienced elders and pioneers.

Indeed, the elders themselves yearned for training in organizational procedures, while the publishers required direction in such things as how to offer literature in the field. In order to address these needs, the Governing Body assigned to Nicaragua graduates of Ministerial Training Schools held in El Salvador, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. One of these brothers, Pedro Henríquez, a graduate of the first class of Ministerial Training School in El Salvador, began circuit work in Nicaragua in 1993. Eleven experienced circuit overseers from Mexico also ‘stepped over’ to this modern-day Macedonia to help out.​—Acts 16:9.

In the last nine years, Nicaragua has also received 58 Gilead graduates, who are based in six missionary homes throughout the country. Their maturity has contributed to a healthy spiritual atmosphere in the congregations, and they have helped many youths view full-time service as a desirable goal.

Those who came to Nicaragua during the 1960’s and 1970’s to serve where the need was greater called it a preacher’s paradise. This still holds true today. A brother in the Service Department at the branch comments: “Nicaragua is still a country where publishers and pioneers determine how many Bible studies they will conduct, for there is so much interest.” Understandably, many who are eager to help where the need is greater and who have counted the cost have inquired about serving in Nicaragua. In fact, by April 2002, 289 pioneers from 19 countries had moved there to help out. How grateful the local Witnesses are for all these harvest workers!​—Matt. 9:37, 38.

An Exciting National Gathering

Prior to the restrictions, the last national convention had been held in 1978. So imagine how thrilled the brothers were to receive an invitation to a district convention to be held in Managua in December 1999! Family members were encouraged to start saving money for travel and other expenses so that all could attend. In obtaining these funds, some Witnesses were quite resourceful. For instance, since pork is popular in Nicaragua, a number obtained living “piggy banks” by buying, raising, and later selling pigs. As a result of wise planning and determination, 28,356 Witnesses and interested ones from coast to coast were able to come to Managua’s national baseball stadium for the “God’s Prophetic Word” District Convention, which began on December 24.

How thrilled the delegates were on Saturday of that convention to see 784 persons immersed​—the largest baptism in the history of the work in Nicaragua! Missionaries who had earlier served there were present and shared encouraging experiences with the audience. What is more, the convention had a powerful unifying effect by moving all, regardless of language or tribal background, to be even more determined than ever to progress in the one “pure language” of spiritual truth “in order to serve [Jehovah] shoulder to shoulder.”​—Zeph. 3:9.

Defending Our Right to Receive Bloodless Medical Treatment

Nicaragua has three Hospital Liaison Committees (HLCs), whose work is coordinated by Hospital Information Services at the branch. Besides helping Witness patients when the blood transfusion issue arises, these committees strive to inform medical professionals and students of the many alternatives to blood transfusion that are acceptable to Jehovah’s Witnesses.

To that end, members of the HLCs have given lectures and audiovisual presentations to doctors and medical students, some of whom have volunteered very positive comments. In fact, a growing number of surgeons and anesthesiologists have indicated their willingness to cooperate with Jehovah’s Witnesses by respecting their Bible-based stand on the matter of blood transfusion.

Resolved to Forge Ahead

The theocratic history of Nicaragua provides ample testimony that neither natural nor man-made disasters can check the progress of the good news. Yes, Jehovah has truly made “the little one” himself become “a thousand.” (Isa. 60:22) The first field service report for the country, submitted in 1943, represented the activity of just three publishers; 40 years later saw a peak of 4,477 publishers. By 1990 when the missionaries were allowed to return, the number had climbed to 7,894! Jehovah’s blessing continued through the decade of the ’90’s, which saw the number of Kingdom proclaimers almost double.

Naturally, this rapid growth has created an urgent need for more Kingdom Halls. Hence, the branch office has directed an extensive construction program that includes the building of about 120 additional Kingdom Halls, besides a new branch in Ticuantepe, seven miles [11 km] south of Managua. The branch should be completed by April 2003.

In recent years Nicaragua has made some economic strides, especially in Managua, a city that has seen rapid growth in job opportunities, education, and entertainment. Construction seems to be an ongoing feature of the city, which now boasts modern restaurants, gasoline stations, and shopping centers filled with consumer goods and the numerous other trappings of Western society.

Such an environment with its many temptations presents new challenges to Christians. One longtime elder observed: “Change is happening fast. It is like putting a plateful of candy before a child who has never eaten anything but rice and beans and telling him: ‘Now, be careful!’ Yes, we know how to serve Jehovah under hardship, but now the enemy is subtle. This situation is harder to deal with.”

Still, the loyalty, zeal, and courage that Jehovah’s people displayed during the years of restriction continue to bear fine fruitage. Many of the children who grew up in that era now serve as elders, pioneers, and Bethel volunteers. Nicaragua now has 17 circuits made up of 295 congregations, including 31 isolated groups. The August 2002 report showed a new peak of 16,676 publishers, yet the Memorial attendance for that year was 66,751!

Hence, our prayer is that many more people in this diverse land will come to know Jehovah before his “year of goodwill” concludes. (Isa. 61:2) Yes, may our heavenly Father continue to extend the boundaries of our spiritual paradise until the entire earth is “filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters are covering the very sea.”​—Isa. 11:9.

[Box on page 72]

An Overview of Nicaragua

The land: Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America. It is divided into two parts by the central mountains. The western part is a region of freshwater lakes. Less fertile, the eastern region is mostly rain forest and plains. Nicaragua has about 40 volcanoes; some are active.

The people: Most are Spanish-speaking mestizos​—people of mixed American Indian and European ancestry. A small number of Monimbó and Subtiaba Indians live on the west coast, while the eastern region includes Miskito, Sumo, and Rama Indians, as well as Creoles and Afro-Caribs. The main religion is Roman Catholicism.

The language: Spanish is the official language. Indigenous languages are also spoken.

The livelihood: Agriculture is Nicaragua’s economic mainstay.

The food: Major crops consumed domestically are rice, corn, beans, sorghum, plantains, cassava, and various fruits. Exports include coffee, sugar, bananas, seafood, and beef.

The climate: Nicaragua is tropical. Rainfall varies from 75 [190 cm] to 150 inches [380 cm], depending on the region. Coastal temperatures average around 80 degrees Fahrenheit [26°C], while the highlands are a little cooler.

[Box/Picture on page 99-102]

A Bout With the Secret Police

Húber and Telma López

Profile: Parents of three grown children. Húber serves as an elder in the local congregation.

Under the revolutionary government, ministerial servants and elders were often arrested by State Security and detained from one day to several weeks for questioning. Because of their Bible-based neutrality, Jehovah’s Witnesses were accused of but never formally charged with inciting people to rebel against the government. The interrogators also wanted the names of our “instructors” and “leaders.”

One of the many brothers to undergo this experience was Húber López, today an elder and the father of three grown children. In December 1985, Brother López was arrested at his home in La Reforma, a rural community about 25 miles [40 km] southeast of Managua. His wife, Telma, recounts the anguish of that day:

“At 4:00 p.m., two jeeps stopped in front of our house, one with agents from State Security, the other with soldiers who surrounded the house. After I told the agents that my husband was not at home, they ordered me and the children outside, saying that they would search the house. However, our eldest son, Elmer, who was ten years old, stayed inside. He watched as they started to empty a cabinet of books, secular and theocratic. In between those books, my husband had hidden some congregation records. When the intruders took the books out to the jeeps, Elmer cried out: ‘Sir, are you going to take my schoolbooks too?’ A soldier gruffly replied: ‘All right, take them back.’ In that way, our son was able to rescue his books and the congregation records.

“While we were eating supper that evening, the soldiers returned. Pointing rifles at us, they took my husband away while the children looked on, crying. The soldiers wouldn’t tell us why or where they were taking him.”

Describing what followed, Brother López says: “I was taken to the Masaya jail and put into a cell with all sorts of criminals. I immediately identified myself as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and witnessed to these men for several hours. At midnight, someone ordered me out of the cell at gunpoint and into a jeep waiting outside in the dark. I was told to keep my face down, but as I got in, I recognized four others in the jeep with their heads down. They were ministerial servants and elders from the Masaya area who had been arrested that same evening.

“Twice that night they threatened to kill us, first in a coffee field and then in an urban area, where they lined us up against a wall. On both occasions they seemed to wait for us to say something, but none of us did. Finally, they took us to the prison in Jinotepe and kept us in separate cells for three days.

“We were not allowed to sleep more than a few hours at a time. Our cells were kept dark, so we didn’t know if it was day or night. We were repeatedly called into the interrogation room and questioned about our preaching activities, the meetings, and the names of our ‘leaders.’ One of my interrogators even threatened to arrest my parents and force the information from them. In fact, I even heard the voices of my parents, my wife, and other family members while I was in my cell. What I heard, however, was a recording that was supposed to fool me into believing that my family members had been brought in for questioning.

“On the fourth day, Thursday, I was told that I would be released. But first I had to sign a declaration vowing that I would discontinue preaching about my religion. I was also told that my Witness companions had already signed​—which, of course, was untrue. ‘If you refuse to sign,’ my interrogators said, ‘we will bring you back and you’ll rot here.’

“‘Then please don’t release me; just leave me here,’ I replied.

“‘Why do you say that?’

“‘Because I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and that means I preach.’

“To my surprise, the five of us were released on the same day. Yes, Jehovah answered our prayers and strengthened us so that we remained calm and did not betray our brothers. After that episode, though, we were constantly under surveillance.”

[Box/Picture on page 105, 106]

Forced Into the Combat Zone

Giovanni Gaitán

Baptized: 1987

Profile: Arrested just weeks before he was to be baptized, he was forced to accompany the BLI for 28 months. Served as a pioneer for over eight years.

Some young brothers were forced to accompany the Irregular Warfare Battalions (BLI in Spanish) that fought in the dense mountain jungle.

One of these young men was Giovanni Gaitán. While still an unbaptized publisher, Giovanni spent 28 months with the BLI. He was arrested just a few weeks before he was to be baptized. Giovanni relates: “My trials began after the first combat. An officer ordered me to wash a bloodstained uniform taken from a dead soldier. I refused, reasoning that this could become the first link in a chain of events that ended with my compromising my Christian neutrality. The officer was furious and struck me hard on the cheek. He took out his pistol, pressed it against my head, and pulled the trigger, but the gun did not fire. So he smashed it against my face and threatened that if I disobeyed him again, he would kill me.

“Over the next 18 months, this person made my life very difficult. On a number of occasions, he had my hands tied for the entire day so that I had no way to eat. In this condition, I was often forced to walk through the jungle ahead of the group, with a rifle and grenades strapped to my back​—a prime target for the enemy! He beat me and threatened to kill me, especially during the heat of battle when others were dying around me and I refused to pick up their rifles. Yet, I did not hate him, nor did I show fear, for Jehovah gave me courage.

“One morning in March 1985, some other brothers and I were brought down from the mountains to an area where our families were allowed to visit us near Mulukukú, about 180 miles [300 km] northeast of Managua. While eating and conversing with family members, I noticed this same officer sitting by himself. I took him a plate of food. When he finished eating, he called me over. Bracing myself for the worst, I was surprised when he apologized for the way he had treated me. He even asked me about my beliefs. That was the last time I saw him; he died shortly thereafter in an accident involving a military truck.”

[Box/Pictures on page 116-118]

Two Country Committee Members Reflect

During the period of restriction, the work in Nicaragua came under the direction of the Costa Rica branch. A country committee was appointed in Nicaragua to provide local oversight. Two brothers who served on that committee, Alfonso Joya and Agustín Sequeira, reflect on those times of testing.

Alfonso Joya: “I was serving as an elder in Managua when invited to serve on the country committee in 1985. For my secular work, I managed the largest branch of a well-known bank. My knowledge of banking enabled me to help make the most of the financial assets of Jehovah’s organization at a time when the Nicaraguan currency was rapidly devaluing, crippling the economy. Even an ordinary pair of shoes, which had cost about 250 cordobas, soon sold for two million cordobas!

“During this economically difficult period, the country also experienced fuel shortages, which made it difficult for the brothers to deliver literature to distant congregations. Jehovah came to our aid by making it possible for me to assist the brothers with needed fuel.

“My own family did not know that I was a member of the country committee. At the time, I was 35 years old and eligible for military reserve status. On four separate occasions, the military tried to conscript me, even in my own house in one case. I remember the incident well, for my wife and three young children were at my side as I stared down the barrel of a rifle. Remarkably, I never lost my job at the bank.”

Agustín Sequeira: “I was serving as a special pioneer in a small town in Boaco when the missionaries were deported in 1982. Later, I had the privilege of being appointed to the country committee. The brothers in my congregation had no knowledge of this appointment. I would get up at 4:00 a.m., do my office work, and then share in field service with the congregation.

“The country committee members all used pseudonyms as we carried out our responsibilities, and we agreed not to give one another details about our work. This served as a protection in case of arrest. We didn’t have an office but worked at different homes. Because a briefcase might arouse curiosity, I sometimes placed office papers in a bag with some onions on top with their stalks showing. I had a few narrow escapes but was never arrested.

“Members of the Costa Rica Branch Committee visited us on several occasions to give us encouragement and direction. A most memorable and encouraging event for me was the dedication of the Costa Rica branch in January 1987, for on that occasion another member of the country committee and I had the joy of meeting with two members of the Governing Body.”

Shortly before this report went to press, Brother Sequeira passed away peacefully in death. He was 86 years old and had been in full-time service for over 22 years. He was a member of the Branch Committee in Nicaragua.

[Box/Pictures on page 122, 123]

We Found True Freedom in Prison

Between 1979 and 1989, Cárcel Modelo was filled with military and political prisoners who had been associated with the former government. The Kingdom message penetrated these walls, filled the hearts and minds of honesthearted individuals, and nurtured within them a Christlike personality. (Col. 3:5-10) Here are a few comments from some former inmates.

José de la Cruz López: “When imprisoned, I was embittered and had no hope, no future. Then I met fellow inmates who had become Jehovah’s Witnesses. I was impressed both by their explanation of the Bible and by their fine conduct. At last, I was spiritually satisfied and had a hope. I felt that if I had been willing to give my life for a human government that could offer no genuine hope, how much more so should I be loyal to the One who gave his Son for me! After my release, my wife and daughters and three other family members also learned the truth. Truly, I can never repay Jehovah for what he has done for me.”

Brother López serves as an elder in Managua.

Omar Antonio Espinoza: “When I was 18, I was given a 30-year sentence and served 10 years before receiving a pardon. Although I regret having lost my liberty, it was in prison that I came to know Jehovah and true freedom. Previously, I had led a dissolute life, but now I made a complete turnabout. I am grateful to Jehovah that my cup is full in a spiritual sense. My determination is like that of Joshua: ‘As for me and my household, we shall serve Jehovah.’​—Josh. 24:15.”

Brother Espinoza serves as an elder in the city of Rivas.

Anastasio Ramón Mendoza: “Within a few months of confinement, I began to read the Bible on my own. Then I began to study it with a fellow prisoner who was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I soon became convinced that I had found the truth. Yet, I put off baptism because I was seething with hatred for my captors​—a state of mind that I knew did not have Jehovah’s approval.

“I prayed intensely, both for forgiveness and for help to overcome my hurtful attitude. Jehovah heard my supplications, for he patiently taught me to hate not individuals but bad attitudes and actions. I was baptized in 1982. Since my release in 1989, I have studied the Bible with many former military men and others who were in a situation similar to mine. Some are now my spiritual brothers.”

Brother Mendoza serves as a ministerial servant in Managua.

[Box/Picture on page 141-145]

A Pastor’s Prayers Are Answered

Teodosio Gurdián

Baptized: 1986

Profile: Brother Gurdián currently serves as an elder in the Wamblán Congregation.

In 1986, at the height of the Sandinista-contra war, two publishers from the small congregation of San Juan del Río Coco made the 60-mile [100 km] journey north to Wamblán, a central-highlands town set in an area of almost barren hills near the border of Honduras. The small group of Witnesses that had lived there left Wamblán two years earlier because of the fighting. The two brothers were searching for a man named Teodosio Gurdián. Teodosio explains why.

“I had been the pastor of an evangelical church in Wamblán. Our church leadership came from the National Association of Nicaraguan Pastors (ANPEN in Spanish), an organization of pastors from all of the Protestant religions in Managua. Shortly after the Sandinistas took power, ANPEN signed an agreement approving the participation of pastors and parishioners in the Sandinista Defense Committees and other organizations, including the army. But this troubled me, for I asked myself, ‘How could a minister of God bear arms?’

“Then I obtained the book True Peace and Security​—From What Source? from a Witness family that lived in Wamblán at the time. I read it well into the night. I also began to read the Watchtower and Awake! magazines regularly. This, at last, was real spiritual food. In fact, I even used the information in my sermons. When this was brought to the attention of the church officials, they called me to the central offices in Managua.

“Thinking that I was being misled for want of knowledge as a pastor, the officials offered me an eight-month scholarship to study in Managua. The things I had learned from the Witness publications, however, were well-founded in the Bible. So I asked the church officials many questions, such as, ‘Why aren’t we preaching from door to door like the early Christians did? Why do we tithe if the apostles did not require it?’ My questions were not satisfactorily answered, and soon these people began calling me a Witness.

“After this experience, I cut off my association with the church and went to look for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Managua. But it was 1984, and the Witnesses were meeting secretly. So after two weeks of fruitless searching, I returned to Wamblán and supported my family by farming a small plot of corn and beans.

“The Witnesses who had lived in Wamblán had distributed much of their literature before leaving the area. So whenever I came across these publications in the homes I visited, I would ask: ‘Are you reading this book? May I buy it from you?’ Most would give it to me, so in time I built up a small theocratic library.

“Although I had not identified myself openly as a Witness, people in Wamblán also began to call me that. Hence, it was not long before State Security agents questioned me about my activities. They even told me that I could preach in nearby villages, provided I brought back such information as the names of those who were supporting the contras. ‘If I were to do as you request,’ I replied, ‘I would be renouncing my God, and I cannot do that. Jehovah demands exclusive devotion.’

“On another occasion, an army officer asked me to sign a document showing my support of the Sandinistas. I refused. He then drew a pistol and threatened: ‘Don’t you know that we can eliminate parasites who do not serve the revolution?’ But instead of shooting me, he gave me time to reconsider. That night I said good-bye to my wife. ‘If I sign that paper, I will die anyway,’ I told her. ‘But if I die without signing it, Jehovah may remember me in the resurrection. Take care of the children, and trust in Jehovah. He will help us.’ The next morning I told the officer: ‘Here I am. Do as you wish, but I will not sign.’ He nodded and said: ‘Congratulations. I knew you would answer that way. I know who Jehovah’s Witnesses are.’ He then let me go.

“After that, I preached more openly, traveling to many outlying villages and inviting interested ones to meet together. An elderly married couple were among the first to respond; then other families followed. Soon 30 of us were meeting regularly. I used older issues of The Watchtower, presenting the material as a discourse, since we had only one copy. I even studied the Bible with some soldiers, one of whom later became a Witness.

“In 1985 a passing soldier told me of a congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Jinotega, about 70 miles [110 km] south of Wamblán. I asked a Bible student from Wamblán to accompany me there. After inquiring at the marketplace in Jinotega, we finally found the home of a Witness family. The wife answered the door. When we identified ourselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses, she inquired if we had come for the Memorial. ‘What is the Memorial?’ we asked. Upon that, she called her husband. When convinced of our sincerity, he invited us in. Regrettably, the Memorial had been held on the previous evening, but we stayed at their home for three days and attended our first Congregation Book Study.

“After returning to Wamblán, I continued to preach and to conduct the meetings on my own. Then, the day before the 1986 Memorial, the two brothers mentioned at the outset arrived. Our little group of Bible students quickly spread the word to all the interested ones in the local villages, and 85 attended our first Memorial.

“I was baptized in October of that year, together with my first Bible students​—the elderly couple mentioned earlier, who were then in their 80’s. Today the Wamblán Congregation is made up of 74 publishers and 3 regular pioneers. I am privileged to serve as one of the elders. In 2001, we held the Memorial in three other villages besides Wamblán, with a total attendance of 452.”

[Chart/Graph on page 80, 81]

NICARAGUA​—A TIME LINE

1925

1934: A visiting pioneer sister places literature in the country.

1937: Somoza regime begins.

1945: First Gilead graduates arrive.

1946: N. H. Knorr and F. W. Franz visit Managua. A branch is established.

1950

1952: Prompted by Catholic clergy, a ban is imposed.

1953: Supreme Court of Justice lifts ban.

1972: Earthquake devastates Managua.

1974: New branch office and missionary home are completed.

1975

1979: Sandinistas gain victory over Somoza regime. Up to 50,000 die in the revolution.

1981: Jehovah’s Witnesses’ legal status is suspended.

1990: Jehovah’s Witnesses regain legal recognition.

1994: One hundred temporary special pioneers are appointed. Similar campaigns follow.

1998: Hurricane Mitch slams into Central America, killing 4,000 in Nicaragua.

2000

2002: 16,676 publishers are active in Nicaragua.

[Graph]

(See publication)

Total Publishers

Total Pioneers

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

1950 1975 2000

[Maps on page 73]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

HONDURAS

NICARAGUA

Matagalpa

León

MANAGUA

Masaya

Jinotepe

Granada

Lake Nicaragua

Ometepe Island

Isthmus of Rivas

San Juan River

Bluefields

COSTA RICA

[Full-page picture on page 66]

[Picture on page 70]

Above: Francis (left) and William Wallace and their sister Jane

[Picture on page 70]

Below (back row, top to bottom): Wilbert Geiselman, Harold Duncan, and Francis Wallace; (front row, top to bottom): Blanche Casey, Eugene Call, Ann Geiselman, Jane Wallace, and Evelyn Duncan

[Pictures on page 71]

Above: Adelina and Arnoldo Castro

Right: Dora and Evaristo Sánchez

[Picture on page 76]

Doris Niehoff

[Picture on page 76]

Sydney and Phyllis Porter

[Picture on page 79]

Agustín Sequeira was the first publisher in Matagalpa

[Picture on page 82]

María Elsa

[Picture on page 82]

Gilberto Solís and his wife, María Cecilia

[Pictures on page 87]

An earthquake in 1972 devastated Managua

[Picture on page 90]

Andrew and Miriam Reed

[Picture on page 90]

Ruby and Kevin Block

[Picture on page 92]

A farm was used for the “Kingdom Loyalty” District Convention

[Pictures on page 95]

Missionaries who were deported from Nicaragua in 1982

[Picture on page 109]

Brothers who printed literature while under ban, with their mimeograph machines The Rooster, The Hen, and The Chicken

[Picture on page 110]

Elda Sánchez fearlessly prepared stencils

[Picture on page 115]

These sisters prepared food and kept watch while the brothers were printing

[Picture on page 126]

Front row: Some of the brothers who learned the truth in prison, from left to right: J. López, A. Mendoza, and O. Espinoza; back row: Carlos Ayala and Julio Núñez, elders who visited the prison to help the brothers spiritually

[Picture on page 133]

After the restrictions on Jehovah’s Witnesses were lifted, this house served as a branch office

[Pictures on page 134]

After Hurricane Mitch, some volunteers used bicycles to deliver food and supplies. Others worked to rebuild Kingdom Halls and homes

[Picture on page 139]

Banacruz, a community in the RAAN where the good news is being preached despite challenges

[Picture on page 147]

The 1999 “God’s Prophetic Word” District Convention, the first national convention held since 1978, was attended by 28,356

[Picture on page 147]

Delegates saw 784 being immersed​—the largest baptism in the history of Nicaragua

[Picture on page 148]

Branch Committee in early 2002, from left to right: Ian Hunter, Agustín Sequeira, Luis Antonio González, and Lothar Mihank

Philippines

Coconut palms, lush tropical greenery, white-sand beaches, beautiful seas​—all of these make up much of what is the Philippines. This archipelago of some 7,100 islands has been called the Pearl of the Orient Seas. Adding to its attractiveness is a lighthearted people of deep emotion who love dance and song. Should you visit this island country, you will likely never forget the exceptional hospitality shown by the friendly and beautiful people who live there.

For many, however, the Philippines is a place that brings to mind an entirely different picture​—that of disaster. You may recall the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, with its lahar flows that wiped out complete towns; or possibly you remember the world’s worst peacetime disaster at sea, in which thousands of people died when the ferry Doña Paz collided with an oil tanker. In fact, Belgium’s Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters listed the Philippines as the most disaster-prone country in the world. Typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and volcanoes are common. Add to that the relatively poor economic condition of many inhabitants, and you have a portrait of a beautiful country that has its difficulties.

Throughout the Philippines, Jehovah’s Witnesses are busy making known Bible truth to the 78,000,000 people living there. This is not an easy task. Apart from the threat of natural disasters, there are the challenges of reaching people on the many small islands and in remote areas of the mountains and jungle. Nevertheless, the work is being done. Jehovah’s people have displayed outstanding resilience despite the varied circumstances they encounter. Consequently, they have experienced Jehovah’s blessing on the disciple-making work.

In some ways, the Witnesses in the Philippines are like the ancient Israelites who desired to restore true worship in Jerusalem. They were encouraged by Nehemiah’s words: “The joy of Jehovah is your stronghold.” (Neh. 8:10) Despite the challenges they faced, the Israelites joyfully moved ahead in the work of promoting Jehovah’s worship. Like the Israelites in Nehemiah’s time, Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout the Philippines are being instructed in God’s Word. They too are making the joy of Jehovah their stronghold.

Light of Truth First Shines

The Philippines is unique in that it is the only predominantly Roman Catholic country in Asia. Filipinos originally had their indigenous religions, but over 300 years of rule by Spain impressed Catholicism on the people. Though administration for half a century by the United States exposed people to other forms of religion, the prevailing belief remains Catholic. Some 80 percent of the people profess that faith.

In 1912, Charles T. Russell, a leading Bible Student​—as Jehovah’s Witnesses were formerly known—​stopped in Manila on a lecture tour around the world. On January 14, he gave a talk at the Manila Grand Opera House on the subject “Where Are the Dead?” Literature was distributed to those in attendance.

More seeds of Bible truth were sown in the early 1920’s when Brother William Tinney from Canada came as the next representative of the Bible Students. He organized a Bible study class. Because of ill health, he had to return to Canada, but interested Filipinos continued the Bible study class. Literature sent by mail helped to keep the truth alive in people’s hearts. This was the situation until the early 1930’s. By 1933 the message of truth was being broadcast in the Philippines on radio station KZRM.

In the same year, Joseph dos Santos set out from Hawaii on a worldwide preaching tour. His first stop was the Philippines, but he never made it any farther. Brother dos Santos was given the responsibility to take the lead in the Kingdom-preaching work there and to establish a branch office. The office began operation on June 1, 1934. Brother dos Santos, along with the few local people wanting to serve Jehovah, got busy in preaching and distributing literature. Though there was opposition, by 1938 there were 121 publishers in the country, and 47 of them were serving as pioneers.

Although English was being taught by the Americans, the brothers recognized that people learn the Bible best in their native tongue. This posed a challenge because throughout the Philippines, close to 90 languages and dialects were spoken. However, efforts were made to translate literature into some of the major languages. By 1939 the branch office reported: “We are now making the Tagalog records [of Bible talks], and with these we expect to use the sound machines and phonograph more to the glory of the Lord.” They also reported work on translating the book Riches into Tagalog. Two years later, the translation of booklets into four other key Philippine languages was completed, thus opening up the way for the Kingdom message to be understood by most people in the country.

Among those who responded to the message of truth during those years was Florentino Quintos, a schoolteacher. He first learned something about the work of Jehovah’s people when he talked to a man who had personally attended Brother Russell’s lecture in Manila in 1912. In 1936, Florentino obtained from one of Jehovah’s Witnesses 16 brightly colored books that discussed the Bible. However, Florentino was busy working as a teacher, so for a while, the rainbow-colored books were displayed but not read. Then war struck, the Japanese invaded, and many normal activities came to a halt. Now Florentino had time to read, which he did. In a short time, he finished the books Riches, Enemies, and Salvation. His reading was interrupted by the need to flee from the Japanese, but the seeds of truth had been planted in his heart.

Rapid Growth Despite World War

World War II brought new challenges to Jehovah’s servants throughout the archipelago. At the beginning of the war, there were 373 publishers in the Philippines. Nevertheless, though they were few, they displayed outstanding zeal and flexibility in their efforts to promote pure worship.

Some brothers from Manila moved to smaller towns outside the city and continued their preaching work there. The war made it impossible to import Bible literature, but the brothers were able to place literature that had been stored in private homes before the war. When that supply was exhausted, they resorted to lending books to people.

Salvador Liwag, a schoolteacher who gave up his profession to become a full-time proclaimer of the good news, was in Mindanao when the war broke out. He and some other brothers evacuated to the jungles and mountains. There they continued their theocratic activities. Extreme caution had to be exercised in moving about, to avoid conscription by the Japanese for work in their garrisons. At the same time, anti-Japanese guerrillas often suspected the brothers of being Japanese spies.

Amazingly, there were opportunities to hold small assemblies during the Japanese occupation. A circuit assembly was held in Manila; many attended. Another was held in Lingayen. The inhabitants were surprised to see strangers coming in trucks; but no one interfered, and the assembly was held successfully.

Jehovah blessed all this activity, and the number of Witnesses multiplied. The 373 praisers of Jehovah at the beginning of the war became more than 2,000 just four years later.

Recall that Brother dos Santos had been assigned to take the lead in organizing the Kingdom-preaching activity in the Philippines. In January 1942 he was interned in a Japanese prison camp in Manila. Nevertheless, he too maintained a spirit of zeal. “I told the good news to as many as I could in the camp,” he said. Life in the camp was hard, and many starved to death. When Brother dos Santos was imprisoned, he weighed 135 pounds [61 kg], but when released, he weighed only 80 pounds [36 kg].

The Americans freed the prisoners in 1945 and offered to repatriate Brother dos Santos to Hawaii, but he refused. Why? His joy was in the Kingdom work, and he wanted to do what he could to see that it moved forward in the Philippines. Moreover, his replacement had not yet arrived. Said Brother dos Santos: “Until he came, I was going to stay!” Regarding Joseph dos Santos, Hilarion Amores stated: “He was really hardworking and interested in the spiritual needs of the brothers.”

Missionaries Arrive

The Filipino brothers did the best they could before and during the war, though they had had no special training. Shortly after the war, however, help arrived. Gilead graduates Earl Stewart, Victor White, and Lorenzo Alpiche arrived on June 14, 1947. At last, Brother dos Santos would have a replacement. In 1949 he returned to Hawaii with his wife and children.

Brother Stewart was appointed as branch servant. Most of the other missionaries who came in those early years were assigned to the field. As to the effect of having Gilead-trained missionaries, Victor Amores, who was sent from the Philippines to Gilead, relates: “For organizing the work, it was a big help. The brothers learned from these Gilead graduates. Progress resulted. Before 1975, we reached almost 77,000 publishers, whereas in 1946 we were only 2,600.” After the first three brothers, quite a few other missionaries followed, including the Browns and the Willetts, who served in Cebu, and the Andersons, who worked in Davao. There were also the Steeles, the Smiths, and Brothers Hachtel and Bruun. Neal Callaway arrived in 1951. He later married a local sister, Nenita, and they served in virtually all parts of the Philippines until his death in 1985. Denton Hopkinson and Raymond Leach from Britain arrived in 1954, and they continue to contribute to the work in the Philippines after more than 48 years.

Foreign Gilead graduates were not the only ones to contribute to the organization and expansion of the Kingdom-preaching work in the Philippines. By the 1950’s, Filipino brothers were also invited to Gilead School, and almost all of them returned to serve in their home country. The first three were Salvador Liwag, Adolfo Dionisio, and Macario Baswel. Victor Amores, mentioned earlier, used his training in the traveling work and at Bethel. He later raised a family but returned to the full-time service. He served as a traveling overseer and then as a special pioneer in Laguna Province, along with his wife, Lolita, until he was in his late 70’s.

Onward Through the 1970’s

As the work moved ahead rapidly, the number of publishers continued to increase, surpassing 77,000 by 1975. Overall, Jehovah’s servants maintained their spirituality and kept on serving God loyally. However, there were many who stopped serving Jehovah when the present system of things did not end in 1975. By 1979, the number of publishers had fallen below 59,000. Cornelio Cañete, who was serving as a circuit overseer in the mid-1970’s, said: “Some got baptized because of 1975 and stayed for a few years. After 1975, they left the truth.”

The vast majority, though, just needed encouragement to continue having the proper view of Christian service. So the branch office took steps to organize special talks. As a result, not only were the active ones encouraged but some of the inactive ones were helped to be active praisers of Jehovah again. The brothers came to understand that they served God, not with a date in mind, but forever. Since that time of temporary decrease, the number of Kingdom publishers has increased dramatically. Those who did not let disappointment cause them to forget all of Jehovah’s goodness have truly been blessed!

Opening Up Remote Areas​—In the Mountains

The thousands of islands that make up the Philippines are scattered over about 1,150 miles [1,850 km] of open sea from north to south and 700 miles [1,100 km] from east to west. Some islands are not inhabited, and many have rugged mountain areas. Reaching people in such remote places is a challenge.

One such area is Kalinga-Apayao. In the rugged Cordillera Central mountains of northern Luzon, people are divided up into tribes and villages, each with its own dialect and customs. Although head-hunting was abandoned in the 20th century, enmity between the villages has been common, resulting in feuds and killings. Geronimo Lastima said: “In former years, it was difficult to send special pioneers into those territories. The local people would go after the brothers with the intention to kill.”

The solution was to send sisters. Geronimo explained: “They didn’t go after women. Tradition dictates that women should not be harmed.” The sisters were effective in teaching the truth to the local people. Then, in turn, the locals were baptized and became pioneers. They understood the culture of their own people and knew how to witness effectively. As a result, “hunters” have spread all throughout these mountains​—hunters of those who want the truth. In the 1970’s, there were only a few Witnesses in all of Kalinga-Apayao; now there are two circuits.

Similarly, in the neighboring mountainous province of Ifugao, there was not even a single Witness in the early 1950’s. Three regular pioneers were assigned to preach to the people living among the centuries-old rice terraces. In time, local people began to accept the truth. Today there are 18 congregations with 315 publishers in that area.

In the far northern mountains of Abra, the problem is how to reach villages where there are not yet any Witnesses. A circuit overseer with a keen desire to take the good news to the remotest areas invited 34 others to join him in preaching in the area near Tineg. (Acts 1:8) Since there is no public transportation, the group trekked seven days through the mountains to reach ten villages with about 250 homes.

The circuit overseer relates: “It was quite a challenge to walk along the mountain ridges while carrying all our supplies. Of the six nights, we spent four sleeping in the open mountain air or beside a river.” It had been many years since some of the villages had received a witness. In one place, they met a man who said: “Twenty-seven years ago, Jehovah’s Witnesses preached to my father. He told us that Jehovah’s Witnesses have the truth.” Altogether, the group placed 60 books, 186 magazines, 50 brochures, and 287 tracts and demonstrated many Bible studies.

Preaching in Other Remote Areas

Palawan is a large island of the Philippines. Long and narrow, it extends for 270 miles [434 km]. Located far from the hustle and bustle of the more populated islands, Palawan is the forest home of various tribes and many isolated settlements, including those of migrants. Ready to take on any assignment, missionary Raymond Leach was sent there as circuit overseer. There were few Witnesses and long distances to cover. He recalls: “I was assigned there from 1955 to 1958, and there were only 14 publishers in all of Palawan. It took me five weeks to visit them.”

Since then, there has been much progress, though it remains a place of challenges. Febe Lota, now in her early 40’s, started as a special pioneer in Palawan in 1984. She relates what happened while serving in Dumaran: “We came to what we thought was the last house. We couldn’t imagine that there was another, but there was!” Living back amid the palms was a married couple whose work was to take care of a coconut grove. And what is more, they were interested in the Bible!

Febe says: “If it weren’t for serving Jehovah, I would never have gone back to that place.” To reach there, Febe and her partner would spend a day walking through coconut groves along a stretch of sandy and rocky beach. At high tide, they walked through water up to the knees. Because of the distance, they decided to go there once a month and spend several days. That meant lugging food, books, magazines, and extra clothing. “It was a real sacrifice for us to be exposed to the heat of the sun and to stinging, biting insects. We would arrive dripping with sweat.” However, their efforts were rewarded as they saw the interested couple progress very rapidly in their Bible study.

The couple was forced to leave their work at the coconut grove when the manager, a Baptist, found out that they were studying with the Witnesses. Febe was pleasantly surprised when she later saw the wife of the couple again. Not only was she already baptized but, as Febe says, “she was sitting with us at the meeting for pioneers held at the district convention.” What a joy to see the fine fruit of one’s labors!

On the large island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines, there are many areas that are hard to reach. Nathan Ceballos has served there as a traveling overseer, accompanied by his wife. During the weeks that they were not visiting congregations, they made efforts to preach in isolated territories. They invited other brothers and sisters to come along. Once the group used 19 motorcycles to reach many villages. Roads are rough and muddy, and the Witnesses had to cross rivers and streams, most of which have no bridges. Although people in those areas have little money, they donated soft, handmade brooms in appreciation for the literature brought by the brothers. Imagine the sight as the brothers headed back home, their motorcycles loaded with brooms! Nathan says: “All went home weary and untidy but full of joy, knowing that what we had done was Jehovah’s will.”

Using Every Means to Preach the Good News

In recent years, Jehovah’s organization has encouraged Kingdom preachers to take advantage of every opportunity to give a witness. This has been especially appropriate in the more populated areas of the country. The larger cities, such as Davao, Cebu, and Metro Manila, are much like other cities throughout the world, with their multitude of businesses, offices, condominiums, and subdivisions. What has been done to reach people in these places?

Makati is part of the circuit that, until recently, was served by Marlon Navarro. Marlon, a young graduate of the Ministerial Training School, worked hard to organize preaching in the financial district of Makati, an area assigned to three congregations. Brothers and sisters, many of them pioneers, were selected and trained to work this area effectively. Bible studies are being conducted in the malls and parks in this part of the city; some of these Bible students are attending meetings.

Cory Santos and her son, Jeffrey, are both pioneers. Often they engage in street witnessing in the morning, sometimes as early as 6:00 a.m. At that time of day, they meet people coming home from the night shift on their factory jobs. They have even started Bible studies while doing this street work. Some who were initially contacted in this way have progressed to baptism.

Outside the cities also, publishers have been alert to find opportunities to witness to others. Norma Balmaceda, who has been special pioneering for more than 28 years, spoke to a woman who was waiting for a ride. Norma asked the woman: “Where are you going?”

The woman answered: “Quirino Province.”

“Are you from that place?”

“No, but my husband is intent on moving there because life here in Ifugao is so hard.”

That provided the opening for Norma to share the good news about the Kingdom government, which will solve man’s problems. They parted ways. Years later, at a circuit assembly, a woman approached Norma and introduced herself as the person that Norma had spoken to. She was now baptized, and her two daughters and husband were enjoying a Bible study.

At the branch office in Quezon City, the brothers are alert to use every opportunity to witness. Felix Salango, for example, is well-known for his zeal in preaching to others. He has often auxiliary pioneered while serving at Bethel. During the year 2000, while construction on an additional residence building was progressing, Felix took note of the workers who had been hired to erect the outer shell of the building. He approached the chief engineer and asked permission to talk to the workers. Felix says: “After their lunch, I went to the site, where the engineer had gathered the more than 100 workers. I described the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses and explained that knowledge is needed in order to survive the great tribulation. I had with me one box of brochures and one box of Knowledge books. I explained that if the workers were interested in studying God’s Word, they could have one of the publications.” Felix also explained how the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses is supported worldwide and put the publications and an envelope near a coconut tree. Many of the workers took a book or brochure, and a large number also put a donation in the envelope.

Some were interested in studying, including the chief engineer. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the lunch break, Felix arranged to study with him in the brochure What Does God Require of Us? The engineer told Felix: “What I am learning here, I explain to my wife and to my friends.” Two other engineers working there wanted to study too as well as a security guard and a couple of the secretaries. Yes, witnessing at every opportunity brings Jehovah’s blessing.

Missionaries Come In

Over the years, 69 trained foreign missionaries have gone to the Philippines to assist in the Kingdom-preaching work. They have done this in a variety of ways. Denton Hopkinson and Raymond Leach, mentioned earlier, were originally assigned to the field, first as missionaries and then as traveling overseers. Later, they were given assignments at the branch office.

A number of Gilead graduates arrived during the 1970’s to help with the newly established printing operations. Among them were Robert Pevy and his wife, Patricia, who had previously served in England and Ireland. Robert was helpful in setting up a writing desk at the Philippines branch office. Everyone was sad to see them leave in 1981 to take up service at world headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.

Dean and Karen Jacek arrived from the United States in 1980, and after a brief period of Tagalog language study in Laguna, they were assigned to the branch. After some additional training in 1983, they helped the brothers​—locally and in nearby island nations—​to learn the use of the computer system developed by Jehovah’s Witnesses that has proved essential in supporting the publishing of Bible literature in local languages.

Hubertus (Bert) and Jeanine Hoefnagels from the Netherlands arrived in 1988. The branch was just about to start a major construction project. Since the couple had previous experience in branch construction and Bert was familiar with heavy-equipment operation, they were assigned to help with the project. Bert operated the equipment and also trained others. He says: “From the beginning, I was training the local brothers to drive trucks, a backhoe, a bulldozer, a loader, and a crane. Eventually, we had a group of some 20 to 25 people who were working with heavy equipment.”

Later, they were joined by four other Gilead graduates​—Peter and Beate Vehlen from Germany and Gary and Teresa Jeane Melton from the United States. The Vehlens also had experience in branch construction, and the Meltons had five years of experience serving at the United States Bethel. All were able to make a contribution to the branch construction work.

Years earlier, in 1963, the last missionary home had been closed down, since the work in the field could be cared for by qualified Filipino pioneers. Nevertheless, in 1991 the Governing Body arranged to send six missionaries into the field. Although experienced in branch work, these missionaries also had experience that could be used to good benefit in the field. For example, Jeanine Hoefnagels started special pioneering at the age of 18. She could now use her experience and vivacious personality to encourage the brothers and new ones. Her husband, Bert, commented on other benefits. He said: “Having missionaries in the field here helps people to understand the international scope of our work.” Meanwhile, some missionaries have continued caring for administrative and other duties at the branch.

The Philippines not only has had missionaries come in but also has had missionaries go out.

Missionaries Go Out

While missionaries were still coming in, the Philippines started sending Filipino pioneers to other countries to share in missionary work there. Although local pioneers may not have had the same organizational training as Gilead graduates, excellent local pioneers were abundant. Since World War II, the disciple-making work had expanded much more rapidly in the Philippines than in nearby countries. Thus, starting in 1964, qualified Filipino pioneers have been invited to take up missionary service throughout Asia and the islands of the Pacific. Some who were sent out have been married couples, but most have been single pioneers who already had a decade or more of experience in the full-time ministry. By mid-2002, 149 had been sent to 19 different lands. Of these, 74 continue in their assignments. While waiting for paperwork to be processed, prospective missionaries spend time at the branch and receive training and experience that will help them in their assignments. What contribution to the preaching work have these missionaries made over the years, and what challenges and joys have they experienced?

Rose Cagungao (now Engler) and Clara dela Cruz (now Elauria) were the first to go out. Their assignment was Thailand. About a year later, Angelita Gavino joined them in that assignment. Of course, as with other missionaries, learning the language was a big challenge. Angelita tells about learning Thai: “For the first few weeks, I felt frustrated because everything written in the book looked like ‘worms’ to me, and at the meetings we could hardly talk to anybody because of the language barrier.” But learn they did, and they continue using this acquired language to help others.

After those first few, a steady stream of willing pioneers was sent to a variety of countries. Porferio and Evangeline Jumuad were asked to go to Korea in 1972. They learned the language well, and after two and a half years in the missionary field, the Jumuads were invited into the circuit work.

In 1970, Salvacion Regala (now Aye) was one of nine Filipino sisters who arrived in Hong Kong to begin missionary work. Learning Cantonese was her first challenge. The Cantonese language has nine tones. Change the tone, and the word changes meaning. Salvacion remembers struggling with those tones, once telling her Bible student that they had moved out of their lodging place “because of a ghost” when she really meant “because of the high rent.” Eventually, she learned the language. Salvacion has helped more than 20 people learn the Bible’s message of truth. Now she meets many Indonesians who work as domestic helpers in Hong Kong, so she is trying to learn Indonesian.

Rodolfo Asong, a determined but friendly brother, had completely different conditions to face when he was assigned to Papua New Guinea in 1979. He threw himself into learning the language and did so well that after just a short time in the country, he was sent out as a traveling overseer. However, visiting congregations in Papua New Guinea was very different from doing so in the Philippines. He says: “I learned how to paddle a small, single, wooden canoe while standing, like the natives do.”

Regarding assemblies, Rodolfo relates: “Because of distances and lack of affordable transportation, we arranged many small assemblies. The one held in the village of Larimea was the smallest I have ever attended. The total attendance was ten.” On another occasion, he was appointed as convention overseer for the gathering held in the village of Agi. He says: “I was also appointed to serve as convention chairman, to care for the Sound and Food Service departments, to direct the drama, and to play the role of King David.” He truly exerted himself in that assignment and later enjoyed missionary service in the Solomon Islands.

In 1982, Arturo Villasin, an adaptable brother from Luzon, was sent to the Solomon Islands. He served there as a circuit overseer and found conditions to be quite different from the Philippines. Many islands could be best reached by small plane. He related: “One time our plane crashed, but we all survived. Another time we barely missed hitting the side of a mountain on account of poor visibility.” As to visiting some congregations, he said: “We trek through the rain forest, climbing muddy, steep hills to visit congregations located among bush people who worship their ancestors.” Arturo died unexpectedly of health complications in 2001, but he will long be remembered as a faithful missionary.

Experiences like these from the Filipino brothers and sisters sent to missionary fields in Asia and the Pacific are plentiful. Despite the challenges, these willing and self-sacrificing servants of Jehovah have made a significant contribution to the preaching work in these lands.

Joy in Helping Others Make Jehovah Their Stronghold

Joy is found in Jehovah’s blessing. (Prov. 10:22) Adelieda Caletena, who was sent to Taiwan in 1974, says: “I am indeed very happy and thankful to Jehovah that he is blessing our work here and has given me the opportunity to be a part of it.”

Paul and Marina Tabunigao, now serving in the Marshall Islands, say: “We have helped 72 persons to serve Jehovah. It makes our hearts rejoice that many of them are now serving as elders, ministerial servants, special pioneers, regular pioneers, and active congregation publishers.”

Lydia Pamplona, who has served in Papua New Guinea since 1980, has helped 84 persons to the point of dedication and baptism. She recently reported that she conducts home Bible studies with 16 people, most of whom now attend meetings. Her personal comments no doubt sum up the feelings of many of the missionaries: “I thank Jehovah for the ministry he has entrusted to me. May he continue to bless our ministry, to his glory.”

The branches where Filipino missionaries were sent have appreciated having them in the local territory. The Thailand branch wrote: “The missionaries from the Philippines are doing good work. They are examples of faithfulness over the many years they have been in Thailand. They stick to the work despite advancing age. They love Thailand and the Thai people; they consider this to be their home. Thank you very much for sending us these fine missionaries.”

Kingdom Ministry School Helps Equip Elders

Around the same time that pioneers were first being sent out from the Philippines to serve in other lands, Jehovah’s organization provided training for the increasing number of qualified brothers shouldering responsibilities in the congregations at home. The Kingdom Ministry School was one of the primary means to accomplish this training.

The first classes started in 1961 as a one-month course. Jack Redford, who had been a Gilead instructor and would later serve as a missionary in Vietnam, was assigned to teach this course in the Philippines. The early school was held at the branch and conducted in English.

Although English is fine for some, consideration always needs to be given to the other common languages and dialects in the Philippines. Many elders would get more from the course held in their own tongue. Thus, from the mid-1960’s, the course was conducted in several languages. Cornelio Cañete remembers being assigned to teach throughout the Visayan Islands and Mindanao. He chuckles when he says: “I was teaching the course in three languages: Cebuano, Hiligaynon, and Samar-Leyte.”

Over the years, the course has been altered, including the way it is scheduled. Recently, the course was held over a weekend​—one and a half days for elders and one day for ministerial servants. However, there is still the challenge of teaching the school in about eight languages. Elders knowing these languages go out from the branch and conduct a training school for traveling overseers. These, in turn, conduct the actual schools for the congregation elders and ministerial servants. At the last one held, 13,000 elders and 8,000 ministerial servants benefited from this training.

Help for the Pioneers

Later the pioneers also began to receive additional training. In 1978 the first classes of the Pioneer Service School were held. All serving as pioneers at that time were enrolled in the classes, including special pioneers. Since then, except for the years 1979 and 1981, classes have been held every year.

The pioneers have benefited greatly from the school, but they have had to face challenges in order to attend. Some have made financial sacrifices to get there. Others have put up with difficulties in transportation.

Those attending the school held in the city of Santiago had to deal with an unexpected situation. Rodolfo de Vera, the circuit overseer, related: “On October 19, 1989, Santiago, Isabela, was struck without warning by a supertyphoon with maximum winds of 127 miles per hour [205 km/hr]. When we started our classes that morning in the Kingdom Hall, there were just some showers and a slight wind, so we proceeded with the pioneer school. However, the winds got stronger, and the building began to shake. Soon, the roof was blown off. We wanted to leave, but we saw that it was more dangerous outside because of the many flying objects.” Although the building began to break apart, all survived unharmed. They attribute their survival not only to Jehovah but also to a suggestion in the Awake! magazine to seek protection under a table or a desk during such situations. Brother de Vera said: “We took shelter under the tables. After the typhoon passed, we were covered with fallen branches and metal roofing sheets, but all who had stayed in the building under the tables were unhurt.”

Each year, schools are conducted in seven languages. Up to the 2002 service year, 2,787 classes have been held with a total of 46,650 pioneers completing the course. What a fine provision this has been to help pioneers enhance their skills and put full trust in Jehovah as they continue “shining as illuminators in the world”!​—Phil. 2:15.

Early Efforts in Offset Printing

All the work in the field and in the congregations would be much more difficult without the excellent Bible literature that is available. For many years, printing for the Philippine field was done in Brooklyn. In the early 1970’s, however, a factory was built right on the branch’s premises in Quezon City. Letterpress equipment, similar to what Brooklyn had, was installed. This enabled the branch to print all magazines right on site.

Within that decade, it became clear that letterpress printing, with its hot-metal method, was being phased out by the printing industry, in favor of offset printing. Direction given by world headquarters indicated that we would gradually make this change too.

In 1980 the branch purchased commercial phototypesetting equipment. The South Africa branch had obtained the same type of equipment and shared their experience with the Philippines. This computerized typesetting system went hand in hand with a small sheetfed offset press that was purchased about the same time.

On a small scale, this equipment allowed the brothers to learn the techniques used in offset printing. David Namoca, who already had extensive experience in Linotype operation for letterpress printing, learned how to use the phototypesetting equipment. Other brothers learned how to make offset printing plates and how to do the printing on the newly purchased press. Thus, by the end of 1980, the branch was already using the offset method to turn out some issues of Our Kingdom Ministry and magazines in languages requiring fewer printed copies.

The upcoming changeover to offset printing also introduced the use of computers to help the brothers involved in translation and prepress work. Little by little, the brothers gained experience and confidence. In due time they were able to improve both the quality and the quantity of printing using these methods. In fact, in 1982 the brothers were so eager to make progress that they printed Kingdom News No. 31, a four-color publication, using the one-color offset press. The paper was run through the press six times​—four for the full-color side and two for the other. It was a big job, and the quality may have left a little to be desired; but everyone was delighted to see a four-color Kingdom News produced on our own equipment.

That arrangement served to get things started, but how would the full transition to computerized phototypesetting and offset printing be accomplished? Jehovah’s organization had something in mind, and the Philippines branch would soon benefit from it.

Jehovah’s Organization Provides MEPS

The Governing Body authorized the production of a computerized phototypesetting system that would meet the unique needs of publishing the good news in scores of languages. The Multilanguage Electronic Phototypesetting System (MEPS) was developed at Brooklyn. Although the commercial equipment used for a while by the branch had introduced the use of computers and offset printing on a limited scale, MEPS would allow the Philippines branch to move ahead in this area, along with other branches throughout the world.

Two couples were invited from the Philippines to Wallkill, New York. The brothers received training in MEPS computer maintenance and the application of MEPS programs to prepress work. Another couple, Florizel Nuico and his wife, spent their time at Brooklyn, where Brother Nuico learned how to operate M.A.N. offset printing presses. This was just what the Philippines branch needed to move fully into computerized prepress work and offset printing.

In 1983 an M.A.N. offset press arrived in the Philippines. It was erected with the help of Lionel Dingle from the Australia branch. Brother Nuico began training local brothers in what he had learned at Brooklyn. By the end of 1983, the first magazines were rolling off this press. However, the system was not yet fully in place, so for a while, magazines were produced by combining the hot-metal method with offset printing.

Completion of the system was not far off though. The first MEPS computer arrived at the end of 1983, and the two brothers who had been trained at Wallkill set to work teaching others how to operate and maintain MEPS equipment. Within a short time, production was under way. Dozens of Bethelites were thoroughly trained in how to use the system for translation, text entry, composition, and phototypesetting as well as in how to repair computers. In the Philippines, the training process is complicated by the number of languages involved. The Watchtower itself is prepared in seven languages, not including English. MEPS was well suited to the task.

There was noticeable improvement in the quality of the publications being produced. Concerning those doing the printing, Cesar Castellano, a factory worker, says: “Most of our brothers are farmers. Some did not have any technical skills. It is impressive to see how Jehovah through his spirit moves the brothers to be able to do a lot of things, including the printing work.” The brothers learned, and the publishers in the field received publications that were increasingly appealing. But there was a more important benefit​—a spiritual one—​that was made possible by these technological advancements in printing methods.

Spiritual Food at the Same Time

When the magazines for the Philippines were printed in Brooklyn, it took six months or more for what had appeared in the English magazines to be published in the Philippine languages. Although the magazines were translated locally, sending manuscripts and proofs back and forth and finally shipping the printed magazines took quite a bit of time. When magazine printing was moved to the Philippines in the 1970’s, time was saved, but the contents of the magazines were still six months behind the English issues. Many of the Filipino brothers thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the vernacular at the same time as the English?’ For years, that was just a dream.

However, with the advent of MEPS and the adjusted production procedures, what previously had been a dream became reality. The Governing Body realized that studying the same material at the same time would have a powerful unifying effect on all of Jehovah’s people. This goal was pursued, and by January 1986, The Watchtower was available simultaneously with English in four local languages: Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Iloko, and Tagalog. Other languages soon followed. Then, what a surprise it was at the 1988 conventions to receive the book Revelation​—Its Grand Climax At Hand! in three vernacular languages at the same time as the English edition! The brothers were joyful​—not only to have higher quality literature to offer to interested ones but to be able to benefit from the same spiritual feeding program at the same time as the majority of their brothers throughout the world.

These improvements in our printed publications came at a time of turbulent conditions in some parts of the country. The publications would emphasize the constant need for all to make Jehovah their stronghold.

Military/Rebel Encounters

Activities of rebel groups intensified in many areas of the country during the 1980’s. Some were connected with the Communist movement. Encounters between government troops and subversive forces became more common. These conflicts often tested the brothers’ trust in Jehovah.

In one area where there was a congregation of 62 publishers, the brothers woke up one morning to find that the rebels and the military were lining up for battle. The brothers’ homes were right in the middle. One elder went to the rebel forces, and another went to the government troops. They asked them not to fight there on account of the number of civilians that would be affected. Their request was ignored. Unable to flee, the brothers gathered at the Kingdom Hall. An elder led them all in a prayer that was quite long and loud enough to be heard by government troops outside. When the brothers opened their eyes, they found that the two sides had gone off somewhere else; there was no battle. These brothers were convinced that Jehovah had protected them.

Dionisio Carpentero has been a traveling overseer for over 16 years, accompanied by his wife. He still recalls what happened during his first year in circuit work, in the province of Negros Oriental, south-central Philippines. He relates: “We visited Linantuyan Congregation. We were happy because on Wednesday, 40 publishers joined us in field service. But we were unaware that the rebel forces were watching our every move. Their hideout was near the Kingdom Hall. Four of them went to our accommodations at 4:00 p.m. to inquire about us. An elder there explained that I am a circuit overseer and visit their congregation every six months.”

Apparently, the men did not believe the explanation. Instead, they suspected Dionisio of being a military man and demanded that the elder bring him out so that they could kill him. The elder replied that they would have to kill him first. They left.

Dionisio continues: “The dogs barked through the night, indicating the presence of the rebels. We prayed four times that night, asking Jehovah to guide us. Then, although it was the dry season, it rained hard. The men who were waiting to kill us left.”

After the meeting on Sunday, Dionisio informed the elders that he and his wife would leave for the next congregation. However, to do so, they had to pass by the rebel hideout. “One of the men was looking out the window,” says Dionisio. “We even told him that we were leaving. Nevertheless, at 8:00 p.m., rebels went to the Kingdom Hall asking for us. The elder told them that we had already left and had even passed by their hideout. Surprisingly, they had not seen us. This experience taught us to trust in Jehovah and to be courageous in facing difficulties.” With his wife, Dionisio joyfully continues his service.

Such conflicts at times make witnessing difficult. To be in such places at the wrong time could mean being caught in the cross fire. In some cases, however, one faction or the other has informed the brothers of impending conflicts. When that happens, the brothers choose a more peaceful place to witness until the fighting is over. Nevertheless, the Kingdom witness work goes on, and the brothers have learned to rely on Jehovah.

Tests of Neutrality

Jesus said regarding his followers: “They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.” (John 17:14) As in other nations, Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Philippines have stayed out of the world’s politics and military conflicts. They have not ‘taken up the sword’; rather, they have laid down their weapons and pursued the ways of peace as taught by Jehovah. (Matt. 26:52; Isa. 2:4) This neutral stand is well-known throughout the Philippines, and people on all sides recognize that Jehovah’s Witnesses are no danger to them. However, there have been times when Jehovah’s servants have had to show clearly where they stand on matters. This has served as a protection to them.

As a traveling overseer, Wilfredo Arellano has extensive experience serving in a variety of territories, some peaceful and others not so peaceful. In 1988 he visited a congregation in south-central Philippines. There the brothers had been pressured by subversives to join with them in rebellion against the government. The brothers firmly refused.

Wilfredo relates what happened: “During my visit, government troops were active in the congregation’s territory. They wanted to form the residents into a militia group to combat the subversives. At a meeting with government representatives, the brothers were given an opportunity to explain why they would not join the subversives or a government militia group. While some local residents were against our stand, the government spokesmen respected us.”

Wilfredo tells what happened next: “One brother, on returning to his farm after the meeting, encountered a group of heavily armed men with two blindfolded prisoners. He was questioned whether he had attended the government meeting, and he answered truthfully that he had. The armed men wanted to know if he had joined the militia, which he had not, and he explained his neutral stand. Thus, he was allowed to continue on his way home. A few minutes later, he heard two shots and realized that the blindfolded prisoners had been executed.”

In the 1970’s and early 1980’s, Philippine law made it compulsory for all citizens to vote. Violators were imprisoned. This gave Jehovah’s people the opportunity to demonstrate their loyalty to God. Like their Christian brothers around the world, Jehovah’s servants in the Philippines have maintained their position of neutrality in politics, remaining “no part of the world.”​—John 17:16.

After a change in government in 1986, the country’s constitution was revised, removing the requirement to vote. This has made it easier for the brothers. However, there were other tests faced by many, particularly those of school age.

‘Learning War No More’

Irene Garcia grew up in the central Luzon province of Pampanga. She faced a problem that is still a test for many youths. In high school, army training is required. Students who are Jehovah’s Witnesses, though, have personally decided that they cannot share in a program that teaches the ways of war. First, Irene prayed to Jehovah for his help. Then, keeping in mind the three faithful Hebrew youths of the prophet Daniel’s time, she personally went to the army training commander and requested that she be exempted from the training. (Dan., chap. 3) Though he did not fully understand her position, he did express his appreciation for her explanation. However, he warned her that a low grade would be the result of her nonparticipation. Irene answered: “That’s OK. I will just try to do my best in my other subjects.” She was given other work to do instead of army training. She said: “It resulted in other children of Witnesses not having any problem asking for exemption, and I still graduated in the top ten.”

Not all army training commanders have allowed exemptions. Some commanders have made it difficult for students to graduate. Even so, sticking to Jehovah’s principles has taught thousands of youths an important lesson: Taking a firm stand on the side of Jehovah’s Kingdom and maintaining neutrality in this world’s affairs bring Jehovah’s protection and blessing.​—Prov. 29:25.

Number of Conventions Increases

Now let us take a look at spiritual gatherings of Jehovah’s people. These are always joyful occasions. Since Witnesses were few in the country before World War II, there were no large gatherings until after the war. Nevertheless, efforts were made to build up the brothers in this way. In fact, the 1941 Yearbook reported on a convention held in Manila in March 1940.

You will recall that Joseph dos Santos was imprisoned by the Japanese. He was finally released by the American forces early in 1945. He was keenly interested in the spiritual welfare of the brothers, many of whom were new in the organization. Arrangements were made to help them learn how to teach Scriptural truths effectively to others by means of home Bible studies. The national assembly held in Lingayen, Pangasinan, toward the end of 1945 was one way to do this. About 4,000 attended, indicating the great amount of interest at that time. What a joyful occasion that was, now that the war had ended!

From that point on, convention attendances grew steadily as the number of publishers increased. Some 17 years later, that 4,000 became 39,652. Then the conventions were held, not in just one location, but in seven. In another 15 years (1977), the district convention attendance surpassed 100,000. By then, 20 conventions were held throughout the country. Eight years later, attendance was over 200,000, and by 1997, those attending district conventions numbered more than 300,000. For the year 2002, it was possible to plan 63 conventions, the largest number ever. Travel throughout the islands can be challenging and sometimes expensive. Having conventions in multiple locations brings them closer to the brothers, making it easier to attend. As a result, more are benefiting from these spiritual feasts.

Jehovah Blesses Efforts to Attend

It has not been easy to attend assemblies and conventions. In 1947, in the northern part of the country, brothers floated down the Abra River on two rafts to attend a circuit assembly in Vigan, on the coast. At the mouth of the river, they broke up the rafts and sold the lumber in order to buy tickets for the bus that would take them back home to the mountains after the assembly. They brought with them big bags of rice, bundles of wood, sleeping mats, many children, and warm smiles that grew bigger as the assembly progressed. With rice, firewood, an old-fashioned burner, and a sleeping mat, they cared for all their material needs.

In 1983 a group from the Caburan Congregation in the southern Philippine province of Davao del Sur walked for three days across mountainous terrain to reach a motorboat terminal. Then they traveled by motorboat for another day to the convention city. They felt that the joyful association with others at the “Kingdom Unity” District Convention was well worth the effort and expense.

In 1989 one family with two children, ages two and four, walked about 40 miles [70 km] from the town of El Nido in Palawan to attend a circuit assembly. It took them two days to walk through jungle where there are few marked trails. As they walked, they had to pluck leeches from their bodies. To make matters worse, it rained continuously for the two days. There were many creeks and rivers that had to be crossed, but there were no bridges. Despite these difficulties, the family arrived safely. How they enjoyed their association with the brothers there!

In other areas, limited financial resources make it hard for families to get enough money to attend conventions. Ramon Rodriguez faced that problem in 1984. He lives with his family on Polillo Island, off the east coast of Luzon. Ramon is a fisherman. It was just one week until the convention, but his family of seven had enough money for only one to attend. They prayed to Jehovah about this, after which Ramon and his 12-year-old son went out to fish. They rowed out to sea and dropped their nets but had no success. After some time, the son insisted that they go back closer to home and try. There they tried one more time. Ramon says: “We were not expecting it, but when we pulled up the nets full of fish, there were so many that they filled the boat.” They had caught over 1,100 pounds [500 kg] of fish! By selling the fish, they had more than enough money for the entire Rodriguez family to attend the convention.

The next night, other brothers wanting to attend the convention dropped their nets in the same location and caught another 200 pounds [100 kg] of fish. Ramon adds: “Non-Witness fishermen who went out and dropped their nets at the same time were surprised because they did not catch even one fish. They commented: ‘Their God blessed them because they’re going to attend the convention.’” Time and again, Filipino Witness families have learned that putting spiritual things first in life and acting in harmony with one’s prayers bring joy and Jehovah’s blessing.

Outstanding Conventions

Jehovah’s people throughout the world fondly remember past conventions. The brothers in the Philippines are no exception. Although all convention programs are appreciated, some take on special meaning and leave a deeper impression on heart and mind. Sometimes these are international gatherings or, perhaps, conventions where missionaries return to their country of origin and share their experiences with those gathered.

As was noted earlier, there are quite a few Filipino brothers and sisters serving as missionaries in other Asian nations and islands of the sea. On several occasions, Witnesses around the world have contributed funds to help the missionaries return to their native countries and attend conventions there. Filipino missionaries also benefited from this loving arrangement. In 1983, 1988, 1993, and 1998, dozens were helped to come back to the Philippines to enjoy the conventions with their families and friends. Reports from 1988 show that 54 missionaries serving in 12 countries were back for conventions in the Philippines. At that time, these 54 had an average of 24 years in full-time service. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their expressions and experiences related on the program.

Others remember conventions because of associated events and the determination of the brothers to carry on despite inconveniences. For example, just before the 1986 “Divine Peace” District Convention in Surigao, on Mindanao, a typhoon hit the city with 100-mile-per-hour [150 km/hr] winds. The stadium roof was severely damaged. All electric power to the city was cut off and was not restored until after the convention. Water had to be fetched from four miles [6 km] away. That did not stop the Witnesses from gathering together. Brothers salvaged what was left of the platform and set it up in a gymnasium next to the stadium. They rented a generator to power several lights, the sound system, and a refrigerator for the cafeteria. Although 5,000 were expected to attend, a peak of 9,932 enjoyed the convention! These were certainly not fair-weather Christians.

International conventions have been especially memorable. The Governing Body arranged for international conventions to be held in Manila in both 1991 and 1993. The delegates left a big impression on the city. What a wonderful interchange of encouragement this was for the Filipino brothers and sisters, most of whom do not have the means to travel and visit other countries! (Rom. 1:12) The foreign delegates were impressed by the warm and friendly hospitality shown to them by their Filipino brothers. One couple from the United States wrote: “Our special thanks for your warm reception. You received all of us with open arms that wrapped around us so lovingly!”

In 1993, stadiums at three locations in Manila were used, and whenever a member of the Governing Body gave a talk, the three places were linked by telephone hookup. How thrilled the delegates were when the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures in Tagalog was released! One young sister said: “I was filled with joy. I had hoped for the time when we would have the New World Translation in Tagalog. What a surprise to receive it!”

In 1998 the tables were turned. For the first time since 1958, the Philippines was invited to send delegates to other countries. Thus, 107 went to the West Coast of the United States for a convention there. In September, 35 others had the privilege of attending an international convention in Korea. Such conventions have truly played an important part in educating and unifying Jehovah’s people and in helping all to make Jehovah their stronghold.

Now let us turn our attention to the work in the field. How has this been accomplished in a land with so many languages?

Presenting the Good News in Many Languages

As mentioned earlier, it is generally easier for people to learn the truth in their native language. This presents a challenge in the Philippines because of the many languages spoken. Nevertheless, Jehovah’s Witnesses have endeavored to meet the needs of the people by witnessing to them in their own tongue and preparing Bible literature in a variety of languages.

Usually, a witness can be given to a certain language group by those who already speak that language. In some cases where few Witnesses know the language, zealous publishers and pioneers have tried to learn it. In this way, they have imitated the apostle Paul, who became “all things to people of all sorts.”​—1 Cor. 9:22.

Although the Philippines is the fourth most populous country in the world that has English as an official language, that is not the native language of most of its people. Not all read English well, so there is a need for publications in several Philippine languages. Over the years, Jehovah’s Witnesses have translated Bible publications into at least 17 of these languages. Some have just a brochure or two​—such as Tausug, a language of the Islamic peoples in the south, or Ibanag, spoken by a small ethnic group close to the northernmost part of the country. For the most part, people understand and are comfortable with one of the seven major languages. The Watchtower is translated and printed in these. Thus, spiritual programs at Kingdom Halls or at assemblies and conventions are primarily presented in these languages.

In recent years, the government has encouraged the use of the Pilipino language, which is essentially the same as Tagalog. Over a generation, the effects of this have been noticeable. There has been a profound increase in the use of Pilipino in speech and in print, whereas there has been either no change or a decrease in the use of other languages. This is reflected in the printing figures for The Watchtower. In 1980, total circulation of the Tagalog edition per issue was 29,667. By the year 2000, this figure had quadrupled, reaching 125,100 per issue. During the same time, there was minimal change in English and only a modest increase in the other Philippine languages.

Bethel Family Supports Work in Field

Some 380 full-time ministers serve at the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Quezon City, part of a conglomerate city called Metro Manila. A staff of 69 works on translating and proofreading publications in the vernacular. Part of this staff recently completed the translating of the Hebrew Scriptures of the New World Translation into three languages: Cebuano, Iloko, and Tagalog. Ever since the Greek Scriptures of this Bible were released in 1993, the brothers had been looking forward to having the complete New World Translation. How thrilled they were to receive the Tagalog edition as a district convention release at the end of 2000! Cebuano and Iloko editions soon followed. Hundreds of thousands of people in the field can now benefit from this clear, accurate, and consistent translation of the Holy Scriptures.

Members of the Philippines Bethel family come from various backgrounds and speak 28 different languages and dialects. Thus, many are well qualified to translate Bible-based publications. However, translating is only part of the work done at Bethel.

Bethel volunteers perform a variety of tasks that give support to the all-important preaching work in the field. Some brothers print magazines and other literature. Volunteers also deliver it to various points on Luzon. Many perform support duties in the Bethel Home itself, such as maintaining equipment, cooking, and cleaning. Others are assigned to the Service Department, where they receive and send correspondence in many languages to help the congregations, traveling overseers, and full-time servants in the field. You can imagine how much correspondence is handled for some 3,500 congregations throughout the archipelago!

From the time that the branch office was first established in 1934 until the mid-1970’s, the activities at the branch were under the oversight of a branch servant, or overseer. After Joseph dos Santos returned to Hawaii, Earl Stewart, a missionary from Canada, had that responsibility for some 13 years. Two other brothers served for short periods of time after that. Then in 1966, Denton Hopkinson, who had arrived in 1954, was appointed branch overseer. He served well as such for about ten years until Jehovah’s organization saw fit to implement a new arrangement for the oversight of branches worldwide.

In harmony with direction to branches all over the world, in February 1976 oversight was transferred from just one man to a Branch Committee. This group of qualified men working under the direction of the Governing Body would be responsible for decisions affecting the work in the field and at the branch office. Originally, the Branch Committee in the Philippines was composed of five members. Later, since most of the original committee members were foreign missionaries, it was deemed wise to increase the number of Filipino brothers. So for a time the committee grew to seven.

The advantages of this Branch Committee arrangement were quickly seen. Denton Hopkinson, now serving as the Branch Committee coordinator, observes: “Looking back, you can see how that was a wise and timely move. With the amount of work and the size of the organization, one person could not keep his finger on all things. The weight of responsibility is more evenly distributed now.”

Proverbs 15:22 says: “In the multitude of counselors there is accomplishment.” Consulting with others results in a valuable pool of wisdom. The Philippines Branch Committee applies that principle. Since Brother Hopkinson was appointed branch overseer, the size of the Bethel staff has grown tenfold, and so has the work. The Branch Committee presently consists of five longtime servants of Jehovah. They have spent, on an average, more than 50 years in full-time service. Their combined experience has certainly been helpful as the work throughout all of the islands has moved forward vigorously under Jehovah’s guiding hand. The Branch Committee and all in the Bethel family count it a grand privilege to support this work.

Bringing the Truth to “All Sorts of Men”

Accomplishing the work of preaching is truly in harmony with God’s will that “all sorts of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4) What “sorts” of people have been helped by zealous preachers throughout the Philippines?

Marlon was the sort of person who was always getting into trouble. He was known in his village as a man with many vices: smoking, getting drunk, using drugs, and carrying on with bad associates. When the Witnesses came, Marlon’s mother took an interest in the Kingdom message. Pioneers walked dusty and muddy roads to conduct a study with her. At first Marlon showed no interest in joining the study but just walked by occasionally. However, the brothers who conducted the study with his mother showed an interest in him. In time, he not only started studying but cut off his waist-length hair to attend his first meeting at the Kingdom Hall. He made rapid progress, and people were surprised at the big changes he had made in his life-style. Marlon now serves as a full-time pioneer minister, bringing the truth to others. What motivated him to accept the truth? He indicated that it was the perseverance of the pioneers in coming to study with his mother that convinced him that they had the truth.

Some may not seem to be the sort of people who would be inclined to accept the truth. Nevertheless, proclaimers of the good news do not prejudge people but give them the opportunity to hear. On the small island of Marinduque, a special pioneer gave a witness at one house. When finished, she asked if anyone else lived there. The householder replied that someone lived upstairs but added: “Don’t bother going; he’s violent and flares up easily.” However, the pioneer felt that the man should be given the opportunity to hear the Kingdom message. Upon going up to the door, the pioneer found that it was as if the man had been waiting for her. With a smile, she offered a free home Bible study. She was surprised that the man, Carlos, seemed happy with the offer. A Bible study was started with him and his wife.

During the pioneer’s second visit, Carlos revealed that he and his wife had serious problems and had even attempted suicide. When the pioneer had first called downstairs, Carlos had put his ear to the floor to listen, and he had heard the householder discouraging the pioneer from going upstairs. When he heard that, he prayed that the pioneer would ignore the advice and come up anyway because maybe this was the answer to their request for peace of mind. Their study of the Bible did bring them peace of mind. The two were baptized together, and Carlos’ wife is now a regular pioneer minister.

Another man, named Victor, had been exposed to both Buddhist and Catholic teachings. He began to wonder why there are so many religions in the world. He personally started to search for the truth. After examining Islam, Hinduism, Shintoism, Confucianism, the theory of evolution, and other philosophies, he found that none of these satisfied him. In his search, he found that only the Bible contained accurate prophecy. Thus, he centered his search on the Bible. Through an examination of the Scriptures, he and his girlfriend, Maribel, concluded on their own that the Trinity, hellfire, and purgatory are false teachings. Still, something seemed to be missing.

Sometime after he and Maribel were married, Victor talked to a Witness and learned that it is necessary to use God’s name. After checking this in his Bible, Victor immediately began to use Jehovah’s name in his prayers. Soon he was attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall and making rapid spiritual progress. Both he and Maribel were baptized in May 1989, and Victor now serves as a traveling overseer, building up congregations.

Pioneers have helped people in all sorts of situations. Primitiva Lacasandile, a special pioneer in the southern part of Luzon, started a Bible study with a couple in a village. They had two children. Economically, they were poor. Once when Primitiva arrived for the Bible study, she was shocked to find the oldest child hung up in a sack in the house, crying. Primitiva says: “The mother was wielding a knife and was about to kill the child. I stopped her and asked why she was going to do that. The mother explained that it was because of their financial distress.” Primitiva gave them Bible counsel on their problem, which resulted in saving the life of the child. They continued their Bible study and started attending meetings, even though they had to walk five miles [8 km] to reach the meeting place. The couple progressed and were baptized, and now the husband is an elder in the congregation. Primitiva says: “The child that was almost killed is now a regular pioneer. Truly, the work Jehovah gave his servants saves lives now and in the future.”

Serving Where the Need Is Greater

There are yet many areas having few Kingdom proclaimers. Pioneers and publishers have volunteered to go to these places. Pascual and Maria Tatoy were serving as regular pioneers. They volunteered to go with Angelito Balboa, a special pioneer, to help work the territory on Coron Island, on the western side of the Philippines. To support themselves, Pascual went fishing with another brother and Maria made treats of sticky rice to sell.

When the circuit overseer visited, he pointed out the need on another island, Culion. The place had a leper colony, and there were only four publishers. He invited the Tatoys to go there. Pascual and Maria accepted, and Jehovah has blessed their efforts. The four publishers on Culion have now become two congregations.

In the mid-1970’s, large numbers of boat people fled Vietnam. Many of them ended up in the Philippines. For about 20 years, refugee camps were in operation. A large camp was located on Palawan Island. Some Filipino brothers volunteered to take the truth to these people. One Vietnamese-speaking brother came from the United States to help. Some accepted the truth in the camp. Others became familiar with Jehovah’s name and his Witnesses before moving elsewhere.

Special pioneers are serving in many of the remote areas of the Philippines. They often take other publishers and pioneers with them when working distant places. Norma Balmaceda tells about working the mountainous province of Ifugao. She says: “We usually go on Monday, taking our preaching bags full of literature, our clothes, and food​—enough to last us until Saturday morning. In the afternoon, we return for our congregational meetings.”

Some congregations arrange preaching expeditions, especially when there is fair weather. They may spend several days or a week going to territories in the hinterland. Nicanor Evangelista, now serving at Bethel, remembers doing such work. He says: “In the rural areas, it is Filipino custom that if people are interested, they will say: ‘You may sleep here with us. You can cook here.’ Sometimes the pioneers would study the Bible with the interested ones late into the night because the pioneers slept right there.”

Aeta Learn the Truth

In their effort to witness to all sorts of people, Jehovah’s servants have made some contact with the Aeta, or Negritos, as they are otherwise called. The Aeta are considered the original inhabitants of the Philippines. They are relatively few in number, and making contact with them is not always easy. This is because many of them live as nomads in the mountain forests, catching game or looking for wild fruit and vegetables. They have some similarities to the Pygmies of Africa, being less than five feet [150 cm] tall and having a dark complexion and curly hair. Some have been assimilated into general society, and others have set up more permanent homes near populated areas. Many used to live in the mountains around Mount Pinatubo but were displaced at the time of the huge eruption there.

Another group of Aeta lives on Panay Island, in central Philippines. Lodibico Eno and his family are Aeta from that area. Applying Bible principles brought many changes for Lodibico. He relates: “Before, I had many vices: chewing betel nut, smoking, drinking, gambling. I was also very violent. We had an unhappy family life. If I had not quit those vices, I might have already lost my life. Now my body has become clean. My teeth, which used to be reddish, have become white. I am an elder in the congregation. All these blessings I have received from Jehovah God.” Just like this Aeta family, even people from small tribes have experienced the freedom that comes from following Jehovah’s way.​—John 8:32.

Bringing Freedom to Those Not Free

Another sort of people who have been helped are those in prison. Since the 1950’s, Jehovah’s Witnesses have put forth a special effort to visit those behind bars. A significant number have been helped to accept the way of the truth.

As a young person, Sofronio Haincadto was involved in rebellion against the government. He was arrested and sentenced to six years in prison. While at the New Bilibid Prison on Luzon, he noticed a prisoner who did not attend the religious services allowed for prisoners. He learned that the man had become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. That led to almost daily discussions about the Bible. Sofronio says: “I became convinced that what I had previously been fighting for could not really change society and make it better.” He learned that only God’s Kingdom can bring the desired changes. With the help of brothers from a nearby congregation, Sofronio made spiritual progress and was baptized in a prison well used for watering plants.

After serving his sentence, Sofronio went on to become a regular pioneer and, later, a special pioneer. During his full-time service, he was able to help about 15 people accept the way of the truth. After marrying, he had six children. Three of them now enjoy full-time service, one of them as a circuit overseer. In 1995, two of his sons attended Ministerial Training School. The truth brought real freedom to Sofronio, to his family, and to others he helped.

Special pioneers have been preaching to prisoners at the Iwahig penal colony in Palawan, and in fact, they were permitted to build a small Kingdom Hall right on the premises. An inmate who had been convicted of arson, larceny, and several murders began to study. When he was helped to apply what he learned from the book You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, what a change it made in his life!

After more than 23 years of incarceration, this man was given notice of his impending release. He expressed a desire to be with his family members again after such a long time. However, his family was so ashamed and afraid of him that they sent word: “Please don’t come back.” They were not aware of the tremendous changes that God’s Word had brought to his life. What a surprise they got when this calm, peaceable Christian returned to his hometown!

The largest national women’s prison is located in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. For many years, Jehovah’s Witnesses were given only limited access to this facility. However, this changed when a woman who had already been studying the Bible was transferred to this prison. The authorities said that she should join one of the other religious groups there, but she insisted that she could not, explaining that she wanted to worship only with Jehovah’s Witnesses. The authorities agreed and allowed the Witnesses to visit this facility weekly. Several women there have been baptized since then, and a nearby congregation regularly conducts the Watchtower Study and some other meetings for the benefit of interested female prisoners.

The message of truth has brought unique freedom to some of those behind bars. They too are precious to Jehovah, and his people are delighted to have a share in assisting such ones.

Longtime Servants Carry On

A Bible proverb says: “Gray-headedness is a crown of beauty when it is found in the way of righteousness.” (Prov. 16:31) Yes, how beautiful it is to see those who have made the joy of Jehovah their stronghold over many years!

Before World War II, the theocratic organization in the Philippines was small. There are very few who can trace their service back that far. Thus, it is quite encouraging to meet Leodegario Barlaan. He has been in the full-time service since 1938. During the war he and his companions were mistreated by the Japanese, but they kept on preaching. After the war he continued in full-time service with his wife, Natividad, and they were eventually invited into the traveling work. Later they served as infirm special pioneers in the province of Pangasinan. Natividad died in 2000, but Leodegario continues in that assignment. Everyone is encouraged by his determination to do what he has always done​—the preaching work.

The witnessing activity grew rapidly after World War II. Many who learned the truth then continue to serve even now. For example, during the war Pacifico Pantas read Bible publications that belonged to his neighbors who were Witnesses. He says: “I began attending meetings. Next I applied for general [now, regular] pioneer service, but I hadn’t been baptized yet. They asked me to get baptized, so I did.” That was in 1946. Pacifico’s pioneering took him to several parts of the country. He enjoyed other privileges too. He says: “I was invited to the 16th class of Gilead and was able to attend the 1950 international assembly in New York City. After graduation I served as a circuit overseer in the states of Minnesota and North Dakota, U.S.A., and then returned to the Philippines to serve as a district overseer for the country south of the Pasig River, from Manila all the way to Mindanao.”

In the following years, Brother Pantas enjoyed a variety of assignments at Bethel and as a traveling overseer. Then in 1963, Pacifico got married. He and his wife had children, so it became necessary for them to settle down to raise their family. They kept on serving Jehovah as a family, and all three children have grown up as praisers of Jehovah. These three presently serve as elders, and one has graduated from Ministerial Training School. Another is serving at Bethel. Even in his older years, Brother Pantas remains a positive force in the congregation.

Presentable Halls for Worshiping Jehovah

It is only recently that Jehovah’s people in the Philippines have had Kingdom Halls as their places of worship. For many years the vast majority met in the brothers’ homes. Of course, even in the first century, Christians used houses for meetings. (Rom. 16:5) However, as congregations in modern times grew, it became desirable to have places that could comfortably accommodate more people.

David Ledbetter said: “It was very difficult for many because of the lack of financial resources. Even in Metro Manila, a big city, we had only one Kingdom Hall built on land owned by the congregation. In every other place where there was a Kingdom Hall, the congregation had the building but they didn’t own the land.” The brothers’ wages were so low that the congregations could not afford land.

So the brothers made do in any way that they could. What they had, they willingly shared. For example, Denton Hopkinson remembers Santos Capistrano, a brother in Manila who made the second floor of his house available to be used as a Kingdom Hall for some 40 years. Brother Hopkinson says: “After Brother Capistrano’s wife died, his children lived downstairs. The Kingdom Hall was upstairs, and he had just a small area for his room, with a kitchen at one side. The Kingdom Hall took most of the second floor. You would think it was inconvenient for him, but he was happy to have it that way. That was the spirit of the brothers.”

Eventually, it became possible to build Kingdom Halls on land owned by the congregations. The value of the peso picked up, and by the 1980’s, there was modest improvement in wages, thus making it feasible to borrow money. As a result, a few congregations were able to get loans.

Then, a loving arrangement initiated by the Governing Body made a big difference. Announcements about a Kingdom Hall Fund were made in the United States and Canada, and not long after that, the Philippines benefited from money that had been contributed for the specific purpose of building Kingdom Halls. This arrangement follows the principle that “an equalizing might take place,” making it possible to arrange for loans. (2 Cor. 8:14, 15) Things started gradually, but hearing how the arrangement was working elsewhere encouraged more and more brothers to try to have a Kingdom Hall too.

What a difference this arrangement has made! Regarding Kingdom Hall loans, the branch office reports: “Overall, there have been more than 1,200 Kingdom Hall projects. It certainly has made an impact throughout the country.” Although at first a large part of the funds came from other countries, eventually the Filipino brothers could support their own program. Concerning this, the branch office states: “For several years now, all financing of Kingdom Hall projects has come from loan repayments and contributions from the brothers within the Philippines. This shows that even in economically depressed areas, much good can result when the money is pooled.”

A large number of congregations now have Kingdom Halls. There are about 3,500 congregations in the country, and there are those still needing their own meeting place. However, about 500 of these congregations have fewer than 15 publishers and cannot afford Kingdom Hall loans. So the merging of congregations has recently been encouraged to make it more practical to have Kingdom Halls.

Adjustments in Viewpoints on Meeting Schedules

Some congregations, whether having their own Kingdom Hall or not, are located in remote areas. Brothers have to walk two, four, or even more hours over rough terrain to get to the meeting place. As a result, there are areas where it is impractical to come together more than once a week to a central place for meetings. Consequently, many of these congregations had all their meetings on one day except for the Congregation Book Study. Brothers came prepared to share in four meetings. They brought food for lunch. In this way, the long distance to the meeting place needed to be traversed only once a week, with other activity, such as the field ministry, being carried on in the local area on other days.

During the 1980’s, this practice began to spread to not-so-remote congregations, even those in city areas. Perhaps economic hardship caused some to think of ways to save money. Fewer days with meetings meant less travel and less expense. Other brothers became overly concerned with convenience, perhaps using time on other days for personal pursuits, such as education or secular work.

More and more congregations began to have four of their meetings on one day, and some congregations, even all five meetings! However, this meant that congregations in the Philippines were drifting further and further from the way things are done by most of Jehovah’s people throughout the world, who have meetings on three different days during the week. The brothers had become somewhat out of balance in this regard. During the visit of the zone overseer in 1991, this matter was called to his attention. In turn, the Governing Body was consulted. They responded by saying: “We do not believe this is a good practice unless there are extreme extenuating circumstances.” This information was conveyed to the brothers, first in the cities and then in the rural areas.

It was pointed out that besides conforming to the established worldwide arrangement for meetings, the congregations would spiritually benefit more from having separate meetings than from trying to cram all the material into three and a half to four hours. Young children and newly interested ones had found such a schedule difficult. Elders could prepare higher quality talks when preparing for one or two meetings rather than for many.

What was the response of the congregations to this counsel? The vast majority responded positively, quickly making adjustments to have midweek meetings. Now, with the exception of the very remote congregations, most congregations enjoy a more balanced spiritual program each week.

Assembly Halls

For many years, circuits used school grandstands, gymnasiums, racetracks, or other public facilities to hold assemblies. Despite any inconvenience, the brothers appreciated these opportunities for joyful association.

As with Kingdom Halls, obtaining Assembly Halls was not easy. Economic constraints came into the picture here too. Nevertheless, many circuits were keen on having their own meeting places. As a result, quite a few modest Assembly Halls have been put up. These usually serve only one or two circuits, not a group of circuits as in many other countries. In many cases, land was donated or purchased at a reasonable cost, particularly in rural areas. Brothers then pooled their contributions and built a simple structure​—usually an open-sided hall with just a roof to shade the audience, a concrete floor, a raised stage, and some seating.

In the Metro Manila area, even that was not possible primarily because of exorbitant land prices as well as the cost of putting up an appropriate structure in the city. Congregations in the area contributed to a fund for that purpose, but the amount received was far below what was needed just to purchase land. Through the 1970’s, the 1980’s, and most of the 1990’s, assemblies in Metro Manila continued to be held in schools, grandstands, and similar places.

In the meantime, the number of congregations and circuits in the Metro Manila area continued to grow, making the need for an Assembly Hall acute. A search for suitable land began. Letters went out to the congregations informing them of the privilege of supporting the project financially. In 1992 about 15 acres [6 ha] of land was found, near the Lagro district on the northern end of Metro Manila.

Metro Manila congregations supported the project by sending contributions and volunteer workers. International servants came in from several countries to help with the work. One of them, Ross Pratt from New Zealand, relates: “In March 1997 we got the approval from Brooklyn to begin. It was a big earthwork job, and 38,000 cubic yards [29,000 cu m] of soil was moved to get the site prepared for the buildings. There were 50 to 60 permanent workers. The Assembly Hall was finished in November 1998.” It was then dedicated. Since the hall was designed to hold up to 12,000 people, district conventions can also be held there. The open sides on this Assembly Hall allow the tropical breezes to move through as the audience listens to the program inside. Sixteen circuits in and around Metro Manila now regularly enjoy spiritual programs at this hall.

Additional Branch Property

As the number of congregations and circuits in the field multiplied, the work load at the branch increased. In 1980 there were about 60,000 publishers in the field. Before a decade passed, the Philippines would join the ranks of countries having over 100,000 publishers. In the same period, the Bethel family grew from 102 to 150. However, even in the early 1980’s, space at the branch was getting tight. There was a need for more accommodations.

The Governing Body gave instructions to look for more property. Felix Fajardo tells what happened: “We went from house to house to find out if there was any property for sale near Bethel. The Filipino and Chinese owners said that they were not selling their property. One property owner adamantly said: ‘Chinese do not sell. We buy. We never sell.’” So, at that time, it seemed that nothing was available close to the original branch.

A search was made for property in other places. If necessary, the branch office would move out of the city. Several sites were found in nearby provinces. The Governing Body took particular interest in a large parcel of land near San Pedro, Laguna, being offered by a brother for a reasonable price. Approval was given to purchase this. Planning went ahead for building offices, a Bethel Home, and a factory on that land. However, as time passed, it seemed that moving things there was not Jehovah’s will. There was no telephone service, the road was poor, and there was a security problem in that area. It became evident that this property was not the best place for a branch. So it was made into a farm to help supply the Bethel family’s needs. Yet, that did not solve the problem of needing more space for the branch office.

An unexpected turn of events seemed to indicate Jehovah’s direction. Felix continues: “Out of the blue, our nearest neighbor said: ‘We are selling our property​—1,200 square yards [1,000 sq m]. We would like to sell it to you.’ So the Governing Body told us to buy it. We thought that it was sufficient, but when we submitted our building plans to world headquarters, we were told: ‘Maybe you can look for more property. You need a little bit more.’

“Right after that, a doctor and an attorney came and said: ‘We would like to sell our property to you.’ It was also 1,200 square yards [1,000 sq m]. Next, a woman who had about 2.5 acres [1 ha] next door wanted to sell. She sold it at a very reasonable price. We thought we had a pretty good size now. But headquarters said: ‘Find some more.’”

Then came some unexpected help. The doctor and the attorney who had sold us their property went around to the other neighbors and convinced them to sell their land. One by one they offered their property to the branch. After almost all nearby properties were purchased, another proposal was sent to headquarters. Again the answer came back: “You need some more.” The brothers were thinking: ‘Where are we going to go now? We have exhausted all possibilities nearby.’

About this time, a telephone call was received about the property owned by the businessman who had previously said, “Chinese do not sell.” It was now for sale! Felix explains: “Brother Leach and I found out that no one else was interested in it. So we got it very cheap. It seems that Jehovah’s hand was in the matter.” Another 2.5 acres [1 ha] of land was added, and finally, headquarters said: “You have enough to start planning to build.”

As time passed and conditions changed, it became evident that the farm in San Pedro was no longer needed. Much of the food for the Bethel family could be purchased in bulk at rates lower than the cost of producing it at the farm. So the decision was made to sell the farm. By 1991 it was in the hands of a new owner. Proceeds from the sale were used to help defray the costs of the new buildings at the branch.

Building the New Branch Facilities

The land now owned by the branch was more than triple the size of the original 2.5-acre [1 ha] lot purchased in 1947. With the help of the Regional Engineering Office at the Japan branch of Jehovah’s Witnesses, plans were drawn up, and the work of preparing the site began in mid-1988. Some of the old wooden buildings were to be torn down. The new buildings would include an 11-story residence building and a large 2-story factory. A Kingdom Hall was to be erected on the site.

Besides the Gilead graduates who were assigned to help, almost 300 brothers and sisters from about five countries came as long-term international servants and short-term international volunteers to help on the project. Nearby residents were amazed when they saw that people from other countries came to help. They were even more taken aback when they learned that the majority of these had come at their own expense! Local brothers and sisters added to the atmosphere of international unity.

As with the acquisition of the land, Jehovah’s direction was seen as construction progressed. For example, only one company in the Philippines handled the type of roof sheeting needed for the buildings. However, the branch’s order for material was 301st on the company’s waiting list! The brothers made an appointment to speak directly with the vice president of the company, and they explained the volunteer nature of our work. The company’s board of directors met, approved the brothers’ request, and moved their order to number one on the production list. Soon after the materials were delivered, workers at that company went on strike.

A fine spirit was manifested by the multitude of brothers involved in the branch construction project. About 600 volunteers each week came from nearby congregations to help. In fact, some 30 percent of the work was done by these volunteers.

High construction standards were maintained. Since the islands of the Philippines are located in an active earthquake zone, brothers engineering the project made sure that the 11-story building could withstand strong tremors. How different these high-quality buildings were compared with the previous structures, one of which had been built in the 1920’s! The oldest were torn down to make way for the new ones.

Finally, on April 13, 1991, the branch dedication program took place. John Barr of the Governing Body gave the dedication talk to an audience of 1,718. Brothers and sisters who had been serving Jehovah for more than 40 years were invited to the program and enjoyed it along with guests from ten countries. On the following day, 78,501 benefited from a spiritually upbuilding program that was carried by telephone line to six locations throughout the archipelago.

Filipinos Go Out as International Servants

During the branch construction, international servants from other countries shared their skills with Filipino brothers. Hubertus Hoefnagels, who trained others, comments: “Many of the local brothers are very zealous, and they were able to apply what they had learned.” As a result, when the Philippines project was finished, some of these trained brothers were able to go out as international servants to help on branch projects in other countries, particularly in Southeast Asia.

Joel Moral, from Quezon Province, was one of them. He first came to the branch construction project in Manila with the thought of volunteering to work for one week. However, his help was needed, and he was asked to stay on. Although he had no extensive experience in construction, working on the branch project enabled him to gain skills quickly by learning from foreign international servants.

Even before the project in the Philippines was finished, a need arose for help on a new branch in Thailand. Joel says: “I wasn’t expecting it, but I was invited to go to Thailand. My experience on construction in the Philippines was a big help to prepare for international work.” He stayed more than one year helping on the construction in Thailand.

Joshua and Sara Espiritu got acquainted with each other while they were both working on the Philippines branch construction. They were married shortly after the dedication of the branch and made it their goal to serve together as international servants. After a few months, they were invited to share in construction work in other countries. Since then, they have served in five countries: three in Asia and two in Africa. Joshua says of his experience while still in the Philippines: “While we were working with the brothers from other countries, we learned skills. We now had knowledge that we could share with others.” When they were sent to other countries, they told the local brothers: “We will not always be here. In the future you will continue the work.” Regarding his goal when going to other countries, he explains: “We do not go there just to work, but we really try to teach the brothers.”

Of course, going to different countries requires flexibility. Jerry Ayura was sent to several places, including Thailand, Western Samoa, and Zimbabwe. He explains: “I learned that Jehovah uses people of all kinds of backgrounds. We love them because Jehovah loves them.” How happy these Filipino brothers are that they can contribute to Jehovah’s work on an international scale!

Unrest Does Not Stop the Work

Making the joy of Jehovah one’s stronghold includes continued loyalty to him, even in difficult times. There have been numerous opportunities for Jehovah’s servants in the Philippines to demonstrate this.

Though martial law ended on January 17, 1981, unrest continued through the 1980’s. In February 1986 the government was replaced. However, the change of power was relatively peaceful, and even congregations located where the “People’s Power” revolution took place continued their meetings and preaching without interruption. While passing by “People’s Power” crowds, publishers noticed priests and nuns mingling among the people and egging them on to action.

The new government quickly implemented certain changes. However, unrest did not end. In the first three years after the new government came to power, there were a number of coup attempts, some of them bloody. On one occasion during the branch construction, foreign and local construction workers alike were surprised to look out across the city and see renegade soldiers bombing their own military camp. These encounters were relatively brief, but they made it necessary to encourage some congregations to meet at Kingdom Halls in safer locations.

For many years, unrest between government troops and opposing forces has continued in some areas of Mindanao. While carrying on their ministry, brothers there have had to act discreetly and trust in Jehovah. Renato Dungog, a graduate of Ministerial Training School and now a circuit overseer, served in an area where there has been much strife throughout. On one occasion, while Renato was waiting for a boat, a soldier asked him: “Where are you going?”

Renato explained: “I’m a traveling minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I visit the brothers twice a year to strengthen them and to go preaching with them.”

The soldier responded: “God must be with you, or else you would have been killed.” So despite turmoil, the brothers carry on their work, trusting in Jehovah, and they are well respected for it.

Back Into the Courts With the Flag-Salute Issue

Youths have had their loyalty to God tested. On June 11, 1955, President Ramon Magsaysay signed into law Republic Act No. 1265 requiring all children in public and private schools to salute the Philippine flag. Children of Jehovah’s Witnesses reacted conscientiously, as do Witness youths throughout the world. (Ex. 20:4, 5) Although they respect the nation’s emblem, they cannot conscientiously engage in what they consider to be religious acts of devotion to any object. When children of the Gerona family in Masbate were expelled from school for not saluting the flag, it resulted in a case that was taken to the Philippines Supreme Court in 1959. The court, however, did not respect the religious stand of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It contended that the flag “is not an image” and that “the flag is utterly devoid of any religious significance.” Thus the court took it upon itself to legislate what is or is not religious.

Of course, this did not change the Witnesses’ religious beliefs. The brothers stood firm for Scriptural principles. The court’s decision did result in some difficulties, though not as severe as might have been expected.

Flag salute was not an issue again until the court’s decision was incorporated into the Administrative Code of 1987. After that, in 1990 a number of children of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Cebu area were expelled from school. A superintendent of schools was adamant in enforcing the rule. The expulsions spread.

The media covered the expulsions. Then a committee on human rights took an interest in these children, who were being denied an education. It seemed that the mood had changed from that of 1959. Was it now Jehovah’s time to bring the matter out into the open again? Ernesto Morales, an elder at that time in Cebu, observed: “Editors, newspapermen, educators, and others all urged us to take the case to court.” The Legal Departments at the branch and at world headquarters were consulted. The decision was made to file a case.

However, the Regional Trial Court, followed by the Court of Appeals, rendered unfavorable decisions. They were unwilling to go against the Supreme Court’s decision in the 1959 Gerona case. The only way to resolve the matter would be to take the issue back to the Supreme Court. Would they be willing to hear the case? Yes was the answer from the Supreme Court! Felino Ganal, a Witness lawyer, took the lead in filing the case before the highest court. Within days, the Supreme Court issued an injunction requiring that all the expelled children be readmitted to the schools, pending a decision on the case.

Arguments were filed by both sides. After careful consideration, the Supreme Court reversed the 1959 decision and upheld the right of children of Jehovah’s Witnesses to refrain from saluting the flag, reciting the pledge of allegiance, and singing the national anthem. The court explained the landmark decision: “The idea that one may be compelled to salute the flag, . . . on pain of . . . being expelled from school, is alien to the conscience of the present generation of Filipinos who cut their teeth on the Bill of Rights which guarantees their rights to free speech and the free exercise of religious profession and worship.” The court also ruled that expulsion of Jehovah’s Witnesses from schools would “violate their right . . . , under the 1987 Constitution, to receive free education.” The Manila Chronicle declared: “The Supreme Court corrects a 35-year injustice on the Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

A motion for reconsideration was filed by the opposing parties, but on December 29, 1995, the Supreme Court denied the motion. Thus, the decision stands. What a victory for Jehovah’s people!

Work Continues Despite Disasters

As noted at the beginning of this report, the Philippines is frequently afflicted by disasters. Let’s take a look at some disasters that have affected the brothers.

Earthquakes: Since the islands are located at the junction of two major tectonic plates, the country is prone to earthquakes. One authority says that at least five earthquakes take place each day, with many more temblors that are not felt by humans. Most cause no disturbance to life, but occasionally, severe earthquakes wreak havoc.

At 4:26 p.m. on July 16, 1990, one such severe quake with strong aftershocks struck near Cabanatuan, a city in central Luzon. Benguet Province was also heavily affected. A number of schools and hotels collapsed, resulting in loss of life.

At that time Julio Tabios, who was serving as district overseer there, was traveling with his wife on the way to a circuit assembly in a mountainous area of Benguet. A brother who was carrying vegetables to sell in Baguio gave them a ride in his truck. After winding through the mountains, they came to a narrow portion of the road where they had to allow an oncoming vehicle to pass. Just then, rocks started falling down the mountain. They realized that it was a strong earthquake. Julio says: “The brother managed to back up his truck to a wider space, after which a big rock thudded onto the spot we had just left. We were thankful to be safe. Moments later, a second tremor hit, and we watched a huge rock next to us tremble as if it were dancing.” Whole sides of mountains slid down.

Landslides had blocked the road. The only way to reach the assembly site, or anyplace else for that matter, was by trekking through the mountains on foot. At nightfall, they were put up at the house of a kind person. The next day, they climbed a high mountain to get to their destination. Along the way, they made contact with a number of brothers who were helping one another to cope with the effects of the earthquake. Finally, after hiking along dangerous mountain trails, they reached Naguey, where the assembly was to be held. Julio relates: “What tears of joy among the brothers, since they were no longer anticipating that we would arrive! Though we were very tired, we were refreshed when we saw the happy brothers and sisters welcome us.” Despite the earthquake, many had made the effort to be there, demonstrating their great appreciation for spiritual things.

You may recall that the new buildings at the branch were under construction at the time. Although the residence building was not yet finished, the 1990 earthquake was the first structural test for this building. The swaying back and forth made some Bethelites queasy, but the building did just what it was engineered to do and came through the strong temblor undamaged.

Floods: Because of the humid tropical climate, most parts of the country receive generous amounts of rain. Certain areas are quite susceptible to flooding. Leonardo Gameng, who has engaged in full-time service for over 46 years, recalls: “We had to hike two miles [3 km] in mud up to the knees.” Juliana Angelo has served as a special pioneer in territories in the province of Pampanga that are prone to flooding. “To reach interested ones with the Kingdom message,” she says, “we rode in little paddleboats. The brother paddling needs sharp vision to avoid trees where snakes lurk, apt to drop into the boat.” Corazon Gallardo, a special pioneer since 1960, spent many years in territories in Pampanga. At times, there was no boat to ride in, and she recalls that she had to walk in floodwaters almost up to the shoulder. Despite such difficulties, she maintains a fine attitude. She has learned to be adaptable and to rely on Jehovah, knowing he will never forsake his loyal ones.

Ever since the lahar from Mount Pinatubo filled up many low-lying areas, floods in Pampanga have become worse because the water now spills over into other areas. Generoso Canlas, a circuit overseer there, says that because of the water, they have often had to wear boots or even go barefoot in the field service. However, the brothers keep on going despite the inconveniences.

Where flooding is particularly severe and whole communities are affected, Jehovah’s Witnesses help one another and also non-Witnesses. When this happened in Davao del Norte, in southern Philippines, the town officials so greatly appreciated the help that they passed a resolution saying so.

Volcanoes: There are many volcanoes in the Philippines, but the one that caught the world’s attention was Mount Pinatubo. In June 1991 the volcano erupted with a spectacular mushroom cloud. Day virtually turned into night. Some thought it was the beginning of Armageddon. Ash fell as far west as Cambodia. In a short time, Mount Pinatubo disgorged 235 billion cubic feet [6.65 billion cu m] of pyroclastic material. The heavy ash caused roofs and even whole buildings to cave in. Much of the ejected material became lahars, huge flowing slurries that wiped out some houses and buried others. Both ash and lahars severely damaged and destroyed Kingdom Halls and homes of the brothers. Julius Aguilar, a regular pioneer in Tarlac at the time, says: “Our whole house was buried under ash.” The family was forced to move.

Pedro Oandasan was serving as a circuit overseer in the area. He relates: “The brothers never forsook their worship and service to Jehovah. Attendances were always more than 100 percent. Further, the lahar did not lessen the love of the brothers for the preaching work. We kept on preaching to the evacuees and even in the devastated areas.”

Such disasters offer opportunities to put Christian love into action. During and after Mount Pinatubo’s eruption, brothers assisted one another in evacuating. The branch office quickly sent a truck loaded with rice, and after it was unloaded, the truck was used to evacuate brothers from affected towns. When the brothers in Manila learned of the need, they immediately responded by sending funds and clothes. In Betis, Pampanga Province, young brothers organized a brigade to help victims. Among those they helped was an interested woman whose husband had been opposed to the truth. When these young brothers helped to rebuild this couple’s house, the husband was so impressed that he is now a Witness!

Typhoons: Of all the weather disturbances in the country, typhoons, or tropical cyclones, cause the most destruction. On the average, about 20 typhoons hit the archipelago each year. Such storms are of varying intensity, but they are characterized by strong winds and heavy rains. Often these are of sufficient strength to destroy buildings. In addition, typhoons destroy crops, affecting the livelihood of farmers.

Again and again, Witnesses’ homes and crops have been damaged. Amazingly, the brothers usually just pick themselves up and keep on going. In some parts of the country, typhoons are so frequent that they are almost a normal occurrence. Commendably, the brothers have learned to cope, and they deal with life’s problems one day at a time. (Matt. 6:34) Of course, when brothers in nearby areas hear of those in need, they voluntarily send food or money to help them. Occasionally, after exceptionally severe storms, traveling overseers contact the branch office, which is happy to organize relief.

Delivering Bible Literature

Because the Philippines is a nation of many islands, it has always been a challenge to get literature to congregations on time and in good condition. For many years, the postal system was used. Often, however, issues of The Watchtower and Our Kingdom Ministry did not arrive before it was time to study them at the meetings.

Jehu Amolo, who works in the branch’s Shipping Department, remembers what prompted a change. He explains: “Apart from the problem of delayed deliveries, in 1997 the postal rates went way up.” Considering that about 360,000 magazines were being shipped every two weeks, a large amount of money was involved.

The suggestion was presented to the Governing Body that the brothers from the branch deliver our literature. After careful study, this was approved. On Luzon, trucks go out directly from the branch. However, since other areas are separated by water, the branch uses a reliable package service to send magazines and literature by boat to selected points throughout the archipelago. From these depots, drivers truck the shipments to drop-off locations. When the drivers are far from their points of origin, the brothers happily accommodate them in their homes so that the drivers can get a good rest before continuing on their way.

Aside from the monetary advantage, the brothers are thrilled to have the publications they need on time and in excellent condition. A side benefit is that they feel closer to the organization because of regular contact with brothers from the branch. Many are encouraged just by seeing the truck pass by displaying the name Watch Tower.

This arrangement in some ways has given an additional witness. For example, on one occasion there was flooding in Bicol, southern Luzon, when a delivery was being made. Vehicles were stopped by high water on the highway. It so happened that a literature truck stopped in front of a brother’s house. When the family saw it, they told the drivers: “Come on in and eat and stay here until the flood subsides.”

Non-Witness drivers did not know where they would eat or sleep. When they saw what was happening, they asked the Bethel drivers: “How are you connected with these people?”

The brothers answered: “They’re our spiritual brothers.”

The other drivers responded: “So that’s how Witnesses are! Even though you just met, you trust one another.”

Beyond the Borders

Now let’s take a brief look outside the country and consider the many Filipinos residing abroad. In the heyday of the British Empire, people said that “the sun never set” on its realm. Now some say: “The sun never sets on the Filipinos.” Although the Philippines is a small nation, Filipinos are scattered all over the globe. Because of work or for other reasons, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos have gone to other lands. How has this resulted in some learning the Bible’s truth? Of those who were already Witnesses, how have they helped others?

Ricardo Malicsi worked as an airport consultant. As his job took him to many countries, he and his wife used this circumstance to spread the good news in countries where there were very few publishers. In fact, in some of these countries, there were restrictions on the preaching work. While they were in such places as Bangladesh, Iran, Tanzania, and Uganda, they were happy to help several to know Jehovah. In some cases, they were instrumental in establishing congregations. Among the other countries where they worked and preached are Laos, Myanmar, and Somalia. This they did for 28 years, until Ricardo retired. How happy they are to have made such a fine contribution to spreading the good news in far-flung fields!

Others were not Witnesses when they left the Philippines to work elsewhere, but it was there that they found the truth. Rowena, a Catholic, first went to work in the Middle East. While there, she started reading the Bible. Later, she got work in Hong Kong, where thousands of Filipinos work as domestic helpers. She says: “I prayed to God every night to please send me the right people who will guide me to God’s Kingdom.” That prayer was answered when two missionaries, John and Carlina Porter, contacted Rowena and helped her to study the Bible. Rowena wrote to the Philippines branch to tell her experience and also to ask that someone visit her husband, still in the Philippines, to explain the Bible’s message to him.

Filipinos who have emigrated now make up large communities in a number of other countries. In the early 1900’s, there was a shortage of plantation workers in Hawaii. Many Filipinos filled that need. Some of the first ones to come into the truth in Hawaii were Filipino immigrants. Today, there are ten Iloko congregations and one Tagalog congregation in Hawaii.

Thousands of Filipinos live in the United States. There are many Witnesses among them. The first Filipino congregation there was formed in Stockton, California, in 1976. The United States branch reports: “The Filipino field progressed very well, and on September 3, 1996, the first Filipino circuit was established.” As of the 2002 service year, there were 37 Filipino congregations comprising about 2,500 publishers working under the supervision of the United States branch. There are also Tagalog congregations or groups in Alaska, Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Guam, Italy, and Saipan.

Although these Filipinos are in other countries, their receiving spiritual food still requires the involvement of brothers in the Philippines, since all translation of publications for Philippine languages is done at the branch in Manila. Additionally, some lands, including Guam, Hawaii, and the United States, have either Iloko or Tagalog convention programs. All translated materials for these conventions, including taped dramas, come from the Philippines.

Reaching Out to Other Language Groups

Throughout the islands, peoples speaking the vernacular have, for the most part, received a good witness. In recent years, however, an effort has been made to reach those who were previously not given a thorough witness.​—Rom. 15:20, 21.

For many years there were few English congregations in the Philippines. Although most Filipinos know some English, it is not spoken fluently by the majority. Yet, there was a need for English meetings in some locations. In the late 1960’s, the brothers observed this problem near Clark Air Base in Pampanga. Sisters married to U.S. military personnel stationed there did not speak a local language. The brothers helped organize English meetings, and these were of great benefit for many years to those in that area.

A similar problem arose in Metro Manila. An American sister lived there during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Pacifico Pantas, an elder in the Tagalog congregation where she associated, says: “I felt sorry for her because she attended regularly but would not get much out of the meetings.” Soon, other Americans also came to that congregation. The suggestion was made to have the public talk and Watchtower Study in English. This was arranged with Brother Pantas taking the lead. Eventually, more meetings were added, and others were invited to help. David and Josie Ledbetter, who were serving at the branch, accepted the invitation. Things have grown nicely over the years, and that one little group has expanded into two English congregations.

Having English congregations has benefited many people. Monica, from California, is one of them. She started studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses there. Her parents​—staunch Catholics—​were vehemently opposed. They decided to send Monica to a Catholic environment in the Philippines. Her mother accompanied Monica to Manila and left her there at her Catholic grandmother’s home, without her passport. Even if Monica could find a congregation, she could not continue her study, since she knew no Tagalog, having grown up in the United States. However, the sister who studied with her in California called Josie Ledbetter to make sure that someone contacted Monica. Josie said that there was now an English congregation. That was just what Monica needed! Josie states: “During the six months that Monica was ‘exiled’ in the Philippines, she was baptized. Two weeks after Monica got baptized, her mother said: ‘Here’s your passport. Come back.’ Monica was already a Witness.” How thankful she was for the English congregation!

There has been another benefit. The brothers have reached some areas that had never been worked. There are subdivisions in Metro Manila where wealthy people live, and many of these people speak English. Thus, English has helped to open the door to these territories.

Efforts have also been made to open up the Chinese territory. In the mid-1970’s, a Chinese book study group was formed. The book study was held in a shoe store operated by Cristina Go. However, the group was very small and needed help.

Elizabeth Leach, who came to the Philippines when she married missionary Raymond Leach, had served in Hong Kong for 16 years. Elizabeth’s experience with Cantonese and in helping Chinese people to learn the truth was put to use. Around that time, Esther Atanacio (now, Esther So) was one of two special pioneers assigned to that territory. Esther recalls: “When we started working in that area, people did not know who Jehovah’s Witnesses were.” Nevertheless, the Chinese community in Manila was gradually introduced to Jehovah’s name and people.

Although the pioneers knew Cantonese, they had to learn another dialect, since the main Chinese dialect used in Manila is Fujian. Ching Cheung Chua, a young man who was new in the truth, began to associate with the group. Because he knew the Fujian dialect, he served as an interpreter at early meetings.

The group gradually progressed. A small congregation was formed in August 1984. Many challenges remain, but those who are helping consider it a joy to preach in this territory that had not previously received a thorough witness.

Even Those Who Cannot Hear “Hear”

As time went by, it appeared to be Jehovah’s will that attention be given to yet another language and territory​—that of the deaf. Even into the early 1990’s, there were practically no arrangements in the Philippines to help the deaf learn about Jehovah. While very few deaf associated with congregations, there were some unusual exceptions. For example, Manuel Runio, whose mother was a Witness, was helped to learn Bible truth by a sister who studied with him by tediously writing on paper. He was baptized in 1976. On the island of Cebu, Lorna and Luz, twins who were both deaf, were taught the Bible’s message by their blind uncle. How could a blind pioneer teach deaf people? With the help of an assistant, he used illustrations. Also, his cousin interpreted what he said into signs that the twins could understand, since they had never formally studied sign language. Both were baptized in 1985. However, such efforts were few and far between.

Several events led to opening up this territory. When missionaries Dean and Karen Jacek were at Brooklyn Bethel for some training in mid-1993, brothers working in Translation Services asked what was being done to help the deaf in the Philippines. A young sister in the Philippines had enrolled in a sign-language class, with the intent of learning to communicate with a deaf friend from a Witness family. Also, Liza Presnillo and her pioneer companions in Navotas, Metro Manila, met deaf ones in their territory but could not communicate with them. The pioneers were thinking about studying sign language so that they could reach the deaf with the Kingdom message.

The branch learned that Ana Liza Acebedo, a regular pioneer in Manila, worked at a school for the deaf and was one of the few Witnesses in the Philippines who had an extensive knowledge of sign language. She was asked: “Would you be willing to teach sign language to some Bethelites?”

Her answer was yes! She had often wondered how all the deaf people would be witnessed to. A class was started that included Bethelites and local regular pioneers. The sisters in Navotas had already enrolled in a sign-language course, and they continued with that.

Things then moved very quickly. Within six months, sign-language interpreting was being used in three congregations in Metro Manila. During 1994, interpreting was arranged for the first time at assemblies and conventions. One of the first goals was to help deaf children of Witness parents. A number were among the first to be baptized. Manuel Runio, who had faithfully attended meetings for years without sign-language interpreting, was happy to benefit from these new arrangements.

Soon, other places in the country were asking for assistance. Liza Presnillo was sent with a pioneer partner to Olongapo to work as a temporary special pioneer in the deaf territory. Many were helped. By mid-2002, sign-language groups had been formed in 20 municipalities outside of Manila. A milestone of progress was the forming of the Metro Manila Sign Language Congregation in April 1999, the first in the country. Joel Acebes, one of the Bethelites in the first sign-language class and now an elder in that congregation, says: “We are happy that we have been used by Jehovah in this work that is so important.” Yes, even the deaf are “hearing” the Kingdom message. Seeing the progress in this previously unworked territory is truly a cause for rejoicing.

Larger Facilities Needed

With new territories being worked during the 1990’s and old ones being worked even more thoroughly, there has been steady growth in the number of publishers and new ones associating with the congregations. More magazines have been needed, and more books and brochures have been translated into Philippine languages than ever before. The result has been a significant increase in the staff at the branch​—to do printing, translating, and proofreading and to perform other needed services for the brothers and congregations. Not long after the new residence building was finished in 1991, it was full. It had been designed for 250 people. By 1999, the Bethel family numbered 350.

There was still room on the branch property for building, so the Governing Body approved the construction of another residence, very similar to the one finished in 1991. Work got started in 1999 and was completed by the end of 2001. The building almost doubles the on-site housing capacity. There is additional office space, which was badly needed to meet the needs of the expanding work in the field. Other facilities provided include a larger laundry, a classroom for the Ministerial Training School, and improved library facilities. Skilled local workers and international servants temporarily joined the Bethel family to get this work done. After completing the new building, these volunteers stayed on to do renovation work on the 1991 building. A lot of work is involved in such construction projects, but it is with one goal in mind​—to provide facilities that will support the dissemination of life-giving Bible truths.

Ministerial Training School Helps Fill a Need

When the Ministerial Training School was established in the United States in 1987, many brothers in the Philippines began thinking, ‘Will it ever be possible for us to benefit from that training?’ The answer came in 1993. It was announced that the school would begin operation in the Philippines the following year. The school would provide additional training for qualified brothers who have some organizational experience as elders or ministerial servants. Hundreds of brothers applied.

Two traveling overseers and one missionary were trained as instructors. The first class got under way in January 1994. Those who have received this training have become more qualified to serve their brothers in the congregations. One congregation wrote this about a school graduate who associates with them: “Compared to before he attended the school, there is a big difference in the way he handles meeting parts now.”

Many students made material sacrifices in order to benefit from this spiritual training. Ronald Moleño had training as a chemical engineer. He received an invitation to the school, but about the same time, a company offered him a job that would bring a high salary, housing, insurance, and other benefits. Ronald meditated on the two opportunities and chose the spiritual one. He graduated from the 18th class and continued to enjoy his service as a pioneer. Ronald was recently invited to take up missionary service in Papua New Guinea.

Wilson Tepait had a decision to make after attending the first class. He had a good secular job as a teacher, but he was now being invited to take up special pioneer service where the need was greater. He says: “I enjoyed my teaching job, but I also knew that Kingdom interests must be the first thing in my life.” He accepted the privilege of special pioneer service and saw that Jehovah blessed his service in that field. Wilson now serves as a district overseer in the southern Philippines.

Most students in the school are from the Philippines. However, the Governing Body made arrangements for students to come from other Asian nations. Lands that have sent students include: Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Some of the students come from countries where the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses is restricted. The mutual training has been a very upbuilding experience for the students. Instructor Anibal Zamora says: “Students that come from countries where there are restrictions relate how they have trusted in Jehovah in all situations. This strengthens the students from the Philippines.” In turn, students from other countries learn how Filipino brothers of humble backgrounds have served Jehovah under adverse circumstances.

Nidhu David, a student from Sri Lanka, said: “Those are memories that I will always treasure. It was two months of training from Jehovah God. Just fantastic!”

The school facilities are located right at the branch. Not only do the students benefit from the prepared curriculum but they also learn from seeing firsthand how the work is organized at the branch. Their exposure to spiritually-minded brothers and sisters at Bethel gives them fine examples of faith to imitate. Also, brothers from countries with fewer publishers or restricted conditions are able to see the organization on a large scale.

To date, 922 have graduated from 35 classes. Of the Filipino graduates, 75 now serve as traveling overseers and many more as substitute circuit overseers in the 193 circuits throughout the islands. Six are assigned to Bethel, and ten are serving in missionary assignments in Papua New Guinea and Micronesia. Hundreds are serving as regular pioneers in their home territory or where the need is greater. In just eight years since the school opened, over 65,000 have been baptized in the country. There is a fine pioneer spirit and, generally, positive growth in the congregations. One cannot help but think that these brothers have applied what they learned in the school, contributing to the fine forward movement.

Forward Movement

Marvelous things are being accomplished throughout these islands. Zealous brothers associated with almost 3,500 congregations are busy proclaiming the good news of the best government imaginable, God’s Kingdom.

Recent reports are very encouraging. For the last seven months of the 2002 service year, a new peak in publishers was reached every month. By the month of August, there were 142,124 bringing the message of the Kingdom to others. Jehovah’s name and purpose are being introduced to people on scores of islands. Jehovah’s servants there are doing something similar to what is foretold at Isaiah 24:15: ‘They glorify the name of Jehovah in the islands of the sea.’

Among these zealous preachers are thousands of regular pioneers. In 1950, there were only 307 pioneers, but by the end of April 2002, there were 21,793. Add to this the 386 special pioneers and 15,458 auxiliary pioneers in that month, and the total was 37,637, or 27 percent of all publishers. Many more have shown that they want to join the ranks of the full-time servants of God. During the 2002 service year, 5,638 regular pioneer applications were approved.

All of this is bearing fine fruitage. Thousands of people continue to respond. The Memorial attendance in March 2002 was 430,010. Close to 100,000 Bible studies are being conducted each month. During the 2002 service year, 6,892 new disciples were baptized. In 1948, there was only 1 Witness to every 5,359 people in the country. Today there is 1 to every 549. While Jehovah yet leaves the opportunity open, prospects are bright that thousands more may join praisers of Jehovah in these islands of the sea.

Determined to Continue

When C. T. Russell visited in 1912, a few seeds of truth were cast onto Philippine soil. Slowly but surely, the seeds did germinate and grow. They bore good fruit as some took a stand for the truth ‘in favorable season and in troublesome season.’ (2 Tim. 4:2) Particularly since World War II, the speed of growth picked up until today, when tens of thousands are active praisers of Jehovah. As such, they work joyfully honoring God’s name along with some six million making up the worldwide congregation of Jehovah’s people.

As this account has shown, the work has not always been easy. Despite the beauty of this land, reaching the inhabitants of multitudes of islands has tested the mettle of Kingdom proclaimers. Some brave the stormy seas to reach isolated spots of land. Many trek through the thick vegetation of mountain heights to find sheeplike ones. Even though the islands of the Philippines have had a disproportionate share of calamities​—earthquakes, floods, typhoons, and volcanoes—​this has not stopped the work of Jehovah’s loyal Witnesses.

They are similar to the Israelites who were in a restored land to revive true worship. The odds were against them, but the joy of Jehovah was their stronghold. Today, too, Jehovah’s Witnesses have clearly demonstrated resilience and trust in God. They know that Jehovah is with them, and they believe what Psalm 121:7 says: “Jehovah himself will guard you against all calamity. He will guard your soul.” With Jehovah’s backing, they look forward to helping as many as possible before this system ends. Afterward, they anticipate teaching millions of resurrected ones throughout the earth, including these 7,100 islands. Then the paradisaic beauty of this land will radiate, to the praise of the Creator.

In the meantime, Jehovah’s Witnesses are determined to move ahead with full trust in Jehovah to bless their work. They endeavor to harmonize their lives with the words of God’s prophet: “Let them attribute to Jehovah glory, and in the islands let them tell forth even his praise.”​—Isa. 42:12.

[Blurb on page 232]

“God must be with you, or else you would have been killed”

[Box on page 153]

Early Seeds of Truth Sown

Charles T. Russell and his group visited the Philippines in 1912. Although they were the first official representatives from headquarters in Brooklyn to visit there, records indicate that two other Bible Students were already in the Philippines and were helping others to learn Bible truth. Louise Bell, from the United States, wrote:

“My husband and I went to the Philippines in 1908 and worked as teachers. We were the only Americans in the town of Sibalom. We ordered hundreds of pounds of Bible tracts from Brooklyn. They were shipped from New York to San Francisco, then across the Pacific to Manila, and from there by interisland boats to Sibalom.

“We distributed those tracts and talked to the local people as we had time and opportunity. We kept no record of hours or placements. Although the people were Catholics, many listened to us gladly. We were teachers with medical training, yet we were primarily messengers of the good news.

“We traveled on foot or horseback over bad roads. Sometimes we slept on woven bamboo floors and ate fish and rice from a common bowl.

“When Pastor Russell visited Manila in 1912, we sent him a telegram.”

Sister Bell attended Brother Russell’s lecture at the Manila Grand Opera House on the subject “Where Are the Dead?”

[Box on page 156]

An Overview of the Philippines

The land: About 7,100 islands cover a land area of approximately 120,000 square miles [300,000 sq km]. The islands span about 1,150 miles [1,850 km] from north to south and some 700 miles [1,125 km] from east to west. They vary widely in size​—the largest is a little larger than Portugal while the smallest is so small that it disappears at high tide.

The people: Predominantly of Malay descent, though some have Chinese, Spanish, or American backgrounds.

The language: Of the scores of languages in the Philippines, the Bicol, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Iloko, Pangasinan, Samar-Leyte, and Tagalog languages are among the more widely spoken. English and Pilipino are considered to be the official languages. Pilipino is derived primarily from Tagalog.

The livelihood: Great variety exists in the cities, but in the country areas, many are farmers or fishermen. Food crops, including rice, sugarcane, bananas, coconuts, and pineapples, are widely grown.

The food: Rice is normally served at every meal. Fish and other seafoods are very common, along with vegetables and fruits that grow in the tropics.

The climate: The country has a tropical climate, with fairly consistent temperatures throughout the islands. The country in general gets plenty of rain.

[Box/Picture on page 161, 162]

An Interview With Hilarion Amores

Born: 1920

Baptized: 1943

Profile: Learned the truth during the Japanese occupation of World War II. Witnesses in the country were few at that time.

I was baptized during the war when it was still possible for the brothers to preach from house to house. However, we had to be cautious because people were suspicious of what we were doing. Eventually, we had to flee to the countryside, but in 1945 we returned to Manila.

At that time, I had the privilege of translating The Watchtower into Tagalog. This required working to as late as two o’clock in the morning. The translated material was mimeographed and sent to groups of Witnesses. Self-sacrifice was needed, but we were very happy because the brothers were cared for spiritually.

Throughout my years in the truth, I have seen that Jehovah is merciful. He truly cares for his people, both spiritually and materially. I remember the postwar relief sent to the Philippines. My, how many were helped with trousers, shoes, and other clothing! Many pioneers who benefited were so appreciative that they put forth even greater effort in their full-time service. Jehovah really cares for his people, providing whatever is needed.

[Box/Picture on page 173, 174]

A Beloved Missionary

Neal Callaway

Born: 1926

Baptized: 1941

Profile: Born into a Witness family, he started his full-time ministry upon graduating from high school. Invited to the 12th class of Gilead School; assigned to the Philippines, where he served as a traveling overseer.

Neal Callaway was a zealous missionary, dearly loved by the brothers. Serious about the Kingdom work and at the same time displaying a jolly disposition, he served in all parts of the country. He tells about his assignment in the traveling work.

“Sometimes we would walk over the hills for two hours to reach the territory, singing Kingdom songs as we went. With 15 to 20 in a group, all walking single file over the trails and singing, it really made my heart glad that I had accepted my foreign assignment.

“To take God’s Word to the small homes in the rural sections, to see these humble people sitting on the floor listening to every word being spoken, and later to see them at the Kingdom Hall on my next visit​—this made me want to work all the harder to tell others about God’s Kingdom.”

Neal married Nenita, a sister from Mindoro, and they faithfully served together until his death in 1985. Filipino brothers still speak fondly of him. One said: “Brother Callaway was a good man who got along well with the brothers. He knew how to adjust, whatever the situation.”a

[Footnote]

[Box/Picture on page 177]

An Interview With Inelda Salvador

Born: 1931

Baptized: 1949

Profile: Sent as a missionary to Thailand in March 1967.

I had mixed emotions when I heard that I would be sent as a missionary to Thailand. I was happy, worried a bit, and had a lot of questions in my mind.

It was March 30, 1967, when I arrived here. To me, the language was strange. It is a tonal language with low, high, deep, rising, and acute tones. It was hard to learn the language, but I was lovingly helped by both local and foreign brothers.

From 1967 to 1987, I was in Sukhumwit. Then I was asked to move to a new congregation assignment. That seemed hard because I had to leave brothers and sisters with whom I had worked for 20 years. That’s how I felt when I moved to Thon Buri. Well, it’s all in the mind. After 12 years in Thon Buri, I moved back to Sukhumwit in 1999. Other missionaries said that it was as if I was going back home. But as for me, any congregation to which I am assigned can be my home.

[Box/Picture on page 178]

Recollections of Learning a Language

Benito and Elizabeth Gundayao

Profile: Benito, accompanied by his wife, Elizabeth, served in circuit work in the Philippines. In 1980 they were sent as missionaries to Hong Kong. There they have helped 53 persons to learn the truth.

Learning Cantonese was a great test for those of us who did not have any background in the Chinese language. Earnest effort and perseverance as well as humility are truly needed.

One time, I was trying to say, “I’m going to the market.” In Cantonese, it turned out to be, “I’m going to the chicken’s manure.” In field service my wife excitedly said, “Oh, I know her,” in referring to a sister with whom the householder was acquainted. But my wife’s words meant, “Oh, I eat her.” What a shock to the householder! We treasure very much our experiences in the Chinese-speaking field.

[Box/Picture on page 181, 182]

An Interview With Lydia Pamplona

Born: 1944

Baptized: 1954

Profile: After gaining experience as a special pioneer in the Philippines, invited to serve in Papua New Guinea in 1980. Has helped more than 84 persons to learn the truth.

I was thrilled to receive my assignment because it had long been my desire to serve where the need is greater. I was also apprehensive because it would be the first time for me to leave my family. I did not know much about Papua New Guinea, and the little I knew from stories I had heard made me nervous. Mother encouraged me, saying: “Jehovah God will take care of us wherever we are doing his will.” I wrote my letter of acceptance.

When I arrived, the brothers were very kind, and the people were friendly. I placed many books and magazines every month, more than I had ever placed in the Philippines. But the language and customs were very different from mine. I thought: ‘Well, I’ll just serve here for a few years and then go back home and pioneer with Mother again.’

Well, after learning two of the main languages and adopting some of the local customs, I came to know the people better. Throughout the more than 20 years that I have been here, I have had the privilege of teaching the truth to quite a few, and some I have taught to read and write so that they can study properly and make the truth their own. All of this and other blessings make me feel that Papua New Guinea is my home now. If Jehovah wills, I am happy to be used in his service until he says the work is done or until the end of my days here.

[Box/Picture on page 191, 192]

An Interview With Filemon Damaso

Born: 1932

Baptized: 1951

Profile: Started full-time ministry in 1953. Later married and entered circuit work. After raising children, continued full-time service as a special pioneer with his wife. Has had various assignments in the Visayan Islands and Mindanao until now.

Severe hardships made full-time service difficult in the 1960’s. Food was scarce because of the rat plagues that destroyed the maize and rice crops. We could no longer go preaching in the towns because our clothes and shoes were worn out.

So we went to the fields, mountains, and far-flung barrios​—usually without shoes. I almost didn’t get to give a part at a circuit assembly because I didn’t have proper clothing. However, our district overseer, Brother Bernardino, kindly lent me his shirt, and I gave my talk. Of course, many people were worse off materially than we were. Because of our determination to persevere, Jehovah blessed us.

In 1982, tests came our way because of neutrality. In Mindanao, rebellion against the government was rampant. Because I was conducting Bible studies with so-called rebel officials, government soldiers branded me as a “lecturer” for the leftists. However, a government official explained that what we teach comes wholly from the Bible and is not political in nature.

At the same time, I was viewed negatively by the rebels because when I went preaching, I first witnessed to the barrio captain and to the commander of the military detachment. But they didn’t touch us because a rebel official with whom I was studying stood up for us.

For decades, Jehovah helped us survive hardships and tests. Thanks be to Jehovah for his mercy and protection!​—Prov. 18:10; 29:25.

[Box/Picture on page 217, 218]

An Interview With Pacifico Pantas

Born: 1926

Baptized: 1946

Profile: Graduated from the 16th class of Gilead in 1951. Currently serves as an elder in Quezon City.

During the second world war, we had Jehovah’s Witnesses for neighbors in the province of Laguna. They invited me to help myself to their library. The books were good: Creation, Vindication, Reconciliation, Religion, Enemies, Children, and lots more. When the Japanese burned our town, we became separated from the Witnesses, but I found them again over a year later in Manila. I began attending meetings, and after I was baptized, I joined a group of pioneers. Our assignment was the whole province of Tayabas, later named Quezon. We worked from town to town and slept in empty buses, homes of interested people, and the like.

When we reached Mauban, a group of guerrilla fighters raided the town. We were asleep on the second floor of the town hall. The commotion woke us up. It seemed that the policemen below us had been trapped. We could hear them dropping their guns on the floor.

The fighters stormed upstairs. One of them shone a flashlight on us and said: “Who are you?” We pretended to be asleep. He asked again and added: “Aren’t you spies from the Philippine constabulary?”

“No, sir,” we answered.

He said: “But you are wearing khaki.”

We explained that the clothes had been donated and that our shoes were what our brothers in America had shipped in a relief package.

The commander said: “OK, I’ll take the shoes.” So I took off my shoes. He also wanted my pants. Soon all of us were in our underpants. It was good that we had some clothes stored nearby. Actually, we were glad they took what they did. Otherwise, the whole town would have thought that we were spies for the fighters!

We bought some wooden shoes, went back to Manila, and then went on to the Visayan Islands to continue preaching.

Brother Pantas shared in the full-time ministry and served as a servant to the brethren (now called a circuit overseer) before attending Gilead School. Upon returning to the Philippines, he served as a district overseer and at the branch office before raising a family.

[Chart/Graph on page 168, 169]

THE PHILIPPINES​—A TIME LINE

1908: Two Bible Students from the United States begin witnessing in the town of Sibalom.

1910

1912: Charles T. Russell gives talk at the Manila Grand Opera House.

1934: Branch office is established. Booklet Escape to the Kingdom is published in Tagalog.

1940

1947: First Gilead graduates arrive.

1961: Classes of the Kingdom Ministry School begin.

1964: Filipino pioneers are first invited to take up missionary service in neighboring countries.

1970

1978: Classes of the Pioneer Service School begin.

1991: New branch buildings are completed and dedicated. Mount Pinatubo erupts.

1993: New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures is released in Tagalog.

2000

2000: Complete New World Translation is released in Tagalog.

2002: 142,124 publishers are active in the Philippines.

[Graph]

(See publication)

Total Publishers

Total Pioneers

150,000

100,000

50,000

1940 1970 2000

[Chart on page 199]

(See publication)

Chart of Growth in Convention Attendance (1948-99)

350,000

300,000

250,000

200,000

150,000

100,000

50,000

0

1948 1954 1960 1966 1972 1978 1984 1990 1996 1999

[Maps on page 157]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

PHILIPPINES

LUZON

Vigan

Baguio

Lingayen

Cabanatuan

Mt. Pinatubo

Olongapo

Quezon City

MANILA

MINDORO

VISAYAN ISLANDS

Masbate

CEBU

MINDANAO

Surigao

Davao

PALAWAN

El Nido

[Full-page picture on page 150]

[Picture on page 154]

Charles T. Russell and William Hall during their 1912 visit to the Philippines

[Picture on page 159]

Joseph dos Santos, shown here with his wife, Rosario, in 1948, remained a zealous Kingdom proclaimer despite three years of cruel imprisonment during World War II

[Picture on page 163]

The first brothers sent from the Philippines to Gilead School: Adolfo Dionisio, Salvador Liwag, and Macario Baswel

[Picture on page 164]

Walking through the mountains to preach

[Picture on page 183]

Thousands of pioneers have benefited from the Pioneer Service School

[Picture on page 186]

Computerized phototypesetting began in 1980

[Picture on page 189]

The good news is made available in many Philippine languages

[Picture on page 199]

“Divine Teaching” International Convention, 1993

[Picture on page 199]

Baptism at the “Joyful Praisers” District Convention, 1995

[Picture on page 200]

Filipino missionaries who came back to visit at convention time

[Picture on page 202]

The “New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures” in Tagalog was released at conventions in 1993

[Picture on page 204]

Translating the Bible with the aid of computers

[Picture on page 205]

A happy pioneer receives the complete “New World Translation” in his own language

[Picture on page 207]

Branch Committee, from left to right: (seated) Denton Hopkinson, Felix Salango; (standing) Felix Fajardo, David Ledbetter, and Raymond Leach

[Picture on page 211]

Many Vietnamese refugees learned the truth while in the Philippines

[Picture on page 215]

Natividad and Leodegario Barlaan each spent more than 60 years in full-time service

[Pictures on page 222, 223]

Kingdom Halls built in recent years

[Pictures on page 224]

Metro Manila Assembly Hall (above) and other Assembly Halls, outside of Manila

[Picture on page 228]

Left: John Barr delivers talk at 1991 branch dedication program

[Picture on page 228]

Below: The branch buildings in 1991

[Picture on page 235]

Victory for Jehovah’s Witnesses acknowledged in the newspapers

[Pictures on page 236]

Earthquakes, volcanoes, and floods cause problems, but zealous publishers keep on preaching

[Picture on page 246]

Zealous pioneers have learned sign language to help deaf ones benefit from spiritual programs

[Picture on page 246]

Students with instructors at the first sign-language Pioneer Service School class in the country, early 2002

[Picture on page 251]

The 27th class of Ministerial Training School in the Philippines