Yearbook—2005

Title Page/Publishers’ Page

2005 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Containing Report for the Service Year of 2004

“My Help Is From Jehovah.”​—Psalm 121:2.

We are indeed living in “critical times hard to deal with.” (2 Tim. 3:1) When faced with trials and difficulties, to whom do you look for help? No doubt, you share the rocklike conviction of the psalmist whose words have been chosen as our yeartext for 2005. In the pages that follow, you will read the experiences of many who relied on Jehovah to help them to endure faithfully. May their stories strengthen you in your determination always to rely on Jehovah, knowing he is eager to help his loyal ones.​—2 Chron. 16:9a.

[Picture Credit Lines on page 2]

Page 13: THONY BELIZAIRE/AFP/Getty Images; page 105: Avec l’aimable permission du journal La Dépêche de Tahiti

Contents

3 A Letter From the Governing Body

6 Highlights of the Past Year

31 Worldwide Report—2004 Grand Totals

Acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Modern Times

67 Tahiti

135 Guyana

203 Iceland

A Letter From the Governing Body

AS WE stand on the threshold of the coming new system of things, it is urgent that we keep in expectation of Jehovah. (Zeph. 3:8) The prophet Daniel stated that “God . . . is a Revealer of secrets, and he has made known . . . what is to occur in the final part of the days.” (Dan. 2:28) What a privilege it is to be living at the close of that foretold period and to understand the divine secrets Jehovah is now making known!

Through “the faithful and discreet slave,” Jehovah has progressively revealed his purpose to gather an international “great crowd” of worshipers during these troublesome “last days.” (Matt. 24:45; Rev. 7:9; 2 Tim. 3:1) Isaiah 2:2, 3 describes this global movement as occurring “in the final part of the days.” Each year, this ingathering continues amid the turmoil and violence rampant in this world.

During the 2004 calendar year, we have been made more aware of the need to obey Jesus’ words: “Keep on the watch . . . Prove yourselves ready.” (Matt. 24:42, 44) Truly, what is happening on the world scene has tremendous meaning for Christians, who discern “the signs of the times” and respond accordingly. (Matt. 16:1-3) In fulfillment of his Word, Jehovah will continue to be with his theocratically organized people despite any opposition they may face.

In spite of efforts by some to hinder or stop the Kingdom proclamation, our brothers continue to speak the truth and to assemble together. (Acts 5:19, 20; Heb. 10:24, 25) In Russia during June 2004, a court of appeals in Moscow upheld a lower court ruling to ban the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses and to liquidate their legal entity in that city. However, the brothers are not deterred; they know what God requires of them, and they obey him as Ruler rather than men. (Acts 5:29) We are confident that Jehovah will direct his servants in the face of adverse legal action.

In the Republic of Georgia during the past few years, brothers have experienced loss of property, suffered mob violence, and witnessed the burning of their literature. But no weapon formed against them has succeeded. (Isa. 54:17) During the 2004 service year, Jehovah’s Witnesses were again legally recognized in Georgia. Conventions were held without interference, and literature flows into the country. New peaks in publishers and Memorial attendance were reported.

In Armenia, Eritrea, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, and Turkmenistan, brothers have been imprisoned for their faith. Though mistreated, they know the Scriptural reason for their trials, which helps them to maintain integrity as they look to Jehovah for deliverance.​—1 Pet. 1:6; 2 Pet. 2:9.

As you read the Highlights of the Past Year and examine the 2004 Worldwide Report, you will rejoice over Jehovah’s goodness. (Ps. 31:19; 65:11) It is our hope that this Yearbook will encourage you to keep walking in a way that pleases God.​—1 Thess. 4:1.

Great efforts continue to be made to reach all sorts of people with the truth. For example, videos, DVDs, and other material in sign language and publications in Braille have been prepared to help the deaf and the blind spiritually. Many Kingdom publishers have learned languages spoken by immigrants residing in their congregation territory.

In addition, hundreds of isolated groups have been formed in hard-to-reach territories. One branch has over 300 isolated groups composed of more than 7,000 publishers. What a potential this represents for new congregations! Moreover, of the 16,760,607 at the Memorial this service year, upwards of 10 million were non-Witnesses. This is a strong indication of the ripe harvest yet to be reaped.

We give thanks to Jehovah for his rich blessing and the loving way in which he cares for us from day to day. (Prov. 10:22; Mal. 3:10; 1 Pet. 5:7) As we move ahead unitedly during this “final part of the days,” our confidence and trust is in Jehovah. No matter what problems we may face, let us take to heart our yeartext for 2005: “My help is from Jehovah.” (Ps. 121:2) Please be assured of our love and of our prayers in your behalf.

Your brothers,

Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Highlights of the Past Year

WHILE the world staggers from crisis to crisis, God’s people enjoy a spiritual estate that grows ever more beautiful and bountiful. (Mal. 3:12, 18) This steady progress calls to mind the promise Jesus made to his disciples just before his ascension to heaven: “Look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”​—Matt. 28:20.

The activities of the past year provide further evidence that Jesus’ comforting promise is proving true. First, let us reflect on the spiritual banquet Jehovah’s servants enjoyed at the “Walk With God” District Conventions.

“Walk With God” Conventions

The prophet Micah showed the distinction between the righteous and the unrighteous when he foretold: “All the peoples, for their part, will walk each one in the name of its god; but we, for our part, shall walk in the name of Jehovah our God to time indefinite, even forever.” (Mic. 4:5) As the speaker explained in the keynote address, those words sum up the attitude of faithful men of old, such as Enoch and Noah, who walked with God during very turbulent times. (Gen. 5:22-24; 6:9, 22) What a privilege we have to walk in their footsteps!

Did the district convention fortify your resolve to continue to “walk in the name of Jehovah”? Why not review your convention notes? Doing so will refresh your memory and help you to reap lasting benefits from the program.

Convention Releases

Is your congregation territory multilingual? Then you may already have used the new booklet Good News for People of All Nations. Prepared in three different editions, containing 32, 64, and 96 pages, the booklet has been tailor-made, so to speak, to fit the language needs of each country. So be sure to have this fine new tool in your witnessing bag. And when you meet someone who speaks an unfamiliar tongue, please follow through on the three steps outlined on page 2 of the booklet. Lives may well depend on it!

In accord with the 2004 yeartext​—“Keep on the watch . . . Prove yourselves ready”​—the final speaker on the second day of the convention released the brochure Keep on the Watch! (Matt. 24:42, 44) May this publication help many more to feel the urgency of our times and to think seriously about the future and the dramatic events that are to occur. And, as the speaker said, may it also help each of us to cope with life’s many pressures and anxieties and to keep our spiritual balance when faced with trials.

School for Traveling Overseers

Over the past six years, more than 600 circuit and district overseers from Canada and the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, have attended 13 classes of the School for Traveling Overseers held at the Watchtower Educational Center at Patterson, New York, U.S.A. During the 2004 service year, the school was greatly expanded, being held at 87 other branches. At 23 of these, classes included students from lands outside the host country. For example, Germany invited brothers from Austria, Israel, Macedonia, Switzerland, and Turkey. Portugal hosted students from Luxembourg and from a number of islands, namely, the Azores, Cape Verde, Madeira, and São Tomé and Príncipe. Kenya welcomed traveling overseers from Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and other African lands.

The curriculum covers every aspect of the work of circuit and district overseers. The goal is to help these hardworking brothers to become more effective in fulfilling their many responsibilities, including teaching in the congregations and at assemblies and taking the lead in the evangelizing work. (2 Tim. 2:2; 4:5; 1 Pet. 5:2, 3) The course also encourages them to maintain their own spirituality and to apply scriptures with discernment and insight when assisting others.

Since most classes are held at branch offices, the traveling overseers and their wives enjoy a taste of Bethel life. One class wrote: “We benefited spiritually from the Bethel routine. We thoroughly enjoyed the morning worship program, which includes readings from the Bible and the Yearbook. Despite all our homework, we also attended the Bethel family Watchtower Study on Monday evening and profited from the wholesome association.”

For the first hour after lunch each day, some of the brothers work on a rotational basis in the Service Department. There they learn how to cooperate more fully with the branch office, how to follow through more effectively on direction received, and how to make out their reports in a more accurate and meaningful way.

Every Friday the students attend a lecture with their wives. This talk includes spiritual encouragement especially prepared for these loyal sisters. For example, they benefit from reminders to continue setting a fine example of wifely subjection, and they receive instruction on supporting their husbands by working along with the sisters in the congregations. One traveling overseer likened these weekly talks to “an exquisite spiritual dessert.”

Of course, the school places much emphasis on the Bible​—in particular, on the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—​With References. Said a student in Germany: “I plan to use the Reference Bible for my personal study and at congregation meetings. Only now do I fully appreciate its value.” A longtime traveling overseer in Britain felt that both his spirituality and his teaching ability were enhanced by the attention given to God’s Word. He wrote: “I learned that while a good illustration is helpful when delivering a talk, reading and explaining the scriptures is more important.”

Many students wrote appreciatively of the school. Said a brother in the United States: “Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude to Jehovah and his organization for encouraging us and equipping us for our assignments. May we serve with greater constancy, with deeper appreciation for Jehovah’s ways, and with more love for his precious sheep.” A student in France wrote: “The course made me more conscious of the need to deal lovingly with our brothers and sisters and to do our best to make them happy in Jehovah’s service.” Summing up the feelings of many, a traveling overseer in Portugal said: “The school was the most rewarding experience of my theocratic career.”

Another comment comes from an instructor. “It is a privilege and a heavy responsibility,” he said, “to instruct men who, in turn, will give direction that affects the lives of thousands of our brothers and sisters. We trust that with Jehovah’s blessing, the benefits of this school will be long lasting.”​—Jas. 3:1.

By the close of the 2004 service year, over 1,700 traveling overseers had attended the school, which had been conducted in 14 languages. The school will continue to be held in the larger branches during the 2005 service year.

Legal Developments

On May 19, 2004, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) at Strasbourg, France, published its judgment in the case of Lotter v. Bulgaria. Former missionaries of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Lotters had filed the case because the government had tried to deport them from Bulgaria on the basis of their religion. The Bulgarian authorities agreed to pay damages to the applicants and to reverse the decision to withdraw their residency permits. The authorities also agreed to publish a clear acknowledgment of the legal status of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Bulgaria, where they were officially registered as a religion in 1998.

The ECHR issued a judgment in favor of Séraphine Palau-Martínez on December 16, 2003. In a 6-to-1 vote, the court ruled that France had violated Sister Palau-Martínez’ rights with respect to her family. She filed her case with the ECHR when she lost custody of her two children because France’s appeals courts had decided that it was best “not to submit [the children] to the harsh, intolerant rules for child-rearing imposed on the children of . . . Jehovah’s Witnesses.” In its judgment, the ECHR ruled that the appeals courts had made their decision without being guided by the children’s true living conditions and best interests and that the resulting decision reflected religious discrimination.

After enduring years of mob attacks fomented by religious fanatics, some of whom have been imprisoned, Jehovah’s Witnesses in the country of Georgia peacefully attended the “Walk With God” District Convention. A special treat for the brothers was the release of the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures in Georgian. Also, on November 28, 2003, the Ministry of Justice of Georgia registered the local branch of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Thus, although the Supreme Court of Georgia had issued a decision in 1998 to annul the corporate entity then used by Jehovah’s Witnesses, a new entity is now officially recognized, to the delight of the brothers.

There are, however, a number of cases in Georgia still pending before the ECHR. Yet, it is gratifying to see that the situation of our brothers there is improving.

Since 1990 the brothers in Germany have tried in vain to register our religious association under the law for public corporations. When the Federal Administrative Court required of Jehovah’s Witnesses a higher standard of loyalty to “Caesar” than the law demands, the Federal Constitutional Court overruled the decision as unconstitutional and sent the case back to be retried. (Mark 12:17) On March 25, 2004, the original court began its review of the case. The court requested additional information about our stand on blood, child rearing, disfellowshipping, and neutrality. The presiding judge stated that the government’s case must be based on reliable evidence​—statistics and official documents—​not on questionable quotes from the Internet and letters from individuals with personal vendettas.

A form used for a census of military recruits in Greece included “Chiliast or Jehovist” as a choice on the list of religions. Viewing these terms as derogatory, the Greece branch filed a complaint with the Ministry of Defense. On March 24, 2004, the ministry wrote to Jehovah’s Witnesses, saying that there was no intention to be offensive and that the ministry had “already proceeded with the immediate correction of the wrong expression.” The corrected form reads “Christian Witnesses of Jehovah.”

Peru has recognized Jehovah’s Witnesses as a religion for decades. However, in November 1997 the Ministry of Education began rejecting our requests for tax exemption for our literature and requiring large sums of money prior to releasing this literature from the customs office. The case went to court. On December 11, 2003, the judge issued her decision in favor of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She declared that the ministry’s actions were “capricious, absurd, and incomprehensible.” The conduct of the officials, she said, was “discriminatory [and] offensive.” Problems with the importation of literature were rapidly resolved.

Puerto Rico, a self-governing commonwealth in union with the United States, has a law that permits public neighborhoods to be closed off by means of gates, walls, and security guards. These barriers restrict our field activity. State police have even removed publishers from some areas. Attempts to resolve the matter out of court have failed. A lawsuit has now been filed in the Federal District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, requesting that the law be declared unconstitutional, an infringement of the rights of free exercise of religion and freedom of speech. The court’s decision is pending.

On October 28, 2003, the Bucharest Court of Appeals issued Judgment No. 1756, obligating the government of Romania to include Jehovah’s Witnesses on the tax-regulations list of recognized religions. On February 6, 2004, the Official Gazette No. 112 published a list of “religions officially recognized in Romania.” Jehovah’s Witnesses were included.

On March 21, 2004, the Seoul District Court in the Republic of Korea acquitted three brothers of criminal charges relating to their refusal to serve in the military for religious reasons. This is the first time that a court in that land has recognized conscientious objection as a civil right. Hundreds of our brothers in Korea are presently incarcerated for the “crime” of ‘beating their swords into plowshares.’ (Isa. 2:4) Sadly, both the supreme court and the constitutional court refused to apply the Korea constitutional guarantee of religious freedom to protect our brothers. However, the Korea legislature recently introduced a bill to provide for civilian service for all eligible citizens of draft age.​—Prov. 21:1.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Watchtower . . . v. Village of Stratton continues to benefit Jehovah’s Witnesses in their door-to-door ministry. For example, in one community in the state of New York, U.S.A., police officers continued to require permits from the Witnesses before they engaged in the public ministry. However, the chief of police, after being apprised of the situation and of the court decision, wrote: “I am personally embarrassed by the actions of my officers in this instance and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.”

A community in the state of Illinois instructed its police department to notify all patrolmen and other officers and staff that because of a U.S. Supreme Court decision, “Jehovah’s Witnesses do not need a permit before going from door to door.” The instructions continued: “They do not need to notify us when they are out there.”

On October 8, 2003, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in favor of Lester Campbell in a case involving his refusal of blood. Brother Campbell sued to recover damages for being transfused with his own blood after surgery notwithstanding his written and oral directives refusing this procedure. The trial court had ruled in favor of the surgeon and the hospital. The Iowa Supreme Court, however, reversed the trial court’s decision, ruling that Lester Campbell did not need a medical expert to establish that the transfusion without his consent fell below the standard of care. It also ruled that he could recover damages.

The Moscow Ban and Its Effect

The Golovinsky Intermunicipal District Court in Russia ruled on March 26, 2004, to ban all activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow and to liquidate their legal entity. This decision was appealed. On June 16, 2004, the Moscow City Court upheld the lower court’s decision, and the ban and liquidation entered into legal effect. The brothers have submitted an appeal to the ECHR and hope for an early hearing because of the many hardships the ban is creating.

Nevertheless, the ban has not dampened the brothers’ spirits. In fact, it has stirred many to do more in Jehovah’s service. Their zeal calls to mind the words of the apostle Paul when he was a prisoner in Rome. “My affairs,” he wrote, “have turned out for the advancement of the good news.”​—Phil. 1:12.

For instance, March 2004 saw an all-time peak of 136,034 publishers and 136,903 Bible studies. This was the first time in seven years that the number of studies exceeded the number of publishers! And from March to June, the branch received over 1,000 applications for regular pioneer service, and in April there was an all-time peak of 15,489 regular pioneers. “Similarly,” the branch reports, “the June 16 ruling only served to galvanize our brothers into greater activity.” It also stirred others​—including some unbelieving husbands—​to begin attending Christian meetings.

A university student from the United States happened to be in Russia when the June ruling was issued. “He made a special trip to Bethel, on the outskirts of St. Petersburg, to learn more about the situation,” writes the branch. “He was impressed by the cleanliness of the facilities and by the welcome he received.” Dumbfounded as to why anyone would want to ban Jehovah’s Witnesses, he requested publications and videos to take back to California to show to his professors in the faculty of religious studies.

Moscow Conventions Proceed Peacefully

From June 11 to 13, just prior to the appeals court’s unfavorable ruling, two “Walk With God” Conventions were held in Moscow, one being in Russian Sign Language. Originally, the conventions were to be held after the hearing, but the Branch Committee succeeded in having the case postponed. The brothers report that the conventions went smoothly and that city authorities cooperated. In fact, the police on duty at the entrances to the stadium were told by their superiors: “When you are letting people into the stadium, don’t smoke and don’t use foul language.”

On the Moscow subway, a man falsely accused a small group of sisters of stealing his money. He demanded that they accompany him to the police station. There he accused not just the sisters but also all of the “sectarians” of deliberately creating traffic jams so that they could rob people. In response, the policeman turned to the sisters and asked, “Who are you?”

Pointing to their lapel badges, they replied, “We are Jehovah’s Witnesses going to our convention.”

The policeman then faced the accuser and said: “Jehovah’s Witnesses do not steal. You must apologize to them, since you insulted them.” The officer then turned to the sisters and said, “Hurry to your convention.” “But you,” he said to the man, “stay here. I want to continue our conversation.”

The peak attendance at the convention held in the stadium was 21,291, with 497 baptized. At the sign-language convention, held at a Kingdom Hall, the attendance reached 929, and 19 were baptized!

Coping With Trials in Haiti

During 2004 the island nation of Haiti suffered from political unrest, violence, a scarcity of essential commodities, and soaring prices. Adding to these woes, catastrophic flooding in May killed more than 1,500 people and left thousands homeless. No Witnesses died, but several lost all they had, including their homes.

Still, the brothers were strengthened by the clear evidence of Jehovah’s help and direction and by the loving concern shown by the Governing Body and the international brotherhood. That love was expressed in a practical way by means of material provisions for disaster victims. Of course, the local brothers also helped one another to obtain food and other necessities.

The Haiti branch kept abreast of developments so that it could provide direction to the congregations. For example, as violence escalated in the capital, Port-au-Prince, the Branch Committee advised the elders to schedule one day earlier the meetings normally held on Sunday, February 29. That recommendation proved to be wise, for on that very Sunday, Haiti’s beleaguered president resigned and fled into exile. “Gunfire crackled throughout the capital as it fell into chaos,” said a news report. The branch writes: “No one had any idea that these events would occur. Getting to meetings on that Sunday would have been impossible. We thank Jehovah for the safety of our brothers.”

During that volatile period, the police and the rebel army as well as the robbers all set up roadblocks, and the government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew. But even before the curfew was introduced, congregations adjusted their meeting times so that all could safely return home before dark. Many congregations reported an increase in meeting attendance!

The brothers also kept busy in the field ministry, which impressed neighbors. “Seeing you Witnesses out there preaching as usual is reassuring,” said some. Of course, the publishers were very careful and kept one another informed of where conditions were safe enough to allow for field service.

Our Christian Identity​—A Protection

The Haiti branch writes: “Being well-known in their neighborhoods and having a reputation for political neutrality served to protect many of our brothers from being beaten and robbed.” For example, at three roadblocks, groups of armed thugs stopped a missionary couple. The couple did two things: They identified themselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses, and they prayed​—both silently and aloud. At all three roadblocks, someone spoke up for them, saying that Jehovah’s Witnesses are good people who stay out of politics. The couple made it home safely.

Armed groups also stopped members of the Bethel family. Like the missionaries, these brothers identified themselves as Witnesses, and they prayed, with similar results. In one instance a robber said: “Go in peace, and pray for us!” Another Bethelite was stopped at a police roadblock, where officers wanted to search his car for weapons. “The only weapons I have are the Bible and the Watchtower and Awake! magazines,” said the brother. The police smiled and waved him on. Thereafter, they recognized his car from a distance and allowed him to pass without question.

The branch reported that in the months that followed, things settled down somewhat. But problems persisted, and tensions remained. Hence, the brothers continued to be cautious.

United States Printery Upgraded

In 2002, at the direction of the Governing Body, printing operations began to be reorganized into five major geographic regions​—Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. This arrangement has resulted in more efficient use of branch facilities, including those in the United States, which now have a reduced work load.

All printing, binding, and shipping operations in the United States were consolidated at Wallkill, New York, during 2004. The general plan and concept were presented to the town planning board on August 6, 2002. A public hearing was held on September 3, after which final approval was granted. At the annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania on October 5, 2002, an announcement was made that the Governing Body had approved the consolidation at Wallkill. Two new MAN Roland Lithoman rotary presses were ordered, and the additional building to house them was scheduled to be ready by February 2004.

How could this mammoth project be accomplished in just 14 months? The brothers looked to Jehovah to direct matters and to move individuals to offer themselves willingly. This confidence was not misplaced. Site work commenced in February 2003, and the addition to the printery was ready by September. The first of three existing presses at Wallkill was dismantled and relocated to the new extension in December. The two new presses arrived in April and May 2004 and began production in June and July. All five presses were fully operational by September.

Previously, the bindery occupied 11 floors in three buildings of the Adams Street complex in Brooklyn. Now the entire bindery is located on one floor at Wallkill and occupies 58 percent less space. Paperback bookbinding began in July 2004. Later that month, the first hardcover books came off the new bindery line, which is over a quarter of a mile [400 m] long and consists of 33 machines connected by 70 conveyors. Book parts are handled just once, at the start of the line. Running at 120 books per minute, the hardcover line requires only 25 operators​—a 66 percent reduction in personnel. The entire bindery became fully operational in October 2004.

As of November 2004, the new Wallkill Shipping Department has been processing congregation literature requests by means of a new computerized system that occupies 45 percent less space than its predecessor in Brooklyn. Computers calculate the size of the shipment and select the appropriate carton. A half-mile-long [800 m] conveyor transports each order to a special platform where consignments are prepared for shipment. A drive-through area gives local congregations convenient access to pick up their orders.

Heartfelt thanks go to the many brothers and sisters who helped with this project. They include Bethel and temporary volunteers, teams of brothers working under the direction of Regional Building Committees from five states, and brothers who generously contributed equipment and materials from their own businesses. Of course, thanks also go to the many ‘cheerful givers’ who provided financial support.​—2 Cor. 9:7, 11.

Brooklyn’s Changing Face

The move of the printing, binding, and shipping operations to Wallkill has changed the face of Brooklyn Bethel. A historic and emotional moment occurred on April 29, 2004. That evening, amid cheers and tears, Max Larson, printery overseer for more than 60 years, shut down the last printing press in Brooklyn, ending 84 years of continuous printing there. The bindery closed down a few weeks later.

Aware that these changes would considerably reduce the amount of floor space required at Brooklyn, the Governing Body, in June 2003, announced the possible sale of the building at 360 Furman Street. The contract was finalized on Friday, June 18, 2004. The laundry, offices, and workshops housed in that million-square-foot [93,000 sq m] building are being transferred to the vacated space at the 117 Adams Street complex.

In addition, the 107 Columbia Heights building is now undergoing a major renovation. The residential section is slated for completion by the latter half of 2005, and the entire project, by September 2006. The renovated building will accommodate over 300 Bethel family members and have a commissary, Kingdom Hall, library, lobby, offices, personal laundry, and a new courtyard garden.

Geared for Increase Worldwide

Brazil, Britain, Japan, Mexico, and South Africa have also received new MAN Roland Lithoman printing presses. Britain was the first branch to install the new machine, which arrived in July 2003 and began production in October. It prints 750,000 magazines a day​—1.5 million in a double shift—​almost three times that of the former press.

The new presses can also print signatures for Bibles and other publications. The South Africa branch, for example, has already printed signatures for the New World Translation in Sesotho, a South African tongue. The Japan branch reports that previously it took a whole day to switch from producing small books to large ones. Now it takes only one hour. And whereas it used to take ten days to produce one million tracts, it now takes just five hours. In its first three months, the press in Japan turned out 12 million tracts; 12 million magazines and brochures; 240,000 books; and 48,000 Bibles.

Other new, automated machines trim, count, stack, label, and wrap literature. Printing plates are being made more efficiently and accurately by means of a technique called the computer-to-plate method. This process eliminates the need for photographic film, thus cutting out one entire step. The Britain branch reports that all these improvements have not only boosted production but also reduced the number of workers needed.

Off to Germany for Training

Teams from the six branches went to the MAN Roland company in Germany for press training. From their experience in training non-Witness pressmen, the instructors expected the brothers to view their time there as somewhat of a vacation. So the instructors were both surprised and impressed by the brothers’ conscientiousness. In fact, the Witnesses asked to start early and work late in order to make the most of the course.

Language was a challenge for some trainees because both the oral instruction and the machine manuals were in English. Thinking ahead, the delegation from Japan worked hard to improve their English skills prior to leaving for Germany. Many even transferred temporarily to English-speaking congregations.

Bethelites Give a Fine Witness

Later when the presses arrived at the branches, engineers from MAN assembled them while Bethel personnel helped. In all six branches, the happy, wholesome Bethel environment had a good effect on non-Witness workers. A man working on the London installation said to the brothers: “I went home last night and saw my neighbor in his garden. I had never really liked him, but last night I talked with him for 20 minutes and discovered that he is really quite a nice chap.” This same technician added that his wife had noticed changes in his attitude and manner. “You are friendly, you are smiling, and you are greeting people,” she said.

“I have been working with the Witnesses for six weeks,” he replied. “And for the last two, I have not used swearwords even once. In fact, I hope never to use them again.”

When the installation at the London branch was complete, a MAN executive called the branch to thank the brothers for the way they had looked after the company staff. He said that it was a flawless installation.

Some branches arranged for an on-site dining room for those installing new machinery. Having neatly dressed waiters serve lunch was a novel experience for many, especially for non-Witnesses. A technician in Japan had never seen such a clean, well-organized printery as the one at the branch. “There is no better place in the world to work,” he said. He also appreciated the brothers’ honesty. Nowhere else could he leave his tools unattended, confident that they would not be stolen. Wanting to learn more about Jehovah’s Witnesses, he accepted a number of publications and toured the branch.

The brothers in Mexico invited the MAN technicians to the Memorial. Four accepted the offer. However, they did not have suitable attire. Because the men wanted to buy suits, a Bethelite took them shopping. The brothers gave the men Bibles and during the Memorial discourse helped them to find the scriptures. After the meeting, the technicians took photographs and smiled so much that many in the congregation thought that they were Bethelites from Germany.

At all the branches, local contractors and suppliers also received a fine witness. A contractor in the United States wrote: “I am deeply impressed by the quality of your organization and especially of the people. I don’t think that I have ever enjoyed a construction project more than I have yours. Your organization gives me hope for the future of mankind. If enthusiasm and caring could be bottled and sold, your group would certainly have the product everyone would want to buy.”

A man who provided ducting for the new press in Mexico was amazed at the tranquil atmosphere at the branch. He asked many questions, and now he and his family are studying the Bible and making fine progress. The foreman of a local crew of contractors made an unusual request. “Normally,” he said, “people give us a tip to show their gratitude for our work. Would you mind giving us each a Bible instead? From what I have seen here, I think that a knowledge of the Bible is of greater value than money.”

India Branch Dedication

“The long-awaited day finally came on December 7, 2003,” writes the India branch. “It was the day for the dedication of our newly constructed branch at Bangalore, in the south-central part of India.”

Set on 43 acres [17 ha], the 320,000-square-foot [30,000 sq m] complex is like a small township. The first large branch in the world to be constructed by a commercial firm, it has a purification plant for drinking water, a wastewater treatment-recycling plant, and its own electric-power generation. The complex has 122 offices, including 80 for translators; an attractive Kingdom Hall; and a large printery. The residence buildings have comfortable rooms, a laundry, a dining room, and a well-equipped kitchen. The entire project, which made extensive use of local materials, was completed in two years.

The Kingdom work began in India in 1905. Now translation and printing are done in 26 Indian languages. At the dedication, missionaries who had served in India for decades related encouraging experiences, and Stephen Lett of the Governing Body gave the dedication discourse. The 2,933 in attendance included 150 visitors from 25 foreign countries.

Philippines Branch Dedication

“We want a Watch Tower finish on our work too!” That is what some non-Witness builders in Manila said when they saw the beautiful workmanship at the Philippines branch. In fact, when a television crew doing a documentary on building codes visited the city engineer, he told them: “If you want to see a place that follows building codes to the letter, go to Watch Tower.”

The brothers constructed a new ten-story residence and some auxiliary buildings and renovated an existing ten-story residence built in 1991. Why was the expansion needed? From 1991 to 2003, the publisher figure grew by 34,000, resulting in a new peak of just over 144,000 Kingdom proclaimers!

The dedication took place on November 1, 2003. Attending on that sunny Saturday morning were the Bethel family, former missionaries and other overseas guests from 13 countries, and over 2,000 brothers and sisters from the Philippines, making a total of 2,540. Stephen Lett discussed the theme “Appreciating Jehovah’s Past and Present Houses of Worship.” On the following day, a throng of local pioneers as well as elders and their wives, totaling 8,151, enjoyed a special program at the Metro Manila Assembly Hall.

Worldwide, a total of 20,092 ordained ministers staff such branch facilities. All are members of the Worldwide Order of Special Full-Time Servants of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

[Box on page 21, 22]

Kidnapped in Broad Daylight

At midday on Friday, March 19, 2004, Carl, a 20-year-old Witness, was walking along a busy street in Pétionville, Haiti. Suddenly, armed men dressed in black forced him into a pickup truck, put a hood over his head, and drove off at top speed. Carl relates:

After we got out of the pickup, I was taken into a room where there were other victims, apparently university students who were being accused of participating in political demonstrations. Becoming increasingly aggressive, our captors fired a barrage of gunshots, killing one of the captives. I felt his head against my feet. Then they began questioning and threatening me. Frustrated, they hit me and threw me onto the dead man.

“Answer our questions!” their leader demanded.

“But I know nothing at all about politics,” I replied.

“Then I am going to kill you right now!” he shouted.

“Before you do,” I asked, “please let me pray to my God, Jehovah, to ask him to help my parents and siblings, since they will not see me again.”

“Do it quickly! I’m in a hurry,” he snapped.

While I was praying aloud, the man left the room. When he returned, I said to myself, ‘Carl, this is it. Be ready to die.’ But I was in for a surprise.

“Are you Carl So-and-so?” the man asked.

“Yes,” I replied, wondering how he knew my name.

He went on to explain that I had given him a ride in my car on a number of occasions, and now that he knew who I was, he could not harm me. Evidently, he recognized me by things that I had said in prayer, even though my head was covered. He went outside again and had an animated discussion with his companions. Finally, someone put me in a pickup, drove away, and eventually pushed me out onto the road. It was a terrifying ordeal that greatly strengthened my faith in Jehovah and in the power of prayer.

[Chart/Pictures on page 12, 13]

SOME EVENTS OF THE 2004 SERVICE YEAR

September 1, 2003

September: During the 2004 service year, the School for Traveling Overseers is held at 88 branches.

October: Britain branch begins printing with MAN Roland Lithoman press.

October 28: Court in Romania rules to include Jehovah’s Witnesses on the tax-regulations list of recognized religions.

November 1: Philippines branch dedication.

November 28: Ministry of Justice of Georgia registers local branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

December 7: India branch dedication.

January 1, 2004

March 26: Golovinsky court rules to ban Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow. Case is appealed.

April: Russia has an all-time peak of 15,489 regular pioneers.

April 29: After 84 years of continuous printing, Brooklyn printery is closed down. New printery is at Wallkill.

May 1, 2004

May: In the midst of political turmoil, catastrophic floods hit Haiti. No brothers are killed.

June 16: Moscow City Court upholds March 26 decision. Ban and liquidation enter into legal effect. Case is appealed to ECHR.

August 31, 2004

[Picture on page 11]

The “New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures” is released in Georgian

[Pictures on page 27]

Brothers operate one of two new MAN presses at Wallkill, New York, U.S.A.

[Picture on page 29]

Recently dedicated branch in Bangalore, India

[Picture on page 30]

Enlarged Philippines branch

Worldwide Report 2004 Grand Totals

Branches of Jehovah’s Witnesses: 111

Number of Lands Reporting: 235

Total Congregations: 96,894

Worldwide Memorial Attendance: 16,760,607

Memorial Partakers Worldwide: 8,570

Peak of Publishers in Kingdom Service: 6,513,132

Average Publishers Preaching Each Month: 6,308,341

Percentage of Increase Over 2003: 2.0

Total Number Baptized: 262,416

Average Pioneer Publishers Each Month: 858,461

Total Hours Spent in Field: 1,282,234,887

Average Home Bible Studies Each Month: 6,085,387

During the 2004 service year, Jehovah’s Witnesses spent over $93 million in caring for special pioneers, missionaries, and traveling overseers in their field service assignments.

[Chart on page 32-39]

2004 SERVICE YEAR REPORT OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES WORLDWIDE

(See publication)

[Maps on page 40-42]

(See publication)

Worldwide Report

◼ AFRICA

Number of lands: 56

Population: 770,301,093

Number of publishers: 983,057

Number of Bible studies: 1,769,182

Did you know that the good news is being preached in the Sahara? Seventeen-year-old Nafissatou lives in a mining town in northern Niger. When the conversation among a group of her schoolmates shifted to the topic of pornography, Nafissatou walked away. A student followed and asked what was wrong. Nafissatou replied that she did not like that kind of conversation. At first the girl made fun of her, remarking that just looking at pornography could not have bad consequences. Nafissatou replied that the matter was serious because the Creator does not approve of such things. She then took the book Questions Young People Ask​—Answers That Work from her school bag and showed the girl the portion that discusses the dangers of pornography. Next she took out her Bible and read 2 Corinthians 7:1 to the girl. The girl admitted that when she watched immoral videos, strong feelings arose in her that she could not explain. She asked for a copy of the Young People Ask book. Nafissatou gave her one and later said: “The next time I saw her, she was alone, so I asked where her friends were. She said, ‘My friend is this book.’ I started a study with her, and she attended the Memorial.”

More than 15 years ago, a woman studied the Bible with a missionary sister in Tanzania. The study was conducted for several years. The woman hesitated to take a stand for the truth because of opposition from her family, and eventually the study was stopped. However, her two young daughters had been quietly listening as their mother studied. When the older daughter moved out of the house at the age of 18, she immediately went to the Kingdom Hall and asked for a study. She made rapid progress and was baptized. Her younger sister also asked to have a Bible study, and she too was baptized. The mother, encouraged by her daughters’ firm stand for the truth, decided to resume her Bible study. This time she overcame the fear of man that had previously held her back, and she was baptized at a circuit assembly in May 2004.

When a congregation obeys the command “to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation,” Jehovah’s blessing is certain to follow. (Jas. 1:27) This proved true of a congregation in Lesotho. One of the baptized members of the congregation was a single parent named Mapolo, who had four young sons. Mapolo knew that she had a terminal illness and prepared her children to care for themselves. She studied the Bible with them, took them to meetings, and taught them how to make brooms, which they sold by the roadside. When Mapolo died in 1998, her orphaned sons came under the care of their grandmother. The missionary sister who had helped Mapolo to become a baptized Witness approached a social welfare agency on the orphans’ behalf and obtained payment of their school fees. Other Witnesses provided the boys with clothing. Then the grandmother died. A brother in the congregation studied the Bible with them and paid their rent. All four boys attend the meetings regularly. Two are unbaptized publishers, and the oldest, Rantso, now 20 years old, was baptized at a circuit assembly in March 2004. He conducted a Bible study with his cousin, Retselisitsoe, who was baptized on the same day. Rantso expresses deep appreciation for the loving care that the brothers have given to him and his siblings for many years.

A missionary in Cameroon reports: “Each week, as I was studying the Bible with a young man, I heard someone in the house singing religious songs. I asked my student, ‘Who is the mysterious singer?’ It was his brother, Stephen, who is blind. Using the audiocassette for the brochure What Does God Require of Us? I started a Bible study with Stephen. Our goal was to memorize one Bible verse each lesson. Stephen has an excellent memory and learned many Bible verses. He also attends meetings and frequently comments. Recently, he gave his first talk in the Theocratic Ministry School. It was a Bible reading, and since Stephen does not know Braille, he had to learn it by heart. I look forward to taking Stephen by the hand and accompanying him in the ministry soon. One of Stephen’s favorite Bible verses is Isaiah 35:5, which says: ‘The eyes of the blind ones will be opened.’ Stephen rejoices that his spiritual eyes have already been opened, and he now sings praises to Jehovah, thanking him that in the future his physical sight will also be restored.”

In war-torn Liberia, a woman named Nancy approached a Witness and asked for a Bible study. Her church pastor had told her that God would send Jehovah’s Witnesses to hell because they are false Christians. However, she lived near some Witnesses, and she observed that whenever there was a lull in the shooting, the local elders of the congregation would always check on the welfare of their brothers. She noted, too, that the Witnesses took advantage of any calm period to preach to others. Nancy and many others in the town were impressed when a vehicle from the branch office was the first to cross the lines with badly needed relief supplies, donated by Witnesses in France and Belgium. “I think that you people have the truth,” she said. She progresses well in her study.

A young man came to a village in Uganda to do some masonry work on the house where the brothers conduct meetings. One of the pioneers took the opportunity to witness to the mason, who liked what he heard. Soon, though, he had to return to his village farther up the mountains. Since there were no Witnesses where the man lived, the pioneer explained where he could find the nearest Kingdom Hall. The young man rode his bicycle some 20 miles [30 km] on narrow dirt roads down a mountain to look for the brothers. Since he didn’t find anyone at the Kingdom Hall, he left a note under the door, requesting a Bible study. A pioneer who later went to look for him at his village was surprised to find some 200 people waiting to hear the Bible’s message! Many of them showed sincere interest in studying the Bible. Meetings are now being conducted in this remote area.

Early one evening in a small village of about 600 people in southeastern Nigeria, the villagers saw a bright light in the sky reflected in the river. The light seemed to be advancing in their direction, so the villagers ran for safety. Many thought that it was the destruction that Jehovah’s Witnesses had been preaching about, so they ran to the Kingdom Hall, saying, “Armageddon will not destroy this building.” Finally, at about 10:00 p.m., the villagers realized that the source of the light was a large bushfire. When the brothers asked the villagers why they did not run to nearby churches, one man replied: “Others are nonsense churches. Your Armageddon will destroy them but not the Kingdom Hall.”

A sister who is a regular pioneer in a refugee camp in Guinea relates: “While in the house-to-house ministry, I met an eight-year-old girl at her home. She is disabled. She told me that her parents usually leave her at home all day and lock the door. I told her that I wanted her to be my friend. I then asked her what she would like God to do for her. She told me that she wanted God to make her walk. I opened the Bible to Isaiah 35:5, 6 and showed her that Jehovah promises that the lame one will walk. I then opened the brochure Enjoy Life on Earth Forever! to the picture that shows Jesus healing the sick. I also told her that these blessings would be hers if she studied the Bible and did what Jehovah requires of her. She agreed to a home Bible study. We have completed the Life on Earth brochure and have almost completed the brochure You Can Be God’s Friend! After three weeks of study, she expressed her desire to attend meetings. Since she cannot walk to the meetings, I go to her house and carry her on my back to the meetings. She loves the meetings so much that if I do not go to get her, she becomes upset with me and will even cry.”

◼ THE AMERICAS

Number of lands: 56

Population: 868,871,739

Number of publishers: 3,165,925

Number of Bible studies: 3,089,453

Marie from Guadeloupe reports: “On the beach by the hotel where I work, a few customers called to my attention that some clothes and shoes had been left on a rock for two days. I collected the items with the idea of finding information that might identify the owner. What I found was a purse that contained 1,067 euros [$1,372 U.S.]! Several bystanders urged me to keep part of the money and to share the rest with them. Right away, I told them that I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and that my conscience compells me to be honest. So I took everything to the reception desk of the hotel. The employees there were also astonished that I did not keep the money. Again I explained my position. When I went back to the beach, some of the people there were eager to know more about our beliefs. Using the Bible, I witnessed to them. Among them was a woman who said, ‘I will employ only Jehovah’s Witnesses to work for me.’” Since then, the owner has been found, and the police congratulated the sister for her honesty.

Antonio is a Bethelite in Mexico who takes advantage of every opportunity to speak to people about the truth. Recently, while traveling by bus to a congregation meeting, he placed a tract with a well-dressed man and woman. A pleasant conversation ensued. “I said good-bye to them at my bus stop,” said Antonio, “but to my surprise, they wanted to get off with me to continue the conversation, even though it was not their stop. After getting off, we talked a little more, and again I said good-bye. They asked, ‘Where are you going?’ ‘To a meeting with my congregation,’ I answered. They looked at each other and then asked, ‘May we go with you?’ ‘I will be happy to take you!’ I replied.” Both the young woman, who is a lawyer, and her nephew, who is a university student, had heard the message of truth some years before but did not pursue it because of family opposition. While they accompanied Antonio to the meeting, they expressed the hope of seeing the person who had first spoken to them about the Bible. What a pleasant surprise it was for them to meet her there! They were delighted at having attended and were eager to study the Bible. “It was Jehovah who guided us here, and from now on we will continue to come,” said the young woman. Arrangements were made for a study, which is being conducted twice a week.

In Haiti, Jacqueline, a circuit overseer’s wife, was accompanying a pioneer sister in the preaching work when they saw a young woman sitting alone along the roadside and crying. The sisters approached her and asked why she was so distressed. At first, the young woman refused to answer, but in response to gentle insistence, she replied, “I have done what I wanted to do.” Immediately discerning that she had taken poison, Jacqueline asked her and received a confirming nod. The sisters quickly rushed her to a hospital for treatment. The following week, the pioneer sister returned to visit and encourage her. A Bible study was started.

At the checkout at a supermarket in Paraguay, Lourdes was shocked to learn that she was paying with a counterfeit bill. The cashier immediately called security. Lourdes and Ingrid, her five-year-old daughter, were taken to a small room to await the police. The manager of the supermarket and the security guard demanded that the sister tell them where she had got the counterfeit bill. Lourdes could not remember where she had got it and told them that she did not know that it was counterfeit. Upset, Ingrid looked at the manager and the security guard and said: “You are treating us like thieves. My mother is not a thief. We are Jehovah’s Witnesses, and we do not lie to people.” The manager asked Lourdes if she was a Witness, and she said yes. A phone call to the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses finally convinced the men that Lourdes was indeed a Witness. They apologized to Lourdes and Ingrid for the inconvenience and let them go. Young Ingrid later said that the worst thing about the whole situation was that they were unable to buy the bag of popcorn that she wanted so much.

A brother was preaching in Costa Rica and decided to approach his Catholic neighbor to witness to him. The brother was fearful because the man did not like the Witnesses; he had even been abusive toward them. To the brother’s surprise, the man invited him inside and explained his change of attitude. A friend of his had invited him to visit a distant community to attend an Evangelical church. Once there, the man was invited to give his personal “testimony.” He just said that he was Catholic. The people did not like that and ordered him out of the church, telling the friend that he risked being condemned because he associated with a Catholic. The man left the church, but since he was far from home in an unfamiliar area, he did not know where he would spend the night. He called at a house and explained what had happened, and he was invited in. There he was fed, and a place was offered for him to spend the night. The owners of the house also preached to this man. Yes, they were Jehovah’s Witnesses. What an impact it had on this man to find out that the Witnesses truly love their neighbor! Now he is studying the Bible with the Witnesses.

A sister in Trinidad writes: “While I was doing street witnessing, a woman approached me and asked for the latest magazines. After placing several magazines with her, I offered her a free home Bible study. The woman said that she had studied before but had recently moved into the area. I asked for her name and address, but the woman refused, saying that if we really serve the true God, he would show me where she lived. The next day while in the door-to-door ministry, I knocked on a door, and the same woman answered. On seeing my partner and me, she laughed in astonishment and said, ‘How did you find me so quickly?’ I asked if she remembered what she told me the previous day. She invited us into her home, and a study was started. Now the woman is an unbaptized publisher.”

◼ ASIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

Number of lands: 47

Population: 3,971,703,969

Number of publishers: 574,927

Number of Bible studies: 444,717

Ghanshyam is a regular pioneer in Nepal. He makes his living driving a taxicab. In his work he meets people of many backgrounds and finds that most of them are in a hurry, even during the night, and have little time for conversation. Still, he makes a conscientious effort to initiate a conversation. Whenever possible, he gives his passengers an appropriate tract and the address of the nearest Kingdom Hall. Many passengers have expressed their appreciation. Five of them now study the Bible with Ghanshyam.

In Taiwan a sister’s husband often used his powerful voice to berate his wife, especially when she was about to go to a Christian meeting. Then one day he had a stroke. He was paralyzed and confined to a hospital. The sister patiently cared for him and tactfully used his rehabilitation period to help him appreciate Bible truth. She said: “You need to exercise your brain, so I will give you some information, and you try to remember it, OK?” He knew that he had to think, so he agreed. The sister used information from various brochures to teach him some basic truths, such as God’s name and attributes and the theme of the Bible. Additionally, many of the brothers visited him and showed him kindness. This moved him so much that on returning home from the hospital, he agreed to have a Bible study. He has now started attending meetings in a wheelchair and is using his powerful voice to comment.

Rohana, a special pioneer working in a rural area of Sri Lanka, faced opposition from a man who operates a pedicab​—a tricycle with a two-seat passenger compartment. On seeing Rohana in the ministry, he would shout abuse. Once he threatened Rohana that if he did not stop preaching in the area, he might be stabbed. Rohana reacted with mildness. Later, the man met with an accident and was hospitalized with severe injuries. Rohana visited him in the hospital and brought him a gift. When the man saw who had come to visit him, he began to cry and asked Rohana’s forgiveness for all the abusive treatment that he had given him. “Sir, because of the way I treated you, it would have been better for you to hit me with a pole than to come all this way to comfort me,” the man said. Now he is out of the hospital and continues his pedicab service. He also regularly reads our magazines.

A large number of foreigners come to Hong Kong to work as domestic helpers. One such woman had begun studying the brochure What Does God Require of Us? in the Philippines and wanted to continue her Bible study. However, she did not know how to find the Witnesses, so she prayed for help in finding them. On her day off, she traveled across the harbor to the main business district and central park area where many Filipinos gather on weekends. She searched but did not see anyone whom she could identify as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, though they regularly witness in the park on the weekends. Nevertheless, she did see a Require brochure thrown in a trash bin. The woman picked up the brochure and saw that it had a phone number written on it. The number was that of the sister who had originally placed the brochure. The woman was greatly surprised and overjoyed to learn that the sister worked in the same housing complex that she did. She resumed her Bible study and is attending meetings.

A circuit overseer and another elder in the Republic of Korea made a shepherding call at just the right time. They visited a sister who had been inactive for ten years. Her husband, an atheist, had decided to attend church after he underwent an operation. When the brothers visited, they met her husband, who after a friendly conversation accepted the Require brochure. The elder encouraged the sister as he studied with the husband. The husband accepted an invitation to attend the district convention, after which he stopped attending church and became regular at meetings. The sister also progressed and asked that visits be made to their four sons and daughters living in another city. As a result, this sister’s husband, her eldest daughter and her husband, and her youngest daughter have been baptized. Later, her eldest son and his wife were also baptized, making a total of six new Witnesses.

Yuki, a high school student in Japan, found it difficult to tell her classmates that she was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Aware that she should give a witness, she realized that she would have to take the initiative, since her classmates never brought up the subject of religion. She decided to let her friends see her offer a prayer at lunchtime. All morning, she prayed earnestly for courage. Then, instead of racing through her lunchtime prayer so that no one would notice, she bowed her head and prayed a little longer. When she finished, a classmate asked her if she was feeling all right. However, Yuki was unable to witness. Feeling very bad about it, she later apologized to Jehovah in prayer and again asked for courage. The next day, after Yuki prayed, her classmate again asked her how she was, and Yuki thought, ‘It has to be now!’ She explained that she is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. At first her classmate was surprised, but then she bombarded Yuki with questions​—What do you pray for? What is God’s name? Who was Jesus? and so on. Yuki was thrilled.

In Kupang, Indonesia, Glenn was known as a drunkard and a drug addict. People would hire him to threaten or beat up others. He was staying with his parents when two of Jehovah’s Witnesses called and discussed the Bible with them. Soon Glenn accepted a Bible study and with great effort began to break free from his unwholesome habits. One day a shop owner advanced him a huge sum of money to beat up a certain man. Glenn thought about the offer but decided not to accept such jobs anymore. He returned the money and refused the job. Later when Glenn went to a different shop, that owner was afraid that he had come to beat him up. Glenn convinced the owner that now he studies the Bible and lives a peaceful life. The shop owner accepted a Bible study and also gave him a job at the shop. At the district convention last year, Glenn was baptized, and the shop owner was present.

◼ EUROPE

Number of lands: 46

Population: 728,373,014

Number of publishers: 1,490,345

Number of Bible studies: 733,728

After Jacoba, an 88-year-old sister in the Netherlands, passed away, her relatives received an official letter from the local police. She had faithfully delivered the magazines to them for many years. The letter read, in part: “She was very special to us. She paid regular visits to our station, and we loved having a cup of tea with her. We admired her courage​—at her ripe old age still going out on her bicycle, come rain or shine, to visit people in order to spread her beliefs. She will be sorely missed around here.”

From Switzerland comes this experience. A family of Jehovah’s Witnesses going on vacation entrusted the keys to their apartment to the son of another Witness family, asking that during their absence, he feed the fish in the aquarium. When the boy first went to the apartment, he had a problem unlocking the door. A woman in the apartment opposite heard some noise and peeked out of her door. When she saw the boy trying to open the door of the apartment, she concluded that he was a burglar and called the police. After the boy finished his task, he came out and was confronted by two armed policemen! “What are you doing here?” they inquired. “I just fed the fish, as I was asked to do,” he answered. The policemen did not believe him. He explained: “I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and so is the family living here. They asked me to do this for them during their absence, so they gave me their keys.” The policemen were not convinced and wanted to take him to the police station. “Wait a minute,” said the youngster. “My friends left their mobile phone number here on this paper; you can call them right now and ask if what I said is true.” The policemen then called the number and verified the boy’s story. At that, they excused themselves and left. When the family returned home from vacation, they contacted the woman in the apartment opposite, who had only recently moved there. They thanked her for her concern. Then they explained that like themselves, the boy is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and that he is absolutely trustworthy. Since the woman did not know much about Jehovah’s Witnesses, a conversation ensued, which led to her accepting a Bible study.

While engaging in house-to-house witnessing in Italy, a sister had the opportunity to speak with a young woman who is a mother and a busy career woman. Having tried many times to contact her again but without success, the sister decided to telephone her. On the phone, the young woman explained that she really did not have time to discuss the Bible. The sister said: “In 10 or 15 minutes, you can learn something new, even by telephone.” “Well, if it’s by phone, then, OK!” answered the woman. Recently, the sister left her the book Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life and started the study over the telephone. The study is usually held Saturday mornings, but the 10 or 15 minutes have now become 30 minutes.

Angela is one of a growing number of publishers in Britain who have taken up the challenge of witnessing to the many foreigners who now reside there. When she visited a Chinese take-out shop, one of the staff waved her away. As Angela was leaving, however, a Chinese woman came running out from the back of the shop, calling out God’s name in Chinese. After that initial conversation, Angela left magazines with her regularly. Although the woman liked the publications, she explained that she found it difficult to believe that God created the universe. She thought that all things came about by chance.

The woman’s work at the take-out shop was to prepare egg rolls. Angela asked her how many ingredients she used to make an egg roll. She answered: “Five.” Angela then suggested that the next time she made egg rolls, she throw the five ingredients up in the air and see how many egg rolls they made. The following week when Angela visited the shop, the Chinese woman met her, presented her with a freshly made egg roll, and said that she now accepted that God had made the universe. A regular Bible study was started, and this woman is making good progress in learning the truth from God’s Word.

In Germany, when radioactive waste from nuclear power plants is transported by railroad, environmental activists often protest. Railroad operations are therefore heavily guarded by police, who must clear the railway lines in advance of the train. In November 2003, one such operation took place close to where Gudrun was pioneering. “I envisioned policemen sitting and waiting for hours on end,” she explained, “so I decided to approach them to offer them something to read.” Gudrun found the policemen to be quite friendly. Carrying a wicker basket filled with copies of The Watchtower and Awake!, she had no difficulty in gaining access to the policemen. A group of them from Bavaria even took a photograph of her offering them the Awake! at their vehicle. In two days she traveled over 70 miles [120 km], speaking with more than 100 policemen along the route. She placed 184 magazines. “It is an experience I shall never forget!” she said with enthusiasm.

In Spain, on leaving work one day, Ana María went to the bus stop, and while waiting there, she began to read some of the notices that were posted. One of them immediately caught her eye. It read: “I urgently need to contact Jehovah’s Witnesses so that I can continue my Bible study.” Ana María called the phone number right away and arranged to meet the woman, whose name was Felicitas. She had recently arrived from Ecuador, where she had studied the Bible for two years. The Bible study was quickly resumed, and Felicitas and her son have attended all the meetings ever since. They are grateful that their spiritual progress was not interrupted for very long.

A woman in Bulgaria joined her grandson in studying the Bible with the Witnesses. She was fascinated to learn that God’s name is Jehovah. Since her Bible did not contain God’s name, she decided to go to a bookstore to buy one that did. The storekeeper asked her what she was looking for. When she told him, he began shouting at her: “You belong to that sect!” Just then, a priest walked into the store. When he was asked, “What is God’s name?” he replied: “Jehovah, of course. Now stop shouting at this woman.” The storekeeper was astounded. The woman and three members of her family are making fine spiritual progress.

A family in Russia experienced a tragedy: the parents lost their beloved son. On the eve of his funeral, the mother telephoned all the friends of her son, using the phone numbers found in his notebook. The book included the phone number of a family of Jehovah’s Witnesses, whom the mother also invited to the funeral. The Witness family did not know the parents, but they decided to take advantage of the opportunity to comfort the family. The brother spoke to the father about the resurrection hope and left with him the brochure When Someone You Love Dies. The brother visited him two days later. The father said: “The brochure made a great impression on us. We have decided to make time for studying the Bible.” The wife has enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry School and is preparing to become an unbaptized publisher.

◼ OCEANIA

Number of lands: 30

Population: 34,820,382

Number of publishers: 94,087

Number of Bible studies: 48,307

Olena was just 12 years old when she was baptized in December 2003, in Hawaii. Unlike youths who are recreation-oriented, Olena has solid spiritual goals. She said: “I was very happy to auxiliary pioneer in March and May, and I really enjoyed working with the pioneers and the older ones. For example, on Saturday afternoons I had the privilege of joining a former missionary on her Chinese calls and Bible studies. I found the language to be interesting. My big goal is to be a regular pioneer in a foreign-language congregation. To reach that goal, I go out after school on Wednesdays as well as on Saturdays and Sundays. Also, I plan to auxiliary pioneer as often as I can.” What else does Olena feel will help her to attain her goals? “Safeguarding my heart means that I have to show by my actions that pleasing Jehovah is important to me,” she said. “Associating with those who feel the same way about Jehovah will help me stay on the path of righteousness. Spending more time serving Jehovah means spending less time with people who have worldly attitudes. This protects me from thinking that material things and immoral entertainment can make me happy.”

It is a common practice in the Solomon Islands for parents to give one or two of their young children to relatives to raise. On learning what Jehovah expects of parents, one couple negotiated the return of their daughter, Deborah, who was by then a teenager. How would things turn out when she suddenly found herself part of a family of Witnesses, with their busy schedule of meetings, witnessing, and family Bible study? Deborah recalls: “Even at the first meeting I went to, I got the feeling that those attending were really glad that I had come. I expected to see some clergymen wearing special robes, but there were none. It seemed that everyone was joining in the meetings, even the little ones.” It was not long before Deborah did the same. Something that also impresses her is the way her father instructs her and her siblings. She says: “Dad helps us to think carefully about the examples of people in the Bible. This really helps me when I’m having a struggle with myself.” Deborah, now an unbaptized publisher, says how glad she is that the truth from God’s Word moved her parents to bring her back into the family and onto the road to life.

Parts of Papua New Guinea are mountainous, and many villages cannot be reached by road. Some of these villages are untouched by modern civilization. However, the good news of the Kingdom has a way of penetrating even these areas. A man named Leanna came to a congregation meeting in the capital, Port Moresby. The brothers were surprised to learn that he is a chief of an isolated village high in the mountains, where his people have no access to any modern conveniences. It took Leanna five days to walk through the bush to the highway. From there he traveled on a truck to the capital. He said that about four years ago, he came to the city, and on the street he met a brother who placed a Watchtower magazine with him. Leanna took the magazine back to his village, and after reading it, he began to teach the people in his village from the magazine. He did so every Sunday for several years, carefully keeping the magazine in a plastic cover to protect it. Finally, the people in the village persuaded him to find the publishers of the magazine. He traveled back to the city and contacted the brothers, who arranged to study with him. Leanna stayed for about two weeks with a Witness family and completed a study of the Require brochure. When it was explained to him that there was a congregation in a town that was not too far from his village, he got very excited and exclaimed: “That’s easy! That’s only a two-day walk from my village!” Equipped with a bag full of literature and a deepened understanding of the truth of God’s Word, he made the long trip back to his village. Arrangements have been made for this village to receive a visit sometime in the near future so that people there can be taught the Bible accurately.

In the island nation of Kiribati, a sister who works in the translation office of Jehovah’s Witnesses relates this experience: “One morning I put a Watchtower magazine discussing the topic of hell in my bag and decided to feature it, even though it was an older issue. My partner and I met a man. We introduced ourselves and presented the magazine to him after briefly stating what the Bible says about hell. He hung his head and said nothing for quite a while, so I asked him if something was wrong. As he lifted his head, I noticed that he was weeping. He told us that the subject of the magazine had struck him. His son died just a few weeks earlier, and he and his wife were still grieving. They both had been praying continually that God would lighten their hearts because they believed that their son was in a fiery hell. On hearing what the Bible actually says about the condition of the dead, the man was astounded and very happy. A study was started on the return visit. He often says that he prayed to God to show him the truth and that he longed to find a religion that truly teaches the Bible. He has started attending meetings and prepares well to give heartfelt answers during the Watchtower Study.”

In December 2003, more than 60,000 delegates attended the largest convention ever held in Australia by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Returning from the Sydney convention, six-year-old Alyscea was eager to show her schoolmates the new book, Learn From the Great Teacher. Coming to pick her up that afternoon, Alyscea’s mother was surprised to see the words “Give God Glory” written in large letters across the classroom blackboard. That morning Alyscea had shared her convention report with three teachers and her 24 classmates. All were impressed with the new book and Alyscea’s enthusiastic review of some of the program highlights. The words “Give God Glory” had remained on the blackboard all day.

[Picture on page 43]

Nafissatou, Niger

[Picture on page 43]

Rantso (second from right) with his cousin and brothers, Lesotho

[Picture on page 48]

Marie, Guadeloupe

[Picture on page 48]

Antonio, Mexico

[Picture on page 52]

Ghanshyam, Nepal

[Picture on page 56]

Jacoba, Netherlands

[Picture on page 58]

Angela, Britain

[Picture on page 61]

Olena, Hawaii

Acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Modern Times

Tahiti

The islands of French Polynesia, which include Tahiti, are among the most beautiful in the world. Poets and writers alike have portrayed them as paradise. But an even more inviting paradise thrives in these idyllic Pacific isles. Learn how this greater paradise was established and how it continues to produce an abundance of fruitage to Jehovah’s praise.

Guyana

The name Guyana means “Land of Waters.” This fitting designation is reflected in the country’s vast network of rivers, many of which serve as highways to the villages and towns of the interior. Read how Jehovah’s Witnesses have used canoes, rowboats, and steamers to direct the fascinating, multiracial inhabitants of this country, the only English-speaking land in South America, to “living water.”​—John 4:10.

Iceland

Situated just south of the Arctic Circle, far from the tropics, Iceland is a country of great beauty. Glaciers, volcanoes, and mountains adorn this rugged land. Yet, a surpassing beauty is found in the people who serve Jehovah. In this account, you will learn how God’s servants brave harsh conditions to share Bible truth with others.

Tahiti

Viewed from above, the islands of French Polynesia, such as Tahiti, Mooréa, and Bora Bora, look like jewels set in the vast expanse of the cobalt-blue Pacific Ocean. Their opaline lagoons, festooned with corals and teeming with colorful fish, give way to beaches of golden-yellow or volcanic-black. Palm trees laden with coconuts sway in the breeze. And the rugged, mountainous interior, wrapped in green and capped with clouds, makes every scene a picture postcard.

For good reason, artists and writers alike have portrayed these islands as paradise on earth. And paradise they must have seemed to the seafarers of old who first saw them and settled there perhaps a thousand or more years ago. These remarkable pioneers, whose roots apparently go back to Southeast Asia, were among the forefathers of the people we now know as Polynesians. Over the centuries, they fanned out from established island bases and sailed ever farther into the vast Pacific, making its myriad islands and atolls their domain.

What today is called Polynesia, a word meaning “Many Islands,” is encompassed by an imaginary triangle that runs from Hawaii in the north to Easter Island far in the southeast and across to New Zealand in the distant southwest. This account focuses on one part of Polynesia​—French Polynesia—​of which Tahiti is the main island.a French Polynesia consists of five archipelagoes: Tubuaï (Austral) Islands, Gambier Islands, Marquesas Islands, Society Islands, and Tuamotu Archipelago. Not until the 16th century did European explorers chance upon this Pacific realm.

Europeans Arrive

Spaniard Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira discovered some of the Marquesas Islands in 1595. Pedro Fernandes de Queirós, who had served under Mendaña de Neira, found part of the Tuamotu Archipelago in 1606. Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen discovered Bora Bora, Makatéa, and Maupiti in 1722. In 1767, Captain Samuel Wallis, aboard the British warship Dolphin, went ashore at Tahiti, the largest island in French Polynesia. The following year French navigator Captain Louis-Antoine de Bougainville did likewise.

Impressed by the beauty of the island and amazed at the amorous ways of its inhabitants, Bougainville named Tahiti “Nouvelle Cythère, after the Peloponnesian Island of Kithira near which Aphrodite [the goddess of love and beauty] was said to have risen from the sea,” says the book Cook & Omai​—The Cult of the South Seas. British explorer James Cook visited Tahiti four times, from 1769 to 1777. He named the Society Islands, the archipelago that includes Tahiti.

Following the explorers came the missionaries. The most effective were those sent out by the London Missionary Society, a Protestant-backed institution. Two of its missionaries, Henry Nott and John Davies, accomplished the mammoth task of putting the Tahitian language into written form and then translating the Bible into that language. To this day, the Tahitian Bible is extensively used in French Polynesia, especially in the many islands where the Protestant Church holds sway. Adventist, Catholic, and Mormon missionaries also had a measure of success. The Catholic Church, for instance, has a strong foothold in the Marquesas, Gambiers, and eastern Tuamotus.

How did the five archipelagoes become a French territory? Beginning in 1880, France progressively annexed the islands, forming a new French colony. Papeete, Tahiti, was made the capital, and the people of the territory were extended French citizenship. In 1946, France designated the islands an overseas territory, and in 1957 the territory adopted the name French Polynesia.

The Kingdom Message Arrives

The first Witness to visit Tahiti was Sydney Shepherd, who arrived in 1931. For two years Sydney sailed to a number of Pacific islands to witness to the people. He was followed by New Zealander Frank Dewar. Although these brothers were unable to stay long, they placed much literature. In fact, some two decades later, circuit overseer Leonard (Len) Helberg, an Australian, reported: “I was with the congregation servant driving through Papeete when he stopped to give a lift to a man he knew from the hills​—an elderly American. When the man learned that I was a Witness, he remarked: ‘Oh, I remember when one of you fellows came through here years ago and left me a pile of Judge Rutherford’s books.’ This was one of many traces of the work of the pioneers who preceded us. The pioneer in this instance was either Sydney Shepherd or Frank Dewar.”

Among the first Kingdom proclaimers to give a more thorough witness in French Polynesia were Jean-Marie and Jeanne Félix, a married couple who had learned the truth in Algeria, then a French colony. They were baptized in 1953. In 1955 a call went out inviting Kingdom publishers to serve where the need was greater, including French Polynesia. Responding to the invitation, the Félixes and their young son, Jean-Marc, moved to Tahiti in 1956. However, Jean-Marie, an engineer, could not find work. So the family went 140 miles [230 km] northeast of Tahiti to the island of Makatéa, in the Tuamotus, where Jean-Marie got a job with a phosphate company.

Immediately, the couple started witnessing to their neighbors and to Jean-Marie’s fellow workers. Writes Jeanne: “The islanders showed great respect for the Bible, were very attentive to the Kingdom message, and were assiduous in their Bible study. That was encouraging to us. The local clergy, however, made us feel most unwelcome. They even warned their flocks against ‘false prophets’ in their midst, saying that people should not talk to us or even walk by our home!”

In time, though, most people changed their view of this Christian couple. Many islanders even developed a deep respect for Jean-Marie and Jeanne because they did not look down on the Polynesians, as some Europeans on Makatéa did.

Still, it took courage to carry on the work, since the director of the phosphate company could dismiss an employee at any time. What is more, the two gendarmes on the island sometimes called on the family, inquiring about their activity. Little by little, these French police officers came to realize that Jean-Marie and Jeanne were no threat. The officers even became friendly.

The first Bible student to make fine spiritual progress was Maui Piirai, Jean-Marie’s fellow employee and a Polynesian. As the truth reached Maui’s heart, he made great changes in his life. For example, he stopped smoking and heavy drinking, and he married the woman with whom he had been living for 15 years. Baptized in October 1958, Maui became the first Polynesian in the territory to dedicate his life to Jehovah. Naturally, he too shared the good news with others, which angered the clergy. One pastor even schemed to have Maui dismissed from his job. But that plot failed because Maui was a good worker with a fine record.

The second person on Makatéa to respond to God’s Word was Germaine Amaru, a schoolmistress who became acquainted with the truth through one of her pupils, the Félixes’ son, Jean-Marc. Although only seven years old, Jean-Marc so impressed his teacher with his knowledge of the Bible that she called his parents. They in turn began a Bible study with her. But that is not the end of the story, for Germaine went on to help a fellow teacher, named Monique Sage, and her husband, Roger, to come to a knowledge of Jehovah.

The Félixes and Maui Piirai also began to study with Manuari Tefaatau, a young deacon in the Protestant church of Makatéa, and with his friend Arai Terii. At first the two kept attending their own church while sharing with fellow parishioners Scriptural truths about the Trinity, hellfire, the immortality of the soul, and so on. As you can imagine, this created quite a stir in the Protestant community. Like those in ancient Beroea, however, many sincere individuals delved into their Bibles to see if the things they were hearing were true.​—Acts 17:10-12.

Needless to say, the church pastor was not impressed. He even threatened to expel anyone who continued to listen to the Witnesses. Some gave in to the threat, but others made spiritual progress and left the church. Among the latter were Manuari and Arai as well as Maui Piirai’s wife, Moea, and Taina Rataro, who is mentioned later in this account.

At first, the growing group of publishers and Bible students met at the Félixes’ home, where Jean-Marie gave talks in French and Maui interpreted them into Tahitian. When the Félix family left Makatéa in 1959, the group moved to Maui’s home, Maui now being a baptized brother. How did Jean-Marie and Jeanne feel about their service in the islands? Jeanne, now a widow living in Italy, speaks for her late husband as well, saying: “We had absolutely no regrets. In fact, our ministry on Makatéa was the finest memory of our life together.”

The Good News Comes to Tahiti

In 1955, just before the Félixes went to Makatéa, Len Helberg was assigned by the Australia branch to commence circuit work in the South Pacific. His assignment covered millions of square miles, from New Caledonia to French Polynesia. Yet, fewer than 90 publishers lived in this vast territory, and none were in Tahiti. Len had three basic goals: to visit each congregation and group every six months; to make contact with every isolated publisher and interested person; and to open up new territories using, wherever possible, the film The New World Society in Action.

In December 1956, Len stepped ashore on Tahiti for the first time and remained there for two months. He had studied French at school but had forgotten much of it. So he started off working business territory with a view to finding people who spoke English. There he met one of the wealthiest men in Tahiti. The man listened with great interest and invited Len to come back. On the following Saturday, after sharing lunch with Len, the man invited him to his home, taking him there in his chauffeur-driven car. Len writes: “Then, midafternoon, much to my surprise, the man took up a conch shell and blew into it. This, I discovered, was a signal for all the village dignitaries to assemble at a meeting hall adjoining the man’s house.

“About a dozen individuals came, including the mayor, the chief of police, and several deacons of the Protestant church. After introducing me as a representative of Jehovah’s Witnesses, ‘a new religion in the islands,’ my host announced, ‘Mr. Helberg will now answer any Bible questions you may have.’ I was able to answer all the questions raised.” This procedure was repeated every Saturday for the next two months. Although the wealthy man never accepted the truth, he did arrange for Len to show the film The New World Society in Action at a hospital for lepers. Over 120 attended.

Did anyone respond to the Kingdom message? Brother Helberg recalls, “On Christmas day 1956, while working from house to house in the district of Arue, I called on a family named Micheli that eagerly accepted the message.” The Michelis were familiar with The Watchtower and Awake! thanks to a relative living in the United States who had arranged for them to receive subscriptions. Later the Michelis’ daughter, Irene, and her husband came into the truth. Len was also able to start a Bible study with a Mr. Garnier, which led to others in his family accepting the truth. When the Papeete Congregation was formed in 1959, the Michelis and Garniers were among its first members.

In 1957 when Brother Helberg went to Gilead, the Australia branch asked circuit overseer Paul Evans and his wife, Frances, to visit Tahiti. In the short time they spent on the island, they placed over 70 Bibles and books and obtained many subscriptions to The Watchtower and Awake! Brother Evans wrote: “Several people on Tahiti now have enough Bible knowledge and are so interested that they are anxious to start preaching under the direction of the organization.” Would these new ones receive the support and direction they needed?

A Tahitian Sister Returns to Her Homeland

Agnès, a young Tahitian woman, left Tahiti for the United States in 1936 to marry Earl Schenck, an American. The couple met Jehovah’s Witnesses, embraced the truth, and were baptized in San Diego, California, in 1954. In 1957 they and friends Clyde and Ann Neill were sitting together at a district convention in Los Angeles when Nathan Knorr, from world headquarters, announced several places where the need was greater. Tahiti was one of them.

“Agnès jumped up from her seat with excitement and wept,” says Brother Neill. “I then turned to her and Earl and said that I would do whatever I could to help them and their son, who was 11 years old, to get to Tahiti. At that, Earl, who was disabled, also began to weep. He had lived in the South Pacific for 17 years, working as an artist and a writer, and was keen to return. What is more, Agnès, his wife, still had French citizenship.”

Clyde continues: “After much prayer, Ann and I decided that we along with our three sons, who were 12, 8, and 3 years old, would go to Tahiti. Our friends David and Lynne Carano and their son, David, Jr., decided to join us. So after attending the 1958 international convention in New York City, we sailed for Tahiti.

“The United States branch had given us the names of some interested people, so immediately after our arrival, we began calling on these ones. Agnès, having arrived before us, had already been working hard in the ministry. Because Ann and I spoke neither French nor Tahitian, we would take Agnès preaching with us whenever possible. When working alone, we would take along both an English and a French copy of ‘Let God Be True,’ the study aid we used in those days.”

As a result of these efforts along with the groundwork laid by Brother Helberg and Brother and Sister Evans, in just a few short weeks, 17 persons began to study God’s Word. Recalls Clyde: “One memorable student was former Protestant minister Teratua Vaitape. He had lost his job because of his many questions about church doctrines. Teratua lived with his family in a tiny, one-room house that had no plumbing and no electricity. He told me that he had learned more about the Bible in just a few weeks of study with us than he had learned during four years at the seminary and seven years as a clergyman.”

Clyde continues: “After we had been on the island for several weeks, the ‘coconut radio’ [word-of-mouth communication] got buzzing, and people began to hear about us. This was a good thing because Tahitians are friendly, and they love the Bible.”

At first the small group of publishers held their meetings in the Schenck’s home. Just two interested persons attended. “But before long,” recalls Brother Neill, “about 15 joined us regularly. One lady with whom we studied had helped Len Helberg when his bicycle broke down in front of her house two or three years earlier. Len had placed literature with her, so she was quite excited to learn that we were of the same religion. Her home was a long way from ours, so when we called, she would give us lunch​—usually delicious fresh fish cooked over a steel drum.”

Before the Neills and Caranos left in December 1958, Clyde gave the second baptism talk ever given in French Polynesia, the first having been delivered on Makatéa in October, when Maui Piirai was immersed. Sixty persons attended, and eight were baptized. Included were the Neills’ son Steven and Auguste Temanaha, a Tahitian who would later help establish a congregation on the island of Huahine.

A Period of Consolidation

At the request of the Fiji branch, John Hubler and his wife, Ellen, who came from Australia, moved to Tahiti in 1959 to help the fledgling Papeete Congregation. John served as congregation servant for the seven months he and Ellen were able to stay in Tahiti. Of Swiss birth, John was fluent in French. Ellen also spoke the language, having served with her husband for a number of years in New Caledonia. The Hublers gave the new publishers much-needed training in the door-to-door ministry, for most had only been preaching informally.

In 1960, John and Ellen took up circuit work. Their territory was French Polynesia, which enabled them to continue rendering assistance to the local publishers. “Then, in 1961,” says John, “I was invited to attend Gilead School. After graduating, I was assigned as circuit overseer to all the French-speaking islands of the Pacific.”

First Kingdom Hall

“During our second visit to Tahiti,” says Brother Hubler, “I was privileged to start a Bible study with a former schoolteacher, Marcelle Anahoa. At that time, we were desperately searching for land to build our own Kingdom Hall. But there were two obstacles. First, nobody seemed to have any property to spare; second, congregation funds were very low. Still, we kept looking, trusting that Jehovah would direct matters.

“While conducting the study with Marcelle, I mentioned the situation to her. ‘I want to show you something,’ she said. Taking me outside, she pointed, saying: ‘See this land? It belongs to me. I had planned to build units, but now that I am learning the truth, I’ve changed my mind. I will donate half of the land for a Kingdom Hall.’ Upon hearing that, I immediately uttered a silent, heartfelt prayer of thanks to Jehovah.”

As soon as the legalities were handled, the Papeete Congregation built its first Kingdom Hall, completing it in 1962. It was of a simple island design with open sides and a roof made of pandanus leaves. Unfortunately, though, the neighborhood chickens could not resist nesting on the seats and roosting in the rafters. Hence, when the brothers arrived for meetings, they found eggs and other far less desirable signs of feathered tenancy on floor and furniture. Still, the hall proved adequate until the brothers built a larger, more permanent building.

Legal Uncertainties Resolved

In the early days, the brothers were unsure about the legal status of Jehovah’s Witnesses in French Polynesia. The Watchtower magazine had been banned in France since 1952, but the work itself was not under ban. Was that also the case in this French territory? Meanwhile, the number of publishers kept increasing, bringing Jehovah’s Witnesses into the public eye. In fact, on one occasion toward the end of 1959, the police entered a meeting to see what was going on.

Consequently, the brothers were advised to establish a legal association. Official registration would clear up uncertainties and eliminate suspicion. How thrilled the brothers were when on April 2, 1960, they received confirmation that they had been officially registered as the Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses!

Still, The Watchtower remained under ban in France. Believing that this ban also applied in French Polynesia, the brothers received Watchtower articles in a journal called La Sentinelle (The Sentinel), which was sent from Switzerland. On one occasion, the police disclosed to the then president of the legal association, Michel Gelas, that they were well aware that La Sentinelle was a substitute for The Watchtower. Nevertheless, the police did not block shipment of the magazine. The brothers would learn why when the ban on The Watchtower was lifted in France in 1975.

When that ban was lifted, the brothers in Tahiti sought permission to receive The Watchtower locally. It then came to light that the ban had never been published in the Official Journal of French Polynesia. Thus, The Watchtower had never been banned in French Polynesia, which was a surprise to many.

On the other hand, the local authorities were strict when it came to issuing or extending visas. Hence, those who were not French citizens, such as Clyde and Ann Neill, mentioned earlier, were usually able to stay for just a few months. The Hublers were also in that category. But because John was also a member of the legal association, French law permitting one foreigner to be on the board, he was able to obtain visas with less difficulty.

This helped John in his circuit assignment. In fact, the police commissioner called John to his office one day, wanting to know why John was visiting the islands so often. John explained that as a member of the association, he had to attend board meetings. The commissioner was satisfied with the explanation. But that was not the only time that John had to come before the commissioner.

Beginning in 1963, many Polynesians, including at least one prominent pastor, became angry about the testing of nuclear weapons in the Pacific. An apostate took the opportunity to complain to the police that Brother Hubler was one of the agitators, which was untrue, of course. Nevertheless, John was again hailed before the commissioner. Instead of denouncing the accuser, John kindly explained our Bible-based neutrality and respect for governmental authority. (Rom. 13:1) He also gave the commissioner some literature. In the end, this official rightly concluded that someone was just trying to make trouble for the Witnesses.

Eventually, however, the Hublers were no longer able to obtain visas. Therefore, they returned to Australia where they continued in the traveling work until 1993, when failing health caused them to stop.

While in the islands, the Hublers saw a number of individuals make remarkable changes in their lives in order to please Jehovah. One was a 74-year-old woman with 14 children, all born out of wedlock. “We used to call her Mama Roro,” says John. “When Mama Roro learned the truth, she married the man with whom she was living and had all her children properly registered, even though they had different fathers. To list all the children, the local mayor had to join two forms to make one long one. Mama Roro insisted that things be done Jehovah’s way.” After her baptism, this faithful sister began pioneering and proved to be especially adept at placing magazines. Along with other publishers, she even went to preach on remote islands.

The Tahitian Bible​—A Blessing

In the 1960’s, it was not uncommon to find people who spoke only Tahitian. But thanks to translators Nott and Davies, the Bible was made available in that language after 1835.b One of its salient features is the use of God’s name, Iehova in Tahitian, throughout the text, including the Christian Greek Scriptures.

Widely distributed throughout the islands, the Tahitian Bible has helped many come to an accurate knowledge of the truth. One such person was Taina Rataro. Born in 1927, Taina was one of that early group of Bible students on Makatéa. At first, though, he could neither read nor write Tahitian, his mother tongue. But he applied himself diligently and made fine progress. He was even enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry School and later appointed a ministerial servant.

Elisabeth Avae, who is 78 years old, was born on the remote island of Rimatara in the Tubuaï Islands, some 400 miles [600 km] from Tahiti. Back in the 1960’s, she could not understand a word of French, but she was able to read and write Tahitian. After her marriage, she and her husband moved to Papeete. There she became acquainted with Bible truth through her eldest daughter, Marguerite, who had begun attending Christian meetings. Elisabeth also started to attend, along with her nine other children. And she did this despite strong opposition from her husband, who would throw all her clothes out of the house while she was at the meetings.

Back then, meetings were held in French, with some parts being translated into Tahitian from time to time. Elisabeth derived spiritual sustenance from the program by following along in her Tahitian Bible when scriptures were mentioned. The sister who studied with her used the booklet “This Good News of the Kingdom,” translating it orally from French into Tahitian while Elisabeth read the Scripture texts in her Bible. As a result, she made fine progress and was baptized in 1965. She, in turn, studied with others who spoke only Tahitian. She also taught her children, six of whom dedicated their lives to Jehovah, and some of her grandchildren, several of whom she raised herself.

One grandchild, Diana Tautu, has served at the Tahiti branch as a translator for the past 12 years. Says Diana: “I thank Grandmother for aiding me in acquiring a good knowledge of Tahitian. Now I am privileged to play a small part in helping others to receive life-saving spiritual food in their native tongue.”

Chinese Come to Know Jehovah

In the 1960’s, about 10 percent of Tahiti’s population was Chinese. The first Chinese person to accept Bible truth was Clarisse Lygan, a teenager at the time. Clarisse came from a poor family. To help out financially, she did secular work every Wednesday, when there was no school. She was employed by a Witness family. Thus, Clarisse came in contact with the truth and, despite strong parental opposition, was baptized in 1962 at the age of 18.

Alexandre and Arlette Ly Kwai and Ky Sing Lygan were also among the first Chinese to serve Jehovah in Tahiti. One day Alexandre, who drove a taxi, met Jim and Charmian Walker, a Witness couple who had come from New Zealand in 1961 to help with the work. Alexandre expressed his desire to study English. Says Charmian: “At the time I was a pioneer. So Jim told Alexandre that I could teach him. He accepted the offer. His study consisted of a 30-minute English lesson and a 30-minute Bible study, with the aid of the book From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained.”

Meanwhile, Alexandre’s brother, Ky Sing, also came into contact with the truth. At the time, however, both men were recent converts to Catholicism and were taking a course on that religion. Inevitably, therefore, they began to see differences between Bible teaching and that of the church. Then at the end of the course, the priest asked the class, numbering about 100, if they had any questions. Alexandre raised his hand and requested Scriptural proof that the soul is immortal. “I know where this question is coming from,” the priest retorted. “You are talking with Jehovah’s Witnesses, aren’t you?” He then ridiculed the young man in front of the class.

To Alexandre and Ky Sing, this incident confirmed that the Catholic Church is not the custodian of truth. Eventually they and their wives dedicated their lives to Jehovah, and later, the two brothers were appointed congregation elders. Alexandre even served on the Tahiti Branch Committee for a time. Thereafter, he and his wife moved to Raïatéa, one of the Society Islands, to support the Kingdom work and then to Bora Bora, where Alexandre served faithfully until his death.

A Life That Changed Course at Sea

Antonio Lanza was a technician in a television factory in Milan, Italy. In 1966 the company asked for a volunteer to go to Tahiti to run an after-sales service. Antonio accepted the post, which was to last three years. However, he planned to leave behind his wife, Anna, and their two young sons. For weeks, Anna wept, trying to convince her husband to change his mind, but to no avail.

The crossing from Marseilles, France, to Papeete took 30 days. Antonio was a friendly person who liked to talk, but nearly everybody on board spoke French, which he did not understand. On the second day out, though, he met two Catholic nuns, who were Italian. But they had their daily rituals, so did not have a lot of time to chat. They did, however, tell Antonio about a French lady on board who could speak Italian. This person was Lilian Selam, a Witness. With her children, Lilian was en route to Tahiti to join her husband, who had obtained a job there.

Antonio found Lilian and enjoyed a conversation with her. She, in turn, gave him a Bible-based publication in Italian. Thereafter, they had many spiritual discussions. During one of these, Lilian reminded Antonio of the morally dangerous situation he was placing himself in by leaving his wife and children for three years while he worked in Tahiti. She also showed him God’s view of the sacredness of marriage, sharing with him such Bible passages as Ephesians 5:28, 29 and Mark 10:7-9.

Taking these things to heart, Antonio began to regret his decision. In fact, while in Panama, he wrote to his wife, telling her that as soon as he had the funds, he would fly her and their two children to Tahiti. Then he wrote again, this time to ask Anna to obtain a Bible from her priest and to bring it with her. What did the priest think of this idea? He told Anna that her husband must be out of his mind, wanting to read such a complicated book.

Six months after Antonio stepped ashore at Tahiti, his family joined him. The day after her arrival, Anna, who was a religious woman, asked Antonio to take the family to church in order to thank God for their being reunited. “OK,” said Antonio, “we will go to church.” But instead of taking his family to the Catholic church, he took them to the Kingdom Hall! Of course, Anna was more than a little surprised. Nevertheless, she enjoyed the program and even agreed to a Bible study. Who studied with her? None other than Lilian Selam, the sister who had witnessed to Antonio on the ship.

The three years that Antonio was to spend alone in Tahiti have become 35 years with his whole family. What is more, Antonio, Anna, and now their four sons are all united in true worship, and Antonio serves as a congregation elder.

Families Serve Where the Need Is Greater

Over the years, many brothers and sisters have moved to isolated islands to help where the need for Kingdom publishers was greater. These include the Mara, Haamarurai, and Terii families, as well as Ato Lacour, whose family was not in the truth. The Mara family​—Vaieretiai, Marie-Medeleine, and five children—​moved from Tahiti to Raïatéa. A special pioneer couple who had been serving there were reassigned elsewhere. Just two sisters and some unbaptized publishers remained on the island.

Vaieretiai was a wood sculptor and, later, a coral sculptor, which enabled him to move without having to change his work. The only elder, he cared for the small group on Raïatéa for five years until another qualified brother arrived. The Maras then moved to Tahaa, where they remained for four years.

Materially speaking, life on either island was not easy for the Mara family. “I had to go to Tahiti to sell my sculptures,” says Vaieretiai. “Sometimes I had no money to pay for the flight. On those occasions, I asked the man in charge of the small airline to give me the ticket on credit, promising that I would pay the full fare on my return. Yes, finances were tight at times, but we never had to do without.” Vaieretiai and Marie-Medeleine’s example of self-sacrifice had a fine influence on their daughter Jeanne, who has now been in full-time service for 26 years and is a member of the Tahiti Bethel family.

In 1969, Ato Lacour moved with his family to the island of Rurutu in the Tubuaï Islands, having arranged for a job transfer there. Baptized just three years, he was the only member of his family in the truth and the only publisher on those islands. The day after he arrived, he went out witnessing. He wrote in his diary: “I have started to preach​—alone. It is difficult. Babylon the Great is firmly entrenched here.”

Before long, however, interested ones began to respond to the good news, and a group was formed. At first, they met in the living room of the Lacour home. Says Ato: “Being members of a new religion on the island, our group was labeled ‘Lacour’s religion.’ But Jehovah ‘kept making it grow,’ and our group became a congregation in 1976.” (1 Cor. 3:6) Before Brother Lacour passed away in the year 2000, several members of his family, including his wife, Perena, joined him in true worship.

Rudolphe and Narcisse Haamarurai moved to Bora Bora. Rudolphe resigned from his job as a supervisor for the territorial electric company in Tahiti and got work on Bora Bora picking coconuts and preparing copra. For two years he found no other work. But how Jehovah blessed him and his wife, for in time they saw a congregation established on the island! For more than 25 years, the congregation met at the Haamarurai home. Then, in the year 2000, they moved into their own, brand-new Kingdom Hall, right by Bora Bora’s picturesque lagoon.

Taaroa and Catherine Terii, with 7 of their 15 children still in their care, moved to the tiny island of Maupiti, also in the Society Islands. When the Teriis arrived in 1977, they were the only publishers on Maupiti. They lived on a motu, a vegetated islet at the edge of the lagoon. Their food consisted chiefly of fish and grated coconut. The family also collected edible shellfish, which they sold. When the Teriis went witnessing, they waded across the lagoon to the main island, careful to avoid stepping on any fish with poisonous barbs.

In 1980, Taaroa and Catherine were assigned to Bora Bora, this time as special pioneers. After serving in that capacity for 5 years, they served as regular pioneers for 15 years. As we shall now see, among their early Bible students was one married couple who endured much opposition for the sake of the good news.

Spiritual Babes Put to the Test

The Terii’s first Bible students to accept the truth on Bora Bora were Edmond (Apo) and Vahinerii Rai. The Rais lived in a house belonging to Edmond’s mother. After the couple studied for about six months, Edmond’s mother, influenced by her pastor, ordered them out of the house. Edmond, Vahinerii, and their two-year-old boy were forced to live in a hut in the bush. The pastor also persuaded Edmond’s employer to dismiss him​—in fact, the pastor went so far as to tell other potential employers not to give Edmond work! For eight months, the little family survived largely on fishing.

Then one day a woman who wanted a house built contacted Edmond’s former employer. She had high regard for Edmond’s skills and wanted him to work on the house. When she learned that Edmond had been dismissed because he was associating with Jehovah’s Witnesses, she told the contractor that he would get the job only if Edmond worked for him. As a result, Edmond got his job back. Meanwhile, his mother softened in her attitude and invited Edmond and Vahinerii back to her house. Today, Edmond serves as an elder in the Bora Bora Congregation.

The Good News Takes Root on Huahine

One of that original group of Bible students who were baptized in Tahiti in 1958 was Auguste Temanaha. After his baptism, Auguste moved to the United States, returning to Tahiti in the late 1960’s with his wife, Stella, and their three children. There he ran a successful business. In 1971, after being encouraged by a circuit overseer and by the example of the aforementioned Mara family, the Temanahas sold their business and moved to the island of Huahine, just over 100 miles [160 km] from Tahiti.

At the time, one sister and some interested people lived on the island. Their only contact with Jehovah’s organization was occasional visits by pioneers and the circuit overseer. So they were thrilled when the Temanahas arrived. Auguste immediately organized meetings, holding them in the kitchen of his home. About 20 attended.

At the start, Auguste could not find work. Nevertheless, he and his family kept busy in the ministry, trusting that Jehovah would provide. And he did. For instance, when the Temanahas went out preaching, Auguste usually left the car parked in the territory. When they returned to the car, they would often find it packed with food. Who put it there, they did not know. They assumed that it was kindhearted individuals in the territory who were aware of their situation. This went on for a number of weeks until the family’s financial situation improved.

In view of the zeal and endurance of the Temanahas and others like them, as well as the kindly disposition of the islanders, it comes as no surprise that today Huahine is home to a flourishing congregation. In fact, the island has 1 publisher for every 53 inhabitants. And in recent years, up to 1 person in every 12 has attended the Memorial!

Many other Witness families have shown a similar self-sacrificing spirit. For instance, beginning in 1988, Jean-Paul and Christiane Lassalle served for two years in the Marquesas Islands. Jean-Paul had been a member of the board of directors of the Social Security Administration in Tahiti but resigned from this prestigious job in order to expand his ministry. In 1994 the Lassalles moved again, this time to Rangiroa in the Tuamotus, where they stayed for three years. Jean-Paul is now serving faithfully in France.

More recently, Colson Deane, after retiring as assistant prison director in Tahiti, moved with his wife, Lina, to the island of Tubuaï in the Tubuaï group. Both are pioneering and are a fine asset to the small congregation on that island, which is in an area where there is still a great need for elders.

Families Move From France to Help Out

Some families came all the way from France to help with the work. Consider the Sicari family​—Francis, Jeannette, and their two daughters, six and nine years of age. “We were waiting for an opportunity to widen out our ministry,” reflects Francis. “Then we read in the 1971 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses the call for publishers to serve in the South Pacific.” Even though some friends and relatives tried to discourage the Sicaris, they took up the challenge and arrived in Papeete in April 1972.

Because Francis was an elder, his presence led to the formation of a second congregation on Tahiti, in the township of Punaauia. Along with Jean-Pierre Francine, at that time presiding overseer of the other congregation, Francis had the privilege of serving on the first Branch Committee in Tahiti when that arrangement was instituted in 1976. He served in that capacity for 12 years.

Was the concern of the Sicaris’ friends and relatives warranted? “Contrary to what others said, our move had a positive effect on our daughters,” says Francis. “In fact, the four of us have now spent a combined total of 105 years in full-time service and have enjoyed many blessings, just as Jehovah promised.​—Mal. 3:10.”

In 1981 in the Kingdom Ministry, the France branch announced the need for elders on the island of Mooréa, a 30-minute ferry ride from Papeete. Two brothers and their wives responded to the call, one couple being Alain and Eileen Raffaelli. They helped to establish a congregation on Mooréa, where they served for eight years. Alain also served on the Branch Committee from 1987 to 1994.

In 1997 the France branch invited retired brothers to move to remote islands for two years or more to help where there was an urgent need for elders. Says Gérard Balza, Tahiti Branch Committee coordinator: “We expected that two or three couples might respond. What a surprise when 11 couples volunteered! Two couples even chose to settle here. Thanks to their spiritual maturity and experience, these brothers and sisters have been a great help to our publishers. And while they are not missionaries, they have tasted missionary life and the challenges of living on a remote island.”

Establishing the Branch

As the work in the Pacific forged ahead, organizational adjustments followed. Australia supervised the work in French Polynesia until 1958 when Fiji, which is much closer, took over. Another change came in 1975 when Nathan Knorr and Frederick W. Franz from world headquarters visited Tahiti. They gave encouraging talks to over 700, and Brother Knorr gave a slide presentation to about 500 in one of the Kingdom Halls.

After the program, Brother Knorr met with the elders and proposed the opening of a branch in Tahiti. The brothers were delighted with the idea. Alain Jamet, a circuit overseer who spoke English, was appointed branch overseer. Effective April 1 that year, the new arrangement proved to be a step in the right direction. True, Fiji was closer than Australia, but the language barrier remained. Now, however, the brothers in French Polynesia could have direct and close communication with their own branch.

With fewer than 300 publishers in the entire territory, the branch office was small. In fact, it was just a room adjoining the Kingdom Hall in Papeete. A desk was on one side, and the stock of literature, on the other. Initially, the branch overseer’s job was part-time, which allowed Alain and his wife, Mary-Ann, to continue in the circuit work and also to preach on remote islands where there were no publishers.

Preaching in the Tuamotu and Gambier Archipelagoes

With the establishment of the Tahiti branch, greater emphasis was placed on reaching remote islands with the good news. In some instances, brothers organized themselves into groups to travel to these islands. Axel Chang, who served for a while on the Branch Committee, remembers when a group of 20 brothers and sisters chartered a plane and flew to Rangiroa, the largest atoll in the Tuamotus. He says: “After witnessing to everyone on the atoll, we made preparations for a public talk. The local mayor gave us the use of a covered area. At first, it seemed that our group was going to be the entire audience! ‘Perhaps the people are afraid of their religious leaders,’ we thought. But then, as the talk got under way, people began to trickle in, and the place gradually filled up.”

Brother Chang continues: “During the discourse, we could see the Catholic priest on his bicycle, pedaling hard toward our meeting place. As he got closer, however, he slowed down, straining to see who of his flock were present. He made a number of these sorties, providing us with not a little amusement.”

Alain Raffaelli organized a preaching tour of the Gambier Islands in 1988. Over 1,000 miles [1,600 km] from Tahiti, this predominantly Catholic archipelago is the smallest and remotest in French Polynesia. The only other time the islands had received a witness had been in 1979 when Alain Jamet spent three days there.

The brothers first approached the mayor to explain their activity and to request a place where they could hold a Public Meeting. He offered them the marriage hall but apologized for being unable to accompany the brothers while they invited people, for he was involved in an election campaign. Needless to say, the brothers excused him. The discourse was attended by 30 people, including the mayor and the local gendarme.

During the public talk, which discussed the condition of the dead, Alain mentioned that the Bible hell is merely the grave and that Christ himself went there. “This could not be true of Jesus!” cried someone in the audience. Alain then quoted the Apostles’ Creed, which says that Christ “descended into Hell.” This reply amazed the audience, for at that moment it dawned on them that they had been reciting this phrase for years without really thinking about it. One family who attended that meeting is now in the truth.

Traveling overseers often took advantage of weeks between congregation visits to pioneer in areas where there were no publishers. This was the case with Mauri and Mélanie Mercier, a Tahitian couple. They were the first to preach the good news on a number of atolls in the Tuamotus, namely, Ahe, Anaa, Hao, Manihi, Takapoto, and Takaroa. Whenever possible, Mauri would also give a public talk or show slides. “Most of the islanders were friendly,” he recalls, “except for those on Anaa, a bastion of Catholicism. During the slide presentation, some started to shout, and others wanted to beat us up. Much to our relief, however, we were finally able to calm them down.”

Missionaries Come to the Islands

Beginning in 1978, a number of missionaries were sent from France to the remoter islands. Michel and Babette Muller arrived in August 1978 and were assigned to Nuku Hiva, the largest and most populous island in the Marquesas. Brothers had occasionally visited this predominantly Catholic archipelago, but nobody had been able to stay for any length of time. Because there were no roads, Michel and Babette got around either on foot or on horseback. The locals often gave them a place to sleep. One night they even slept on a layer of drying coffee beans!

The Mullers remained in the Marquesas for 18 months before commencing circuit work. Many appreciated their visits and accepted literature. In fact, in one year Michel and Babette together placed one thousand copies of My Book of Bible Stories! As a result of the efforts of such fine missionaries, as well as that of the pioneers and publishers in general, the work not only in the Marquesas but also in the branch territory as a whole progressed very well. In fact, records reveal 69 consecutive peaks in publishers!

Of course, all these new ones needed training. But there were not always enough experienced brothers to help them one-on-one. In the case of the Mullers, they got around this difficulty by working with two new publishers at a time. One went with Michel or Babette to the house while the other waited on the road for his turn. The Mullers now serve as missionaries in Benin, Africa.

‘Witnessing Tested Our Knowledge of the Scriptures’

Missionaries Christian and Juliette Belotti arrived in French Polynesia in February 1982. At first they served in the circuit work, and then for five years, they pioneered on the island of Raïatéa, parts of which were accessible only by outrigger canoe. But witnessing there tested more than one’s skill with a paddle; “it also tested one’s knowledge of the Bible,” says Christian. “Quite often we would be asked such questions as: How do the anointed know that they will go to heaven? or What do the beasts of the Apocalypse represent?”

As in most small communities, Raïatéans all knew one another. “So when a publisher became inactive,” says Christian, “it was not unusual for a householder to say: ‘I have not seen So-and-so for a while. Has he gone cold?’ Or ‘So-and-so should be helped. There must be something wrong with him spiritually!’” By the time the Belottis left Raïatéa, someone in almost every fare (Tahitian for “house”) had studied with Jehovah’s Witnesses.

From their base on Raïatéa, the Belottis also went to the island of Maupiti. On one occasion they arranged for a shipment of books to be sent directly to the island. But the consignment failed to arrive on time. Not deterred, Christian and Juliette showed people their personal copies of the books they had intended to offer. Nearly 30 families requested the books, confident that they would come. An interested person kindly distributed the books when the shipment finally arrived.

The Belottis’ next assignment was Rangiroa in the Tuamotus, where they were the only Witnesses. Later they were reassigned to French Guiana and finally to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Brother Belotti serves on the Branch Committee.

“Jehovah Will Train You”

Frédéric and Urminda Lucas arrived from France in April 1985 and were assigned to the island of Tahaa, where there were only three publishers. The first two weeks were difficult for this young couple. They held the meetings in their own living room and were the only ones in attendance. They sang the Kingdom songs, and they cried; but they did not give in to discouragement.

There was no electricity on the island and no telephone service. However, Frédéric and Urminda did have a walkie-talkie, which they used to communicate with the missionaries on nearby Raïatéa​—that is, when they could make contact! They also had a small refrigerator that was plugged into a neighbor’s generator. “Usually,” says Frédéric, “it ran from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. One time we got home to find that our tomatoes were all frozen solid. Our neighbor had decided to watch a sporting match on television and had turned his generator on much earlier.”

The Lucases also had to learn Tahitian. As anyone who has learned another language knows, novices have their embarrassing moments. For example, Frédéric recalls going from house to house thinking that he was saying “holy spirit”​—varua mo’a. But he had not mastered the difficult pronunciation of mo’a, so he had been saying “chicken spirit.”

When the couple arrived in Tahaa, Frédéric was 23 years old and a ministerial servant. He confided to Alain Jamet, Branch Committee coordinator at the time, that he felt inadequate to take on the responsibilities given to him. “Don’t worry,” said Alain, “Jehovah will train you!” And that he did. Five years later when the Lucases left for their next assignment, Burkina Faso, the little group on Tahaa had become a congregation of 14 publishers with their own Kingdom Hall, and Frédéric was serving as an elder.

How glad this couple are that they did not give in to discouragement at the outset! “Those were the best years of our youth,” they recently said. “We learned to be patient and to trust fully in Jehovah rather than in our own ability. When our spirits were low, prayer lifted us up. We made Jehovah our refuge, and he never let us down. Yes, he truly did train us.”

Single Missionaries Take On Tough Assignments

Single missionaries from France also went to French Polynesia to help out. Early arrivals were Georges Bourgeonnier and Marc Montet. Both served at the branch and in the traveling work. Marc’s circuit took in the Tubuaï, Gambier, Marquesas, and Tuamotu islands. On a number of atolls, he preached alone; at other times he worked along with local special pioneers. Wherever possible, he gave public talks, and on some islands almost the entire population attended. After he married, Marc continued in the traveling work for a time. Now he and his wife, Jessica, are in the Bora Bora Congregation, where Marc serves as an elder and a pioneer.

In February 1986, Philippe Couzinet and Patrick Lemassif arrived from France. They were assigned to the Marquesas. Unlike the other islands in French Polynesia, the Marquesas are not protected by coral reefs. The high cliffs on these islands plunge almost vertically into the cobalt-blue Pacific, where they are pounded by its mighty waves. Between rugged ridges lie narrow, fertile valleys with streams and waterfalls​—a perfect home for the many goats, horses, and wild cattle that roam the islands.

Over the years, the Marquesas had been visited sporadically by pioneers and publishers. The Mullers, for instance, spent 18 months on Nuku Hiva in 1978/79. But no thorough witness had been given in the archipelago as a whole. This changed when Philippe and Patrick arrived. True, progress did not come easily, for Catholicism was entrenched and many people feared the priests. In fact, the priests were responsible for certain threats that were made against the two brothers. Also, a Catholic charismatic movement was flourishing at the time, fueling fanaticism and inciting some nasty incidents in the community.

Patrick and Philippe worked together at first and separately when they became more familiar with the territory. One took his turn at the missionary home on Hiva Oa, where he conducted the meetings, while the other left by boat for several weeks to visit other islands. Eventually, they found it more practical and effective to separate completely​—Patrick working the islands to the north, and Philippe, those to the south.

In order to help the two missionaries, the branch assigned special pioneers from Tahiti to work along with them. One was Pascal Pater, who now serves as a congregation elder; the other was Michel Bustamante, now a circuit overseer. These enthusiastic young men were happy to offer Jehovah the power of their youth. (Prov. 20:29) And power they needed, because preaching in the Marquesas was not for the delicate or the fainthearted. There were no roads, just rocky and often muddy trails wending their way through deep, narrow valleys to isolated homes and communities. The only practical way to get to some of these places was by means of a small motorcycle called a trail bike.

Philippe recalls riding his bike along a narrow trail when a herd of wild cattle frightened by another vehicle charged toward him. With a precipice on one side and the sheer rock face of a mountain on the other, Philippe had no way of escape. So he did the only thing he could​—he stopped his bike and leaned with it hard against the rocky escarpment. The beasts thundered by, leaving him shaken but unhurt.

“For me, the assignment was an adventure,” says Michel Bustamante. “But we had our scary moments, especially when we were alone on some of the islands. On one occasion, my bungalow was in a deep, dark valley, far from where I had spent the day witnessing. I tried to find a bed in a nearby village but in vain, so I had to walk home. By then it was dusk, and the towering cliffs closed in on me with the darkness of night. I began to think about the spiritism practiced on the island and the demons that must be lurking about. All of this brought on an anxiety attack. So I began praying and singing Kingdom songs that used Jehovah’s name often. When at last I stepped inside my bungalow, I shut the door, opened my Bible, and began reading. Peace slowly came over me.”

After three years of hard work, the brothers were thrilled to see their first Marquesan Bible student come into the truth​—a young man named Jean-Louis Peterano. Jean-Louis had a visit from a priest who wanted him “to return to the fold.” In an attempt to “save” the young man, the priest asserted that the name Jehovah was coined by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Jean-Louis then quoted Psalm 83:18 from the French Catholic Crampon Bible (1905), which uses the divine name. Speechless, the priest left, never to return. This was likely the first time that a Marquesan using a Catholic Bible successfully challenged a priest on theological grounds. Later, even the Catholic bishop’s private secretary left the church and came into the truth.

On Hiva Oa, the missionaries contacted a European couple, Jean and Nadine Oberlin. Like the famous French painter Paul Gauguin, they had come to the Marquesas to withdraw from society. They lived in an almost inaccessible place and led a simple life devoid of all modern conveniences. After studying for three years and making many changes in their lives, Jean and Nadine were baptized.

When Philippe Couzinet and Patrick Lemassif arrived in the Marquesas in 1986, there was only one publisher in the whole archipelago. Eight years later when Philippe​—the second of the two to leave—​was reassigned to Cameroon, there were 36 publishers​—1 for every 210 inhabitants. And there were three congregations, one on each of the three main islands​—Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva, and Ua Pou.

The Last Missionaries Arrive

The last missionaries to arrive from France were Serge and Marie-Louise Gollin, who came in November 1990. They too were assigned to the Marquesas, where they have done much to strengthen the congregations. The Gollins have learned Marquesan, and amazingly, they have visited every family on the six inhabited islands!

From the Gollins’ base on Hiva Oa, where Serge is the only elder, they regularly go to a number of other islands, including two where there are no publishers. On their first visit to Fatu Hiva, Serge was amazed at the cooperation shown by the local Catholic and Protestant deacons. At the end of their religious services, both men made announcements inviting people to attend a half-hour public talk to be given by Serge at a local school. What is more, the Protestant deacon came along and translated Serge’s talk into Marquesan, which at the time he spoke more fluently than Serge did.

To help the audience find the various scriptures in their own Bibles, Serge wrote them on a chalkboard. He also said the prayers, to which all responded with a clear “Amen.” The next day, the Gollins placed literature with every family on Fatu Hiva. Since then, they have continued to receive a warm welcome when visiting this island, which has a population of just under 600.

Bible Truth Penetrates Prisons

As in many other lands, not a few people in French Polynesia have come to a knowledge of Bible truth in prison. Take, for example, Alexandre Tetiarahi, who became delinquent in his youth and spent seven years in confinement. He escaped at least six times and was dubbed Butterfly, after the main character in a famous novel about a fugitive prisoner.

At a place where he was hiding on Raïatéa, Alexandre found a Bible and a copy of the book “Things in Which It Is Impossible for God to Lie.” He read the Bible from cover to cover and the book several times. Convinced that he had found the truth, he began to experience a troubled conscience. What did he do?

Even though he had made no personal contact with Jehovah’s Witnesses, the publishers of the book, Alexandre turned himself in to the police, who sent him back to prison in Tahiti. There, Colson Deane worked as a warder. Soon after Alexandre arrived, he overheard Colson witnessing to a colleague and immediately recognized the teachings. So he approached Colson privately and asked to learn more.

Brother Deane obtained permission from the prison director to study with Alexandre in his cell. Soon several other inmates also wanted to study. The director allowed Colson to study with these inmates as well, during his noon break. Later it was decided that it would be better for two other elders to take over. For several years, from 30 to 50 prisoners enjoyed a weekly Bible discourse followed by a personal study for those who wanted one.

In the meantime, Alexandre made rapid progress, which prison officials observed. As a result, they gave this former escape artist special permission to attend his first district convention, under the charge of Brother Deane. There, Alexandre was baptized. Since then, he was released, and he continues to serve Jehovah.

International Conventions in Tahiti

In 1969, Tahiti enjoyed its first international convention. At the time, there were only 124 publishers in the islands. So you can imagine how thrilled they were to host 210 delegates from 16 countries, including Frederick W. Franz​—the first member of the Governing Body to visit Tahiti. With a peak attendance of 610, the convention was a real stimulus to the brothers, contributing to a 15 percent increase in publishers the following year. Then in 1978, Tahiti hosted one of the “Victorious Faith” International Conventions. This time the attendance reached 985!

Translation Into Tahitian

As the number of publishers grew, so did the work at the branch, especially the translation of Bible-based literature into Tahitian, the main Polynesian language. Even before the branch was established, a few older publishers who had a good knowledge of Tahitian translated some publications part-time, usually from the French. Beginning in 1963, for instance, they translated the Kingdom Ministry. Then in 1971 they completed the book The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life.

The establishing of the Tahiti branch in 1975 gave further impetus to translation. Many newer translators were familiar with English, which is taught in school. Hence, they could now work directly from the original English text rather than from the French translation. Beginning in 1976, the branch translated The Watchtower into Tahitian as a semimonthly edition, and for a time, they translated Awake! They also translated “All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial,” Reasoning From the Scriptures, and the complete songbook. Indeed, no other group has published as much literature in Tahitian as have Jehovah’s Witnesses!

Over the last 30 years, however, Tahitian and other Polynesian languages have gradually given way to French. One reason for this trend is that French, a major language with a broad scope, is employed both by the media and by the school system right through the university level.

Still, many Polynesians consider Tahitian to be a part of their cultural identity, so the brothers often witness in that language. And of the 26 congregations in the branch territory, 5 are Tahitian, representing some 20 percent of the publishers. Hence, there is still a significant demand for literature in that tongue.

An Intense Building Program Gets Under Way

The small room adjoining the Kingdom Hall in Papeete served as the branch office from 1975 until 1983, when a new branch was constructed in the township of Paea, about 15 miles [25 km] from Papeete. Built entirely by local brothers, the new Bethel complex had four rooms for Bethel family members, three offices, a literature storage area, and a Kingdom Hall. On April 15, 1983, Lloyd Barry of the Governing Body dedicated the new facilities before an audience of 700.

But even that branch soon became too small. So the Governing Body approved the construction of a larger complex, including an Assembly Hall, in Toahotu, a semirural district near the isthmus connecting the two parts of the island. This project was completed by a team of brothers from Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, and the United States. Of course, the local publishers provided much support. Governing Body member Milton G. Henschel dedicated the new complex on December 11, 1993.

At about the same time, an intense Kingdom Hall construction program also got under way. Supervised by the local Regional Building Committee, the brothers built 16 new halls in less than ten years. As a result, most congregations now have their own Kingdom Hall.

Adjustments at the Branch and Further Training

By 1995, Alain Jamet had been the Branch Committee coordinator for almost 20 years, but because of family responsibilities, he was unable to continue in this role. However, he was able to remain on the Branch Committee and to serve part-time as district overseer. So in September of that year, the Governing Body assigned Gérard and Dominique Balza, of the France Bethel family, to Tahiti. Gérard was appointed Branch Committee coordinator.

The third member of the Branch Committee is Luc Granger. He and his wife, Rébecca, moved to Tahiti in 1991 to serve where the need was greater. After a brief period as special pioneers, they shared in the circuit and district work for four years before being assigned to the branch in 1995.

In May 1997 the Tahiti branch was able to hold its first class of the Ministerial Training School. Many of the 20 students who attended went on to enjoy privileges of special service. Félix Temarii, for example, is now one of the two circuit overseers in the islands. Says Gérard Balza: “Our prayer is that more brothers will reach out to qualify and to make themselves available so that we can hold a second class. To be sure, a great need still exists on a number of the islands, some having no publishers even today. On other islands, qualified brothers are needed to take on congregation responsibilities. And the inhabitants of 58 islands, representing about 7 percent of the population, rarely hear the good news. In some cases, the need could be filled by spiritually mature, retired couples with French citizenship. If such ones would like to help us​—even if for two years—​the branch would be pleased to hear from them.”

Challenges in a Rapidly Changing Society

Tahiti in particular is experiencing economic growth and a rapid secularization and urbanization. This, in turn, has contributed to a population drift away from other islands to Tahiti. Materialism, consumerism, and the pursuit of pleasures have followed in the wake of material prosperity.

Sadly, a number of Jehovah’s people have fallen victim to these subtle pressures. Young ones especially are finding it a challenge to keep spiritual things to the fore and to remain morally chaste. Still, Jehovah’s blessing continues to be manifest, for the territory now has 1 publisher of the good news for every 141 inhabitants.

This is evidence that many people in French Polynesia have come to appreciate a far more beautiful paradise​—a spiritual one, which is the exclusive domain of God’s name people. (John 6:44; Acts 15:14) Furthermore, this paradise is the precursor to a literal paradise that will soon clothe the earth and that will be free of pain, sorrow, and even death​—things that have afflicted every generation of humans no matter where they live.​—Job 14:1; Rev. 21:3, 4.

The early Polynesians exhibited great courage, seamanship, and faith that land​—perhaps even a better land—​lay beyond the horizon. They were not disappointed. Similarly, Jehovah’s loyal worshipers today, such as those mentioned in this account, keep striving for the vastly superior prize that Jehovah has set before them. They too will not suffer disappointment. Yes, better than any star in the sky, Jehovah will unfailingly lead all who trust in him to the earthly Paradise that lies just ahead.​—Ps. 73:23, 24; Luke 23:43.

[Footnotes]

[Box on page 72]

An Overview of French Polynesia

The land: Scattered over 1.9 million square miles [5 million sq km] of ocean, the 130 islands have an area of 1,550 square miles [4,000 sq km]. They form five archipelagoes: Tubuaï (Austral), Gambier, Marquesas, Society, and Tuamotu. The 14 Society Islands are home to 85 percent of the population.

The people: Most are Polynesian or part Polynesian. The rest​—just a minority—​are Chinese, European, and American.

The language: French and Tahitian are the main languages, French being the language of government and commerce.

The livelihood: The economy is based primarily on administration and service industries, including tourism. Agriculture, manufacturing, and pearl farming employ the balance of the work force. Pearls account for 80 percent of the exports.

The food: The islands rely heavily on imported foodstuffs. Local crops include bananas, cassavas, coconuts, lettuces, papayas, pineapples, taros, tomatoes, and watermelons. Meat sources include fish, oysters, shrimps, cattle, goats, and pigs.

The climate: The weather is tropical​—warm and humid—​but varies somewhat between archipelagoes. The wet season (summer) runs from November to April. Annually, central Tahiti can be drenched by over 30 feet [9 m] of rain.

[Box/Pictures on page 74]

High Islands, Low Islands, and Motu

The islands of French Polynesia are all of volcanic origin and form two main kinds​—high islands and low islands. The high islands are rugged and mountainous, some having summits thousands of feet above sea level. Tahiti is a classic example of a high island.

Of the high islands, all except the Marquesas are protected by encircling coral reefs. On many of these reefs, such as the one around Bora Bora, you will find tiny vegetated islets called motu. These are popular sites for resorts.

The low islands are coral atolls rising just a few feet above sea level. Typically, the reef forms a loop that gives rise to a crystal-clear lagoon. The islands of the Tuamotu Archipelago are of this kind. Some lagoons are immense. The one at Rangiroa, for instance, is 40 miles [70 km] long and 12 miles [20 km] across at its widest point.

[Box/Picture on page 77]

From Church Deacon to Kingdom Proclaimer

Manuari Tefaatau

Born: 1913

Baptized: 1959

Profile: A deacon in the Protestant Church, he learned the truth from some of the first Bible students on the island of Makatéa.

After Witnesses Jean-Marie and Jeanne Félix arrived on Makatéa in 1956, their first Bible students, Maui Piirai and Germaine Amaru, witnessed to me. Soon I began sharing Bible truth with fellow parishioners, which caused quite a stir in the church. In fact, the pastor told me to stop talking with Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Without hesitation, I resigned from the church and began to attend the meetings, which were held at the home of the Félix family. A few other parishioners also began to study and attend meetings. I count it a privilege to have been among that first little group of Bible students in all of French Polynesia.

[Box/Picture on page 83, 84]

Jehovah Made Up for My Lack

Leonard (Len) Helberg

Born: 1930

Baptized: 1951

Profile: As a single circuit overseer on his first circuit assignment, he opened up the work in Tahiti. He and his wife, Rita, now live in Australia.

In 1955, when the Australia branch assigned me to begin circuit work in the South Pacific, this vast expanse of territory had just two congregations​—one in Fiji and the other in Samoa—​and six isolated groups. There were no publishers in Tahiti.

I set aside December 1956 for my first visit to the island, arriving there after a six-day voyage from Fiji on the ocean liner Southern Cross. I found accommodations in a boarding house overlooking the picturesque harbor of Papeete. The next morning, while dressing for field service, I saw the Southern Cross pass by only a few hundred yards from my window. I was alone in a new land, two thousand miles [3,000 km] from my nearest brothers, with a people who spoke a foreign tongue​—French. All I had was one single address of an Awake! subscriber.

Suddenly I was so overcome by feelings of loneliness that I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. Unable to stop weeping, I said to myself, ‘Well, count this as a lost day​—back to bed. I’ll start tomorrow.’ After much earnest prayer that night, I awoke the following morning in good spirits. That afternoon I found the Awake! subscriber​—a woman from Algeria. Like Lydia mentioned in Acts, she and her 34-year-old son welcomed me with open arms, insisting that I stay with them. (Acts 16:15) Suddenly, my loneliness was cured! I thanked Jehovah, who I am certain heard my prolonged and tearful supplication.

Now when I look back, I truly appreciate what a loving Father Jehovah is! Yes, when we make ourselves available, he will more than make up for any lack we may have.

[Box/Pictures on page 87, 88]

Early Pioneers

Alexis Tinorua attended the meetings Len Helberg organized in the late 1950’s. Said Alexis: “I sat in on a Bible discussion that Brother Helberg had with a number of Protestant deacons. Right there, I recognized the ring of truth in the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses and began to study with the Witnesses. I was baptized in 1960. I then enjoyed nine years of pioneer service. In 1965, I had the privilege of being the first to preach on the island of Huahine, in the Society archipelago. I am deeply indebted to Jehovah for granting me the privilege of helping 80 people come to an accurate knowledge of Bible truth.” Alexis served Jehovah down to his death in May 2002.

Hélène Mapu started pioneering in 1963 in Tahiti, soon after she learned the truth. Her husband, though not a Witness, was very supportive. His work involved sailing between Tahiti and Raïatéa. Hence, he had no objection to Hélène accepting an invitation to special pioneer on Raïatéa, where she became the first to preach the good news. Hélène then moved back to Tahiti, this time to the peninsula (the smaller part of the island, also called Tahiti Iti), where she and another sister, Mereani Tefaaroa, were the only Witnesses. Says Hélène, “There was a great deal of interest on the peninsula, and in a short time, we started many Bible studies.”

Jehovah’s blessing on these faithful sisters was evident, for a congregation was later formed in that territory, in the township of Vairao.

[Box/Picture on page 101]

“You Have to Choose Between Me and Jehovah”

Yvette Gillot

Born: 1932

Baptized: 1968

Profile: Has been a regular pioneer longer than any other pioneer in French Polynesia.

When I told my husband that I wanted to become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, he gave me an ultimatum: “You have to choose between me and Jehovah.” I tried to reason with him, but to no avail. He left me and our three children. However, he did return years later.

In the meantime, I was able both to provide for my family and to regular pioneer. I did my secular work early in the morning and then conducted the meeting for field service. In the late 1960’s, there were only about a hundred publishers in the islands, so brothers were not always available.

I thank Jehovah for granting me the privilege of helping some 50 persons dedicate their lives to him, including Richard Wong Foo, who has been a member of the Tahiti Bethel family since 1991. My two sons, I am delighted to say, serve as congregation elders.

[Box/Picture on page 105]

Funeral for the Last Princess

Michel Gelas, an elder in Papeete, had an unusual experience that involved the last member of Tahiti’s royalty, Princess Takau Pomare, who died in 1976 at the age of 89. The princess was a direct descendant of the Pomare dynasty, which ruled Tahiti and a number of nearby islands for a time. Her adopted daughter, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, asked Michel to deliver the funeral discourse, even though the princess had not been a Witness.

Michel agreed to give the talk, feeling that it would be a fine opportunity to explain the resurrection hope to a number of people, including political and religious officials and members of the news media. The day after the service, a local newspaper published a picture of Brother Gelas presenting his talk, the coffin resting in front of him. In attendance were the governor, the president of the Polynesian government, other officials, and the Catholic archbishop, clad in his formal white cassock.

[Box/Picture on page 109, 110]

One Cleric Lent Us His Scooter; Another Burned Our Books

Jacques Inaudi

Born: 1944

Baptized: 1965

Profile: Along with his wife, Paulette, served as a special pioneer in France and in the traveling work in the Pacific.

In 1969, Paulette and I said our good-byes to family and friends in France and set sail for Tahiti, our new assignment. Adding a little excitement to our voyage, our ship caught fire in the middle of the Pacific, and we drifted for four days! Upon our arrival in Tahiti, I was assigned to serve as a circuit overseer.

Our circuit included New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and French Polynesia. At the time, French Polynesia had one congregation and two isolated groups. In 1971 our circuit was reduced to just French Polynesia, which gave us time to visit a number of isolated islands. On some of those islands, the Kingdom message had never been preached before. Paulette and I also spent nine months on Huahine and a little time on the small island of Maupiti. While on Huahine, we had the privilege of starting 44 Bible studies.

For food, I caught fish​—mostly with a spear gun. We lived frugally but never went hungry; our material needs were always cared for. When witnessing on the island of Tubuaï, we were pleasantly surprised when a pastor lent us his scooter. Perhaps he felt pity for us because we had no transportation.

In 1974 we visited four of the Marquesas Islands: Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva, Ua Huka, and Ua Pou. The branch asked us to visit Kalina Tom Sing Vien, an isolated sister who had moved to Ua Pou as a nurse in 1973. She remained there for 13 months, becoming the first Kingdom publisher to submit a field service report from the Marquesas.

Unlike the kind pastor on Tubuaï, the priest on Ua Pou opposed our activity. In fact, he secretly followed us around the territory, demanding that his parishioners hand over any literature we had placed with them. Then he burned everything in front of Kalina’s home​—an act that shocked not just us but many Catholics as well!

Despite such opposition, the work in the Marquesas moved ahead, and we count it a privilege to have had a small part. Because of Paulette’s health, we had to leave the full-time service. Nevertheless, we are resolved to continue giving Jehovah our best.

[Box on page 113]

Visiting an Island for the First Time

Imagine arriving on a remote island or an atoll for the first time. You plan to spend a week or two witnessing to the people. However, you are the only Witness on the island, and there are no public accommodations and no transportation. What will you do? Where will you stay? Marc Montet and Jacques Inaudi, who have served as pioneers and circuit overseers, have experienced this very situation a number of times.

Says Marc: “I would begin witnessing as soon as I got off the plane or boat, and at the same time, I would make inquiries about accommodations. It was not always easy for a single man to find somewhere to stay, but someone would usually give me a bed and provide some meals. On subsequent visits, finding accommodations was always easier because people knew me. It was also easier after I got married. People felt more at ease with a married couple.”

Jacques explains his approach, saying: “Often I would visit the mayor and ask him if he knew anyone who could accommodate me for the desired time. He would usually point me in the right direction. On many islands, people respect someone whom they view as a man of God and do what they can to help. So I usually had somewhere to stay free of charge.”

[Box/Picture on page 117, 118]

Our Greatest Delight Is the Field Ministry

Alain Jamet

Born: 1946

Baptized: 1969

Profile: Along with his wife, Mary-Ann, shared in various aspects of the full-time service in France and in French Polynesia.

When I was 13, my family moved from France to Tahiti. After high school, I returned to France to study medicine. There I met Mary-Ann, a biology student from Tahiti, and we got married. In 1968, Jehovah’s Witnesses called on us, and we embraced the truth.

Naturally, we shared our newfound hope with our parents, but to no avail. We also wrote to our respective churches in Tahiti, requesting that our names be struck from the registers. Mary-Ann’s parish in Papeete went a step further and publicly excommunicated her. The pastor even invited her parents along for the occasion.

We were baptized in 1969 and took up the pioneer service. While in Marseilles, France, I was called up for military service and spent two months in prison because of my neutral stand. After my release, Mary-Ann and I were assigned to serve as special pioneers in Marseilles and Bordeaux. Then at the request of our aging parents, we returned to Tahiti in 1973 and worked full-time for one year as primary-school teachers.

Then the branch overseer in Fiji asked us if our goal was to resume the full-time ministry, since there was a need for a circuit overseer in French Polynesia and New Caledonia. Our parents’ situation having improved, we accepted the invitation and commenced circuit work in August 1974. In 1975, during a visit by N. H. Knorr, I was invited to serve as Tahiti’s first branch overseer.

Our son, Rauma, was born in 1986, and my wife discontinued full-time service. Happily, Rauma is our spiritual brother today. Looking back, we have deeply appreciated our many privileges of service. But our greatest delight is still the field ministry.

[Box/Picture on page 123-125]

Jehovah Cares for His Sheep

Michel Bustamante

Born: 1966

Baptized: 1987

Profile: With his wife, Sandra, serves one of the two circuits in French Polynesia.

Our circuit includes all five archipelagoes of French Polynesia and is the size of Europe. Some of the remoter islands may have just one or two publishers. Despite their isolation, however, we still visit them. Rosita, for example, lives on Takapoto, in the Tuamotus. This faithful sister prepares for all the meetings each week, and her husband, who is not in the truth, often joins her. Every Sunday, even when most people go swimming or fishing in the lagoon, Rosita dresses in meeting attire and studies the Watchtower lesson for that week. She is also faithful in reporting her field activity. In fact, her report, which she phones in to the branch, is often the first one received! What makes this especially commendable is that the nearest telephone is a 45-minute boat ride from her motu.

The arrival of a plane is always a big event. So when we fly in to visit our sister, almost everybody living near the airport is there to see who disembarks. On one occasion, a lady said to Rosita: “Whom are you welcoming?” She replied: “My spiritual brother and sister. They are coming just for me, to encourage me.” We spend three days with Rosita, working with her in the field and giving her spiritual encouragement. Often we do not get to bed before midnight, such is her desire for spiritual companionship.

On another island, an Adventist saw us visit his neighbor, a Witness. Later he confided to our brother: “I’ve lived here for seven years, yet nobody from my church has ever come to encourage me.” This man serves in an unofficial capacity as pastor of the small group of Adventists on the island.

Daniel and Doris are the only two publishers on Raevavae, in the Tubuaï Islands. When we finally found them​—they live in a very isolated place—​we asked if we could arrange for a meeting that afternoon at their home. They were thrilled at the prospect, and off we all went to invite people to attend. When we arrived for the meeting, seven plantation workers who had just finished work for the day were waiting outside on the road. Some had bags of taro draped over their shoulders.

“Don’t worry about how you look,” we said. “Come along anyway.” And they did, but they sat on the floor, even though we had seats for them. They enjoyed the meeting and asked us many questions afterward. Of course, the afternoon was most encouraging to our brother and sister, fulfilling the main purpose of our visit.

Sometimes it is difficult to visit isolated publishers because the airport is not on their island. In one case, after landing, we had a two-hour boat ride across open ocean to get to the island where two publishers lived. The boat, by the way, was an open speedboat, about 12 feet [4 m] long. Of course, we questioned the boatman to satisfy ourselves that his craft was seaworthy and that he carried a spare motor. To be adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is an unpleasant experience, to say the least!

By the time we got to our destination, we were soaked with sea spray, and our backs ached from the waves pounding against the hull. The return trip was no better. Says Sandra: “When we got back to the main island that afternoon, I got on my bicycle to do some preaching. However, my body was so weak and shaken from the boat ride that I could not control the bike on the coral road, and I promptly fell off!”

In view of the foregoing, you can see why every time we visit our isolated brothers and sisters, we reflect on the deep love that Jehovah and his organization have for them. To be sure, we belong to a very special spiritual family.​—John 13:35.

[Blurb]

“They are coming just for me, to encourage me”

[Chart/Graph on page 80, 81]

FRENCH POLYNESIA​—A TIME LINE

1835: Translation of Tahitian Bible completed.

1930’s: Sydney Shepherd and Frank Dewar visit Tahiti and possibly other islands.

1940

1956: The preaching work begins in earnest on Makatéa and Tahiti.

1958: Two baptisms are held, the first in French Polynesia.

1959: French Polynesia’s first congregation is formed, in Papeete.

1960

1960: Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses is registered.

1962: First Kingdom Hall in the islands is erected in Papeete.

1969: Tahiti hosts its first international convention.

1975: Branch office is established in Tahiti.

1976: Translation of The Watchtower into Tahitian begins.

1980

1983: First Bethel home is dedicated.

1989: Peak of 1,000 publishers is reached.

1993: New Bethel home and adjacent Assembly Hall are dedicated.

1997: First Ministerial Training School is held.

2000

2004: 1,746 publishers are active in French Polynesia.

[Graph]

(See publication)

Total Publishers

Total Pioneers

2,000

1,000

1940 1960 1980 2000

[Maps on page 73]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

FRENCH POLYNESIA

FRENCH POLYNESIA

MARQUESAS ISLANDS

Nuku Hiva

Ua Pou

Ua Huka

Hiva Oa

Fatu Hiva

TUAMOTU ARCHIPELAGO

Manihi

Ahe

Rangiroa

Takaroa

Takapoto

Makatéa

Anaa

Hao

SOCIETY ISLANDS

Maupiti

Tahaa

Raïatéa

Bora Bora

Huahine

Mooréa

Tahiti

TUBUAÏ (AUSTRAL) ISLANDS

Rurutu

Rimatara

Tubuaï

Raevavae

GAMBIER ISLANDS

MOORÉA

TAHITI

PAPEETE

Punaauia

Paea

Toahotu

Vairao

[Full-page picture on page 66]

[Picture on page 70]

Jeanne and Jean-Marie Félix were among the first to give a thorough witness in French Polynesia

[Pictures on page 71]

Maui Piirai, the first Polynesian in the territory to dedicate his life to Jehovah, was baptized by Jean-Marie Félix in 1958

[Pictures on page 79]

Clyde and Ann Neill (below) joined Agnès Schenck (right) in Tahiti to assist with the preaching work

[Picture on page 85]

John and Ellen Hubler took up circuit work in 1960

[Picture on page 86]

In 1962 the Papeete Congregation built its first Kingdom Hall​—a simple structure with open sides and a thatched roof

[Picture on page 89]

April 15, 1965, issue of “La Sentinelle,” containing articles from “The Watchtower”

[Picture on page 92]

To progress spiritually, Taina Rataro learned to read and write Tahitian

[Picture on page 92]

Elisabeth Avae (seated) with her granddaughter Diana Tautu

[Picture on page 95]

Anna and Antonio Lanza

[Picture on page 96]

Vaieretiai and Marie-Medeleine Mara

[Picture on page 97]

Ato Lacour

[Picture on page 98]

Rudolphe Haamarurai

[Picture on page 99]

Vahinerii and Edmond Rai (left) with Taaroa and Catherine Terii (right)

[Picture on page 100]

Auguste and Stella Temanaha

[Pictures on page 102]

Christiane and Jean-Paul Lassalle (left) and Lina and Colson Deane (right)

[Picture on page 103]

Roger Sage (left) interpreting into Tahitian a talk by Francis Sicari at a district convention in the 1970’s

[Picture on page 107]

Eileen and Alain Raffaelli

[Picture on page 108]

Mauri and Mélanie Mercier

[Picture on page 120]

Marie-Louise and Serge Gollin serve as missionaries in the Marquesas

[Picture on page 122]

Alexandre Tetiarahi, with his wife, Elma, and two youngest daughters, Rava (left) and Riva

[Picture on page 126]

The Tahitian translation team

[Picture on page 127]

The 1969 “Peace on Earth” International Assembly was the first international convention to be held in Tahiti

[Picture on page 128]

This Kingdom Hall on the island of Bora Bora is the latest to be built in French Polynesia

[Picture on page 130]

Christine and Félix Temarii

[Picture on page 131]

Branch Committee, from left to right: Alain Jamet, Gérard Balza, and Luc Granger

[Pictures on page 132, 133]

(1) Tahiti branch facilities

(2) Gérard Balza releasing the book “Draw Close to Jehovah” in Tahitian, July 2002

(3) The Tahiti Bethel family

Guyana

“Land of Waters”​—that is the meaning of “Guyana,” a South American country whose southern border lies just 80 miles [130 km] above the equator. How appropriate that name is, for well over 40 rivers and countless tributaries drain the rain forests and jungles that make up much of Guyana’s 83,000 square miles [215,000 sq km]! Some of these rivers define Guyana’s borders with its neighbors​—Brazil, Suriname, and Venezuela. Rivers also provide a lifeline into the interior, where villages and farms are scattered along their banks. Indeed, Guyana’s commerce and history​—including that of Jehovah’s people—​are closely linked to its waterways.

From west to east, the four main rivers are the Essequibo, the Demerara, the Berbice, and the Courantyne. The longest, the Essequibo, is 630 miles [1,000 km] long and 20 miles [30 km] wide at its mouth and has 365 islands. One of these, Fort Island, was the seat of government during the Dutch colonial era. From their source in the mountains of the interior, which lie to the south, these major rivers flow north before finally snaking through the narrow coastal plain and spilling into the Atlantic. En route, their waters cascade over some of the most spectacular falls in the world, such as the Kaieteur Falls, where the 400-foot-wide [120 m] Potaro River, which flows into the Essequibo, plunges 741 feet [226 m] in its initial drop.

With its many natural attractions, Guyana is a paradise for nature lovers. Its waters are home to giant river otters, black caimans, and pirarucus, or Arapaima, among the largest freshwater fish ever discovered. These air-breathing, flesh-eating giants can grow to a length of 10 feet [3 m] and can weigh 485 pounds [220 kg]. Jaguars quietly prowl about in the shadowy forests, and howler monkeys shout from the trees above, which they share with over 700 species of birds, including harpy eagles and spectacularly colored macaws and toucans.

The human population of Guyana numbers about 770,000. The number includes East Indians, whose ancestors came from India as indentured workers; blacks, who are descended from African slaves; Amerindians (Arawak, Carib, Wapisiana, and Warrau); and those of mixed race. Although creole is spoken throughout the country, English is the official language, making Guyana the only English-speaking nation in South America.

Waters of Truth Reach Guyana

About the year 1900, life-giving “water” that quenches people’s spiritual thirst began to trickle into Guyana. (John 4:14) A man by the name of Peter Johassen, working at a logging camp on the Courantyne River, obtained a copy of Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. He shared its contents with a Mr. Elgin, who wrote to the Watch Tower Society for more Bible literature, including the book The Divine Plan of the Ages. Although Elgin did not hold fast to the truths he had learned, he interested others in them. This led to the formation of a small group in New Amsterdam, situated at the mouth of the Berbice River.

Meanwhile, in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, Edward Phillips obtained literature published by the International Bible Students, as Jehovah’s Witnesses were then known. Eager to share what he was learning, Phillips gathered relatives and friends at his home for regular, informal Bible discussions. In 1908 he wrote to the Watch Tower Society, requesting that a representative be sent to Guyana, then called British Guiana.a Four years later, Evander J. Coward arrived and gave Bible discourses to hundreds gathered at the town halls in Georgetown and New Amsterdam.

Phillips’ son, Frederick, recalls Coward’s visit. He writes: “It was not long before Brother Coward became a popular figure in Georgetown, and through the message he preached, interested ones began to join our group of Bible Students. In those days, we discussed the books The Divine Plan of the Ages, The New Creation, and others. Soon our home became too small, so in 1913 we rented an upper room at Somerset House in Georgetown. It served as the congregation’s meeting place until 1958.” In 1914, Edward Phillips once again made his home available, this time as Guyana’s first branch office. He was made office overseer and remained such until his death in 1924.

In 1916 a boost was given to the preaching work by showings of the “Photo-Drama of Creation,” a slide and motion picture production. “During that time, we enjoyed peace and good spiritual prosperity,” writes Frederick. “The local press even ran a series of sermons by Charles T. Russell, a leading Bible Student.”

By 1917 the mood in Guyana had changed. The country was in the grip of war hysteria, and a prominent local clergyman urged the public to pray for the British and their allies. In a letter to the press, Coward reviewed the world situation in the light of Bible prophecy. And at the Georgetown Town Hall, he gave a powerful discourse entitled “Battering Down the Walls of Babylon.”

“The clergy were so incensed,” says a report in the October 1, 1983, Watchtower, “that they prevailed upon the authorities to have Brother Coward expelled and to have a number of our publications banned, a ban that lasted until 1922.” Many people, however, respected Coward for his courageous witness. In fact, when he left, they lined the wharf, shouting: “He was the only man preaching the truth.” Dock workers even threatened to strike in protest of Coward’s expulsion, but the brothers advised them not to.

After the first world war, the Bible Students faced a more subtle test that hindered the spread of Kingdom truth for a time. A former brother who had been a member of the Brooklyn headquarters staff but had turned apostate visited Guyana on a number of occasions in an effort to turn the Bible Students there away from the organization.

“For a while,” says the aforementioned Watchtower, “the Bible Students in the country were split into three parts, one loyal to the organization, an opposition group, and a third group not knowing what to do. However, Jehovah’s blessing was only upon the loyal group, and it eventually prospered.” Among the loyal ones were Malcolm Hall and Felix Powlett, baptized in 1915 and 1916 respectively. Both remained zealous servants of Jehovah and lived well into their 90’s.

To give the faithful brothers further encouragement, George Young from world headquarters came to Guyana in 1922 and stayed for about three months. “He was an indefatigable worker,” said Felix Powlett. Young’s knowledge of the Scriptures, powerful voice, flowing gestures, and visual aids moved many to peer more closely into God’s Word. Based on Young’s reports, the January 1, 1923, Watchtower spoke of “a greatly increased interest in the truth in that section of the world, a larger attendance at all the public meetings, with houses packed out, and with a corresponding increase of zeal and devotion on the part of the brethren.” At Somerset House, for example, an average of 100 attended the meetings, even though there were only about 25 Kingdom publishers at the time.

By 1923 the brothers were also making an effort to reach people farther inland. Often, all they carried were hammocks and literature, relying on hospitable people to give them something to eat. If someone offered them shelter, they would spend the night. Otherwise, they would sling their hammocks under the bough of a tree and pass the night there, often enduring clouds of mosquitoes. The following morning they would consider a Scripture text from the Daily Heavenly Manna, a book published by Jehovah’s organization, and then head off down a trail or hitch a ride on a boat to the next community.

Efforts to reach people in more distant areas continued until World War II when gasoline was rationed, limiting travel. In the meantime, the Bible Students adopted the name Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1931. The little groups of Bible Students dotting the coastline enthusiastically embraced the new designation and showed their zeal by their intensified service. Later in the 1930’s, publishers began using phonographs with recorded Bible lectures in the ministry. Frederick Phillips, branch supervisor at the time, writes: “There were no radios in the villages in those days, and the first indication of our presence in a village was the sound of music wafting from our speakers through the still, tropical air. The music would be followed by the recorded lectures. Almost everyone in the community would crowd around us, some in their pajamas.”

Radio stations also contributed to the spread of the good news. One station in Guyana broadcast the Kingdom message every Sunday and Wednesday. To be sure, all this activity did not go unnoticed by Satan, who exploited the nationalistic fervor of World War II to interfere with the work.

World War II and Postwar Activity

In 1941, during the second world war, 52 Kingdom proclaimers were active in Guyana. In that same year, The Watchtower and Consolation (now Awake!) were banned. In 1944 that ban was extended to include all literature published by Jehovah’s people. “Even copies of the Holy Bible containing no Watch Tower commentary but being simply versions published by other Bible societies were banned, that is, to Jehovah’s witnesses,” says a report in the July 1, 1946, Watchtower.

In April 1946, Nathan Knorr from world headquarters paid a visit to Guyana. He was accompanied by William Tracy, a recent graduate of Gilead. Their goal was to encourage the brothers and to appeal to the government to lift the ban. During a meeting in Georgetown, Brother Knorr explained to the 180 brothers and interested ones assembled that Jesus’ early disciples had no supplies of Bibles and books to help them in their ministry. Still, Jehovah blessed them with remarkable growth. Why? Because they kept preaching. So would God not do the same for his modern-day servants as they pressed on with the work? Indeed, he would!

Meanwhile, the brothers continued to pursue legal means to have the ban lifted. For instance, less than a year after the war ended, they obtained 31,370 signatures on a petition protesting the ban. The petition was then presented to the government. In addition, to keep the people of Guyana fully informed, Jehovah’s organization published a leaflet setting out the facts. The headline read: “THE HOLY BIBLE BANNED IN BRITISH GUIANA​—31,000 PERSONS SIGN PETITION TO THE GOVERNOR for the restoration of freedom of worship to all inhabitants of the colony, irrespective of creed.”

Also, Brother Knorr met with the colonial secretary, W. L. Heape, to seek a lifting of the ban. At the close of the 30-minute interview, Brother Knorr gave Mr. Heape a copy of the book “The Truth Shall Make You Free” and asked that he read it carefully. Mr. Heape said that he would. What is more, he advised Brother Knorr that the ban on our literature was, in fact, being reconsidered by the nine members of the executive committee at that very time! This proved to be true, for in June 1946, the governor issued a proclamation lifting the ban.

Soon thereafter, 130 dusty cartons containing 11,798 books and booklets were released to the brothers. Thrilled to be able to offer literature again, the Kingdom proclaimers now numbering 70 distributed the entire consignment in just ten weeks. In August the brothers also commenced street witnessing, with excellent results. “Magazines were placed almost as quickly as local newspapers were sold,” reports the branch.

Even during the ban, the brothers continued to receive valuable spiritual food, thanks in part to a brother who worked at the general post office in Georgetown. He writes: “I felt obligated to ensure that copies of The Watchtower reached the branch. With the help of the sisters, copies of the study articles were either typed or mimeographed and circulated to the families for use at congregation meetings.”

New Missionaries Give Impetus to the Work

When an accelerating car changes gears, it is able to go still faster. In Guyana, a “change in gears” in regard to the preaching work occurred when Gilead-trained missionaries arrived in the mid-1940’s. They included William Tracy, a graduate of the third class, as well as John and Daisy Hemmaway and Ruth and Alice Miller, graduates of the fifth class. These zealous Witnesses shared with the local brothers the valuable things they had learned at Gilead, and they set a fine example in the field.

Brother Tracy was concerned about those living in outlying areas. “I scouted out the land,” he wrote, “making a number of trips up and down the coast and up the rivers to contact isolated interested persons and to find new interest. I traveled by the coastal train, buses, bicycle, large riverboats, small boats, and even canoes.”

The missionaries also helped local pioneers become organized so that they could work the territory systematically and, their circumstances permitting, branch out and serve in previously untouched territories. Keep in mind that in 1946, Guyana had just five congregations and a peak of 91 Kingdom proclaimers. But no challenge is too great for those who are empowered by God’s spirit.​—Zech. 4:6.

At first, many of the pioneers who worked along with the missionaries were elderly. Despite their age, however, they showed a fine spirit for the work. They included Isaac Graves, George Headley, Leslie Mayers, Rockliffe Pollard, and George Yearwood. Among the sisters were Margaret Dooknie, Ivy Hinds, Frances Jordan, Florence Thom, Atalanta Williams, and Princess Williams (not related). Armed with books, booklets, and magazines, they went far afield with the Kingdom message.

Ivy Hinds (now Wyatt) and Florence Thom (now Brissett) were assigned to the township of Bartica on the Essequibo River, about 50 miles [80 km] inland. The town is the gateway to the gold and diamond fields of the interior. One lone brother lived there. John Ponting, serving as branch overseer and circuit overseer at the time, writes: “Within two months 20 were attending meetings, and 50 attended the Memorial.” One of those who accepted the truth was a man named Jerome Flavius. He was totally blind. “Before long, he was giving talks unaided after the material had been read to him a sufficient number of times by Ivy Hinds,” says John.

Although in their late 60’s, pioneer sisters Esther Richmond and Frances Jordan both learned to ride a bike so that they could cover more territory. “Margaret Dooknie, who had lost count of the years she had spent as a pioneer, would walk until she was so tired that we would sometimes find her asleep on a park bench,” says Brother Ponting. “We will never forget people like that.”

Fired up by the example of the missionaries and the older pioneers, many younger ones began to join the pioneer ranks. As a result of all this activity, more people came into the truth, and groups and congregations were formed in various parts of the country. In 1948 there were 220 publishers in Guyana. In 1954 that figure rose to 434. In the meantime, the group of brothers from Kitty-Newtown who met at Somerset House grew to the point that they were able to form a separate congregation​—called Newtown—​the second in the capital. Today Georgetown has nine congregations.

Sound Carts, Cyclists, and Donkeys

Early in the 1950’s, under the direction of the branch office, brothers gave outdoor public talks all over Georgetown, usually on Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. They used a mobile sound cart that they built themselves. It carried a powerful amplifier, two large speakers, speaker stands, and cables. Says Albert Small, who was baptized in 1949: “During the day, a signboard was placed at the meeting location. It read ‘Your Bible Questions Answered’ and then gave the time of the meeting. Many attended those talks, and some later came into the truth.”

Indicating the potential for further growth, Nathan Knorr and his secretary, Milton Henschel, gave talks at the Globe Cinema in Georgetown early in 1954. John Ponting was present. He reports: “All 1,400 seats were filled, and 700 listened via extension speakers outside until heavy rain forced many to squeeze inside. We advertised the program by means of a parade of cyclists with placards. After dark, we advertised with a large illuminated sign pulled by a donkey accompanied by a brother who made the announcements over an amplifier.”

More Trips Into the Interior

While serving as branch overseer, William Tracy encouraged the brothers to reach those living in outlying areas. He himself visited places in the regions of the Essequibo and Berbice rivers and arranged for circuit assemblies with the small groups and congregations in those areas. The assemblies were usually held in cinemas and public schools, the former often being the only places large enough. In 1949 at an assembly in the cinema at Suddie, near the mouth of the Essequibo, the public talk “Hell Used as a Scare” made quite an impression. Some began to refer to Jehovah’s Witnesses as the no-hell church.

In 1950, William Tracy, newly married, was reassigned to the United States. John Ponting replaced him both as branch overseer and as traveling overseer. John also helped work some of the river territory. The brothers would take the regular transport ships. When villagers along the way paddled out in their canoes to exchange mail with the traveling post office, the brothers would ask to be taken ashore, trusting that someone would give them food and lodging. They would witness to the village and then at night enjoy the hospitality of one of the families. The next day someone would paddle them downriver so that they could witness to the next village. One afternoon they visited a lumber mill. The manager stopped work, assembled the men, and allowed the brothers to give them a 15-minute talk. They all took literature.

Thomas Markevich, a graduate of the 19th class of Gilead, was assigned to Guyana in July 1952. He also ventured into untouched territories. Says Tom: “There is special joy when you share the Kingdom message with someone who has never been reached before. But sometimes you get quite a surprise, which happened to me. I traveled the Demerara by riverboat and then walked deep into the jungle, where I came across a small hut. The occupant greeted me, invited me inside, gave me a seat, and listened to what I had to say. As I glanced around, I noticed to my amazement that the walls of the hut were papered with pages from Watchtower magazines, all dated in the 1940’s! Evidently, my host had come in contact with the Kingdom message before, possibly on a riverboat or in Georgetown or Mackenzie.”

Missionary Donald Bolinger was the first to make the arduous overland journey to Kaieteur Falls. While witnessing to Amerindians, he met a government officer who worked with them. Eventually, this man dedicated his life to Jehovah and took care of the group that was later formed there. Some publishers moved to isolated areas, such as the diamond or the gold mine regions, because of their secular work. Despite their isolation, they would often be found preaching from hut to hut in the camps. What helped them to stay spiritually strong? They maintained a good schedule of study and preaching.

‘Exciting and Satisfying’ Service

Missionaries John and Daisy Hemmaway served in Guyana from 1946 to 1961. They would sometimes spend two weeks of their vacation time in the northwestern district, near Venezuela, where there were Carib, Arawak, and other indigenous tribes. On one occasion they placed a large amount of literature with Arawak people. This did not impress the Catholic nuns who ran the local school. In fact, the nuns asked the children if their parents had obtained any literature. When the parents heard about this questioning, they became indignant and informed the priest that they would choose their own reading material. Undeterred, the priest, during a Sunday service, berated the booklet Can You Live Forever in Happiness on Earth? which many had accepted. But this tactic also backfired, for on the day that the Hemmaways departed, many villagers approached them for a copy of that very booklet.

To get to this region, which is 200 miles [some 300 km] inland, John and Daisy traveled by ferry, train, and truck. They took the necessary provisions as well as literature and a bicycle, which was essential for traversing the dirt roads to reach the Indian trails. “These trails,” explains John, “lead in all directions, and a person must use his memory or break off some twigs at the junctions of the paths if he wants to be sure of a safe return. When any member of the cat family is encountered on the trail, the customary thing is to stand perfectly still and stare it down. Eventually, the creature moves quietly out of the way. Monkeys pass high in the treetops, screaming their protests at intruders, while the sloth, hanging upside down, will eye a person lazily as he passes by. Here and there in the clearings, one may get a glimpse of colorful toucans feeding on the fruit of the papaya tree.”

After 15 years of missionary service in Guyana, Brother Hemmaway summed up his feelings, saying: “How exciting! Yes, and how satisfying! To sit down on the dirt floor of a palm hut and talk to the Amerindian folk about God’s Kingdom, teaching them a new way of life, gives a satisfaction that is beyond compare. Seeing those humble people respond to Bible teaching and then dedicate their lives to God is an experience that will never fade from our minds.”

Local Pioneers Go to Gilead

Several local pioneers also enjoyed the privilege of going to Gilead School, and some were assigned back to Guyana. They include Florence Thom (now Brissett), 21st class, 1953; Albert and Sheila Small, 31st class, 1958; and Frederick McAlman, 48th class, 1970.

Says Florence Brissett: “I had hoped for a foreign assignment, but being assigned to Skeldon in Guyana was a blessing from Jehovah. Many of my former schoolmates, teachers, friends, and acquaintances accepted my offer of a Bible study because they knew me. In fact, some asked me for a study! Among these was Edward King, whose wife was already studying with me. Interestingly, the Anglican priest heard that Edward’s wife was having a study. So he called Edward, demanding that he put a stop to it. But instead of complying, Edward himself began to study.”

After the Smalls returned from Gilead, Albert served as a member of the Branch Committee and also as a circuit overseer for many years. Presently, he and Sheila, despite health problems, continue to serve as special pioneers in a local congregation, where Brother Small also serves as an elder. Of course, not all who originally came from Guyana were reassigned there. For instance, Lynette Peters, a graduate of the 48th class, was assigned to Sierra Leone. She is still faithfully serving in her foreign assignment.

Film Stirs Up Interest

A film used extensively by Jehovah’s Witnesses in the 1950’s was entitled The New World Society in Action. It focused on the world headquarters in Brooklyn and on the large convention held at Yankee Stadium in New York City in 1953. The film helped all​—Witnesses and others—​to gain a better appreciation of Jehovah’s organization and its scope. To be sure, the film had a great impact on people who lived deep in the rain forest, many of whom had never seen a film of any sort!

Often the film was shown outdoors in a large compound. People would walk for miles to see it. ‘But how,’ you might ask, ‘were the brothers able to screen a film in places without electricity?’ Alan Johnstone, a Gilead graduate who arrived in 1957 and served as a circuit overseer, showed the film on a number of occasions. He writes: “Where there was no electricity, we used generators that were kindly lent by local people who used them to illuminate their stores at night. A large sheet stretched tautly between two trees served as the screen.”

After one such showing, John and Daisy Hemmaway were aboard a steamer heading home. Many on board had heard about the film and wanted to see it. So with the captain’s approval, the Hemmaways set up the screen on the deck and the projector in a cabin that had a window in the right position. “Catholic and Anglican priests were on board,” writes John. “Though they had not condescended to see the film on land, they were now, perhaps unwilling, viewers on board. Indeed, it was from their cabin that we ran the film. The passengers later plied them with questions that only one of Jehovah’s Witnesses could answer.”

Commenting on the power of the film, John Ponting writes: “Showing the film during those years was especially effective where Witnesses were few and viewed as insignificant. Skeptical ones got to see a tremendous multiracial, worldwide organization and acquired greater respect for us. It proved to be a turning point for many who then accepted a Bible study. Some of these later became elders. In just one two-week period, a circuit overseer showed the film 17 times, mostly outdoors, with 5,000 attending.

“On another trip, which involved spending two days on a river with rapids and then hiking along a jungle trail, a circuit overseer had his effort more than repaid when scores of Amerindians enjoyed the film​—the very first they had ever seen. The next day, many of the villagers, most of whom were Presbyterian, obtained our magazines. As a result of this visit, the attitude of the entire village toward Jehovah’s people was greatly improved.”

From 1953 to 1966, Guyana experienced political and racial turmoil. The years 1961 to 1964 were the worst and involved rioting, looting, killing, and a general strike. Public transportation ground to a halt, and fear was pandemic. The brothers were not directly persecuted, but some suffered because of the prevailing conditions. For example, two brothers were beaten, and two others, including Albert Small, were hit by shotgun pellets and had to go to the hospital to have them removed. The situation became so serious that British troops intervened.

How fitting that during that stormy era, the film The New World Society in Action pointed to a people out of all nations who exhibit true peace and unity! Moreover, the brothers did not let the breakdown in public transportation stop them from attending meetings and sharing in the ministry. They simply walked a little farther than usual, or they rode bicycles. Above all, they showed true Christian love for one another. “They cared and shared,” reported Albert Small.

Sisters Spearhead the Work

Sisters also took the Kingdom message to far-flung places. Ivy Hinds and Florence Thom, for example, were appointed as special pioneers to Bartica, on the edge of the jungle. Mahadeo, an isolated publisher, lived there with his wife, Jamela. Like most East Indian girls at that time, Jamela had been denied schooling and could neither read nor write. Yet, she wanted to read the Bible for herself and help teach their two small sons. “With Jehovah’s blessing and my coaching,” said Florence, “she rapidly mastered the arts of reading, writing, and giving a witness to others.”

Two months after Florence and Ivy arrived, they still had not found a suitable place to live. They also needed a place to hold meetings, as they were already conducting over ten Bible studies. The situation became critical when they received notice of the upcoming visit of the circuit overseer. What is more, it was scheduled for the very week when workers from the interior and hoards of prostitutes from Georgetown would flock to Bartica, increasing the town’s population threefold!

But Jehovah’s hand is not short. Florence recalls: “The day before the circuit overseer arrived, late in the afternoon, we met a landlord who agreed to let us rent a small two-bedroom cottage in the center of town. We worked like beavers, scrubbing and painting the walls and then polishing the floors. We hung curtains and moved in furniture, finishing in the wee hours of the morning. What a night that was! John Ponting, the circuit overseer, could hardly believe our story. On the first night of his visit, 22 were in attendance, giving promise of what would soon become the Bartica Congregation.”

Plying the Rivers in Kingdom Proclaimers

In the early years, the brothers took advantage of whatever boats and canoes were available to get to the settlements along the rivers. Later, they acquired their own boats, named Kingdom Proclaimer I, Kingdom Proclaimer II, and so on, up to Kingdom Proclaimer V. (The first two are now out of action.)

Frederick McAlman relates: “Paddling with the tide, we would preach down the east bank of the Pomeroon River until we got to Hackney, seven miles [11 km] from the mouth. There we would get a good night’s sleep at the home of Sister DeCambra, the midwife serving the area at that time. Early the next morning, we would continue down to the mouth of the river before crossing over to the west bank. Then we would work our way back 21 miles [34 km] to Charity.” For five years, the brothers rowed up and down the Pomeroon before they got a used, six-horsepower outboard motor.

Navigating the waterways usually presented no hazards, but the brothers had to be careful, for there was other traffic. And Kingdom Proclaimer I and II were rowboats, so they were not fast. Says Frederick: “When I was on my way home from witnessing on the Pomeroon River one Saturday afternoon, a large cargo boat cruising at full speed collided with me. The captain and crew were not paying attention because of a rum-drinking spree. I was knocked out of Kingdom Proclaimer I, into the river, and under their boat. I went down, fighting for dear life in the darkness, continually bumping my head on the bottom of their boat, just a few inches from the powerful propeller. Seeing my plight, a young man on the boat plunged into the river and rescued me. For several weeks I was in constant pain because of injuries, but I was grateful to be alive!”

That misadventure did not deter Frederick. “I was determined to keep on,” he explains, “because of the interest in the Bible shown by people along the river. Seven miles [11 km] from Charity at Sirikie was a Congregation Book Study, and they depended on me.”

A Week With a Circuit Overseer

Serving as a traveling overseer in rural Guyana tests one’s mettle. Besides having to travel rivers, dirt roads, and jungle paths, circuit overseers and their wives sometimes have to contend with mosquitoes and other insects, big cats, drenching rain and, in some areas, robbers. They also face the risk of contracting malaria, typhoid fever, or some other tropical disease.

A traveling overseer describes a visit to some isolated publishers along the Demerara River. He writes: “After visiting the Mackenzie Congregation, we traveled by launch on Monday to visit a brother in the village of Yaruni, still on the Demerara, about 25 miles [40 km] from Mackenzie. Once there, we worked both sides of the river by canoe, going with the current toward Mackenzie.

“The people were very hospitable and gave us fruits and even invited us to have meals with them. On Friday, we paddled out into the river to board a steamer. At Soesdyke, we transferred from the steamer to a canoe and then went ashore. A brother met us and took us across the Demerara to his place at Georgia. That same evening, we held a meeting with the family.

“The next day, all of us crossed the Demerara to Soesdyke, working the territory there as well as the populated area near the Timehri Airport. We also went to the sandhills, where people loaded trucks with sand bound for Georgetown. On Saturday night, we held another meeting with the family at Georgia. The following day, all of us again crossed the river to Soesdyke for field service in the morning and a public talk in the afternoon on the open veranda of the post office. That finished off our week.” The hard work of such devoted circuit overseers and their wives paid off, for Soesdyke is now home to a thriving congregation. The brothers have their own Kingdom Hall, which was completed in 1997.

Circuit overseers also had their mishaps. Traveling by motorcycle, Jerry and Delma Murray came to a canal with a bridge made from a few wooden planks strapped together. Delma waited while Jerry crossed the bridge on the bike. But something went wrong in the crossing, for Jerry, bike, and suitcase all sailed off the bridge and disappeared into the murky depths below. Delma let out a scream, and local villagers ran to the rescue. Moments later, anxiety gave way to laughter when, as one brother wrote, “this white man sloshed ashore draped in waterweeds and his shoes smothered in mud.”

Amerindians Respond to the Good News

In the early 1970’s, while witnessing in the marketplace in Charity, Frederick McAlman placed the Watchtower and Awake! magazines with an Amerindian woman named Monica Fitzallen. (See box on page 176.) Monica, who lived on an Amerindian reservation, took the magazines back to her home. During a spell of illness, she read them and recognized the ring of truth. Before long, she became a publisher of the good news​—the only one on the reservation—​and was baptized in 1974.

Monica reflects: “I vigorously engaged in house-to-house witnessing, happy to share my newfound knowledge with the people in my community. To get to their homes, however, I had to row along rivers and creeks. As the number of interested ones increased, I began to hold meetings with them, reading and discussing material from the Bible study aid The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life.”

Did Monica’s hard work bear fruit? Yes, indeed, for she now enjoys the company of 13 other publishers, including her husband, her son and his wife, and her granddaughter. Until recently the little group had to travel 12 hours by canoe to Charity, the nearest congregation. Now, though, they have meetings in their own community, and attendances reach three times the number of publishers!

In the meantime, the congregation in Charity has also grown. It now has 50 publishers, many of whom travel the Pomeroon to get to meetings. The average meeting attendance exceeds 60, and for the 2004 Memorial, 301 were in attendance. The Charity Congregation also has a new Kingdom Hall.

Remarkable Growth in Baramita

Another area in Guyana where many indigenous people have responded to the Kingdom message is Baramita. Situated in the northwest of the country, Baramita is home to a community of Carib Indians. The Carib were some of the earliest inhabitants of the Caribbean region, which derives its name from them. Their language is also called Carib.

Ruby Smith, a native Carib, became interested in the truth in 1975 when she received a tract from her grandmother. (See the box on page 181.) Ruby was 16 years old at the time. She progressed spiritually and was baptized in 1978 at the “Victorious Faith” Convention. Shortly thereafter, her family moved to Georgetown for business reasons. There she married Eustace Smith. Eustace could not speak Carib, yet he and Ruby were eager to move to Baramita to share the Kingdom message with Ruby’s relatives and others. Says Ruby: “Jehovah saw what was in our hearts and answered our prayers because in 1992 we went to Baramita.”

Ruby continues: “Upon arriving, I immediately began witnessing in the community. We held meetings below our little house, which was about five feet [1.5 m] above the ground. Before long, the crowd became too large to be accommodated at this location, so we borrowed tents. As word about the meetings spread, attendances grew and eventually reached about 300! Because I was fluent in Carib, it fell upon me to interpret The Watchtower. How did everyone hear? We used an inexpensive FM microphone transmitter, while many in the audience brought along their radio and simply tuned it to the right frequency.

“By that time, Eustace and I felt that the group really needed a Kingdom Hall. So after calculating the cost and discussing the project with others, we went ahead with the work. My brother Cecil Baird contributed much of the building material, while others helped with the labor. Work began in June 1992, and the project was completed early the following year, just in time for the Memorial. We were amazed when 800 attended the discourse, which was given by Gordon Daniels, a traveling overseer.

“The Baramita group became a congregation on April 1, 1996, and the Kingdom Hall was dedicated on May 25. Since then, it has been enlarged and can now seat over 500 comfortably, enabling the brothers to use it for circuit assemblies and special assembly days. Indeed, what began as a small group is today a congregation of close to 100 publishers with an average attendance of 300 at the Public Meeting. And up to 1,416 have attended the Memorial!”

A Very Big Wedding!

In the Baramita district, scores of couples who had been living together outside of wedlock legalized their marriage in order to conform to Bible standards. Some, though, had difficulties acquiring the necessary documentation, such as birth certificates. Still, after much effort and with help from the brothers to ascertain birth dates and other details, these couples were able to get married.

On one occasion, 79 couples were married at the same ceremony. Adin Sills, a member of the Branch Committee, gave the wedding talk. Three days later, 41 persons, mostly newlyweds, expressed the desire to become unbaptized publishers.

So many in Baramita have shown an interest in God’s Word that the whole community has seen a remarkable improvement. At the Kingdom Hall dedication, one of the elders stated: “Baramita is now a place of tranquillity and peace. This is so because it is not unusual for over 90 percent of the community to attend the meetings on a regular basis.”

In 1995 the Baramita district suffered a severe drought. How did Jehovah’s people fare? Schoolteacher Gillian Persaud was teaching in Baramita at the time. When she heard a light aircraft land at the small airport nearby, she ran as fast as she could to intercept the pilot before he took off again. She convinced him to take her to Georgetown, where she went straight to the branch office to report the plight of the brothers.

James Thompson, a Branch Committee member at the time, relates: “The Governing Body gave us permission to airlift food and other provisions to Baramita. We were also able to arrange for 36 publishers to be flown to Georgetown so that they could attend the district convention. For many, that was the first convention they had ever attended.”

Ministerial Training School

Since the Ministerial Training School (MTS) commenced in 1987, many countries have benefited from the work of the single elders and ministerial servants who attended the school. Guyana is no exception. After attending the school, held in nearby Trinidad, many local brothers have been able to give greater support to the Kingdom work in Guyana. Some are presently serving as regular pioneers, special pioneers, and congregation elders. Those who returned to their home congregations are doing much to care for Jehovah’s sheep.

Several MTS graduates have been able to accept additional responsibilities. For example, Floyd and Lawani Daniels, fleshly brothers, were assigned as special pioneers to congregations in urgent need of elders. David Persaud was given the privilege of serving as a circuit overseer. Fellow student Edsel Hazel was appointed to the Guyana Branch Committee. Regarding some who have attended the school, a circuit overseer stated: “I have seen all these individuals grow spiritually and especially so after they attended the Ministerial Training School.”

Serving Where the Need Is Greater

In the late 1970’s, the Atlantic Coast west of the Essequibo River had about 30,000 inhabitants and just 30 publishers. So occasionally, the branch assigned special pioneers to work sections of that territory for a month at a time. The brother caring for one witnessing group said: “The brothers were able to complete the territory and place 1,835 books, and they made many return visits and started a number of Bible studies.”

Another brother reported: “We paddled our small boat for two hours, covering 17 miles [27 km]. At times, we had to drag or push the boat through knee-deep mud, but our efforts were rewarded because the householders were hospitable. One, a music teacher, had been using our songbook to teach music. ‘I really appreciate how the music is arranged,’ he said. He then played two songs for us and accepted six books.”

Other brothers and sisters made themselves available to help in areas of greater need. Consider the example of Sherlock and Juliet Pahalan. Sherlock writes: “In 1970, Juliet and I were invited to assist the Eccles Congregation, eight miles [13 km] south of Georgetown on the Demerara River. There were problems in the congregation, and some individuals had to be disfellowshipped. This left the congregation with about 12 active publishers and their unbaptized children. For a time, I was the only elder. In addition, the congregation cared for a small group at Mocha, an isolated village. On Monday evenings I would conduct the Congregation Book Study at Mocha and then another at Eccles.

“I also had to conduct the Watchtower Study. Because we rarely had enough magazines to go around, we would first read each paragraph and then ask the question, contrary to the normal procedure at the time. We took candles to the meetings on account of the frequent blackouts; during the rainy season, we had to endure hordes of mosquitoes. In those days, most brothers walked or cycled to the meetings and to the territory for witnessing. The publishers from Mocha came to Eccles in the same way. After the meetings, I would squeeze as many as possible into my small Austin van and take them home to Mocha.”

Was all this effort worth it? Looking back on that time, Brother Pahalan writes: “While in Eccles, my wife and I studied the Bible with a number of people, many of whom, along with their families, are still in the truth. And some of the men are now serving as congregation elders. Nothing can compare with such blessings!”

Serving in “a Pioneer’s Paradise”!

Over the past few years, approximately 50 brothers and sisters​—mostly pioneers—​from Britain, Canada, France, Ireland, and the United States have gone to the Land of Waters to add their voices to the call: “Come! . . . Let anyone that wishes take life’s water free.” (Rev. 22:17) Some have been able to stay for a few months; others, for years. When their funds run low, many return to their home country, work for a while, and then go back. Most count themselves blessed for having served in Guyana. Especially have they appreciated being able to discuss spiritual matters with people who, in general, have a high regard for the Bible. Even many who do not profess to be Christian enjoy discussions with Jehovah’s Witnesses. What is more, householders will sometimes share a meal with the brothers. “So it is no exaggeration to call Guyana a pioneer’s paradise,” says Ricardo Hinds, current Branch Committee coordinator.

Arlene Hazel, who now serves at the branch with her husband, Edsel, recalls some of their experiences in rural Guyana: “In 1997, after communicating with the branch, we received an assignment to serve in Lethem, a town deep in the interior near the border of Brazil. We served there with fellow Canadians Robert and Joanna Welch and an American sister, Sarah Dionne, who had arrived in Lethem a few months earlier. One baptized brother​—Richard Achee, a veterinarian—​lived in the territory at the time. The branch gave us a list of some 20 people who had studied in the past, but we found that most were not really interested. Two, however, wanted to become unbaptized publishers.

“Our first meeting was held under a mango tree, and 12 were present, including 6 of us pioneers. A few months later, 60 attended our first Memorial. Meanwhile, our group of pioneers had been reduced to three. Yet, we were trying to care for 40 Bible studies! When the circuit overseer came, he advised us to stop studying with anyone not attending meetings. This proved to be good counsel, since the studies we kept made fine progress.”

Indeed, four years later, Lethem became a congregation made up of 14 publishers. Attendances at special assembly days in Lethem have grown to 100. Such clear evidence of Jehovah’s blessing on the efforts of his servants more than makes up for all the hardships they may endure.

Rented Halls and “Bottom Houses”

From the beginning of the work in Guyana, finding suitable places of worship has been a challenge. Back in 1913, the handful of brothers in Georgetown rented a room at Somerset House, which served them well for 45 years. By 1970, only two congregations had their own Kingdom Hall​—the Charlestown Congregation in Georgetown and the Palmyra Congregation in Berbice. Yet, three years earlier, Guyana passed the 1,000-publisher mark! So most congregations met in rented facilities, which often were far from ideal.

In the late 1950’s, for example, the Wismar Congregation, situated on the Demerara River, grew to the point that the brothers had to find a suitable hall. They were given the use of a place called the Islander Hall. They met midweek for the Theocratic Ministry School and Service Meeting and Sunday evening for the Public Meeting and Watchtower Study. But getting things set up for the meetings was quite an exercise in logistics. First the brothers crossed the Demerara from Mackenzie to Wismar in a small boat. One brother took a carton of magazines, another took a carton of literature, and a third brother carried the various forms and the contribution boxes. Of course, all of this had to be set up before the meeting. Afterward, the entire procedure was reversed.

Meetings were also held in so-called bottom houses​—the space that exists under a home. Because of the possibility of flooding, homes in Guyana are generally built high off the ground on wood or concrete posts, or stilts. This design provides usable space, such as for congregation meetings. In Guyana, however, many people hold the view that if a religion cannot afford a proper meeting place, then it does not have God’s blessing.

Furthermore, meetings in bottom houses were sometimes interrupted, detracting from the dignity of the occasion. In one instance, a chicken, frightened by a dog, flew into the meeting place and landed on a six-year-old girl. She let out a hair-raising scream, which startled everyone. After the meeting, the incident evoked a little laughter but demonstrated again the need for a better place of worship. What is more, holding meetings in bottom-house Kingdom Halls did little to provide interested ones incentive to attend.

Kingdom Hall Construction

“In my 32 years with the Charity Congregation,” recalls Frederick McAlman, “we rented five different bottom houses. Situated as we were on the lower part of the house, we had to be careful to avoid hitting our heads on the wooden beams. While carrying her child, one sister misjudged the height of a beam and bumped her child’s head. Later, she reported this to her father, an unbeliever. Her parents concluded that the congregation needed to have their own place of worship. In fact, her mother offered to donate a parcel of land to the congregation, and her father said that he would finance the construction of a Kingdom Hall. And that is exactly what happened. Today, that original Kingdom Hall, after being remodeled several times, continues to be the center of true worship in the community. It also serves as a small Assembly Hall for the local circuit.”

In the early days, Kingdom Halls took many months to complete. This was true of the hall in Eccles. Sherlock Pahalan, who was serving as an elder in Eccles at the time, relates: “Our meetings were held in a school. We knew that more increase would come if we had our own Kingdom Hall. But the few publishers in Eccles were poor financially. Nevertheless, they passed a resolution to build a hall. I searched for suitable land within the territory, but in vain.

“Meanwhile, the brothers in Georgetown lent us two molds and taught us how to make concrete blocks. At first, it took us several hours to make just 12 blocks, but with practice we became quite proficient, especially the sisters. Another challenge was obtaining cement because it was rationed at the time. I had to apply for permission to receive a limited amount. Then to ensure that we got our quota, I would go to the wharf early in the morning and wait in line. Next I had to find a truck that was going to Eccles and that had sufficient space to carry the cement. Jehovah came to our aid every time. But we still needed the land.”

Sherlock continues: “In 1972, Juliet and I took a vacation in Canada and visited my cousin, who is not a Witness. He mentioned that he owned two plots of land in Eccles but that the relatives caring for them were falling down on the job. So he asked for my help. I said that I would be happy to assist, adding that I just happened to be searching for land in Eccles for a Kingdom Hall. Without hesitation, he told me to choose either of the lots.

“We saw additional evidence of God’s hand during the construction. Even though many other building materials besides cement were in short supply, we substituted and improvised and somehow always managed to get the job done. Furthermore, few brothers had the necessary skills, and it took much scheduling to get volunteers to the site. Indeed, my little van traveled hundreds of miles shuttling brothers to and fro. In the end, our Kingdom Hall was complete. We even had a member of the Governing Body, Karl Klein, deliver our dedication talk. What a treat that was!”

Quickly Built Kingdom Halls

As recent as 1995, over half the congregations in Guyana still met in rented facilities, including bottom houses. Hence, the branch organized a national building committee to address the need. In October of that very year, the brothers constructed their first quickly built Kingdom Hall at Mahaicony, about 30 miles [50 km] east of Georgetown on the Mahaicony River. When told that Jehovah’s Witnesses were going to build a Kingdom Hall over four weekends, one neighbor stated: “If you are talking about a chicken coop, OK, but a concrete building​—never.” Needless to say, that man soon changed his view.

In a land where racial tensions sometimes run high, Kingdom Hall projects have demonstrated to all that regardless of race or nationality, Jehovah’s Witnesses work together in true Christian unity. Indeed, one elderly woman who watched the project at Mahaicony exclaimed to a circuit overseer: “I observed six different races of people out there working together!”

Branch Construction

In 1914, Guyana’s first branch office was located at the Phillips’ home, where it remained until 1946. In that year, there were 91 publishers. By 1959, that number had grown to 685, and the work continued to expand. So in June 1960, the brothers obtained a property at 50 Brickdam, Georgetown. With a few modifications, the existing buildings served both as a branch office and as a missionary home. But by 1986, this complex also became inadequate. So with the Governing Body’s approval, a new branch was constructed on the existing site. International servants aided by local brothers completed the job in 1987.

Like the daughters of Shallum, who helped their father rebuild a section of Jerusalem’s walls, sisters proved invaluable on the branch project. (Neh. 3:12) For instance, 120 sisters, divided into some ten teams, made the 12,000 concrete blocks needed for the project. Using 16 molds, they completed the job in 55 days. And that was no easy task! The concrete mix had to be just right​—wet enough so that the cement would cure properly yet not so wet that the blocks would collapse when lifted from the mold.

Local brothers served as night watchmen, often coming straight from their secular jobs to the site. Others worked along with the international servants, who taught them valuable skills. One of these young brothers, Harrinarine (Indaal) Persaud, recalls: “My job was to install corner moldings on a window sill​—something I had never done before. I labored at it until I got it right. After inspecting it, the overseer, evidently pleased with my effort, said, “Now you have the whole branch to do.” Today, this young brother shares his expertise with others during Kingdom Hall construction projects.

Since the brothers had to import certain materials, they needed the cooperation of governmental authorities. As a result, many officials came to the site, including President Forbes L. Burnham and his entourage. All were impressed with the workmanship, as was a local carpenter. “You people are getting first-class work done on your building,” he said. On January 14, 1988, Brooklyn representative Don Adams, serving as zone overseer, delivered the dedication talk.

On February 12, 2001, ground was again broken for construction​—this time on a new site. Once again, international servants aided by local brothers worked on the project. The new branch was dedicated on Saturday, February 15, 2003. Richard Kelsey from the Germany branch delivered the dedication talk to an audience of 332.

Many early missionaries returned to Guyana for the program, some for the first time in decades! Then on Sunday, 4,752 from 12 countries​—well over double the number of publishers in Guyana—​attended a special meeting.

Assemblies Call for Ingenuity

For circuit assemblies and special assembly days, the brothers often rent facilities. In rural areas, they may even erect a meeting place. Says Thomas Markevich, who served in Guyana from 1952 until 1956: “Our assembly was held some 40 miles [60 km] up the Demerara River from Georgetown. About two hundred Witnesses from the city wanted to attend in support of the local brothers. So we decided to build a temporary Assembly Hall using local materials​—bamboo for the struts and seats and banana leaves for the roof.

“We gathered the materials, loaded them onto a small railway car, and guided it down an incline. But alas, the car got away from us on a curve, careened, and dumped the whole load into the river. Soon disaster turned to advantage, however, for the cargo floated conveniently right to the construction site! When the assembly began, the visiting brothers were thrilled to have several hundred villagers join them for the three-day program.”

Thomas adds: “After the assembly, we all worked some unassigned territory nearby. At one village, we held a public talk, and the entire village came​—including a pet monkey. He listened for a while and then decided that he wanted to see things from another vantage point. So he took a few leaps and bounds and landed on my shoulder. He looked things over briefly and bounded back to his master for the rest of the talk, much to my relief!”

Conventions

Early in the last century, large gatherings were usually held in conjunction with the visit of special representatives from world headquarters, such as Brothers Coward and Young. In 1954, Nathan Knorr and Milton Henschel came to Guyana for the New World Society Assembly, which had an attendance of 2,737.

Decades later, in 1999, over 7,100 delegates attended two conventions in Guyana. One was held in Georgetown, and the other, in Berbice. The convention in Georgetown called for some major last-minute changes, which really put the brothers to the test. “A famous movie star and his dancing troupe arrived from India, and the National Park Commission felt that they could not reschedule the show, even though our booking had been made first,” writes the branch.

“We promptly arranged for another site​—the cricket grounds—​and immediately notified the congregations. The convention was just eight days away! But the problems did not end there. In the Caribbean, cricket is held in very high esteem, and the cricket grounds are viewed as almost sacred. So the idea of us walking on the grass was all but unthinkable to the management. But how would we present the drama? And where would we put the stage?

“Still, we went ahead, confident that Jehovah would open doors. And that he did! We were given permission to use the grassy area, provided that we made the platform and the walkway leading to it a certain height off the ground. To get the job done, everyone worked feverishly through the night. Even the weather refused to cooperate, for it rained most of that time. Despite all these challenges, the program began just about on schedule.

“The convention proceeded smoothly, and the weather held until the final day, Sunday. We woke up to the sound of rain. Before long, the cricket grounds were awash, and the water level rose to two inches [5 cm] below the walkway and the platform. The rain stopped just before the program started. Fortunately, the electric cables had not been laid out on the ground but had been attached to the underside of the planks. So our having had to build an elevated platform and walkway was really a blessing in disguise!”

When the drama commenced, all 6,088 present enjoyed it in brilliant sunshine. Two weeks later, 1,038 attended a second convention, held at Berbice. The grand total of 7,126 was the best attendance recorded in Guyana up till then. More recently, attendances have reached nearly 10,000.

Bright Prospects for the Future

In his prophecy, Ezekiel saw Jehovah’s restored and glorified temple. From it flowed a stream of water, widening and deepening as it went forth until it became a “double-size torrent,” bringing life even to the salty, lifeless Dead Sea.​—Ezek. 47:1-12.

With the progress of pure worship since 1919, God’s people have seen that prophecy undergo fulfillment. Nowadays, a veritable river of spiritual provisions​—Bibles, Bible study aids, meetings, assemblies, and conventions—​is quenching the spiritual thirst of millions worldwide.

Jehovah’s Witnesses in Guyana count it a privilege to share in the fulfillment of that prophecy. What is more, they will continue to use rivers in a very literal sense to transport life-giving spiritual food to all who are “rightly disposed for everlasting life,” no matter where such deserving ones may live in this Land of Waters.​—Acts 13:48.

[Footnote]

[Box on page 140]

An Overview of Guyana

The land: The coastal belt, much of which lies below sea level and is protected by about 140 miles [230 km] of dikes, consists of soil deposited by rivers. Forests cover about 80 percent of the country, including the interior highlands, the source of most of Guyana’s rivers.

The people: About half are of East Indian background, over 40 percent are of black African descent or of mixed race, and about 5 percent are Amerindians. About 40 percent profess to be Christian; 34 percent, Hindu; and 9 percent, Muslim.

The language: English is the official language, but creole is also spoken throughout the country.

The livelihood: Agriculture employs about 30 percent of the work force. Other industries include fishing, forestry, and mining.

The food: Main crops include rice, cacaos (or, cocoa beans), citrus fruits, coconuts, coffee, corn, manioc (or, cassava), sugar, and other tropical fruits and vegetables. Animals kept for food include cattle, pigs, chickens, and sheep. Major seafoods are fish and shrimps.

The climate: Guyana is tropical with little seasonal change. The coastal region receives 60-80 inches [150-200 cm] of rain a year. Although near the equator, Guyana has a mild climate, thanks to persistent trade winds that blow in from the Atlantic Ocean.

[Box/Picture on page 143-145]

Nobody Could “Lock Up” His Mouth

Malcolm Hall

Born: 1890

Baptized: 1915

Profile: A native of the island of Leguan, he was one of the first to preach the good news in that region and took care of the group that developed there.

As related by his grandniece, Yvonne Hall.

An election officer once said to Granduncle: “Is it true that you do not vote? If so, we will lock you up and confiscate your Bible.” Looking him in the eye, Granduncle responded: “But what will you do with my mouth? Can you lock up my mouth for speaking the truth that your religious leaders have hidden from you for so long?” The only words the officer could muster in response were: “I will get back to you later.”

Baptized in 1915, Granduncle was one of the earliest preachers of the Kingdom in Guyana. He was “a real fighter for the truth,” said one brother. Granduncle was introduced to Kingdom truth while living and working in Georgetown. After having heard just one public talk at Somerset House, he recognized the truth. In fact, he went home and checked all the scriptures in his Bible.

Thereafter, he returned home to Leguan and immediately began witnessing to others. Among the first to accept the Kingdom message were his two fleshly sisters and some older nephews. They formed the nucleus of the group that met in Granduncle’s home.

In the early days, the clergy had an iron grip on the islanders, and it was a battle to get people to respond to the good news. The clergy used to say that Granduncle was “mad, Bible crazy.” But that did not dampen his zeal. For example, on Sunday mornings he would set up his phonograph on the front porch and play recorded Bible discourses. People would often stand outside on the road and listen.

In time, some responded with appreciation. This was especially evident on Memorial night, when the whole upstairs part of Granduncle’s house would be packed with people. He was chairman, speaker, and sole partaker. One of his Bible students, Leroy Denbow, took up the pioneer service and even served for a time as a circuit overseer.

After retiring from his secular work as a ship’s purser on the Essequibo River, Granduncle took up the pioneer service, working the island of Leguan and its neighbor Wakenaam. His day began at 4:30 a.m., when he milked his cows and tended to his pigs. At about 7:30 a.m., he cleaned up, read both the daily text and a passage from the Bible, had breakfast, and then prepared for the ministry. I can still see him pumping air into the tires of his bicycle before going out. On any given day, he would cover at least 12 miles [20 km].

Granduncle finished his earthly course on November 2, 1985, having served Jehovah faithfully for some 70 years. And during all that time, no one was able to “lock up” his mouth. Indeed, both Leguan Island and Wakenaam Island now have a congregation.

[Box/Picture on page 155-158]

Answers to My Childhood Questions Changed My Life

Albert Small

Born: 1921

Baptized: 1949

Profile: Began pioneering in 1953. With his wife, Sheila, attended Gilead in 1958 and was assigned back to Guyana.

“God made you”​—that is what I was regularly told as a boy. So when Mother said that I was the worst of her four children, I reasoned that God had made three good ones and one bad one.

When I was about ten years of age, I asked the Sunday school teacher, “Who made God?” I got no answer. Still, like most people back then, when I was old enough, I joined a church​—in my case, the Presbyterian Church. Yet, many of my questions remained unanswered. For instance, at church we would sing a hymn that said, in part: “The rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate. God made them high and lowly; he ordered their estate.” ‘Had God really “ordered their estate”?’ I wondered. On one occasion I asked a minister, “If God made Adam and Eve, where did the different races come from?” His reply, in brief, was that the Genesis account is a myth.

Then, during World War II, we were encouraged to pray for the British soldiers. This finally convinced me that what my church taught contradicted what I had read in the Bible. Still, I asked myself, ‘Where will I go?’ So I remained in the church. When I was 24 years old, I married Sheila.

One day I had just returned home from church when one of Jehovah’s Witnesses called. We used to call the Witnesses the no-hell church, and I had no time for them. They held their meetings in private homes and wore no clerical garb. What is more, certain things that had happened in my life, including my marriage to an excellent woman, led me to conclude that God was caring for me.

When the Witness​—Nesib Robinson—​introduced himself, I was patching a tire on my bicycle. “This tire is punctured,” I said. “If you are a Christian, help me repair it.” Then I abruptly went into the house. The following week, as I walked out the door on my way to church, my Bible in hand, Nesib was just coming up the steps. “I am not interested in your religion,” I said. “My wife is inside. Talk to her.” And off I went.

I regretted having said that, for at church, instead of listening to the pastor, I was thinking, ‘If Mr. Robinson and my wife get talking, she might not have time to prepare our special Sunday soup.’ But I need not have worried; when I got home, the soup was ready. Curious, I asked Sheila: “Did you speak with that Robinson fellow?” “Yes,” she said. “He sat down and preached while I cooked.”

Not long after that, Sheila accepted a Bible study. She also gave birth to our first child, but it was stillborn. I asked Mr. Robinson why such things happen. He replied that it was not God’s fault but the result of the disobedience of Adam and Eve and the imperfection we inherited from them. This answer satisfied me.

Nesib often visited me while I was in my furniture workshop. Our conversations would revolve around my work, but somehow he would include a point from the Bible before he left. In time, our conversations became less about furniture and more about God’s Word. One day I decided to ask him one or two of the questions that had bothered me all my life, thinking that they would stump him too​—after all, “proper” ministers didn’t know the answers.

Insisting that Nesib’s comments be based on the Scriptures, I fired my first question, “Who made God?” Nesib read Psalm 90:2 from the King James Version, which says: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” Looking at me, he said: “You see what it says? Nobody made God; he has always been.” This clear, logical reply amazed me. And it opened the floodgates, for now I asked all the questions bottled up inside of me for years. Nesib’s Scriptural answers, especially in regard to God’s purpose to make the earth a paradise, brought joy to my heart such as I had never experienced before.

My very first visit to the Kingdom Hall had an especially powerful effect on me. How so? Because I was amazed to see the audience participate in the meeting​—something I had never seen at church. My wife, who had not yet been to a meeting, was away at the time. When I told her about it, she said: “Let’s go together.” And we are still going 55 years later!

Sheila and I were baptized in the Atlantic Ocean in 1949. In 1953, I began pioneering. Two years later, Sheila joined me in what would become a 50-year career in the full-time service. In 1958 we were invited to attend the 31st class of Gilead and were assigned back to Guyana. We served in the traveling work for 23 years and then as special pioneers, our service privilege to this day. Yes, I thank Jehovah not only for providing the answers to my childhood questions but also for allowing my wife and me to serve him.

[Box/Picture on page 163-166]

“Here I Am! Send Me”

Joycelyn Ramalho (formerly Roach)

Born: 1927

Baptized: 1944

Profile: Now a widow, she spent 54 years in the full-time service, including the traveling work with her husband.

I was born on the Caribbean island of Nevis. My mother was a single parent, a Methodist, and a nurse. She taught me to believe in God. Because of her work, we moved to a small village on the island. On the following Sunday, we went to the Methodist church and sat down in one of the pews. Minutes later, however, we were advised that the “owners” of that pew had arrived and that we had to sit elsewhere. Even though another parishioner graciously allowed us to sit in “his” pew, Mom decided that we would never go back to that church. Instead, we joined the Anglican Church.

In the early 1940’s, while visiting a friend, Mother met a Witness from St. Kitts who gave her some literature. An avid reader, Mom devoured the literature and recognized the truth. Shortly thereafter, she married, and we all moved to Trinidad. Our publications were banned there at the time, but we were able to attend meetings at the Kingdom Hall. Before long, Mother severed her ties with the Anglican Church and took up serving Jehovah, as did my stepfather, James Hanley.

In Trinidad, I met a young sister named Rose Cuffie. Little did I know that 11 years later, Rose would be one of my partners in the missionary field. In the meantime, my desire to serve Jehovah continued to grow. I still remember the first time I went witnessing on my own. At the first door, the householder came out, and suddenly I was struck mute. I stood there for I don’t know how long before I opened my Bible, read Daniel 2:44, and promptly left!

I began pioneering in 1950, and just over two years later, I was thrilled to receive an invitation to attend the 21st class of Gilead. Three of our class were assigned to Guyana: Florence Thom, who came from Guyana; Lindor Loreilhe, who was my roommate; and me. We arrived in November 1953 and were assigned to Skeldon, a town about 110 miles [180 km] from Georgetown, near the mouth of the Courantyne River. The isolated group there eagerly awaited us.

Most people in the Skeldon area were of East Indian background and either Hindu or Muslim. Many were illiterate, so when we witnessed to them, they would often reply: “Bruck am up, Sista,” meaning, “Break it down, or make it simple, Sister.” At first, between 20 and 30 would attend the meetings, but that number dwindled when those who were not really interested stopped coming.

One woman progressed to the point that she wanted to share in the field service. But when I called at the appointed time, it was her 14-year-old son who was all dressed and eager to go with me. His mother said: “Miss Roach, you can take Frederick along instead of me.” Later we learned that the woman’s father, an ardent Anglican, had brought pressure to bear on her. Nevertheless, her son, Frederick McAlman, made excellent spiritual progress and later attended Gilead.​—See the box on page 170.

I was later reassigned to Henrietta, where there was one isolated publisher, a brother. The area came under the care of the Charity Congregation. My new pioneer partner was Rose Cuffie, whom I mentioned earlier. Rose and I would spend four days each week in Henrietta, and every Friday we would head off early, traveling by bicycle over 18 miles [30 km] of dusty roads to Charity for the meetings. We carried groceries, sheets, blankets, and mosquito nets.

We would witness along the way and stop to encourage some isolated publishers and an inactive sister. We usually studied The Watchtower with them. On Sunday, back in Henrietta, we would conduct the Watchtower Study with our Bible students as a group. We never had any serious mishaps, just an occasional flat tire or a drenching when we got caught in the rain.

Our joy never faded. In fact, a woman said to us one day: “You are always happy; nothing ever seems to bother you.” Adding to our joy, Jehovah gave us a fruitful ministry. Even the inactive sister we visited resumed serving Jehovah. Now some 50 years later, she is still faithful.

On November 10, 1959, I married Immanuel Ramalho, a pioneer. We served together in Suddie, 14 miles [23 km] south of Henrietta. Here I became pregnant but suffered a miscarriage. Keeping busy in the ministry helped me to cope. Later we had two children. Nevertheless, we managed to continue in the pioneer service.

In 1995, Immanuel fell asleep in death. Together we had served Jehovah in many different territories. We had seen some tiny groups become thriving congregations, complete with elders, ministerial servants, and even their own Kingdom Hall! We also enjoyed ten years in the traveling work. While I miss Immanuel very much, Jehovah’s loving support and that of the congregation continue to be a great comfort.

The prophet Isaiah answered Jehovah’s invitation to service with the words: “Here I am! Send me.” (Isa. 6:8) My late husband and I tried hard to imitate that prophet’s fine attitude. True, like Isaiah, we endured difficult, even disheartening, times. But the joys have outweighed them by far.

[Box/Picture on page 170-173]

My Gilead Assignment Was My Home Country

Frederick McAlman

Born: 1942

Baptized: 1958

Profile: After Gilead, he was assigned back to Guyana. He and his wife, Marshalind, now serve as regular pioneers.

When I was 12 years old, a missionary named Joycelyn Roach (now Ramalho) began to study the Bible with my mother. I would join in the discussion. Mom stopped studying, but I continued and began to attend all the meetings. When I was 14 years old, Sister Roach and fellow missionaries Rose Cuffie and Lindor Loreilhe took me out on their bicycles to go witnessing. Their missionary spirit influenced me more than I knew at the time.

When I began to study with Jehovah’s Witnesses, I was also preparing for my confirmation as an Anglican. On one occasion, the priest tried to explain the “holy” Trinity. After listening for a while, I spoke up, saying that I did not believe that this doctrine was in the Bible. He retorted: “I know that you are reading certain books, and those books are poisonous. Don’t read them. You must believe in the Trinity.” From then on, I never went back to the Anglican church but continued my study with the Witnesses. I was baptized in 1958.

In September 1963, I received a letter from the branch office inviting me to take up the special pioneer work. I accepted the invitation. My new assignment was the Fyrish Congregation on the Courantyne River, and my partner was Walter McBean. We served together for a year, working the territory up and down the river. This prepared us for our next assignment​—Paradise Congregation, which had ten publishers when we arrived in 1964. We pioneered there for over four years and saw the congregation grow to 25.

In 1969, I was invited to attend the 48th class of Gilead. That same year I was thrilled to be a guest of the Brooklyn Bethel family so that I could attend the 1969 “Peace on Earth” International Assembly. What a spiritual treat it was to meet so many faithful brothers and sisters! I will never forget the time that Frederick W. Franz, one of the Governing Body, took us to his room. He had so many books that I wondered where he kept his bed! Another excellent student of God’s Word was Ulysses Glass, one of our Gilead instructors. I can still hear him saying: “The ABC’s of good writing and teaching are accuracy, brevity, and clarity.”

I must confess that I was disappointed when I learned that my assignment was Guyana. To me Guyana was home, not a foreign assignment. However, Brother Glass kindly took me aside and helped me to view things differently. He reminded me that to attend Gilead is in itself a grand privilege and that I would probably be sent to a part of Guyana that would be foreign to me. That proved to be true, for I was assigned to Charity Congregation on the Pomeroon River. At the time, Charity had just five publishers.

My partner Albert Talbot and I had little experience in river travel, so we had to learn how to maneuver our boat. This may sound easy, but I can assure you, it is not. If you do not take into account currents and winds, you just sit there motionless or spin aimlessly. Thankfully, we had excellent help, one of our best tutors being a local sister.

For ten years, oars and muscle power got us about. Then a local resident offered to sell the congregation a motor, but we did not have enough money to pay for it. So you can imagine how delighted we were when we received a check specifically for that purpose from the branch office. Apparently, several congregations had got wind of our need and wanted to help out. In time, we acquired other boats, which were all designated Kingdom Proclaimer followed by a number to identify the specific boat.

After working along with several different pioneer partners, I met the one who would become my life partner, Marshalind Johnson, a special pioneer assigned to the Mackenzie Congregation. Her late father, Eustace Johnson, was well-known in Guyana, having served as a circuit overseer for some ten years prior to his death. Now regular pioneers, Marshalind and I have a combined total of 72 years of full-time service, including 55 years as special pioneers. During that time, we raised six children.

Jehovah has also blessed our efforts in the ministry. For example, early in the 1970’s, while witnessing along the Pomeroon, we met a young tailor who agreed to a Bible study. He proved to be a fine student. We encouraged him to learn the names of the books of the Bible. Not only did he learn them all by heart in one week but he could also recite their page numbers! He, his wife, and seven of their nine children have since come into the truth, and he and I serve together as elders in Charity. Blessings like these would likely never have come my way had it not been for the wonderful example of those zealous, early missionaries.

[Box/Picture on page 176-177]

I Studied God’s Word by Correspondence

Monica Fitzallen

Born: 1931

Baptized: 1974

Profile: Isolated, she studied God’s Word for two years by mail and witnessed extensively to fellow Amerindians. Now blind, she memorizes scriptures for the ministry.

I live on an Amerindian reservation called Waramuri, which is on the Moruka River, in the northwestern district of Guyana. In the early 1970’s, when I came in contact with the truth, the nearest congregation was Charity, on the Pomeroon River. It was 12 hours away by dugout canoe.

I met Jehovah’s Witnesses when I was shopping in Charity. Frederick McAlman offered me The Watchtower and Awake! I accepted them, took them home, and put them away in a chest, where they stayed for two years. Then I fell ill, was bedridden for some time, and became deeply depressed. That’s when I remembered the magazines. I read them and immediately recognized the ring of truth.

Around that time, my husband, Eugene, began looking for work and decided to go downriver toward Charity. My health had begun to improve, so I went with him. My main reason for going, however, was that I wanted to find Jehovah’s Witnesses. I did not have to look far; a Witness lady came to the very home where we were staying. “Are you one of the Watchtower people?” I asked. When she answered yes, I inquired about the man whom I met in the market two years earlier. She promptly went looking for Frederick McAlman, who happened to be with a group of publishers working territory nearby.

When the two returned, Brother McAlman demonstrated the Bible study arrangement using the book The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life. I agreed to a study. Since Eugene and I had to return home, I had my lessons by mail. I studied two books that way​—the Truth book and “Things in Which It Is Impossible for God to Lie.” While studying the Truth book, I officially resigned from the Anglican Church and became an unbaptized publisher. The priest wrote to me, saying: “Don’t listen to Jehovah’s Witnesses. They are shallow in their Bible understanding. I will come and discuss the matter with you.” But he never came.

As the only publisher on the reservation, I shared my newfound knowledge with my neighbors. I also witnessed to my husband, who​—I am delighted to say—​was baptized a year after I was. Today, Eugene is one of our 14 local publishers.

In recent years, glaucoma and cataracts have taken away my sight, so now I memorize scriptures for the ministry. Nevertheless, I thank Jehovah that I can still serve him.

[Box/Pictures on page 181-183]

Jehovah Has Given Me ‘the Requests of My Heart’

Ruby Smith

Born: 1959

Baptized: 1978

Profile: A native Carib, she played a key role in preaching the good news in Baramita, an Amerindian reservation in the interior of Guyana.

My first contact with Jehovah’s Witnesses was in 1975. I was 16 years old. Grandmother received a tract from her stepson and asked me to translate it for her, since she could not read English. Amazed at the Biblical promises discussed in the tract, I filled out the coupon and mailed it to the branch office. When the publications I requested arrived, I studied them and began to talk to others about the Scriptural truths I had learned. I started with my grandmother and aunt. Sadly, Father disapproved of my activity.

Before long, my grandmother and aunt began witnessing. In response, some villagers came to our home to learn more about the Bible. In the meantime, the more I read, the more I came to realize that I needed to make changes in my life so as to please Jehovah. This involved confessing to my father that I had stolen something from his workshop and getting back on good terms with one of my brothers. After much prayer, I was able to do both.

Meanwhile, the branch office arranged for a special pioneer, Sheik Bakhsh, to visit our area. However, Brother Bakhsh could not stay for long, so he and another brother, Eustace Smith, who later became my husband, studied with me by mail.

In 1978, I went to Georgetown for the “Victorious Faith” Convention. Upon my arrival in the capital, I went straight to the branch office to make known my desire to be baptized. They arranged for Albert Small to review with me the questions that elders discuss with those wanting to be baptized. How thrilled I was to return to Baramita a baptized servant of Jehovah!

Filled with zeal, I immediately got busy in the preaching work. Many became interested, so I asked some of them to build a simple place of worship. There, each Sunday, I would interpret the English Watchtower into Carib. However, Father opposed my activities and insisted that I stay at home on Sundays. So I secretly recorded the articles on cassette tape, and one of my brothers would play it at the meetings. By this time, about 100 regularly attended.

Shortly thereafter, our family moved to Georgetown for business reasons, and Grandmother moved to Matthews Ridge. My aunt remained in Baramita but stopped sharing the good news with others. So Kingdom activity there became dormant for a time.

In Georgetown, I met Eustace Smith in person, and a short time later, we were married. Even though Eustace could not speak Carib, both he and I wanted to go to Baramita to cultivate the interest there. In 1992 our desire became reality. As soon as we arrived, we got busy in the ministry and organized meetings. Before long, the attendance grew to about 300!

We also organized a literacy class to be held after the Watchtower Study. Yolande, our first child, helped with the lessons. When she started, she was 11 years old and an unbaptized publisher. Today, she and our other daughter, Melissa, serve as regular pioneers.

In 1993, Jehovah blessed Baramita with a Kingdom Hall. He also provided us with “gifts in men” who could speak Carib and who could take the lead in the congregation. (Eph. 4:8) Effective April 1, 1996, we became the Baramita Congregation. I am thrilled to report, too, that the congregation includes my mother, my grandmother, and almost all of my siblings. Truly, Jehovah has given me ‘the requests of my heart.’​—Ps. 37:4.

[Picture]

Eustace and me today

[Chart/Graph on page 148-149]

GUYANA​—A TIME LINE

1900: Individuals begin to read and discuss Zion’s Watch Tower and other Bible-based publications.

1910

1912: E. J. Coward delivers talks to hundreds in Georgetown and New Amsterdam.

1913: A room at Somerset House is rented as a meeting place. It is used until 1958.

1914: First branch office is established in Georgetown.

1917: Pressured by the clergy, the government bans certain publications.

1922: Ban is lifted. George Young visits.

1940

1941: The Watchtower and Consolation (now Awake!) are banned.

1944: All publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses are banned.

1946: Ban is lifted in June. First Gilead missionaries arrive.

1950’s: The film The New World Society in Action is shown throughout Guyana.

1960: Branch purchases property in Georgetown. Existing buildings serve both as branch and as missionary home.

1967: 1,000-publisher mark is surpassed.

1970

1988: New branch, on existing property, is dedicated.

1995: First quickly built Kingdom Hall is completed.

2000

2003: Present branch, on a new property, is dedicated.

2004: 2,163 publishers are active in Guyana.

[Graph]

(See publication)

Total Publishers

Total Pioneers

2,000

1,000

1910 1940 1970 2000

[Maps on page 141]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

GUYANA

Baramita

Hackney

Charity

Henrietta

Suddie

GEORGETOWN

Mahaicony

Soesdyke

Bartica

Yaruni

New Amsterdam

Mackenzie

Wismar

Skeldon

Berbice

Orealla

Lethem

Essequibo

Demerara

Berbice

Courantyne

VENEZUELA

BRAZIL

SURINAME

[Full-page picture on page 134]

[Picture on page 137]

Evander J. Coward

[Picture on page 138]

Somerset House in Georgetown, Guyana, served as a congregation meeting place from 1913 to 1958

[Picture on page 139]

George Young

[Picture on page 146]

Frederick Phillips, Nathan Knorr, and William Tracy, 1946

[Picture on page 147]

In June 1946, this proclamation was issued, officially ending the ban on our literature in Guyana

[Picture on page 152]

Nathan Knorr, Ruth Miller, Milton Henschel, Alice Tracy (formerly Miller), and Daisy and John Hemmaway

[Picture on page 153]

John Ponting

[Picture on page 154]

Geraldine and James Thompson served in Guyana for 26 years

[Picture on page 168]

Group witnessing by boat

[Picture on page 169]

Preaching along the Moruka River in “Kingdom Proclaimer III”

[Picture on page 175]

Jerry and Delma Murray

[Picture on page 178]

Frederick McAlman and Eugene and Monica Fitzallen share the good news with an Amerindian man repairing his canoe

[Picture on page 184]

Circuit assembly in Baramita, 2003

[Pictures on page 185]

Many in the Baramita district have responded to Bible truth

[Picture on page 186]

Witnessing by dugout canoe

[Picture on page 188]

Sherlock and Juliet Pahalan

[Pictures on page 191]

Guyana​—“a pioneer’s paradise”

[Picture on page 194]

Kingdom Hall in Orealla, Guyana

[Picture on page 197]

The former branch office at 50 Brickdam, Georgetown, completed in 1987

[Picture on page 199]

Branch Committee, from left to right: Edsel Hazel, Ricardo Hinds, and Adin Sills

[Picture on page 200, 201]

The newly built Guyana branch

Iceland

The name Iceland may call to mind visions of ice, snow, and igloos. This impression of cold is reinforced when we look at a map. Few people live as far north as Iceland. Why, the northern edge of this island country nearly touches the Arctic Circle!

In reality, however, Iceland is not as cold as its name and location may suggest. A warm ocean current, originating a little north of the equator, helps to make the climate much milder than might be expected. There are no igloos. Icelandic society is highly modern, and people live in well-built houses equipped with geothermal heating.

Iceland is a land of sharp contrasts. In the depths of winter, the sun peeps over the horizon for but a few short hours each day. Though the long, dark winter nights are often enlivened by the spectacular northern lights, or aurora borealis, it almost seems that the sun is reluctant to make a stopover. However, several months of continuous daylight in the summer richly compensate for this. In the northernmost extremity of the country, the sun lingers above the horizon for several weeks. There you can see the sun at midnight.

Iceland is called the land of ice and fire, a fitting description. Glaciers cover about one tenth of the country. There is also fire​—Iceland is a hot spot of volcanic and geothermal activity. Dozens of volcanoes have erupted there, and over the last few centuries, eruptions have occurred on average every five or six years. Hot springs too are plentiful.

This sparsely populated country enjoys a natural beauty and an abundance of wildlife. Clean air, impressive waterfalls, rugged mountains, and extensive wilderness attract many a visitor. In early spring, migratory birds return to their summer habitats on coastal cliffs and in wetlands. Among these birds is the arctic tern, whose annual migration takes it to Antarctica, at the opposite end of the earth. Puffins, eiders, and sea gulls dot the cliffs and coast. Sheep graze in the countryside, and small, hardy Icelandic ponies roam the highlands. In early summer, salmon return by the thousands, swimming and jumping up the rivers and waterfalls to spawn.

The 290,570 inhabitants of Iceland are descendants of Vikings, who settled there more than 1,100 years ago. These settlers came mostly from Norway, and they spoke Old Norse, from which Icelandic is derived. A strong literary heritage along with the relative isolation of the country has helped to preserve the language. Consequently, people today can read the old sagas, which were mostly written in the 13th century. Icelanders are proud of their language, and there is strong resistance to introducing words of foreign origin.

Most of the early settlers were “heathens,” and it was not until late in the tenth century that attempts were made to convert Icelanders to “Christianity.” Shortly before the end of that century, some prominent Icelandic leaders were converted, and in the year 1000, Iceland’s parliament, Althing, asked one of the foremost heathen religious leaders to judge between the two religions. Surprisingly, he decided that only one faith should be practiced, the “Christian” one. This seems to have been accepted without much opposition. However, his directive allowed the people to worship heathen gods in secrecy and to continue practicing heathen customs. While the ruling was more a political settlement than a religious one, it may have played its part in making Icelanders independent thinkers, liberal toward religious issues.

Today, about 90 percent of the population belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church, which is the national church. Though the Bible is found in almost every home, few believe it to be God’s Word.

The Good News Reaches Iceland

By the dawn of the 20th century, many Icelanders had emigrated to Canada, partly to escape the hardship resulting from volcanic eruptions and severe cold. It was there that some first heard the good news of God’s Kingdom. One of these people was Georg Fjölnir Lindal. Shortly after dedicating his life to Jehovah God, he became a pioneer. Brother Lindal spoke the Icelandic language, so in 1929, when he was 40 years old, he decided to move to Iceland. Arriving in Reykjavík on June 1 of that year, he was the first one to preach the good news in Iceland.

Brother Lindal waited three months before his first shipment of literature arrived, but as soon as it did, he set out to witness to everyone in the country. By the end of October 1929, he had distributed 800 copies of The Harp of God in Icelandic. At that time, he wrote: “Since my arrival here, I have canvassed a number of towns with a population of about 11,000 people. The total population of Iceland is about 100,000 or a little more, so there are some 90,000 more to be reached. It will take considerable time for one person to canvass all the territory here, as traveling is very difficult. Iceland is a mountainous country with a broken coastline, no railways, and few automobile roads, so I have been traveling by boat most of the time.”

There is no hint of complaint in the few handwritten letters on file in an old manila folder that bears the stenciled label “Iceland.” In that same 1929 letter, Lindal wrote: “It gives me great joy to relate an encouraging experience that I had lately. I had occasion to call back at a certain place where I had previously canvassed. I met several people who had bought books the first time I was there. One man said: ‘I have read the Harp twice and am reading it the third time. It is a good book. Thank you for calling.’ Another remarked: ‘So you are back. That book is very good. Why don’t you get all of Judge Rutherford’s books in Icelandic?’ I told him that many of them could be had in Danish. He said: ‘Send me everything you have, yes, Pastor Russell’s volumes too, and I will have enough to study this winter.’ Others expressed their appreciation of the books. I am thankful to God for permitting me to bring the message of truth to those who have a hearing ear.”

It was a tremendous task for one person to reach everyone on this island, which is more than half the size of England. Iceland extends about 200 miles [300 km] from north to south and some 300 miles [500 km] from east to west. The coastline, including fjords and inlets, is nearly 4,000 miles [6,400 km] long. Yet, within ten years Brother Lindal covered the whole island, preaching the good news and distributing literature. He traveled along the coast by boat, and when he visited the farms inland, he used two ponies, one to carry him and the other to carry his literature and belongings. According to the brothers who were privileged to work with him some years before he left Iceland, Brother Lindal was a devoted and serious-minded brother, shy and reserved, a man of few words. He was a man of imposing stature​—tall—​almost too big for the small Icelandic ponies that he used for his travels. At times when there was no pony, he was strong enough to carry his books and possessions by himself.

Little did Brother Lindal realize, when he started his mission in Iceland in 1929, how difficult it would be and how much patience and perseverance it would take to break the ice, so to speak. For almost 18 years, Brother Lindal was the only Witness in Iceland. Despite his hard work, he did not see anyone take a stand for the Kingdom. In 1936 he wrote: “During the time that I have been here, I have placed in the hands of the people between 26,000 and 27,000 books. Many people have read them. Some seem to have taken their stand against the truth, but the majority remain entirely indifferent.”

Some, though, appreciated the message he brought them. For example, an elderly man accepted a copy of The Harp of God. When Brother Lindal called back several months later, he met the old man’s daughter, who told him that her father had liked the book and had studied it thoroughly before he died. In keeping with a pagan custom, he had even requested that at his death, the book be put in his coffin with him, which had been done.

Brother Lindal’s long, lonely stay in Iceland ended on March 25, 1947, when graduates of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead arrived. He continued his service there until he returned to Canada in 1953. Sixteen years later, Páll Heine Pedersen, who was then serving as a special pioneer in Iceland, decided to travel to Winnipeg, Canada, to meet Brother Lindal and to get some firsthand information about his work in Iceland because, by then, the missionaries who had worked with Brother Lindal in Iceland had left the country. While on vacation in the United States, Brother Pedersen traveled by bus to Winnipeg. On arriving, he learned that Brother Lindal had finished his earthly course that morning. He had served Jehovah faithfully until his death.

More Workers for the Harvest

In 1947 a new era of preaching the good news began with the arrival of the first Gilead missionaries, who were both from Denmark. One of them was Leo Larsen. Two more missionaries arrived in December 1948: Ingvard Jensen from Denmark and Oliver Macdonald from England. These new harvest workers followed up the work done by Brother Lindal and distributed large quantities of literature. During the winter, they would work in and around Reykjavík, and during the short summer, they turned their attention to working rural territories along the coast. Ingvard Jensen particularly remembers one preaching expedition. He wrote: “During my first summer in Iceland, I accompanied one of the other missionaries on a trip to the rurals. As a rule we would go by bus or boat to the selected territory, bringing with us bicycles, tents, sleeping bags, literature, and provisions. So one evening we sailed to the town of Stykkishólmur on the west coast, arriving on the afternoon of the next day. Our plan was to call on all the homes in the town and then to bicycle to the town of Borgarnes, about 60 miles [100 km] away. A daily ferry service operated from there to Reykjavík. The trip began well. It was mid-June, and we had sunshine. The first night, we crept into our sleeping bags after having worked part of the town. During the night, however, we couldn’t keep warm in the bags, and the next morning we found out why: Four inches [10 cm] of snow had fallen during the night! It was impossible to cut short the trip, since there were no boats for a week. So we had to stick to our schedule, work the town, and bicycle over a mountain road to the next town, working the farms on the way.”

They reached Borgarnes four days later, cycling through sleet, rain, and gusts of wind up to 70 miles per hour [110 km/hr]. This bad weather was partly offset, however, by the extraordinary hospitality of the farmers along the way, who always invited them in for coffee and something to eat. Brother Jensen recalls that they had eight to ten meals a day! He said: “I had the feeling that people would be offended if we did not accept their kind offer, and it gave us an opportunity to give them a thorough witness about Jehovah’s established Kingdom.”

During the first three years of missionary activity in Iceland, the brothers placed over 16,000 pieces of literature. The return visits and studies, however, did not increase proportionately​—people readily accepted literature but did not respond to the message. For example, Brother Larsen and his wife, Missie​—who had come from Denmark in 1950 to marry Leo—​went to the east coast, where they worked the towns of Höfn, Eskifjördhur, Neskaupstadhur, and Seydhisfjördhur. During this demanding trip, they placed 300 books and about as many booklets. Bookmarks with a brief Scriptural message and the address of the missionaries in Reykjavík had been printed and included with all books. Everyone taking literature was invited to write to get more information about the truth​—yet, no one did.

In 1952 it was decided that the territory on the northern coast deserved more attention. So in June of that year, Oliver Macdonald and his wife Sally, who had come from England in 1949 to marry him, were assigned to Akureyri as special pioneers. There they encountered fierce opposition from a group of Plymouth Brethren led by the British consul in town. He had many followers, and others listened to him when he attacked the Witnesses in lectures and in articles. Though the pioneers were not used to such opposition in Reykjavík, they faced the attack fearlessly, continuing their work as usual and using every opportunity to answer the false charges. Some of the newspapers carried their replies.

Besides working the town, the pioneers also went on trips to the outlying areas, placing literature and receiving the typical hospitality but not finding much genuine interest in the Kingdom message. Brother and Sister Macdonald moved back to Reykjavík in July 1953, but before they left Akureyri, they planted seeds of truth, which were to grow later.

A Foundation Is Laid

After 27 years of planting and watering, the brothers in Iceland finally began to see the fruits of their labors. Early in 1956, seven new ones took their stand for the Kingdom and dedicated their lives to Jehovah. Until that time, most of those who had shown interest in the truth did not stand fast in it. An exception was Iris Åberg, an English sister who eventually left the country. Now seven new ones were baptized, and a firm foundation was laid. By the year 1957, however, the missionaries and pioneers who had worked so hard to see the truth take hold had left Iceland, mostly for health reasons.

So it was that in 1957, one special pioneer sister​—Edith Marx, who had arrived from Denmark the year before—​was left with the little congregation. Harvest workers were needed to help the group, which suddenly found itself deprived of those who had helped the new ones to learn the truth and to become strong in it. Soon, though, special pioneers would arrive from Denmark, Sweden, and Germany. In addition, many publishers and pioneers moved to Iceland to share in Kingdom preaching. From then on, the increase continued slowly but steadily.

With growth came exciting developments, including regular circuit overseer visits and yearly district conventions. More literature was needed in the Icelandic language. The first Watchtower magazine in Icelandic was the issue of January 1, 1960. This gave great impetus to the work. What a joy it was for the brothers to be able to offer this publication to the Icelanders in their mother tongue! And how faith strengthening for the brothers themselves to benefit from the fine spiritual food every month! When it was announced at a circuit assembly in Reykjavík that The Watchtower would be published in Icelandic, a large replica of the magazine was uncovered behind the speaker. How the brothers cheered this new gift from Jehovah!

Brother Pedersen recalls that when he arrived in Iceland in October 1959, the booklet “This Good News of the Kingdom” was the only Icelandic publication then available for the field, and many householders already had a copy. The publishers offered The Watchtower and Awake! in Danish, English, German, or Swedish to those who could read one of these languages. Though many could understand one of these languages, it was far more meaningful for them to read The Watchtower in their mother tongue. This publication in the Icelandic language had a profound impact on the preaching work. The 41 publishers and pioneers obtained 809 subscriptions and placed 26,479 magazines during that service year. The brothers also saw an increase in the number of Bible studies.

Another milestone came with the establishment of a branch office on January 1, 1962. Iceland had been under the oversight of the United States branch and before that the Denmark branch. Then, in 1969, Jehovah’s Witnesses obtained legal recognition and were registered with the Ministry of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs. Now the Witnesses in Iceland had the same rights as all other denominations and were authorized to perform marriages and to officiate at funerals.

Opposition From the Clergy

The month the branch was established, the brothers experienced opposition from the clergy. One morning, headlines in a major newspaper announced that the bishop of the national church had issued a booklet warning against Jehovah’s Witnesses, advising people not listen to them. The title of the booklet was Vottar Jehóva​—advörun (Jehovah’s Witnesses—​A Warning). Other newspapers followed up the story. Vísir, the leading afternoon newspaper, published an interview with a brother serving at the branch office. The article explained our views, and soon other papers took up the story. In this way, a tremendous witness was given, and many people came to know of our work. Some readers wrote letters in support of the Witnesses, and these were published in the newspapers. The bishop fought back, publishing an “answer” to us. However, in a full-page article in the biggest newspaper, Morgunbladid, Jehovah’s Witnesses explained their work and beliefs thoroughly.

The booklet with the warning was distributed all over the country. The outcome was great publicity for Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the effect on our work was felt in the territory for many years. Because of all the publicity, one of the papers reported: “The bishop has become an advertising manager for Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Jehovah’s people became well-known, even out in remote areas of the country where the Witnesses were not yet preaching. While some people followed the advice of the bishop, the common reaction of most was one of curiosity. In the north, in Akureyri, however, there was hostility. At times, youngsters would throw stones at Heinrich and Katherine Karcher, who served there as pioneers. Years later, some other religious opposers in Akureyri redistributed the booklet from the bishop, having had it reprinted locally. Pentecostals did the same in Reykjavík, thinking that they could stop or hamper our preaching.

The Challenge of Organizing Conventions

Assemblies and conventions have always been joyful highlights for God’s people in Iceland. Even when the publishers were few, the brothers did not shy away from organizing assemblies. The first assembly was held in July 1951, when two brothers​—Percy Chapman from Canada and Klaus Jensen from Brooklyn—​visited Iceland on the way to the series of assemblies held in Europe that summer. Though there were only a handful of publishers in Iceland at the time, the peak attendance at the assembly was 55. The next assembly was held seven years later, in June 1958, during the visit of the zone overseer, Filip Hoffmann, and 38 listened to the public talk. Since then, assemblies and conventions are held every year.

Fridrik Gíslason was one of the few brothers who had parts on convention programs during the 1950’s. He relates: “I remember being in charge of the Food Service Department at the first assemblies. Apart from doing most of the work myself, it was not unusual for me to have three or four parts on the program each day. While working in the kitchen, I wore an apron. When hurrying into the hall to give a talk, I put my jacket on, though at times the brothers had to remind me to take off the apron. Now we have from 400 to 500 attending the assemblies, and many fine elders are qualified to handle parts on the program.”

Bible dramas are a thrilling and instructive high point of the district conventions. Because there were so few publishers in Iceland, however, dramas had to be presented with sound only. The Denmark branch helped to make the dramas come alive by providing color slides that could be synchronized with the sound track. Still, the dramas required a considerable amount of preparation. First, they had to be translated into Icelandic. Then they had to be taped using the voices of brothers who spoke the native language. Moreover, music and sound effects were added from the English tapes. Some had to play various roles, changing their voices according to the character to be represented. In time, some of the dramas were enacted in full costume.

The first, a drama about Queen Esther, was to be staged at the district convention in 1970. The brothers eagerly worked on that project and rehearsed the drama with much zeal. It was a new experience to dress in clothes like those used in Bible times and for the brothers to have a beard glued on their faces. It remained confidential that there was going to be a staged drama at the convention. This was a pleasant surprise. At small conventions, where nearly all know one another and everybody is close to the stage, some try to figure out who is playing which role. After seeing a drama, one sister said, “Imagine, I recognized only one brother in the drama, and he played the role of King Nebuchadnezzar!” She said the brother’s name and was surprised to learn that she was wrong. The brothers truly appreciate the hard work done by so many to present the program at the small conventions and assemblies. All benefit from the excellent lessons of the dramas presented in their own language.

International Conventions Bring Joy

Over the years, the brothers in Iceland have also enjoyed attending conventions in other countries. Five delegates from Iceland had the privilege of attending the Divine Will International Assembly in New York in 1958. Many attended the United Worshipers Assemblies in Europe in 1961 and the “Everlasting Good News” Assemblies in 1963. Others enjoyed the fellowship of brothers from many countries at the “Divine Victory” International Assemblies in 1973. More than one hundred publishers from Iceland attended the “Peace on Earth” International Assembly in Copenhagen, Denmark, August 5-10, 1969. This was the biggest group from Iceland to attend an international convention in a foreign land. That summer, 80 percent of the publishers in Iceland went abroad to attend a convention.

Because so many from Iceland planned to attend the 1969 convention, the Denmark branch arranged for the Icelandic brothers to sit together there. During the mornings, before the sessions began, the brothers from Iceland met in their section where they enjoyed résumés of the program in their own language.

Among those who attended this convention was a young man named Bjarni Jónsson. He was the son of a lawyer who owned the building in Reykjavík that the brothers rented as a missionary home and branch office. Bjarni knew little about the truth, and his purpose in traveling with the brothers to Copenhagen was not to attend the convention. How did this come about?

Kjell Geelnard, who was then branch servant, had some matters to discuss with Bjarni’s father. Kjell told him about the international assembly in Copenhagen and the group of brothers who were planning to attend. When the lawyer heard about this, he asked if it would be possible for his eldest son to join the group. He told Brother Geelnard that his son had just finished secondary school, and he would like to give him a trip abroad, so it might as well be to Copenhagen. Kjell thought that this was a good idea and told the lawyer that if Bjarni would like to attend the assembly to see what was going on there, accommodations could be arranged for him in Copenhagen. Pleased to hear this, the lawyer asked his son if he wanted to join the group of Jehovah’s Witnesses going to the assembly. The son readily agreed.

The Rooming Department was contacted to find accommodations for Bjarni in Copenhagen. The brothers found a place for him with a family of Witnesses. An American delegate who was going to share a room with an Icelandic brother named Jakob had canceled his reservation, so Bjarni got his place. For some reason, however, Jakob did not turn up. The only one who went to the accommodations was Bjarni. Since the Rooming Department had not told the host family that Bjarni was coming in place of the American brother, they assumed that their guest was Jakob.

As always when brothers from different places meet, they shared experiences. The Danish brothers were surprised to find that “Jakob” had little to say. Bjarni, on the other hand, was a little confused when his host and hostess kept calling him Jakob. He thought that since Jakob was a Bible name, it might be a custom among Jehovah’s Witnesses to use Bible names in conversation with one another. The misunderstanding was cleared up when one of the brothers in the home where Bjarni was staying met a Danish brother who was pioneering in Iceland. He asked the brother whether “Jakob” was new in the truth because he had so little to say about the work in Iceland. The Danish brother explained that “Jakob” was actually Bjarni, a student from Iceland traveling with the brothers to Copenhagen. Bjarni’s hosts treated him with warm hospitality and invited him to stay another week while he did some sightseeing in Denmark. This kindness touched Bjarni’s heart.

In fact, Bjarni attended the assembly. And even though he did not have a background knowledge of the truth to help him enjoy the program to the full, what he saw and heard impressed him greatly. As soon as he returned to Iceland, he and his family began to study the Bible. Bjarni made good progress in the truth and was baptized in 1971. He has served as a member of the Branch Committee in Iceland since 1979.

Svanberg Jakobsson has been a translator at the branch in Iceland for many years and is now the overseer of the Translation Department. As a young publisher, he attended the “Divine Victory” International Assembly in London, England, in 1973. He relates: “I remember how thrilling it was for me to watch the brothers and sisters stream into the convention stadium by the thousands. It fascinated me to see the many brothers and sisters from Africa, all in their colorful traditional dress. It was an unforgettable experience to be with tens of thousands of brothers, to listen to the program with them, to sing with them, to join with them in prayer, to eat with them, and simply to be among them.”

Sólborg Sveinsdóttir, who was baptized in 1958, made the six-day trip to Denmark by ship with four of her children to attend the convention in Copenhagen in 1961. Sólborg belonged to a small isolated group in Keflavík. How did it affect her to attend a big international convention? She says: “It was breathtaking to hear over 30,000 brothers united in singing the Kingdom songs in five languages​—that had an emotional impact on me. Everything was so well organized.”

Traveling to international conventions was expensive, but the brothers felt that doing so was more than worth it. To attend such wonderful spiritual feasts prepared by Jehovah and to be among thousands of others of like faith was a blessing.

A Spiritual “Waiter” Pays a Visit

Many have moved to Iceland to serve where the need is greater. For all of them, the move has meant a long and difficult struggle to learn the complex Icelandic language. Nevertheless, sometimes a misunderstanding in language can be a blessing in disguise. For example, Heinrich Karcher was working from house to house one day, presenting himself as a minister, or servant. At one house, a young woman came to the door, and as soon as he introduced himself, she invited him in. She had misunderstood who he was because in Icelandic the same word means both “servant” and “waiter.” She thought that he was a colleague of her husband, a waiter at the local hotel. She knew that her husband would soon be home, so she thought that she might just as well invite his supposed workmate in to see him. Of course, they had a good laugh when the misunderstanding was cleared up.

The husband arrived, and our spiritual “waiter” served the young couple a fine spiritual meal, which they liked very much. They even asked Heinrich to come again and to bring his wife with him. Soon a regular Bible study was established, and the interested couple began witnessing to others. Even when working at the local hotel, the young waiter talked to all who would listen. In time, the couple were baptized. They were happy that this spiritual “waiter” had called on them and that he had not held back from giving a witness in a language other than his own.

Over the years, there have been many funny incidents because of misunderstandings when foreign brothers were learning the language. For instance, shortly after her arrival in Iceland, Sally Macdonald prepared to say as an introduction: “I am visiting people in this neighborhood to share with them some interesting things from the Bible.” But she mixed up the word for visit (heimsækja) with the word for persecute (ofsækja) and smilingly said: “I am persecuting people in this neighborhood.”

From House to House With a Lutheran Minister

For many years, Holger and Tove Frederiksen from Denmark served faithfully as special pioneers in Iceland, and for a while they served in the traveling work. Even though it was difficult for Tove to learn and master the Icelandic language, she helped many into the truth because of her zeal and enthusiasm.

On one occasion while serving in the circuit work, Holger was working with a young publisher from house to house in a small village. To their surprise, the local Lutheran minister joined them. How did this come about?

A little while earlier, they visited the minister at his home. He was outwardly friendly and invited them into his office. After the minister glanced over the books they were offering, he said, “These books contain false teachings!” Then he suddenly stood up, raised both his arms, and declared God’s damnation upon them. “I forbid you to preach here in my parish!” he shouted. Holger told the minister that he did not have any right to prevent them from preaching and that they were going to continue their preaching work. Then the minister said, “If you continue to preach to people here in my parish, I am going to go with you.” Holger told him that he was welcome to do so.

After the minister followed them on two visits to the houses closest to his home, they met Tove and another sister, who were surprised to see who had joined in the house-to-house work. The minister now invited all of them into his home for a cup of coffee. They had a friendly conversation. Holger had the feeling that the minister’s sudden and unexpected hospitality was somehow meant to prevent them from preaching to everyone in the territory. So the next day, they went back and worked through the whole village, placing much literature and meeting many people with a hearing ear.

Stopped by an Avalanche

Preaching to people living in the countryside often involves driving over mountain passes where the roads are icy and covered with snowdrifts during the dark winter months. In December 1974, while in the traveling work, Kjell and Iiris Geelnard visited Akureyri, on the northern coast. During the week with the congregation there, they made a trip of over 50 miles [80 km] to the town of Húsavík. They took with them Holger and Tove Frederiksen. The four of them worked the territory in and around Húsavík for a few days and ended the visit by having a public talk with a slide presentation at a school. As the meeting began, a storm moved into the area, bringing freezing winds, snow, and sleet. After the meeting, as those attending gathered their things to go home, the whole town experienced a blackout caused by the snowstorm. The brothers left the school in darkness, but all were happy that it had been possible to show the slides before this happened.

The Geelnards and Frederiksens had to get back to Akureyri. They asked the local police and some bus and truck drivers about the road conditions and were assured that earlier there was little problem. So they decided to leave as quickly as possible, but it took time to pack by candlelight. And when they went to buy gasoline for the car, the attendant had to pump the gasoline by hand. Finally, they were ready to leave by about nine o’clock in the evening.

Describing the trip, Kjell said: “At first everything went fine, but the snow was getting heavier. At times it was so difficult to see where the road was that Holger had to get out of the car in order to guide us with a flashlight. Then we got caught in snowdrifts. We managed to get out of the drifts a few times by pushing and shoveling, but finally we were stopped by a great wall of snow. We later found out that it was snow from an avalanche on the mountain above. Under normal circumstances, it takes two hours to drive from Húsavík to Akureyri, but by then we had been on the road for six hours and had driven only halfway.

“There we were at three o’clock in the morning​—wet, tired, and cold. Imagine our joy when we noticed that the lights were on at a nearby farm. That gave us the courage to go there and knock on the door. Holger, a polite and considerate person, knocked on the front door. When nobody answered, he opened it, went upstairs, and knocked gently on the bedroom door. Though surprised, the farmer and his wife took the sudden intrusion very well. They explained that they had gone to bed when the blackout occurred and had forgotten to turn off the lights!

“Now we experienced a heartwarming example of Icelandic hospitality. The farmer and his wife moved their sleeping children to another room so that the four of us could have two rooms to sleep in, and after a little while, there were hot coffee and delicious bread on the kitchen table. The next morning after breakfast, the farmer insisted that we stay for lunch. After eating lunch with the family, we continued our journey to Akureyri because by then two big snowplows had cleared the road. The hospitality of the farmer and his wife gave us the opportunity to talk to them about Bible truth.”

Preaching on a Fishing Trawler

Some years ago, Kjell Geelnard met a young man in the field ministry. His name was Fridrik. The eldest son in the family, he was spiritually-minded and enjoyed discussing the Bible. He had many questions and showed deep interest in gaining Bible knowledge. However, it was not an easy task to find him again, since he was an engineer on a fishing trawler. Most of the time, he was at sea, with just a few days at home between trips. Yet, by checking the trawler schedule and by asking Fridrik’s mother when he was expected home, Kjell was able to meet him, sometimes at the harbor and sometimes at home. Thus, the brothers helped him to progress spiritually.

Toward the end of 1982, Fridrik was invited to an assembly in Reykjavík. By then his faith in Jehovah had started to grow, and he prayed that the way might be opened for him to attend. It then happened that a man in his crew who had been given time off from the fishing tour suddenly decided not to take it. That opened the way for Fridrik to be excused from work and to attend the assembly. The program deeply impressed Fridrik, who was now convinced that he wanted to serve Jehovah.

When Fridrik came back to his hometown, he told his fiancée about his decision and the effect it would have on his life. He told her that he wanted her as his wife but if she could not see herself being married to a Witness of Jehovah, she should break off their engagement. The next morning, there was a knock on the door of the missionary home. Outside stood Fridrik and his fiancée. Fridrik’s message was short but firm: “Helga wants a Bible study!” So the missionaries arranged to study with Helga. Later that day, one of Fridrik’s younger brothers also asked for a Bible study. During the same week, Fridrik brought his youngest sister to the meeting and said: “Unnur wants a Bible study!”

Fridrik wanted to symbolize his dedication to Jehovah by water baptism. First, though, he had to build on his knowledge and then go over the questions for baptism. The problem was that he had to spend most of his time at sea. If Kjell could not visit Fridrik at his home, it might be possible at his workplace. The solution? Fridrik hired Kjell to work with him in the engine room on board the trawler. In early 1983, equipped with Bible and study material, Kjell stepped aboard the trawler Svalbakur.

“The work and service on board Svalbakur was a memorable experience,” recalls Kjell. “The workday started at 6:30 a.m. and ended at 6:30 p.m. At noon, we had lunch, and there was a coffee break both in the morning and in the afternoon. Time outside working hours was used to study with Fridrik, and there were many opportunities to witness to other members of the crew. The evenings were used to study and discuss spiritual topics. Sometimes it was past midnight when we went to bed. During lunchtime, we tried to spend only a short time in the dining room so that we might discuss the daily text in Fridrik’s cabin.”

Of course, it attracted attention among the men on board that a missionary was now a member of the crew. For the first few days, the men were wary of Kjell, since they did not know what to expect. However, some of the crew listened eagerly to what Kjell had to say. One of them showed considerable interest, and when he learned of the lunchtime discussion of the daily text, he wanted to join in. One day when the conversation in the dining room got lengthy, he became impatient and said to Kjell and Fridrik in front of all the others: “Shouldn’t we go up and read the daily text now?”

One evening, Kjell and Fridrik invited the crew to Fridrik’s cabin to consider material from an Awake! magazine on alcoholism. Seven of the crew came to this long-remembered meeting, and news about this meeting reached the crews of other trawlers as well.

“After I had spent almost two weeks of service and work on board the Svalbakur, we reached the harbor again,” says Kjell. “By then I had gone through the baptism questions with Fridrik, besides examining with him many other Bible topics, witnessing to other members of the crew, and placing magazines and literature with them.” Fridrik was baptized in the spring of 1983. Fridrik’s fiancée, Helga; his mother; and his sister all took their stand for the truth.

Studies by Telephone

It has always been a challenge to preach the good news to people who live in remote areas on this big island. The telephone has been an effective tool to reach and keep in contact with interested people.

Many have benefited from this way of sharing the good news. Some years ago, a woman named Oddný Helgadóttir visited her son and daughter-in-law, who were studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses. When they related to her what they were learning, she wanted to study the Bible too. However, Oddný lived in a remote area on the northwestern coast of Iceland, more than 200 miles [300 km] from the nearest congregation. When a sister, Gudrún Ólafsdóttir, offered to study with her over the telephone, she happily accepted. After an opening prayer, Oddný readily answered the study questions set out in the book. In her thorough preparation for the study, Oddný wrote out the cited scriptures so that she could read them as soon as they were referred to. Thus, she did not need time to search for scriptures while the study was under way. On one occasion, they studied in Gudrún’s home when Oddný visited that area. They both felt a little uneasy, since this was the first time they studied face-to-face, so Gudrún jokingly suggested that she go into the next room where there was another phone!

When Oddný began to understand the truth, she started witnessing to her husband, Jón. When he showed interest, she was not sure that it was fitting for her to conduct a study with him. She learned that she could conduct the study but that it would be appropriate for her to wear a head covering while conducting. Besides studying with her husband, she also witnessed to neighbors. Next, she expressed her desire to be baptized. Gudrún arranged for her to go over the questions in the book Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry on the telephone with an elder, to see whether she was qualified. It was obvious that she was except for one thing: She had not yet formally resigned from the church.

About one week later, Oddný phoned Gudrún to tell her that she had now resigned from the church. Her husband had done the same. This was a big decision for him, since he had been the chairman of the local parish council. Later, Oddný was baptized at a circuit assembly. The assembly was a pleasant experience for her as she had met with a small group of Witnesses only once before that. In an interview on the assembly program, she was asked if it was difficult to be so isolated. She answered that she never felt alone, since she knew that Jehovah is also present on the northwestern coast of Iceland. Then she added that she was sorry her husband could not attend the assembly but that he had assured her that he would come when he was ready to be baptized. He kept his promise! Soon they moved to a more populated area so that they could attend meetings regularly.

A Need for Missionary Homes and Kingdom Halls

When Nathan H. Knorr from the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses visited Iceland in 1968, he wanted to find a more suitable building for a branch office and for accommodating the missionaries. Before then, various homes were rented. Now the brothers started looking for land where they could erect a building that would contain a Kingdom Hall, a missionary home, and a branch office. Meanwhile, a suitable house at Hrefnugata 5 in Reykjavík was rented, and on October 1, 1968, the six missionaries moved into it. This building served as a center for the work in Iceland during the next five years. Later, the brothers acquired a well-situated plot of land at Sogavegur 71, Reykjavík. In the spring of 1972, construction on the new branch building got under way. This turned out to be a major challenge for the few brothers there, who had little knowledge of engineering and construction. There were no building contractors or masons among them, so it was necessary to hire contractors who were not Witnesses. These contractors showed great willingness to cooperate and allowed the brothers to work along with them on the project. The brothers rented part of an old house next to the building site as a shelter where they would eat. Sisters took turns cooking food in their homes and taking it to the building site to feed the workers.

The building work served as a fine witness in the area. The contractors and the city authorities had good opportunity to become acquainted with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Others stopped by the site to see the progress. When the time came to do the inside plastering, a brother from Denmark who was a professional mason came to help. Also, sisters did much of the work. When some supervisors from the city came to visit the building site, they noticed that the sisters were using the cement mixer. One of the supervisors said: “I think the women in our church could learn something from this. It would certainly be more successful to build churches by working than by walking around with a collection box, begging for money.” The building was dedicated in May 1975, when Milton G. Henschel visited Iceland and delivered the dedication talk. The building served for many years as the main missionary home in the country as well as the Kingdom Hall for the congregations in Reykjavík. Now it serves as the branch office.

By 1987 a new Kingdom Hall and missionary home was built in the town of Akureyri. The evidence of unity and international brotherhood existing among Jehovah’s people was obvious when more than 60 brothers and sisters from Finland and Sweden came to help the brothers in Iceland with that building project.

“The Best Kind of Wood”

Over the years, representatives of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses have visited Iceland, and these visits have always been a great source of encouragement to the brothers. The highlight of 1968 was the visit of Brother Knorr, previously mentioned. He gave a stirring talk to the brothers, shared experiences, and discussed the progress of the Kingdom-preaching work in Iceland.

Brother Henschel’s first visit to Iceland was in May 1970. Some sleepy missionaries welcomed him. The reason for that was not only that Brother Henschel arrived very early in the morning but that Hekla, a famous volcano, had started to erupt the day before, and the missionaries had spent the night watching it!

Brother Henschel gave special attention to the missionaries and the special pioneers. He invited all of them to a special meeting and shared with them experiences from his own pioneering days during the Great Depression. He told of how the pioneers had exchanged literature for chickens, eggs, butter, vegetables, a pair of glasses, and even a puppy! In that way, the work had continued during difficult times, and the pioneers had not lacked the necessities of life.

Visitors to Iceland will quickly notice that the food is not what they are used to. Among the special Icelandic dishes is svid, a sheep’s head cut in half and boiled. Imagine looking down at your plate to see half a sheep’s head with teeth and one eye! Many foreigners find it hard to look svid “in the eye.” Of course, fresh fish is always available. One Icelandic specialty is hardfiskur: fish that is filleted and dried. It is eaten uncooked, preferably with some butter. Typically, this fish is hard and has to be beaten to become soft. Thus, it was with special anticipation that the missionaries waited to see Brother Henschel’s reaction when served this fish. After he tasted it, the missionaries asked him how he liked it. He thought for a moment and then came up with a diplomatic reply: “Well, I think this is the best kind of wood I have ever eaten.”

Many other visits by representatives of the Governing Body have been memorable and encouraging. These visits have impressed on the brothers in Iceland that despite their few numbers and isolated location, they are part of the international brotherhood, united in bonds of Christian love.

Working With Doctors and the Media

A Hospital Liaison Committee (HLC) made up of four brothers began serving in Iceland in 1992. For training, two of the brothers attended an HLC seminar in England, and the other two, a seminar held in Denmark. When the newly formed HLC had been organized, a meeting was held with the medical staff of a large university hospital. One hundred and thirty people showed up for the meeting, including doctors, nurses, lawyers, and hospital administrators. Since this was the first meeting that the HLC held with medical professionals, the brothers were, understandably, rather apprehensive. However, the meeting was a success, and afterward, they arranged to meet with smaller numbers of doctors and other professionals at various hospitals. The brothers also established a good rapport with some leading surgeons and anesthesiologists. These contacts have helped to avert and solve problems concerning treatment without blood.

A new law on patient rights was passed in 1997. The law stipulates that no treatment may be given to a patient without his or her consent and that if the will of an unconscious patient is known, it must be respected. The law also states that children 12 years of age and older must always be consulted as to their treatment. Gudmundur H. Gudmundsson, chairman of the HLC, reports: “Generally, doctors are very cooperative, and problems are rare. Even major surgery is done without blood.”

When the January 8, 2000, Awake! on bloodless medicine and surgery was published, the branch office encouraged the brothers to make a special effort to distribute that issue of the magazine as widely as possible. The branch offered suggestions on how to offer the magazine and how to answer questions on the blood issue. At first some hesitated to present the magazine, but soon they saw that people wanted to know about the subject. Over 12,000 copies were distributed to the public. That amounts to 1 magazine for every 22 inhabitants of the country. One brother said, “My problem was covering the territory because I had so many good discussions.” A sister said, “Only two people refused to accept the magazines from me!”

A lady who hosted a weekly program on nationwide radio received this magazine on bloodless medicine. On her program, she related how she had got the magazine, and then she reviewed the history of blood transfusions as explained in Awake! She ended her discussion by saying that anyone who would like to get more information on bloodless medicine could request a publication on this subject from the Witnesses.

The special campaign with this issue of Awake! opened the eyes of many to the reasonableness of our stand on blood. Further, they came to know that Jehovah’s Witnesses do not want to die. Rather, they are seeking the best medical treatment possible. As a result, some who had been misinformed in the past regarding our stand on blood became receptive to the Kingdom message.

Two Halls in Four Days

For the brothers in Iceland, an outstanding event of the 1995 service year was the building of two Kingdom Halls during the month of June, one in Keflavík and the other in Selfoss. These were the first Kingdom Halls in Iceland to be built using the quickly built construction method. It took only four days to build both of them. The loving help of the brothers in Norway made it possible to accomplish this task. The Norway branch sent most of the building materials, and more than 120 brothers and sisters from Norway came to help with the project. The most common remark heard at the building sites was: “This is just amazing.” The brothers in Iceland had been reading and hearing about building Kingdom Halls quickly, but now they were seeing it with their own eyes. Of course, this was amazing, considering that the number of Kingdom Halls in Iceland doubled in just a few days!

Besides acquiring two new Kingdom Halls, the brothers in Iceland were encouraged by the fine association with the brothers and sisters who came from Norway at their own expense to spend their vacation time working on the halls. What an evidence of our international brotherhood! The brothers in Iceland also contributed to these building projects. More than 150 local publishers shared in the work, about half the number in the entire country.

These Kingdom Hall projects were also a fine witness to the public. Two nationwide television stations covered the story on their news programs and showed pictures from both building sites. The project was also reported on by several radio stations and in newspapers. A minister of the local church in Selfoss did not like the attention being given to the Witnesses. In the local newspaper, he published an article warning against what he considered to be the dangerous false teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He mentioned that weak and sensitive people should especially be on guard. In a radio interview, he repeated the same warnings. However, the words of the minister did not have the impact he had hoped for. Instead, most people were amazed at the Kingdom Hall projects, and many whom the brothers met in the preaching work said that they were surprised at the minister’s reaction.

About one week after the minister’s warning was published, the newspaper printed a cartoon. In the foreground of the cartoon, you see the church, and in the background, the Kingdom Hall. A river runs between the two buildings, and some smiling, well-dressed brothers are walking over the bridge from the Kingdom Hall toward the church, service bags in hand. Outside the church, a woman leaps in panic from her wheelchair. A man with his foot in a cast and another man, apparently blind, run, shouting: “Flee, flee, the Witnesses are coming!” On the steps of the church stands the minister, looking surprised. Many enjoyed this cartoon. The editorial staff of the newspaper chose it as the best cartoon of the year, enlarged it, and displayed it on their office wall. There it remained for several years.

Exhibition Gives a Good Witness

During the 2001 service year, an exhibition was presented that focused on the neutral stand taken by Jehovah’s Witnesses before and during World War II as they bore up under Nazi persecution. Held at three locations, the exhibition had a combined attendance of 3,896. During the final weekend, the exhibition hall in Reykjavík was packed with more than 700 visitors. The video Jehovah’s Witnesses Stand Firm Against Nazi Assault in Icelandic ran during the whole exhibition in all three locations. Many of the visitors used the opportunity to sit down and watch the entire video.

The firm stand of the Witnesses in the concentration camps impressed visitors who had not previously known this side of our history. One professor who visited the exhibition site several times said that the exhibition had made a deep impression on her and that she had changed her attitude toward Jehovah’s Witnesses. She was particularly moved by the strong faith of the Witnesses in the concentration camps. Unlike other prisoners, they could have gained freedom by denying their beliefs.

Fine coverage of the exhibition was provided by one nationwide television station and by local television and radio stations. When the exhibition opened, a Lutheran minister attended with his wife and daughter. Some time later, a brother invited the minister to visit Bethel, and he accepted. A few days after the visit, a woman approached the minister with a question about a certain Bible text. The minister encouraged her to contact the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses, as he was sure that they would provide an answer. A brother later conducted a Bible study with the minister.

Translation Over the Years

It has often been a challenge for the few publishers in Iceland to translate all the spiritual food from “the faithful and discreet slave” into the Icelandic language. (Matt. 24:45) In the early years, Icelandic Witnesses who lived in Canada did most of the translation work. Later this work was done in Iceland. After the first missionaries arrived in 1947, they became acquainted with an elderly poet who lived in the same house as they did. He knew English and helped the missionaries to learn the language. He also offered to do some translation work for them, so the brothers hired him to translate the book “Let God Be True” and the booklet The Joy of All the People. Unfortunately, he used an old poetic style with too many archaic words and expressions, and even though one of the new missionaries and Brother Lindal checked and retyped the translation, the book never became the fine study aid expected. Nevertheless, the book was widely distributed from its first printing, and altogether 14,568 copies were printed. Over 20,000 copies of the booklet were printed in 1949. Later the brothers hired another translator to translate the book What Has Religion Done for Mankind?

During those years, a small team of brothers translated a number of booklets. One was “This Good News of the Kingdom,” released in 1959. This booklet helped the brothers to start many new Bible studies. At this point approval was given to publish The Watchtower in Icelandic.

Many fine books were translated and released in the years that followed: “This Means Everlasting Life” was released in 1962; From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained, in 1966; The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life, in 1970; You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, in 1984; and Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life, in 1996. A quarterly edition of Awake! was added to the list of Icelandic publications in 1982.

For many years, the brothers did not have the songbook in Icelandic. In 1960, four songs were translated and mimeographed for an assembly. Then at the district convention in November 1963, a little songbook with 30 selected songs in Icelandic was released, to the joy of the brothers.

Until then, congregation singing had been done in a blend of languages. Günther and Rut Haubitz arrived in Iceland from Germany in 1958 as special pioneers. Rut still remembers how the foreign brothers just used their own respective songbooks in Danish, English, Finnish, German, Norwegian, or Swedish. Icelanders chimed in with whichever language they knew best. She says, “It was a rather mixed choir!” Gradually, over the years, more Kingdom songs were translated, but it was not until 1999 that a complete songbook with all 225 songs became available in Icelandic. How grateful the brothers are for this provision to praise Jehovah!

The district convention held in August 1999 featured something new for Iceland. The book Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy! in Icelandic was released simultaneously with the English edition. At the convention, when the speaker announced the release of the book in English, all in the audience applauded. But instead of telling the brothers that this book would be released later in Icelandic, he continued by showing an Icelandic copy of the book, saying​—to the great excitement of all—​that the book had already been translated into Icelandic! Since then, Isaiah’s Prophecy​—Light for All Mankind I and II were also released simultaneously with the English editions.

Bethel Expansion and Further Increase

The branch facilities underwent renovation in 1998. Two apartments across the street were purchased to house Bethelites and to allow more space in the office for the Translation Department. In recent years, the translators have also benefited from visits by brothers from world headquarters in New York. These brothers have taught them how to use computer programs that were developed by Jehovah’s Witnesses and are specially designed for translation work.

Recently, representatives from headquarters conducted the Course in Improved English Comprehension at the branch. The course has helped the translators to gain deeper insight into the English text before they start translation.

The branch office writes: “Looking back over the years, we are happy that some had the courage to start translating into Icelandic, even under primitive conditions and with limited knowledge of the language. Though the quality of translated material was not the same in the early days as it is today, we do not ‘despise the day of small things.’ (Zech. 4:10) We rejoice to see that Jehovah’s name and Kingdom have also been made known in Iceland and that many people have learned the truth.”

Presently, there are eight full-time workers at the branch office. Others commute to Bethel and are helping part-time. To replace the Kingdom Hall at the branch, a new Kingdom Hall has now been built for the congregations in Reykjavík. Consequently, plans are under way to renovate the branch building in order to accommodate more Bethel workers.

Preaching the good news in Iceland has required perseverance, self-sacrifice, and love. Truly, it can be said that the hard work performed by zealous Kingdom proclaimers in Iceland for the past 76 years has not been in vain. Many faithful brothers and sisters have had a share in the harvest work. A great number have moved from other countries to serve for some years, and their work will long be remembered. Some have stayed and made Iceland their permanent home. The perseverance of many fine native Icelandic publishers is also commendable.

The average number of Kingdom publishers is small, but Jehovah’s Witnesses have become well-known in the country. Now seven missionaries are serving in rural areas and in small congregations on the island. This past service year, 543 people attended the Memorial of Christ’s death, and close to 180 home Bible studies are being conducted.

Perhaps one day the brothers in Iceland will have the sort of increase described at Isaiah 60:22: “The little one himself will become a thousand, and the small one a mighty nation. I myself, Jehovah, shall speed it up in its own time.” Meanwhile, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Iceland are determined to accomplish the work with which they have been entrusted by the King, Jesus Christ​—the preaching of the Kingdom good news. They are confident that God will make the seeds of truth grow in receptive and grateful hearts!​—Matt. 24:14; 1 Cor. 3:6, 7; 2 Tim. 4:5.

[Box on page 205]

Where First Names Become Last

In harmony with local tradition, Icelanders do not have family names: People address one another by their first name. The last name of a child is determined by combining the father’s first name with the suffix -son for a boy and -dóttir for a girl. For example, the son and daughter of a man named Haraldur would take the last names Haraldsson and Haraldsdóttir. The name of a woman does not change when she marries. Because so many people share the same name, telephone books list not only a person’s name, address, and phone number but also his or her occupation. Genealogical records allow Icelanders to trace their ancestry back more than a thousand years.

[Box on page 208]

An Overview of Iceland

The land: This island country is situated just below the Arctic Circle between the North Atlantic Ocean, the Greenland Sea, and the Norwegian Sea. Volcanoes, hot springs, and steaming geysers abound. Glaciers cover one tenth of the land.

The people: Descendants of Vikings who came mostly from Norway, Icelanders are generally hardworking, innovative, and tolerant. Most people live near the coast.

The language: Though Icelandic is the official language, many Icelanders also speak two or more foreign languages, typically English, German, or a Scandinavian tongue.

The livelihood: The fishing industry plays a vital role in the economy of Iceland. Trawlers bring in capelin, cod, haddock, and herring, most of which are processed and exported.

The food: Fish and lamb are commonplace. A special Icelandic dish is boiled sheep’s head.

The climate: Warmed by an Atlantic current, the climate is temperate. Winters are mild yet windy. Summers are cool.

[Box/Picture on page 210]

September 6, 1942: “There is still only one pioneer working in this land, so there is not much to report. The population of Iceland is about 120,000 people, and there are about 6,000 farmsteads. The only way to reach these farms is by using saddle and pack ponies. To call at all of these homes, it is necessary to travel approximately 10,000 miles [16,000 km], and there are many mountains and mountain torrents to cross. There is very little interest in the message so far.”

These words of Georg F. Lindal were written after he had pioneered in Iceland for 13 years. He was to remain the only publisher in Iceland for five more years.

[Box/Picture on page 213, 214]

A Record of Faithful Service

Oliver Macdonald was among the early missionaries assigned to Iceland, graduating from the 11th class of Gilead. He arrived in December 1948 along with Ingvard Jensen. They traveled there from New York by freight ship. The journey took 14 days, and the North Atlantic Ocean was rough. They were both seasick for most of the journey.

In March 1950, Brother Macdonald married Sally Wild from England, who had worked at Britain Bethel. Mac, as he was affectionately called, and Sally did much good work in those early years, and people they studied with are still faithfully serving Jehovah.

In 1957, Mac and Sally returned to England, where Sally died of cancer that had been diagnosed in Iceland. Mac entered full-time service again after Sally’s death and served as a regular pioneer and then as a traveling overseer for 13 years. In 1960, he married Valerie Hargreaves, a special pioneer. Together they served in various circuits in Britain, from northern Scotland to the Channel Islands, off the southern coast of England. Working their way northward through the circuit and on to the Shetlands off the northern coast of Scotland, Mac would say, “The next stop is Iceland!” never really thinking they would go there.

However, in 1972, Mac and Valerie were appointed as missionaries and reassigned to Iceland. Mac served as branch servant and later as Branch Committee coordinator. He and Valerie stayed in Iceland for seven years and then were assigned to Ireland as missionaries, first in Dublin and later in Northern Ireland. After serving in Ireland for 20 years, Mac died of cancer in December 1999, having spent 60 years in full-time service. Valerie is still serving as a regular pioneer in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

[Picture]

Valerie and Oliver Macdonald in Reykjavík, 1970’s

[Box/Picture on page 218]

Reykjavík

Reykjavík, which means “Smoky Bay,” is the capital of Iceland and was named by the first permanent settler, Ingólfur Arnarson, for the steam rising from its hot springs. Today Reykjavík is a bustling modern city with a total population of about 180,000.

[Box/Picture on page 223, 224]

They Made Iceland Their Home

Páll Heine Pedersen comes from Denmark. He was assigned to Iceland as a special pioneer in 1959. In 1961 he attended two of the “United Worshipers” International Conventions in Europe, where he met Violet. She had come from California, U.S.A., to attend several of these conventions.

After the conventions, Páll made his way back to Iceland, and Violet went back home to California. They corresponded for five months, and in January 1962, Violet came to Iceland to marry Páll. He was still pioneering, being the only Witness in a sparsely populated area in northwestern Iceland. They lived in a small town where the midwinter sun does not shine for two months. To reach some of the people in the territory, they had to travel steep and often very icy mountain roads, and their only means of transportation was a motorcycle that Páll had brought with him from Denmark. Since Violet had been born and raised in sunny California, many of the brothers thought that she would not last long in Iceland. But she did, and she grew to love the country and the people.

Páll and Violet pioneered together until their daughter, Elísabet, was born in 1965. Páll continued pioneering until 1975, and Violet pioneered occasionally during those years. In 1977 they decided to move to California because of Páll’s health. In time, they felt a strong urge to serve where the need for Kingdom publishers is greater. They took up pioneering again, and when their daughter had finished school and was of age, they were assigned to return to Iceland as missionaries. They served in the missionary field and the traveling work for a few years. In 1989, Páll was asked to serve as a member of the Branch Committee. Then, in 1991, a Bethel Home was officially opened in Iceland, with Páll and Violet as the first Bethel family members. They continue to serve there.

[Box/Picture on page 228, 229]

Known for Their Hospitality

Fridrik Gíslason and his wife, Ada, were among the seven who were baptized in 1956. Fridrik and Ada learned the truth from Oliver and Sally Macdonald. At first, the Bible study was conducted with Fridrik, while Ada was involved with her sewing club all winter long. When the sewing club finished in the spring, she would sit in the kitchen during the study. Eventually, her curiosity in the Bible discussions moved her to ask if she could sit in on the study as a nonparticipant. Soon, though, she became thoroughly involved.

Later, an English Watchtower Study was regularly held in their home. They began attending meetings at the missionary home. “I recall that we used to have meetings in a small room in the attic where the missionaries lived,” says Fridrik. “There was room for 12 chairs, but sometimes when more than the usual number showed up, we opened the door to the next little room. What a difference today​—now three congregations fill the Kingdom Hall in Reykjavík!”

Fridrik and Ada became well-known for their hospitality. Though they raised six children, their home has always been open to the brothers. During the early years of the congregation, many who arrived in Iceland from other countries enjoyed staying with Fridrik and Ada, who accommodated them until they could find homes of their own.

[Box/Picture on page 232]

The Bible in Icelandic

The earliest Bible translation into Icelandic is found in a 14th-century work called Stjórn, which contains translations and paraphrases of parts of the Hebrew Scriptures. The first complete “New Testament” in Icelandic was printed in 1540. The translator was Oddur Gottskálksson, son of the bishop of Hólar. He had embraced the reformed faith in Norway and had come into contact with Martin Luther in Germany. History has it that after Oddur’s return to Iceland, he did his translation work in a cowshed, with great difficulty, not wanting to offend his Catholic employer, the bishop of Skálholt. Oddur translated the text from the Latin Vulgate, and he personally took his manuscript to Denmark to have it printed. In 1584, Bishop Gudbrandur Thorláksson commissioned the printing of the first complete Bible in Icelandic. The first complete translation of the Bible from the original Hebrew and Greek was printed in 1908, and a revised version, in 1912.

[Picture]

“Gudbrandsbiblía,” the first complete Bible in Icelandic

[Chart/Graph on page 216, 217]

ICELAND​—A TIME LINE

1929: Georg F. Lindal arrives, the first publisher in the country.

1940

1947: First Gilead missionaries arrive.

1950: A small congregation is formed.

1960

1960: The Watchtower is published in Icelandic.

1962: Branch office is established in Reykjavík.

1975: New, enlarged branch office is completed and dedicated.

1980

1992: Hospital Liaison Committee is formed.

1995: Two Kingdom Halls are constructed in four days during June.

2000

2004: 284 publishers are active in Iceland.

[Graph]

(See publication)

Total Publishers

Total Pioneers

300

200

100

1940 1960 1980 2000

[Maps on page 209]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

ICELAND

Húsavik

Hólar

Akureyri

Seydhisfjördhur

Neskaupstadhur

Eskifjördhur

Stykkishólmur

Borgarnes

Höfn

REYKJAVÍK

Skálholt

Keflavík

Selfoss

[Full-page picture on page 202]

[Picture on page 207]

Right: Georg F. Lindal, 1947

[Picture on page 207]

Below: Brother Lindal with an Icelandic pony, early 1930’s

[Picture on page 212]

Some of the first missionaries in Iceland, from left to right: Ingvard Jensen, Oliver Macdonald, and Leo Larsen

[Picture on page 220]

This building housed the branch office from 1962 to 1968

[Picture on page 227]

More than one hundred publishers from Iceland attended the “Peace on Earth” International Assembly in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1969

[Picture on page 235]

Iiris and Kjell Geelnard in Akureyri, January 1993

[Picture on page 238]

Right: The trawler “Svalbakur”

[Picture on page 238]

Below: Fridrik and Kjell

[Picture on page 241]

Right: Oddný Helgadóttir

[Picture on page 241]

Below: Gudrún Ólafsdóttir

[Picture on page 243]

Right: Kingdom Hall and missionary home in Akureyri

[Picture on page 243]

Below: Bjarni Jónsson in front of branch

[Picture on page 249]

Above: Construction of the Kingdom Hall in Selfoss, 1995

[Picture on page 249]

Right: The completed building

[Picture on page 253]

The Iceland Bethel family

[Picture on page 254]

Branch Committee, from left to right: Bjarni Jónsson, Gudmundur H. Gudmundsson, Páll H. Pedersen, and Bergthór N. Bergthórsson