In the fall of 1948 Ava (Nick) Nickles, a Ketchikan fisherman who was interested in the truth, offered to transport Brothers Errichetti and Woodard to the villages not yet reached with the Kingdom hope. In his 12.8-meter (42-ft) fishing boat, the Irene D., they reached many ports. One time, when trying to cross a stretch of water about 40 kilometers (25 mi) wide, the engine quit. The wind was blowing hard and the sea was running high. Upon investigation, they found the batteries had jarred loose, spilled acid on the distributor cap and shorted out the engine. Next, the starter spring broke. Brother Errichetti recalls that evening vividly:

“We began to drift broadside with the heavy seas and to take quite a pounding. We lost steerage. All of us became seasick, with the boat drifting wherever the wind and tide took us. We started to drift at about four in the afternoon, and by the time the searchlight of a Coast Guard boat found us, we had drifted 26 kilometers [16 mi] out to sea! Our prayers had ascended to Jehovah and he heard them.” But these dangers at sea did not stop the brothers as they continued to witness without letup.

Today, Brother Nickles, at the age of 93, is retired from fishing but has not stopped fishing for men. He continues to witness from house to house each week, as possible, and serves as a ministerial servant with the Ketchikan Congregation.

[Picture on page 141]

Ava (Nick) Nickles, a retired Ketchikan fisherman, continues to fish for men at the age of 93