EXPEDITIONS TO OTHER LARGE CITIES

After returning to La Paz, Brother Michalec was soon on his way to Cochabamba, the second-largest city. This time traveling alone, he boarded a truck loaded with oranges. Gingerly climbing up onto the canvas that covered the fruit, he carefully spread his six-foot (1.8 m) frame as evenly as possible over the cargo to avoid crushing it. The truck headed south over a dusty, bumpy road. After snaking their way down through the mountains all night, they came into the delightful, temperate valley of Cochabamba. The city, with its palm trees and modern homes, seemed very pleasant in contrast to the barren altiplano.

The moderate climate had apparently attracted many priests and nuns from abroad, and these wielded strong control. Although quite a few of the people were skeptical when Brother Michalec called on them, he saw evidence of Jehovah’s direction. Brother Michalec visited a retired army colonel, a reader of our publications who seemed to show enthusiasm for the truth. The next day the two of them, traveling on bicycles, visited various ones this man had talked to about the Bible. One of these, a schoolteacher named Carlos Saavedra, showed genuine interest and was supplied with literature for him and his family to read.

The following January another congregation was established in Cochabamba.

Back in Cochabamba, the retired army colonel had helped others, but not until the late 1970’s did he become a baptized Witness. On the other hand, Carlos Saavedra and his wife were soon out in the field service. Their home became the Kingdom Hall, and Brother Saavedra was congregation overseer. Most of his children became Witnesses, and whole families of second- and third-generation truth proclaimers recall their first studies with Carlos. After 36 years of faithful service, he died in 1983.