Back in 1966, when a man threw out the book “The Truth Shall Make You Free,” his brother-in-law took it home. Though his knowledge of Spanish was limited, his native tongue being Aymará, he saw that the book had information about Jehovah God. This name, he realized, was in the Bible but was not being explained by the churches. From time to time he would travel to La Paz to obtain more literature. His relationship with Jehovah began to grow, and he shared with his neighbors what he was learning. In time he got baptized and later became a pioneer.

About then, two young men from El Alto, Hugo Fernández and his brother, began attending meetings in La Paz. To get home they had a hazardous two-hour climb out of the canyon late at night. But they continued to come.

In time a full schedule of meetings was being held by the group on El Alto. Hugo spent entire mornings each week preparing meeting parts. It was hard work for him, but it contributed much to his spiritual growth. Shortly after his baptism he expressed to the circuit overseer his interest in being a pioneer. “Why not start right away?” asked the overseer. Hugo felt that he should work at his shoemaking for about six months more. “How many shoes can you make in six months?” the circuit overseer asked. Then he added: “How many lives are waiting to be saved?” Hugo thought about it seriously. By August 1, he was a special pioneer. He has seen the group on El Alto grow manyfold, till that original group has become four congregations of praisers of Jehovah.