FIRST VISIT OF THE SOCIETY’S PRESIDENT

In March of 1949, the then president of the Watch Tower Society, N. H. Knorr, made his first visit to Bolivia, along with his secretary M. G. Henschel. On that occasion an assembly was held in La Paz. The main discourse began with remarks by Brother Knorr and then the rest was given by Brother Michalec. The concluding attendance was 56. A few more even arrived half an hour after everyone else had gone home! On this occasion the visitors saw firsthand what is meant by the hora boliviana (Bolivian hour), a joking way of referring to the people’s chronic habit of arriving late. But, despite the local habit, Jehovah’s Witnesses here begin their meetings right on time, as their Christian brothers do in other parts of the world.

After the assembly, much loving counsel was given to help organize and expand the Kingdom work in Bolivia. More missionaries would be sent, and it was recommended that the branch and Kingdom Hall be moved to a more central location. When this was done, meeting attendance began increasing in a big way, and groups sharing in the field ministry swelled to 20 or more publishers.

[Picture on page 80]

Harold Morris (center), one of the first missionaries in Bolivia, shown here with N. H. Knorr and M. G. Henschel in 1949