Hartman also serves congregations in northwestern Canada. He relates how Rose Hamilton of Whitehorse, Yukon, went out of her way to conduct a Bible study each week with a Mrs. Henry, who lived eighty-five miles away:

“Even in the winter Rose traveled the eighty-five miles each week. Sometimes the car had to be left a half mile to a mile away from the home. One time Sister Hamilton made that trip with the temperature at 40° F. below zero. On the return to the car, while climbing a steep hill, she gulped in large amounts of frigid air and ‘burned’ her bronchial passages. On another occasion this sister walked two miles each way from the car at 10° F. below zero.”

A Witness from Canada who, together with a companion, made a two-month trip to visit residents of the north shore of the St. Lawrence River tells of an experience he had in a mining town:

“I began to witness to a group of about six men in a bunkhouse. Two of them were very opposed and began to influence the others. So I left them and started to talk to others in the same building. As the opposers kept getting louder I finally decided to leave the bunkhouse altogether.

“By the time I walked out of the building the two opposed men had worked themselves up into such a frenzy that they came after me. High banks of snow and a building cut off any hope of escape.”

What would the Witness do? Would he try to effect a compromise, agreeing to stop preaching if they would let him go? What would you do if faced with such a situation? He continues:

“I prayed to Jehovah for help and protection.

“When the men got within twenty feet of me, one of them suddenly stopped and called to the other. They talked together for a few minutes, all the while watching me. Then, just as if they had changed their minds, they turned and walked away from me. I was happy and thankful to know that Jehovah had been with me.”

Additional problems arose for these two Witnesses when trying to find overnight accommodations. In these areas it is necessary to spend the night in private homes, as there are no hotels or other public facilities. At times, because of religious prejudice, people would refuse to put them up. But in spite of difficulties they continued on in their preaching work, reporting: “On our two-month trip we were always provided for. Only once did we end up staying a night in a shed on a wharf.”

A group who recently visited isolated Indian villages in northern Manitoba received the following letter from Mr. Maxwell Bee, chief of a reserve that they had visited:

“Just a short note to thank you for the help we received from the two men who visited our reserve to tell us about the Bible and how we can live in peace. We hope that they will come back soon. The longer they stay, the better. Again, thank you.”