In 1950 Brother Knorr visited the Netherlands West Indies for the first time and set up a branch office and I was assigned as branch servant and still hold that post by Jehovah’s undeserved kindness. Being a branch servant in a small place means that at times you also act as district servant and again as circuit servant, which is more excitement. I shall never forget the first time we went to the island of Bonaire. When we arrived for the public lecture there were more than a hundred people standing around. We said: “What a nice crowd!” When only about thirty came inside we thought the others were bashful, but we soon found out—rocks began to rain on the tin roof like hail in Egypt, firecrackers went off, the people beat on buckets and yelled. What a racket! I’m surprised until now that somebody did not get hurt that night. But most of the people have changed. When we showed The New World Society in Action film in the theater in Bonaire recently it was packed out and some present were those earlier troublemakers, and they liked the film.

In a foreign assignment one does not always have to learn another language, but usually you do; and that is something interesting. Even though you never learn to speak it perfectly you will learn to understand it, and that is a thrill. Here we learned Papiamento.

When I first came to Curaçao I was arrested for the second time in my life, for the same thing, street magazine work. I was taken to the police station but when I explained the nature of my work and that it was not commercial the desk sergeant told me to continue, much to the chagrin of the policeman. The very next day I was going from house to house and a Dutchman invited me in to explain my mission to his wife. When leaving I said to him: “You look familiar; where have I seen you before?” He laughed and said: “I’m the desk sergeant that let you go yesterday.” I did not recognize him without his uniform.

Jesus certainly knew what he was saying when he said that whoever gave up home and family for his sake and for the sake of the good news would find a hundred in this time and everlasting life in the world to come.

While letters and packages from home occasionally are not a necessity to a successful missionary career, they can be a source of extra pleasure. Every Watchtower and Awake! is like a letter from home, always full of surprises, always something new. Here are included only a few of the many experiences I have enjoyed. Volumes would be required to tell them all, such as, for instance, showing the film The New World Society in Action for the governor and his family in his back yard.

Many say: “Oh, if I could only live my life over again.” I say, If I could my goal would be the same, to pursue my purpose for a life of praise to Jehovah my Creator.

The Widow’s Mite Unacceptable

● The Jersey Journal, March 26, 1956, said: “Msgr. P. B. O’Connor, pastor of Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church, North Arlington, startled his congregation yesterday. ‘To those of you who have not been here since last Palm Sunday,’ the pastor said, ‘I want to say that we do not accept silver in the collection basket. In fact, I am thinking of getting a basket which, if any coin is dropped into it it will automatically ring a bell and fire two shots in the air.’ It is reported that after this pastoral admonition, the collection baskets were as green as the palms.”