days later we were forced to leave our Korean assignment. What a dreadful experience to leave behind our dear faithful Korean brothers! Rather than go into that, I would rather recall those three months before the war. In spite of very poor living conditions and many hardships, our Korean brothers never missed a meeting. Some of them came long distances on foot during bitter cold months, always well ahead of meeting time, and when the meeting was over, how reluctant they were to leave for home. During the meetings Korean housewives, many of them with little education, found texts in the Bible with great speed and paid rapt attention to everything that was said. I can still see the shoes sitting outside the Kingdom Hall, and remember being assigned to count the pairs for an accurate attendance figure. That was eight and a half years ago.

Now I am in Japan, which is home to me. Jehovah has been very good. There are trying moments, such as those presented by problems with the language, or when seemingly zealous studies suddenly lose interest at the sight of service responsibilities, or when others compromise because of opposition from their family, but Jehovah rewards our labors of love and the seed takes root on good soil. How often we call back on women who express the desire to know more about Jehovah but who feel they cannot pursue the matter any further because of their husband’s parents, to whom they must be absolutely submissive, according to their customs. The old folks say Christianity is all right for Westerners, but not for them. Some who yearn for righteousness see the folly of such reasoning and religious customs and take in the life-giving knowledge, which makes them strong enough to overcome these obstacles. Now upward of 1,200 persons in this mountainous country no bigger than the State of California, yet crowding 90 million people on its four main islands, are turning to Jehovah’s established kingdom as their only hope and are joyfully sharing with us in doing the divine will.

My first two and a half years in Japan were spent in Nagoya, then I went on to Gifu for another two and a half years, in both cases sharing in starting new congregations. With the marriage of my partner to another missionary in Japan, my assignment was changed to Tokyo, where I have been working with the Shibuya congregation.

Many things have happened while I have been serving in Japan. Happy events, such as attending the 1953 assembly in New York, the visits of Brothers Knorr and Franz to Japan, took place. But the most outstanding event of all was the privilege of attending the Divine Will International Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses in New York in 1958. Everything about it was outstanding. Travel arrangements made by the Society for us, the thrilling attendance at the public talk, the significant resolution that was adopted and to which I said “Aye,” the timely admonition and encouragement to keep on doing the divine will and, of course, the abundant instruction on what the divine will is—all added up to the most outstanding event in my missionary life.

Since that wonderful assembly my partner and I again have a new assignment, this time on the southernmost island of Kyushu in Fukuoka city. Although our territory is located in the poorer section of the city, by sticking to it and relying on Jehovah to direct us to his other sheep, in a short time we were rewarded with twenty different Bible studies between the two of us. Where can one find such a full rich life elsewhere? Pursuing my purpose in life as a missionary has brought true happiness and satisfaction in helping others even as we have been helped. Yes, we are serving people in every walk in life. How much more enjoyable it is than working at some secular work in this selfish materialistic world. If you are Scripturally free to do so, why not prayerfully consider how you also can join us happy missionaries? Truly, it is worth every sacrifice you may have to make in doing so.

Harmonizing Our Work with Our Ministerial Garments

JEHOVAH God is consistent and dependable. He changes not. At all times his work harmonizes with what he is known to be. He requires like consistency from his servants. We must therefore be harmonizing our work with our ministerial garments. Or as our Bible text for September expresses it: “Only behave in a manner worthy of the good news about the Christ, in order that, whether I come and see you or be absent, I may hear about the things which concern you, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one soul fighting side by side for the faith of the good news.”—Phil. 1:27.a

What are these ministerial garments? They are the ones mentioned at Revelation 16:15 and picture the evidences of one’s holding the honorable office of being a servant of Jehovah, a witness for him, serving at his temple. They picture the recognition Jehovah bestows upon the Christian by giving him sacred privileges of service, being a token of one’s having been honored with the Christian ministry.

These honorable garments each Christian must keep, for to lose them would expose him to shame. How could that happen? By not harmonizing one’s work with those garments.

To harmonize our work with our ministerial garments we must, first of all, study diligently so as to grow spiritually strong as well as to keep up with the increasing light. To clinch what we have learned there is no better way than to tell it to others. We must also associate with our brothers, for we need all the encouragement and incitement that they can give us. Vigilance with a view to prayers is also imperative, for we need God even more than we need our brothers. By doing these things we will gain the accurate knowledge, the earnest desire and the needed strength to do the work that harmonizes with our ministerial garments.

Harmonizing our work with our ministerial garments further requires of us alertness to keep out all marauders. It includes practicing the pure religion by watching that our tongues speak right things and by keeping our garments without spot from the world. (Jas. 1:26, 27) That means avoiding not only this old world’s politics and religions but also its materialism and moral filth.

Above all, harmonizing our work with our ministerial garments means zealously sharing in all features of the Kingdom ministry as we have opportunity. We must stand firm therein, fighting side by side for the good news of God’s kingdom now established. As more and more persons flow to the mountain of the house of Jehovah it becomes more and more urgent that we continually be what we are supposed to be, ministers exclusively devoted to Jehovah and his service.—Isa. 2:2, 3.

By lovingly serving Jehovah, by faithfully imitating Jesus, and by alertly preaching the good news of the Kingdom we will be harmonizing our work with our ministerial garments and fulfilling the highest purpose of our living, namely, glorifying and magnifying Jehovah God the Creator.