Sometimes the “lost sheep” have to make much effort themselves to learn the truth, as illustrated by the following:

A young Catholic man approached a Witness on the street while she was going from house to house and asked for a book about the Bible. He obtained The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life in the Urdu language and willingly gave his address, which proved to be in the servant’s quarters belonging to a large Muslim home. A Bible study was begun with him on the first visit and arrangements were made to supply him with the first copy of the Bible that he had ever owned. He started attending meetings right away, but just a few months later the lady, on whose property he was living with his wife and small son, forbade the Witnesses to come regularly to the house. Nevertheless, undaunted and even more eager to continue his studies, he came regularly to the local Kingdom Hall for that purpose on his bicycle. He soon began zealously conducting Bible studies with others and preaching publicly from house to house, always looking for opportunities to express his gratitude for what he had learned. Early in 1977 he became a dedicated, baptized member of the congregation and has shared in auxiliary pioneer service.

Failure to read and write, however, has not prevented sheeplike persons from responding to the Kingdom message. (John 10:27) For example:

A few years ago in the town of Quetta, the capital of the province of Baluchistan and which is situated 5,500 feet (1,670 meters) above sea level, a nominal Christian heard the Kingdom message when at the home of one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The mother of ten children, she dedicated her life to God and was baptized, two of her daughters also accepting the truth soon after. Over the years it has taken much faith and determination for this Witness to keep proclaiming the “good news” to others, this being due not only to her lack of formal education but also because of the lack of mature Christian help. The winters are very cold in Quetta and, if possible, people then move to warmer parts of the country, while in the summer many find relief there from the extreme humidity of Karachi or the scorching heat of the Punjab. For many years this Witness, along with others, has traveled three times a year on round trips of more than 1,000 to 1,400 miles (1,600 to 2,250 kilometers) to attend the annual and semiannual assemblies of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The beginning of 1977 also found one of her sons serving as a “special pioneer” more than 700 miles (1,120 kilometers) away from his native town, helping another group of brothers centered in a small town in the fertile region of the Punjab.

A lady began studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses about 1955. She liked what she learned and always prepared for the study. Occasionally she attended meetings despite her husband’s efforts to dissuade her. However, although she spoke to others and read the text each day to nominal Christian girls where she worked, it appeared that she was still connected with the church. Her husband fostered this thought. Over the years various Witnesses studied with her but finally discontinued this, just calling from time to time, as she enjoyed reading every new publication of the Society. Surprisingly, one day she asked if she could be baptized as she felt that she had waited long enough to become a Witness. It was then learned that she hadn’t attended church for the past ten years. So the study was resumed and she started attending meetings regularly, becoming a dedicated, baptized Witness in November 1976. Although elderly now, she spends a lot of time witnessing and conducts Bible studies with others.

About four years ago a study was started with a young housewife. Feeling the need to study more regularly and to attend meetings, this young woman took advantage of an opportunity to go to Karachi for a year to take postgraduate training in one of the hospitals there. She progressed quickly. Soon she was spending a lot of time witnessing to fellow students, and in 1974 she symbolized her dedication to God by baptism. Although she and her husband are now the only Witnesses in Hyderabad, she recently wrote and expressed her appreciation for the truth and the encouragement she gets from letters and occasional visits of the brothers from Karachi. She told how daily she gets the chance to witness among young medical students. Particularly after she has delivered her medical lecture on such subjects as blood transfusion or congenital defects, she has an opportunity of explaining what the Bible’s view is on these matters. Many listen with interest, and she is now conducting a number of Bible studies.