Chile has an extensive territory that includes Easter Island and Robinson Crusoe Island in the Pacific Ocean.

And the famous Robinson Crusoe Island? An elder from Valparaíso was sent to this island in connection with his secular work toward the end of 1979. He took along a good supply of literature. While on a tour of the island, he asked the guide about the religious inclinations of the people. The guide replied that the Catholic priest comes only once in a great while and the Protestant minister had left permanently. “But that doesn’t affect me,” he explained. “I’m one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Can you imagine the surprise of our brother? He thought that he was going to be the first to bring the “good news” to this island.

The story goes like this: A lady was studying in Santiago when she moved to the island because of her secular work. While in Santiago she had progressed to the point of sharing in the field service. She continued sharing the “good news” there on the island, starting Bible studies with a number of people. Our brother was overjoyed to meet them and to help them arrange a book study group, as well as organize an informal arrangement for gathering together in a group of five to read the one copy of The Watchtower that was being received.

Several expressed a desire to be baptized, so Brother Sergio Pulgar, upon returning to the mainland, wrote to the branch for instructions, since he would be returning to the island about five months later. When he returned he reviewed the 80 questions with the candidates and three were baptized. He also conducted the Memorial with 11 in attendance. Since March of 1980 we have been receiving field service reports from this isolated group, and there are currently four reporting.