Missionary Work Begins

World War II also left its mark on the islanders. Survivors of the war still have vivid memories of the terror of bombings, the pain of losing loved ones, the dread of mass executions, forced labor, hunger and other hardships. The generation that grew up since the war was confronted with political uncertainties, economic pressures and little hope to compete with youths in lands of greater opportunity.

Thus, in 1965, when a missionary couple of Jehovah’s Witnesses from the United States arrived at the island of Moen, they found the Trukese people very receptive, warm and friendly. They obtained housing in the Quonset hut of a local couple. Soon they were conducting up to 35 home Bible studies, even though they had no previous knowledge of the Trukese language. People on Truk still comment on how quickly this couple learned to preach in Trukese.

Another couple, graduates of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, arrived in December 1966. They obtained accommodations from a local family on the opposite end of the island. Several members of this family eventually became Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Congregations Formed

More missionaries came the following years. By 1972 there were seven dedicated, baptized Witnesses engaging in the door-to-door ministry on the island of Moen. So the first congregation in Truk was formed. The next move was to expand the preaching work to the nearby island of Dublon. One of the brothers who undertook that assignment recalls their first journey:

“It was late evening when we saw the shoreline of the island. The long dock built by the Japanese forces prior to World War II was now overgrown with shrubs and trees. Indeed, the island appeared to be a thick tropical jungle. There were no visible roads for vehicles, only pathways through heavy foliage.

“We spent two nights on the abandoned dock amid its thick overgrowth and swarms of mosquitoes and other insects. As we walked around the island, we came across giant craters, formed by heavy bombing during World War II. We saw huge oil tanks melted down by the intense heat of burning oil. Then we realized why the folks on the adjacent islands said that during the war the Dublon sky was often lighted up at night. It was from these burning oil tanks.”

The constant reminders of the devastation of war on this island helped the missionaries to appreciate fully the privilege of bringing a message of peace and comfort from the Bible to the humble people. The fine response of these Bible-loving people was reflected at their first observance of the Memorial of Christ’s death, when 90 people attended. In 1974 the nine baptized Witnesses on this island were enrolled as the Dublon Congregation.

To the Outer Islands

The other islands within the Truk lagoon also need to be reached with the Kingdom message. Two boats are being used regularly for witnessing trips to the islands of Tol and Fefan, and much interest has been found on both islands.

Missionary Glenn Tateishi built his own 16-foot (5-m) boat. After years of experience in transporting fellow missionaries and publishers, he is now an expert navigator and mechanic. He has become familiar with the hazardous shallow reefs and treacherous waves and channels of the various islands. But “when the sea is calm and the wind is warm,” reflects Glenn, “your mind is at ease. You can meditate on spiritual things, and when alone I pray, oftentimes aloud.”

When groups of publishers go on such an island witnessing trip, they make it an all-day affair. The day’s preaching activity includes long walks on dusty or muddy paths, a refreshing picnic lunch, more hours of walking in the tropical sun and a bumpy boat ride home. By the end of the day, they are exhausted. But they feel a deep satisfaction in having spent it well in Jehovah’s service.

Occasionally, missionaries and publishers get to travel on government supply ships to islands outside the lagoon. A local sister who utilized her vacation to go on one of these island-hopping trips with the missionaries relates:

“We were able to get on the ship Truk Islander. Once outside the lagoon the waves were very big. There were strong winds, and it was raining. There was room for only a few passengers, and we were not able to stretch out or lie down on deck but had to remain in a sitting position. One of the government workers felt sorry for us and offered us his cabin. We happily looked forward to meeting the outer islanders and sharing with them the good news of the Kingdom.”

On one island the people were mostly Catholics and asked if the missionaries came in the name of the pope. On another, the island chief invited them to preach to his people, and all listened with interest. The people on some islands were hospitable, offering food, shelter and a bath. On others, the people were prejudiced and did not even allow the Witnesses ashore. “The inconveniences we experienced,” said the sister, “were more than offset by the joy of meeting newly interested ones and sharing with them the Kingdom message.”

Overcoming Obstacles

Among the first to become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Truk was Kyomi Shirai. She and her husband opened their home for the first missionary couple.

Over the years, Jehovah God has indeed blessed the efforts of the missionaries. Their fine spirit has rubbed off on the local brothers.