Yet another school began to operate in Brazil in 1978—the Pioneer Service School. The first class, of two weeks’ duration, was held in Fortaleza, Ceará. The objective of this school is to strengthen the pioneers’ relationship with Jehovah, to help them to walk more fully in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, and to improve their effectiveness in the ministry.

The Society’s records show that during the past 18 years, 1,650 classes have been held in Brazil and 39,649 regular pioneers have benefited from this marvelous provision. In 1994 alone, in an effort to aid pioneers throughout the country, 187 classes were held in 107 different cities and towns.

Worthy of note is the effort that some pioneers made to attend the school. A sister with an unbelieving husband got up at 5:00 a.m. every day to care for her household duties before going to class, and then she left immediately after class to pick up her children as they came from school. Another sister wanted to change the dates of her vacation so as to attend the school. Her employer would not agree to this, but she kept trying to convince him. The answer was always the same: “Impossible!” Finally, after praying to Jehovah, she told her employer that she would be quitting her job. Why? She just had to attend that school. Impressed by her sincerity, he finally agreed to change her vacation dates.

Paulo Azevedo, instructor of the first class, stated in an interview: “The Pioneer Service School helps pioneers to see their territory in a new light by emphasizing the need to show personal interest in the householder, taking into account his or her problems, circumstances, concepts, and beliefs. Pioneers who keep this in mind agree that it is like having new territory to work.”

[Picture on page 156]

Over 39,000 have been trained at the Pioneer Service School. Class in Sorocaba, São Paulo, is shown