NEW CHALLENGES

In 1991 while Heinz and I were on vacation in Austria, we were contacted by the local branch and informed about a new assignment: Bulgaria. After the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses was legalized in Bulgaria. As mentioned, Heinz and I had previously smuggled literature into that country while the work was banned. But now we were being sent there to preach.

We were directed not to go back to Uganda. So without returning to our missionary home to pack our things or to say goodbye to friends, we went to Bethel in Germany, got a car, and traveled to Bulgaria. We were assigned to a group of about 20 publishers in Sofia.

We faced several new challenges in Bulgaria. First, we did not know the language. In addition, the only publications readily available in Bulgarian were The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life and My Book of Bible Stories. And we found it difficult to start Bible studies. Despite these challenges, our small but zealous group of Witnesses was making progress. The Orthodox Church noticed, and that is when the real problems began.

In 1994 the Witnesses were deregistered and treated like a forbidden sect. Some brothers were arrested. The media spread terrible lies about us, claiming that Jehovah’s Witnesses not only killed children but also convinced other Witnesses to commit suicide. Heinz and I found it difficult to preach. We often encountered aggressive people who screamed at us, called the police on us, and even threw things at us. It was not possible to get literature into the country, and renting halls for meetings became a challenge. The police even broke up one of our conventions. Heinz and I were not used to such hatred. How unlike the productive, friendly field we were used to in Uganda! What enabled us to deal with the change?

We found joy in associating with the local brothers and sisters. They were happy to have found the truth and appreciated the assistance we gave them. All stayed close together and supported one another. We learned from those experiences that we can be happy in any assignment if we remain people-oriented.

In time, however, things did improve. Our organization was reregistered in 1998, and many publications soon became available in Bulgarian. Then in 2004 a new branch building was dedicated. Today, there are 57 congregations in Bulgaria, with 2,953 publishers. This past service year, a total of 6,475 attended the Memorial. While at one time there were only five sisters in Sofia, we now have nine congregations! We have truly seen “the little one . . . become a thousand.”​—Isa. 60:22.

COPING WITH PERSONAL TRIALS

I have had my share of health problems. Over the years, I have developed several tumors, including one in my head. I received radiation therapy and underwent a 12-hour surgery in India to remove most of it. After I recovered at the India branch, we returned to our assignment in Bulgaria.

Meanwhile, Heinz started suffering from a rare hereditary condition called Huntington’s disease. He struggled to walk, talk, and control his movements. As the disease progressed, he became more and more dependent on me. I felt overwhelmed at times and worried about how things would turn out. However, a young brother named Bobi regularly invited Heinz to preach with him. Bobi was not embarrassed by Heinz’s speech or by his uncontrolled movements. I could always count on Bobi when I was not able to assist Heinz. Although Heinz and I put off having children in this system, we felt that Jehovah gave us Bobi as a son!​—Mark 10:29, 30.

Heinz also struggled with cancer. Sadly, my dear husband passed away in 2015. I felt so insecure after Heinz died; it was unreal to me that he was gone. But in my memory, he is so alive! (Luke 20:38) I often vividly recall his kind words and sound advice as I go about my day. I’m very thankful for our years of faithful service together.

GRATEFUL FOR JEHOVAH’S SUPPORT

Jehovah certainly has sustained me in all my trials. He also helped me to overcome my shyness and to become a people-oriented missionary. (2 Tim. 1:7) Thanks to Jehovah, my younger sister and I are now both in full-time service. Today, she and her husband are serving in a Serbian circuit in Europe. My father’s prayers spoken all those years ago were answered!

My study of the Bible gives me inner peace. In difficult times, I have learned to pray “more earnestly,” as Jesus did. (Luke 22:44) One way my prayers are answered is through the love and kindness of the friends in my congregation in Nadezhda, Sofia. They invite me for association and often express their appreciation, which gives me intense joy.

I often meditate on the resurrection. I imagine seeing my parents in front of our house, looking as beautiful as they did when they got married. I see my sister preparing a meal. I picture Heinz standing next to his horse. Such images take my mind off negative feelings and fill my heart with gratitude to Jehovah.

Reflecting on my life and looking to the future, I wholeheartedly agree with David’s words found at Psalm 27:13, 14: “Where would I be if I did not have faith that I would see Jehovah’s goodness in the land of the living? Hope in Jehovah; be courageous and strong of heart. Yes, hope in Jehovah.”

Then in 1979 we were asked to go on “vacation” to Bulgaria. The preaching work there was banned. So we did not do any preaching on that “vacation.” But we did smuggle miniature literature into the country for the five sisters who lived in Sofia, the capital city. I was terrified, but Jehovah helped me with that exciting assignment. Seeing the courage of those sisters and the joy they had despite the risk of imprisonment gave me confidence to do my best at whatever Jehovah’s organization asked of me.