With such a large response, it would be possible to assign these volunteers to three different Bulgarian cities: Kazanlak, Sandanski, and Silistra. Circuit overseers in Bulgaria invited local pioneers and publishers to support the campaign too. Eventually, 382 volunteers were zealously preaching in territories that had seldom been reached with the good news.

Brothers from nearby congregations were sent out in advance to arrange for accommodations. They rented apartments and booked inexpensive hotels. These local brothers worked tirelessly to help the arriving volunteers to get settled and then to care for their needs. In all three cities, places to meet were rented. Arrangements were made for the congregation meetings to be conducted by the visiting brothers. It was exciting to see that in places where not even one Witness lived, 50 publishers were meeting to praise Jehovah.

The zeal of those who came from other countries for the campaign was overwhelming. During the summer season, the temperature in Bulgaria can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit [40°C]. However, nothing could stop these zealous brothers and sisters. Silistra, a city on the Danube River with more than 50,000 inhabitants, was given a thorough witness within the first three weeks. Consequently, the brothers extended their efforts to nearby villages, even reaching Tutrakan, 35 miles [55 km] west of Silistra. They usually began their ministry by 9:30 a.m. After a lunch break, they often continued until 7:00 p.m. or later. Similarly, because of the overwhelming zeal of these volunteers, the campaign in Kazanlak and Sandanski extended into neighboring villages and cities.

What Was Achieved?

An outstanding witness was given during these seven weeks. As was said in the days of the apostles, the inhabitants of these cities could say, ‘You have filled our city with your teaching.’ (Acts 5:28) The participating Witnesses placed some 50,000 magazines and started 482 Bible studies. Happily, as of September 1, 2009, a congregation was formed in Silistra, and there are groups in Kazanlak and in Sandanski. It is heartwarming to see individuals who heard the good news for the first time during this campaign making fine spiritual progress.

In the first week of the campaign, a Bulgarian-speaking special pioneer sister from Spain preached to Karina, a lady in Silistra who was selling newspapers on the street. Karina showed interest and came to a meeting. She readily agreed to a Bible study. Her husband is an atheist, so she asked to have the Bible study held in a park. The Bible study included her two daughters. The older, Daniela, showed exceptional appreciation for Bible truth. She read the Bible Teach book in a week and immediately applied what the Bible says about not using images in worship. Then she started sharing the truth with her friends. Only three weeks after she had attended her first congregation meeting, she said to the sister conducting the study: “I feel like one of you. What do I have to do so that I too can start preaching?” Daniela continues to make good progress, along with her mother and her younger sister.

Carina is a single regular pioneer sister from Spain who supported the campaign in Silistra. Thereafter she quit her job in Spain and moved to Bulgaria to support the new congregation in that city. She had saved enough money to live in Bulgaria for a year. Carina says about her decision: “I am so happy that Jehovah allows me to serve here in Bulgaria, and I hope that I will be able to remain here for a long time. I already have five Bible studies, and three of them are attending the meetings.”