One such man was Andrés Garita. He served in the circuit and district work for 20 years. To what did he attribute his endurance? “My parents started studying in 1946, and we always faithfully attended meetings,” he said. “I was baptized in 1953 at the age of 14. The meetings and field service brought me in close association with circuit overseers, who always gave me special attention and encouragement to take up the full-time service.” In the spring of 1979, he was appointed as a member of the Branch Committee. He served faithfully as such as well as in the circuit and district work along with his wife, Mayra, and his six-year-old daughter, Andrea, until his sudden illness and unexpected death at the age of 48 on July 7, 1987.

In 1976 Frederick Hiltbrand married Mirtha Chapa, a missionary from the 55th class of Gilead. Presently Frederick is serving as a member of the Branch Committee.