But more changes were ahead. In 2000 we were assigned to Côte d’Ivoire, in West Africa. Then in November 2002, because of civil war, we were evacuated to Sierra Leone. An 11-year civil war there had just ended. It was difficult to leave Côte d’Ivoire so abruptly. However, the lessons we had learned helped us to keep our joy.

We eventually returned to Côte d’Ivoire, but simmering tensions there exploded once more. So in November 2004, we were evacuated by helicopter, fleeing with only one 10-kilogram (22-lb) bag each. We slept on the floor at a French army base for the night, and we were flown to Switzerland the next day. When we arrived at the branch at about midnight, the Branch Committee and the Ministerial Training School instructors along with their wives warmly welcomed us with many hugs, a hot meal, and lots of Swiss chocolate. We were deeply touched.

We were temporarily assigned to Ghana and then back to Côte d’Ivoire after the civil unrest had calmed down. The kindness of the brotherhood helped us through these unsettling evacuations and temporary assignments. Debbie and I agreed that although such brotherly love is the norm in Jehovah’s organization, we would never take it for granted. In fact, even those turbulent times turned out to be a valuable part of our training.