[Picture on page 98]

Bottom: Age van Dalfsen arrived in 1964 after graduating from the 39th class of Gilead

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In 1962, John Fry, of the 37th class of Gilead, was appointed branch overseer to replace Russell Yeatts, who was to attend the Gilead School refresher course. After 18 months, when Sister Fry became pregnant, the Frys returned to England, and Brother Yeatts once more resumed branch work. On December 31, 1964, Age van Dalfsen of the Netherlands arrived in the islands after graduating from the 39th class of Gilead. The magnificent sight of exploding rockets and the deafening sounds of firecrackers reverberating in the night air greeted him as he set foot on Curaçao. No, it was not the islanders welcoming him. Instead, it was the annual tradition of the local people, their way of banishing the bad spirits and jinx of the old year and of heralding the new year. Young and energetic, Brother van Dalfsen took up circuit and, eventually, district work. Like most missionaries, he came to love his new home and says: “The people are warm, welcoming, and honest. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be assigned here.”

In 1974, Age married Julie, a sister from Trinidad, and she joined him in the traveling work. Julie recalls: “I was struck by the friendliness and tolerance of the people. I could speak no Papiamento, but preaching was made enjoyable by their helpfulness. It was easy to ask ‘Con ta bai?’ (How are you?) and to inquire about every member of the family, which is the custom here. Placing literature was also easy. What was hard was carrying around a heavy bag of literature in four languages and battling the dust and wind! But for me, it was pure joy.” In 1980, Age and Julie went to the Netherlands to care for Age’s father, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, but they returned to Curaçao in 1992.

Robertus Berkers and his wife, Gail, of the 67th class of Gilead, continued circuit work in the absence of the Van Dalfsens and greatly stimulated enthusiasm for the full-time ministry. In 1986, Otto Kloosterman and his wife, Yvonne, came to Curaçao from Gilead, and Brother Kloosterman was appointed branch coordinator in 1994. They returned to the Netherlands in 2000. In March 2000, Brother van Dalfsen was appointed to the Branch Committee, and he and his wife were invited to Bethel, where they are now serving. In 1997, Gregory Duhon, from the Graphics Department in Brooklyn, and his wife, Sharon, were assigned to Curaçao as Bethelites in Foreign Service. Sharon, a registered nurse, and others were of invaluable help in caring for Brother Russell Yeatts, who was suffering from terminal cancer. In March 2000, Brother Duhon was appointed branch coordinator, and his kindness and approachability are deeply appreciated by all. At present, Gregory Duhon, Clinton Williams, and Age van Dalfsen serve on the Branch Committee.