[Picture on page 85]

Top: Eugene Richardson, baptized at 17, served as a zealous pioneer

Friendly Eugene Richardson began to be taught by Jehovah at the age of 15. Even though he had no formal Bible study, he made steady progress by attending all the meetings and was baptized at the age of 17. In 1956 he was appointed as a regular pioneer and was confronted by what he regarded as a major problem​—lack of transportation. He says: “My assigned territory was 15 miles [20 km] from home, so to solve the problem of transportation, I traded my piano for a bicycle. My family was horrified at this deal, and 40 years later they still talk about it. However, for me it proved to be very practical. Especially since four months after that, I was appointed to serve as a special pioneer in the unassigned territory of Banda Abao.”

Opening Up New Territory

The countryside of Banda Abao, locally known as the kunuku, is situated on the western side of Curaçao and covers almost half the island. It consists of gently rolling land and is somewhat greener than the rest of the island. Scattered houses dot the landscape, so working this territory requires a great deal of time. Clinton Williams, another young, zealous pioneer, joined Eugene, and together they embarked on opening up this new frontier. Eugene remembers: “This was not an easy territory, compared with the rest of the island. The people were very friendly and really nice to talk to, but usually that was as far as it went. However, we worked there for two years and had wonderful experiences. In the first month, I met a man who said that if we could prove that God’s Kingdom had been established in 1914, he would become a Witness. And a Witness he did become, along with his wife and children. Later on, I talked with a woman who said that her nephew was very interested in the Bible. That same evening I returned and witnessed to him. His name was Ciro Heide.”

Ciro, an outgoing person, tells the story from his point of view: “I was a very devoted Catholic and knew the catechism so well that I could teach it at school. But something always puzzled me. I could not understand why if you missed church, you were guilty of a mortal sin and would go to hell if you did not quickly confess this. One day a young man on a bicycle came to the door and spoke to my aunt about the Bible. Knowing of my interest in religion, she invited him to return when I was at home. I was anxious to meet him, for I felt that I knew more than he did about religion. That same evening, Eugene turned up at my door. I was dumbfounded when he pointed out to me that the Apostles’ Creed, which I recited every day, stated that Jesus had gone to hell. Because I was just rattling it off without thinking about it, I had missed its meaning. What amazed me most of all was that Eugene used the Bible to explain everything, while I could not locate even one scripture. From that moment on, my life changed drastically, for I started to study immediately.” Ciro was later baptized despite opposition from his wife. Eventually, because of his good example, she also devoted her life to Jehovah. They have been serving Jehovah loyally for 30 years, and Ciro has been an elder for 25.

Eugene attended Gilead School in 1958 and was reassigned to Banda Abao, where there was still a transportation problem. He relates: “When sharing in field service, we would sometimes have a group of 13 brothers and only one car​—mine. This meant making two trips of 20 miles [30 km] each way. I would drop the first group off in the territory and hurry back for the second. In the late afternoon, I would follow the same procedure as in the morning to get the brothers back home. But we spent the whole day in service. It was tiring, but what joy we had!” Eugene was also privileged to serve in the traveling work for some years.

Finding accommodations for pioneers was always a problem, and Eugene remembers having to renovate an unused house that had been occupied by goats. He spent weeks trying to get rid of their “perfume.”