[Picture on page 98]

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

[Picture on page 100]

Julie and Age van Dalfsen (below) returned to Curaçao in 1992 and were invited to Bethel in 2000

Age van Dalfsen,

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.

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.

At present, Gregory Duhon, Clinton Williams, and Age van Dalfsen serve on the Branch Committee.