An occasion that is specially remembered by those early missionaries took place in March 1949. What was it? The first zone visit to Ecuador by N. H. Knorr, the Watch Tower Society’s president, and his secretary, M. G. Henschel. In Quito, 82 persons gathered to hear the talk “It Is Later Than You Think!” In Guayaquil, the same talk was scheduled. When Brother Knorr noticed the new missionaries’ enthusiasm for advertising, he said, “Don’t be too discouraged if not many people come.” After all, they had been working there for only two and a half months. But it was everyone’s turn to be surprised when 280 people showed up, and countless others heard the discourse by radio.

N. H. Knorr, left, third president of the Watch Tower Society, and standing with him M. G. Henschel, also from world headquarters, when they visited Ecuador in March 1949.