A Foundation Is Laid

After 27 years of planting and watering, the brothers in Iceland finally began to see the fruits of their labors. Early in 1956, seven new ones took their stand for the Kingdom and dedicated their lives to Jehovah. Until that time, most of those who had shown interest in the truth did not stand fast in it. An exception was Iris Åberg, an English sister who eventually left the country. Now seven new ones were baptized, and a firm foundation was laid. By the year 1957, however, the missionaries and pioneers who had worked so hard to see the truth take hold had left Iceland, mostly for health reasons.

So it was that in 1957, one special pioneer sister​—Edith Marx, who had arrived from Denmark the year before—​was left with the little congregation. Harvest workers were needed to help the group, which suddenly found itself deprived of those who had helped the new ones to learn the truth and to become strong in it. Soon, though, special pioneers would arrive from Denmark, Sweden, and Germany. In addition, many publishers and pioneers moved to Iceland to share in Kingdom preaching. From then on, the increase continued slowly but steadily.

The 41 publishers and pioneers