By 1931 most Bible study aids were banned.

In 1931 several brothers from Britain answered the call for pioneers to move to the Baltic countries. Some of these brothers helped to bring spiritual food into Latvia from neighboring Estonia and Lithuania. Edwin Ridgewell, then 18 years old, was assigned to Lithuania. Now in his 90’s, Brother Ridgewell recalls: “My two partners, Andrew Jack and John Sempey, and I received a special assignment​—to take literature into Latvia. We would take the night train to Riga and hide the literature in parcels that were designed to fit into compartments under the seats where bedding was stored during the day. Before disembarking, we put the parcels, along with some clothing, into specially made expandable suitcases. After each nerve-racking delivery, we celebrated. Percy Dunham, who had oversight of the work, would take us out to dinner at a restaurant in Riga.”

Ferdinand Fruck often met brothers at the border of Lithuania. They gave him literature, which he then stored under hay in the loft of his barn. His activities came to the attention of the authorities, however, and thereafter the police regularly raided his property to search for banned publications. During one search, the officer did not want to climb into the loft, so he sent Ferdinand up instead! In order to placate the officer, Ferdinand returned with a few older Watchtowers and handed them over. Satisfied, the officer left.