In September 1981, Andrew and Miriam Reed were arrested while in the circuit work in the central highlands. For ten days they were held in detention in a variety of jails and under the most unpleasant conditions. Finally, they were taken to the headquarters of the security police, who kept them in separate cells for most of the time. They were interrogated frequently, often for hours at a time, in an effort to extract from them the names of responsible brothers. Both were told that their mate had confessed to being an agent of the CIA, yet the Reeds were not even U.S. citizens! In the end, they were informed that it was all a mistake. Although no formal charges were ever brought against them, they were deported to Costa Rica. Before leaving, however, they were told that the refusal of Jehovah’s Witnesses to bear arms was unacceptable, that every Nicaraguan had to be ready to fight for his country.

[Picture on page 90]

Andrew and Miriam Reed