Once safely ashore, the brothers push past the usual group of inquisitive, chattering children and look for the village chieftain. They briefly explain to him the purpose of their visit and request the use of the local school hut or village meeting center for a Bible talk. Usually, permission is granted. Announcements are made by word of mouth as the children scatter in all directions spreading the invitation. Prior to the talk, the day is spent preaching from hut to hut. The people are friendly and hospitable and eagerly accept our Bible literature. Where money is in short supply, the books are traded for turtles, monkeys, hens, parrots, fruit, or even a lovely orchid.

As time permits, return visits are made in the afternoon. Those who show exceptional interest are asked to bring their mecheros, or receptacles, with kerosene and wick for light. Generally, by seven o’clock, all are seated, with their light in one hand and their Bible in the other. After the talk concludes, the questions begin. Do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in hellfire? How do the beliefs of the Witnesses differ from those of the Catholic religion? Most are pleased to find the answers in their own Bibles.

Heartwarming Experiences

After one such talk, a man and his wife came up to the pioneer with tears in their eyes. “Brothers, we have waited a long time to hear words like we have heard tonight,” the man said. “We love our land and the idea of an earthly paradise where we can stay close to it. Now, who is this that you say is going to heaven?” It is truly heartwarming to be far out in the Amazon jungle, miles and miles from “civilization,” and find such sheeplike ones.

At one small village, two of the brothers stayed with the boat while the others followed a trail through the jungle. Huge trees closed overhead, blotting out much of the sunlight, while multicolored birds called back and forth amid the green foliage. After a 15-minute walk, the Witnesses came out into a fairly large clearing. It took about an hour to call on all the huts there. When the brothers were ready to leave, a man approached and entreated them to stay overnight, as he had many questions. So one of the pioneers stayed behind while the rest returned to the boat.

The pioneer suggested that a Bible talk be given in the evening. So off the children were sent, following trails the brothers had missed, to bring in the neighbors. Meanwhile, a Bible study was conducted in the village, using chapters of the book The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life that covered the questions the hospitable man asked. As the cool of the evening spread over the blanket of heat, a stand of bamboo trees suddenly exploded into a cacophony. Hundreds of parakeets all seemed to start chattering at the same time, seemingly welcoming the evening coolness.

By early evening, 20 adults and many children had gathered around the speaker. A bright gas lamp gave excellent light for reading, but it also attracted hundreds of jungle insects. About halfway through the talk, the speaker swallowed one! After a bedlam of backslapping, laughter, and sympathy, he continued, bringing the talk to its successful conclusion. By then, all shyness was gone and a lively discussion ensued.