In many of the inaccessible regions of Malaita, especially in the mountains, as well as on the other islands, there are tribes who have had little contact with either Christendom or true Christianity. In the main they are ancestor worshipers, but some are animists.

Besides having to respect the restriction regarding clothing in some villages, the brothers must observe other restrictions that are in force among these people because of their beliefs. Arturo Villasin, now a circuit overseer, reports: “The brothers leading any group for witnessing are very careful to respect the fact that the villagers do have very strong feelings about doing anything that will offend the spirits. In some villages it is absolutely forbidden to mention certain words or names, such as saying the personal name of a dead ancestor who is believed to have power over the village. Some trees are also viewed as sacred, and only males may sit down in their shade. In one particular seaside village, the wearing of certain colors is offensive; red or black cannot be worn. So, discreetly, a book or Bible with a red or a black cover will not be used while witnessing.

“A woman is strictly forbidden to enter some areas in a village. A man may not sit down on the same seat with a woman who is not his wife. If any of these customs are broken, compensation must be paid immediately. So it is vital that the brothers and sisters have a detailed knowledge of the rules, laws, and restrictions of each particular village if a successful witness is to be given. Thus, before entering a village, the brother leading the group will discuss in detail exactly what those in the group, especially the sisters, who are more likely to break unknowingly the male-oriented customs, should and should not do while in the village. Adjustments that do not compromise Jehovah’s righteous principles are gladly made so that the villagers get a fair opportunity to hear the good news. Many villagers have responded and have gladly shed practices that displease the true God.”

Surrounded by Demons

In the mountainous district of Kwaio on Malaita lies the village of Aiolo. This village consists mostly of families of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Aiolo is like a haven for Jehovah’s people, surrounded as it is by demon worship. As you look out of the village, you see many areas that are sacred grounds, dense bush on the top of hills, with the sides of the hill trimmed to distinguish between the sacred ground and neutral territory. There the priest sacrifices pigs to the gods. Part of the sacrifices are eaten by the priest and, at times, by other men. However, no woman is allowed to eat any of the sacrifice nor share in the actual offering of the sacrifice on penalty of death, although she has a major part in the raising of the pigs. After the sacrifice, the priest or others who offer the sacrifice must stay in a holy house within the confines of the village for a set number of days before returning to their family.

A ‘quick build’ house made from bamboo and other bush materials was erected in Aiolo. A Witness provided this new house for the so-called runaways. These are interested persons, even families, who have run away from demon worship. They have fled their demon-worshiping village to find refuge in Aiolo. At one time, a runaway family, a husband, his wife, and some of his brothers and sisters, arrived because the villagers were seeking to kill them for having offended their demon by not sacrificing a pig to him. The penalty​—death!

In one village, a person may not use the banned English words “wicked” and “war.” Those two words are the names of two of their demons. To utter these names is an offense and a high compensation must be paid by the offender. When the local Witnesses went preaching there, the new traveling overseer told the brothers that he would rather listen at each door. The brothers disagreed; they insisted that the traveling overseer speak at a door, since he had been well drilled in the local customs. The visiting brother finally agreed. As he walked up and down the mountains along the bush track, he kept muttering to himself: “Don’t say WAR, don’t say WICKED.”

When they eventually reached the territory, a man invited the traveling overseer and two other brothers into his house. The two brothers began the conversation and then introduced the nervous traveling overseer. He gave a short Scriptural presentation, and everything went well. The householder seemed pleased by what he heard. The traveling overseer felt quite pleased with himself too and opened the book You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth and started to show pictures about Paradise. But then, to his horror, he added: “And God shall wipe out war.”

The man’s eyes widened, and so did the eyes of the traveling overseer. He quickly looked at the two brothers for help and took a deep breath, but they looked at the householder as if to say, “He didn’t say ‘war,’ did he?” The householder looked back at them as if to say: “No, I guess he didn’t.” And so the conversation ended without any compensation having to be paid.