Religion is not of major concern to the majority of Uruguayans. The Catholic Church does not have the strong grip on the populace that it has in other South American countries. In fact, from the beginning of the 20th century, there has been a marked separation of Church and State. However, while there are many freethinkers, agnostics, and atheists, a considerable number of people still believe in God. A commonly heard statement reveals their stand: “I believe in God. I just don’t believe in religion.”

How would such people react if, instead of being taught the creeds of Christendom, they learned about the true God, whose loving purpose and kindly dealings with humankind are set out in the Bible? Would they prove to be among “the desirable things” that God welcomes into his spiritual house of worship?—Hag. 2:7.

A Small Beginning

In 1924 a man named Juan Muñiz, from Spain, came to seek honesthearted ones who would become worshipers of Jehovah. He was asked by J. F. Rutherford, then president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, to move to South America and oversee the preaching of the good news in Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Soon after his arrival in Argentina, he sailed across the Río de la Plata to preach to the people of Uruguay.

During the next 43 years, until his death in 1967, Juan Muñiz was a fearless teacher of God’s Word and was instrumental in the spreading of the good news through several South American countries, including Uruguay. Many of Jehovah’s Witnesses from that period recall that he could captivate an audience for two to three hours without relying on any notes, just using his Bible.

Call for More Workers Answered

Shortly after arriving in South America, Juan Muñiz recognized a great potential for disciple making and realized that there was a great need for workers. He must have felt just as Jesus did: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. Therefore, beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” (Matt. 9:37, 38) So in harmony with his prayers to Jehovah, “the Master of the harvest,” Brother Muñiz conveyed his concerns to Brother Rutherford.

In answer to his request, during a 1925 convention in Magdeburg, Germany, Brother Rutherford asked a German pioneer if he would be willing to help out in South America. His name was Karl Ott. Brother Ott accepted the assignment and came to be known as Carlos Ott among the Spanish-speaking brothers. After serving in Argentina for a while, he was assigned to Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, in 1928. He served in Uruguay for the following ten years.

Carlos got down to work right away. He proved to be both diligent and ingenious. Quickly he found a place on Río Negro Street where he could live and hold regular Bible study meetings with a few interested people. He also arranged for Bible lectures to be broadcast by radio. One radio station even agreed to broadcast the lectures free of charge.

Sometimes, Carlos would enter a restaurant and approach people at their tables while they were eating. One day, while engaging in this table-to-table witnessing, he met José Gajek, a German storekeeper who embraced Bible truth quickly. Soon José joined Carlos as one of the first proclaimers of the good news in Uruguay.

Determined to share in spreading the good news of God’s Kingdom full-time, Brother Gajek sold his grocery store and took up pioneering. He and Brother Ott covered a large portion of the country, preaching from house to house and presenting Bible talks in many cities and towns. Brother Gajek sowed seed abundantly in the hearts of many Uruguayans until his death in 1953. Many of his students became members of the Christian congregation and remain faithful to this day.

[Picture on page 227]

Juan Muñiz

[Picture on page 229]

They lived in homemade tents and traveled throughout Uruguay on bicycles to witness (left to right): Kurt Nickel, Gustavo and Betty Bender, Otto Helle

[Pictures on page 235]

Early Uruguayan publishers (from left to right): María de Berrueta, Carola Beltramelli, Catalina Pomponi