her hours had also jumped to an average of more than 150 for the past five months! She had not planned on that, but said it was necessary to care for the “sheep.”

A sister tells of her unbelieving parents’ attempts to dissuade her from pioneering. One day they destroyed her books, including her Bible. She borrowed another sister’s Bible and went ahead. Next they cut off her hair, thinking to shame her. She tied a kerchief around her head and continued, always careful not to neglect her assigned duties in the home. She reported how much encouragement the brothers at the meetings gave during this period. The spiritual growth of her students also sustained her. Now she has realized her goal of becoming a special pioneer. Her faithfulness finally won over her parents too. Now that she is far from home they regret their treatment of her, and the father reads the Society’s publications regularly. Her own endurance helps her in encouraging others.

All ten of the missionaries in Korea were able to attend the “Peace on Earth” International Assemblies in North America and have returned refreshed. All of them are truly grateful for the generosity of our brothers in making this possible. Indications point to an outstanding assembly in Seoul in October, and all the Korean brothers eagerly await Brothers Knorr and Franz and the more than three hundred foreign delegates who will attend.

Country Reports (Part Two)

LEBANON Population: 2,520,000

Peak Publishers: 1,130 Ratio: 1 to 2,230

We have many things for which to be thankful. For the first time since 1963 we have averaged a 10-percent increase in publishers. Thirty-four overseers, assistant congregation servants and Bible study servants attended the two-week Kingdom Ministry School course, which was a stimulus to the work. Also, over forty from Lebanon attended the “Peace on Earth” assemblies.

Despite opposition, sheeplike persons are found and respond to the good news. A special pioneer writes: “While giving the sermon to an interested householder, we were rudely interrupted by a neighbor who entered the home and began to speak abusively of Jehovah’s witnesses. Then he grabbed my Bible, tore it up and stamped out of the house. This did not frighten the householder, but we were without a Bible. Her brother had one, so she sent her daughter to get it. The brother came instead and invited us to his home. We were able to give him a good witness from his own Bible. Arrangements were made for a back-call to discuss the subject