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Country Reports (Part One)1971 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses
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Just how determined should one be to attend an assembly? Among six delegates from New Hebrides at the Suva, Fiji, international assembly was a sister with a young child who overcame much opposition to go. When she went to pay for her plane ticket for the following week, she found that her opposed husband had canceled her booking and the only way to get out of the country and to the assembly was to catch that very day’s flight, one week ahead of schedule. With only two hours to prepare, pack and leave a note for her husband, she was on her way to the airport with her child. The plane was delayed almost two hours, during which time she fully anticipated being dragged back home by her irate husband. Happily, nothing stopped her departure and she arrived safely at Fiji. Her joy at the assembly was not lessened any despite the unpleasantness she fully expected to face when she returned home. She was so upbuilt and strengthened that she withstood this on return and has since continued steadfast and happy in spirit, glad that her determination helped her to overcome those obstacles.
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Country Reports (Part One)1971 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses
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A brother with a family of eleven, including an adopted daughter and pioneer living with them, wanted to get all of them overseas to the international assembly in Fiji. Only one source of finance was available. His employers kept a superannuation fund to be withdrawn on retirement or in very exceptional circumstances. Having worked there many years, the brother figured he would have enough in it to get the family to the assembly. Reasoning that integrity and faith in Jehovah will get one through the coming tribulation whether one has money in a fund or not, he resolved to invest his fund toward guaranteeing his family’s future spiritual survival.
It was not until the week of travel to the assembly that he was able to contact his managing director. Naturally, his director felt as many would. He wondered why a family man would wish to withdraw his only security against the future and chance leaving nothing for them if something happened to him. The brother explained the importance to him and his family as Jehovah’s worshipers of attending the assembly and that this was the only way for them to get to Fiji. His being a respected and trusted employee, his director favorably granted the request and made an unprecedented exception in letting him withdraw his superannuation fund in full. Happy and thankful to Jehovah for this blessing, he went the following day and paid his family’s ship fares to Fiji. The family then joyfully prepared to leave.
Later that week, however, the brother was informed that the ship was strike-bound in another country and would not be sailing as expected. The only other way out of the country, so as to be at the assembly in time, was by air at greater expense. Suffice it to say that the brother and his family enjoyed the assembly, with no regrets. They know that only spiritual steadfastness, faith and obedience to Jehovah will preserve them. in the future and not transient material possessions.
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