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I Found Meaning in LifeThe Watchtower—2009 | September 15
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In 1957 we moved to the nearby city of Logroño, and eventually all my family did the same. I soon discovered that as an unskilled worker, I had few prospects of earning a decent wage. I wondered where to turn for guidance. I started a search in the local library, although I did not really know what to look for.
Later, I heard about a radio program that offered a Bible study course by correspondence. Soon after I completed it, some Evangelical Protestants contacted me. After a couple of visits to their place of worship, I could see rivalry among prominent members of the group. I did not return, concluding that all religions must be the same.
The Scales Fall From My Eyes
In 1964 a young man called Eugenio visited our home. He was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a religion I had never heard of before. But I was more than willing to talk about the Bible. I thought I had a good knowledge of the Scriptures. I responded to him using a few of the Bible texts I had learned in my correspondence course. Although I tried to defend certain Protestant doctrines, in my heart I did not really believe them.
After two long conversations, I had to admit that Eugenio handled the Word of God like an expert. It amazed me to see how he could look up scriptures and reason on their application, though his regular schooling had been less than mine. Eugenio showed me from the Bible that we are living in the last days and that God’s Kingdom will soon usher in a paradise earth. I was intrigued.—Ps. 37:11, 29; Isa. 9:6, 7; Matt. 6:9, 10.
I readily accepted a Bible study. Virtually everything I learned was new, and it touched my heart. A prospect opened up before me, one that offered something worth living for. My search had come to an end. Now my efforts to improve my social status seemed irrelevant, and my struggle to cope with work problems became of minor importance. Even sickness and death itself will be overcome.—Isa. 33:24; 35:5, 6; Rev. 21:4.
Right away I began to tell my relatives what I was learning, enthusiastically explaining to them that God promises to bring about a paradise earth where faithful humans can live forever.
My Family Embraces Bible Truth
Soon, about a dozen of us decided to meet every Sunday afternoon in my uncle’s home to discuss Bible promises. We spent two or three hours every week doing so. When Eugenio saw that such a large group of my relatives had an interest in the Bible, he arranged to give personal attention to each family.
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I Found Meaning in LifeThe Watchtower—2009 | September 15
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Life Got Richer as I Got Older
For the next 20 years, I concentrated on bringing up our two boys and helping the local congregation. When Mercedes and I moved to Logroño, there were only about 20 Witnesses in that city of some 100,000 inhabitants. Before long, I received many responsibilities in the congregation.
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