Jehovah s Witnesses containing report for the service year of

236 Yearbook
to twelve, but practically doubled to twenty-three, and
the congregation has continued stronger ever since.
The fight for clean worship goes on and it is heartwarming
to see the efforts put forth by the people of
good will to put their marital affairs in order when
they learn the truth. While visiting one congregation
the circuit servant was asked to perform the marriage
ceremony for four couples. These all had children; one
couple had seven. They had never been taught the need
of legalizing their marriage until they began to study
the Bible with Jehovah's witnesses. At another congregation
a couple had studied with the witnesses, but
owing to the fact that the man had not left the village
in about two years, it seemed doubtful that he would
get out to the judge to get the marriage license, in
order to get )egally married. He could not bring himself
to pass the dance hall where his son had been
stabbed to death, and as a public expression of mourning
had remained at home all this time. Nevertheless,
the truth of God's Word is powerful enough to make
one break away from all traditions that may hinder him
from keeping up with the true worship, and it proved
to be so in this case when the circuit servant went with
him to get the license. After the marriage the couple
were baptized in symbol of their dedication and are
now preaching the good news with the New World
society.
PARAGUAY
Very good work was done in the inland country
of Paraguay during the past year. The service
centers have been better organized, the ministers
saw to it that they came together and studied
and kept busy in the preaching activity. The publishers
have gone ahead and applied the instructions
given through the service centers and immediate
results were obtained. There was much
more regularity in the field service, placements
were up, particularly the magazine distribution,
and all in Paraguay rejoice at the progress that
was made. There are some very interesting experiences
given by the branch servant that you will
enjoy reading.
Because of the poor mail service in the capital and
other cities, many magazine subscribers were not getting
their magazines regularly, and many did not get
them at all, so other means of delivery had to be found.