Jehovah s Witnesses containing report for the service year of

254 Yearbook
some things. So the other people went back to work
and allowed her to be taken.
When the police got hold of her they subjected her
to severe examination; they beat her and wanted her
to reveal where other witnesses were who were in the
truth. But through the torture she would not reveal
any of her fellow workers who were preaching the
Kingdom. They demanded in their rage that she deny
her religion and ordered her to sign papers that made
her swear that she would never tell anything that
happened to her in this police interview, and then they
would let her go. Although she returned to the factory,
within a few days she was taken away from her flat
and disappeared. She was transported to Siberia. She
was not alone in this movement, but was with many
other Jehovah's witnesses, and as they passed through
the villages the people would ask who they were and
they would reply that they were Jehovah's witnesses.
Thus they had opportunity to witness to the people.
In one village the gathering work of taking Jehovah's
witnesses into exile involved a sister ninety·nine years
of age. When she was asked the question, Are you one
of Jehovah's witnesses? she said yes. They gave her
two hours to change her mind and deny her belief in
God, but this she refused to do. She answered them that
she was one of Jehovah's witnesses and that she wanted
to serve Jehovah to the end of her life. She was taken
along to Siberia with the rest. What a strong government!
The Russian government fearful of a ninety-nineyear-old
woman.
The journey was long and many stops were made.
The curious people watching these transports talked to
the brothers and asked questions. They wanted to know
who the witnesses were, why they were being deported.
Placards were made with material they could get hold
of and signs were hung out: "Here Jehovah's witnesses
Go into Banishment for Having Preached the Gospel."
Other banners read: "Because of Our Faith in Jehovah."
One place where the train stopped a large crowd
assembled alongside the train and one of the brothers
climbed onto the baggage and talked to them. As he gave
them the comforting message of God's kingdom, many
had tears in their eyes. There was a watchman's hut
nearby and the watchman came out to see what was
going on. When the watchman saw what was happening
he shouted to the brothers: "Move away from the window
and stop talking or the one speaking will be shot!"
The brother answered: "You can do so if you want to,
as I am going into banishment anyway," and he continued
to talk.