Year Book of Jehovah's Witnesses - Watchtower Archive

Yearbook 137
in order to be able to attend the next international convention.
We started as far back as October in making arrangements
to help many of the brethren obtain their passports.
A great majority of those going to New York left
in a group on three big chartered planes from Habana.
When these planes left there were over 1,000 brethren at
the airport to bid them good-bye. When we arrived at the
Miami airport the Customs authorities showed the same
discrimination against us as they did to the European
brethren when they entered the United States through New
York. In practically every case the immigration authorities
shortened the stay of the brethren to August 15. Two of the
brethren were detained.
After much questioning and delay the group got through
Customs. Four chartered Greyhound buses that were waiting
for us outside the airport drove us on to New York. Although
a great majority of our delegates did not understand English
they greatly rejoiced in being present and seeing the Lord's
spirit manifest upon his people assembled in convention.
Most of the delegates stayed in homes of Spanish-speaking
people. They talked the truth to these people at every opportunity
they had. Many of them were able to bring their
landladies and their families to the stadium to hear the
talks. When it came time for departure many of the landladies
refused to accept money for rent from the brethren.
When the delegates left New York to come back many of
the landladies came out to the bus terminal to bid them
good-bye. All returned home greatly enthused and animated.
The effects of this assembly upon our brethren should result
in still further increases in activity.
The new publications in Spanish "This Means Everlasting
Life" and "Equipped for Every Good Work" will be of very
great aid to the publishers in this country. The brethren
here greatly appreciate these two new provisions from the
Lord. The semimonthly Awake! will greatly increase our
placements in magazines.
During the past year the publishers here have been
richly and abundantly blessed of the Lord. All are looking
forward to the coming service year that it too, by the Lord's
grace, may be one of great expansion to the honor and
glory of Jehovah's name.
CYPRUS
It is a joy to reflect on the many blessings that
Jehovah pours out over His servants and to rehearse
the mighty acts of the Creator toward his creatures.
The command to "preach the word" applies not only