Year Book of Jehovah's Witnesses - Watchtower Archive

272 Yearbook
publishers watched. Then they went into the service convinced
that the points that the servant used were practical.
and so used them to good advantage in the witness work.
We have 17 native pioneers who are doing a good work in
spreading the light in different parts of Venezuela. In the
mountains of the Andes, on the prairies, and down next to
Venezuela's dense jungle we have pioneers who are preach·
ing the Word. We also have 7 companies reporting. One
company in El Tigre (which means "the tiger") has increased
from 5 to 51 during this year. At a recent baptism
they immersed 20 at one time. In this company there are
four pioneers who work hard under the hot sun day after
day.
At present we have two missionary homes in Venezuela,
with 16 Gilead graduates, but very soon we hope to start
three more homes.
YUGOSLAVIA
It was back in 1946 that false charges were made
against Jehovah's witnesses, the government claiming
that the action of God's servants was inimical to the
state. At that time eleven received sentences varying
from one to fifteen years at hard labor, while three,
those who were directing the work in Yugoslavia,
were sentenced to death. This death sentence was later
commuted to penal servitude for life. Of the fourteen
who were put in prison back in 1946 there are eight
still in prison, seven brothers and one sister. Since
then another fourteen of Jehovah's witnesses have
been sentenced to penal servitude in Ljubljana. Of
these latter fourteen, six have served their sentences
and one sister was released because of illness.
Since these trials Jehovah's witnesses of Yugoslavia
have been declared dangerous enemies of the state
and they are constantly watched by the police. It is
with the greatest caution that the brethren are able
to carryon the preaching activity, but it is accomplished
and much good has been done during the past
year. One of the Christian burdens that befalls Jehovah's
witnesses in Yugoslavia is to assist those who
are in prison. The government does not look well to
the needs of those it has incarcerated, and it is necessary
for friends to bring bread, meat, fats and fruit