Most of our Gilead classmates left for their assignments before us.  Nevertheless, our turn did arrive and along with Uno and Carina Nilsson we boarded PanAm to Senegal arriving there on a hot November morning. Senegal, located on the west coast of Africa is the nearest African country to New York. Senegal lies mostly in the Sahel, the area between the Sahara desert and savannah.  It is a predominantly Moslem country.

Preaching was easy in the sense that the people, although Muslim, were not fanatic and would listen but at the same time difficult because very few could read. Most the time we were teaching simple lessons by showing them pictures in the Bible Story book or the new brochure Enjoy Life on Earth Forever!

The branch asked us to move to The Gambia in March 1982.  Completely surrounded by Senegal, The Gambia is one of the smallest countries in Africa comprising the river Gambia and some land on each side. There were 12 publishers in Gambia then.  In time we managed to give a witness throughout the entire country visiting every town and most villages. Most months our journeys into the interior would last a week or more. Where there was no place to stay the night, and this was often, we camped in our little tent. By 1986 22 publishers were active including two Muslims we helped to learn the truth.

The Gambia had become known as the home of Kunta Kinteh, the main character in Alex Halley’s book Roots.  The author apparently traced his roots back to a small town called Jufureh on the river Gambia.  We preached in that town and found a family with the name Kinteh.  They were not interested in the truth and had little love for the famous black American who had made a fortune but used none of it to help the people in his ancestor’s home village.

One day in February 1986 a letter arrived out of the blue asking us to take up an assignment in the branch in Zambia.  After receiving training we arrive here in September of the same year. The Zambian field is the most productive preaching territory we have ever experienced. There were about 60,000 publishers in the country at that time.  Now after 23 years we are thrilled to see just under 160,000.  Between 1986 and 1995 we enjoyed the privilege of visiting Malawi on many occasions.  The work was under ban then and was being cared for by the Zambia branch.  Zambia borders on our home country of Zimbabwe, which made it easier for us to remain in the full time ministry and care for our parents when they needed it.  All of our parents are now dead and the only relative we have in Zimbabwe is Ed’s sister Beth who still serves in the branch there.

During our 23 years of service here we have visited every corner of the country mainly in connection with Conventions and Special Assembly days, but also to visit and care for refugees who flock here from neighbouring countries in times of war.

Thirty years goes by very quickly but they have been filled with rich experiences and wonderful associations.  We thank Jehovah for using us all this time and for the unforgettable experience of being trained at Gilead School.

Pictures: Farewell from Gambia 1986; Ed & Linda 2009; Ed, Linda and Uno Nilsson 2009; Finches and Nilssons