The content displayed below is for educational and archival purposes only.Unless stated otherwise, content is © Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
You may be able to find the original on wol.jw.org
Video above © Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
00:07 It’s not easy raising kids in the truth, 00:12 and I had ten. 00:18 I learned the truth when I was 19. 00:22 Some Witnesses came to preach in our town, 00:25 and my father offered them a place to stay. 00:27 He spoke with them all through the night 00:30 and then announced excitedly that he had found the truth. 00:34 Eventually, I was baptized in the 1950’s. 00:37 My husband was favorable toward the truth 00:40 but got involved in political affairs in the community, 00:44 and from there he began his political career. 00:49 When I read 1 Peter 3:1, 2, 00:50 I understood that I needed to be in subjection to my husband, 00:54 with the hope that he could be won over 00:56 “without a word” by means of my conduct. 00:59 When my children were young, 01:01 I made a weekly Bible study program for each of them, 01:04 and as they grew up, 01:06 the older kids helped me with their younger siblings. 01:10 I remember Mom always made an effort to teach me how to preach. 01:13 I would write presentations for the ministry on pieces of paper, 01:17 and the kids would practice while they did their chores around the house. 01:22 We set aside time one day a week for our family study. 01:26 It could be anything 01:27 —a sack of potatoes, a sack of flour, or a house plant. 01:31 She would tell me: 01:32 “Imagine that this is a person you meet in field service. 01:35 What would you say to them?” 01:37 When I finished, she would say to me, 01:39 “The way you did it just now, 01:41 do it like that when you go out in the ministry.” 01:45 My mom was very creative. 01:49 She would assign us to play the part of different Bible characters. 01:55 My mom taught us to appreciate the truth 01:59 through her example. 02:01 I served as a regular pioneer for many years, 02:05 and I encouraged my kids to reach out for spiritual goals. 02:08 My daughter left home at the age of 18 02:11 to serve as a special pioneer. 02:14 Later, my oldest son did the same. 02:16 These two proved to be excellent examples for their younger brothers. 02:22 Raising my son Noé was a challenge. 02:25 He was the youngest, 02:27 and at a very young age, he was diagnosed with epilepsy. 02:31 Despite his limitations, 02:33 he was able to serve as a ministerial servant 02:37 and regular pioneer. 02:38 He fought his illness for more than 40 years, 02:41 before passing away recently. 02:45 Losing my husband in death dealt me another blow. 02:50 Now my health and my memory are fading. 02:53 I can’t do as much 02:55 in the ministry as before. 02:57 But even so, thanks to the help of the brothers in the congregation, 03:01 I’m not giving up. 03:06 Even though my husband was not a Witness, 03:09 I respected him as the head of the family. 03:12 I will never forget the moment 03:14 when my husband asked me to study the Bible with him. 03:18 I remember that my eldest son gave the talk, 03:21 and his father was among the candidates for baptism. 03:25 Forty-two years after I received the Kingdom message, 03:29 my husband was baptized. 03:32 Another great blessing was seeing my children 03:34 grow in the truth and use their youth to serve Jehovah. 03:39 Some have served as special pioneers, 03:42 circuit overseers, or in Bethel. 03:45 If it wasn’t for her help 03:47 and the support of my siblings, 03:49 perhaps we wouldn’t be part of the organization today. 03:53 But thanks to her, we started out on the best course in life. 04:01 Words cannot express how grateful I am to her. 04:05 I now find great joy 04:07 in seeing my grandchildren and great-grandchildren 04:11 follow their parents’ example. 04:13 Thinking about all I have experienced 04:15 in over 60 years of service to Jehovah 04:18 —raising my ten children in the truth, 04:21 my husband becoming a servant of Jehovah, 04:24 and seeing 30 members of my family in full-time service— 04:28 I can do nothing but thank Jehovah 04:30 for his blessings. 04:32 It’s been worth all the effort.
00:07 It’s not easy raising kids in the truth, 00:12 and I had ten. 00:18 I learned the truth when I was 19. 00:22 Some Witnesses came to preach in our town, 00:25 and my father offered them a place to stay. 00:27 He spoke with them all through the night 00:30 and then announced excitedly that he had found the truth. 00:34 Eventually, I was baptized in the 1950’s. 00:37 My husband was favorable toward the truth 00:40 but got involved in political affairs in the community, 00:44 and from there he began his political career. 00:49 When I read 1 Peter 3:1, 2, 00:50 I understood that I needed to be in subjection to my husband, 00:54 with the hope that he could be won over 00:56 “without a word” by means of my conduct. 00:59 When my children were young, 01:01 I made a weekly Bible study program for each of them, 01:04 and as they grew up, 01:06 the older kids helped me with their younger siblings. 01:10 I remember Mom always made an effort to teach me how to preach. 01:13 I would write presentations for the ministry on pieces of paper, 01:17 and the kids would practice while they did their chores around the house. 01:22 We set aside time one day a week for our family study. 01:26 It could be anything 01:27 —a sack of potatoes, a sack of flour, or a house plant. 01:31 She would tell me: 01:32 “Imagine that this is a person you meet in field service. 01:35 What would you say to them?” 01:37 When I finished, she would say to me, 01:39 “The way you did it just now, 01:41 do it like that when you go out in the ministry.” 01:45 My mom was very creative. 01:49 She would assign us to play the part of different Bible characters. 01:55 My mom taught us to appreciate the truth 01:59 through her example. 02:01 I served as a regular pioneer for many years, 02:05 and I encouraged my kids to reach out for spiritual goals. 02:08 My daughter left home at the age of 18 02:11 to serve as a special pioneer. 02:14 Later, my oldest son did the same. 02:16 These two proved to be excellent examples for their younger brothers. 02:22 Raising my son Noé was a challenge. 02:25 He was the youngest, 02:27 and at a very young age, he was diagnosed with epilepsy. 02:31 Despite his limitations, 02:33 he was able to serve as a ministerial servant 02:37 and regular pioneer. 02:38 He fought his illness for more than 40 years, 02:41 before passing away recently. 02:45 Losing my husband in death dealt me another blow. 02:50 Now my health and my memory are fading. 02:53 I can’t do as much 02:55 in the ministry as before. 02:57 But even so, thanks to the help of the brothers in the congregation, 03:01 I’m not giving up. 03:06 Even though my husband was not a Witness, 03:09 I respected him as the head of the family. 03:12 I will never forget the moment 03:14 when my husband asked me to study the Bible with him. 03:18 I remember that my eldest son gave the talk, 03:21 and his father was among the candidates for baptism. 03:25 Forty-two years after I received the Kingdom message, 03:29 my husband was baptized. 03:32 Another great blessing was seeing my children 03:34 grow in the truth and use their youth to serve Jehovah. 03:39 Some have served as special pioneers, 03:42 circuit overseers, or in Bethel. 03:45 If it wasn’t for her help 03:47 and the support of my siblings, 03:49 perhaps we wouldn’t be part of the organization today. 03:53 But thanks to her, we started out on the best course in life. 04:01 Words cannot express how grateful I am to her. 04:05 I now find great joy 04:07 in seeing my grandchildren and great-grandchildren 04:11 follow their parents’ example. 04:13 Thinking about all I have experienced 04:15 in over 60 years of service to Jehovah 04:18 —raising my ten children in the truth, 04:21 my husband becoming a servant of Jehovah, 04:24 and seeing 30 members of my family in full-time service— 04:28 I can do nothing but thank Jehovah 04:30 for his blessings. 04:32 It’s been worth all the effort.
