CORDEIRO SPREADS THE GOOD NEWS

Meantime, in Portugal, António Manuel Cordeiro, the young boy from Trás-os-Montes, became one of the country’s first auxiliary pioneers. He had come to Lisbon, where he used his time in association with the brothers and in field service. His cousin arrived for a second time from the United States, this time bringing her son. He recalls:

“In the summer of 1954 my cousin’s son and I decided to spread the good news in isolated territory for six months. We witnessed in dozens of villages in the remote districts of Bragança and Guarda, being arrested in Sandim village due to a complaint made by a priest. We were taken to the city of Guarda and thrown into a dungeon where we spent the night. After a lengthy interrogation they took our fingerprints and released us. Our only means of transportation was walking and an occasional ride on an ox-drawn wagon. We carried foodstuffs in a bundle and purchased bread and cheese along the way. Now and then we ate a good hot meal at a pensão [boardinghouse].”

Arriving at Seixo de Carrazeda de Ansiães, they found that there was no such thing as a pensão, but, happily, one of the first families António witnessed to offered them meals and lodging while they witnessed to every family in the village. Arriving late at another village, they found that the only available place to sleep was a bed of hay next to the burro. Recalling those days, António says: “We were not discouraged nor discontented with these conditions. Rather, we were filled with happiness at the privilege of taking the good news to these people.”

[Picture on page 167]

António Manuel Cordeiro, who became one of Portugal’s first auxiliary pioneers, and his wife, Odete, both still pioneering