“One day at the cemetery,” recalls Delmira, “I noticed a lady who had been kneeling at a grave for several days in succession. I started to speak with her and learned she was mourning the death of her 22-year-old daughter. Upon hearing about the resurrection and God’s purpose for a Paradise, this woman, Deolinda Pinto Costa, was so eager to learn more that she invited me to her home for a weekly Bible study. In a short time we were both going to the cemetery, not to mourn, but to share our wonderful hope.”

Love for the truth motivated these zealous women to organize a Bible study for the several interested persons. Every Wednesday afternoon, at the home of Deolinda Pinto Costa, a group of six or more women gathered to study the Bible with the aid of the Society’s publications. Through correspondence with John Perry in Brooklyn, this group of interested women learned there was a nucleus of brothers in Lisbon.

At the same time the brothers in Lisbon had been advised there were interested persons in Almada. They made arrangements to meet. When they did, the brothers were amazed to find a group of eight persons, all women, holding a weekly Bible study. Right away regular meetings were organized at Deolinda’s home with the Lisbon brothers present. What a joy to observe the first sisters of this Almada group still maintaining their integrity and active in Kingdom service down to this day!

[Picture on page 146]

Delmira M. S. Figueiredo and Deolinda P. Costa, zealous sisters who organized the Almada Bible study group