When Martha and I first arrived in Japan, we were assigned to live at the branch office in Tokyo. In 1963 a new, six-story branch facility was constructed on that site, and we have been living there ever since. In November 1963 we were among the 163 who were present for the dedication talk by our branch overseer, Lloyd Barry. By then we had reached 3,000 Witnesses in Japan.

It has been a delight to see the Kingdom-preaching work grow dramatically, reaching more than 14,000 in 1972 when a new enlarged branch was completed in the city of Numazu. But by 1982 there were over 68,000 Kingdom proclaimers in Japan, and a much larger branch facility was constructed in the city of Ebina, some 50 miles [80 km] from Tokyo.

A highlight of my missionary life occurred last November, 36 years after the dedication of the building in which so many of us longtime missionaries now live. On November 13, 1999, I was among the 4,486, including hundreds of longtime Witnesses from 37 countries, who attended the dedication of the expanded facilities at the Japan branch of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in Ebina. Presently, there are about 650 in that branch family.

[Picture on page 25]

Our enlarged branch facilities in Ebina were dedicated last November