A house on the outskirts of Managua was obtained to serve as a branch office. A number of the brothers, however, were unfamiliar with the normal Bethel routine, for they were used to working in secret at different locations and at odd hours. But they responded well to training and made the necessary adjustments. Most of these young men continue to serve Jehovah faithfully, some in different avenues of full-time service.

To help with the work at the branch, brothers were also sent in from other countries. Missionaries Kenneth and Sharan Brian were reassigned from Honduras back to Nicaragua late in 1990. In January 1991, Juan and Rebecca Reyes, graduates of the first class of the Gilead Extension School in Mexico, came over from Costa Rica, followed by Arnaldo Chávez, also a graduate of Mexico’s first class, and his wife, María. Lothar and Carmen Mihank arrived two years later from Panama, where Lothar had served on the Branch Committee. Most were assigned to the new branch, where they helped get the work back onto a proper organizational footing. Today, the Nicaragua Bethel family comprises 37 members of various nationalities.

In February 1991 a Branch Committee was appointed to replace the country committee, and the Nicaragua branch officially reopened on May 1, 1991.

[Picture on page 133]

After the restrictions on Jehovah’s Witnesses were lifted, this house served as a branch office