Zealous Pioneers Reach New Territories

By 1992, there were still a number of regions in Georgia where Jehovah’s people had not yet preached the Bible’s message. How could these new territories be reached when the country was facing a deep economic crisis?

Tamazi Biblaia, who lived in western Georgia at the time, recalls: “A traveling overseer met with a few of us to discuss what could be done. We did not have much information about how the special pioneer arrangement should be organized. But we knew that the good news had to be preached urgently.” (2 Tim. 4:2) Consequently, they selected 16 pioneers and assigned them to various locations throughout the country.​—See the accompanying map.

In May 1992, a three-hour meeting was held in Tbilisi to encourage the pioneers who were assigned to work those territories for five months. Each month, elders visited them to provide spiritual support as well as material aid if needed.

Two pioneer sisters, Manea Aduashvili and Nazy Zhvania, were assigned to the town of Ozurgeti. Manea, who was 60 years old at the time, remembers: “We knew that an interested person lived close to Ozurgeti. So, as soon as we arrived, we arranged to meet her. When we arrived at the woman’s house, she was waiting for us, as were about 30 others whom she had invited. That day we started several Bible studies.”

The following months were just as productive. After only five months, 12 individuals were ready for baptism!

Their Self-Sacrificing Spirit Paid Off

Two pioneer brothers, Pavle Abdushelishvili and Paata Morbedadze, were sent to Tsageri. It is located in a region that is a stronghold of ancient traditions mixed with teachings of Christendom.

As the harsh winter approached, the pioneers’ five-month assignment was about to end, and Paata was invited to help with translation work elsewhere. So Pavle had to make a decision. He relates: “I was aware that spending winter in Tsageri would be tough. But our Bible students needed more help, so I decided to stay.”

“I stayed with a local family,” recalls Pavle. “Most of the day, I was out preaching. In the evening I joined the family around the woodstove in the living room on the first floor. But when the time came for me to go up to my room, I put on my warm hat and then slept under a thick blanket.”

When elders were able to visit Pavle in the spring, 11 individuals had qualified to become unbaptized publishers. Soon, all were baptized.