After Harold’s successful preaching expedition in the Samoas, he had to return to Australia. But one of the publications he placed eventually found its way into the hands of an office worker, Pele Fuaiupolu.d The booklet’s message remained in Pele’s heart, awaiting the return of Witnesses to water the precious truths that had been planted.​—1 Cor. 3:6.

In 1952, 12 years later, a Witness from England, John Croxford, arrived in the town of Apia, Samoa’s capital, on the island of Upolu. There he took up work in the same office as Pele. John was a friendly man who was eager to witness to others. Detecting Pele’s interest in the Bible, John took the initiative to visit him at his home. Pele writes: “We talked until the wee hours of Sunday morning. I asked him many questions, and every answer he gave was read from the Bible. I was convinced beyond any doubt that this was the truth I had been looking for.” Later that year Pele and his wife, Ailua, became the first Samoans to dedicate their lives to Jehovah and get baptized.

Pele knew that he would be called to account for leaving the religion of his ancestors. So he studied hard and prayed earnestly for Jehovah’s help. When summoned by the high chief of the family to a meeting at Pele’s home village of Faleasiu, a large coastal village 12 miles [19 m] west of Apia, Pele and another relative interested in the truth faced a hostile assembly of six chiefs, three orators, ten pastors, two theological teachers, the high chief who was presiding, and older men and women of the family.

“They cursed and condemned us for disgracing the name of the family and the church of our forefathers,” recalls Pele. The high chief then proposed a debate, which ended up lasting until four in the morning.

“Even though some yelled, ‘Take that Bible away! Leave off that Bible!’ I answered all their questions from the Bible and disproved their arguments,” states Pele. “Finally, neither word nor sound was forthcoming from them. Their heads were bent down. Then the high chief said in a weak voice: ‘You won, Pele.’”

“Pardon me, Sir,” Pele recalls saying to the high chief, “I did not win. This night you heard the message of the Kingdom. It is my sincere hope you will heed it.”

With Pele’s humble reliance on Jehovah and His Word, the Bible, the seed of Kingdom truth was taking root in Upolu.

EARLY MEETINGS

Talk of Pele’s new religion spread quickly through the close-knit island community. Like the first-century Athenians to whom Paul preached, some were curious about this “new teaching” and wanted to know more. (Acts 17:19, 20)

[Picture on page 74]

Pele and Ailua Fuaiupolu were the first Samoans to dedicate their lives to Jehovah