Jehovah Has Helped Us Make Wise Decisions

I was born in 1952 in Karlovy Vary,a a town in the westernmost part of the former Czechoslovakia, near the German border. As ethnic Germans, my older brother, Milan, and I faced hostility at school. Because of this, our family moved to Frankfurt, Germany, in 1966.

My parents were Jehovah’s Witnesses when I was very young, but they were removed from the Christian congregation when I was still a little boy. Sadly, I grew up without any spiritual goals.

In time, my parents returned to Jehovah. In addition, Milan eagerly accepted the truth and decided to get baptized at a convention in Hannover. I decided to get baptized on the same day! I was 15 years old at the time. Shortly after my baptism, however, I convinced my parents to let me move to Berlin, where I took art classes.

While studying art, I had time to think about two questions that bothered me: Is there a Creator? and Is the Bible really the word of God? In my art classes, I realized that the complex composition and harmony of a painting were nothing compared to the beauty of the originals in nature. I concluded that if the paintings did not come about by chance, then neither could the originals!

I found the answer to my second question by researching how ancient history confirms the accuracy of Bible prophecy. Little by little, I proved to myself that the Bible truly is God’s Word.—1 Thessalonians 2:13.

In addition to personal research, I had long conversations with an elder who took me under his wing. My faith in Jehovah gradually grew, and I began giving art a secondary place in my life. In 1972, I made one of the best decisions of my life when I became a pioneer in Berlin. My initial goal was to serve as a pioneer for three months.

Expanding My Ministry

Pioneering in Berlin was a real challenge. The good news had been preached in this city for nearly 100 years, yet there seemed to be little response. It felt like a miracle when I started my first Bible study with an interested person! Now I was convinced that I could preach anywhere with Jehovah’s help, so I continued pioneering.

About a year later, the branch office asked if I would be willing to learn Serbo-Croatianb to preach to Yugoslavians working in Germany. I gladly responded to the call and was soon assigned to Frankfurt. There, I learned Serbo-Croatian with Hans and Sonja Smode, who had just graduated from Gilead School. After spending three months with them, I was assigned to serve as a special pioneer in Stuttgart. Over the next two years, from 1973 to 1975, I moved several times and had five different service partners.

Later, I was assigned to a Serbo-Croatian group in Karlsruhe. There I met my partner for life—a hardworking special pioneer named Lenka. In no time, I fell in love with her, and we were married. Soon after, in 1978, we were invited to serve in circuit work in the Yugoslavian field.

A Tough Decision to Make

For about 10 years, we visited groups and congregations scattered throughout Europe. Over time, this lifestyle, though enjoyable, took its toll on us. When Lenka experienced burnout, she pushed herself even harder. It was not the best approach, but we did not know what else to do. We prayed earnestly for guidance.

The answer to our prayers came when we consulted a doctor. He kindly helped us understand that we needed to recognize our physical and emotional limits. (Micah 6:8) We realized that we had to leave the traveling work, but it was hard to face that reality. We discussed our situation with some experienced overseers at Bethel. To our surprise, they proposed that we continue our full-time service as Serbo-Croatian translators at the Austria branch. This adjustment helped Lenka to recover gradually. Through wise counselors, Jehovah helped us not to make a hasty decision.—Proverbs 15:22.

Facing Challenging Decisions in Wartime

After serving in Vienna for two years, Lenka and I were relocated to the branch in Zagreb, Croatia, which then supervised the work in what is now the former Yugoslavia. Most Yugoslavians, though of different cultures and religions, lived together peacefully—that is, until a civil war broke out in 1991. A few months before the conflict began, our Country Committee was preparing for an international convention that would bring together Witnesses from all parts of Yugoslavia.

We prayed, discussed the situation, and decided to proceed with our convention preparations. We also worked closely with the local authorities to ensure the safety of our international guests. What a joy it was to welcome five members of the Governing Body! The convention program was exactly what our brothers and sisters needed.

About a year into the war, our Country Committee received reports that our brothers in Sarajevo and other parts of Bosnia were running out of food, firewood, and medicine. Serbian troops had besieged their towns, and no one could come to their aid. We prayed earnestly for guidance. What could we do?

Under the supervision of the Austria branch, we organized a relief mission despite the risks involved. On October 26, 1993, trucks left Vienna carrying 16 tons of relief supplies for our fellow believers in Bosnia.c

As we crossed the front lines, we experienced firsthand that Jehovah’s hand was “not too short to save.” (Isaiah 59:1) We will never forget our dangerous trip from Zenica to Sarajevo. When we were just 40 kilometers (25 mi) from Sarajevo, we had to make a 140-kilometer (90-mi) detour through the woods.

When we approached the besieged city, I asked to speak to a commanding officer, who turned out to be a general. He doubted that we could succeed. But when he heard that we were Jehovah’s Witnesses, he asked me if I knew a certain brother named Hajrudin. I answered that he was our friend. The officer said: “He is my friend too. We went to school together. Since he has become a Witness, I appreciate him even more.”

After questioning us further about our beliefs, this high-ranking officer permitted us to use a secret tunnel to bring relief goods to our brothers in Sarajevo. He even stopped military shipments for two nights so that his soldiers could carry our relief supplies through the narrow tunnel. For those two nights, the soldiers lugged parcels weighing about 27 kilograms (60 lb) each. We could never have done this on our own!

On the other side of the tunnel, the soldiers helped our brothers to bring the parcels to a safe place and to distribute food to the local brothers and their neighbors. Some non-Witnesses were so touched by the relief efforts that they knelt with the local brothers to thank Jehovah in prayer.—2 Corinthians 9:13.

On many occasions, our neutrality protected us when we had to pass through military checkpoints. But neutrality meant much more than simply wearing a badge identifying us as Jehovah’s Witnesses. We had to work hard to remain neutral in our thoughts and feelings. So we decided to listen to the news less often, knowing that frightening reports from either side could instill prejudices—and even hatred—in us.

Since the 1990’s, I have served as a Branch Committee member in Croatia and then in the Czech-Slovak branch. What have my experiences in various assignments taught me about making decisions? For one thing, Jehovah can use anyone—including a military commander—to solve a problem! I have also learned, not to overestimate my experience, but to rely on Jehovah’s guidance through his organization.

Coping With Unexpected Health Issues

During a routine checkup in 2023, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Because I had never faced a serious illness before, the fear of the unknown overwhelmed us. Lenka and I repeatedly asked Jehovah to help us make wise decisions, and we acted in harmony with our prayers. We did research and consulted doctors. Once we decided on treatment, we felt more at peace.

We also resolved not to worry too much about what tomorrow will bring. (Matthew 6:34) We have so many reasons to stay positive! For example, when we had to go to Germany for treatment, we wrote a letter to our Bethel family in Bratislava, Slovakia, to explain our new circumstances. We received many messages from our dear friends, who prayed for us and assured us of their love. Jehovah can sustain us through our fellow believers and give us the peace “that surpasses all understanding.”—Philippians 4:7.

Realistically, none of us know when we might face a life-threatening illness or even death. (Ecclesiastes 9:11; James 4:14) So I am grateful to Jehovah that he helped me, at such a young age, to make the wise decision to serve him to the best of my ability. Nothing could have given my life more meaning!d