HOW WORK WINS PRAISE IN MOSCOW

In December 1998, the Witnesses purchased a large, two-story building adjacent to Mikhalkovsky Park.  It has previously served as a cultural center.  Some time ago Witness workers began renovating this large facility. It includes five Kingdom Halls, or meeting places, for 22 congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses. 

This past April 15, one administrator of the Golovinsky district requested that on April 21 the Witnesses clean up Mikkhalkovsky Park. In Russia it is common for residents  and community groups  to share in communal spring cleaning of parks and highways. On April 17, the Witnesses met to plan for the work. At the meeting it was decided that about 700 workers would be needed. 

Accomplishing the Work

On April 18 when the Witnesses notified the Golovinsky district officials as to how many rakes and other tools would be needed, the officials did not believe that anywhere near 700 workers would respond. Yet, by 9:30 a.m,, April 21, when administration employees arrived at the park, hundreds of Witnesses were already on hand, but there were only 200 garden tools for them to use. In time, some 200 additional rakes were obtained for use. Those without tools worked with their hands to collect garbage and put it into plastic bags. Witnesses even brought high fishing boots and a boat for cleaning out the large pond.

Administrations representatives were amazed at the work being done. They noted that the people labored as if they were cleaning their own property, doing the job with joy and enthusiasm. Altogether, about a thousand of Jehovah's Witnesses shared in the work of Mikhalkovsky Park , and more than 250 tons of garbage was removed. Those living in the area said that they had not seen the park so clean in a very long time. 

As noted at the outset, the officials were impressed by what was done and were very appreciative. One official in the Golovinsky district wrote:  "The Golovinsky District Administration of the North Administrative Region of Moscow thanks the religious community of Jehovah's Witnesses for their participation in the clean-up of the Mikhalkovsky Park." An associate official  expressed similar words of appreciation, concluding:  "This noble and necessary work brings benefit and joy to all park visitors."

Although Jehovah's Witnesses are pleased   to beautify areas around their properties-and to engage in such projects as here described -their principal work today is sharing with people the good news of God's Kingdom, the government that will bring Paradise conditions  earth wide.  (Matthew 34:14) As they were cleaning  up Mikhalkovsky Park, some were heard to remark that what they were doing was good training for the post-Armageddon work of beautifying  the whole earth. -Revelation 16:14, 16.
Indeed all lovers of the Bible look forward  to the time when the entire earth  will be a park-like place of beauty, even as God intended it to be when he first created  the first human pair. -Genesis 1:28;  2:8, 9, 15; Revelation 21:3, 4. 

Next time: SUSTAINED BY CONFIDENCE IN GOD

From the AWAKE! magazine, 2001