LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ERKKI MAKELA - GILEAD SCHOOL

 While we were attending Pioneer Service School in 1978 Raimo Kuokkanen, one of our instructors, encouraged us to apply for Gilead School. So we started studying English with the goal of qualifying to attend. However. in 1980, before we could apply, we were invited to serve at the branch office in Finland. At that time, Bethelites could not apply for Gilead.  But we wanted to serve where Jehovah thought best, not where we thought best. So we accepted the invitation. Nonetheless, we kept studying English just in case we ever had the opportunity for Gilead.

A few years later, the Governing Body extended to Bethelites the opportunity to apply for Gilead. We filled out applications immediately but not because were unhappy at Bethel. Quite the contrary! We just wanted to make ourselves available to serve where there was a greater need if we qualified. We were accepted to Gilead and graduated from the 79th class in September 1985. Our assignment was Colombia. 

Next time: LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ERKKI MAKELA - OUR FIRST MISSIONARY ASSIGNMENT

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