PERFECT TIMING!

A Collection of Experiences by Kim and Jessika LeRoy

INDEX

Preface

Chapter 1 The meeting

Chapter 2 Introduction to Sweden

Chapter 3 Melbourne, Australia

Chapter 4 Uppsala, Sweden

Chapter 5 Sundsvall, Sweden

Chapter 6 Stockholm, Sweden

Chapter 7 The Passing of Our Fathers

Chapter 8 Around the World to BSCC

Chapter 9 Copenhagen, Denmark

Chapter 10 Fethiye, Türkiye

Chapter 11 Didim, Türkiye

Epilogue

Preface

This book is a collection of life experiences written by Kim and Jessika LeRoy, both of whom are dedicated and baptized Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is anticipated that readers of this book are familiar with the beliefs and practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses, as these form the context for the experiences shared herein. If you are not familiar with these beliefs and practices, please read the details at https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/

The idea for this collection arose at the request of several individuals who, after hearing details of the authors' experiences, expressed a desire to hear more. Rather than relying on lengthy oral recounting, Kim and Jessika decided to compile these accounts in written form to allow for easier sharing.

The purpose of this book is to document various moments from their lives and ministry, highlighting the joy they experienced, the loving care they received from Jehovah, and the valuable lessons they learned along the way. The intent is not to draw attention to the personal strengths or weaknesses of the authors or others, but rather to glorify Jehovah and provide encouragement to those who read it.

Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in the recording of times, dates, and locations. However, in some instances, names have been altered or abbreviated to safeguard the privacy of those involved. The authors kindly ask for your understanding regarding any unintentional errors or omissions.

Acknowledgements:

Proofreading: Hazel Williamson, Mirabelle Engstrom, Clarice Sanderson

Inspiration to create:  Alonya Kulakova and English Pioneer School, Antalya, September 2024

Chapter 1 The meeting

Sept 18 2004.

The sun shone through the trees as the three cyclists tore along the Flinders Peak forest path, north of Geelong. They were some kilometres ahead of the rest of the group. Instead of taking the direct tar-sealed road home, they had taken a wide detour among the forest cycle tracks and gum trees. Suddenly, as they rounded a slight bend they startled a herd of kangaroos. The kangaroos were a large mixed family with old and young, big and small joeys, rambling and feeding. Although the kangaroos were disturbed by the cyclists, rather than bounding away in the opposite direction, they kept a safe distance - their curiosity piqued at seeing the cyclists in their domain. For some minutes they measured their pace and kept up with the cyclists.

As they gracefully bounced along, one of the smaller kangaroos suddenly tripped its hind leg on a low-lying branch, causing it to roll over and over on the ground. As it righted itself again on its hind legs, the joey turned to stare at the branch. Its innocent face silently glared ‘’Where did you come from, and why did you trip me up?’.

This comical moment did not go unnoticed. All three cyclists braked to a halt, roaring with laughter. ‘Have you ever seen anything so funny? The kangaroo had such a comical look on its face !!!?’ After watching the last of the kangaroos quietly disappear into the bush, the cyclists continued on. They were eager to share this highlight of their day to the gathering of cyclist friends at the BBQ later in Lara.

One of the 3 cyclists was Kim LeRoy, a 40-year-old from New Zealand who had lived in Melbourne since January 2000. He had moved to Melbourne when the Goods and Services Tax {GST} (a variant of VAT or Sales Tax) was introduced to Australia. His professional experience was in the field of Accounting Software and Taxation. NZ had introduced a similar GST tax system some 14 years prior and Kim had experience in the implementation of this tax. He had worked as a consultant with KPMG (a large multi-national accounting firm) at the time GST was introduced in NZ. CA Systems, the NZ company he worked for in 1999 was bought by an Australian company solely for the purpose of incorporating tried and tested GST-ready accounting software into the Australian market. When the sale of his employer happened, Kim used the opportunity to move from NZ to Australia, and based himself in central Melbourne.

Kim loved telling funny stories and, knowing he had yet another great story to tell, he lost no time sharing the amusing kangaroo incident with all those he knew at the BBQ. One of the people he had met before was Merja, a sister from Finland. When he chatted to her, there was an attractive blonde sister sitting next to her. Merja introduced her – ‘Kim, this is Jessika from Sweden’. Kim repeated the amusing tale of the surprised Joey and moved on to mingle with another group.

This group of friends gathered, was part of a monthly cycling and social group organised by Vanessa M. from Geelong. She would email the group of about 100 the list of places where the monthly cycle excursion would take place and where they would meet after the cycling was completed. Participation was entirely optional and the excursions were announced 3 months ahead of time.

Seven months later, in Apr 2005, the cycling group was scheduled to meet one Saturday afternoon near Chadstone a south-eastern suburb of Melbourne. Kim partnered with musician Marc Gillett and transported his bike to the starting and finishing carpark. After the cycle ride, they picked up Marc's wife Karina, whom Kim had known when he lived in Auckland some years before. Kim had chosen an older magnum of wine from his collection as a bottle to share with the group for the evening. The dinner was in the home of Nita an older sister who Jessika was carer for. Kim handed off the bottle of wine to Jessika at the door and headed to the lounge where most of the people were. He sat beside an older sister he hadn’t met before and started chatting to her. He learned during the conversation that this was Jessika’s mother Pauline. Even though she was from Adelaide and he was from NZ, it turned out that they had many mutual acquaintances. Kim’s father Phillippe had attended the same International Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses as Pauline in New York in 1958. In fact, there was a good chance that they had met each other and spoken to each other during that time.

The first circuit overseer couple. Wilf and Betty J., that Kim remembered staying at his house in Taupo NZ, were also friends of Pauline’s. And a German Circuit and District overseer in NZ, Brother Gunter M., who Kim knew during the 1970’s had been good friends with Pauline in Australia before he married an Italian sister and was assigned to serve in NZ. As the evening progressed Kim spent most of the time deep in conversation with Pauline. When it came time to go, Kim collected Marc and Karina and took them across the city to their apartment in Flemington.

In the car, Karina was gushing. ‘I have met the most amazing sister. Her name is Jessika. I helped her in the kitchen tonight. She is a pioneer in the Chinese congregation and has been living in Sweden. But she is back here in Melbourne to improve her Chinese.’

‘Hmm…’ thought Kim. “I met Jessika’s mum and she was cool. I should also make time to meet Jessika’.

A day later, Kim sent an email to Jessika thanking her for catering for the gathering. Jessika replied and subsequently several short emails were exchanged.

On May 28, Kim was scheduled to deliver the Public Talk ‘’What does the Healing of the Nations Accomplish?’ (Now called Complete Healing for Mankind – How?] to the Caufield congregation. To get from his place to the Caulfield congregation there was a 45-minute drive across Melbourne City. The traffic was quiet, so Kim propped up his talk notes on the car dashboard to review the key points and flow structure. The Caulfield congregation met at the Oakleigh Kingdom Hall which was the same hall as the Melbourne Chinese congregation used to meet in, and that thought interrupted Kim’s concentration. Annoyed he went back to his talk but a second time his thoughts strayed. A third reset was also interrupted and knowing he needed to concentrate on his talk, Kim said a short specific prayer to Jehovah:

’Please let me concentrate on my talk. But if there is something possible in the future with this sister Jessika then please let me know today, otherwise I want to forget about her.’

After the prayer, Kim was able to concentrate for the remainder of the journey on the road and his talk. He arrived at the Kingdom Hall well-prepared in mind to deliver his talk.

Kim stayed for the entirety of the meeting and concluded the meeting with prayer. But he knew he didn’t have time to stay and talk. He had another appointment soon after. He had to return to his local Kingdom Hall in Moreland for a long elders meeting regarding the renovation and rebuilding of their Kingdom Hall. The meeting was scheduled for 1 pm. This meant he needed to leave almost immediately. Halfway to his car, a sister from the Caulfield congregation ran out to catch up and speak to him.

‘Kim, why don’t you stay with us and go in the ministry this afternoon.’

Kim told her that he had to attend a meeting for the entirety of the afternoon.

‘Oh, that’s too bad, because this evening there is a small house party for Tim and Jade. They have moved into a new home. Here is the address if you want to come.’

Kim returned to his Kingdom Hall for the scheduled meeting. This meeting, the first planning meeting for a Kingdom Hall renovation project ran 4 hours. At 5pm when the meeting finally finished, Kim was hungry. He hadn’t eaten since a rushed breakfast. On the way to his house, a 5-minute drive away, he pondered. “It will take me 45 minutes to prepare food at home. Alternatively, I can drive 45 minutes to the house party where food is ready and then have some friends to associate with.” He chose the latter, took a turn and drove towards the party.

Arriving at the house he walked up the pathway, hearing noises from the party, knew he was at the right place. He knocked on the door, and the door opened and there stood Jessika. Her blonde hair loosely fell onto her shoulders. Her dress was casual, but it didn’t hide her natural beauty. The light behind her outlined her face and she smiled shyly as she recognized Kim. ‘Welcome, come on in’ she said.

Instantly Kim remembered his short prayer earlier in the day.  ‘Please let me know today ’. After that prayer he hadn’t thought about her at all. But the realization shocked him. His body language could not hide his sudden discomfort. He stuttered his greetings and made his way into the house.

Inside he mingled with his friends but did not speak again with Jessika. The shock of the realisation his prayer had clearly been answered overshadowed everything else on his mind. Even when a sister cornered him and asked him politely to clarify an aspect of his talk that morning, he struggled to concentrate.

Later he spoke to a mutual acquaintance and was told that Jessika was about to return to Sweden the following week.

Kim left the party a little perplexed. ‘She is leaving - Am I meant to meet this sister Jessika or what?’

The next day, he sent a short email to Jessika. ‘’Bon voyage – I just meet you and you are heading to Sweden. I hope you have a safe journey. When are you leaving?”

Jessika’s reply was more specific than anticipated. She replied ‘I leave on Sunday 12th, about 10pm, but flight is actually Monday just after 12 midnight. The flight number is ---’

The following weekend was the first weekend of June and that meant that skiing at Mt Hutt, NZ was open. Kim had booked some months earlier to visit his friends David and Lois Coulter in Christchurch and also spend some time skiing. He arrived on Thursday night and using a hire car drove to Mt Hutt Ski field on Friday. However, there was little snow. Kim had new ski gear and did not want to ruin it on rocky runs. So, he stayed in Christchurch on Saturday. Instead of returning to Melbourne on Tuesday as planned, he contemplated returning the next day. The thought that Jessika was heading overseas on Sunday night made him think that an early return might coincide with her departure. He spoke about his plans to Lois, who told him to stay put.

“Don’t change your plans. You can send her flowers over the Internet and she will be pleased you thought of her”

So, Kim went to an Interflora website, wrote a quick message, chose some flowers and sent them to Jessika’s address.

Chapter 2 Introduction to Sweden

Jessika received the flowers and was puzzled. There was no name on the card, just a message that read: Bon Voyage, along with a scripture reference, Psalms 139:3. It was a very appropriate scripture and wish, reminding her that Jehovah was watching over her as she travelled. The verse resonated deeply with her, and she wondered who might have sent the flowers and made such a thoughtful comment.

On the plane trip to Sweden Jessika had time to ponder. She recalled Kim’s earlier emails often contained similar scripture references. She considered whether it could have been him or perhaps another brother who sent the flowers. After some thought, she concluded it must have been Kim.

When Jessika arrived in Sweden, she met her father, and together they planned to travel to Russia to visit friends. Her father suggested she write an email to Kim to confirm whether he had sent the flowers. Taking his advice, Jessika sent the message.

In time, Jessika received a positive reply from Kim, confirming that he was indeed the sender. She responded to his email with gratitude, saying, "Thank you very much for the flowers, but I’m not interested at the moment in pursuing a long-distance courtship."

Kim had been appointed an elder three years earlier.  His current responsibility in the congregation was as the service overseer.  Because of this, he wanted to spend more time in the ministry.  Kim recalled a Circuit Overseer telling him when he was younger, that Jehovah always blessed those who put Jehovah first in their youth.  Now he was 40.  He was worried that he was starting to lose his youth.  He made a personal resolution that he would spend at least one year as a regular pioneer before he turned 45.  The problem was though, that he worked full time and had a responsible position as senior manager in the firm he worked for.  For some years, he had spoken to his manager about working part time, but was always met with the answer ‘Let’s talk about it after the current project is complete…’. This answer was repeated several times over a 2-year period. In May 2005, at the completion of one project, Kim again approached his manager, Joss, and asked if he could start working part time.  Joss said that he would talk to the board of directors.  Some weeks later, Joss told him that the board of directors would not accept a senior manager working part time.  So, Kim told Joss that he would leave his position at the end of 2005.  Joss was shocked.

‘What work will you do?’ Joss asked.  Kim replied that he would probably work as a window cleaner with some of his friends.  Kim told Joss that this was an important decision in his life.

A few weeks later, Joss approached Kim and suggested, "Let’s go have coffee. I have an idea." During their conversation, Joss asked Kim, "Would you like to own a company?" Kim replied that he had owned a business before, but it was a lot of work. Joss then proposed, "How would you like to own a company that sells the software you designed here and make your money from selling it?"

Joss continued, "If you leave our company, it will be very expensive for us to continue supporting the software you've designed. But if you start a business and sell this software, we would ask that you pay a 15% royalty on the sales you make."

Since the annual sales were over his current salary and a new release was ready to be sent out to existing users, Kim didn't need much time to think about it. A short while later, he agreed to Joss's proposal. Joss then took the proposal to the board of directors, who agreed to the broad terms.

Once the board approved, Joss called Kim into his office. Among other things, he informed Kim that the head of HR had told him that Kim had accumulated nine weeks of annual leave. However, the company would only pay a maximum of six weeks of annual leave when he left. Joss advised, "You should take some holidays between now and the time you leave the company."

In the meantime, Jessika continued writing to Kim. Kim’s response to her email that she did not want to conduct a courtship over long distance was "That’s fine. Let’s write each other some emails and tell each other about our goals, what we’ve done in life, and what we intend to do, both spiritually and secularly, in the future." He added, "It will be much easier to do that while we are apart, with no physical or emotional distractions. Then, when you return to Australia, we can decide if we want to start a courtship."

Jessika agreed to this, but within two or three weeks, it became clear that both of them had developed romantic feelings for each other.

In one of her emails, Jessika asked him, "Do you have a lot of holidays?" Kim replied, "Yes," but what Jessika meant was, "Do you take a lot of holidays? Did you travel a lot?" Kim had misunderstood the question and was answering, "Do you have a lot of holidays to take?"—a completely different question.

Jessika enjoying the sun on a rowboat in Stockholm’s Archipelago (Skärgård) July 2005

Kim had been thinking about taking some of his accrued leave time to visit Jessika in Sweden. A few days later came the opportunity. Jessika informed him that she could not get the ticket back to Australia that she had hoped for. Instead, she would be taking a flight two weeks later, meaning she would be away from Australia for a total of nine weeks. Kim responded, "Well, for those extra two weeks, I’m going to come and join you in Sweden".

Jessika was very surprised and also a little anxious. "What if we don’t like each other? What if Kim gets bored with Sweden?" she wondered. Her father noticed her concerns and calmly reassured her, "Well, if things don’t work out, at least you can spend time showing him Sweden. This time of year, it’s very beautiful."

Visiting the summer regional convention at Strängnäs, Sweden July 2005

On July 25, Kim set off for Sweden. The day he flew into Arlanda Airport in Stockholm, the temperature was 26°C—an absolutely beautiful summer day. It had been a long flight, and Kim was also feeling nervous. Jessika had arranged for him to stay at an empty apartment owned by one of the local sisters, who was traveling overseas at the time. She was happy to have someone stay in the apartment for two weeks. But despite their nervousness, within a few minutes, they both were completely at ease and were soon laughing together and Kim reached out and put his arm around her on the train ride back to the city.

The two weeks were filled with many different activities. For five days, Kim and Jessika travelled around the Stockholm archipelago. There is a special summer ticket that allows people to travel as much as they want on all the archipelago ferries and explore the islands. The weather and time of year were absolutely beautiful in Stockholm, which is the peak tourist season in that part of the world. Kim enjoyed seeing the beauty of Sweden immensely.

In between sightseeing, Kim was introduced to some of Jessika's relatives. They travelled to see Jessika’s uncle Gunnar and aunty Emy and also visited her uncle Lennart and aunty Siv-ann in Heby. They spent several days with Lennart and Siv-ann. One weekend, there was a summer convention in Strängnäs. Kim and Jessika took the train from Stockholm to Strängnäs, where they met several of Jessika's friends. Jessika introduced Kim to her friends, and she had also arranged to meet another courting couple, Johnny and Katerina, who took them to see the Bethel in Arboga.

The needs map in Sweden that Kim and Jessika saw on their first visit to Arboga together

Since it was the summer convention weekend, there were only a few people at Bethel. The brother on security duty, after speaking to them for a few minutes, allowed them to walk around and explore the inside of the Sweden Bethel. In one of the corridors, Kim spotted a map of Sweden that showed the needs in the various congregations across the country. While looking at the map, he noticed a congregation called Uppsala English, which had a need for elders and pioneers. Kim pointed this out to Jessika, saying, "Look at this. It’s an English congregation that needs elders and pioneers. I'm an elder, and you're a pioneer. We should go check it out."

Jessika, however, wasn't as interested. Her focus was on Chinese territory, and she didn’t want to again live in Sweden permanently. But Kim insisted, "Let’s go and check out this congregation one evening when they have their midweek meeting." So, during their last week in Sweden, they took the train from Stockholm to Uppsala. They walked around central Uppsala and then found the Kingdom Hall and attended the meeting. It was a small, pleasant congregation with 28 publishers, two elders, and three ministerial servants. The servants were taking most of the parts during the meeting.

The day they spent in Uppsala was very pleasant, and the brothers and sisters were kind and hospitable. In fact, one couple took Kim and Jessika all the way back to Märsta and the Stockholm commuter system, making it easier for them to return home that evening.

On the last weekend, Kim and Jessika were invited to a family gathering at Gunnar and Emy’s place. Kim met Jan, one of Jessika’s cousins. Jan spoke very good English and spent a lot of time talking with Kim. He asked, "Where in Melbourne do you live? Do you like Melbourne? What’s the weather like there at the moment?" The way Jan responded to Kim’s answers showed that he knew quite a bit about Melbourne.

Kim asked, "Have you been to Melbourne?"

"Yes, I have," replied Jan. "In fact, three times."

Kim then asked, "Do you know someone in Melbourne?"

"Yes, I do—Con. Do you know Brother Con?"

Kim replied, "There are many ‘Brother Cons’ in Melbourne." For people with a Greek background, Con is the equivalent of John.

Jan responded, "Con is married to Chloe. They have some children now."

Kim was very surprised. "Yes – indeed I do know Con and Chloe!" said Kim. "I have known Chloe for nearly 10 years. I met her when I lived in New Zealand. She came from Cyprus and was introduced to me by one of my friends. She later moved to Melbourne and married Con. I have seen Con and Chloe many times over the past few years. In fact, the last time I saw them was only a few weeks ago when I gave a talk in their congregation."

Jan was also surprised. "Actually, Chloe is my wife’s sister."

Even though Sweden and Australia are complete opposite sides of the world, Kim knew one of Jessika’s cousins' sisters-in-law very well. It was an amazing coincidence. The world is indeed a small place in Jehovah’s family.

The time came for Kim and Jessika to return to Australia. Kim had arranged to book a seat on the same flights as Jessika. When they checked in, they asked the airline if they could sit together, and the airline obliged. The flight back was also memorable because the stopover in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia gave them the chance to shop for engagement and wedding rings. There were several duty-free jewellery shops in the airport terminal, offering high-quality jewellery at significantly cheaper prices than if the same jewellery had been purchased in Australia. When they arrived back in Australia, they were officially engaged.

Chapter 3 Melbourne, Australia

After they returned to Melbourne, several social events happened in quick succession. The first significant event they attended together was the engagement of Jessika’s cousin Sharon in Adelaide, the weekend of August 28. Kim was there introduced to many of Jessika’s family and friends in Adelaide.

The last photo of the wedding day as Kim and Jessika headed off from the reception to married life.

A month later, on September 24, Kim and Jessika had their engagement party at Adrian Hore’s place in East Malvern, Melbourne.

The wedding was planned for November 1, 2005. This date was significant because it was Melbourne Cup Day. The Melbourne Cup takes place on the first Tuesday of November, and because people in Melbourne are focused on the Cup, there were opportunities to book wedding venues that would normally have had to be reserved many months in advance. Naturally, the guests at Kim and Jessika’s wedding would not be interested in horse racing or gambling. Later on, the date took further special significance. 1/11 reminded them of the verse at Eccl 4:12 “A threefold cord cannot quickly be torn apart.”

They chose to get married at the Oakleigh Kingdom Hall in the morning, with a reception lunch at a venue close to where Jessika was living at the time. Later the same day they flew to their honeymoon destination – Cairns. Over two weeks, they spent much time on the beach, driving around the beaches up to Port Douglas area and also spent a day getting sunburnt while diving at the Great Barrier Reef.

When they returned to Melbourne, it was time to get busy with the renovation project at the Kingdom Hall. Kim was assigned to look after the finances and, most days, was involved in purchasing or paying for materials needed for the project. The renovation was completed in February 2006. During this time, as the project came to its conclusion, Kim said to Jessika that they should take some time to plan together what they would do together in the future. This became a pattern throughout their marriage. Every six months, they would set aside time to have coffee or dinner together and discuss their future goals, as well as review the goals they had already achieved. For major decisions they would create a list of pros and cons and logically consider their options.

The first such meeting was at a local Greek café. They discussed their options, which included: 1) going to China, as Jessika had previously planned; 2) working further in Australia; or 3) pursuing other options. When it came to the third option, Kim suggested the possibility of relocating to Sweden. Jessika was not happy with this idea, as she had already lived in Sweden and didn’t like the thought of returning to a place where she had already served.

Kim said, “Let’s pray about it and then put the idea of going to Sweden to the test. I’ll make one call to the branch in Sweden and see if there’s still a need in that English congregation. If there’s no need there now, we’ll focus our attention elsewhere.” Jessika agreed to this.

Brother Lars-Erik Eriksson who spoke to Kim, later served as Branch Overseer when Kim assisted in Scandinavia Bethel

A few days later, when the time zones were correct, Kim made a call to the Swedish Bethel. He spoke to Brother Lars-Erik Ericsson, who was serving in the service department at the time. Kim asked Brother Lars-Erik if there was still a need in the Uppsala English congregation and explained that they had been considering moving to Sweden. Brother Lars-Erik was very excited and said, “When can you come, Brother Kim? There used to be two elders in this congregation, but now there’s only one. And that elder calls me very often and asks me when I can send another elder to help him in the congregation.”

Jessika was not so happy when she heard that there was still a need in the Uppsala English congregation. She was still focused on continuing her service in the Chinese language ministry, but she appreciated that she had agreed to find out if there was a need in Uppsala. The next step was to follow through on what she had agreed to—specifically, finding out whether Kim would be able to get a residency permit for Sweden.

They decided to get more information by visiting the Swedish Consulate in Melbourne. During their first visit, the lady at the consulate was very negative. “Sweden doesn’t need more immigrants,” she said. “But here’s the process: you need to book an appointment for an interview, pay a $500 application fee, and we will process your application. The residency process could take four to six months, and the answer will likely be no.”

Despite this negative information, Kim and Jessika decided to continue with the process. They paid the application fee and scheduled an interview. The consulate lady also advised them to write a letter explaining why they wanted to move to Sweden. Kim wrote a letter stating the purpose of their move and included that he was a hospital patient visitation elder, and he intended to continue this type of volunteer work in Sweden.

On February 15, they attended their interview. The consulate lady was again very negative, stating that once the applications were submitted, there would be a waiting period of four to six months before a decision was made. During the interview, both Kim and Jessika were asked, “When is your mother-in-law’s birthday?” They both answered truthfully and consistently that they didn’t know because Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays. The consulate lady took note of their consistency but still needed to have a correct answer in the form. The following day, she called Kim and Jessika at home. Even though the interviews were supposed to be kept separate, she allowed them to confer and, together, they provided the correct answers.

Two weeks later, on March 2, Kim arrived home early in the afternoon after spending the morning in the ministry. There was a message on his telephone answering machine from the Swedish Consulate. “Could you please call us?” the message asked.

When Kim returned the call, the consulate lady’s voice was filled with excitement. “I have very good news for you!” she said. “I have a two-year residency permit for you, Kim. We actually received it yesterday. At first, we thought it was a mistake because we’ve never received a residency permit so quickly. Normally, even urgent permits take more than a month to process. But when we checked, we saw that there was no urgency associated with it, so we thought it might be a mistake. We checked with the Swedish Embassy in Canberra, and they assured us that there was no mistake.”

She continued, “Your residency application had to go from us here in Melbourne to the embassy in Canberra, to the Swedish Migration Department in Stockholm, and then forwarded to the processing centre in Norrköping, Sweden. At each stage, it had to be opened, read, approved, signed, and sent to the next stage. After approval in Sweden, the residency permit needed to be printed and then sent back to us here in Australia. This whole process took only 12 days.”

There was a brief pause, then the consulate lady asked, “Do you, by any chance, know someone in the migration department in Sweden?”

Kim, of course knew nobody personally that worked in the migration department in Sweden. However, he began to wonder if someone higher had started to arrange things for this process. It seemed impossible that this process has gone so quickly without somebody else being involved in it.

One benefit of the speed of the receipt of the residency permit was that they could start planning their move immediately so they could arrive in Sweden during the summer, not later during the wintertime.

So, when Kim shared the news with Jessika, she was still a little concerned about returning to Sweden. She said to Kim, “Why don’t you ring to the Elder in Uppsala to tell him that we are thinking of moving to Sweden “. So, the very next day on Friday Kim rang to Göran Härdelin in Uppsala.

Kim introduced himself to Göran by saying he was planning to come with his wife to Uppsala. Göran was very happy to hear that. Kim continued, "You might know my wife, Jessika. She was Jessika Borg before we got married."

Göran replied, "Yes, I know Jessika. In fact, we were talking about Jessika just a few days ago. We were wondering where she was in the world now."

Kim was a little worried when he heard Göran’s comments. He wondered why Göran had been talking about Jessika.

"Why were you talking about Jessika?" Kim asked.

Göran replied, "Well, Jessika speaks Chinese, doesn’t she?"

"Yes," Kim said. "She was in the Chinese congregation here in Melbourne for two years, so she is quite good in the Chinese ministry."

Göran continued, "Well, that’s the reason we were talking about her. The Swedish government just announced earlier this week that they would allow 2,000 Chinese students to come and study at Uppsala University next year. And we have nobody here in our congregation or in Uppsala that speaks Chinese."

When Jessika found out that there would be Chinese students coming to Uppsala, and with the potential for Chinese language ministry, her attitude changed from doubt and reluctance to excited enthusiasm. She immediately began planning how quickly they could get to Sweden.

However, there was another problem to resolve in the local congregation. Kim was one of three elders, and he had said during their planning session, "It’s no good fixing one congregation's problems if it creates another problem in our current congregation. We can’t leave for Sweden until we have more than three elders." So, Kim was worried about telling the coordinator, Phil, that he was planning to move.

Instead of having to go and see Phil at the next meeting, Phil instead came up to Kim with a happy smile. "Guess what?" he said. "I received two letters this week. Both letters are from elders who are moving from their current congregations into Moreland congregation. We’re going to have five elders altogether."

Kim was then able to tell Phil that, within three months, he and Jessika would be moving abroad to Sweden. Another hurdle had been overcome.

The Volkswagen Golf that served as transport for Kim during his time in Melbourne.

Kim had owned a Volkswagen Golf car since he arrived in Australia in 2000. He decided that he needed to sell the car in order to fund their trip to Sweden. Of course, they weren’t going to take a car from Australia to Sweden, since Sweden drives on the right-hand side of the road, unlike in Australia. In Australia, before a car is sold, it must have a recent certificate of roadworthiness. To obtain the certificate, the car must be taken to a garage or certification station for testing.

A few days later, Kim took his car to a garage and asked the mechanic to perform the roadworthiness test. After leaving the car there, Kim went out in the ministry. A few hours later, he returned to see what the mechanic had found.

"Unfortunately, I’ve found several things that need to be repaired before I can give it the certificate of roadworthiness," the mechanic said. "There are some things damaged on the underside of the car. We need to replace them."

Kim asked, "What will the total cost of the repairs be?"

The mechanic replied, "In total, the cost will be $1,400."

For Kim, that was quite a lot of money. He wondered how he would pay for this. Of course, the value of the car was well in excess of $1,400 and by selling the car, he would recoup the money. But he needed the funds upfront. "Maybe I could put it on my credit card," he thought. So, he went home and contemplated how to find the $1,400 to cover the mechanic's fee.

Later that afternoon, the phone rang. It was Kim’s mother calling from New Zealand. Kim’s mother Ngaire was a spiritual woman and had been a regular pioneer for some years before marrying Kim’s father. Kim had already explained to his parents why he and Jessika had decided to relocate to Sweden. He was able to share with them some of the things that had already happened that had pointed them in that direction.

Ngaire said, "This morning, your father and I looked for ways we could help you. We checked our savings account and did a budget. We’ve decided we have $1,400 here that we can send to you to help with your move to Sweden."

Kim was amazed. The amount of money wasn’t $1,000, it wasn’t $1,500—it was exactly $1,400, the exact amount needed to cover what the mechanic had quoted earlier that same day. This was a sure sign that Jehovah was helping them overcome the hurdles required for Kim and Jessika to move to Sweden.

Another obstacle was to find an apartment in Uppsala. Brother Göran in Uppsala had promised to help Kim and Jessika look at apartments in anticipation of their arrival. Kim scoured the online listings to find an apartment, but his Swedish wasn’t much help. By mistake, he looked in the "apartments for sale" section instead of "apartments for rent." While browsing in the wrong column, he found an apartment that was well-priced and available for two years. The owners were going overseas on a two-year contract and wanted someone to rent their apartment for that period. They had made the mistake of advertising their apartment in the wrong classification.

Kim passed the information on to Göran and asked if he could check it out and make contact with the owner. Göran and his wife did so. The made the time to view the apartment immediately after they had attended a Chinese language lesson. To their surprise, the wife of the owner was Chinese. They had a very good conversation with her, and the owner and his wife were both very happy with everything Göran and Anne told them.

Kim and Jessika later received an email from their future landlords saying, "We’ve met your friends here in Uppsala. We enjoyed our time together and have decided that If you are as nice as your friends, we would love to have you rent our apartment."

What Kim and Jessika didn’t realize at the time was how well-located the apartment was. It was less than 100 meters from the Swedish Language School (SFI) that Kim would attend for a year. It was also less than 1 km from the Kingdom Hall and close to supermarkets and the railway station. Also across the road was a bus stop where many foreigners attending the Swedish language school waited, and they took advantage of this and often starting their ministry by witnessing to these ones. The apartment certainly proved to be a blessing for both of them. It was strategically located and, for their purposes, was the best apartment in Uppsala at that time.

Something else that helped Kim and Jessika with their move was that Jessika’s uncle was involved in the house moving business. He had trucks that could transport entire household loads of furniture from one town to another. This proved valuable during their time in Sweden, especially when they moved to different assignments in various congregations. At the beginning, it was also helpful because Kim and Jessika had their household items shipped by container from Australia to Sweden. Jessika’s uncle was able to pick up their shipped items from the container at the port, load it onto his truck, and transport it to Uppsala for them. This saved them a lot of time, stress, and money.

Chapter 4 Uppsala, Sweden

From that moment forward, time seemed to pass very quickly. Kim and Jessika were busy preparing for their move to Sweden. They hired a container and arranged for a moving company to fill it with their belongings. This proved to be an excellent decision, as all their goods from Melbourne arrived in Sweden without any issues. The transfer took about six weeks, but it was a smooth process, enabling them to start their new life in Sweden with most of their possessions intact.

Jessika warmly dressed heading out in the ministry from the Kingdom Hall in Uppsala

Kim and Jessika arrived in Sweden on June 20, 2006. However, their rental apartment would not be available until July 1. In the interim, they stayed with Hazel Williamson in Flemingsberg, Stockholm. During that week, they attended the regional convention for the English district in Oslo, where they also met up with Erland, Jessika’s father in Norway. After the convention and a few more days with Hazel, they moved into their apartment in Uppsala. Their furniture arrived a few weeks later, and Jessika’s uncle Lennart helped transport the items from the port in Stockholm to their new home.

During this time, Jessika's aunt Emy passed away from cancer in Stockholm. Emy was a special close friend to Jessika especially during her time previously in Stockholm. Erland was present during this sad event, and was able to give support to his brother Gunnar at this difficult time.

Once settled in Uppsala, Kim and Jessika became actively involved in the congregation. The Uppsala English congregation had three elders when they arrived, and Kim became the fourth. He took on the roles of secretary and Watchtower Study conductor. The congregation included members from diverse backgrounds, including a group of Eritreans who spoke Tigrinya and a small group focused on the Chinese language. Jessika joined the Chinese group and began preaching to Chinese students studying in Uppsala. She was also often used as the Watchtower study reader.

Kim also enrolled in SFI, the Swedish language school, where he studied Swedish three hours a day, five days a week, for almost a year. He set for himself the goal of being able to give a public talk in Swedish within 2 years. While he did not achieve that time goal (2.5 years later he did), it was a goal that kept him motivated to continue studying throughout the 2-part course. He successfully completed the courses, becoming the top student in his Swedish A class. Later that year, Jessika attended her third pioneer school in Aarhus, Denmark, where she met Iain and Kate Renton from the Copenhagen English congregation. The Renton’s became close friends of Kim and Jessika during their time in Scandinavia.

The small car that served Kim and Jessika in Sundsvall, Västernorrland

In July 2007, Kim and Jessika purchased a 5-year-old BMW 316, which allowed them to reach more remote territories. In September 2007, Kim became a regular pioneer. One of their favourite territories was a small village outside Uppsala, where many refugees were housed by the migration department. Kim and Jessika enjoyed engaging in meaningful Bible discussions with the refugees, making it their favourite territory to visit.

During the summer of 2007, the regional convention was held in Silkeborg, Denmark. For the first time, Kim and Jessika visited the Denmark Bethel in Holbæk. During the convention, they stayed in Aarhus and took a bus to and from the convention venue.

For Kim, Uppsala English was the first congregation outside of the cultural norms of Australia and New Zealand. Some things were done differently in the congregation, and some for good reason. Seeing and accepting these small changes was a lesson that would help both Kim and Jessika as they were assigned to more different cultured congregations in the future. One of the challenges Kim noticed in the Uppsala congregation was the lack of organized field service groups. Initially, there was only one congregation-wide field service meeting per month, held on the first Sunday. The pioneers often arranged their own service plans with others, but there was little group activity. Kim worked to change this. Over two years, the number of group-witnessing meetings grew from one per month to three per week, fostering a more active field service spirit within the congregation.

An answer to a prayer in Iran

One experience that stood out to both Kim and Jessika happened deep in the mid-winter of early 2008. Kim had been assisting the service overseer in organizing and creating territories for the congregation. After finishing with one group of territories, they decided to try a new one in a different part of Uppsala. It wasn’t an area where they would normally go, but one of the brothers had heard that there were some foreigners living in this part of Uppsala. Despite the bitter cold -18C that morning, the group decided to head to this area of town.

They took turns working different blocks of apartments, but the result was the same. Most of the apartment doors were locked, preventing them from entering to knock on individual doors or to see whether foreigners were actually living in those buildings. The sisters, growing cold, asked if they could go to a warmer location. They suggested heading to the student apartments where they often preached; these were located inside large buildings and were typically warmer. The brothers agreed, and the group decided to return to their cars and drive to the student territories.

On the way back to the cars, Kim and another brother, Nikolas, noticed a building they hadn’t seen before. Its entrance door was open. Curious, they decided to make a small detour to check it out before going to their cars. As they approached the building, they saw an Asian name on one of the apartment doors. Encouraged by this discovery, they decided to knock.

After knocking, there was no immediate reply, but they heard some faint sounds coming from inside. They waited. After about two minutes, they heard more noises and then a woman’s voice called out, “Just wait a minute, I’m coming.” They continued to wait, and soon the door opened. A woman appeared, apologizing and explaining in fluent Swedish that she had been in the bathroom. Though she looked Asian, her Swedish was impeccable. She asked the brothers, “How can I help you?”

Nikolas replied, “We are Jehovah’s Witnesses, and we’ve come to …”

Before he could finish, the woman’s expression changed to one of shock. “Are you really Jehovah’s Witnesses? Are you really Jehovah’s Witnesses?” she repeated, looking stunned.

“Yes, we are Jehovah’s Witnesses,” Nikolas confirmed.

The woman continued to repeat a phrase in Swedish: “Det är konstigt, det är jätte konstigt!” which translates to “This is very strange.” Finally, she said, “You must come in.”

The brothers exchanged a glance, uncertain about what to expect, but they followed her inside. Once they were seated, the woman shared her story.

She explained that she was a refugee from North Korea. After arriving in Sweden, she had attended a language class to learn Swedish. In that class, she befriended a woman from Iran. The two became best friends. Although the Iranian woman had since returned to Iran, they stayed in close contact and often spoke via Skype.

That very morning, the North Korean woman had spoken with her friend in Iran. During their conversation, her Iranian friend said, “I have met Jehovah’s Witnesses here in Iran. What they have told me is the truth. I want you to get in contact with Jehovah’s Witnesses because they have the true religion.”

The North Korean woman was sceptical. She told her friend, “I’m not very religious. The Bible is not something I’m interested in.” But her friend was insistent. “If you are not going to contact Jehovah’s Witnesses,” she said, “I am going to pray that they visit you.”

The woman turned to the brothers and said, “That was three hours ago. And now, you’ve knocked on my door.”

3000kms in 3 hours. Nothing is a problem for Jehovah when answering prayers.

The brothers were astonished by her story. They were amazed at how quickly her friend’s prayer had been answered. They shared more about their beliefs with her and passed her contact details on to the local Swedish congregation, which later arranged a Bible study with her.

While Kim and Jessika were unsure of the final outcome, they did see the North Korean woman attending the Swedish Memorial a few months later.

The English congregation flourished during this time, growing from 23 publishers to over 50 and from three elders to eight. With no further need for additional elders, Kim and Jessika decided to explore new opportunities to serve. They approached their circuit overseer, Niklas Fjällborg, to inquire about areas needing support. Niklas spoke to them about the English group in Sundsvall, 400kms further north of Uppsala. Not only were there some English-speaking students at the Sundsvall University, but also a significant number of refugees in the area. He mentioned that Ånge, a town 100 kilometres inland from Sundsvall, had over 600 refugees, most of whom had not been reached by witnesses.

Intrigued by the opportunity, Kim and Jessika asked Niklas for more information.

Niklas suggested that Kim and Jessika visit Sundsvall to evaluate the congregation and the ministry needs in the area. About a month later, they organised to make the trip to Sundsvall for a weekend, from Friday through Monday. Kim wanted to ensure that there was not only a need within the English group but also a genuine need in the local territory. The plan was for Kim to deliver a public talk to the English group on Sunday.

On the way to give out invitations in refugee territory in Sidsjön, Sundsvall

On Saturday, Kim led the field service group, which consisted a small group of eight publishers. Their objective was to distribute invitations to the Sunday talk, focusing on the large number of refugee apartments in the area. The goal was simply to leave invitations at each apartment and see how many people would attend the meeting.

At the first house Kim and Daniel W. visited, a lady opened the door. She spoke excellent English and invited them in. However, Kim explained that they were only distributing invitations that day. The lady insisted, saying she had an important question. She explained, “I’m Russian. When I was young, I attended the Russian Orthodox Church. I know who Jesus is. I know who Mary is. But people here are talking about Jehovah. Can you please explain to me who Jehovah is?”

Faced with such a heartfelt and important question, Kim and Daniel couldn’t refuse. They went inside and spent time answering her questions. Her curiosity and positive response deeply moved them, confirming to Kim that the need extended beyond just the congregation—it was evident there was a real need in the field as well.

The following Monday, Kim and Jessika visited the local Kommun (municipality) office to inquire about accommodation in Sundsvall. The woman at the information centre asked why they were moving to Sundsvall. Jessika explained that she was an English teacher, and Kim had his own business. She added that they both planned to engage in volunteer work as well. The woman was impressed and mentioned that the Kommun had recently built some new apartments designed as accommodation for professionals moving to the area, especially those bringing their own businesses.

She offered to show them one of these apartments. Excited, Kim and Jessika agreed. After a few phone calls, they were soon viewing one of the most beautiful apartments in the city. The apartment was located right on the waterfront, just 10 meters from the harbour, with stunning views across the water. It was also centrally located, providing convenient access to supermarkets and the train station—amenities Kim and Jessika anticipated using frequently during their time there.

Delighted with the apartment, they signed the lease and began preparing to move to Sundsvall.

The waterfront apartment buildings where Kim and Jessika lived in Sundsvall

In the last week of June 2008, they relocated to Sundsvall, ready to begin a new chapter in their ministry.

Chapter 5 Sundsvall, Sweden

The move to Sundsvall cost Kim and Jessika quite a lot of money, especially as they were now both pioneering. They didn’t have a lot of funds, but they trusted in Jehovah. The very day they arrived in Sundsvall, while they took a break from unpacking their belongings into their new apartment, Jessika scanned the online advertisements for jobs. To her surprise, she found a short-term job paying a substantial amount of money that was available immediately, starting the very next week.

The job involved teaching English to four teenage boys whose parents worked for one of the leading electronics companies in Sweden and were being transferred to work in Canada. These young students needed to improve their English so they could adjust to the new environment they would encounter in Canada. The company offered an excellent contract rate because the job took place during the summer break and required a specialist—someone who was a native English speaker. Jessika worked at this job two or three days a week for the next six weeks. The substantial salary she received was enough to cover their moving expenses as well as other costs associated with relocating. This job was certainly a blessing from Jehovah and helped to relieve the financial burden of their move to Sundsvall.

Refugees coming to Sweden were accommodated in apartments similar to this. Industry that had shut down created vacant apartment buildings.

A little later, Jessika was able to get work at Folkuniversitetet as a mother-tongue English teacher. She kept this job for the next three years, which helped them financially and enabled them to live comfortably in Sundsvall.

Their first priority, however, was to locate the areas in their territory where there were refugees and English-speaking people. They found how to get to Ånge, a small town 100kms from Sundsvall, that had over 600 refugees living in one concentrated area. Kim called the Service Overseer in Ånge to inform him of their intention to preach in the area. The brother was very happy with their offer of assistance and warmly welcomed Kim and Jessika to the territory.

With so many refugees to preach to, Kim and Jessika resolved to travel to Ånge every week and spend a whole day in the ministry there. They would leave Sundsvall on the train early in the morning at 7 o’clock and arrive in Ånge by 8:30. They spent the entire day in the ministry returning on a 17:00 train.

They discovered that many people in the refugee areas would immediately invite them inside for tea, often assuming that Kim and Jessika, dressed neatly, were from some Swedish authority. So, they implemented a special approach: if someone invited them in on the first visit, they would politely decline. Instead, they would leave a small tract in the person’s language and explain that they would return later, giving the individual time to read the tract. At that time there was no online library, so Kim and Jessika carried a large folder with tracts in over 30 languages in it. On the return visit they would then gauge the persons interest.

On sunny days they conducted bible studies in the sunshine often with multiple students.

To distinguish themselves, Kim and Jessika also made a point of smiling warmly and greeting everyone they met, a practice that stood out since local Swedes typically did not greet strangers.

For over six months, Kim and Jessika took the train to Ånge every Wednesday. They had many positive experiences in this special territory. Almost every week, they met people who had never encountered Jehovah’s Witnesses before or who expressed interest in learning more about the Bible. After just one month of visiting Ånge, they found themselves conducting Bible studies for most of the day. At one point, they were conducting over ten Bible studies every week in the area.

Here are three notable experiences from their time working in Ånge:

1. Fan Yue Hua

One day, as Kim and Jessika walked past a refugee apartment building, an older woman on the second floor opened her window and began waving and calling out to them. She appeared to be Asian, but Jessika couldn’t understand what she was saying. Initially, they thought she might be confused, but it became clear that she really did want to talk to them. They went up to her apartment and discovered that she was Chinese and her name was Fan Yue Hua. She spoke a Chinese dialect that made communication challenging, but over time, they pieced together her story.

Fan’s husband had been a journalist in China. Five years earlier, he had written an article critical of the Chinese government, and friends warned him to leave the country immediately. He and Fan fled to Sweden, where they applied for asylum. Sadly, not long after their arrival, her husband passed away, leaving Fan alone in the refugee camp in the small village of Bräcke.

Fan and Jessika on the day Fan flew back to China

One day, while walking in the countryside, Fan met a group of Witness sisters preaching in Swedish territory. Though they couldn’t communicate well, they gave her some magazines in Chinese. Fan read the magazines and was convinced they contained the truth. For some time, the sisters continued to bring her magazines in the Chinese language. But then the migration department moved Fan to the refugee camp in Ånge. When Fan saw Kim and Jessika walking past her building, she recognized them as Jehovah’s Witnesses and called out to them.

This encounter brought immense joy to Fan, who became close friends with Jessika. When the Ånge refugee camp closed, Jessika and Kim helped to arrange for Fan to move to Sundsvall, where she attended meetings despite not understanding much of the language. She was overjoyed to study the Bible with Jessika and felt deeply cared for by the local congregation. Eventually, Fan returned to China, where she resumed her Bible studies with help from a missionary sister connected through the branch office. Before leaving Sweden, Fan generously donated her entire savings from her meagre monthly refugee allowance from the time she was in Sweden – a total of 60,000 Swedish kroner ($US5500) - to Jehovah’s Witnesses as a gesture of gratitude for the happiness and hope she had found.

2. Two different Iraqi Men

At the end of one particularly long day of visiting people in Ånge, something exciting happened. Kim and Jessika had spent hours preaching, and there was just one apartment building left before they had to catch the train back to Sundsvall. With only 20 minutes remaining, they decided to try knocking on the doors of this building. Although they had never found anyone home in this building before, this time they noticed two apartments that appeared to have been recently occupied.

They knocked on the first door, but there was no answer. After waiting a moment, they moved to the second door. Then, the unexpected happened—both doors opened at the same time.

At one door stood a group of younger men, with an older man standing quietly behind them. At the other door was a distinguished-looking man, possibly in his 50s. All of them were Iraqi refugees, and they spoke Arabic. Kim and Jessika greeted them warmly and handed out the five Arabic tracts they had left, to the younger men. However, when they turned to the older man standing in the back, they realized they had no more tracts to give him.

The older man looked disappointed. Sensing his eagerness, Kim searched his bag and found one remaining Bible Teach book in Arabic. Normally, he wouldn’t give out such an important resource on a first visit, but the man’s expression moved him. Kim handed the book to the man and told him he would return the following week to discuss it. The man’s face lit up with gratitude.

Meanwhile, the distinguished man at the second door, who spoke perfect English, invited Kim and Jessika inside. However, because they were short on time, they politely declined and promised to return the next week for tea. Both encounters left Kim and Jessika feeling hopeful about the potential for meaningful conversations during their next visit.

The Older Arabic Man.

When Kim and Jessika returned the following week, they were greeted warmly by the older man who had received the Bible Teach book. Smiling, he asked them to wait, saying the word “vänta” in Swedish. After a few minutes, he returned with a younger man who could act as an interpreter. The younger man translated as the older man invited Kim and Jessika into his home.

Once they were seated, the older man brought out the Bible Teach book. Through the interpreter, he explained that he had read the entire book over the past week. “I couldn’t stop reading it,” he said. “It’s a very, very good book. In fact, it’s the best book I’ve ever read.”

Then he paused and turned to Kim and Jessika with a serious expression. “I have one important question for you,” he said. “If your country went to war, would you join the army and support your country in fighting?”

Kim replied, “No. We do not believe in fighting in nationalistic wars.”

The man’s face transformed into a mix of joy and amazement. “All my life, I have been searching for a religion that does not go to war,” he said. “When I was a teenager, I thought about God and how He cares for us. I believed the true religion would be one that did not fight wars. I’ve searched everywhere—Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, different forms of Islam, even speaking with Jewish rabbis. But every time I asked them about war, they said they would support their country. For 30 years, I have been searching for a religion like yours, and now I’ve found it. What I read in this book is the truth from the Bible. I’m so happy I received it.”

Deeply moved, Kim and Jessika told him they could arrange for an Arabic-speaking Jehovah’s Witness to study with him. At the time, there was an Arabic-speaking congregation in Stockholm, and they suggested using Skype to connect with a brother from that congregation. The man agreed this would be the best solution.

The following week, when Kim and Jessika returned, the man had already purchased a computer, set it up, and installed Skype. He was ready to start his Bible study. In a short time, the study began with the Arabic-speaking brother. The last time Kim had contact with this man, he had been transferred to another refugee camp but was attending meetings and had even gone to an Arabic-language assembly.

The Distinguished Iraqi Man.

The man at the second door, who had invited Kim and Jessika for tea, also had a fascinating story. When they returned as promised, he welcomed them inside and asked, “Do you know who I am?” Kim and Jessika shook their heads.

The man then explained his background. When America invaded Iraq, his older brother had been appointed Prime Minister of Iraq. Although his family was prominent, they had not been involved in the ruling politics prior to the invasion. The man himself was a well-known lawyer in Tehran, while another of his brothers was a leading figure in Amnesty International.

He continued, “After Saddam Hussein was captured, my brother asked me to witness his execution and sign the death certificate. It was a simple legal duty I performed for my brother. However, the next day, the certificate was published in newspapers, and some people still loyal to Saddam became enraged. That evening, more than 200 protesters gathered outside my house, chanting threats.”

Terrified, the man called his brother, who arranged for American military personnel to rescue him. They whisked him to the airport and put him on a plane to Sweden. “It was never my intention to come here,” he said, “but I had no choice.”

In Sweden, the migration department placed him in a refugee camp. Although he repeatedly told them he didn’t want to stay in Sweden, he was granted temporary political asylum due to the documented threat to his life. Despite his reluctance, Kim and Jessika supported him by helping interpret letters from the migration department and studying the Bible with him. Over time, he became deeply interested in the truths he was learning.

Eventually, the migration department decided to send him back to Iraq. Although he accepted their decision, he was understandably apprehensive. The day before his departure, he asked Kim to visit him, so Kim and Jessika made a special trip to Ånge. Kim had given him an Arabic Bible and he asked if he could keep it. Kim assured him that it was his to take. Before they said goodbye, he asked Kim to read some comforting passages and pray for him.

Sadly, Kim and Jessika lost contact with him after his return, but they hoped he continued studying the Bible. Perhaps one day, this man’s unique circumstances could allow him to help further the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Iraq.

First Pioneer School for Kim

During their time in Sundsvall, Kim and Jessika hosted several visitors. Among those who stayed with them were circuit overseers, as well as friends like Sam and Rachel Brookes from the London Chinese congregation, and Eli and Clarice Sanderson from California. Along with hosting visitors, Kim and Jessika also made several trips during this period.

One of Kim’s most memorable trips was his first pioneer school, held in Espoo, Finland, near Helsinki. The two weeks of instruction were spiritually uplifting, but what left an especially deep impression on Kim occurred the very first evening he arrived in Finland.

Kim’s journey to the school had been long. Starting early Sunday morning, he travelled from Sundsvall to Stockholm, then flew to Helsinki, finally arriving in the evening. The school was scheduled to start the following morning. Kim hadn’t planned on receiving any assistance, and his original plan had been to take a taxi from the airport to his accommodation—a costly trip, as he later learned, since it was a 45-minute drive. However, on Saturday, he had received a phone call from a Finnish brother who said, “I’ll pick you up from the airport and take you to your accommodation.” This surprising kindness saved Kim not only money but also added a deeply encouraging experience to his trip.

When Kim arrived at Helsinki Airport, it took a few minutes to locate the brother, whom he learned was named Brother J. Once they found each other, they began the drive to Kim’s accommodation. During the drive, Brother J., who was from the Bethel in Finland, enthusiastically remarked, “When I found out I was going to transport a brother to his pioneer school, I was so happy. It’s such a privilege to be used in this way.” His words touched Kim.

As they drove, Brother J. asked, “Where are you from?” Kim replied, “I was born in New Zealand, but I spent six years in Australia before coming to Sweden.” At this, Brother J’s expression clouded slightly. “Do you know Brother Viv Mauritz?” he asked.

“Yes,” Kim said. “I’ve met Brother Mauritz. He was a trainer at a school in Australia for brothers in charge of convention sound departments that I attended.”

Brother J. hesitated, then said, “Whenever I think of Brother Mauritz, I feel very bad.”

“Why is that?” Kim asked, surprised. While they drove, Brother J. shared a remarkable story.

Brother Mauritz and His Secret

In the 1980s, Brother J. was a young member of the printing team at the Finland Bethel, located in Vantaa. At the time, this was a relatively new branch facility, and Brother Viv Mauritz, a Gilead graduate, had been assigned to oversee the work in Finland. Brother Mauritz was highly respected for his diligence and had even learned the notoriously difficult Finnish language. However, as Brother J. recounted, some in the branch viewed Brother Mauritz with a certain kind of suspicion.

“When I first started at the branch,” Brother J. said, “I heard rumours that Brother Mauritz had a special room to himself. He was the only one with a key, and not even the cleaners were allowed to enter. When someone asked why, Brother Mauritz explained, ‘This room is for my hobby. I’m a photographer, and I use it to develop pictures. I don’t want anyone going in and ruining my work.’ Many of us thought it was an abuse of authority—designing a Bethel with a personal hobby room for himself.”

Brother J. admitted that this perception shaped his initial view of Brother Mauritz. It wasn’t long, however, before he had a personal interaction with him. One day, Brother Mauritz called him into his office and said, “I have an assignment for you. I have a friend in Saint Petersburg who isn’t feeling well. I’d like you to deliver this card to him and wish him well.”

The drive to Saint Petersburg was over six hours and involved crossing the Russian border. Brother J. privately questioned the legitimacy of this “assignment,” suspecting it was a personal favour rather than official Bethel work. Still, he agreed to go. He delivered the card as instructed and returned to Bethel, all the while feeling that brother Mauritz might be overstepping his authority.

About six months later, Brother Mauritz summoned Brother J. again. This time, the assignment was to deliver a wedding gift to a friend in Riga, Latvia. The journey required an overnight ferry trip, and Brother J. again silently questioned why he was being asked to perform what seemed like a personal errand. Yet, once again, he obediently carried out the task.

This pattern continued for several years. Every six months or so, Brother J. would be asked to deliver something—a card, a bouquet of flowers, or a gift—to individuals in different countries, often in Russia or the Baltic States. Each time, Brother J. struggled with doubts about the appropriateness of these assignments, but he never refused.

Then, in 1989, with the fall of the Soviet Union, the truth behind the assignments was finally revealed. A special assembly was held in Poland, and the day before the event, Brother Mauritz invited Brother J. to a private dinner. At the dinner, there were about 30 other brothers present. It was then explained that each of these brothers had been part of a clandestine network organized by Brother Mauritz under the direction of the Governing Body.

The purpose of the network? Smuggling spiritual food—microfiche copies of The Watchtower and other Bible literature—into the Soviet Union, where such materials were banned. Brother Mauritz had masterminded the operation from Finland, using seemingly innocent deliveries like greeting cards or wedding presents to transport the microfiche. He had stored the microfiche in the ‘hobby room’ that no one else had access to. The dinner was held to thank the brothers for their years of work in carrying out this vital assignment.

Brother J. admitted to Kim, “When I learned the truth, I was deeply humbled. I had spent years doubting Brother Mauritz, thinking he was misusing his authority. But in reality, he was courageously helping brothers and sisters under ban. What a privilege it was to be part of that work, even without understanding it at the time.”

This story left a profound impression on Kim. He marvelled at Brother J’s humility—not only in obeying assignments he didn’t fully understand but also in his genuine joy over smaller tasks, like driving Kim to his accommodation. Later that week, Kim learned that Brother J. currently served on the Finnish Branch Committee, further deepening his respect for the brother’s modesty and sense of privilege in service.

From that experience onward, Kim reflected often on the importance of trusting in Jehovah’s arrangements, even when the purpose behind an assignment isn’t immediately clear. For him, Brother J’s example of faithfulness and humility became a lasting source of inspiration.

A blessing from the Financial Crisis

In September 2008, the global financial crisis struck, shaking economies worldwide. For Kim and Jessika, however, this crisis brought a remarkable blessing. What could have been a major challenge instead became the foundation for their financial stability over the next 15 years.

Before moving to Sweden, the company Kim worked for in Melbourne specialized in creating software for the banking industry. Almost overnight, due to the financial crash, all of the company’s clients and prospects were unable to fulfil their contracts. As a result, the company was sold at a significant loss. This turn of events gave Kim a unique opportunity: he was able to acquire the rights to the software he had been selling for a drastically reduced price. Owning the software outright meant Kim no longer had to pay a 15% royalty on every sale, allowing him to choose where and how he sold it. This newfound freedom enabled him to expand his software offerings and begin developing new tools based on MS SQL Server—a factor that we’ll revisit later in this book.

A Special Connection at a Melbourne Assembly

In early 2009, Kim travelled to Melbourne for a two-week business trip. He arrived on a Saturday evening and stayed with Steve M., a brother from the local congregation whom Kim had helped in the past. That evening, Steve invited Kim to attend their one-day assembly the next day. Though Kim was tired from his long flight, he said, “If I feel good in the morning, I’ll come.”

Eritrean brothers and sisters in Melbourne

The next morning, feeling rested, Kim decided to attend. He realized, however, that he had already attended this assembly’s program earlier in Sweden. Before leaving, he prayed, “Jehovah, please let this day not be wasted. I want to encourage some of the friends I meet. Please help me to do that.”

At lunchtime, Kim noticed an Eritrean family and went to speak with them. During their conversation, he discovered that one of these brothers had been a roommate in a Sudanese migrant camp with an Eritrean brother from Kim’s former congregation in Uppsala. The two hadn’t seen each other in five years. Kim was thrilled to be able to take photos of the family in Australia to share with the brother in Sweden.

Meeting up with Johan and Kylene Skybäck after they moved to Sweden.

Later, while chatting with friends, one of Kim’s cycling buddies, Gavin, mentioned a Swedish brother in his congregation and offered to introduce them. Soon, Kim met Johan Skybäck and his wife, Kylene. Johan explained that he had come to Australia to study graphic design, while Kylene, a drama teacher, had returned to the truth after drifting away. Kylene’s parents had introduced Johan to the Bible, and he had embraced the truth wholeheartedly. Within two years of his baptism, Johan was already serving as a ministerial servant.

Johan and Kylene were curious about the ministry in Sweden, so Kim shared his experiences working in the refugee territory in northern Sweden. Inspired by his account, they exchanged contact details and stayed in touch. A few months later, Johan and Kylene decided to move to Sweden. They settled in Stockholm, and eventually, Kim and Johan served together as elders in the same congregation.

An International Convention in Berlin

In July 2009, Kim and Jessika attended an international convention in Berlin. A special bus was arranged to take attendees from Sundsvall to Berlin and back on a week-long journey. Kim was assigned as the bus captain, which added to the joy of the trip.

While in Berlin, they visited Sachsenhausen concentration camp. It was a sombre and sobering experience, but they were deeply inspired by the faith shown by the Witnesses who had been imprisoned there.

The convention itself was unforgettable. There were 36000 in the German language section, 6000 in the English section, 9,000 attendees from Poland and 16,000 in the Russian section, which included brothers and sisters from Ukraine, Georgia and other former Soviet republics. Hoping to reconnect with an old NZ friend, Abel Tanner—a tall brother then living in Ukraine—Kim searched the crowd. Although they couldn’t find him, Jessika asked a Ukrainian couple in the English section if they knew Abel. To their surprise, the couple, Sergey and Katya Fenchak, not only knew Abel but offered to take Kim and Jessika’s greetings back to him in Ukraine.

Jessika with Sergey and Katya Fenchak, the first day they met.

Sergey and Katya, who served at the Bethel in Lviv, Ukraine, warmly invited Kim and Jessika to visit them. At first, Kim and Jessika thought it was just a polite offer, but Katya followed up with regular emails, repeatedly asking when they would come. In return, Jessika shared with Katya many of the wonderful experiences they were having in Sundsvall’s refugee ministry, deepening their connection.

Meeting Uighur Refugees from China

Being caught on camera equated to the death penalty for our bible students.

One day in the later part of 2009, Kim and Jessika found themselves in the ministry in a small area of the village of Njurunda, south of Sundsvall. They recognized the labels on the doors of an apartment building as indicating refugee housing. When they knocked on one of the doors, a pleasant man answered. He had striking blue eyes but otherwise distinctly Asian features. Both Kim and Jessika were puzzled about where he might be from.

The man didn’t speak English, so they tried showing him brochures in Farsi and Dari, languages commonly spoken in Afghanistan and Iran, but he didn’t understand those either. Finally, they opened a world map, and he pointed to China. He explained, through gestures and expressions, that he was from the Xinjiang province in western China and was part of the Uighur ethnic group. What’s more, he spoke Chinese. The man’s face lit up with a huge smile when Jessika began speaking to him in Chinese.

His name was Malik, and he welcomed them inside, offering tea. Malik told them that his wife, H, spoke English, but she was away visiting friends that day. Kim and Jessika arranged to return at another time when his wife would be home.

On their next visit, Malik and H shared their story. Malik, an architect, had been living in Urumqi, Xinjiang’s capital, during the 2009 protests against the Chinese government. He had joined a protest with three friends, during which one of these 3 friends was shot and killed by the police. Malik and his other two friends fled. The other two went to work the next day, only to be arrested by Chinese authorities. They were never seen again. Malik’s boss warned him not to come to work, and two days later, Malik fled China. He eventually arrived in Sweden, seeking asylum.

His wife H. had also faced danger. While working in London for a trading firm, she participated in protests advocating for Uighur rights. Her photo was caught on camera and later posted on YouTube. This put her at great risk, as being publicly identified as a protester essentially amounted to a death sentence if she ever returned to China. Both Malik and H applied for asylum in Sweden and hoped for a safe future.

Malik and H were eager to learn about the Bible. Malik explained that while Uighurs were traditionally Muslim, their education in Islam had been heavily restricted by the Chinese government. He said something that deeply resonated with Kim and Jessika: “I don’t care whether the truth is Islam, Christianity, or any other religion—I just want to know the truth.”

They watched the fascinating process of making hand-made Uighur noodles, called Laghman. Marco Polo brought this dish back to Italy and called it Spaghetti.

Interestingly, Malik had visited the local mosque in Sundsvall and asked for someone to teach him more about Islam, but no one was willing to help. While Malik’s limited English made it difficult for him to benefit fully from meetings at the Kingdom Hall, H was overwhelmed by what she learned. She told her husband, “If you want to learn about the Bible, you must come to the Kingdom Hall.” Kim and Jessika maintained a close friendship with Malik and H for many years. Although the couple eventually moved to England, they stayed in contact with Kim and Jessika, keeping the bond alive.

During their time witnessing in the refugee field in Sundsvall, Kim and Jessika conducted bible studies with 3 other Uighur families.

An upbuilding trip to Ukraine

The year 2010 was particularly notable for Kim and Jessika, as it included several international trips and significant milestones in their spiritual and personal lives.

Their first trip that year was to New Zealand, where they attended Kim’s brother Jethro’s wedding. It was Jessika’s first-time visiting New Zealand, and she thoroughly enjoyed the experience. During the same trip, they also travelled to Adelaide, Australia, where Kim worked with some of his customers. This combination of family celebrations and work made for a busy but fulfilling trip.

In June, after returning to Sweden, they travelled to Strängnäs to attend the Regional Convention, where Kim had responsibility for the sound department. This was the first time he worked alongside Johan Skybäck, who had recently moved to Sweden from Australia. Kim was deeply impressed with Johan’s abilities. Brother Johan demonstrated great skill in recording sound and managing his duties without requiring supervision. It was clear to Kim that Johan was very capable, and this was the beginning of a mutually respectful relationship between the two.

Having lunch at Ukraine bethel with Sergey and Sister Lois Didur.

In December, Kim and Jessika finally accepted the repeated invitations from Sergey and Katya Fenchak to visit the Bethel in Lviv, Ukraine. They left Sweden on December 24 and spent eight wonderful days in Ukraine. For Kim and Jessika, this was an unforgettable visit.

They spent the first three days in a hotel in Lviv before moving to the Bethel itself for two days. During their time at Bethel, they learned many new things about Bethel life. They were invited to special meetings with the Local Design/Construction (LDC) department and the legal department for Ukraine, where they gained insights into the expansion of the Kingdom work in the country. They were particularly impressed by how well the LDC department operated in Ukraine. During 10 years of operation this department had completed 600 Kingdom Halls. At the time, most Western countries relied on Regional Building Committees (RBCs) to construct Kingdom Halls, but Ukraine had developed a highly efficient system for building and maintaining halls.

A highlight of their trip to Lviv was an evening spent with brother Anatoly

They also observed some of the negative legacies of Ukraine’s time under Soviet rule. Despite this, they were inspired by the spirit of the brothers and sisters at Bethel. A highlight of their visit was an evening spent with Brother Anatoly, a faithful brother who had spent many years in prison for his faith. Brother Anatoly’s sense of humour, strong faith, and deep trust in Jehovah left a profound impression on both Kim and Jessika.

They were overwhelmed by the love and hospitality shown by the brothers and sisters at Ukraine Bethel. They made many friends during their visit, friends who continued to keep in touch with them for years to come.

A Special Baptism and BSCC application

It was a joyful day when Jessikas friend Claudia got baptised.

In April 2011, Kim and Jessika travelled to Strängnäs again, this time for their circuit assembly. Kim had the privilege of delivering the baptism talk, which was a particularly joyful occasion as Claudia, a new sister from the Stockholm Chinese Group, was baptized that day. Claudia became a very close friend of Jessika’s, making the day especially memorable for all of them.

Happy faces reunited with the Fenchaks in Norway

In June 2011, the English Regional Convention was held in Oslo, Norway. At the convention, Kim and Jessika reunited with their friends Sergey and Katya Fenchak, as well as other Bethelites from Ukraine who had travelled to attend.

It was at this convention that Kim and Jessika attended the meeting for potential applicants to the Bible School for Christian Couples, for the first time. During the meeting, the requirements for attending the school were discussed. As they listened, Kim and Jessika were happy to realize they met all nine of the school’s requirements.

Following the advice of the Sweden Bethel, they included a note with their first application expressing their preference to attend the school in English. If possible, they requested to attend a school held in Australia, as it would allow them to be closer to their families. In subsequent years, however, they applied for the Swedish-language version of the school, believing their proficiency in Swedish would be sufficient for them to benefit from the program in Scandinavia.

A Much-Needed Holiday

Jessika visiting Efes (Ephesus) in 2011

After the convention, Kim and Jessika returned to Stockholm. The very next day, they boarded a flight to İzmir, Türkiye, for a vacation together. Jessika had insisted they take some time off after spending so much of their year busy with ministry, travel, and work.

They spent eight days in the coastal town of Kuşadası, staying at the Tuntaş Otel near Ladies Beach. Jessika had one firm rule for the trip: Kim was not to bring his computer. She knew that if he had it with him, he would be tempted to work, and this holiday was to be purely for rest and relaxation.

The trip turned out to be exactly what they needed. After exploring Kuşadası and visiting the ancient city of Ephesus (or “Efes” as it’s known locally), they spent several days simply relaxing by the pool. Kim, who couldn’t completely resist the urge to be productive, brought only a writing notebook with him. Over the course of three days by the pool, he designed a new version of his SalesMatrix software, which he named SWOT—a special intelligence version of the program.

Walking on the Bird Island in Kusadasi

Unbeknownst to them at the time, what Kim designed during those three days would generate income that would sustain them comfortably for the next 15 years, including 3 years in the expensive city of Copenhagen, Denmark. Reflecting on this later, they marvelled at Jehovah’s blessings. At the time, they couldn’t have imagined that 12 years later, they would serve in the local congregation in Kuşadası, where they had been vacationing. What wonderful surprises Jehovah had in store for them!

Chapter 6 Stockholm, Sweden

In August 2011, the circuit overseer for the English congregations in Sweden and Finland approached Kim and Jessika with an important request: he asked them to move to the Stockholm English Congregation to help address several issues within the congregation. While both Kim and Jessika were eager to assist, they knew that finding an apartment in Stockholm would be a challenge. Stockholm is famously difficult when it comes to securing housing.

Despite the uncertainty, they decided to put their trust in Jehovah. They handed in a three-month notice for their apartment in Sundsvall and began preparing for the move. Jessika contacted her uncle Lennart to ask for help with transporting their belongings to Stockholm. Naturally, Lennart asked, “Where in Stockholm are you moving to?” Jessika replied, “At the moment, we don’t have an apartment.”

Shocked, Lennart exclaimed, “Är ni helt galna?”— “Are you completely crazy?” He knew how hard it was to find an apartment in Stockholm. Nevertheless, Kim and Jessika placed their confidence in Jehovah.

A month before their scheduled move, their prayers were answered—twice. Two apartments suddenly became available for them to choose from. They selected a second-hand rental on Snapphanevägen in Jakobsberg, a location that was close to several sisters from the Stockholm English Congregation. The rental contract was for a year, and they were relieved to have a place to stay.

Shortly after their move, Kim was appointed as the secretary for the Stockholm English Congregation. However, their housing situation soon faced an unanticipated challenge. Just three months into their lease, the landlady called Jessika to explain that she had to break the contract. She had been living in a small apartment with her husband, but now, expecting twins, she needed her larger apartment back.

Kim and Jessika were devastated. The stress of losing their apartment so soon after settling into their new assignment felt overwhelming. They turned to Jehovah in prayer, asking for guidance and a solution. One brother in their congregation remained optimistic, encouraging them by saying, “Maybe Jehovah has a better place in mind for you—perhaps bigger, cheaper, or closer to the train station.”

Cart witnessing with the local Swedish congregation downstairs from their apartment in Stockholm

One day, as Jessika walked into the Jakobsberg Centrum shopping centre, she ran into a brother from the local Swedish congregation named Albert. Seeing her troubled expression, Albert asked, “Why are you looking so sad?” Jessika explained their situation and how they were running out of time to find a new apartment.

Albert suggested she contact Citycon, the company he rented his apartment from. Although Citycon primarily owned shopping centres, they also managed a small number of apartments located above the shopping areas. Jessika immediately followed up on Albert’s suggestion. When she called Citycon, the representative told her that they rarely had apartments available—perhaps only one or two openings per year. Nevertheless, the representative invited Jessika to come to their office and submit an application.

Jessika did just that. Though the representative reiterated how unlikely it was for an apartment to become available, less than a week later, Jessika received a phone call. An apartment in Jakobsberg had just opened up, and they were invited to view it.

When Kim and Jessika saw the apartment, they were overwhelmed with gratitude. It was not only larger than their current apartment but also located directly above the shopping centre, close to the train station, and even cheaper than what they were currently paying. It was exactly as the brother had suggested—a blessing far beyond what they had hoped for.

Jessika with a Chinese visitor to the public witnessing stands in Sergels Torg, Stockholm

It was another case of perfect timing. The company representative in charge of leasing was replaced a week later. The lease that Kim and Jessika signed was the last one she arranged for apartments. Her replacement instituted a queue system, which was similar to most other landlords in the Stockholm region, and had they applied a week or two later, they would have had to wait some years for an apartment from this company.

Kim and Jessika lived in that apartment for three wonderful years. This experience reaffirmed their faith that Jehovah always provides good accommodation for those who put His service first.

A Year of Privileges and Adventures

The year 2012 brought many other privileges and exciting moments for Kim and Jessika. They were able to join the Stockholm metropolitan witnessing program, sharing the good news in public spaces.

In the summer, they attended the Regional Convention in Silkeborg, Denmark. On their way there, they visited the Bethel in Holbæk, where they enjoyed the spiritual encouragement of spending time with Bethelites. At the convention itself, Kim gave a talk and had the privilege of working with Johan Skybäck, who assisted him with a presentation. On Sunday, Kim served as the convention program overseer, which was another special privilege.

In July, Jessika’s sister Lisa and her husband Spencer came to visit them in Sweden. Together, they took a scenic cruise to Tallinn, enjoying the time spent as a family. Later that year, Kim and Jessika relived their courting days by taking a ferry pass and camping at different locations in the Stockholm archipelago. This brought back fond memories and allowed them to enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

New Opportunities and an Unexpected Answer

In the latter part of 2012, Kim began developing a web version of his software. To accomplish this, he contracted a software development firm based in New Delhi, India, to perform much of the work. To oversee the project, Kim applied for and received a one-year business visa for India, which was notoriously difficult to obtain. The visa even allowed for Jessika to join him if needed.

During the year of his visa, Kim made several trips to India, staying in New Delhi while working with the development team. While there, he attended meetings with the English congregation in New Delhi and noticed some critical needs within the local organization. Certain practices in the congregation were not aligned with the instructions provided by the organization.

Upon returning to Sweden, Kim discussed these observations with Jessika and later with the circuit overseer. The circuit overseer advised Kim to write to the India branch to inquire if there might be an opportunity for them to serve in India, given Kim’s visa status. Following this advice, Kim sent a letter, which was approved by the service committee and forwarded by the Swedish branch to the branch in India.

The Kingdon Hall in New Delhi where the English congregation met.

The reply from the Indian Bethel, however, surprised them. The letter strongly discouraged them from pursuing any plans to serve in India. In fact, the response was so emphatic that it essentially warned Kim against even considering moving to India, stating that he would face expulsion from the country.

While the reply was surprising, Kim and Jessika accepted it as a clear direction from Jehovah. They did not pursue the matter further and continued focusing on their service in Sweden.

Overseeing the Food for a large Renovation Project

In the latter part of 2012, plans were underway for a major renovation project at the Kingdom Hall used by the Stockholm English Congregation. This was the Kingdom Hall located in Sundbyberg. The existing facility included two large halls, with the third floor devoted to two apartments. The renovation aimed to create 5 smaller halls, suitable for smaller language groups and otherwise optimize the space and improve its functionality. The project was scheduled to begin in January 2013 and would be overseen by the Regional Building Committee (RBC) for Stockholm.

RBC project workers receiving their lunch at Sundbyberg, Stockholm

Kim’s only initial involvement was attending a meeting with all the elders to review the project’s budget. However, late in December, just two weeks before the project was set to begin, Kim received an surprise phone call. A brother asked if Kim would consider taking on the responsibility of managing food for the project. The brother originally assigned to this role was no longer able to serve. Kim agreed, understanding the importance of this aspect of the project.

Normally, food for Kingdom Hall projects in Sweden was provided by third-party companies, which delivered pre-prepared meals to the worksite at specific times. Typically, they were plain meals rotating potatoes, pasta and rice as their base. However, in Stockholm, the costs for this arrangement were prohibitive. One quote estimated meals at 80 kroner per person, plus transport fees, which would have amounted to more than 400,000 kroner (approximately USD $60,000) for the 5,000 meals required over the nine-week project. This far exceeded the food budget of 300,000 kroner.

After consulting with several brothers experienced in food management for construction projects, Kim and the team decided on a different approach: they would set up a temporary kitchen on the upper level of the Kingdom Hall and prepare the meals on-site. This solution significantly reduced costs and allowed for greater control over the quality and variety of the meals provided.

Kim in the kitchen having a moment of fun doing a 'Swedish Chef' impersonation

A brother in the local English congregation, who was a professional chef, volunteered to advise the food team throughout the project. The team rented a professional steam oven, serving trays, and coffee and juice dispensers to equip their makeshift kitchen. The chef visited every Thursday afternoon to write up the menu for the following three days. Afterward, Kim and other team members would visit a wholesale store to purchase the ingredients for the weekend.

Over the nine weeks, a wide variety of meals were prepared, including dishes made with premium ingredients like salmon, steak, pulled pork and lamb. The brothers and sisters working on the project came to love the food. It became common for workers to line up five to ten minutes before meals were served, eager to see what was on the menu. The food was of such high quality that one worker remarked, “At other projects, after eating the meals from a third-party provider, we’d sometimes go to McDonald’s to get more food to fill up. Here, we not only get ample food, but it is always delicious!”

Not only was the food much better than expected, but the total cost came in under budget at less than 200,000 kroner—30% lower than the initial estimate. Kim felt privileged to lead the food team, and the consistent praise they received from the workers made the effort all the more rewarding.

Completing the Project and A New Assignment

The renovation project successfully met its goal: the Kingdom Hall was completed in time for the Memorial. That year, Kim had the privilege of conducting the Memorial talk for the English group in Gävle, 150 kilometres north of Stockholm. On the afternoon of the Memorial, Kim travelled to Gävle by train, delivered the talk, and returned to Stockholm the same evening.

The following day, Kim had another important journey ahead—he was flying to New Zealand to attend his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. Early in the morning, he departed from Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport for a connecting flight in Amsterdam.

However, upon arriving in Amsterdam, Kim learned that his connecting flight had been cancelled. He was rebooked on a later flight that routed through Hong Kong, which left him with a six-hour wait at Schiphol Airport. Although the delay disrupted his plans, it also gave him some much-needed time to relax.

Sitting at the airport, Kim reflected on the past nine weeks. The renovation project had been intense, and he had been completely focused on ensuring the food operation ran smoothly. He was grateful for the opportunity to rest and gather his thoughts before his family reunion.

As Kim was relaxing, his phone rang. On the line was a brother from the Service Department at Sweden’s Bethel. The brother had a question for him: “Would you be willing to take charge of the drama for this year’s regional convention?”

The live drama that Kim directed in Ulriceham, Sweden. The only run that was completely correct was the final one at the Convention

Kim was surprised by the request, especially since the convention was only nine weeks away. Nevertheless, he agreed to take on the assignment. The timing felt almost humorous—he had just completed one nine-week project, had barely two hours to relax, and now he was being asked to begin another! Smiling to himself, Kim thought, “Jehovah doesn’t want me to relax for too long!”

The long flights to New Zealand turned out to be a blessing in disguise. In fact, it was perfect timing! It gave Kim uninterrupted time to read the script for the drama, meditate on its message, and begin making key decisions about how to organize the presentation. By the time he returned to Stockholm, he was ready to meet with the brothers and sisters who would assist him in bringing the drama to life.

Chapter 7 The Passing of Our Fathers

When Kim returned to New Zealand for his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary, he had no idea that within a year his father would pass away. Even more unexpectedly, he also did not know that Jessika’s father would also die just a few months later.

Both of their fathers had long and faithful records of service to Jehovah. Kim’s father had been baptized for over 60 years and had served as an elder for more than 50 years in various congregations. He counted several Governing Body brothers as personal friends, but never boasted about this to anyone. Over the decades, he took on many responsibilities, including working in Bethel, helping establish congregations in several different towns, and participating in many different building projects. In his retirement, he dedicated much of his time to building furniture for new Kingdom Halls in New Zealand [1].

Erland and Pauline Borg

Jessika’s father, Erland, had left Sweden for Australia in 1966 to improve his English. At the time, not all of Jehovah’s Witness publications were available in Swedish, and he wanted to be able to read the spiritual food as soon as it was published. Erland became a special pioneer for several years and met Jessika’s mother while pioneering. Together, they continued their ministry until the birth of Jessika’s sister, at which point Erland they changed their focus to raising their two girls. For over eight years, he served as the overseer of the Adelaide Assembly Hall, raising both of his daughters to become pioneers.

By 2011, it had become apparent to Kim that Erland was struggling with some kind of illness. On his last visit to Sweden, Erland had a persistent cough. In early 2013, he was diagnosed with cancer.

Kim’s father had also been diagnosed with cancer in 2012, but he had continued to fight it to the best of his ability. When Kim visited his father for the anniversary, his father confided in him privately, saying, “I’m very tired. Most days, I just get up, have a little breakfast, and sit in my chair all day. I’m not very well.” Despite his condition, Kim’s father was still able to give small parts on the congregation program, demonstrating his enduring love for the truth.

Ngaire and Phillipe LeRoy

In June 2013, Jessika travelled to Adelaide to be with her father during his final months. Erland passed away on August 10, 2013. Jessika stayed in Australia for the entire period, while Kim joined her briefly in July, though most of his time was spent working with customers in Australia. Unfortunately, Kim had to return to Sweden just before Erland passed away. He attended the funeral remotely, watching it via Skype.

Kim’s father, though able to live relatively normally despite his diagnosis, received news in late 2013 that he had only a few months left to live. In February 2014, Kim travelled to New Zealand to spend time with his father, who was now in hospice care. Kim stayed with his mother in Matamata for three weeks, cherishing what little time remained.

An Unexpected Business Offer

While in New Zealand, Kim received a call from Matt Paff, the CEO of Attaché Software, one of his largest clients based in Sydney, Australia. Matt asked if Kim would be traveling to Sydney. Kim explained that he was in New Zealand solely to be with his father during his final days. Matt then asked, “If I came to New Zealand, would you have time to meet with me?” Kim agreed, and a few days later, Matt flew to New Zealand to meet him.

During their meeting in Auckland, Matt shared that Attaché Software had recently sold their commercial building in North Sydney, leaving them with funds they wanted to invest. He proposed buying the rights to Kim’s SalesMatrix software for use in Australia and New Zealand for three years. Matt explained that Attaché would handle marketing and sales while paying Kim a substantial salary during this period.

The offer was generous—over $200,000 USD for three years. Kim and Jessika, who had been used to living on just $1,000–$2,000 per month, were overwhelmed by this offer. Kim did not have to think too much before agreeing to the offer, with plans to transfer the software rights by July 1, 2014. In the months leading up to the transfer, Kim would rebrand and update the software to meet Attaché’s standards, transfer the licensing software, and train their technical team.

While working on this deal, Kim couldn’t help but wonder, “The money is nice, but we don’t really need it. I wonder what Jehovah has in mind for us to use this money for?”. He didn’t have to wait too long to receive an answer to this question.

Chapter 8 Around the World to BSCC

Kim returned to Sweden on Friday, February 28 2014. Although his father was sick, when he arrived home, he was ready to settle back into routine life. He planned to meet Johan Skybäck the following Monday evening to discuss congregation matters and give him a small gift he had purchased in New Zealand to mark his appointment as an elder.

That Sunday evening though, Kim and Jessika’s lives took an remarkable turn. Kim received a message from the congregation coordinator asking him to read an email. When Kim opened the email, he found several documents, the first of which was written in Swedish. It was an invitation to the Bible School for Christian Couples (BSCC).

At first, because the invitation was written in Swedish, Kim assumed the school would be held in Sweden. Knowing that the Swedish session would start in just two months, he felt a moment of disappointment, as it conflicted with many plans they had already made. But as he read further, his disappointment turned to astonishment—the school wasn’t in Sweden. It was in Perth, Australia, starting in the first week of August and running through September 28.

Excited, Kim ran to tell Jessika the news. Together, they pored over the details, overjoyed by what they read. They had completely forgotten that three years earlier, they had applied to attend a school in English in Australia. For the past two years, they had only applied to the Swedish version of the school. It felt like an incredible blessing to not only be invited to a school in their native language but also to one in Australia, where many of their family members could visit.

Kim immediately called his mother to share the good news. She, in turn, visited his father in the hospice and told him. Kim’s father was thrilled. From that moment on, every visitor who came to see him was greeted with the same announcement: “Have you heard the good news about Kim and Jessika’s invitation?” This loving provision from Jehovah gave Kim’s father something positive to focus on during his final pain-filled few days.

A Shared Blessing

In the meantime, on the Monday evening, Kim met with Johan as planned. They spent almost an hour discussing congregation matters, with Johan, newly appointed as an elder, appreciating Kim’s insight and guidance. As their conversation wound down, Johan called to his wife, Kylene, asking her to join them and asking her to make them all some tea.

After chatting for a bit longer, Kim gave Johan the small gift he had brought from New Zealand. Then, Kim said, “Jessika and I have some special good news I would like to share with you”

Kylene, overhearing from the kitchen, called out, “You’ve got good news? We have good news too! What’s your good news?”

Kim answered “We have received an invitation to the BSCC in Australia!”

For a moment Johan and Kylene were stunned. Johan then revealed, “We’ve been invited to the very same school!”

The three of them were ecstatic. They all laughed as they realized Kim and Johan had spent an hour talking about comparatively mundane congregation matters, unaware they were sitting on the same exciting news. It was a humorous and joyful moment that they would never forget.

Kim giving a talk at the 2014 Regional Convention in Sweden. He is assisted in a demonstration by Jessika and Amy Golebiowski

Perfect Timing

Kim and Jessika later reflected on the perfect timing of the invitation to the school. It allowed them to attend their English regional convention in early June in Sweden. Kim had a part on the program alongside Jessika. It also enabled them to travel to the International Convention in Seattle in July.

Their plans expanded into a once-in-a-lifetime journey. They booked an around-the-world ticket, starting from Stockholm on June 20 and traveling to New York, Seattle, New Zealand, Adelaide, and Perth, before returning to Sweden via Bangkok and New Delhi.

Young brothers and sisters with multi-lingual signs queueing to greet delegates arriving in Seattle for the International Convention

In New York, they visited the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, touring the facilities in Brooklyn, Wallkill, and Patterson for the first time. One of the highlights of their visits to Brooklyn was lunch with Brother Jan Åkerblom whom they had met in Sweden when he visited to give a talk in Uppsala English congregation 7 years earlier. Brother Åkerblom was now working in the writing department, and after lunch Brother Åkerblom took them to his office in the writing department. What a thrill to walk among offices where spiritual food was nurtured and developed.

In Seattle, there was a wonderful group of young ones at the airport welcoming all the visiting delegates. Kim and Jessika stayed at the Sheraton hotel and enjoyed every minute of the arrangement. They day before the convention started, they visited the Boeing factory, the biggest single factory in the world with some 40,000 workers producing incredibly complex airplanes capable of holding hundreds of passengers and able to travel at speeds greater than 800 kmh. The factory is so big that it has its own internal climate and weather system. One of the marvels was when the brother leading the tour quoted an article that said that no matter how complex the systems in that factory, one single cell in our bodies has much more complex systems than the entire Boeing factory, and our bodies are made up of billions of such complex factories. What an amazing and humbling comparison!

From Seattle, they travelled to New Zealand to spend a week with Kim’s mother, followed by a week in Adelaide with Jessika’s mother. Finally, they flew to Perth, arriving just one day before their Bible school began.

Starting School

Hosts Nigel and Juanita welcomed Kim and Jessika with a sign in Swedish

When Kim and Jessika flew into Perth, they were warmly welcomed at the airport by Nigel and Juanita McInerney, who were to be their hosts during their two-month stay. Kim and Jessika immediately felt at home with their kindness and hospitality. Nigel and Juanita held up a cute sign in Swedish that read, “Är du förlorat får?”—which translated to, “Are you the lost sheep?” This playful greeting set the tone for a joyful start to their time in Perth.

Nigel also shared some wonderful news: Kim and Jessika were being loaned a car for their stay. They had anticipated renting a car to get to and from the Assembly Hall where the Bible School for Christian Couples (BSCC) was held, but two sisters from a neighbouring congregation generously offered their unused car for the couple’s use. Kim and Jessika were deeply touched by this provision and expressed heartfelt gratitude for the sisters’ thoughtfulness.

The very first day they arrived, Nigel and Juanita whisked them off to the school to complete their enrolment. The next day was orientation day. While no formal classes were held, the day was designed to help the students get to know one another and settle in.

Kim and Jessika quickly realized they were embarking on what would become one of the most spiritually enriching experiences of their lives. Fourteen like-minded couples sat together in the classroom, led by two experienced instructors who had previously served as circuit overseers. The atmosphere was uplifting, and from the start, it was clear this would be a truly special experience.

Sundays were spent studying in their hosts back garden studying and preparing assignments

The next eight weeks were filled with wonderful spiritual instruction. The program was not just about gaining knowledge but also involved practical assignments. Kim vividly remembered his very first assignment—a five-minute talk on the subject, “How can we be confident there is a vowel ‘O’ in Jehovah?” The topic stumped him at first, but after diligent research, he was able to find a plausible answer and present it to the class.

Jessika, on the other hand, discovered a new skill during the school: preparing assignments on short notice. Normally, when preparing for student parts in the congregation, she liked to have a month’s notice to ensure she was fully prepared. At the school, however, the longest notice for an assignment was just seven days. Despite the adjustment, she rose to the challenge and gained confidence in her abilities.

Lessons That Stood Out

When Kim and Jessika reflected on the valuable truths they learned during the school, three lessons stood out:

1. Have you ever been slandered? The instructors emphasized how Jehovah had been slandered by Satan, and by extension his witnesses and fellow workers have also been slandered. It was their responsibility to make a reply to Satan who taunted Jehovah.

2. Use principles, not laws. They were reminded of the importance of applying Bible principles to guide decisions, rather than relying on rigid rules. The pure language made up of righteous principles was something we need to learn. When there is a grammar mistake, it should be immediately clear to a fluent speaker.

3. Be patient when receiving a new assignment. They were taught not to rush into making changes in a new congregation but to first observe, listen, and understand the dynamics before acting.

Inside the BSCC classroom. Jessika is on the far right. Johan and Kylene Skyback are in the left foreground

These lessons, along with the other spiritual gems they learned, would guide them throughout their ministry in the years to come.

The highlights of the school extended beyond the classroom. Students were given various tasks to support the day-to-day running of the school. Kim and Jessika were assigned the responsibility of photocopying instruction sheets for the class, a small but meaningful way to contribute.

There were also social events to enjoy. One weekend, the class organized an entertainment evening for their host families. The program included musical performances and comedy sketches, making for a highly amusing and memorable night.

The Assignments

The most anticipated moment of the school came a week before graduation: the announcement of the students’ assignments. On the Saturday before graduation, the instructors distributed the assignments with much excitement and fanfare. Each time a couple’s assignment was about to be announced, the students would drumroll on their desks in playful anticipation.

The instructors used a large map of the world to show where each couple was being sent. Johan and Kylene Skybäck were assigned to the AV department at Patterson Bethel in the United States. Although they had known about their assignment before the school, their inclusion in the BSCC had prepared them for their new role.

Other couples were assigned as special pioneers, some in challenging areas, while several couples were given assignments that would lead to them being assigned to circuit work or missionaries in different parts of the world. It was inspiring to see how Jehovah was using their class to accomplish work in several different countries.

Kim and Jessika had anticipated being assigned to the north of Sweden or possibly Trondheim, Norway, where there was a need for English-speaking brothers and sisters. However, to their surprise, they were assigned to the Copenhagen East English Congregation in Denmark. They hadn’t been aware of a need in that congregation, but they would later discover Jehovah’s purpose for their assignment.

The class celebrated together after receiving their assignments. A special dinner was held, where the couples shared their excitement and discussed their plans.

Graduation Day

A week later, the graduation ceremony was held, marking the end of their time at the school.

Graduation was a joyful occasion. Many of Kim and Jessika’s friends and family attended, including Kim’s mother and sister who came from New Zealand, as well as friends from Melbourne. Jessika’s mother, sister, and brother-in-law also came to celebrate.

Kim and Jessika took the opportunity to thank Nigel and Juanita, as well as everyone who had supported them during their stay in Perth. The event was a beautiful conclusion to an unforgettable two months of spiritual instruction and growth.

Happy faces waiting patiently backstage for the BSCC Graduation certificates and assignments to be presented.

Continuing the Journey

A few days after graduation, Kim and Jessika boarded a plane to continue their journey back to Sweden. Their first stop was Bangkok, where they spent a few days enjoying the warmth and sunshine. From there, they travelled to New Delhi, where they explored the city and visited the software development firm Kim worked with.

Finally, they returned to Sweden, their hearts full of gratitude for the incredible experiences they had enjoyed. Reflecting on their time at the BSCC, Kim and Jessika felt deeply enriched by the spiritual lessons, the bonds they had formed, and the new opportunities awaiting them in their assignment in Denmark.

Their time in Perth had been a beautiful reminder of how Jehovah blesses those who put His service first. Kim and Jessika returned home eager to begin the next chapter of their ministry, confident that Jehovah would continue to guide them every step of the way.

Chapter 9 Copenhagen, Denmark

The apartment in Copenhagen was a real blessing. A beautiful view and located a short walk to the central train station

Kim and Jessika arrived back in Sweden on October 16, 2014, with a clear intention to move to Denmark as soon as possible to begin their new assignment. Kim promptly wrote to the coordinator of the Copenhagen East English Congregation, requesting assistance in finding accommodation.

The congregation’s secretary worked in the property sector in Copenhagen and helped them to locate a beautiful apartment. Although it was expensive, it met all their needs: it was close to the train station, near a large supermarket, and had easy access to the Kingdom Hall and witnessing territories by bicycle. To top it all off, the apartment offered a stunning view of Copenhagen Harbour. Reflecting on this provision, Kim and Jessika marvelled at Jehovah’s care, thinking, “Surely we have a good Boss who provides us such wonderful accommodations!”

An Surprise Invitation to Bethel

Brother and Sister Petursson from Scandinavia Bethel

As they were preparing to move, Kim received an email from Brother Valur Petursson from the Scandinavian Bethel in Holbæk. Valur asked if Kim and Jessika could travel to Bethel and meet with him once they had some free time in Denmark. Kim happily agreed and, in due course, arranged the visit.

When they met, Valur, who was the overseer of the computer department, explained that he wanted Kim to assist with a specific project in Bethel’s computer department. While Valur didn’t initially provide many details about the nature of the work, Kim willingly accepted this unexpected privilege. He was officially enrolled as a Bethel Commuter, which meant that he would work at Bethel part-time while maintaining his commitments to his software contract with Attaché. For the next three years, Kim worked at Bethel four days a week, balancing his responsibilities with enthusiasm.

Moving to Copenhagen

In the third week of December, Kim and Jessika moved to Copenhagen. They left their apartment in Stockholm for three pioneer sisters to live in—a provision that has continued for over 10 years. During that time, more than 15 different pioneer sisters have called the apartment home, a lasting blessing that reflects Jehovah’s care for those in His service.

Kim’s daily commute to Bethel was demanding but rewarding. He would rise at 5:30 a.m., catch a 6:30 train to Holbæk, then take a bus to the Bethel complex, starting work at 8:00 a.m. After finishing his workday at 5:00 p.m., he would make the journey back, arriving home in Copenhagen around 6:45p.m. While the days were long, Kim enjoyed them immensely and felt privileged to contribute to such important work.

The Project: Implementing Accounting in Admin Software

It soon became clear why Kim had been invited to Bethel. The Governing Body had sent a letter to the Scandinavian Branch Committee with a directive: they wanted the branch to install and fully implement the accounting section of the Admin software (now called HuB) before the start of the next service year in September 2015.

One of the occasions Jessika joined Kim at Holbaek bethel for lunch

The Admin software was used by Bethels worldwide, but the accounting module had not yet been implemented in the Scandinavian branch due to its complexity. Taxation laws in the Scandinavian countries presented significant challenges. Unlike many other branches, full-time servants in Scandinavia—including special pioneers, circuit overseers, Bethelites, and translators—were required to pay taxes on the voluntary work they performed.

To further complicate matters, the Scandinavian branch oversaw six countries, each with its own unique tax regulations and calculations. For example, circuit overseers in one country were taxed on $10 of “income” for each meal provided by the congregation during their visits, while Bethelites in another country were taxed on a $300 monthly “accommodation allowance” for their food and lodging at Bethel.

Previously, the branch had relied on an in-house software system to calculate taxes. However, it required a significant amount of manual input, was prone to errors, and was soon not going to be able to connect to the base data needed to create the allowance calculations.

The Perfect Timing

What made Kim’s assignment even more remarkable was the timing. After receiving the Governing Body’s letter, the brothers at the branch were concerned. They wondered, “In the past, we’ve thought this project was too difficult. Who will be able to help us?”

Just two days later, the CVs of Kim and Jessika, submitted during their BSCC course in Perth, arrived at the Scandinavia branch. Kim’s CV immediately stood out. It contained all the qualifications necessary for this complex project:

- Kim had an accounting education and had worked for seven years at a large accounting and auditing firm.

- He had extensive experience with both computerized and manual accounting systems.

- He had previously developed and sold taxation preparation and calculation software in New Zealand.

- He was an experienced software developer with expertise in MS SQL Server and other Microsoft technologies, which formed the foundation of the Admin system.

- He resided in Scandinavia and spoke Swedish, which was essential for bethel communication and understanding local regulations.

- He had the time and circumstance to be able to devote to getting this project completed without adding to the number and cost of additional bethelites in Scandinavia.

- He was not influenced by historical decisions or past challenges that had been faced by the Scandinavian Bethel.

When the brothers reviewed his CV, it became clear that Kim was uniquely suited for the project. The timing was so precise that they viewed it as a direct answer to their prayers and a blessing from Jehovah.

Of course, there were other wonderful brothers in the project team to assist. Kim greatly valued the training he received from Valur, and also Jorgen Jorgensen a Database expert and Andre Olsen from Norway who knew the organisations accounting requirements. Also, there were consultants including Simon Lovejoy from Britain branch and Pavel Palonen from Central Europe without whom the project would have struggled. Jehovah provided these brothers just when the project seemed to be lurching into dead ends. They turned it around and showed the way.

With the strict deadline in place, Kim embraced the tasks required with enthusiasm. He felt a deep sense of satisfaction knowing that he was contributing to a global tool that would benefit Jehovah’s organization.

Jessika perseveres alone in the ministry

While Kim commuted to Bethel four days a week, Jessika focused on her pioneer ministry in Copenhagen. Arriving in December, however, was a challenging time to start in a new territory. Without any return visits or Bible studies to build on, the work felt slow and discouraging. Winter in Copenhagen was particularly harsh—grey skies, constant rainy days, and often biting winds made each day in the ministry a test of endurance.

Jessika, however, was determined to encourage the local sisters and give her best efforts. Yet, after several weeks of battling the elements with little success, she found herself feeling disheartened. One evening, she shared her thoughts with Kim. Tactfully, Kim suggested, “Why don’t you pray specifically for good return visits and Bible studies?”

Taking Kim’s advice to heart, Jessika prayed about it. The very next week, her prayers were answered in an extraordinary way.

A new Bible Student!

Kim and Jessika arrived at the Kingdom Hall about 20 minutes early for their weekend meeting. Standing in the Hall alone was a young woman wearing a short skirt and a nose ring. Jessika immediately noticed her and thought, “She doesn’t look like one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” After setting down her bag, Jessika approached her with a warm smile.

The young woman introduced herself as Sandra. Jessika asked, “Do you know anyone in this congregation?”

Sandra replied, “No.”

Curious, Jessika asked, “Then why did you come to the meeting today?”

Sandra held up a worn copy of the Bible Teach book and explained, “Someone gave me this book some time ago. I’ve been reading it with interest, and I’m up to chapter nine. I realized that I should associate with Jehovah’s Witnesses to learn more, so I decided to come to the meeting.”

Jessika was amazed and asked, “Is anyone studying the Bible with you right now?”

Sandra shook her head. “No, I’ve just been reading this book on my own.”

With a smile, Jessika said, “I’m a Bible teacher. Would you like me to help you study the Bible? I have some free time on Wednesday afternoons. Does that work for you?”

Sandra eagerly agreed, and their first Bible study was scheduled for the following Wednesday.

During the Bible School for Christian Couples, Kim and Jessika’s instructors had repeatedly emphasized a key piece of advice for school graduates: “When you go to a new assignment, don’t change anything right away. Be patient. If you rush to make changes, you may later find there was a good reason for things being the way they are. You may also come across as a policeman rather than a loving, caring fellow worshipper.”

Kim and Jessika took this counsel seriously. However, when they joined the Copenhagen English Congregation, they immediately noticed a glaring issue during the Watchtower Study: very few members of the congregation were answering. At one meeting, they counted only six different participants during the entire study. While they were concerned, they reminded themselves to be patient and not rush into making suggestions.

A Thought-Provoking Comment

Meanwhile, Sandra’s Bible study progressed beautifully. She showed a deep appreciation for Jehovah and a genuine love for studying the Bible. Raised as a Catholic in Poland, Sandra was astounded to learn truths that had been hidden from her by the church.

Sandra began attending all the meetings. About three weeks after their first encounter, Jessika noticed Sandra raise her hand during the Watchtower Study but quickly lower it again. After the meeting, Jessika asked, “Did you want to answer during the study?”

Sandra replied, “Yes, but I thought only Jehovah’s Witnesses were allowed to answer.”

Sandra giving her first student talk with Jessika

Jessika kindly explained, “No, if you feel like you want to participate, please do so! Anyone can comment during our Bible studies at the Kingdom Hall.”

From the very next meeting, Sandra began answering regularly. Her comments were thoughtful, heartfelt, and well-prepared, reflecting her deep love for what she was learning.

One Wednesday, after their Bible study, Kim arrived home from Bethel and invited Sandra to stay for dinner. During the meal, Sandra made an observation: “I’ve noticed at the Kingdom Hall that not everyone takes advantage of the privilege to comment or participate in the meetings. Why is that? It’s such a privilege to answer at the meetings! In the Catholic Church, we were forbidden to speak at all. If those in the Kingdom Hall don’t want to answer, they might as well go sit in the Catholic Church like I used to.”

Kim and Jessika commended Sandra for her enthusiasm and appreciation for the privilege of commenting. Her words struck a chord with them.

That Friday, Kim attended his first elders’ meeting in the congregation. At the end of the meeting, the coordinator asked if anyone had additional points to raise. Kim raised his hand and shared Sandra’s story. He explained her comment about those not taking the opportunity to answer, which had come from her unique perspective as a new student of the Bible.

When Kim said ”… they might as well go sit in the Catholic Church like I used to.” the room fell silent. Finally, one elder spoke: “Brother Kim, it’s clear we have a problem in our congregation. How do you think we can solve it?”

Kim tactfully suggested that the elders encourage and help their families, especially their wives, to prepare comments for every meeting. The brothers took the counsel seriously, acknowledging the importance of Sandra’s fresh perspective. From that time onward, participation in the congregation improved significantly. By the time Kim and Jessika left Copenhagen, the congregation was filled with eager participants, including many young ones.

Sandra continued to make excellent progress and was eventually baptized. Today, she is married and serves as a regular pioneer with her husband.

Jessika’s Ministry Flourishes amid Challenges

Kim doing an interview with Brother Ian Renton

Jessika’s ministry also flourished in other ways. Within a short time, she was conducting four Bible studies and thoroughly enjoying her new assignment. She also reconnected with Iain and Kate Renton, friends she had met years earlier. The Rentons became like “Copenhagen parents” to her, providing guidance and companionship while Kim was away working at Bethel.

The sisters in the congregation also rallied around Jessika, offering their support and encouragement. Their kindness and camaraderie made a lasting impression on her, and she remained grateful for their company during those early months in Copenhagen.

One of the challenging things that happened to Jessika during their time in Copenhagen occurred in March 2016. Jessika went for a checkup at the local doctor, and after some tests, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The local hospital was very experienced in treating this illness and recommended surgery. Despite this setback, Jessika’s enthusiasm for her assignment remained undiminished. In fact, two days after her surgery, there was a Bethel computer department dinner to which she and Kim were invited. Although she was in some pain, she didn’t let it stop her from accepting the invitation. She enjoyed the evening immensely and no-one else apart from Kim knew what an ordeal she had just gone through.

Later, after the surgery has healed properly, the doctor did further tests and assured her that the surgery was successful but warned that the cancer would likely return in the future, emphasizing the importance of regular checkups.

Türkiye features in their travels

During their stay in Copenhagen, Kim and Jessika made several trips to Türkiye. The first trip came about when Kim had an opportunity to work on software development for his U.S. business partner. The project required 10 days of uninterrupted programming. Since his Bethel project was in its second phase—testing and checking—Kim accepted the contract. Jessika suggested that he take a package holiday and stay in a hotel where he wouldn’t be disturbed. At that time, there had recently been a coup d’état attempt in Istanbul and Ankara. Although peace had returned, many travel operators had cancelled summer hotel packages to Türkiye, making trips there very affordable. Kim booked a package to Bodrum and stayed in a very nice hotel for 10 days. While there, he discovered that the internet quality in Türkiye was excellent.

When he returned, he commented to Jessika, “If it weren’t for the project in Denmark, I don’t know why we’d live here. Türkiye is such a nice place to live.”

On another occasion, after the first stages of the Bethel project were completed, Kim and Jessika planned a trip to Türkiye with the goal of visiting the Greek island of Patmos. While Patmos is, of course, a Greek island, they started and ended their vacation in Bodrum, Türkiye.

The project finishes, so where to next?

One amusing occasion from Kim’s time at the Scandinavian Bethel took place in 2016. It involved some brothers and sisters he had worked with during the Sundbyberg renovation project in 2013, back when he was overseeing the kitchen.

In 2016, the Bethel invited key members from the former RBC organization to visit for a few days and receive training regarding the new LDC setup. Over a span of several weeks, various brothers and sisters came to the Scandinavian Bethel for this purpose. They would join the Bethelites for lunch, mingling and catching up.

One day, Kim was sitting at a table with brothers from the computer department when a sister from the Sundbyberg project spotted him. Her face lit up with recognition, and she came rushing over, beaming with excitement.

“Oh, Kim!” she exclaimed. “The Bethel here is so lucky to have you working in the kitchen! You make such delicious food. They must be so glad to have you here!”

The brothers from the computer department froze for a moment, trying to process what she’d just said. Then, as the realization dawned on them, they burst into laughter. Of course, Kim had only ever been working in the computer department —but this sister clearly had no idea.

Kim smiled and graciously thanked her for the compliment, not bothering to correct her.

A couple of weeks later another former RBC brother came to Kim and said something almost identical.

From that time on, the brothers in the computer department never let him live it down.

“Alright, Chef Kim,” they’d tease whenever he joked around. “Time for you to get back to the kitchen!”

And just like that, Kim earned himself a reputation as a chef!

The Computer Department enjoying a Weekend Pizza afternoon social gathering

By the end of 2016, the benefits of the tax calculation and accounting systems developed during the project Kim was helping with became evident. Prior to Admin, the entire accounting team in Scandinavia spent several weeks each December calculating taxes for all in special full-time servants in Scandinavia. With the new system, the entire process became as simple as pressing a button to generate a report for review. Not only were the accounting staff happy to avoid the monotonous task, but they also appreciated the improved accuracy. In fact, the enhanced calculations resulted in significant cost savings for the organization. By 2017, it was clear that the accounting integration into the Hub system was a success, and the project was nearing completion. Kim’s final tasks primarily involved documentation and fine-tuning.

Around the same time, Kim’s contract with Attaché Software in Australia was also coming to an end. This raised an important question for Kim and Jessika: Where would they serve next?

One of their friends from the Stockholm English congregation had moved to France and suggested they consider relocating there. Returning to their apartment in Stockholm was another option. However, during Kim’s time in Australia, he had developed several Turkish speaking return visits. When he lived in Melbourne, there was a community of Turkish people who were spiritually minded and humble. One of his favourite return visits had even requested a Turkish Bible but, at the time, there were no Turkish-speaking brothers in Melbourne. Kim often remarked that Scandinavian languages were of little use in the ministry in Australia, but he felt learning Turkish would be a valuable asset if they ever returned. He said to Jessika, “Before we go back to Australia, why don’t we spend some time in Türkiye learning the language? Then we can return with something beneficial for the ministry in Australia.” The thought of serving in Türkiye also intrigued them.

By April, they realized they needed to make a decision soon. As usual, they arranged to have dinner together to discuss their plans for the next six months. They considered the options: France, Sweden, or Türkiye. They created lists of positives and negatives for each country but couldn’t arrive at a clear choice. Each had its own advantages and disadvantages. Finally, Jessika reminded Kim that they should pray specifically for guidance. Together, they prayed: “Jehovah, we want to know very soon which country we should move to.”

The next day, Kim went to Bethel as usual. On his train ride home, he received an unexpected phone call from Jessika. It was unusual for her to call him during his commute home, as she knew he was usually tired at that time of day. Kim answered, “Yes, what is it?” Jessika said, “Have you seen the website?” Kim asked half asleep, “Which website?” Jessika replied, “JW.org, of course.” Kim said, “No, I haven’t seen it.” Jessika urged, “Then look at it now!”

On the homepage of JW.org was a new article titled “They Offered Themselves Willingly—in Türkiye.” Their prayer had been answered. When Kim arrived home, they both knew they had received the direction they needed and immediately began planning their move to Türkiye. The next day, Kim informed his branch committee overseer about what had happened. The brother remarked, “Jehovah certainly has style when it comes to giving clear direction. You’re definitely going to Türkiye.”

Kim and Jessika’s time in Copenhagen proved to be a deeply rewarding chapter in their ministry. Despite initial challenges, Jehovah’s blessings—through faithful students like Sandra and the loving support of the congregation—showed them once again how much joy comes from putting His service first.

Their experience was a reaffirmation of Jehovah’s direction. Looking back, they could see how their journey—starting with their move to Sweden, their pioneer ministry, the unexpected business offer, the training at the BSCC, their assignment to Denmark, and Kim’s help with the project at Bethel—had been carefully orchestrated to place them where they were most needed.

This chapter of their lives reinforced their trust in Jehovah’s ability to provide not only for their personal needs but also for the needs of His organization. It was a privilege for them to play a small role in helping Jehovah’s work move forward in Scandinavia.

Chapter 10 Fethiye, Türkiye

Kim and Jessika wrote a letter to the Türkiye Branch asking for guidance. The following month, they visited Türkiye and received a reply suggesting relocation to Bodrum, Fethiye, or Antalya, with Fethiye as the top recommendation. After visiting Bethel, they toured all three cities. When they arrived in Fethiye, they knew it was the right place. It matched their expectations perfectly.

In August, Kim travelled to Fethiye to find an apartment. Since they didn’t have a car, proximity to the Kingdom Hall was essential. Kim searched classified ads but encountered obstacles. Some apartments were overpriced, and in one instance, a landlord doubled the rent upon learning Kim was a foreigner. Finally, he found an ad for an apartment in the Kingdom Hall suburb, but without an address. A local brother called the landlord and discovered the apartment was right next door to the Kingdom Hall.

When they went to view the apartment, a translator introduced Kim and the brother to the landlord. The translator wasn’t friendly, saying to the brother, “You’re one of those Jehovah’s Witnesses from next door, aren’t you?”

Kim doing English cart witnessing near an English summer market in Hisarönu, Fethiye with Volkan birader

However, the landlord responded differently. He said, “I like you people. You’re always well-dressed, with your families, and you seem happy. I trust you people.” The landlord agreed to rent the apartment to Kim and Jessika, and they lived there for three years. It was perfect for hosting visitors and providing accommodations for circuit overseers when needed.

After returning to Denmark, Kim and Jessika arranged for their belongings to be transported to Türkiye and booked their flights. On September 1, Kim and Jessika officially moved to Fethiye, Türkiye.

Although Kim and Jessika wanted to focus on the Turkish ministry, there was a need in Fethiye for support in the English group. There were a number of English-speaking publishers and a ministerial servant taking the lead in the group. The elders in Fethiye asked Kim to take on this responsibility. Kim accepted, and for two years, he led the English witnessing work in the Fethiye area.

Jessika in the ministry in Fethiye with a young Turkish speaking need greater from the USA.

The region had many English retirees, and Kim and Jessika enjoyed preaching in this environment. At the same time, their goal was always to learn the Turkish language. They attended Turkish classes organized by the local municipality, and in their day-to-day life—such as visits to the markets and supermarkets—they were able to practice their Turkish.

For six months, Kim was able to continue working as a Bethel consultant for the Scandinavia branch. His work primarily involved documenting the project he had worked on in Denmark. This period concluded in the middle of 2018, allowing Kim to refocus his energy on the field ministry.

Jessika giving her first student talk in Turkish language July 2019

Kim and Jessika spent many days together preaching with the brothers in the English group, finding and witnessing to English-speaking individuals in Fethiye. Around this time, the brothers at the Türkiye Bethel expressed interest in having Kim assist with some projects. However, in 2018, Bethel’s primary focus was on the dedication of the new Bethel facility in Kartal, Istanbul.

Kim and Jessika were very happy to be able to host Sergey and Katya Fenchak in Fethiye after they had attended the Türkiye branch dedication. Subsequent to Gilead they had been assigned to Serbia branch. It was wonderful to be together again after quite a few years.

In February 2019, Kim travelled to Australia to work with his secular clients. When he returned, he felt tired—almost burnt out. He shared his feelings with Jessika, saying, “Maybe I should take a break from pioneering to regain my energy and zeal.” Jessika was naturally disappointed. She wanted Kim to continue pioneering, as did Kim, but he thought taking a six-month break and returning at the beginning of the 2019 service year might be beneficial.

To take this break, Kim needed to inform the congregation’s service committee within a few days. Jessika encouraged him by saying, “Make a specific prayer to Jehovah and ask Him what you should do.” Kim followed her advice.

That morning, after praying, Kim attended the field service group, conducting the meeting. While walking to his first house, a return visit he hoped to find at home, his phone rang. The call was from the Computer Department Overseer at Türkiye Bethel. The overseer greeted Kim warmly and apologized for the delay in contacting him. He explained that there was an urgent project at Türkiye Bethel requiring Kim’s expertise. He then asked, “When can you start? We would like you to begin as soon as possible.”

Kim saw this as a clear and wonderful answer to his prayer. He felt confident about balancing Bethel work with the ministry. In early March 2019, Kim began working as a remote volunteer for the Türkiye Bethel Computer Department, splitting his time between Bethel work and field ministry.

Chapter 11 Didim, Türkiye

At the end of 2020, Kim’s mother, Ngaire, passed away. She left the family house to be shared among six children. In July 2021, Kim received his share of the inheritance. He and Jessika had been planning to purchase an apartment or house in Fethiye. However, during that year, the local municipality made some decisions that doubled the price of real estate in Fethiye almost overnight. They realized they could no longer afford to buy a suitable apartment there. So, where would they buy a property?

Several times, they had taken short breaks in a town north of Bodrum called Didim. Didim is located about 15 kilometres from the ancient city of Miletus. In 2021, there was no congregation in Didim. In October 2021, during a small respite in the COVID pandemic, they travelled to Didim. They spent several days looking at various properties, but none matched their needs. They told the real estate agents what their budget was, but the agents showed them properties that were priced at more than twice their budget.

Being foreigners in Türkiye, Kim and Jessika could not take out a mortgage on a property and did not want the burden of repaying one. On the last day of their trip, they met a very honest real estate agent who spoke excellent English. After listening to their needs, the agent took them to see three different properties. The very first one they saw was exactly what they wanted. It was a beautiful apartment that needed some attention in a building that resembled a castle. The apartment was a duplex, had many balconies and it had a gorgeous 270 views of the Aegean and was centrally located in Didim. The price was good and it didn’t take Kim and Jessika a long time to decide to purchase this apartment.

Kim needed to transfer the money from New Zealand to Türkiye and so a few weeks later, they returned to buy the property. They moved to Didim from Fethiye on December 25, 2021.

The new apartment had some issues that needed fixing, but they were very happy to be there. From the top turret of their apartment, they could see a selection of Greek islands—Kalymnos, Kos, Patmos, and Samos among others. The neighbours were very friendly and brought Kim and Jessika food to welcome them shortly after they arrived. By the time they moved in, there were already some Jehovah’s Witnesses in Didim.

Greek Islands from Kim and Jessika's apartment in Didim on a clear day.

One couple had recently retired from Germany and moved there, while several older couples from Ankara had also chosen Didim as their retirement destination. Since witnessing work had never been done in Didim before, there were some initial challenges. The local police became involved after complaints from some residents about the public witnessing carts used by Kim, Jessika, and other local brothers. At one point, Kim, Jessika, and a local Turkish brother spent three or four hours in custody answering questions at the local police station. While they were not worried about this incident, it provided an opportunity to leave literature with the law enforcement officers and explain their activities.

Jessika developed a good relationship with their downstairs neighbours, particularly the wife. She often visited her. On the first occasion that the neighbours invited Kim and Jessika to eat together, the wife shared all the details about the religious affiliations of the other neighbours in the building. This made Kim and Jessika feel a bit intimidated, so they chose not to reveal that they were Jehovah’s Witnesses. The woman seemed very interested in knowing everything about everyone. Jessika, however, maintained a positive relationship with her and often had uplifting conversations without mentioning their faith.

One day, about a year after they moved into the apartment, Jessika decided to share her beliefs with the neighbour. She told Kim, “This afternoon, I’m going downstairs to visit the neighbour, and I’m going to preach to her.”

Jessika went downstairs, and the woman welcomed her in and made tea. After chatting for a while, Jessika asked, “What do you think about the future?” The neighbour was surprisingly positive. Jessika then asked, “Why do you think there is suffering in the world?”

The woman was intrigued by the question and engaged deeply in the conversation. After a few minutes, she turned to Jessika and asked in Turkish, “Are you one of Jehovah’s Witnesses?” Jessika replied, “Yes, I am.”

The neighbour then got up, went to her bedroom, and returned holding a Bible Teach book. She explained that when she had lived in Istanbul, she studied the Bible weekly with a Jehovah’s Witness. However, since moving to Didim, she had met no one who could continue the study with her. Jessika was overjoyed. She introduced the neighbour to a Turkish sister who later began studying the Bible with her. Kim and Jessika were amazed that they had moved into a building where someone was so eager to continue studying the bible. They felt as if Jehovah had guided them to that very apartment.

When Kim and Jessika first moved to Didim, they were associated with the Kuşadası congregation. Under pandemic conditions, they met with the congregation via Zoom. As restrictions eased, the Kuşadası congregation resumed in-person meetings, but the Witnesses in Didim continued attending on Zoom.

In 2023, some meetings began to be held in private homes in Didim. In March 2024, Kim and Jessika hosted the memorial celebration in a room in their house that they had temporarily converted into a Kingdom Hall. Given the proximity to ancient Miletus, and the first century congregation that Paul visited, it was amazing to think that this was likely the first true memorial celebration in the area for more than a thousand years. What a privilege to again celebrate Jesus loving sacrifice in this historic area!

Another couple, former Canadian missionaries, moved to Didim in 2023. This provided incentive for the Türkiye Bethel to approve the hiring of a property to serve as a Kingdom Hall.

It was deeply satisfying to see this come to fruition in 2024. On October 20 2024, the Didim Kingdom Hall was dedicated. There is now a group of about 20 publishers who regularly meet at the Didim Kingdom Hall.

As Kim and Jessika reflected on this, they noticed a recurring theme: so many events had happened precisely when they were needed. From the moment Jessika appeared at the door to the timing of their move to Didim, countless examples of perfect timing stood out. How reassuring it is to know that Jehovah, our God, is the Controller of time. He is the one who reminds us that “there is an appointed time for everything” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) and promises to provide help at just the right moment when we ask (Hebrews 4:16).

While we wait patiently, it might feel as though the promised new system is delayed. Yet, we can be confident that Jehovah’s timing is always perfect. As he assures us, “Happy is the one who keeps in expectation,” because His promises will never be late (Daniel 12:12; Habakkuk 2:3). Truly, our god Jehovah is the God of perfect timing!

Epilogue

Every year while they were living in Türkiye, Jessika returned to Sweden for a few weeks to teach English to adult students at a postgraduate education facility. Early in 2023, she made her annual trip. During one weekend while staying in a friend’s apartment, a small bookcase fell on her shoulder. When she returned home to Türkiye, she complained about the pain in her shoulder caused by the accident.

Initially, Jessika thought it was a minor injury, so she waited some time before getting it checked. However, as the pain persisted—and even worsened over three or four months—she began to lose the use of one of her arms. It was clear she needed medical attention.

The doctor recommended a full PET scan. When the results came back in early August, the news was devastating. The doctor referred Jessika to an oncologist, who confirmed the worst: her cancer had returned. The scan revealed a 19-centimeter cancerous lesion extending from her shoulder down to her ribs.

Kim shared the scan with his brother, a general practitioner in New Zealand, who confirmed how serious the situation was. Kim’s brother explained that if Jessika were in New Zealand, the doctors would likely recommend hospice care, estimating she might have only one to two months to live.

Jessika doing an assignment in the pioneer school Antalya September 2024

Fortunately, Türkiye has many well-qualified oncologists. With their help, Jessika began treatment, starting with advanced anti-cancer ‘smart’ drugs. She then underwent three weeks of daily radiotherapy, followed by nine weeks of chemotherapy.

Despite the grim diagnosis in August 2023, Jessika displayed extraordinary resilience. Throughout 2024, she continued her witnessing activities, even from her bed. She conducted Bible studies, engaged in telephone witnessing, and maintained a steady stream of return visits with those she called—or who called her.

Her primary goal for 2024 was to attend her fifth pioneer school. Jessika was invited to the English pioneer school held in Antalya, Türkiye, during the first week of September 2024. Each day, despite her condition, she walked nearly 1 kilometre to and from the pioneer school venue and the hotel where she and Kim stayed.

Jessika giving her final student assignment on Zoom on the mid-week meeting 2 October 2024

Although she experienced discomfort, Jessika fully participated in the pioneer school and enjoyed the week immensely. However, when they returned to Didim, her condition deteriorated rapidly.

After completing two further chemotherapy sessions, Jessika underwent a final PET scan. Unfortunately, the oncologists did not have good news: the chemotherapy had been ineffective. She was admitted to Aydın University Hospital for further testing, but her health continued to decline.

Jessika never returned home. Two weeks after being admitted, she was transferred to intensive care. On the night of November 19, 2024, she passed away.

Jessika’s funeral was held on November 22 at the new Didim Kingdom Hall. She was buried in a cemetery called Yalıköy Mezarlık. Her burial plot has a stunning outlook—on a clear day, visitors can see the Aegean Sea and, in the distance, the island of Patmos.

Here is a link to the slideshow that was shown at Jessikas Funeral talk

This is a link to a recording of Jessika Memorial talk.

Unfortunately, it is not good quality - but should give

everyone that were not there a reasonable outline.

Notes

[←1]

A few months after Phillippe’s death, a photograph of a Kingdom Hall he provided furniture for appeared in Lesson 7 of the brochure “Who Are Doing Jehovah’s Will Today?”

Perfect TIming - A collection of experiences by Kim and Jessika LeRoy

Preface

Chapter 1 The meeting

Chapter 2 Introduction to Sweden

Chapter 3 Melbourne, Australia

Chapter 4 Uppsala, Sweden

Chapter 5 Sundsvall, Sweden

Chapter 6 Stockholm, Sweden

Chapter 7 The Passing of Our Fathers

Chapter 8 Around the World to BSCC

Chapter 9 Copenhagen, Denmark

Chapter 10 Fethiye, Türkiye

Chapter 11 Didim, Türkiye

Epilogue