Initially, he greeted everyone, the brothers from New Zealand and other countries present. He said it was a pleasure to be there and that this was his first time in New Zealand. Although he had been assigned several times to represent the Governing Body in Australia, he had never been to New Zealand, and he was very impressed with the brothers' reception. He emphasized that we have a brotherhood wherever we go.
Then he mentioned the long journey he had made to get there. (The audience interrupts with applause) It was 26 hours between flights and layovers from Warwick Bethel to the convention site. And he said that to combat jet lag, "holy spirit and caffeine!" were necessary. (The audience laughed and applauded)
"I'm so sorry I don't have my dear wife, Susan, with me... Many of you must know that I lost her about three and a half months ago... We were married for 54 years and she was a wonderful wife! Even near her death she was sweet, kind, and really funny... Want an example? I always said she was the wife of Proverbs 31 and she would say to me, 'When will we have Proverbs 32? It has to be about the capable husband!'" (Laughter)...
"I believe we will have Proverbs 32 in the New World, probably in the New Scrolls..."
"She was always in a good mood, and even when she battled Alzheimer's for 15 years, because many people don't last that long after that diagnosis, she continued doing the best she could, as a wonderful wife, and I miss her so much... So, pray for me, because it's hard after 54 years of marriage, all the time in..." "Full-time service, without regrets, and I know she is in the safest place of all and that she would want me to continue, just as she did, faithfully serving Jehovah until the end."
"I know she would want me to do this because she invested in me. Now it's up to me to ensure that she doesn't lose her investment and that I am faithful until the end." (Much applause)
"But I know you will take very good care of Susan here in the New World when she returns, and the earth will undergo a restoration; it will be a beautiful paradise that Jehovah has in store."