}

        try {
            log.debug("Sending witness heartbeat for: {}", request.getRegistrationId());

            // Create and populate the RPC message
            WitnessHeartbeatMessage message = new WitnessHeartbeatMessage();
            message.setContextHandle(request.getContextHandle());
            message.setSequenceNumber(request.getSequenceNumber());

            // Send the RPC request