Until then the Society’s New York office had cared for the kingdom-preaching work in Ecuador. With fifty-three active kingdom proclaimers and fine prospects for expansion, however, a branch office was established in Guayaquil.

Space for meetings and branch operations was tight. So land on which to erect branch facilities was purchased in 1955. Excavations began in October 1956, and May 1957 saw the completion of a fine, sturdy building that provided room for growth and comfortable seating for 300 in its Kingdom Hall. By the early 1970’s the need to expand was evident. In December 1974 a building program was completed that quadrupled storage capacity and provided housing for up to twenty-four missionaries. And just outside Guayaquil in 1981, we acquired some property for an assembly site, a storage warehouse and possibly other facilities.