Soon, more young missionaries arrived, until 27 of them​—almost as many missionaries as there were publishers—​were crowded into a rented branch-missionary home.

At the end of 1961, when there were 1,570 Witnesses in the land, the dedication of a new Bethel Home was an important step. After its completion, the architect, Justino Apolo, was moved to symbolize his dedication to God by baptism. He later became an elder and has generously helped in building some 40 Kingdom Halls in Uruguay.

Similarly, after the construction project, Avelino Filipponi, an expert builder, took up the full-time service along with his wife. He is now a circuit overseer. He, too, has helped greatly with many Kingdom Halls. More recently, he shared in supervising the construction of an addition to the Uruguayan Bethel.

A New Branch Addition

The addition is a two-story structure with an ample basement. Having over 8,500 square feet (790 sq m) of floor space, it is actually larger than the original building. The annex houses a printery, the shipping and magazine departments, literature storage, a garage, and a beautiful Kingdom Hall. Much of the building material was donated by the brothers, and all the work was done by some 500 volunteers. Witnesses who are expert in masonry, metal work, carpentry, and many other trades donated their time and skill in designing, building, decorating, and furnishing the entire structure.

On February 4, 1985, the dedication of the annex began with Grant Miller, a member of the Branch Committee, giving a brief history of Uruguay and the growth of Kingdom work in the land of the River of the Birds. This was followed by delightful experiences and details about the new building. Finally, the audience of 250 appreciated the dedication discourse, “A Happy People With a Purpose,” given by Delfos Beltramelli. It was indeed a memorable day!

[Picture on page 29]

The Kingdom Hall of the new branch home addition in Uruguay