To look after the Kingdom work in the Bogotá Congregation, a local brother, Porfirio Caicedo, was appointed congregation overseer. He was a skilled carpenter who made molds for metal castings. On learning the truth in 1950, he had applied his enterprising spirit to bringing up his large and growing family “in the discipline and mental-regulating of Jehovah.”​—Ephesians 6:4.

Porfirio’s second son, Raúl, began pioneering right out of high school in the early 1960’s. He took his ministry seriously and served in the circuit and district work and then attended Gilead School. Back in Colombia, now as a missionary, he received his final appointment, to be a member of the Branch Committee. It was a sad day for all when Raúl Caicedo died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 38. His father, Porfirio, died two years later.

The faithful record of Porfirio Caicedo and his large family continues today.b All 17 of the surviving children are dedicated, active Witnesses. And among the some 50 grandchildren, 20 are baptized, and the remaining younger ones are growing up in the truth.

Porfirio Caicedo, father of 18 dedicated children; son Raúl, a Gilead graduate and a Branch Committee member until his death in 1981