• A United Brotherhood Unshaken
    Awake!—2001 | October 22

    • Arranging for Housing

      After the damages were evaluated, recommendations for providing needed housing were made to the branch office. Provisional houses began to be built for those who had lost their homes. Also, repairs were made to houses that had only partial damage. The hardworking, efficient construction teams attracted quite a bit of attention, as neighbors came out to watch them work.

      One woman, thinking that the workers were the long-promised aid from the township, came to complain that no one had come to help her to clear her rubble. The neighbor children explained: “No, lady, they aren’t from the township. They’re from the Kingdom!” Another non-Witness, Moisés Antonio Díaz, commented: “It is a fine experience to see how Jehovah’s Witnesses help those in need. This is a very united organization, and thanks to God, they have the goodwill to help us poor people. I have worked along with them and intend to keep on doing so.”

      A Christian sister for whom a provisional house was constructed was crying when she said: “My husband and I don’t have words to describe our gratitude—first to Jehovah and then to these brothers who, although they didn’t even know us, quickly came to our aid.”

      By mid-April, 567 provisional homes had been built by the Witnesses for victims of the earthquakes, and almost 100 additional households had received materials to repair their damaged homes. Once the needy families had a door to lock and a roof to protect them, the Witnesses focused their attention on the 92 Kingdom Halls needing to be repaired or rebuilt.