During the course of the project, some 800 brothers and sisters came from France at their own expense to work with 500 local brothers and sisters on four different sites. The westernmost site was 150 miles [250 km] from the easternmost site, so good communication was needed. The French brothers came in shifts during the two-month period, but at one point there were 500 from France working with 422 local Witnesses. Providing accommodations for all the workers was a challenge. Many local families hosted two or three French workers; no one stayed in a hotel. Transportation for the workers was also required. One brother relates: “I would make a detour and drop off some workers at the site on my way to work and then pick them up after work. We did our best to make the workers feel at ease.”

While the main group was in Matoury at the site for the Assembly Hall (which was also designed to accommodate a Kingdom Hall), others were in Sinnamary to build a Kingdom Hall and a small missionary home. In Mana, another Kingdom Hall and a missionary home were being constructed. In the Sranantongo section of Mana, a Kingdom Hall with an apartment for the special pioneers was being built. In Saint-Laurent, a 330-seat Kingdom Hall and a missionary home for six were built. Two congregations meet there. This large Kingdom Hall is used for the Sranantongo conventions, often attended by up to 600 persons.

After this mammoth construction task, some of the French brothers decided to settle in French Guiana. In addition to contributing their building skills, they have blessed the congregations by serving as elders, ministerial servants, and members of building committees. Later, some shared in the construction of new branch facilities.

(6) Witnesses from French Guiana, along with hundreds from France, shared in the work