Jehovah’s Witnesses Help In Hurricane Aftermath

[Guest Nicole]

By DENISE MAYCOCK

#Tribune Freeport Reporter

#dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

#JEHOVAH’S Witnesses from the United States are in Grand Bahama helping their fellow members who were affected by Hurricane Matthew.

#Volunteers from Florida and other parts of the US were out with local members in Freeport helping with roof repairs to homes damaged by the storm last October.

#Misael Morales, who is from the Miami area, said that teams of volunteers are in The Bahamas working between Nassau, Freeport, Exuma, Long Island, and Andros.

#“We have about over 330 homes of our brothers and sisters that were affected by Hurricane Matthew, and JW do a lot of disaster relief. When we heard that our friends needed assistance here, literally folks from around the US were asking when can they go to help,” he said.

#The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has coordinated extensive relief efforts following the passage of Hurricane Matthew to assist its members in The Bahamas, the Caribbean, and the southeastern US in early October 2016.

#Mr Morales said that volunteers have been coming from the US weeks at a time to assist with relief efforts in The Bahamas.

#“Some are here for a few months…and about 120 at any given time are working between Freeport, Nassau, Exuma, Long Island, and Andros. We have seen typical hurricane damage - roof damage and interior damage from storm surge,” he said.

#In Grand Bahama, the team will be working on about 60 to 65 homes in Freeport. The three Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Halls also sustained roof damage and will be replaced.

#Mr Morales expects the team to be finished its work by the end of March. They will work on six to seven homes per week in Freeport.

#He said that wherever there is a need Jehovah’s Witnesses are willing to help.

#“We consider this part of our ministry. JW is well known for our door to door work, that is our core competency to educate others about God. We also feel that it is not just helping people to get to know God, but to understand that this is how He takes care of His people,” he said.

#Mr Morales said the volunteers have taken time off work to help their fellow Jehovah’s Witnesses in The Bahamas.

#“They paid their way to come here to go work on someone’s roof they don’t know just because they say they are Jehovah’s Witnesses as well - that is love,” he said.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2017/jan/16/jehovahs-witnesses-help-hurricane-aftermath/?news