WITNESSES BUILD KINGDOM HALL IN CAPE AREA

Motorists driving north on Cape La Croix Road Sunday and seeing the nearly completed Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses might comment: "I don't remember seeing that last week," and they would be right.

It didn't quite happen in the blink of an eye, but almost. About 300 volunteers spent the Thanksgiving weekend on the construction of a Kingdom Hall that ended Sunday, complete with carpeting, wallpaper and even landscaping.

Art Hunn, a member of the regional building committee, has helped with the construction of 70 halls in the Southeast Missouri area. "Our lead workers are all skilled professionals and they usually bring with them journeymen and tradesman," he said. The building site looked like a miniature city with people going in every direction. A variety of construction trailers were set up to keep things organized. Runners carried coffee and cookies to the workers from the food service trailer. Meals are prepared every six hours to accommodate the crews, some of which work around the clock.

Electricians report to one trailer while plumbers and carpenters report to another. A first-aid station is available just in case. The volunteer tent serves as a common meeting place to synchronize duties.

Organization is the key to these "quick build" Kingdom Halls done worldwide. What normally takes months is accomplished in a weekend thanks to all the volunteer effort and organization. The site is usually prepared two to four weeks ahead of the actual building time. Materials are ordered and are scheduled for delivery before workers arrive. "The spirit of cooperation is what makes these projects a success," said Jerry Oliver, chairman of the regional building committee. "If a carpenter is running a little behind and the electrician is ready, he'll (the electrician) put down his tools and help out.""They are spiritual partners as well as working partners," added Hunn.

Some special materials are used which allow the project to proceed more quickly. A quick-dry compound is used to finish the drywall. This allowed the ceiling to be sprayed immediately and as soon as it was dry, paper hangers were ready to begin.

Jennifer Jennings of Cape Girardeau, who kept busy part of the time by sweeping up messes, thought the unified building project was a wonderful experience. All volunteers are responsible for their own expenses, so many of them stay with local members. Jennings was housing some of the volunteers."When the people come they are strangers," she said. "By the time they leave, you have new friends." Many families are involved with the building of halls. Children often work alongside parents and in the process learn a new craft.

Hunn is a glazier but has been keeping busy coordinating projects. "My sons help with the windows when I can't get to them," he said. "They went with me on jobs and learned the trade."Steve Mills isn't a carpenter by trade but was in charge of the interior trim work at the new Cape Girardeau hall. Mills, who is in sales, learned by doing. "I think it's really good to be able to learn from others," he said.

Mills' wife, Teri, had completed her portion of the work. She was on the sheeting crew for the roof. "She can do everything," said her husband.

Daughter Brianne was on hand to help too. The 14-year-old said she does "whatever I'm told." That's the type of cooperation and willingness to work that makes such projects possible.

By late Sunday afternoon crews began to leave and the finishing touches were being applied. Brock Milam of Benton finished the brick work on a storage structure to be used to house mowers and other lawn equipment. Trees, shrubs and flowers were finding homes in the newly spread soil.

Cabinets, made by a regional building committee member, had been installed and carpet layers were busy in the main auditorium."It's just about over," said Hunn. "We'll get all the trailers out later this week." After the trailers have gone, the remainder of the concrete can be poured.

If the chairs hadn't been on back order, Hunn thought they could have had a service Sunday. "I think they are planning on next Sunday for their first meeting, though," he said.

The building committee is already making plans for its next task, a February remodeling job in Popular Bluff.