Hi room 215
As it has been posted on this board a letter a letter dated on 1st April 2009 was sent to all congregations informing that the GB decision was that the Spanish Branch was no longer printing. The letter was written in a way that everything was going to be the same as it used to be. For that reason , the majority of the brother outside are unaware of the consequences of that decision.
When the letter was read in the congregations around Madrid in which there are Bethelites there were some of them crying. What they have been told is that the Bethel "family" is going to be reduced considerably. As many of you know, the spanish branch was enlarged and dedicated in 1998, being able to accomodate more than 600 workers. Although, they are 200 and never have been more than 250 members.
Since 1998, all these properties have been empty. It cost a lot of money. Apart of that, social security have to be paid for all the full time workers such as Esp. Pioneers, CO, DO and Bethelites since 2003. This is because two former Bethelites went to the authorities in an effort to improve the conditions of the WT workers. In this regarding the Branch commitee sent a letter to the congregations saying that the GB agreed with the authorities the social security but that is just a lie.
People here think that in the next few month at least 60 will be sent home. We will see.
More information for all of those who speak spanish can be found in this blog:http: www.johnhenrykurtz.blogspot.com/
