TRINIDAD—Deacon Ronnie Felmin of the Trinidad congregation issued a call to action. One of its senior members, Ms. Silvia De Matas, needed assistance clearing her yard. Within minutes, the men of the congregation were volunteering, and by the next morning a sizable crew was assembled, and a date for the job was set. On the morning of Nov. 24, 2024, nine men, single and married, gathered at Ms. De Matas’s home as “brothers in action,” according to Mr. Felmin.

Once Ms. De Matas outlined what she hoped we could accomplish, we began what seemed like a mountainous task. Ms. De Matas lives on the edge of a river in the Maracas Valley, surrounded by lush rainforest. While the rainforest is beautiful, it had begun to encroach on her yard. Our mission was to undo the overgrowth of grass, shrubs, bushes and trees.

Despite bug bites, scratches and minor cuts, nothing dampened the spirits of the men. A key part of the effort was the support of the ladies who came along. They were the unsung heroes of the day. Whatever the men needed, they were always there, providing lunch, offering drinks of water, or sharing words of encouragement to help them push on.

If that wasn’t enough, when the pace of the men slowed by mid-afternoon, the women pitched in by raking, cutting and clearing, braving intermittent onslaughts of ants and even the rain without hesitation.

By the end, Ms. De Matas’s yard had been transformed into a reflection of Eden, one might say, thanks to a day spent in God’s way of life, the way of service.