On Sunday, November 16, around 80 Seventh-day Adventist volunteers from western Paraná, Brazil, traveled to Rio Bonito do Iguaçu to help rebuild homes destroyed by a tornado that struck the city on November 7, 2025.

Gilson Soledade, leader of Adventist Solidarity Action (ASA) for western Paraná and coordinator of the volunteer response, described both the devastation and the church’s mobilization.

“The volunteers were the hands of God. It looked like a war zone. The love that Jesus feels for us has no barriers. Even though it was a field in the central region of Paraná, kindness and solidarity need to expand all limits, and we had the opportunity to help in the reconstruction,” the pastor reported.

The operation was organized into three main areas of service: repairing damaged roofs, cleaning public spaces, and visiting affected families to offer spiritual and emotional support. During these visits, 75 families expressed interest in studying the Bible. Their contact information will be shared with the local Adventist pastor in Rio Bonito do Iguaçu for ongoing follow-up in the coming months.

One of the volunteers, Davi da Cruz—youth district leader and elder of the Jardim Clarito Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cascavel—said his motivation was simple.

“The desire to help is very strong, and I will always be there whenever the opportunity arises,” he said. “What motivates me to serve is the love of Jesus in our lives and the reality of people who have gone through such difficult situations. We can help anywhere, but the need there was much greater. I was very happy to experience a little of this service.”

Cruz also recalled a personal encounter during the day.

“I had gone to deliver some materials to a daycare about two kilometers away on foot,” he explained. “As I approached, an elderly gentleman asked for help to connect electricity to his house from his neighbor’s wiring. I immediately offered to help. He brought some wires and insulating tape; I checked the house’s installation and saw that it was possible. I set up the entire connection to the neighbor’s house. He was very grateful—they had been without power for a week. I was very happy to be able to help that household too.”

Leaders say the initiative reflects the Adventist Church’s commitment to combine practical assistance with spiritual care, offering both immediate relief and long-term hope to communities affected by disaster.

The original article was published on the South American Division Portuguese news site.