Latter-day Saints Around the World: November 2024

Newsroom features stories from its dozens of websites worldwide to show what members and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are doing to serve their communities. Today, we feature news from Papua New Guinea, Canada, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Thailand, Bolivia, Mexico, Peru, Panama, Korea, and North America.

Papua New Guinea: Help and Hope in Isolation

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The nearly 400 residents of the remote Parama Island in western Papua New Guinea were left isolated on October 22, 2024, after a rare and extremely strong high tide destroyed homes, ruined crops and contaminated community wells.

When word of the disaster reached Church members in Daru, they acted quickly to send relief. Church humanitarian missionaries skilled in disaster recovery, local missionaries and leaders set out on barges and dinghies with food, water, water filters and tarps for shelter.

Upon arrival on October 29, low tide prevented the barge and dinghies from reaching the island; the group was waylaid about a mile from shore. Missionaries and villagers spent the day carrying all the supplies to shore.

“The resilience and faith of the people of the Parama Island shine through as they joyfully receive temporary relief to aid them through this challenging time in their lives,” said Johnny Leota, the country office manager for the Church. “Their gratitude and love of the Savior has increased as they witness His love through emergency efforts from the Church.”

You can read more about the efforts to help the island here.

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Canada: Over 1 Million Meals to Battle Food Insecurity

In October, the Church of Jesus Christ donated C$400,000 (approximately US$290,000) to Feed Nova Scotia. In 2023, the Church donated C$350,000 (approximately US$250,000) to the organization. In total, these donations will provide more than one million meals for those in need. Currently, food insecurity in Nova Scotia is reaching crisis levels. An estimated 40% of children under 18 in Nova Scotia are food insecure.

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Kelly Currie, Feed Nova Scotia fund development manager, said, “As food banks across Nova Scotia continue to see record numbers of visits, we are grateful for the incredible generosity of community groups like The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With this donation, we can support our member agencies as they work hard to meet the growing need in their communities and explore new ways to address the root causes of food insecurity.”

You can read more about the donations here.

Democratic Republic of Congo: A Foundation for a Bright Future

On October 18, the Bobokoli Institute EP2, a Catholic school located in the commune of Binza in Kinshasa, celebrated the completion of a renovation project by the Church of Jesus Christ. As part of the project, the Church donated 22 classrooms, three offices, a teachers’ lounge, a library space and a digital hall with computers.

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“I want to come to school every day. I had never touched a computer before. Now I can learn to type, and one day I will be an engineer!” exclaimed a student.

Teachers were also incredibly grateful. Before the renovations, the school had cracked walls and unusable facilities. One of the teachers said, “What the Church has done for our school is much more than a simple renovation. It has given our children a future.”

Read more about the renovations here.

Thailand: New Facilities for an Orphanage

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On October 19, the Church of Jesus Christ donated a shower and restroom building to the Wat Don Chan Orphanage in Chiang Mai Province. Before the addition of this building, the restrooms were in poor condition and could not adequately accommodate the number of boys staying at the orphanage. The Church also created a space with large sinks, providing a sanitary location for the boys to wash their dishes.

Learn more on Thailand’s Newsroom.

Bolivia: Wheelchairs to Empower Communities

On October 15, the Community Action and Solidarity Management Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency held a public launch of their “Weaving Hope” program to commemorate the National Day of Persons with Disabilities and White Cane Awareness Day.

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As part of the event, the Church of Jesus Christ donated 450 wheelchairs and other assistive equipment, such as canes, donkeys, crutches and spare parts, to benefit people with disabilities, especially those living in rural areas. It is estimated that this donation will benefit 1,600 people.

Learn more on the Spanish Newsroom.

Mexico: Improving Indigenous Communities

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In Guanajuato, Mexico, on October 29, the Church of Jesus Christ, in collaboration with the Vive Mejor AC Foundation, announced a new initiative to improve the living conditions of indigenous communities in the Bajío and central regions of Mexico. Many people in these areas lack access to safe drinking water and suffer from food insecurity.

This project will fund the construction of 148 rainwater harvesting systems, storage tanks and supplies necessary to develop family gardens. The project will benefit more than 700 people.

Learn more on the Spanish Newsroom.

Peru: Bringing Smiles to Children

The Church of Jesus Christ joined with Operation Smile to provide more than 80 children with free cleft lip and palate surgeries at the Daniel Alcides Carrión Hospital in Callao. Before the surgeries, the Church supplied volunteers and a meetinghouse to help host medical evaluations.

“The Church’s volunteers always collaborate with great willingness and respect for patients and their families. Their support in the various stages of the program has been fundamental to provide 84 free surgeries in this latest event,” said Lizet Campos, regional director of Operation Smile.

Learn more on the Spanish Newsroom.

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Panama: New Classrooms and Park

Together with School the World, the Church of Jesus Christ donated classrooms and a recreational park to the Escobal Educational Center, located in the town of Camarón Arriba in Panama on October 23. These new additions will benefit more than 300 students and teachers.

Learn more on the Spanish Newsroom.

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Korea: Supporting Single Mothers with Medical Expenses

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The Church of Jesus Christ in Incheon, Korea, signed an agreement on October 29 to provide funding to the Incheon Childcare Center, a childbirth support facility operated by the Incheon Catholic Diocese. With this donation, the Church will help with the treatment costs of pregnant women in crisis.

Director Kim Gyeong-sun, who has been running the center for 10 years, said, “This support will be of great help in treating various diseases suffered by pregnant women in crisis, in addition to helping with childbirth expenses.”

Read more on Korea’s Newsroom.

North America: Helping with Hunger

On November 13 in Salt Lake City, Utah, Elder Takashi Wada, of the North America West Area Presidency, presented the CEO of Hope the Mission with a certificate symbolizing a donation from the Church for kitchen equipment that will increase the mission’s daily meal provision capacity from 6,000 to 10,000 meals per day. Hope the Mission serves the unhoused members of the population of Southern California. This donation will help offer immediate assistance and long-term solutions within the mission to prevent, reduce, and eliminate poverty, hunger and homelessness.

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