MormonNewsroom.org pulls stories from its international Newsroom websites to share what leaders and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the world are doing to better the communities in which they live.
Caribbean: Apostle Creates Second Cuba Congregation
An apostle and other leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints created a second congregation of the Church in Cuba recently.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles organized the second branch (small congregation) at a conference attended by nearly 100 people on Sunday, 15 June.
Read what Elder Holland said on the Nicaragua Mormon Newsroom website (Spanish). The Church News covered the story; see “Elder Holland Visits Cuba.”
Ghana: Church Sponsors Neonatal Resuscitation Training
A five-day series of lectures, tests and practical training was sponsored by LDS Charities, the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Three LDS Charities medical specialists instructed 32 physicians from hospitals and clinics throughout Ghana in an advanced course of newborn resuscitation techniques. “Every child has the right to the best possible start in life,” explained Dr. Ebenezer Badoe, president of the Pediatric Society of Ghana (PSOG).
Go to the Ghana Mormon Newsroom website for more details.
Singapore: Malaysia Senior Women’s Home Spruced Up
Mormon Helping Hands volunteers did yard work and painted for the Shekinah Care Center for Women in Malaysia, which was developed by the Women of TAC Methodist Church.
The 10 young volunteers painted rooms in the women’s center, trimmed grass around the building, removed a tree stump, washed windows and created a poster with all the residents’ birthdays listed.
Go to the Singapore Mormon Newsroom website for more information.
Pacific: Music Adds Joy to Help Homeless
Musicians from America traveled to New Zealand in mid-June to perform a benefit concert for the Wellington Homeless Women's Trust (WHWT).
“That was exhilarating!” said Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown after the concert. The event was organized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with the help of concert pianist Dr. David Glen Hatch and some of his prize-winning protégés.
Read on the Pacific Mormon Newsroom website about the impact the musicians made.
Australia: Many Mormon Helping Hands Plant Trees
Latter-day Saints in Australia planted 675 trees, mulched, watered and installed tree guards on the new trees.
The Mormon Helping Hands (MHH) effort on the Central Coast of New South Wales is similar to other MHH-sponsored tree-planting projects around the world. “We were grateful to give service in the community and give back to the area in which we live,” said local Latter-day Saint leader Conrad Dunn. “It was a lot of fun for all involved, especially the children.”
Read why Mormons consider giving service a high priority on the Australia Mormon Newsroom website.
Brazil: Thousands of Volunteers Serve for World Environment Day
More than 65,000 Mormon Helping Hands volunteers, scattered throughout Brazil, spent three consecutive Saturdays in May and June giving service to their communities.
Among the projects were cleaning and refurbishing squares and parks, planting tree saplings, painting, working on minor renovations and mobilizing a collective effort to combat dengue. The volunteers also cleaned beaches and mangroves and collected cooking oil, batteries and cellular batteries.
The Brazil Mormon Newsroom website (Portuguese) has more details about how Latter-day Saints served.
Guatemala: Church and Military Help Build Schools
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and members of the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia and Chile military recently built three schools and equipped teachers and students with desks, chairs, tables and bookcases.
Governor Carolina Orellana of Zacapa expressed gratitude for being able to partner with several influential organizations for the benefit of schoolteachers and students.
Go to the Guatemala Mormon Newsroom website (Spanish) to see how many people were involved.