MormonNewsroom.org features 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.
Thailand: Neonatal Resuscitation Is Dr. Supa’s Passion
A phone call to the LDS Charities office in Thailand in 2006 was, at first, thought to be a wrong number, but the Mormon missionary who answered stopped the person on the other end of the line from hanging up and turned the phone over to Dr. Edward Kimball, a visiting physician. The doctor explained to the caller about the neonatal resuscitation training being developed by LDS Charities in Thailand.
That wrong number turned out to be more than just coincidental when the person on the line was Dr. Sarayut Supapannachart, or Dr. Supa for short. He was anxious to start a similar neonatal resuscitation training program for medical personnel. That phone call began a joint effort that would help hundreds of infants.
Learn more about how the Church and Dr. Supa are working together on the Thailand Mormon Newsroom website (Thai) and this background piece in the Church’s Ensign magazine.
Canada: Developing an Attitude of Gratitude
Canadian Latter-day Saints have been giving service to those in need and honing their volunteer skills in fostering an attitude of gratitude.
Throughout 2016, Mormons have tried to follow Jesus Christ’s teachings by coming to the aid of people in need as well as giving service in their communities. The Church has initiated projects and joined with community members and leaders to clean up, paint, donate blood and collect food for food banks.
Go to the Canada Mormon Newsroom website to see what three Canadian provinces have done.
Peru: Eyeglasses Donated to School, an Answer to Prayers
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently delivered over 100 eyeglasses to a school in a low-income area in Arequipa, Peru. The donation was so needed and appreciated that a ceremony to receive the glasses was held and attended by Arequipa’s governor.
The Church’s action was an answer to prayer, said Governor Yamila Osorio Delgado.
Go to the Peru Mormon Newsroom website (Spanish) for more information.
Pacific, Samoa: Saving Samoan Smiles
Two dentists and their wives are on a Mormon mission in Samoa to help resolve a major concern on the island, the increasing incidence of dental disease. The problem is common to many Pacific islands but especially to Samoa.
Dr. George Spencer and his wife, Linda, of Calgary, Canada, and Dr. Kent Davis and his wife, Sandra, from San Diego, California, volunteered to be Church humanitarian missionaries for LDS Charities and use their dental skills.
Read about what the two couples hope to accomplish on their mission on the Pacific Mormon Newsroom website.
Pacific, Tonga: Mormon Missionaries Clean and Paint Community Building
The Tonga Vision Impaired Center received a facelift by missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a nice paint job on the building’s exterior.
“Even though I cannot see them,” said Ofeina Leka, president of the center, “I can feel their warm spirits when I hear them talking while they are working, and knowing they are helping the school makes me happy.”
Find out more what these 16 missionaries accomplished on the Pacific Mormon Newsroom website.
Indian Ocean Islands: Mormon Helping Hands Clean Beaches
The beaches on the island of Réunion were sparkly clean after 30 Latter-day Saints set out one August morning to gather litter.
More than 800 pounds of litter was picked up, leaving cleaner beaches and the Mormon Helping Hands volunteers satisfied with their service.
Check out the story and photos on the Indian Ocean Islands Mormon Newsroom website (French).
United Kingdom, Scotland: Mormons Join Interfaith Fund Raiser
Members of the Unitarian Church, the Roman Catholic Holy Family School and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worked together in raising funds for the Archie Foundation, an organization that helps sick children.
The fund-raising event, which included singing, dancing and performances by the barbershop choir the Sweet Adelines and the Pam Dignan Dancers, collected $270.
Read more about the event on the United Kingdom Mormon Newsroom website.