Relief Society in Action, December 8, 2020

Relief Society in Action highlights the volunteer service of Latter-day Saint women in their communities around the world. The Relief Society is the women’s organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has more than 7.1 million members and is the largest women’s organization in the world. 

General Presidencies Minister Around the World Through Virtual Visits

Members of the general presidencies of the Relief Society, the Young Women and the Primary organizations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have recently wrapped up virtual ministering visits with sisters around the world. The Church leaders were originally scheduled to travel to the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, the Philippines and Western Africa, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted their plans to meet with Latter-day Saints in person. The virtual meetings included leadership instruction, devotionals and individual visits.

Sister Sharon Eubank, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency and president of Latter-day Saint Charities, said the sisters in the areas are “so remarkable and courageous during a very difficult time.” 

Virtual Visits in Europe  

“I had a sweet experience seeing a video of a Primary class in Moscow,” shared Sister Jones. “The president told me that one of the girls giving the opening prayer in Zoom Primary prayed for a sturdy internet connection. They have worked so hard to provide Zoom Primary classes to keep unity among the children.” 

During devotionals with Latter-day Saint sisters held in Eastern Europe in November, a video was shared of Mavlianova Liubov Aleksandrovna, who sang a new Primary song, "I Will Walk with Jesus," in Russian. She is a performer for Russia's prestigious Bolshoi Theatre and a Primary teacher in the Moscow Russia Stake. 

During the virtual visits, Sister Eubank also met with single sisters in Armenia; Moscow, Russia; and Kyiv, Ukraine.

In addition, the leaders hosted devotionals with youth and young single adults in Russia and Ukraine. A virtual gathering was held with missionaries assigned to Armenia, the Baltics, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

Click here to read more on the virtual visits. 

Perth’s ‘Lifehouse’ is a Lighthouse for Women

Relief Society sisters in Perth, Australia, gathered a collection of items to donate to a project for the Lifehouse program.

The Lifehouse program, which helps homeless women in Australia, is a collaborative project between the Right to Life Association of Western Australia (RTLWA) and the Holy Spirit Choir and Street Ministry.

Steve Klomp, the president of RTLWA, said he was “particularly impressed with how the Church has the ability to organize and mobilize its members when there is a community project or a need to be filled.”

Read more about the initiative on the Pacific Newsroom.

Central American Latter-day Saints Provide Humanitarian Relief to Hurricane Survivors

Several Relief Society sisters in Central America gathered and donated thousands of emergency supplies and more than 120 tons of Latter-day-Saint-sponsored food to help locals recover from Hurricanes Eta and Iota that made landfall in Central America in November.

Relief Society sisters, together with other Latter-day Saints from Cobán, Guatemala, worked with hurricane survivor rescue teams, organized food items and prepared food for people impacted by the storm in Church meetinghouses.

“I felt great joy knowing that I could donate the little canned food I had at home because it was going to someone who needed it more,” shared a Latter-day Saint from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, who preferred not to be named.

Other donated items included water, hygiene kits, mattresses and more than 8,000 face masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Click here to read the full article.

Missionaries and Relief Society Members Serve Another Faith’s Congregation of Sisters

A group of Relief Society sisters serving as full-time service missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sorted and packed clothes, food and personal hygiene items that were donated to the Rotary Club of Guatemala and several private institutions to help those affected by Hurricane Eta.

The service activity took place at the Bethania Catholic College for Women in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Read more about the service activity on Guatemala Newsroom (Spanish).

The Church of Jesus Christ Donates Thermal in Guatemala

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated four heated cribs, 8,000 surgical masks and a sound system to the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Unit of the San Juan de Dios General Hospital, Guatemala, on November 17, 2020.

Inés Walker, a Relief Society and a member of the Argentine-Guatemalan Ladies Association (ADAG), helped organize the donation to the hospital.

“ADAG is a society of selfless women who contribute their talents, time and even financially to help improve the emotional, intellectual and health aspects of children and their parents,” said Walker. “I have been able to see the tender mercies of the Lord despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The Church has been able to bless this group of [His] children.”

Read about the donation on Guatemala Newsroom (Spanish).

Australian Latter-day Saints Spread Light Through Community Connections During COVID-19

Elizabeth Rode-Bramanis, a Latter-day Saint residing in Knox City, Victoria, Australia, received a special award after coming up with an innovative way to spread light and love to her fellow community members during COVID-19.

Before the pandemic, Elizabeth volunteered for Bridges Connecting Communities, a non-profit organization that serves disabled Knox City residents over the age of 55 and retired Knox City residents over the age of 65.

However, when the deadly virus became a threat to the community, many of the organization’s services were no longer provided. As a result, Elizabeth created a pen pal program to connect volunteers with the area’s most vulnerable and isolated populations during the pandemic.

Read more about the pen pal program on Pacific Newsroom.

Uruguayan Relief Society Members Organize Hunger Relief Efforts During Pandemic

Church members donated over 500 pounds of rice, cooking oil and cocoa to the Toledo Social Club and Sports Union that serves meals to 300 individuals a week.

The CAIF Mainumbí Center also received 25 boxes of food from Latter-day Saints. The center requested the boxed food items to feed breakfast, lunch and dinner to children from 120 families. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, some parents have faced limitations that prevent them from sending their children to the center. The boxed food items will help mitigate the pandemic-related challenges they face to feed their children.

To read more about the donations, visit the Spanish-language Newsroom here.