Latter-day Saints Around the World: July 2024

Newsroom features stories from its dozens of websites around the world 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 American Samoa, Canada, Chile, Côte d’Ivoire (the Ivory Coast), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico and the Philippines.

Ecuador: Kits Donated to People Impacted by Deadly Landslide

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint donated critical items, including 2,000 personal hygiene kits and 1,000 sleeping kits, following a horrific landslide that claimed the lives of eight people and injured 19 others in Baños, Ecuador, on Sunday, June 16, 2024.

“I express my total gratitude, not only on behalf of the victims of these natural disasters, but also on behalf of all the priority care people in the country who have received and will continue to receive part of this donation that improves their quality of life,” Vice Minister Harold Burbano said.

Elder Ricardo Nieves, an Area Seventy, toured the area affected by the landslide with several government ministers and members of the Ecuador Communication Council of the Church.

Dominican Republic: Equipment Donated to Improve Newborn Health

Two hundred stainless steel cribs and 150 incubators were donated by the Church to improve newborn health in the Dominican Republic. The donation comes more than two years after Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles delivered 250 neonatal cribs to the country on behalf of the Church, referring to that contribution as “the first of many others.”

Read more about the effect of these donations on the Spanish Newsroom.

Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast): Church Donation Improves School

On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, a donation ceremony was held at the EPP Agnissankoi School in Abobo, Ivory Coast, following the renovation of three classroom blocks and the construction of two sanitation facilities by the Church of Jesus Christ.

“You have put smiles on the faces of these children,” said Madame Marie-Claire Gla, regional director for the Ministry of Education in the Ivory Coast. “Through your donation, you have provided the opportunity for these children to succeed in their education and to eventually become leaders in our community. God bless you and your blessed members who have donated so generously to these special children.”

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Mexico: Aid Provided to Hurricane Beryl Victims

Local leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ provided food to over 30 families affected by Hurricane Beryl, which hit the Yucatán Peninsula the morning of Friday, July 5, 2024. Read more about their efforts on the Spanish Newsroom.

Chile: School Kits, Winter Clothing Donated to Needy Children

School kits, footwear, winter uniforms and support for children’s mobility were provided to Chilean children in need as part of a collaboration between the Church of Jesus Christ and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).

“This is not the first time that they have hosted us in one of their chapels to carry out our social work, which we are currently doing together, delivering school kits and warm clothing kits to the children who were affected by the fire in February of this year. We are very happy and very grateful to work together,” said a volunteer from ADRA.

Philippines: Young Children Participate in Health Screening Event

Sixty-five children from birth to age 5 received health screenings and nutrition support as well as vitamins and medicines during a child nutrition program screening event in Barangay Lingsat, Philippines, on Saturday, May 25, 2024.

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The event was organized as part of a global initiative led by the Relief Society General Presidency of the Church. Read more here.

American Samoa: Latter-day Saint Couple Helps to Develop First Heart Clinic

During their time as medical missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ, Eric and Allison Carter established a heart clinic in American Samoa. It was the first of its kind for the Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center, the only hospital on the island nation.

For 18 months, they trained a doctor and other staff members in the hopes of making the clinic sustainable. In the final months of their two-year mission, the clinic was operating independently of the Carters’ assistance.

“I feel so grateful that the Lord walked us through all of that,” Sister Carter said. “[He] inspired us, enlightened us as to what to do and when to do it so that the heart clinic could become an entity at the LBJTMC hospital.”

Read more about their effect on the Pacific Newsroom.

DR Congo: Church Restores, Equips Maternity Ward

On Friday, May 24, 2024, locals celebrated the restoration of a maternity ward at the Jason Sendwe General Referral Hospital in Lubumbashi, DR Congo, by the Church of Jesus Christ.

“I bless the day our paths crossed because your presence and support for this hospital have already saved the lives of several children, and we believe that with this aid we will save many more lives of our mothers giving birth,” said Dr. André Mwelwa, the hospital’s medical director.

Read more on the Africa Newsroom.

Canada: Dental Services Extended to People in Need

A donation made by the Church to the Radius Community Health and Healing Dental Clinic in Edmonton, Alberta, in April 2024 will bless the lives of people who struggle to access care due to health concerns, social barriers and financial hardship. The aid is expected to fund one year of dental supplies for the clinic and the purchase of new equipment.