MormonNewsroom.org features stories from its international Newsroom websites to share what members and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the world are doing to better the communities in which they live.
Mexico: Mormon Helping Hands Assist With Earthquake Cleanup
A joint effort by Operation Smile and Mormon Helping Hands volunteers cleaned Gustavo Gomez Azcárate Street in Morelos, Mexico, to set up patient housing while the General Hospital of Cuernavaca Dr. José G. Parres was repaired after it was damaged in September’s earthquake.
Hospital director, Dr. Lorenzo Alcántar, said, “It is disconcerting not to have our building to provide adequate care to the population.” He added that he appreciated the help from volunteers and from the hospital of the Morelense Child.
Go to the Mexico Mormon Newsroom website (Spanish) to read more about the service performed.
United Kingdom: Church Apostle Visits Europe
Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, made several visits throughout Europe recently. He spoke with thousands of Latter-day Saints in Finland, Germany and Italy.
“As we traveled throughout Europe with Elder Ballard, we saw the goodness of an apostle of the Lord,” said Elder Paul V. Johnson, president of the Europe Area of the Church.
Read more about the apostle’s visit on the United Kingdom Mormon Newsroom website.
India: LDS Charities Provides Flood Relief
LDS Charities, the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in partnership with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency in India (ADRA), worked to assess needs of communities that have been hard hit by recent rain and flooding.
Thousands of crucial survival items, such as tarps for temporary shelters, ground sheets, medicated mosquito nets, water accessories kits and hygiene kits, were donated and delivered by LDS Charities and ADRA.
Go to the India Mormon Newsroom website for more information.
France: Brussels Community Works Together to Help the Poor
Clothing, shoes, blankets and food were collected by Latter-day Saints to help people in the poor regions of Charleroi, Brussels. The items were given to Hunger & Cold, Red Cross and the Restos du Coeur de Charleroi, organizations that serve the poor.
The food consisted of boxes of cassoulet, a meat and white bean casserole, a recipe originating from the south of France.
Read how many items were collected on the France Mormon Newsroom website (French).
Nicaragua: Latter-day Saints Open Meetinghouse for Free Health Services
A Mormon meetinghouse in Managua facilitated residents receiving several free health services, including general and internal medicine, ultrasound, nutrition, blood glucose level, blood pressure, dentistry and blood donation.
“We are here to serve others, following the example that Jesus Christ gave us,” said Larry Martinez, president of the Managua Nicaragua Bello Horizonte Stake (similar to the size of a diocese).
The Nicaragua Mormon Newsroom website (Spanish) provides additional information about the service event.
New Zealand: Pacific Islands Hummed With Sounds of Service
Chainsaws buzzed, mowers hummed, weeds were pulled, trees were planted and hearts were lifted as yellow-shirted Mormon Helping Hands volunteers joyfully served their communities across Australia, New Zealand and the islands of the South Pacific recently.
More than 130 Mormon Helping Hands volunteers in Auckland planted 4,000 trees.
Go to the New Zealand Mormon Newsroom website to find out what else was accomplished.
Philippines: Interfaith Peace Concert Brings Hundreds of Faiths Together
A Latter-day Saint house of worship was the setting for Maha Sangga sa Sugbo: An Interfaith Peace Concert in Cebu City. The concert was organized by the Cebu City Interfaith Movement (CCIM).
Various religious groups belonging to the CCIM enchanted and inspired the audience with their music and the beauty of their traditional costumes. Musical presentations included choir numbers, drums and chants, a flute-violin-piano repertoire and a children’s ukulele ensemble.
Read more about the event on the Philippines Mormon Newsroom website.