Mormonnewsroom.org pulls stories from the international Newsroom websites to show 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.
France, Italy and Spain: European Countries Grow in Church Membership
Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints traveled recently to Europe, meeting with Church leaders, members and missionaries. While in the Canary Islands, Rome and Paris, they created new stakes (similar in size to a diocese).
Elders Dallin H. Oaks and M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Richard J. Maynes of the Presidency of the Seventy, Elder José A. Teixeira of the Seventy and other local Church leaders in each area participated and addressed the members.
For more information on the meetings, go to the Spain Mormon Newsroom website (in Spanish) and the Italy Mormon Newsroom website (in Italian).
Spain: Apostle Meets With Latter-day Saints in Spain
Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, met with Church members this month in Spain.
During his visit he taught local Church leaders how becoming more faithful in following Jesus Christ will strengthen their congregations and their communities.
Read more about Elder Ballard’s visit on the Spain Mormon Newsroom website (in Spanish).
Nicaragua: Women Church Leaders Visit Central America
The president of the Young Women organization and a counselor in the Church’s Relief Society organization met and taught local Church leaders during visits in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica in September.
Bonnie L. Oscarson, general president of the Young Women, and Carole M. Stephens, first counselor in the general presidency of the Relief Society, came to instruct and support women.
Read about each of their visits on the Guatemala Mormon Newsroom, Nicaragua Mormon Newsroom and Costa Rica Mormon Newsroom websites (all websites are in Spanish).
Honduras: Latter-day Saint Youth Help Open Country Games
Young Latter-day Saints performed in the opening and closing ceremonies in August and September of athletic games in Honduras.
Government and community leaders were impressed with the 300 young people from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for adding such beauty and talent to the event.
Arnold Aviles, president of the games executive committee, said he was grateful for the Latter-day Saints’ support. “These young people delighted us with their dances, showing not only their artistic abilities but their discipline, dedication, selflessness and desire to serve.”
The Honduras Mormon Newsroom website (in Spanish) has more information on what motivated the youth to participate.
Pacific: Mormon University Students Help Fijians in the Classroom
Students and teachers at Brigham Young University–Hawaii traveled to Fiji this summer with the goal to improve the academic performance of the Fijian students, specifically in the areas of reading, writing and math.
The college students worked under the direction of professors from BYU–Hawaii and the University of California, Berkeley. Another goal of the trip for the university students was an opportunity to have a multicultural experience. The outcome of this project will have a direct influence on hundreds of thousands of Fijian students over the next decade.
Read more about their efforts on the Pacific Mormon Newsroom website.
Zimbabwe: Church Helps Protect African Water Supply
LDS Charities, a humanitarian arm of the Church that participates in relief and development activities throughout the world, helped purchase materials to construct lids to cover wells to protect the water from disease.
The wells, located in Harare in the Republic of Zimbabwe, have been established for only a short period of time, and the open wells, particularly in this area, can be susceptible to cholera, typhoid and malaria if they are not covered and maintained.
Go to the Zimbabwe Mormon Newsroom website to find out who provided the labor for the projects.