Asia Area\ Constancy Amid Change'\ HONG KONG\ - Open houses were recently held at 17 meetinghouses in the Hong Kong region with a theme of "Constancy Amid Changes."

The open houses were held to draw attention of people living in Hong Kong and in the Macau region who were interested in hearing how the Church can help them face changes in the future.

Wai-Ming Lee, a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, and Wai-Chun Yam Poon, member of the Regional Council of Hong Kong, cut the ribbon at the open house ceremony at the Kwun Tong meetinghouse.

The total number of non-members attending the open houses reached 2,524, and a number of them expressed interest in learning more about the Church. Pres. Kwok-Yuen Tai of the Hong Kong Mission and Elder Kat-Hing Ng, regional representative, were pleased with the outcome of the open houses.

Members with talent in advertising, design and decoration prepared the displays in a professional manner.

Europe North Area\ Charity receives gift\ LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND\ - Following suggestions that Latter-day Saints become more involved in the community, members of the Liverpool Ward recently joined a community effort to raise funds for a prominent local children's hospital.

The ward held car washes and other activities, and solicited for donations for Alder Hey, one of Europe's most important children's hospitals. The donations were in honor of the 75th anniversary of the hospital.

When the fund-raising effort was completed, Bishop David J. Hoare and Primary children James Turner and Amanda Hoare visited the facility to present hospital officials with a check for about $600 (1,000 British pounds).

Brazil Area\ Mayors given books\ ARARUNA, BRAZIL\ - Two mayors of medium-sized cities in southern Brazil were recently presented copies of the Book of Mormon.

Missionaries of the Brazil Campinas Mission and Pres. Claudemir Barros de Souza of the Campo Mourao Branch visited Antonio de Jesus Rorato, mayor of Araruna, and presented him with a copy of the Book of Mormon. The presentation marked the beginning of missionary work in Araruna, a city next to Campo Mourao in Parana State.

In addition, missionaries presented a copy of the Book of Mormon to Mrs. Germinia Dolce Venturolli, mayor of Aracatuba in the adjacent Sao Paulo state. She expressed appreciation for the book, and also praised the beauty and preservation of the grounds of the local meetinghouse.

North America West Area\ Ward has missionary tradition\ ANAHEIM, CALIF.

- There's a missionary tradition in the Anaheim 6th Ward, Anaheim California East Stake. And that tradition is strong today as 19 young men and two young women are currently serving full-time missions.

Bishop Gary E. Mordock credits the examples and encouragement of parents and youth leaders for these young people remaining active while growing up and going on missions.

"As I recently looked out over the congregation, I noticed with one exception that the parents of these missionaries were all in Church. That's true just about every Sunday," noted Bishop Mordock. "These are missionaries from active families. The two young women on missions have older brothers who served missions, and they are very close to these brothers."

Bishop Mordock said that at one point last fall, the ward had 25 young people who had either received their mission calls, were in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, or were serving in the mission field.

Utah South Area\ 'Take-part' pageant performed\ ALPINE, UTAH\ - The Alpine Utah Stake recently presented a take-part pageant titled "On Sacred Ground," that played to about 300 people a performance over two weeks.

The musical in which the audience participates was written and directed by stake members Joan L. Lindsay and Marvin J. Payne. The writing and rehearsals started early this year, and the cast numbered close to 300.

Participants met at the stake center for a half-hour program of music performed by youth, then were driven to the foothills north of Alpine. There, guides took the audience along trails to view various presentations of scriptural events.

"It was wonderful," said Maxine Waldron of the Alpine 3rd Ward. "It was different than going and sitting and watching. It was as if we were there. Tears were shed; joy was shown. It was great."

North America Central Area\ Nursing home visited\ ROCKFORD, ILL.\ - Young Men and Young Women joined Primary children in the Rockford 1st Ward for a recent activity, highlighted by a visit to a nursing home.

The young people and their adult leaders entertained the residents with Church songs, according to Marie Schneeman, stake public affairs director.

"This activity gave the youth of the ward a true sense of togetherness by working together with the Primary children, as well as giving to someone in need in the community," Sister Schneeman said. "The youth and Primary children learned they could give as well as receive."

North America Northwest Area\ Quilts donated for homeless\ CENTRAL POINT, ORE.\ - Relief Society sisters of the Central Point Oregon Stake recently made and donated 70 quilts for the homeless and the needy of their community.

The quilts, made in the various wards, were completed Oct. 12, and distributed to the needy through a local community service agency. In addition, a ward Relief Society president delivered several of the quilts to local shelters for abused women.

Carol Muir, stake Relief Society president, explained that the quilts were made mostly from materials donated by the sisters. A tab was sewn on each quilt that read: " `Lovingly made by the sisters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.'

"This rewarding and spiritual experience helped us realize how much we can do in serving our fellow men," said Sister Muir. "This project was a springboard into the Relief Society sesquicentennial so the sisters could get a feel for serving their community."

North America Northeast Area\ Concert honors 50th year\ MUSKEGON, MICH.

- Members of the Muskegon Ward, Grand Rapids Michigan Stake, recently held a multi-denominational concert to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Church here. Ward leaders invited congregations of other faiths to join in "A Celebration of Muskegon's Religious Heritage in Music."

Ward members and members from five other churches - Berean, Evangelical Covenant, two United Methodists and the Reorganized Latter Day Saints - performed numbers at the concert. The concert was attended by 357 people, of whom about 80 percent were non-members.

North America Southwest Area\ LDSSA meet draws 100

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.\ - More than 100 students and leaders of Latter-day Saint Student Association (LDSSA) units from five states in the Southwest area of the Church gathered here recently for the second annual LDSSA convention.

Convention participants attended general sessions and group workshops with the theme, "By Love Serve One Another," and heard guest speakers, including Elder Cree-L Kofford of the Seventy.

Elder Kofford counseled students to have confidence in themselves. "Do you know how much we need you to reach your potential? Do you realize how much Christ needs great leaders?" he asked. "Don't give up on yourself if you stumble. That's what the gospel is all about. We need you."

North America Southeast Area\ Children promote cleaner world

ABITA SPRINGS, LA.

- Primary children in the Covington (La.) Ward recently promoted keeping the earth beautiful when they wore banners and carried rainbow-colored balloons in a local parade Oct. 17 during the Abita Springs Water Festival.

About 35 children attended along with the bishop and several Primary workers and Church members. A ward member and city councilman, Richard Granier, led the parade riding his mule, as he does each year.

"The children and adults all enjoyed representing the Church and promoting a cleaner world," said Dee S. Jones, ward Primary president.

Readers from around the world are invited to submit news items and photos for this feature on Church events worldwide. Submissions should include a telephone number of someone who can be contacted for additional information. Items should be mailed to Church News, "From Around the World," P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, Utah 84110. Fax No. (801) 237-2121.