Philippines/Micronesia Area\ Concert assists volcano victims\TACLOBAN, PHILIPPINES - The LDS Student Association of the Tacloban Institute of Religion recently organized and sponsored a musical concert, "Handog Mt. Pinatubo" to assist the victims of the volcanic eruption. The LDS group organized the concert in cooperation with local artists after the governor of Leyte, Adelina Y. Larrazabal, spoke of a donation campaign to aid the victims.

Among the performers were Magda Pamen, a returned missionary who regularly sings at a downtown folkhouse, and Paul Melendez, a composer and singer from the Cebu Philippines Stake. They sang jazz, folk, pop and ballad numbers at the concert, held at the Burgos Ward meetinghouse here. More than 500 people attended the Aug. 9 concert, which raised about 8,000 pesos or an equivalent of 850 kilos of rice. The donation was turned over to the Leyte Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council.

Africa Area\ First open house held\ BENIN CITY, NIGERIA - Full-time and district missionaries recently held an open house in the Benin 1st Branch to introduce the gospel to neighbors and investigators and to fellowship newly baptized members.

"This was a new experience for the members of the branch and the first open house of its kind ever to be held in Benin City," reported Elder Bruce D. Vincent, a missionary serving in the Nigeria Lagos Mission with his wife, Sister Theresa Ann Vincent.

Displays were placed about the building. Members of the branch presidency and auxiliary presidencies explained their responsibilities and the ways each organization enriches people's lives.

Two films, "How We Got the Book of Mormon" and "Our Heavenly Father's Plan" were shown. Tracts and pamphlets were also given to visitors. The Vincents said they received many referrals from the presentation.

Europe/Mediterranean Area\ First camp held\ PORTO, PORTUGAL - The first national LDS Boy Scout/Aaronic Priesthood encampment in Portugal was recently conducted about 15 miles southeast of Porto on the banks of the Douro River.

About 60 young men and their leaders attended the event, including a group from the island of Madeira.

Participants in the opening ceremonies included Elder W. Lynn Pinegar, regional representative; Pres. Philip Brown of the Portugal Porto Mission; and Pres. Luis Benidio of the Matosinhos Portugal Stake.

Activities during the encampment included pioneering, first aid, lifesaving, hiking and cooking. Each day began with prayer and scripture study.

"The encampment seemed to result in growth and development for each young man, not only in Scouting skills, but also in spirituality," noted Elder Pinegar. "Friendships were developed, and young men are eagerly awaiting plans for the next camp."

South America North Area\ Growth leads to district division\ CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA - The Church is growing rapidly in this Caribbean resort city, said Pres. Daniel Alvarez of the Colombia Barranquilla Mission. Evidence of this is that the Cartegena District, formed in 1980, was recently divided, with each of the new districts having more than 2,000 members, said Pres. Jose A. Manrique, district clerk. Much of the growth has occurred since the creation of the Barranquilla mission in 1988.

The new district, the Alpes District, has 2,000 members in five branches. The Cartagena District has 2,600 members, also in five branches. Pioneer members of the branches were very emotional as they viewed the growth that has taken place in their city. Several spoke at the conference where the division took place.

At the conference, Pres. Alvarez counseled the members to center their lives and homes around the the Savior, and to be a light to the world.

Brazil Area`Hands on' training helps SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - A "hands-on" experience for missionaries in the Missionary Training Center here has resulted in more than 70 new converts. According to Pres. C. Elmo Turner of the training center, the hands-on experience comes on the last day of training as missionaries team up with stake missionaries.

The missionary pairs then go to families of non-members where the new missionary teaches the first discussion. The new missionary leaves a copy of the Book of Mormon and challenges the family to read and pray about it. The stake and full-time missionaries continue to teach and fellowship the family afterwards.

"One stake reported that from 12 first discussions given on one Sunday in the stake, eight baptisms have resulted," said Pres. Turner. "This experience gives great confidence and enthusiasm to missionaries going from the training center. It motivates the stake missionaries to find families, and is a great help to full-time missionaries."

North America Northwest Area\ Festival celebrates heritage ALMO, IDAHO - Singing filled the air near stately Mt. Independence here during the recent Declo Idaho Stake Choir Festival.

In the festival held outdoors near the City of the Rocks scenic area, the stake's nine ward choirs each presented a patriotic and pioneer song, with the finale, "Come, Come, Ye Saints" being presented by the combined choirs.

With a pioneer and patriotic theme of "Our Nation's Pride and Heritage," the festival included a covered wagon with oxen and several pioneer buggies to add to the ambiance. A tribute to servicemen and women and pioneers was given by stake Pres. Del Garner.

North America Southwest Area\ Lessons in litter cleanup LONGVIEW, TEXAS - About 100 members of the Longview Texas Stake learned lessons in litter cleanup during the 7th Annual Texas Lakeshore Cleanup at Lake O' the Pines in northeast Texas.

The Church members were among an estimated 400-450 people who participated in the annual cleanup. The event was part of a statewide campaign, held in conjunction with Federal Lands Day on Sept. 7.

North America Southeast Area\ Survival skills taught FT. MYERS, FLA. - Survival basics were taught to more than 70 members of the Florida Ft. Myers Stake recently. They attended a "Survival Day" sponsored by the stake singles group, according to Peggy L. Williams, stake public affairs director.

"Instructors from six wards taught basic wilderness survival skills, including identification of native edible plants; building self-standing fireplaces from palmetto leaves, earth and sticks; lashing and knots; fishing with hooks made from thorn branches; knife sharpening; trap setting; fire building and basic camp set-up," she said.

"The fellowship was strong, and the members felt particularly blessed with perfect weather after six days of constant rain," Sister Williams added.

North America West Area\ Teens clean temple area SAN DIEGO, CALIF. - Young Men and Young Women throughout the San Diego Temple district in recent months have cleaned the grounds of the San Diego Temple during its construction. By the time the temple is completed in late 1992, it is expected that more than 1,000 youth will have helped to improve the surrounding appearance.

Although the site, which is on a hill overlooking a major freeway in north San Diego, is under the supervision of the general contractor, the youth cleaned the peripheral areas.

"This is a most exciting event for those young people because the parents and grandparents of some of them have been waiting for decades for this temple to be built," said Sue Wonderli, Young Women president of the Chula Vista (Calif.) 3rd Ward.

The youth have been able to sign their names to a sheet of paper that will eventually be placed in the temple's cornerstone.

Utah North Area\ Ward celebrates 114th year BRIGHAM CITY, UTAH - The 114th anniversary of the Brigham City 3rd Ward - one of the original four wards of the city - was celebrated at a reunion recently. The 89-year-old ward meetinghouse was the site of old-timers and old friends gathering for a social hour, a ward history-oriented reader's theater, and a choir presentation.

The reunion was planned to take the place of the ward's 100th anniversary celebration that was never held.

More than 500 people attended. Memorabilia and photos from the past were displayed at a reception on the Saturday of the reunion. Several former bishops returned and spoke at sacrament meeting the following day. Among them was Bishop Eberhart Zundel, 95, who recalled that in 1944, when he was bishop, the ward had a membership between 1,600 and 1,800 before it was divided.

The ward was created by Brigham Young in 1877 and originally included the city's northwest corner.

Readers from around the world are invited to submit news items and quality news photos (please avoid group pictures) 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.