A poster campaign on buses throughout Rome, sponsored in December by the Church's local public affairs office, generated significant inquiries and requests about the Church.

According to Joelle Janowski of the area public affairs office, most people traveling in Rome around Christmas use mass transit because of extraordinarily heavy traffic, making the season an ideal time for this campaign.The posters included a picture of a frog, and text discussing the fact that many people don't truly understand who they really are. People were invited to order copies of the posters for themselves, as well to learn more about who they are through visits with the missionaries or from Church literature.

Central America Area

Constant effort yields results

CHIMALTENANGO, GUATEMALA

Members in the Guatemala City Guatemala South region are progressing well in the gospel, said Elder Udine de Leon Falabella, regional representative.

Many of the members of the 80 wards and branches in the region attend the Guatemala City temple every two weeks. They also work closely with full-time missionaries in reactivation efforts. These missionaries spend four hours a week with a family of less-active members in a program called "Constant Effort." Because of the program, a number of less-active members have been reactivated, said Elder Falabella.

Members also took part in a Church humanitarian effort last year where a pressurized water system was installed for 10,000 people of the Chimaltenango area. In addition, 400 members last year also planted some 10,000 trees in a service project in local woods.

South America North Area

Island branch opens

MUISNE, ECUADOR

Missionaries in the Ecuador Quito Mission recently opened a new branch on the island of Muisne, located just offshore in central Ecuador, said mission Pres. Charles E. Hall.

To reach the island, where motor vehicles are prohibited, missionaries take a canoe-like craft across a narrow channel. The branch began when members moved to the island. Since then missionaries found additional success and now, more than 20 people attend meetings.

In other parts of the mission, a family joined the Church following a zone service project in the Ibarra Central Branch of the Ibarra District. Every family in the area was required to dig a trench through their property to prepare for a new water line. Because one family of investigators had health problems, members of the family were unable to dig the trench. Missionaries assisted and dug the trench.

"This resulted in some very positive community relations as well," said Pres. Hall.

Brazil Area

Non-LDS grateful for aid

FLORIANOPOLIS, BRAZIL

Appreciation has been expressed for the efforts of Church members following devastating flooding in this city recently.

In the flood, members of the Florianopolis stake, and particularly those from the Palhoca and Forquilhinas branches, lost a number of homes. Among those whose home was flooded was Florianopolis stake Pres. Cesar Augusto Seiguer Milder.

Some 182 priesthood holders opened their homes to those whose homes were flooded. They also used boats to distribute food, water and supplies. After the flood waters receded, they helped clean and rebuild homes. They assisted

48 member families and 133 non-members.

Members donated about 6,000 pieces of clothing and a considerable sum of money for relief efforts.

The non-members "were amazed by the example of compassion and love for their fellowman that the Church members demonstrated and were very grateful," said Demar Stanicia, Brazil public affairs director.

South America South Area

Reactivations bring buildings

BAHIA BLANCA, ARGENTINA

Missionary efforts, particularly with reactivations, in the Argentina Bahia Blanca Mission have helped five branches qualify and receive new buildings in recent months, according to Pres. Gayle Bluth.

In addition, six new branches have been created in the eastern area of Mar del Plata in recent months, he said.

"Missionaries are doing a good job in reactivations," he said. "It takes time, but they are making progress."

North America Central Area

`Secret grandmothers' assisted

CLINTON, IOWA

An article in the January 1991 New Era titled "Secret Granddaughters" inspired the Young Women leaders of the Clinton Ward, Davenport Iowa Stake, to inaugurate a "Secret Grandmother" program.

Phyllis Senske, one of the Young Women leaders in the ward, said the Young Women made a list of the women with special needs - elderly, widows, older single sisters and a non-member mother of a member. In all, 12 older women were approved by the bishopric to be included.

Each of the girls then drew a name and committed to a monthly remembrance of her secret grandmother. The grandmothers were excited too, and enjoyed sending occasional little gifts to their secret granddaughters via the Young Women president.

The girls are continuing the project in 1992 - although it is no longer a "secret" project.

North America Northeast Area

Finder refuses reward

PEMBROKE, VA.

A member of the New River Virginia Stake, Billy Williams, was honored in the news media recently after discovering the remains of a missing Virginia Tech coed. The young woman had been missing since last July. Brother Williams, 49, made the discovery while deer hunting. His discovery became even bigger news after he refused to accept a $25,000 reward from the victim's family. Instead he asked that the money go toward finding the abductor. The family plans to use $15,000 to do so and put the rest into a Virginia Tech scholarship fund in memory of the young woman.

North America Southeast Area

New ward has `rocket power'

CORINTH, MISS.

An influx of Church members moving here from California and Utah associated with NASA's advanced solid rocket motor project has led to the recent formation of the Corinth Ward. About half of the 150 active members are people who have come in from California and Utah, Bishop Curtis Clayton told the Daily Corinthian.

Bishop Clayton was quoted in a news article as saying the ward was formed by a recent division of the Booneville Ward, some 30 miles away.

"It's because of large growth in the Booneville Ward that this ward has been created," he said. "You lose some of the talent on both sides. You find other people will come in. That's how you grow. You grow by dividing. We already miss friends from down there. It's just part of the normal Church cycle."

North America West Area

Korean conference held

LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

Elder Han In Sang of the Seventy addressed a conference of four Korean units at a special conference held recently in the Hacienda Heights California Stake. Elder Han, a Korean convert in 1957, was baptized by one of the first four missionaries to Korea. Another of the first four missionaries to Korea, James F. Smith, is president of the Hacienda Heights stake, which hosted the event.

Elder Han spoke of the loneliness of being a foreigner in another country. He advised members to seek God first, rather than seeking earthly achievements.

Utah North Area

Help congregation remodel

EVANSTON, WYO.

High priests in the Yellow Creek Ward, Evanston Wyoming South Stake, recently helped members of the Trinity Lutheran Church remodel a commercial building that they had purchased for a meetinghouse, said Tom Thorpe, high priests group leader.

The high priests sent a letter of inquiry to the minister, who invited them to help with an insulation project.

"We had a marvelous experience interacting with their church members and received many warm expressions of thanks and appreciation from them," said Brother Thorpe. "They have asked for our continued help and we are looking forward to spending many hours with them in completing their church."

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.