Asia Area

Missionary work featuredTAIPEI, TAIWAN - Missionaries in the Taiwan Taipei Mission recently received favorable exposure in the media here.

A recent feature on missionaries and their work appeared in the Sunday edition of The China News, one of two English language newspapers in Taiwan. Subsequently, the morning news program of China Television Service, one of three licensed broadcasters in Taiwan, included a five-minute segment about missionaries helping in the children's ward of a local hospital. Since then, many people have approached the missionaries saying they had seen or read about them.

Philippines/Micronesia Area

Motivating parents, youth

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Manila Institute of Religion's LDSSA Ambassadors, a musical performing group, have their own way of making the scriptures come alive.

Through music and dance, the group helps motivate parents and youth to apply gospel principles in their lives.

During the summer vacation, the group toured various stakes and districts within Metro Manila and nearby provinces. They participated in a play that encouraged members to fight the forces of evil by gaining knowledge and light, rather than by taking risks and then suffering the consequences.

The sacrifices of long practices and performances have taught group members the joy of service, love and lifting others.

Brazil Area

Clean park, win praise

TUPA, BRAZIL - Members of the Alianca Tupa Branch, Marila Brazil Stake, recently drew the attention and praise of passersby as they cleaned a city square here. Some 16 young people and a few seniors used brooms, shovels and rakes to remove debris from the heavily wooded park. Tupa is located in upper Sao Paulo state.

North America Central Area

Cooking for funds

MAGRATH, ALBERTA - Members of the Magrath (Alberta) 4th Ward Relief Society raised more than $8,000 during a bazaar and bake sale for a local library and museum building fund.

The recent service project was in commemoration of the Relief Society sesquicentennial celebration. Prior to the event, the women gathered during homemaking meetings to make quilts, shawls, afghans, children's quiet books and other craft items.

"By supporting library projects, we are promoting literacy," explained Margarette Low, chairman of the Relief Society project.

Women from other local church groups were invited to be a part of the bazaar.

"We must admit to being overwhelmed with the magnitude of the project," said Sister Low. "We are so grateful to all the good women in our community who gave so freely of their time and talents."

North America Northwest Area

Sister Kapp visits camp

PRINCE GEORGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA - About 70 young women of the Prince George British Columbia District, Canada Vancouver Mission, gathered recently for girls camp near here.

A highlight of the camp was the visit of Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president. Sister Kapp, whose husband, Heber B. Kapp, presides over the mission, spent part of a day at the camp and spoke about individual worth of the girls, their divine nature, and the importance of faith.

"Strengthening the spirituality of young women and encouraging them to share their testimony with their non-member friends is a powerful source of missionary work," said Sister Kapp.

The group included members of the Fraser, Nechako, Vanderhoof, Blue Mountain, Horsefly, Williams Lake, Quesnel, Burns Lake and McKenzie branches. Many young women expressed how they enjoyed the camp. "I like the devotional at sunrise. You can really feel the Spirit," said Sherry Kerns from the Prince George area.

North America Northeast Area

Teachers appreciated

HINGHAM, MASS. - Primary children of the Hingham Ward, Hingham Massachusetts Stake, recently held a Teacher Appreciation Night to pay tribute to their favorite public school teachers. Twenty formal invitations were sent out and 20 acceptances came back. Large colored drawings of the teachers were displayed. They were drawn by the students, each with a few sentences telling why the teacher was a favorite. The teachers were then given certificates of appreciation.

North America Southwest Area

Families make, donate quilts

HOUSTON, TEXAS - Members of the Houston 1st Ward recently held a "family service day" in which entire families spent six hours tying quilts. The families then donated 20 quilts to The Bridge, a Christian-oriented shelter housing some 70 battered and abused women and children.

The project was done under the direction of Helen Sauerhage, ward Relief Society president, and her counselor, Louise Pogue. Material for the quilts was donated by non-member Patsy Turner, who also helped in the service project, said Judy Yeager, Houston Texas East Stake public affairs director.

North America Southeast Area

`Rainy-day people'

SOUTH MIAMI HEIGHTS, FLA. - Michael and Jean Letteriello, who were among the members who lost property in the devastation of Hurricane Andrew, received favorable publicity for their emergency preparedness.

The Letteriellos of the Homestead Ward, South Miami Florida Stake, were the subject of a major feature article in the Miami Sun-Sentinal.

The article, "Rainy Day People" noted that home preparedness has been a teaching of the Church for nearly 60 years, and "for the county's 8,000 Mormons, including the Letteriellos, preparedness paid off."

The article reported that Church relief was offered in the area, but that most of the members "pretty much are taking care of themselves."

Utah Central Area

Gardening for homeless

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - Desiring to help the needy, homeless and less-fortunate, Young Women and Young Men of the Wasatch 6th Ward have taken to farming.

Blair Malouff, a local businessman, donated a plot of land and is paying the water bill. DeeDee Simer, a gardener, donated her time and expertise by instructing the youth on what to grow, and on soil preparation and planting.

All produce harvested at "the farm" will be donated to a local homeless shelter. In addition, the young women and their leaders are growing and drying flowers that will be made into individual bouquets to decorate a Christmas tree for the annual Festival of Trees in Salt Lake City that benefits charities.

Utah North Area

Volunteers fight drugs

WOODS CROSS, UTAH - Relief Society sisters of the Woods Cross 8th Ward, Woods Cross Utah East Stake, are volunteers for the Utah Federation for Drug Free Youth during September and October in conjunction with its Red Ribbon campaign.

The volunteers are working in a local mall in Salt Lake City, promoting drug free youth.

"Nationally, Red Ribbon Week will be held October 18-24," said Judy Kjar of the Woods Cross 8th Ward. She is Utah's Red Ribbon Chair and president-elect of the the Utah Federation for Drug Free Youth. "Wearing a red ribbon during the week symbolizes the wearer's support for a drug-free society.

"The youth have chosen a dragon to symbolize the theme of the campaign, `It's Hot to Not."

Utah South Area

Danish books donated

EPHRAIM, UTAH - Several boxes of first-edition and old Danish books were recently donated to the Ephraim Library by Peter and Nelly Olsen of the Capitol Hill 1st Ward, Salt Lake Stake.

The Olsens, formerly of Ephraim, have lived extensively in Denmark. Among the books they donated are Bibles published in 1756 and 1894, copies of the Book of Mormon printed in 1858 and 1902, and copies of The Life of Joseph Smith, Voice of Warning and Danish versions of the LDS hymnbook and other books of scripture, all published in the 1800s.

A special display case at the library will house the books.

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.