South America North Area: Members enjoy fruits of ward garden

SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA - Members of the Equipetrol Ward, Santa Cruz Equipetrol Stake, worked together this summer as families to raise gardens in plots of land behind the ward meetinghouse. The project was organized by the elders quorum presidency and by ward welfare specialists Kati and Dany Landa.

"All the members participated by bringing seeds, fertilizer, tools and fencing materials," said Sister Sara Bybee, who with her companion, Sister Jennifer Schick, is a welfare services missionary in the Bolivia Cochabamba Mission.

"They are now enjoying the fruits of their labors."

Each ward in the stake has called welfare services specialists and these people are enthusiastic in sponsoring such activities, she said.

Africa Area: 500 youth instructed

ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST - Nearly 500 youth from the Abidjan and Abobo districts of the Ivory Coast Abidjan Mission took part in a recent youth conference. Theme of the conference was, "My Body Is a Temple."

Speaking to the youth were Dr. Alain Tanoe, president of the Cocody Branch, Abidjan District, who spoke on the Word of Wisdom; Maurice Diouro, a retired university professor who spoke about the importance of intellectual development; and Pres. Guillaume Alle of the Abidjan District, who spoke about how to take advantage of opportunities in advanced education.

Pres. Mamadou Zadi of the Abobo District commented: "I was especially impressed by the imagination of the youth in representing the theme in dramatic skits they presented. They touched on topics that are real challenges to our youth - honesty, chastity, peer pressure - and they did it well. Every branch was represented."

North America Central Area: Encyclopedia presented

QUINCY, ILL. - A copy of the Encyclopedia of Mormonism has been presented to the library of this community that played a part in Church history. In 1839 the city of Quincy offered a haven to the persecuted Saints who were expelled from Missouri.

The set of books was presented by Elder Mark Ricks, director of the Nauvoo Visitors Center, and Elder Don Ulmer, public affairs missionary in Nauvoo, to Howard Downey, administrative librarian.

North America Northwest Area: `Hands of heaven'

KIRKLAND, WASH. - The hands of the sisters of the Kirkland Washington Stake have come together in a display of unity, service and sisterhood. The display, entitled "The Hands of Heaven," is on a quilt made from cloth handprints of the sisters of the stake. It was displayed by Anita Adams, stake Relief Society president, at a social held for Relief Society sisters in conjunction with the telecast of the Relief Society general meeting Sept. 28.

The quilt was designed by Patricia Derrick of the Kirkland 3rd Ward. The Relief Society emblem is in the center of the quilt and the sisters' handprints stretch outward.

Following the 1995 October general conference, Sister Adams felt the need to involve the sisters of the stake in a project that would express their unity and represent the service and work that is done by the Relief Society. She wanted this to be something that could be viewed and inspire new sisters in the Relief Society in the coming years.

The quilt will be on display in the various ward Relief Societies during the coming year.

North America Northeast Area: Testimonies strengthened

PELHAM, N.H. - In one of the largest young women camps held here, about 100 young women and leaders from the Boston Massachusetts Stake recently spent several days at Camp Runnels near this community, refining their spiritual and outdoor skills. The theme for the girls' camp was taken from Alma 32:27, encouraging young women to experiment upon the word and to exercise their faith to help them grow in the gospel.

"It was a wonderful experience for the girls that strengthened testimonies and their relationships with each other and their leaders," said Tina John, camp director. "The testimony meeting this year was exceptional and focused on principles and doctrines of the gospel. That was very gratifying. We had a very good experience."

North America Southwest Area: `Go for the gold'

HOUSTON, TEXAS - Spirituality in the Sugar Land 2nd Ward, Houston Texas South Stake, has improved following a recent Book of Mormon reading emphasis titled "Go for the Gold."

The ward implemented the program in February 1996, calling on families to read the Book of Mormon together. Participants completed their reading by the final day of the 1996 Olympics in August.

Tom Campbell and Kevin Knowles, organizers, reported 80 gold medals were awarded for completion, 20 silver medals for reading through 3 Nephi, and 40 bronze medals for reading through Alma.

They also reported that regardless of the medal count, the goal was achieved. "Reading brought families closer together. People that have been in the Church many years once again studied the Book of Mormon all the way through, bringing spiritually uplifting experiences," said Brother Knowles.

North America Southeast Area: Preparing for temple visit

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - In spite of Hurricane Hortense, obstacles and personal sacrifices, 389 Church members from the Caribbean area celebrated Thanksgiving away from home this year while visiting the Orlando Florida Temple.

During the trip, approximately 100 Church members received their endowments, six couples were married, and 30 families were sealed. Some 89 young adults performed baptisms.

This is the second trip organized by the Tao Baja District in Puerto Rico. In July 1995, 220 Church members from the district attended the temple. At that time, Ernesto Rivera of the Toa Baja District presidency made the commitment to organize yearly trips to the Orlando Temple until the Dominican Republic Temple is dedicated.

The 1995 trip was a memorable experience, said the members who attended. They credit the success of the 1995 trip and the increase in the number of people obtaining their endowments in 1996 to local priesthood support and the leadership of the Toa Baja District presidency. This year, the Toa District presidency and all its branch presidents accompanied the group to the temple.

North America West Area: Food bank supported

LA VERNE, CALIF. - Members of the La Verne California Stake delivered the fruits of their labors to a food bank during their recent "Help the Hungry" month.

Stake members collected and delivered food and non-perishable necessities, such as diapers, paper goods and toiletries to the BETA Center Food Bank, operated by the Pomona-Inland Valley Council of Churches.

"As a member of the Council of Churches, our stake has made an ongoing commitment to support the PIVCC's programs for the hungry and homeless in our communities," said Alene Harrison, stake director of public affairs. "In 1995, the BETA Center served more than 65,000 individuals, of which more than 37,000 were children."

The collection was made under the direction of Nancy Larsen, a member of the stake public affairs council, who also serves on the BETA Center advisory board. In addition, Sister Larsen helped Kent Sommer, a young man in nearby Claremont, arrange his Eagle Scout project to coordinate with the stake food drive. Kent organized his project to include a paint-up and fix-up of BETA's pantry as well as the building of new shelves.