SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras — After two months of mopping up and digging out from the destruction of hurricane Mitch, life in this Central America nation has returned to near normal, according to Elder William R. Bradford of the Seventy and president of the Central America Area.

A recent highlight among the members has been the distribution of toys and candy to children in the areas most affected by the storm.

When President Gordon B. Hinckley visited Nov. 19-21, one of the stops he made was to a 2-year-old orphan, Karen Portillo, whose father had died in the storm. Later, in the First Presidency's Christmas devotional on Dec. 6, President Hinckley commented, "I would hope that this Christmas season this small orphan girl might receive perhaps a little taste of candy, something sweet and delicious. I must see that that happens."

After President Hinckley's address, some 3,000 pounds of candy and 35,000 pounds of toys and clothing were donated by Church members and candy companies and shipped to Honduras.

Pres. Marvin Ivan Gudiel of the Satelite Honduras Stake coordinated the distribution of the toy and candy shipment. Like the previous supplies of food and clothing sent from Salt Lake City, this shipment was distributed by bishops through the normal Church channels, said Pres. Gudiel.

"The bishops of the areas affected by Hurricane Mitch received lists of children from their Primary presidents, and sent these lists to the central storehouse. At the storehouse, each bishop was given a supply of toys and candy. The bishops, accompanied by their Primary president, personally distributed the toys and candy to the children.

"The members feel confident in the Lord and the Church, and appreciate the response of the Church," said Pres. Guidel. "There are no words to describe the feelings in the hearts of each person with respect to the Church."

He said the members were strengthened by the visit of President Hinckley, and the more recent visit of President Boyd K. Packer, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve.

Elder Bradford, who oversaw the distribution of more than a million pounds of food, clothing and medical supplies in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala, said that only a few families require additional assistance. Most of these are being handled on a local level, where food is now available.

"Most of the businesses, including factories, are back in full operation," he said. "We are most pleased with the recovery and with the fact that the people who were helped don't expect to be helped forever by the Church, but are working to take care of themselves and reach self-sufficiency.

"We give our appreciation and praise to the local leadership, who organized under the standard procedures in the Church, and proved again to us and to whole Church that if we follow the program we have in place, it really works."