LDS women knit jumpers for penguins

CRANBOURNE, Australia — Relief Society sisters here in the Cranbourne Branch, Melbourne Australia Braeside Stake, recently joined with members of other churches to help penguins endangered by an oil spill.

The women knitted little jumpers for the birds, which were covered with oil and in danger of ingesting it while preening their feathers. The hand-knit jumpers, donated to an organization which spearheaded the cleanup, protected the birds until they could be properly cleaned.

Closing a missionary time capsule

FORT WORTH, Texas — Missionaries in the Texas Fort Worth Mission celebrated the year 2000 this month by creating a time capsule. Mission President Larry L. Whiting and his wife, Kaye, anticipate the capsule will be opened in 20 years.

The capsule includes a letter and photograph from each missionary, letters from stake presidents in the mission boundaries, copies of the mission publication, recent general conference talks emphasizing missionary work, a photograph of the mission office and home, Church publications, statistics and mission documents.

A 'caravan of love'

BOUNTIFUL, Utah — Members of the North Canyon 3rd Ward, Bountiful Utah North Canyon Stake, participated recently in a two-month project to help women and children at the Davis County Women's Domestic Violence Shelter.

They crocheted and knitted blankets, mitten and mufflers. They also made baby quilts, balls and children's painting and coloring aprons. In addition, clothing, underwear, gloves, hats, scarves, baby carriers, hygiene kits, towels and bedding were purchased and donated to the center.

Because there was not room to store the numerous gifts, ward Relief Society leaders filled their cars, delivering needed supplies to the women's shelter in a "caravan of love."

Local leaders establish relationship

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In a meeting designed to establish a good working relationship with city officials here, local Church leaders met recently with Kansas City Mayor Kay Waldo Barnes.

Elder Kay Christensen, an Area Authority Seventy, explained to the mayor the organization of the Church in the Kansas City metropolitan area, which includes around 60 wards and 20,000 members. Mayor Barnes noted that she was familiar with the importance of the Church and its influence in Kansas City and the Jackson County/Independence area, as she had written a paper on that subject as a college assignment.

During the meeting, past community Church service projects addressing local community needs were discussed. Mayor Barnes praised the Church's many worthwhile efforts, saying, "I admire all the good works you are involved with and hope we can be partners in many good things to come."

President Nathan Jarvis of the Olathe Kansas Stake, President Thomas Brailsford of the Kansas City Missouri Stake and President Kent Wood of the Independence Missouri Stake told the mayor about the Church's belief in strong families and presented her with a framed copy of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World."

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," attention Sarah Jane Weaver, P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84110. Fax number: (801) 237-2524. Internet E-mail: sarah@desnews.com.