Africa Area
Stake promotes self-help
ABA, NIGERIA - Helping families cope with inflation and other economic challenges, the Aba Nigeria Stake Relief Society sponsored a self-help exhibition for members and non-members.
Hellen Madumere, stake Relief Society president, instructed stake members to make the most of local resources rather than looking to outside sources for help. The women in rural areas of the stake learned to make soups, salads and soya bean meals, while those living in the cities learned to make soaps, furniture polish and clothing, said Loveday Nwankpa, director of public afairs of the Aba stake.
Stake Pres. Federick Ihesiene congratulated the women on their achievements and noted that "providing materially for our families is a step toward serving God, for this is a divinely charged responsibility."
Asia North Area
1,000 attend singles gathering
YOUNG DONG, KOREA - The Korea-wide Young Single Adult conference, which drew 200 participants the first time it was held in 1976, had more than 1,000 participants this year from 16 stakes and three districts. The conference was held in the remote rural area of Young Dong, about 150 miles south of Seoul.
Elder Merrill J. Bateman of the Seventy presided over the conference three days after assuming his new duties as president of the Asia North Area.
The purposes of the conference were to share love, build friendships, enforce faith, and build leadership qualities. There were seminars and workshops to help fulfill those purposes.
The single adults adopted the pioneer handcart as the conference's symbol. They presented a play entitled "Wagon Trail to the West." The play depicted the history of the early Saints' afflictions, sacrifices, faith, testimony and leadership.
North America Central Area
Rains stop, runners start
CAMERON, MO. - Early morning rains over northern Missouri recently subsided just in time for members of the Liberty Missouri Stake and area non-members to run the Far West Classic, hosted by the Cameron Ward.
The annual event consists of a 10K, 5K and a one-mile fun run, with the finish line of each at the historic Far West temple site in Caldwell County, according to Ed Autry, ward director of public affairs.
Bishop C. S. Claybrook created the Far West Classic to promote physical fitness among ward members and to keep Church historical events at Far West in focus, according to Brother Autry.
Bishop Claybrook said: "It's an opportunity for members and non-members alike to have a good time, fellowship and to compete. We think as more people discover the Classic, members from across the United States will join us at Far West each year."
North America Northeast Area
350 attend conference
ADRIAN, MICH. - A recent singles conference in Michigan was attended by 350 people, ages 25-80, from eight stakes. The keynote speaker was ex-Michigan governor and one-time presidential candidate, George Romney. Seven stake presidents spoke during a Sunday sacrament meeting.
North America Southwest Area
Youth tract with missionaries
ALLEN, TEXAS - Priests and Laurels in the Allen (Texas) 2nd Ward recently spent two days working with full-time missionaries. The effort involved 100 percent of the priests and Laurels in the ward.
The youth began with a breakfast, after which they were instructed in missionary work by watching the video, "Called to Serve," and practiced the first missionary lesson.
Afterward, the youth and their full-time missionary companions went to outlying neighborhoods and tracted. In the evening, they returned to teach lessons to those they had contacted or they continued tracting.
On the second day, the youth and missionaries took part in a public service project and pulled weeds at the local high school, helped a family move, worked for a thrift clothing shop, and visited a nursing home.
"I've had so much fun," said Rachel Ryan, a Laurel. She explained that one contact wasn't interested, but "he started to soften up and he took a Book of Mormon. Then Sister [Tamara Lynne] Misner [the full-time missionary she was working with] said, Let's sing you a song.' We sang,I am a Child of God,' and while we were singing, I looked into his eyes. I could feel the Spirit, and it felt so good to be able to share something that I love so much with someone."
Several people contacted during the effort were later baptized, said Michael H. Teig, ward mission leader and organizer of the effort.
North America Southeast Area
Children preparing for temple
GOLDSBORO, N.C. - Children of the Goldsboro (N.C.) 2nd Ward dressed in white as they presented their annual Primary sacrament meeting Sept. 26, "to show how much we love Heavenly Father and Jesus, and that we are really preparing for the temple," said Tencha Wilcox, Primary president.
"Even though our Primary is small with 35 children, we want to keep the commandments as we strive to share the gospel with everyone, too."
North America West Area
Interfaith women gather
YORBA LINDA, CALIF. - A women's interfaith activity that included a dinner and speaker attracted more than 250 women from 13 various congregations to the Anaheim California East Stake center Oct. 21.
The goal of the evening was to promote unity by focusing on the combined faith of the women, said Annette Copier Klassen, stake director of public affairs.
"We will continue to reach out to members of churches who were not represented and hope that they will join us in planning and participating in future events," said Kathleen Julian of the Yorba Linda Presbyterian Church.
Keynote speaker at the event was Bonnie Roselle of the Brea 1st Ward, who encouraged the women to value themselves, reach out to others with love and faith, "knowing that we are not alone, that God is always with us."
Utah South Area
Building model is `sweet work'
HUNTINGTON, UTAH - Children in the Huntington 1st and 5th wards built a temple with good deeds and sugar cubes. The youngsters performed service or good deeds recently lto earn a sugar cube, and after a sufficient number of cubes were earned, the cubes were used to construct a model of the Manti Temple.
The finished model was presented Oct. 10 to temple Pres. Garth P. Monson, who displayed it with a short description of the service involved in its creation. Some of the tasks done by the children included visiting the sick, fixing breakfast, tending younger children, or doing chores for their parents.
The temple is made up of 2,001 cubes and was assembled by Eldon Holmes, a local member.
"The children responded enthusiastically," said Michelle Holmes, counselor in the Huntington 1st Ward Primary presidency. "They gained a deeper understanding of the temple, as well as the joy of service by doing good turns."
