A chicken project conducted here by a missionary couple, Elder Maxwell and Sister Joyce Skilling of Bend, Ore., has proven successful. The project was started in 1992 and completed this year.
In the project, Elder Skilling built a cage, bought 12-day old chicks and fed them rice and mash. The chicks quickly matured and the missionaries soon were giving away eggs and chickens."This could provide another source of food," said Sister Skilling. "Chickens grow amazingly fast and can be put out to scavenge for themselves, so feeding isn't much of a problem."
Brazil Area Volunteers paint school
JUIZ DE FORA, BRAZIL
For the past six months, members of the Juiz de Fora District devoted their Saturday mornings to painting a local school house. The paint was supplied by the Juiz de Fora City Council.
"These members felt uplifted by that exercise of charity," said Demar Stanicia, Brazil public affairs director.
Juiz de Fora is located in the state of Minas Gerais, about 100 miles north of Rio de Janeiro. North America Northwest Area Library receives donation
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - A collection of doctrinal books, including the scriptures, were donated to the Z. L. Loussac Library here by Elders Craig Flinders and Dustin Franco. The missionaries, serving in the Alaska Anchorage Mission, also donated various language copies of the Book of Mormon to be available for ethnic residents of this city. North America Northeast Area Milestone center completed
MONTREAL, QUEBEC - Completion of the first stake center for French-speaking Latter-day Saints in North America has been observed with a successful open house.
The new center will serve the Montreal Quebec Stake, which consists of five French-speaking wards, two Spanish-speaking wards, and five French-speaking branches.
During the open house, visitors were taken through the building and saw exhibits in various classrooms, and to the cultural hall where five missionary booths were located, staffed by missionaries who answered questions about the Church.
"The building is a testament to the faith and devotion of the saints here inQuebec," said Elder Jonathan Stathis, public communications director for the Canada Montreal Mission. "The Church has struggled here to make inroads among the predominantly French-speaking population of Quebec, but the Church has always looked forward with an eye of faith." North America Southwest Area Youths `redeem a parish'
CARSON CITY, NEV. - Some 44 youth in the Carson Valley 2nd Ward worked tirelessly to copy 704 names from the birth records of an Irish parish. The names were then entered into the Personal Ancestral File program and submitted to the Oakland Temple.
After the names were checked and submitted to the temple by Joyce Amdal, ward family history consultant, and Glen Larson, high priests group leader, the youth were baptized for those whose names they had extracted. Other ward members completed the endowment work for the parish.
Bishop David Johnson said he was extremely pleased with the response from members of the ward. North America Southeast Area Theme: improve quality of life LAWTON, OKLA. - Making the quality of life better was the theme of the recent Family Preparedness Fair, sponsored by the Lawton Oklahoma Stake Relief Society.
Participating in the fair were the Lawton Police Department Crime Prevention Unit and the local chapter of "Crime Stoppers." They sponsored the Ident-A-Kid Booth, which photographed children, measured height and weight, and combined the photo and information on a laminated identification card to be used should the need ever arise for a description of the children.
Local stake members provided a display and information on a 72-hour survival kit and a display on comprehensive reading. Missionaries offered those who attended copies of the Book of Mormon, audio tapes and photo prints of the Savior. North America West Area Spanish conference draws 2,000
OAKLAND, CALIF. - Some 2,000 Spanish-speaking members from the greater San Francisco Bay area met at the first Spanish language conference recently. The area president, Elder John H. Groberg of the Seventy, presided over the day-and-a-half meet that offered both spiritual and social benefits.
Included in the conference were a tour of the new visitors center at the Oakland Temple on May 1, two Spanish-language temple sessions, a dinner, a cultural evening with entertainment representing Mexico and South America, and a dance. On May 2 a general meeting was held with the Book of Mormon as a theme.
At the conference, Elder Groberg encouraged members to learn English so they could take advantage of future opportunities, and to retain the Spanish language and culture of their countries.
"I am impressed by the great spirit of love and testimony that is felt at this meeting today," he said. Utah Central Area Seminary building replaced
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - The Church's first seminary building, a small frame structure erected in 1912, was demolished in mid-April and will be replaced by a more modern building this summer.
The small frame building, which was just to the west of Granite High School in Salt Lake City, originally had two classrooms. Through the years, at least two additions were built on the structure. According to officials, the original building no longer passed fire inspection, was too small and was inefficient to heat.
The Church's first seminary was started by the Salt Lake Granite Stake in 1912, and was first housed in the stake tabernacle. The weekday religious education program for youth soon grew more popular and a building was constructed near the high school.
A larger brick seminary building is to be constructed on the site by the time school starts next fall. Utah North Area 150th year of trail noted
ROCK SPRINGS, WYO. - Primary children in the Rock Springs 1st Ward recently learned more about the Oregon Trail that passes through the Rock Springs Wyoming Stake. They helped commemorate the trail's 150th anniversary by dressing in pioneer clothing, and experiencing a mock trek across the barren Wyoming territory. The "trek" was set up in the cultural hall of the ward meetinghouse, where the children visited areas representing Independence Rock, Devil's Gate, Sweetwater River, and South Pass, or the continental divide. They carried dried fruit slices and jerky, and heard about events that happened to pioneers at each place. Some had mock accidents - and arms in slings - to remind them of the accidents of pioneers.
"The quarterly activity encouraged children to interact with each other and join in wholesome fun," said Rosemary G. Palmer, Primary president. "At the same time, they experienced in a small way the historic past of the Church and their country in mid-19th century America."
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.
