Africa Area
Leader's family serves
OSHODI, NIGERIA - Pres. Joseph K. Owusu of the Lagos 7th Branch and his family have set an example in keeping the meetinghouse clean and serving others. He and his wife and small children cleaned the meetinghouse as a service project, then he invited others to do likewise.
"It is always a wonderful feeling being in the Lord's service," said Pres. Owusu.
Charles K. Ajeigbe, stake public affairs director, commented, "Parents in the Lagos Nigeria Stake are eagerly finding more ways of teaching their children about service in the Church. And it is yielding a lot of blessings."
Philippines/Micronesia Area
Helping the jobless
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Church's employment system here has expanded to help members who lost jobs after factory shutdowns in the wake of frequent, critical power shortages.
The employment system is under the direction of Elder Duane and Sister Jean Christensen, Philippines Area employment services coordinators. Under their leadership, nine stakes established local employment networks, promoted home livelihood projects, and held career development and educational counseling seminars.
Elder Christensen said during the first five months of 1993 the special effort, called "Operation Blitz," helped establish the networks, projects and seminars.
Each of nine stakes involved in the effort were to establish a model home livelihood project so members could learn ways to enhance incomes.
Career guidance was also emphasized to help graduating high school and college seniors choose a career that would lead to future opportunities instead of unemployment, as has often been the case.
And working together was emphasized because "the Church Employment System is based upon the simple Christlike principle of people caring for and helping each other," said Brother Christensen.
Brazil Area
Service project at orphanage
PARAIBA, BRAZIL - Young Women from the Joao Pessoa Brazil Stake found appreciation and friendship during a recent service project at the Dom Ulrico Orphanage in the city of Joao Pessoa.
The young women spent time with the orphans, giving them love, tenderness and attention, said Demar Stanicia, Brazil Area director of public affairs.
"It was an unforgettable day for the young women, and the orphanage didn't seem to be the same after the visit of dozens of young women," he said.
North America Central Area
Books, testimonies shared
CHAMPAIGN, ILL. - Members of the Champaign 2nd Ward, Champaign Illinois Stake, teamed up with stake and full-time missionaries in an effort to share copies of the Book of Mormon with their friends and families.
"Give a Gift to the Lord" was the missionary motto, and during the effort ward members gave away 53 copies of the Book of Mormon. Stake and full-time missionaries passed out copies of the Book of Mormon in Primary, Young Women, priesthood meeting and Relief Society to share with non-member friends. Connie Richardson, public relations specialist, said all members of the ward were given the opportunity to receive a copy of the book to share.
Kyle Thorpe of the Primary set the pace when he gave away his copy to a friend during the first week of the monthlong effort. While sharing his experience and testimony during a sacrament meeting, he said, "I prayed about who I should give it to and I felt like she was the one." Brad Weber, a new convert of two months, gave five copies to friends.
North America Northwest Area
Quilts, books, toys donated
LEBANON, ORE. - In a project that started with the Relief Society's sesquicentennial in 1992, the Lebanon Oregon Stake has contributed 193 quilts, 130 bags filled with supplies donated by local merchants, 200 children's books and many soft toys to the Linn County Children's Services agency. The items will assist children receiving foster care.
The stake received a grant from a local Meyer Memorial Trust for the materials, and the five wards and two branches donated the labor, said Lurlyn Eriksen, homemaking councilor in the stake Relief Society presidency.
One of the quilts had a detailed "Noah's Ark" theme and was made with 12 people in an assembly-line of cutting, sewing, appliqueing and tying.
"Even the priesthood participated in this joint effort of showing love to the children in foster care, from babies through 18-year-olds, here in Oregon," said Sister Eriksen.
North America Northeast Area
Youth help build homes
FREDERICK, MD. - Nearly 200 youth from the Frederick Maryland Stake recently helped construct two houses during two days as part of their recent stake youth conference. Cooperating with Habitat for Humanity, a national charitable agency, the youth completed about 75 percent of the construction of the homes for disadvantaged families. The youth and leaders provided labor and building expertise while the agency provided materials. Later, at a youth conference testimony meeting, it was apparent that the youth took the project to heart and were aware that they were building homes for families, not just houses.
North America Southwest Area
Play portrays early leader
ST. JOHNS, ARIZ. - An original pioneer musical production, "Take Me Home," depicting the story of Jedediah M. Grant crossing the plains, was presented by the St. John's Arizona Stake recently.
In the production, authentic covered wagons and a handcart were used as props. Shown as background were slides of locations along the Mormon Pioneer Trail.
Original music by LDS composer Wanda West Palmer was performed by a 60-voice choir. More than 1,200 people attended the one-night performance that will be repeated next year, according to Joey and LaKay Grant, who wrote the script. Brother Grant is a great-great-grandson of Jedediah M. Grant, who was the father of President Heber J. Grant, and who was serving in the First Presidency when he died in 1856 at age 40.
Utah South Area
Early settlement remembered
HARRISBURG, UTAH - An informational marker has been placed at a small settlement along Quail Creek, some 12 miles northeast of St. George, founded by 25 families under the leadership of Moses Harris in 1859.
In a ceremony, a marker was placed at the settlement site by the Washington County Daughters of the Utah Pioneers with Verdella Adams as coordinator. Although only two families now live in what was Harrisburg, the original settlement survived for more than 50 years until upstream developments diverted essential water elsewhere. The community also suffered following the grasshopper infestation of 1869. At its peak, Harrisburg had 30 homes surrounded by vineyards, orchards and farms in the little valley along the creek. A small cemetery ringed by a wrought-iron fence, and a few stone houses remain at the site. The Sons of the Utah Pioneers helped erect the informational marker.
