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Church sends aid to Sonora, Mexico, after flooding

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated water and supplies to people affected by recent heavy rains and flash flooding

12 Sept 2022, 4:18 p.m. MDT

Hundreds of packages with cleaning supplies delivered on Aug. 31, 2022 to help families in Sonora, Mexico, affected by the heavy rains. — Hundreds of packages with cleaning supplies delivered on Aug. 31, 2022, to help families in Sonora, Mexico, affected by the heavy rains. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Mary Richards is a reporter for the Church News

More than 3,000 people affected by flooding in the northern Mexican state of Sonora have received new help from the Church.

Heavy rains caused flash flooding in the area in mid-August. Streets became rivers of water, toppling cars and flooding homes in the municipalities of Guaymas and Empalme. A 17-year-old-boy drowned, reported the Church’s Mexico Newsroom.

The Church worked with DIF Sonora, which is part of Mexico’s National System for Integral Family Development, to deliver cleaning kits, food items, water bottles and sleeping mats to people in need.

The donation took place Aug. 31 at the DIF Sonora offices in Hermosillo, the state capital.

Food supplies and food kits from Latter-day Saint Charities in Sonora, Mexico — The Church donated hundreds of food kits to support those affected by the floods in Sonora, Mexico. Pictured Aug. 31, 2022. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

‘I know your church’

Earlier in the month, several local Church leaders met with the governor of Sonora, Alfonso Durazo, at a chapel in Hermosillo.

“I know your church,” Durazo said, speaking of the humanitarian and service work of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “I know that they are very organized and always willing to help and serve in the community.”

At the Aug. 14 meeting were Elder Hugo Montoya, General Authority Seventy and president of the Church’s Mexico Area; Elder Gregorio Casillas, an Area Seventy; the president and matron of the Hermosillo Sonora Mexico Temple, President Alfonso Arturo Rodríguez Ibañez, and his wife, Sister Celia Langarica Sánchez de Rodríguez; the leaders of the Mexico Hermosillo Mission, President Luis G. Zapata and Sister Purisima Neira de Zapata; and five stake presidents and six district presidents from the region.

Alfonso Durazo, governor of Sonora, Mexico, meets with Church leaders including Elder Hugo Montoya — The governor of the state of Sonora, Mexico, Alfonso Durazo, front row center in white shirt, meets with local Church leaders including Elder Hugo Montoya, General Authority Seventy and president of the Church’s Mexico Area, on Durazo’s left, in Hermosillo, Mexico, on Aug. 14, 2022. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Elder Montoya highlighted some recent humanitarian aid initiatives in the state by the Church, such as aid to migrants and a recent donation of wheelchairs to the state DIF, reported a release on the Church’s Mexico Newsroom.

“We teach our members about the Savior Jesus Christ and invite them to follow his teachings, including the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves,” Elder Montoya said, “which is why the Church seeks to help people with needs, through its humanitarian program and through fast offerings.”

Elder Montoya also presented a copy of the Book of Mormon and a statue of Christ to Durazo.

The governor said when social organizations join with the government to meet the needs of society, the results are more evident. He opened the door to continue doing more projects in the future that benefit Sonorans.