Thousands throughout Mexico participated in a national day of service on Saturday, Dec. 7, engaging in activities to benefit communities such as painting a school, cleaning parks and collecting clothing and food for the homeless.
The day dedicated to serving others was supported by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who sought to invite everyone and their friends to shine the Light of Christ on others as part of the Church’s Light the World initiative during the Christmas season. There are more than 1.5 million Latter-day Saints who comprise over 1,800 congregations in Mexico, according to ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
In the days leading up to Dec. 7, the Church’s Mexico Area presidency — Elder Hugo Montoya, president; Elder Sean Douglas, first counselor; and Elder Moisés Villanueva, second counselor — designated the date as a national day of service and invited members to focus on radiating love and compassion through Christian service, becoming angels and sharing the “good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10).
“Our purpose is to reflect the light and love of the Savior in our country, so we invite everyone to experience and share the Light of Christ through service to our fellow men,” the Mexico Area presidency said in a news release on the Church’s Mexico Newsroom.
Members were instructed to find projects in their local areas using JustServe.org (sirveahora.org), wear yellow shirts or matching clothing for unity during the activity and follow up by sharing photos of their service afterward on social media using #NationalServiceDay. The main objective was to follow the example of Jesus Christ and impact lives through small acts of service.
Collaborating with local government leaders and civic organizations on the day of service, members and friends in the México City Tultitlán Stake visited two hospitals where they delivered food for relatives of hospitalized patients.
In Chihuahua, Querétaro, Coahuila and many other states, schools, migrant shelters and public squares were cleaned and painted to help beautify communities.
Members also invited friends and neighbors to attend Latter-day Saint Sunday worship services on Dec. 22 to celebrate Christmas and the birth of the Savior.
Mexico’s national day of service coincided with the Church’s global Light the World initiative, an annual campaign that invites all people, regardless of religion or culture, to participate in acts of service and kindness during the holiday season.
The Church collaborated with several charities and nonprofit organizations to place red Giving Machines in more than 100 locations on five continents, including Aragon, Cuernavaca, Pachuca, Puebla, Toluca and Tula in Mexico.
