Mormon humanitarian efforts: $4 million in 2007 in 85 countries

The LDS Church has offered over $4 million in humanitarian aid in 85 countries around the world.  This article from a California newspaper covers this here.

"In Ethiopia, the Church helped communities access clean drinking water. The Church drilled wells and constructed storage tanks. Communities organized a water committee and dug the trenches needed to pipe the water from the storage tanks to each village. In some cases this was a distance of over 5 kilometers," said Bishop Burton.

For more info about the Church's humanitarian efforts, please visit here.

LDS Missionaries in Taichung, Taiwan help Mayor

The Mayor of Taichung, Taiwan, Mr. Jason Hu, has requested that the Mormon missionaries serving in his city assist in a city-wide translation service project.  As Taiwan is attracting more and more international business and investment, the need for good English is stronger.  The LDS Missionaries will help the city correct poor translations, etc.  

For more information, read this story from the LDS Newsroom.

I was in Taipei, Taiwan, last week and found many examples of "Engrish":

Mormon Helping Hands in New Zealand

According to the LDS newsroom, over 5,000 Church members volunteered across the island nation of New Zealand to clean and refurbish neighborhoods this past Saturday.

Volunteers in Auckland painted the Glenfield Presbyterian Church and Takapuna Girl Guide Hall, landscaped the Yendarra Kindergarten, and renovated the Hindu Heritage Trust property in Mangere.  Mormon volunteers cleaned, painted, organized, hauled, etc. to get their communities looking lovely.

The Church's Helping Hands program is active throughout the world, and started in Brazil.  The Brazilian program, "Mãos que Ajudam", has been highlighted in Brazilian national media several times.

(New Zealand Mormon trivia: The Church has a temple and a church school in New Zealand.)

Mormons volunteer to aid post-earthquake efforts

The February 21 earthquake in Wells, Nevada ranked stronger than 6.1 on the richter scale.  (even people in Salt Lake City felt the vibrations) As residents in that area are cleaning up and restoring structures, Mormon volunteers from throughout the region, including full-time missionaries, are helping the community.  This article from the Deseret News reports.

Mormon youth serve community in Sun City, California

LDS youth in the San Bernadino area offered a helping hand to local seniors.

Follow this link to read about the service project rendered.

LDS Humanitarian Services recognized in Argentina

Los Servicios Humanitarios de La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días fueron invitados especialmente por su contribución a la salud oftalmológica con donaciones a hospitales realizadas en el periodo del año 2007. El Sr. Ministro de Salud Dr. Ginés González García manifestó su agradecimiento a la participación de la Iglesia en su programa de Ayuda Humanitaria en todo el país.

Local officials of the LDS Church and of LDS humanitarian services were invited to attend an event to recognize the contributions of the Church in health care.