Annually, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes referred to as "Mormons") undertake a day of service throughout the South Pacific. In 2017 that day of service will be on October 28.
On that day, members of the Church are encouraged to join with friends and neighbours to perform needed service from Australia to Kiribati, and everywhere in between where members of the Church are located.
Some might ask: “Why are people willing to volunteer their time and effort to do these things?”
According to Elder O. Vincent Haleck, president of the Church’s Pacific Area, “We do it because we strive to follow the Saviour, Jesus Christ."
Last year grass was cut, the gymnasium and driveway were swept and the tyres in the flower beds were painted in Suva, Fiji, at the Hilton Special School for physically and intellectually handicapped children.
A basketball court was constructed in Vanuatu and clean-up and repairs were performed at the Ulei School in Efate, Papua New Guinea.
In Apia, Samoa, cemeteries, schools, rivers, hospitals, drains and roadsides were cleaned up, as were cemeteries and a primary school in the villages of Tokomololo, Halaloto and Makapaeo in Tonga.
Many other projects were completed all across the South Pacific and we expect similar results this year.
Yellow-vested Mormon Helping Hands volunteers can be seen all over the world assisting where help is needed. Recently they were seen in the Caribbean, Texas and Florida providing aid to those hurricane-ravaged areas.
If you look for them, perhaps you will see them in your area on October 28. Friends from other faiths are welcome to join in.