The Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has invited members and friends of the Church to make extra efforts to serve in their communities during February “Come and Help” month.
In South Australia, members of the Onkaparinga and Happy Valley congregations chose to serve at The Stables Christian Centre at Huntfield Heights.
- Volunteers-sorting-and-recycling-at-The-Stables-Christian-Centre
- Volunteers-serving-at-The-Stables-Christian-Centre
- Volunteers-sorting-goods-for-The-Stables-Christian-Centre
- Cleaning-and-sorting-for-The-Stables-Christian-Centre
- Volunteers-sort-medical-equipment-for-The-Stables-Christian-Centre
- Volunteers-help-clean-up-at-The-Stables-Chrstian-Centre
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
The volunteers dismantled two large sheds and numerous old tables and desks, and sorted items for rubbish removal and recycling. Many overgrown trees and bushes were chain-sawed, the large woodpile was tidied up, and flooring and furniture were rearranged to be undercover.
They also cleaned medical equipment donated by hospitals and packed it in a container to be sent overseas. Desks, tables, and other usable furniture donated by schools, were cleaned up to be either sent overseas or sold in their “Op shop”—a store to raise funds for shipping containers to Africa, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu.
Lynne Hoet, co-founder of The Stables with her husband, Pastor Sonny, shared the history and mission of the Centre with the volunteers.
The couple saw a need to provide a facility that would bring people together to develop strong families through skill training programs aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty.
They purchased the 37-acre property in 1993, renovated the horse stables, and held church for six years in the building. The current building opened in 2000. After Sonny’s stroke in 2016, running the property and programs has become more and more difficult.
“We appreciate that your church has joined us in this clean-up,” Lynne said, “as the work is quite extensive. We are well on the way to restoring the site so that we can invite families, vulnerable people and people with disabilities to enjoy our unique property that we see as the Lord's place and a place of blessing.”
The morning was a great success, providing needed service and accomplishing much more than was expected.