At the request of Brazil's Ministry of Sports, around 1,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil are volunteering their time to help Brazil host the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Mormons and their friends—those18 years old and older—are taking part in Brazil Volunteer, the volunteer force behind this year's World Cup and other events such as the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. They’re trained to receive visitors at airports and work at tourist sites and other popular locations during the World Cup, which lasts from June 12 through July 13.
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In 2013, Sarah Menezes, then national coordinator for Brazil Volunteer, worked with MHH volunteers during the Confederations Cup and was impressed by their service. “[Mormon] Helping Hands volunteers are the most organized and dedicated,” she said. “We need you at the Cup."
As a result, representatives of Brazil's Ministry of Sports approached the Church about providing volunteers for the 2014 World Cup.
The Mormon Helping Hands program of the Church, carried out in many parts of the world, reflects the desire of Latter-day Saints to follow the example of Jesus Christ by serving others.
From Brazil to the Philippines
In the Philippines, Mormon Helping Hands volunteers recently marked their calendars yellow on April 26 as they held a National Day Service.
One of several places where members actively took part in the Day of Service was in Bacolod City.
Armed with the passion to serve, the three stakes (dioceses) of Bacolod City joined forces to build communal toilets for Sitio Magsungay, a coastal community where two out of ten households do not have toilets. The comfort rooms were erected particularly in Purok Sigay, Purok Sisi and Purok 6 of Sitio Magsungay.
On the same day as the turning over of comfort rooms, around 1,050 members and 70 full-time missionaries donated 3,360 man-hours cleaning the grounds and classrooms of the Bacolod Singcang-Airport Elementary and High Schools. They also conducted feeding programs to more than 200 school children, held health and sanitation seminars to mothers, and conducted beauty workshops. Eleven medical doctors also conducted medical treatments to beneficiaries.
Barangay Captain Rosinie Distrito and his councilors, and several city council members attended the opening ceremony. City Vice-Mayor Greg G. Gasataya cited the title of the opening hymn, “Put Your shoulder to the Wheel”, as the theme of his talk.
He noted, “Let us do our respective share in making the environment clean. Let us put our shoulder to the wheel and make a difference in our community.”
Bacolod City Mayor Monico O. Puentevella came during the closing ceremony and expressed appreciation for the service rendered by the Mormon Helping Hands.
Barangay Captain Distrito remarked, “This is not the first time The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to serve in my barangay. However, this time around, you did not only come here in full force but you also gave us three comfort rooms.”
Dr. Marshall Lindayao, school principal of Bacolod Singcang-Airport Elementary school said, “Our Brigada Eskwela is still next week but the grounds and classrooms are already clean!” Ornamental plants and paints were also donated to help beautify the school grounds.
Marissa Benedicto, a resident of the barangay who got free haircut and had her nails done exclaimed, “Thank you very much for making me beautiful!” Hygiene kits were also given to mothers.
More than 200 school children were not only fed but were also treated to story-telling sessions and were taught proper hygiene and how to stay healthy. Later, a Jollibee mascot arrived to the children’s delight.
The three stakes also spearheaded the “Basura ko, Bugas ko” program which aimed to help locales appreciate the importance of cleaning their environment. Prior to the National Day of Service, 5 sacks of rice were donated by generous members. These were repacked to 5-kilos per pack in exchange for every 10 sacks of garbage collected.
Rossen Bon Escobar, a member of the Bacolod Stake presidency, recapped the day’s events by saying, “More than the experience of extending service to others, the desire to serve should come from within. Nothing is impossible if everybody will work together.”
Friends and partners of the Mormon Helping Hands who contributed to the service day efforts included the Philippine College of Surgeons and Philippine Society of Anesthesiologists, Negros Occidental Chapters, who also donated funds to buy materials for two of the three toilets; the West Visayas Medical Alumni Association, Negros Occidental Chapter; radio partners 105.5 Easy Rock, 91.9 Love Radio, Aksyon Radyo, Bombo Radyo; Mahogany Lumber; Unilab; Davies Paint; and Seagulls Rescue Team.
Over the years, Mormon Helping Hands volunteers in Brazil and in the Philippines have cleaned city parks, refurbished public schools, assembled and donated materials for newborn baby kits, repacked food and hygiene kits during times of disasters, and provided other service in their various communities.
