Sister Wright and Sister Craven Encourage Communities to Strengthen Families

"This is a remarkable experience for me and Sister Wright to see the love the parents certainly have for all of God's children," Sister Rebecca Craven, second counselor of the Young Women General Presidency, exclaimed during her message. With Sister Amy Wright, first counselor of the Primary General Presidency, they visited the Livelihood, Education, and Rehabilitation Center (LERC) on Wednesday, August 24, to witness the distribution of farm-ready seedlings to neighboring schools in the area.

Latter-day Saint Charities (LDSC) extended support to the Department of Agriculture to provide a sustainable food production and livelihood as well as nutrition to the local persons with disabilities (PWD) in the community. As a result, on June 13 of this year, LDSC successfully turned over a new state-of-the-art indoor vertical hydroponic garden.

Both general officers and their husbands were inspired by the different resources the center has to offer. LERC's Executive Director, Richard Arcenos, led a tour around the facility, where they saw the indoor and outdoor gardens, a greenhouse for raising seedlings, poultry and rabbit farms for egg and meat production, separate mini-libraries for children, and high school students, etc. "There is so much to be done here in the center, and we are looking forward to more projects and our partnership," Arcenos said during the tour.

"Our concern is not just for children or youth; it's for families. And so, we work together with communities around the world to strengthen families," Sister Craven emphasized the reason for their visit. Both women were fascinated by the PWD children who attend special classes in the center.

"When Latter-day Saint Charities reached out to us, we thought that they needed help from our department," Director Glenn Panganiban for Urban Agriculture recalled their first meeting with senior couple humanitarian missionaries, Elder and Sister Steve Leininger and Elder and Sister Dell Hill. "But it was the other way around. They came offering us help," he added.

"First and foremost, your love for your fellowmen and the goodness of your hearts is tangible. We can feel it, and it keeps coming out of my eyes. My heart is so full," Sister Wright shared during her closing message. "Thank you for all that you're doing to lift others. As we lift each other, we all rise together," she emphasized.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary for Regulations Zamzamin L. Ampatuan, CEO of Urban Greens Ralph Becker, and reigning beauty queen, Miss Aura International 2021 Alexandra Faith Garcia, who was also currently designated as Ambassador on Food Security, graced the affair.

Jairus Perez, LDSC Country Manager, Abenir Pajaro, Area Welfare Manager, Director of Temporal Affairs, Eduardo Fernando, and senior couple humanitarian missionaries, Elder and Sister Leininger, were also in attendance.