Mormons donate to Human Development Ministry
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, better known as the Mormons, has long had a presence in Belize–usually in the form of young pink-faced missionaries who could be seen walking the mean streets of Belize City day or night. But as the church grows locally, its involvement with the community is also expanding… as News 5’s Jacqueline Woods learned this morning.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The items of educational materials, health kits, and clothing will help to alleviate the suffering some families experience because they simply cannot afford to provide their children with the basic needs. The donation, a gift from the Church of Latter Day Saints to the Ministry of Human Development, includes computers, educational books, hygiene, and newborn kits.
Elder Roger Haynes, Mission Secretary to Belize
?We have a humanitarian department in our church and we provide kits like these all over the world, and in addition to that, food items, or items that can help people in disasters. So for instance, when there was a tsunami in Southeast Asia, we provided a great amount of food and other products that could be used by the people of that area.?
In accepting the gifts, Minister Sylvia Flores says the occasion represents a growing and strengthening relationship between the church and state.
Sylvia Flores, Minister of Human Development
?Back in March of 2004, I ask my C.E.O. Miss Anita Zetina to establish a relationship with the churches. Well we started off forging this relationship with the major churches, the Catholic, the Methodist, and the Anglican, but as I indicated to her that we need to broaden that relationship. And often times even as we speak about the separation of church and state we have to recognise that we have a common constituency and that is people, that is humanity. That when we think about the whole idea of service we are trying to meet the basic needs of human kind, yes, but also to be able to deal with the other problems, the other issues in our society. That relationship is bearing fruit and I am happy to know that we will be forging one with the Church of Latter Day Saints to be able to address some of these needs.?
Institutions receiving some of the items include the Ministry of Education, the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired, and the Dorothy Menzies Child Care Centre. Foster Mother at the Children Care Centre, Hortence Reynolds says the eight computers they will receive will greatly assist the students residing at the home.
Hortence Reynolds, Foster Mother, Child Care Centre
?We are so grateful for these computers because right now I have three children that will be attending high school, I have another one that will be going to sixth form, and I have about three going in standard six, so I am really, really, appreciative of these computers. This will help me a great deal.?
In addition, the Ministry received a total of ninety bales of clothing, which will be distributed to needy families across the country. Jacqueline Woods for News Five.
The total value of the items is estimated at over one hundred and thirty-one thousand U.S. dollars. Last year, the Church of Latter Day Saints donated one hundred wheelchairs to the Ministry of Human Development.
