We had visitors this week: Steve Bulpitt from Salt Lake City (Welfare & Self Reliance Consultant for Mexico and all South America except Brazil), and Jorge Romeu from Buenos Aires (Area Welfare and Self-Reliance Manager for the South American South Area). After over a year of Zoom calls, we were happy to meet them in person and learn from them this week.
SIX & SIX
We visited six Bishops’ Storehouses in three different cities. Each bishop (local congregation leader) in our church has the responsibility to care for the poor and needy within the boundaries of his ward (congregation). One resource available to accomplish this task is the bishops’ storehouse—a place where those in need can go to obtain food and other supplies at the recommendation of their bishop. The storehouse is filled with commodities provided by fast offerings and other generous donations from members. Food and supplies from the bishops’ storehouse can also be sent to those affected by natural disasters, wars, or economic crises at a moment’s notice. Faithful missionaries and other volunteers serve weekly in these facilities.
We made six follow-up visits to some of our humanitarian projects and practiced using a new tool called MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning) that will help us implement best-demonstrated practices in our humanitarian work.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY STOPS
We were invited to an exhibition for a project from last year. In this project, some of the items our church provided were barber chairs and hair clippers. This organization feeds the homeless lunch seven days a week and can now offer haircuts to those in need. This skill is also taught to community members so they can find employment.
We share a note we received from the leader of this volunteer organization. “I want to tell you that thanks to you we will be able to fulfill a long-awaited dream, to be able to better serve the community. We have been authorized to make a solidarity hairdresser, who can attend to whoever needs it every day. The parish provided us with a room that was remodeled with everything necessary for their care.
We are very happy to be able to have a decent space to attend to our brothers. Everything delivered by you has borne great fruit.”
They served us lunch and then we did some Christmas shopping from the beautiful items that were made by these ladies.
Sewing and baking skills are taught to community members weekly by these wonderful volunteers to help increase self-sufficiency in their community.
The Paez (he is the Stake President in the area) family invited us to their home after the celebration. They served a typical Chilean drink made from the Chirimoya fruit mixed with orange juice. It was delicious.
Serendipitously Alondra Friz, Director of Public Affairs in Concepción, and her Husband Eduardo were at our ward sacrament meeting today, so we invited them to lunch before they flew home.
CHRISTMAS CHEER
The Christmas season is a time to celebrate the Savior’s birth by sharing His light as we help others. May you find joy this season as you do so- the world needs your light!
Abrazos, Élder y Hermana Lamb, (aka Ed & Debbie, Mom & Dad, Pop Pop & Tu Tu)
Lambs in Central Europe 