News

Jun 01, 2023

Church donations in Guatemala and Honduras

Recent humanitarian efforts in Guatemala and Honduras show love for neighbors

Recent humanitarian efforts in Guatemala and Honduras show love for neighbors

School directors, parent organizations and local Church leaders attend an official donation event of school furniture in Santa María Cahabón, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, on April 21, 2023

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Recent humanitarian efforts in Guatemala and Honduras show love for neighbors

School directors, parent organizations and local Church leaders attend an official donation event of school furniture in Santa María Cahabón, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, on April 21, 2023

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints strives to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ by giving of resources to help others.

Leaders and members in the Central America Area have been working over the last few months to serve their neighbors, citing Titus 3:8: "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men."

Wheelchair donations are a health effort that is a priority for the Church's Humanitarian Services in the Central America Area.

During the last four years, the Church and organizations in the area have worked together to help more than 2,000 wheelchair users.

Most recently, the Church donated 219 wheelchairs to the Fundación Teletón de Honduras on April 21 in San Pedro Sula. The wheelchairs will be distributed among the foundation's nine rehabilitation centers nationwide to help adults and children, explained the Church's Honduras Newsroom.

The Church also trained physiotherapists and technicians in the correct use of chairs at the various stages of the assessment, assembly and repair process, said a post from the Central America Area's Facebook page.

The foundation's director, Dr. Elizabeth Vinelli, expressed her thanks for the donation of the wheelchairs and said, "The fact of being able to count on more than 200 chairs of this type, to be able to support children who have even greater difficulties in getting around, is truly a blessing."

Satélite Honduras Stake President Carlos M. Medina Ardon explained that the joint effort with the foundation was made to bless the lives of the children of God, who knows their needs and loves them.

Meanwhile, hundreds of children and adults have benefited from 575 specialized wheelchairs and 189 canes, walkers and crutches given to Fundabiem Guatemala in January.

Fundabiem provides comprehensive habilitation and rehabilitation services in the country. The wheelchairs are adjusted to each person's needs and will help patients gain mobility and self-sufficiency, reported Guatemala Newsroom.

In addition to the donations, certified physiotherapists and a technician spent a few days training the Fundabiem professionals how to help each patient adapt to their model of wheelchair.

The Guatemala City San Cristóbal Stake presidency first counselor, President Edin A. Rosales Rodriguez, said these wheelchairs and devices will bless entire communities.

"For the Church, the family and [service to] others have always been a priority," Rosales said. "We know that with the training and knowledge that has been taught, they can share and develop it and thus serve others as Jesus Christ taught."

A physiotherapist with a patient and her new wheelchair in Guatemala, Jan. 27, 2023.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

More than 1,700 students at 19 schools now have new desks, chairs, tables and blackboards because of a donation by the Church. The Church donated the furniture for schools in communities of Santa Maria Cahabón, Alta Verapaz, on April 21.

Representatives of the Guatemalan Ministry of Education, parent organizations, directors, teachers and ecclesiastical leaders participated in an event marking the donation.

"We hope that this furniture is a blessing for the children and that it supports their educational formation so that they obtain a better future," said Chulac Guatemala Stake President Oswaldo Ico Maquin.

Other priorities include donating food to organizations that serve those in need, and donating supplies to health clinics and charitable groups. Church members also donate their time and labor to help others.

Earlier this year, members of the Satélite Stake donated food and personal items to Casa Hogar Luz in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Casa Hogar Luz is an organization that helps children with food, education, clothing and housing. The organization is maintained solely by donations.

In a report from Honduras Newsroom, Sharon Mayorquin, a member of the Church who accompanied the donations, said: "What a blessing it is to help other people and thus be more like my Savior Jesus Christ. I was able to learn two things: that we should be more grateful for what we have and show more love to people."

Members of the Satélite Honduras Stake donate goods and interact with children at Casa Hogar Luz in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on Feb. 25, 2023.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Another example of note came in December 2022, when members of the Church delivered supplies and equipment to the city of Gualán, in Zacapa, Guatemala, to benefit pregnant women at the municipal clinic.

The donation included ultrasound equipment, delivery care equipment, a baby scale, an automatic external defibrillator and more, reported Guatemala Newsroom.

Motagua Guatemala District President Byron A. Lainez Sasvin said it was a blessing to be able to contribute to preserving life and benefit thousands of mothers in the municipality and neighboring communities.

An employee at a municipal health clinic in Gualán, Guatemala, performs an ultrasound on a pregnant mother. The Church donated the machine and other supplies and equipment to the clinic on Dec. 8, 2022.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints