(Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Apia Samoa Central Stake during their “Come and Help” community clean up last month. Photo: Apia Samoa Central Stake
MEDIA RELEASE) – Schools and villages in the Motootua, Vaimoso and Alafua areas were the beneficiaries of the ‘Come and Help’ initiative, a community service project spearheaded by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Eleven wards that form the Apia Samoa Central Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ conducted the annual clean-up in late February.
“Come and Help is an Area Initiative where we ask our communities to come together and help do service. No matter what religion, we are all one in Christ and coming together brings unity, love and focus on the Savior,” said President of Apia Samoa Central Stake Muagututia H. Jason Joseph.
“This is what the Savior did when He was on the earth. He served others, brought light to the darkness, and bought joy to people. He lifted others up and cared for the less fortunate. So, this year we were able to collaborate with communities to clean up the roadside areas and beautify the villages. Some cleaned up the schools and other gathering places for the public.”
Motootua 1st led a clean-up at Tanugamanono School to prepare the campus for the new school year that started on 6 February, 2023.
Pesega 2nd Ward lent a helping hand at St Mary’s College, the girls only Catholic School in Vaimoso.
Other groups, or Wards, cleared public footpaths, the roadside areas and drainage ditches in their respective villages.
“Eleven units in the Stake all worked within their own geographical boundaries, so from boundary to boundary we covered the whole Stake,” President Muagututia said.
“It’s our Stake’s project, and this community project that involves the community happens every February. This is in addition to our own service projects that take place throughout the year. As King Benjamin said: when we are in the service of our fellow beings we are only in the service of God.”
Church members of all ages from 11 Wards – Vailima, Malololelei, Motootua 1st, Motootua 2nd, Alamagoto, Vaimoso, Mt Vaea, Pesega 2nd, Alafua, Moamoa and Vaoala – took part in the mass clean-up on Saturday, 25 February 2023.
February is designated by the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ as ‘Come and Help Month.’
Latter-day Saints are encouraged to gather and invite their friends to find a community in need and to do something to help, in the month of February.
