Russell and Eileen's Church Missions: HELPING HANDS IN PORTUGAL

Almost all of the humanitarian projects the Church is involved with in Europe are located in area’s which are less economically developed. However, natural disasters are no respecters of wealth and its victims no less needy. This last week I (Russell) finished doing the “paper-work” on a project in Portugal. Since we have no Welfare/Humanitarian missionaries serving there the responsibility fell to me to write the project up and coordinate its funding. Although based in tragedy the events provided me a wonderful opportunity to work with Elder Joaquim Moreira, an Area Seventy and presiding Church authority in the country, and to witness the generosity, service and love of the Portuguese Church members for their fellow countrymen.

In the latter half of June forest fires swept through a large area of Portugal. In just a few days over 60 people died and hundreds were hospitalized with injuries. Many of those who died did so while in their cars as they tried to flee the area.

The Church’s relief efforts started with members in one stake gathering first-aid kits to be sent to those affected but then expanded. Elder Moreira met with local political leaders and hospital officials to determine what the Church could do to help. Wheelchairs to help transport the patients and medical supplies that the hospitals could send home with the burn victims were requested and supplied by the Church. Also requested were people to triage the large amount of materials donated by the Portuguese people to the affected local population. Leaders from several Church stakes gathered 55 young single adults to perform this task.

The Church’s efforts were recognized by the Mayor of Pedrograo Grande and Republic President de Sousa in addition to those directly affected by the fires. One expression of this feeling of appreciation for the Church’s efforts was demonstrated by a local business. I was trying to track down the project’s expenditures and was missing the rental fee for the vans the Church used to deliver the donated materials. I was told that when the rental company found out what the vans were being used for they would not accept payment for their rental or fuel used. It is interesting how in times of need the spirit of service and charity can be contagious.

President de Sousa of Portugal with his hand on a "Helping Hands" Church volunteer

Equipment and vehicles burned by fire

Wheelchairs and other supplies donated for those injured in the fire

Organizing donated goods

Forest fire

Monday evening we had our monthly senior missionary devotional with Brother Armin Cziesla speaking. Armin is the father of our stake president. The title of his talk was German Saints after World War II. Brother Cziesla grew up about 400 km east of Berlin in Prussia. His mother joined the LDS church in 1925, however her children did not. After the war as the Russian troops occupied his hometown, he and his family were refugees. Eventually they relocated to western Germany, where he joined the church. He served as temple president of the Frankfurt Temple from 2001-2004. Brother Cziesla bore a fervent testimony of how grateful he was for the kindnesses which the Lord has shown him throughout his life.

Saturday morning the senior missionaries along with a few employees participated in a 5k race to celebrate pioneer day. Some of the seniors walked, others ran. Russell ran, while I (Eileen) did a walk/run combo. Afterwards Russell, Sister Keyser and I went on a 33 km bike ride. We felt like we were truly blessed to have returned home safely with our bikes intact. While on the ride, Sister Keyser accidentally ran over a glass bottle on the bike trail. The glass then shot into Russell’s tire. Fortunately we were able to continue the ride without any flat tires. It would have been a long walk home.

Saturday afternoon I (Eileen) played the piano for a baptism. The 8 year girl who was baptized is trilingual. Her mother is Russian, her father is German, and the family attends the English speaking ward. All the talks were translated so that everyone that spoke either German or English could understand. After the baptism, Anouk jumped into her father’s arms with a huge smile on her face. He held her up and she waved to those watching the ordinance. The bishop later spoke of how her father was representing Jesus Christ as he performed the baptism. Just as her father gave her a huge hug and was happy she had taken this step, so too would Jesus be happy. By the time we are released from this mission we will have missed 3 of our grandchildren’s baptisms. We are grateful for each child’s decision to be baptized and hope that our other grandchildren will also choose to be baptized.