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Bro. George Kenneth Lee, LDS Charities Project Manager,
left and Pres. Robert Sherwin Betita, District President
right, directing the repacking of relief goods |
After the devastating 6.7 magnitude earthquake that walloped Surigao City and the province of Surigao del Norte the LATTER-DAY SAINT (LDS) CHARITIES, the arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints humanitarian efforts is acting in haste to procure food kits, hygiene kits and temporary shelter packs for earthquake victims as part of its emergency response for the victims. Bro. G. Kenneth Lee, welfare Project Manager of LDS Charities, arrived in Surigao City immediately on the following day after the ill-fated tragedy of February 10, 2017. He was here to immediately assist the earthquake victims and temporarily relieve the sufferings of some of the families in the affected communities and to establish a linkage with the Provincial Government for the distribution of the packed relief items in accordance with their assessment.
Brother Lee explained that the resources being used are donations from members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints throughout the world. The kits were procured from Butuan City and delivered at the Church’s meetinghouse in Narciso Street, Surigao City. Packing was done by the MORMON HELPING HANDS volunteers who are members of the church.
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| The Mormon Helping Hands Volunteers |
Each pack contains 5 kilos of first class rice, 5 cans corned beef, five pieces noodles, 3 pieces body soap, 1 piece detergent bar, 4 pieces toothbrush, 3 pieces toothpaste twin packs, 4 meters trapal, 1 blanket, 1 mosquito net and 1 water container. The relief packs totaling 800 were distributed to the Municipalities of Mainit---130 packs and Sison---520 packs in accordance with the directive of the Provincial Government. The rest will be distributed under the inspiration of the local Priesthood leaders. Distribution was done by Brother Lee himself and the Mormon Helping Hands volunteers through the assistance of the Provincial Social Services Office.
According to Brother Lee, “The assistance was based on immediate basic needs in response to some families affected by the earthquake. These emergency relief assistance are items that are basic necessities such as food, hygiene kits, bedding kits and temporary shelter covers. The church humanitarian efforts may not have been able to assist all affected families but the small assistance together with the government and other organizations have helped many to relieve them from some grief and distress.”
Considering that many members of the church were also victims of the calamity, Brother Lee explained that the kits were for the community residents as part of the Church’s humanitarian effort. The assistance for the members is under the direction of the Local Priesthood leaders using fast offering funds to the needy families. The Fast Offering Funds are contribution of members which is equivalent to the cost of two meals which is usually during the first Sunday of the month intended to help the poor and needy members of the Church.
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| The Mormon Helping Hands Volunteers in action |
It was made clear that the humanitarian initiative was entirely a voluntary action of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints through the LDS Charities. It was done in coordination with the District Leadership of the Surigao Philippines District presided by President Robert Sherwin Betita. While the LDS Charities established a connection with the Provincial government, there is nothing political about the humanitarian effort. The assistance is intended to be given to those in need regardless of political affiliations, nationalities, beliefs, colors and religions.
The LDS charities also assist communities to establish wells and other drinking water systems to provide access to clean water. As the humanitarian arm of the church it also provides skills training and resuscitation equipment to doctors, nurses and midwives. It also has programs for vision care; mobility assistance by providing wheelchairs, crutches, and canes to disabled persons; improved food production; and immunizations.
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| Packed relief kits ready for distribution |
As I thought of the action of the LDS Charities and the Mormon Helping Hands in emergency response for the earthquake victims in Surigao City and the Province of Surigao del Norte to help provide temporary relief from the devastating effects of the 6.7 magnitude earthquake on February 10, 2017, I am reminded of my interview with a carpenter in San Francisco, Surigao del Norte who was starting to rebuild his totally damaged dwelling. He kind of said: ““Sir we need to stand where we are downed. We could not afford to be standing idle and wait for anybody’s help to come. We have to do what we can do for ourselves.” His wife also works as a househelp to assist her husband in providing for the family. I see it as one example of the best spirit of resilience and self-reliance in one Filipino poor man. He appreciated very much the little help that I offered for his family in behalf of anonymous donors.
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Bro. Lee with Mormon Helping Hands Volunteers
Distributing relief packs at Sison, Surigao del Norte |
One mother of three, whose husband earns a living as a carpenter could not immediately rebuild their house, because he has to work for their food. They live temporarily on a makeshift so small for their young children and themselves. My heart breaks and the thought of a prayer echo: “O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the [sufferings] of thy people…, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?” (D&C 121:1-2).
Most of the people in the municipality of San Francisco are fishermen, carpenters and farmers. These are among the poorest people in our country. I talked with some of the residents and they admitted that the transition is very hard. They could not fish because of fear for the aftershocks while in the sea and also being concerned of their family back home with their houses damaged. For the carpenters they could not immediately rebuild because they are living from hand to mouth and they have to work each day to be able to feed their families. They are hoping against hope that the government will somehow see their wretched and most pitiful plight from the eye of fairness and political impartiality.
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One of the youngest Mormon Helping Hands
volunteer |
After my visit, I went home with a heavy heart, feeling profoundly sympathetic of the victim’s unfortunate and dismal condition. If only I am rich, I will immediately build for them temporary shelters that at least they may be able to sleep well during the night to reenergize for the next day’s hard labor, and slowly lift themselves up from where they once stood. But I am a poor man. All that I can wish is for them to catch the better vision of the future with the Lord’s promise as in answer to an earnest prayer, “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high” (D&C 121:7-8).
We express our heartfelt gratitude for the humanitarian efforts of the LDS Charities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Mormon Helping Hands Volunteers and the Provincial Social Services Office of the Surigao Provincial government for the earthquake victims in Surigao City and the Province of Surigao del Norte.
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