At-Risk Children Served at the Jamaica Red Cross—Handing Over Ceremony

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints painted, made repairs, installed a cosmetology basin, wall fans, and bathroom and kitchen fixtures at the Jamaica Red Cross School of Transformation on Nov. 3, 2018, during the Church’s International Day of Service. The students also received dictionaries and reading books that were donated by Carlong Publishers. On the completion of the project, a handing-over ceremony was held, on Jan. 12, 2019.

Dr. Dennis Edwards, the president of the Jamaica Red Cross spoke of how delighted the organization is to receive the contribution from the Church to the Jamaica Red Cross and youths in its education program. He said he’s delighted because when it comes to the future of Jamaica, the future of the world, even the future of humanity, it’s going to take small, yet big events such as this to make a difference.

The first counselor in the Kingston Jamaica Stake presidency, Mark Jeffrey Deans, stated, “Caring for the poor and needy is one of the four-fold mission of the church.” The Saviour, while he was on the earth was asked, “Which is the great commandment in the law?” (Matthew 22:36).

Matthew records the Saviour’s response, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. . . .

“The second is like unto it, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matthew 22:37, 39).

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds true to these tenets. We should indeed love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We believe that when we are in the service of our fellow beings we are only in the service of our God.

Member of the central committee of the Jamaica Red Cross and chairman of the steering committee of the School of Transformation, Dr. Carole Powell, mentioned that the minister of health, Dr. Christopher Tufton, commended the Church for its contribution last year of bed nets to help fight the spread of the Zika virus. This time, the Church was looking out for children and their environment, ensuring that they learn not just via books, but through cleanliness.

Sister Barney, a senior missionary, stood up to support the mother of Daniel McDonald who is a student at the school. Sister Barney mentioned looking into Daniel’s book and seeing where he scored 100 percent in spelling and congratulated him for his outstanding performance. She concluded by saying that the humanitarian effort is definitely the work of the Lord.

One teacher expressed thanks for the bathroom, the painting of the classroom, the fans and the cosmetology room for boys and girls. Another teacher exuberantly described how grateful she was for the fans. She said that prior to the donation of the fans, students complained about the heat and she tried on numerous occasions to share her fan with her students, but it was still not sufficient for all. Now they ask her to turn off the fans because they are cold. She is grateful to know the students are now comfortable while learning.