We’ve Got Mail

Editor’s note: We appreciate the letters we receive and usually print a variety of comments from our readers. In this instance, however, we felt a single letter was important to share, because it provides important insight into how helpful the humanitarian kits are worldwide.

“We Are His Hands”

I enjoyed the article “We Are His Hands” in the July 2010 New Era. In October 2005 I arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, as a humanitarian missionary. One of my assignments was to take the Cambodian LDS Young Adults into the provinces to poor or remote government schools and put on a puppet show to teach the children how to stay well through good hygiene—clean water, clean hands, and clean food. I realized on our first outing that I would have the privilege of seeing what so many thousands of people Churchwide have never seen—the recipients of the hygiene kits, which were distributed at the end of the puppet show.

At one location I noticed that almost all of the children had something in their hands, around their necks, or even on their heads. I asked what they were, and was told, “Those are the hand towels in your church’s hygiene kits.” The kits had been distributed two months earlier. Almost every child there had their towel and used it much like you would a “blankie” or a comforter. It was also used to shield them from the hot sun. I wanted to cry with joy when I understood their appreciation and love for that which was given to them by His helping hands around the world.

I am now back in Cambodia, working with an orphanage and continuing with the humanitarian work I started on my mission. Recently the two LDS sisters who run the orphanage realized they had a surplus of school supplies and thought it might be a good idea to share the excess with the children who live in the neighborhood around the orphanage. The orphans were excited to share these school kits with 46 other children. As word went out, 15 more children came to the distribution of the kits. When the orphans heard about the need for 15 more kits, they were immediately ready to share their own kits, and the additional children were served. I know that this act of service brought a feeling of joy to the orphans who are so giving in every way.

Even orphaned or abandoned children want to experience the feeling that comes “when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17).

Margorie King

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I realized on our first outing that I would have the privilege of seeing what so many thousands of people Churchwide have never seen.

Illustration by James Steinberg, photograph by Margorie King