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LDS quake aid easing pain in Peru

the need is so great in Peru. It breaks my heart how people are suffering as aid slowly trickles in. I hope the people of Utah, and the Church, wil be with the people of Peru for the long haul. They will need not just one plane load of supplies, but sustained aid to help rebuild cities and towns surrounding Pisco, Ica and Chincha. Thank you for this story. Thank you LDS Church for you aid.

Why is it that we as a Country are always helping everybody else, but when you sit back and watch, does anybody ever help us, when we are in a bind?

As an American Church member on the ground in Lima who loaded 200,000 lbs of supplies into C-130's over the last 5 days, I know there is much need here. I was very glad to hear that a plane coming from Utah was also bringing supplies to these people. Rather than complaining about the American people helping others abroad, why don't you think about what you can do where you are? There is need everywhere. It's just that right now, there is much need in Pisco, Peru. I can tell you from first hand experience that Americans are very blessed.

I think that its really great that we as America pitch in all the time for who ever needs help. There is one thing that is scary to think.. That an earthquake just happened, but its almost as big as the earthquake here in utah that is suppose to happen. So think of all the damage thats going to happen then. So lets all try and think of ways to be prepared for that moment.

It should make us ALL stop and ponder about what's really important in our own lives. Are the trials we have even on the same scale? Should we REALLY whine so much?

Our brothers and sisters, whether they belong to the church or not, are in such a horrible situation. They're not blessed with all the things we have in our lives to make us comfortable.

Things like running water. A bed with sheets and blankets. A toilet. Real toilet paper! Food. Medicine. Comfort to know things would be ok.

Just think......It could of been YOUR spirit Father sent there, or anywhere in this world. Pray for their hurting spirits. Pray for the ones who were blessed to go home to Father and our Saviour that horrible day. Pray for the broken hearts left behind.

But please remember this. Some way, some day, some how, we too will each have the blessing of returning to Father. Their pain is felt by us all. Bless ALL these sweet spirits to eventually be ok. Please let them know how much we love them!

Sister Laurie Johnson

Our son is just outside of Ica and has talked with us by phone since the quake. He experienced the quake and has since witnessed first hand the death and devastation handed to these people who had so little to begin with. He sadly knows several people who were killed in the quake and some who have been murdered in the looting. Their humble homes made of dried mud killed many of the people when the walls fell in on them during the earthquake. He said, "If our homes were destroyed in a disaster we would call the insurance companies and have them rebuilt but these people who have lost their homes or are now tearing them down because they are unsafe, have nothing to replace them with." My heart aches for these people and I am sad that "Me" questions the aid being sent. My son's area is still without power and usable water is scarce. The Peruvian Army sent soldiers on Thursday bringing the first help they have received in the way of food and to police the looting. This is all just now happening since the earthquake occurred over a week ago. Thank you for your well written and heartfelt news article. I shed a few tears while reading about the immediate response of the LDS Church as I know from my son how badly the people of Peru need our help.

Me,
We, the United States, are always helping because the United States is one of the weathliest countries in the world.

Sometimes other countries do help the United States. When Hurricane Katrina hit, Mexico provided some aid.

The United States is one of the weathliest countries in the world. This is why we are always helping other countries in time of need.

Sometimes other counties do help the United States. When Hurricane Katrina hit, Mexico provided some aid.

All I want to say is, Because I have been given much I to must give..... If you don't want to give, don't give, and don't worry about it. If you want to give, give, if you do give then don't worry about it.

We have enough, not of money, but of what we need. The more we give the happier we should be. Forget that no one helps the U.S. Aren't we happy we can take care of ourselves?

I hope the help from the mormon church in Peru which is great do not use it as a tool to convert people into the mormon religion.

That will not be nice at all

"Just Me"

Heaven forbid if someone saw the good works and generousity of The Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and joined them or any other organization the promotes help to mankind without seeking anything in return. What would the world become?

The LDS Church has always given freely and many people have benefited from the generous donations. In all of my experiences, there has never been any expectation or ulterior motive. Church members are always the first to respond because they recognize that these are our brothers and sisters and have genuine concern for their well being.

To the respondent "ME", I feel sad, that per your statement: "Why is it that we as a Country are always helping everybody else, but when you sit back and watch, does anybody ever help us, when we are in a bind?" I'm sorry to see that you feel there isn't help in this country in times of need? Perhaps from the government, but surely not from the church....

Do you not catch the LDS NEWS alerts, or read the stories of these kinds of service in the Ensign? The church IS there for people in time of need. Even if they DON'T belong to the church. No matter where the disaster. If our people can get into the country or town, they will. These people after all, are our brothers and sisters, even if they don't belong to The Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints. If they live in the U.S. or anywhere else in the world.

My warmest regards to all the sweet spirits in whatever situation they are blessed to be going through. May God bless each and every one of you to with all you stand in need of.

It will will a hipocrosity to do good work helping people in need just to convert them into the mormon religion.

Don't worry "Just Me", from my life long experiences within our church, let me tell you that our leaders teach us over and over to give and serve (within our means)and be generous to all who need our help - without ulterior motives (conversions.)Our resources are limited but we do love our fellow men throughout the world enough to help where and how we can to try to relieve suffering and lift heavy hearts. If we didn't help can you imagine what what many would say? - Also we work with other relief organizations including the Catholic church and some Muslim relief organizations and who knows how many other groups so that the donations of goods and services are delivered in the most efficient ways possible.

I'm not sure what your that sentence means "Just Me" but it sounds like you still have concerns about the sincerity of the humanitarian aid being done by the LDS church. I invite you to do some research on this. You could even volunteer at one of the church canneries or tour some of the welfare facilites at Welfare Square (I'm from Arizona so I don't know the details- but it should be fairly simple to do.) Also, just wanted to share something from my own experience. I served a spanish speaking mission in California 15 years ago. We were asked as missionaries to do at least 4 hours of community service a week. My companion and I would often change into our work clothes and do anonymous service. For example we would pick go to a park or an empty lot or someones yard (with their permission) and pick up garbage, clear out weeds etc. It just feels good to help.

This is just for "Just Me". One of the earlier posts suggested that you do some research on the LDS church's history on giving and responding to natural disasters. You may find that enlightening. As a former bishop in Georgia I was intimately involved in relief efforts with the church after tornados and floods. We offered our help to anyone regardless of their religion. The people in my ward gave thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours. Most of that went to Southern Baptists that really dislike us. We didn't baptize one of them. We didn't ask one of them to take the missionary discussions. We did it because that is what the Savior would have us do.

Regarding "Just Me"'s comments: The WORLD was with the US after the 9/11 attacks -- unfortunately our administration squandered the goodwill.

I am also a mom of a missionary in Peru (due home in Oct), who lived in Pisco for many months and is currently in San Vicente de Canete. His mission is now a service mission to help tear down the ruined homes etc. He is not doing it to convert anyone but to help those in need regardless of their interest (or lack of)in the gospel. Does "Just Me" have the same opinion of any other church that steps forward in aid to others? We give help not only directly but also indirectly via Red Cross, Catholic Charities etc. It will be great if later they will be interested in at least hearing about the gospel and deciding for themselves if it is true and good for them but that is not the concern now. We help because Christ told us to and if "Just Me" believes in His words, he will help others too.