Comments about ‘LDS aid to Peru after quake is a ‘beautiful thing’’

I served as a missionary in Pisco for 6 months. There are many good people there who struggle day to day to have enough food to eat. It is so great to hear how the church is helping them restore their lives. May God bless the people of Pisco

This is just an example of what I am already aware of. A silent humanitarian service that goes on everyday all around the world provided by good people of all faiths.

And it is happening right now in our own city without fanfare. But it shows greatly in the faces of those who are recipients and those who donate their time, talents and resources. It is a great thing that happens when someone notices.

takes some bad press for standing up for Christian values. No one can knock the Church's actions on humanitarian relief around the world to people of all faiths, races and nations.

The Haiti earthquake is a serious event, and has damaged countless thousands of lives. It has captivated the world and relief is pouring in from everywhere.

This earthquake in Peru happened a couple of years ago, and was barely mentioned in the news in the States, and quickly forgotten outside of Peru.

The LDS Church quietly stepped in and began to give aid without any fanfare. It continues to do so now, even as it renders aid in many other tragedies as they happen around the world, still without praise from the media or the world at large.

It's about time someone takes notice of the good the Church is doing in the world. Perhaps if they see our good works, they will glorify God instead of villifying the Church.

It is great to see all the help that be given if people care about one another they way they should. But, I am puzzled by the use of bricks in an earthquake zone. Even with great "earthquake" foundations, I have always understood that brick buildings crumble more than frame construction and stucco? Even the recent DN articles on earthquake prepardness stated that reason there would such widespread problems with a SLC earthquake was the extensive use of brick.

From the picture, it looks to me to be "post & beam" construction meaning the bricks are only the filler in between and are not structural. And the article mentions they used rebar as well.

It is not post and beam construction, rather the walls are reinforced with rebar. I was in the area of Pisco and Chincha last year and saw the construction. The homes are 450' square and usually large families live in these homes. The people are so grateful for the help they have received from both the LDS Church and Layton Construction. These people are strong, wonderful industrious people who have little and are thankful for help. They labored on their own homes. They had to own the land and be able to get a building permit.

I was in this area last year and it is total desert, so frame construction is really out of the question. The 'brick' construction is reinforced with rebar. There are no windows on two sides of the 450 square foot houses and everything is carefully designed to withstand an earthquake. This was a project done by both the LDS Church and Layton Construction. Local people were taught how to participate in the construction. The people had to own the property and be able to get a building permit. These Peruvians are hard working people who are grateful for every bit of help they received. It was a thrill to me to be with them and see the fruits of this project.

Thanks for the article. And thanks to anonymous 9.07 for your clarifying information. Thanks to all who give and share in such times as these, wherever they serve.

I am very glad to read the article. The key to helping in the wake of earthquakes is not just aid right after but help rebuilding.
Hopefully the same can be done in Haiti.
I also wish the ban on off topic posts was more strictly enforced.

Thank you for the inspiring article. Every time I read about someone helping out another person, whether they are members of the church or not, it makes me want to do more. There are so many in need in this world and we have so much. I appreciate these reminders of our responsibility to bless the lives of others.

Impressed by article and by the goodness of people towards people. There is real hope in such a world that generally reports mans' inhumanity to man. The more I move around and get to know people of different cultures and circumstances, the more I am encouraged in the goodness of people, especially people of genuine faith. Thanks Deseret News for the article and thanks to all that contributed to and worked on this inspiring effort in behalf of those less fortunate. Nicely done all around!

Thank you for sharing this uplifting story. It is heartwarming to hear of the sacrifice and service that is being made to help rebuild after natural disasters. My sister in law is a naturalized US citizen from Peru. She was grateful to read about this project. The photos are also nice. It would be interesting to learn what the upper story with walls and windows but no roof is for. ?? Possibly for finishing as extra space later? Or, maybe just a more private roof-top space for the family to go when it gets too hot inside? It definitely makes an interesting design. Thanks again for sharing with us!