Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New South Wales, Australia have been joyfully participating in the #Light The World service initiative during the month of December.
For one of the calendar service suggestions, “Pay it Backwards,” Matthew Parsons, of Sydney Australia Hebersham Stake, found a way to "give back" to schools that look after children with special needs and who live in the outback. He participated in a road rally for charity, driving 2,000 km (1,243 miles), over one week. He said, “It was a wonderful opportunity to meet a diverse range of people and enjoy the beauty of the outback.” The $320,000 raised will go to equipment and supplies for schools.
Implementing another #LightTheWorld calendar invitation, church members fasted as Jesus did by going without two meals and donating the cost of the food they would have eaten to the Salvation Army.
Child-participates-in-Light-The-World-by-making-extra-treats-to-share
Child participates in 'Light the World' service initiative© 2020 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Following the suggestion to share as Jesus did and make two plates of treats for friends, a family decided they would all work together in the kitchen to make an assortment of treats and pies. They felt that they had a more time, this year, to be more generous in giving and gracious in caring.
Some families volunteered to write heartfelt messages of love and encouragement on Christmas cards through charities such as Gethsemane Community Inc or Wesley Mission. These Christmas cards were then delivered to men and women with disabilities or mental illness who reside in boarding houses, group homes, and aged care, and have little family contact.