In this month of Thanksgiving and with Christmas right around the corner, 34-plus members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, New Providence branch, put their hands, hearts and shoulders to the wheel in service to their fellowmen as they created a fruit and vegetable orchard, cultivating and planting a large variety of fruit and vegetable plants on the grounds of the Elizabeth Estates Children's Home.
Beginning with a prayer of Thanksgiving for the opportunity and under the direction of fellow member professional horticulturist Annette Saintil, members put on gloves and their signature "Mormon helping hands" vests, picked up shovels, pick axes, grub hoes and pulled out fertilizer, water hoses and a large variety of fruit and vegetable plants, procured from the nearby Rocky Farms, to start their day of service in tiling, digging and cultivating the grounds for the plants. Among the fruit trees and vegetables planted were mango, sapodilla, guava, mulberry, cherries, coconut, avocado, papaya, soursop, plums, pumpkin, tomatoes, cantaloupe, oregano, thyme, parsley, beets, kale, okra, lavender and basil.
After months of planning, the effort was scheduled as the local branch's project during the worldwide Latter-day Saints (LDS) Annual International Day of Service. The church's Director of Public Affairs Wendy Brown exclaimed ,"We were extremely excited to get approval to offer this service to the current and future residents and staff of the Elizabeth Estates home, as it is a gift that will indeed keep on giving"!
Recently appointed Branch President Guernix Cherenfant, who serves as a part of the church's non-paid ministry, elaborates, "Our members continuously seek to exemplify Jesus Christ in service and are always keeping their eyes and eyes open for opportunities to serve their family members, church members and members of the community. This is just one of the many plans we have to serve our fellowmen in The Bahamas."
Former Director of Public Affairs for the church branch, Cheryl Walkine-Alexandre, shared, "This was such an overwhelming experience... Our Heavenly Father has been so good to us, I am so grateful for any opportunity to show my gratitude, and to see the zealousness of our members in true LDS style, to serve their brothers and sisters and establish a "Garden of Eden" of sorts that will reap benefits to so many for a lifetime is truly gratifying!"
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints manages one of the largest worldwide humanitarian programs and partners with other charitable and religious organizations. In the past the local branch has contributed a check of $25,000 to the Bahamas Red Cross Society and sent thousands of dollars in care packages to the islands for hurricane relief.
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