Mormon Helping Hands Volunteers Assist Relief Efforts after Mexico Earthquake
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About 700 Mormon volunteers recently gathered to assist in earthquake relief efforts in the Mexican states of Puebla and Guerrero.
Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela of the Mexico Area Presidency of the Church said the Mormon Helping Hands volunteers provided their own transportation to serve. President Valenzuela said there is still much work to do and the Church volunteers will continue to assist in the coming months.
Two earthquakes struck Mexico within two weeks, killing hundreds of people and affecting millions more. An 8.2-magnitude quake September 7 mostly affected the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas in southern Mexico. The epicenter of the 7.1-magnitude earthquake September 19 was near the town of Raboso, about 76 miles southeast of Mexico City.
The Church issued the following statement September 20 in English and Spanish after the second earthquake:
“We have confirmed that all missionaries in the region affected by Tuesday’s earthquake in Mexico have been contacted and are safe. Mission presidents have been in contact with families to let them know they are well. Missionary apartments in several missions sustained damage, including a few that are now uninhabitable. Missionaries are eager to participate in the cleanup efforts and will do so as they are able to safely engage. Several Latter-day Saint chapels were also impacted, and teams are assessing the extent of the damage. We continue to pray for the people of Mexico as they recover from this serious earthquake.”
Spanish
“Hemos confirmado que todos los misioneros en la región afectada por el terremoto del martes en México han sido contactados y están seguros. Los presidentes de misión han estado en contacto con las familias para hacerles saber que están bien. Los apartamentos de misioneros en varias misiones sufrieron daños, incluidos algunos que ahora son inhabitables. Los misioneros están ansiosos por participar en los esfuerzos de limpieza y lo harán, cuando sea seguro que se involucren. Muchas capillas SUD también se han visto afectadas y equipos están evaluando la magnitud de los daños. Continuamos orando por la gente de México mientras se recuperan de este grave terremoto.”
