Ten missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spent their day picking up trash in Elouera Park and around the Macquarie Shopping Centre recently.
The group, consisting of six elders and four sisters, are currently serving in the Greenwich ward (parish).
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Mormon missionaries can be seen on the streets of hundreds of major cities in the world as well as in thousands of smaller communities. A typical missionary day begins by waking at 6:30 a.m. for personal study and ending the day by 10:30 p.m.
The day often involves proselytising and other activities associated with sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
However, missionaries often take the opportunity to serve in the communities in which they live, offering help to people and projects that need extra hands. They usually wear the Church’s yellow Mormon Helping Hands vests or t-shirts when they work in communities around the world.
When Sister Rachel De La Cruz, a 21 year old from Melbourne was asked how picking up rubbish fulfilled her purpose as a missionary, she said, “As missionaries we represent Jesus Christ. When Jesus was on the earth, he went around doing-good where ever He went. He was no ordinary man.
“When we were set apart as missionaries we are set apart from things of the world. Because we represent Jesus Christ, we must strive to be like Him in our assigned areas.
“Picking up rubbish gets us out in the community and around people. By doing service, we feel we are leading by example. Our purpose is to give others the opportunity to come unto Christ, by representing Him and His goodness.”
When 21 year old Elder Luke Shaffer from Kentucky was asked why they were cleaning up Marsfield, he said, “First, we don’t like rubbish. Second, we love this area and want to help in any way we can. The inspiration behind this effort is the desire to take good care of what God has given us.”
Elder Hayden Clark, a 20 year old from Cedar City, Utah said, “It feels good to make our neighbourhood cleaner and be able to serve the people who live in it. This is doing what’s right for the sheer purpose of doing what’s right.”
The ‘Helping Hands’ program is staffed by volunteers of the Church. The key to the success of the program is that Mormon Helping Hands gives those with a strong desire to serve others an organised opportunity to do so.
The Church’s missionary program is one of its most recognised characteristics.