“Unity in Faith”: Youth Give Service at Local Haitian Church
Contributed By Matrina E. Barry, Church News contributor
Nearly 50 LDS teenagers, along with their parents and Church leaders, helped rejuvenate the Haitian Tabernacle of Bethlehem Church in Opa Locka, Florida, on January 30.
“The gospel is the great equalizer. Our Church is blessed with tremendous cultural diversity. … This diversity reflects our commitment to embrace all cultures and unite in our faith.” —Jim Robinson, Miami Lakes Florida Stake president
Nearly 50 Mormon teenagers, along with their parents and Church leaders, helped rejuvenate the Haitian Tabernacle of Bethlehem Church in Opa Locka, Florida, on January 30.
The teens’ families are from a variety of countries, including Peru, Jamaica, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Trinidad, and Mexico.
Church members worked side by side with the Haitian members of the Tabernacle of Bethlehem Church.
The rejuvenation project involved restoration of the children’s play area, repainting the church sign, weeding, raking, removing a shed, clearing debris, and planting flowers on the church grounds.
Ludie Rimbel, the administrator and pastor’s daughter of the Haitian church, expressed her appreciation.
“I am not able to get over what you did for the church,” she said. “What I saw was a service of love. You are giving hope to our congregation.”
The service project also involved collecting scrap metal from the church grounds to sell and purchase paint for the building.
The organizer of the service project, Derek Hernandez, is the Miami Lakes Florida Stake Young Men president. Discussions for future service at the Tabernacle of Bethlehem are in progress.
Stake President Jim Robinson said, “The gospel is the great equalizer. Our Church is blessed with tremendous cultural diversity, which is reflected in our South Florida congregations; this diversity reflects our commitment to embrace all cultures and unite in our faith.”
Nearly 50 LDS teenagers, along with their parents and Church leaders, helped rejuvenate the Haitian Tabernacle of Bethlehem Church in Opa Locka, Florida, on January 30. Photo by Tina Fabiano.
