Latter-day Saints Donate ‘Beautiful Samoa’ Award to Little Sisters of the Poor

Source: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The well maintained Pesega Campus of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was recognised recently by the Government of Samoa for its example of beauty and cleanliness.

Afioga Leota Laki Lamositele, Minister of Women, Community and Social Development, hosted an awards ceremony on Thursday, 16 June 2022, as part of the nation’s “Beautiful Samoa” campaign. The campaign aims to stave off illness and disease and protect the nation’s natural environment.

President of the Apia Samoa Central Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Muagututia H. Jason Joseph, represented the Church at the ceremony, receiving a certificate and donation from the “Beautiful Samoa” organisers.

“The Church supports government initiatives and has been involved in many projects to clean the town and local communities,” said President Joseph.

Two additional churches—the Malua Theological College of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (C.C.C.S.) and the Methodist Church of Samoa—also received recognition. The top awards for cleanest and most attractive villages went to Tiavea (big village) and Apolima Tai (small village).

On Wednesday, 29 June 2021, President Joseph and his wife Sally Joseph, along with President Denny Fa’alogo, leader of the Apia Samoa Stake, and his wife, Alexandra Fa’alogo, met with “The Little Sisters of the Poor” in Samoa to pass on to the charity the donation received at the “Beautiful Samoa” ceremony earlier in the month.

The mission of the Little Sisters of the Poor is to offer the neediest elderly of every race and religion a home, where they will be welcomed as Christ, cared for as family, and accompanied with dignity until God calls them to Himself.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not retain donations, grants or other funds from governments. This policy led local leaders to identify a worthy charity to which the donation could be given.

Samoa is ramping up its campaign to beautify the nation as it prepares to open its borders to visitors on 1 August 2022. Borders have been closed for two years, due to COVID restrictions.