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HOUSTON — It was an exhausting day for Latter-day Saints throughout south Texas on Sunday. Many began their day with a brief worship service before going out and volunteering as Mormon Helping Hands.
“It really says helping hearts,” said President Dieter Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “It is helping hearts to reach out to others with our heart, with our mind, and our might with our hands, with our feet, with everything we have.”
Houston resident Amber Baker said it was good to get encouraging words from President Uchtdorf.
"His presence here really buoyed us up today and made us feel really happy and loved from our church leaders,” she said.
Latter-day Saints in Texas used this Sunday to serve their neighbors.
"It was very important for us to come here and give our love to the members and recognize the hard work that they are doing,” said Bishop Gerald Causse, presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
And no one may have appreciated it more than Pooya Hejazi, who lives near a Latter-day Saint family. His home was overcome by floodwaters and now, he is being flooded with help from Mormon Helping Hands.
“It is a big help, it makes a huge difference,” Hejazi said. “It is just the momentum is there; it is just that much more for us to get back on our legs. (I’m) very glad to have Mormon neighbors from the get go.”
Church leaders also visited a makeshift church humanitarian center, where LDS donated supplies are distributed and where long term relief efforts will be organized.
There was a visit with the Red Cross, in which the Church is also supporting with supplies.
Uchtdorf also walked through the Houston Temple, which sustained damage from the floodwaters earlier in the week.
"Of course it has had the flooding, but it is not as bad as I thought it would have been. But we will have to find a way how to prepare service again," he said.
But the priority now is to focus on alleviating the suffering that so many Texans are experiencing. Uchtdorf said it has been emotional for him to see so much goodness in the wake of such a disaster.
"You see them working. They are wet, they are sweaty, they are hard working all day long, and the neighbors come up and the neighbors have tears running down their cheeks, thanking these young people and individuals for their dedicated service," he said.
Church leaders say as other areas become safe, they will invite more Latter-day Saints to join in these relief efforts that will certainly continue in this area of Texas for several months.
Contributing: Xoel Cardenas
