Young volunteers paint classrooms

CEBU, Philippines - In line with the Mormon National Day of Service, more than 80 volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints repainted classrooms of the Talamban Elementary School yesterday.

The repainting was scheduled last April 23 but was moved to yesterday owing to the Roman Catholic's observance of the Holy Week.

According to Benjamin Montera Sr., leader of Cebu Philippines Central Stake and organizer of the service, the elementary school is the first institution volunteers from the church have repainted.

Aside from repainting classrooms, the church's usual activities include clean-up drives, mangrove planting, and conducting lectures, seminars, and tutorial classes.

Montera said that with the help of the Cebu government and the Chinese community, his church had received adequate funds for materials to be used in repainting the school.

Montero said that as a Christian, it's good to serve the community.         "From time to time ang among mga members specially the youth, amo silang pahimuon og Christian service projects such as cleaning and planting," he said.

Every year the church conducts Christian service for at least three to four times especially during holidays.

The annual activity is also a way to correct the mindset of some people who believe that the Mormons are not Christians.