Mormon Community
Colorado boy earns medals in karate
Twelve-year-old Hunter Lee Naill recently took home second place in sparring at the United States Karate Alliance's World Championship. He was also part of the team that took first place in sparring.
At the regional tournament earlier this year in Santa Fe, N.M., Hunter placed first in sparring, fourth in forms and fourth in weapons.
Since 2002 when Hunter started karate, he has won the national championship in sparring three times.
He is a member of the Eagle Valley Ward, Meeker Colorado Stake, and also participates in Scouts, baseball and football.
LDS mayor of Honolulu assists Filipinos
HONOLULU — Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann traveled half a world away to aid Filipino citizens rebuilding their lives following the latest typhoons in metro Manila.
Flood survivors of Pasig City in the Philippines experienced the spirit of Christmas early this year when the mayor and some of his cabinet members of Filipino ancestry delivered relief supplies to hundreds of families left homeless by the storms that ravaged the city in September.
The mayor, a high priest group leader and Sunday School instructor in the Aiea Ward, Honolulu Hawaii West Stake, addressed flood survivors at the municipality's Multi Purpose Hall, where he expressed his deepest empathy for what is being called the "worst natural disaster" to ever hit the region.
"This was just a small way of trying to help the citizens of Pasig City. Rest assured that you have our ongoing support, contributions and prayers," Hannemann said to a grateful crowd.
Hannemann distributed food, drinks, sugar, soap and other basic necessities. He and his team donated from their personal funds, along with members of the Hawaii Filipino community.
"The humanitarian effort in caring for the world's downtrodden from across the miles was an inspirational and humbling experience that I will long remember," he said.
While in the Philippines, Hannemann spoke to missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also met with his first cousin, who currently serves as president of the LDS Church mission in Manila, Beaver Taituliatu Ho Ching, and his wife, Judy, of the Nuuuli 2nd Ward, Pago Pago American Samoa Central Stake. (Hannemann's and Ho Ching's mothers are siblings.)
— Sandra Moser