A completely renovated space, including a common area, kitchenette and restroom, for the Fellowship of Women was presented to the Samoa Council of Churches last week.

L.D.S. Charities, a charitable arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, paid for the renovations while the Fellowship cleaned and prepared the space for improvement, provided curtains and will pay to install air conditioning.

Referring to the Church’s relatively recent joining of the Samoa Council of Churches, Elder O. Vincent Haleck, of the Seventy and president of the Church’s Pacific Area, said, “This is a day of thanksgiving for all of us. We have been apart for too long. Now we are together.”

It was only in 2013 that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined the Samoa Council of Churches.

Reverend Aisoli Iuli, the Vice Chairman of the Council of Churches, opened the ceremonial handover by saying that “We are getting together in love and peace.” The Reverend Maauga Motu, the General Secretary of the Council of Churches echoed that sentiment as he suggested that “Unity is the best word and (it) is relevant for today’s celebration … of this gift brought to us by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

Story and photos from Mormon Newsroom