With paint, brushes and rollers provided by the Magenta Youth Sports Centre, Latter-day Saint youth and their leaders from the Dumbéa and Riviére-Salée congregations spent a Saturday recently painting over the centre's graffiti-covered buildings in Noumea.
Sporting bright yellow "Mormon Helping Hands" smocks, the group was immediately noticed by other youth in the neighbourhood, many of whom eventually joined in the service project, doubling the number of volunteers.
Didier D. Moriniére, bishop of the local congregation commented, "The Lord sent extra hands as reinforcements, and that made us happy."
The activity also caught the attention of the local media, including the newspaper, Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes, which wrote, "Watching from their apartment windows, the neighbourhood seemed to be wondering what put these people in such a good mood."
Community leaders had expected the project to require at least four hours, but because of the size of the group, the work was completed in less than half that time.
"I've worked for the community for two years and this is the first time I've seen so many people want to participate, Emmanuel Wejiéme, a representative from the mayor's office, told the local newspaper.
Read more from Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes here: