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Show SERVICE THEIR LIFE ; c ;'5: ; G - PSP Helping Children s Couple p ut a child anywhere Delight within three blocks of Sybil and Joseph Hathaway and theyG find him and find a way to help him feel more worthwhile. Theyve been doing- it for several years now. For the past three years, theyve used their special talents with children in the Church Social Services program in Utah. The camp program is set up to provide help for youngsters who are experiencing social or emotional problems due to pressures of everyday living. Basically, these are children who don't understand the proper relationship between themselves and adults or other children, according to Allen Proctor, day camp coordinator. Mrs. Hathaway first learned about the program through a call for help from the Relief Society. From that day on, Ive been involved in the day camps, she recalled. As her involvement increased, she drew her husband into her projects. She does have a real deep interest in children, Joseph Hathaway said of his wife. Shes PTA president (at Salt Lake Citys West High) now. v He told of his wifes work with Guide Patrol boys when they lived in Montana. Though there were only seven boys of Guide Patrol age in the church locally, they had a Guide Patrol of 30 by literally recruiting boys off the street. If a boy looked like the right age, they DON SEARLE JR. Church News Staff Writer By L. day-cam- p 4 Pri-mnr- stopped him to ask if he wanted to be a Scout. Years of work in Cub Scout arts and crafts program gave Sybil Hathaway the idea for arts and crafts projects to help youngsters in the LDS day camps. Her projects were so effective that she was put in charge of arts and crafts for all the Utah day camps, and last summer she helped produce a unique manual with detailed explanations on the benefits of arts and crafts for youngsters in the camps and instructions on how to make numerous simple items. Sybil, tive in securing materials (many of them scrounged from scrap heaps) for the children to use. Though none of the items costs very much (15 cents a day per project, with the cost accumulating over two or three days), Mrs. Hathaway proudly displays them in her home. Day Camp Coordinator Proctor, who explained the therapeutic value of projects in the manual, said he knows of no other similar book for use in such a program. The book was illustrated by anothp er worker, Sandra Pitts. day-cam- Mrs. Hathaway shows with obvious pride some of the simple articles produced by youngsters in the day camps, and points out that her husband was chief tester of the projects before they were included in the manual and has been ac- - Moslem Student Joins Church, Gives Testimony To The World Rahman Fatafi-tah- , student at American University of Beirut, became a member of the chuich Jan. 6, 1973. He is believed to be the first Moslem to join the church in the Middle East. Though other Arabs have joined the church, they have been of Christian background, explained Mrs. Hope Hilton, who introduced Mr. Fatafitah to the gospel more than 16 months ago. I told him about the church and invited him to attend. To my surprise he. attended the next meeting and became acquainted with the members, Mrs. Hilton said. Branch president Oren Parker, who' has lived in the Middle East for more than 16 years, took a special interest in in the young investigator, and the missionaries taught him the lessons several times to be sure he was fully acquainted with the principles of the gospel. 1st add. abdul. The baptism was performed by Elder Robert Kezeran, Van Nttys, Calif., and Mr. Fatafitah w'as conf rmed by Elder Richard Neil Ward, Paradiie, Calif. Tw'o Armenian investigators tized the same day. were also bap- You cant imagine how happy I am. In fact how I am like a little baby, just recently born. Yesterday I was baptized into the church, Mr. Fatafitah wrote in a letter to Mrs. Hilton of Salt Lake City. The letter told how the branch presi- dent, missionaries and members attended the baptism. am now very happy and thankful to our dear I Father This is a family program, she emphasized, pointing out the help her family p has given her in projects and in supporting her at home so she can devolunteer work. vote time to Mrs. Hathaway praised the counselors and other professionals who work in the camps, but added, The special quality of lave that these kids need comes from the volunteer. day-cam- day-cam- p Several volunteers, she reported, paid baby sitters or drove across Salt Lake Valley so they could work in the camps last summer. BEIRUT, LEBANON Twenty-five-year-o- Joseph Hathaway discuss project for in Heaven for my memb-ershiin the church, which I believe ip with all my heart is the true church and is the only gate to the kingdom of God. I hope I can carry Mormonism to everyone who wants to know the truth. I hope that everyone in the world can have a chance to know the true church, he said. Mr. Fatafitah is, the oldest of 12 children in his family. His father is the village leader at Tarqumia, 10 miles west of Hebron. He is an agricultural student and teels that, I will do good, since the Holy Ghost is now my companion. Mrs. Hathaway likes to tell the story of one youngster who threatened to have his father fire the helpers in his camp. The volunteer working with his group took him aside later and explained that the women who w'ere helping at the camp were not being paid. The boy re- turned to his group, all smiles and announced, Hey, fellows, do you know why these ladies are here? Theyre here because they love us. Once they discover that theyre capable of receiving love, and worthy of love, that seems to be the turning point of their stay in day camp, Mrs. Hathaway explained. I think that every child, Latter-daSaint or not, should be a concern of the adult community, she added later. y This concern is reflected in other day camp materials she is involved in preparing. She is currently compiling into manmaterial for girls ual form home-art- s p worker' that was written by Loma Porter. So that the boys wont be neglected, Mrs. Hathaway is also writing a similar manual for boys. The books will teach simple housework skills, grooming and social graces. The Hathaways son Joel has been day-cam- day-cam- children. p with art work to illustrate the manuals. Recently released from the Army, he is active in stake missionary work and worked last summer as arts-- ; and at the 12th Avenue day camp in Salt Lake City. Asked if all these activities were not very demanding, Mrs. Hathaway replied, Its surprising what real benefits you get from service. I think the benefits are more than your time. She added, in passing, that there have' been other blessings in addition to the joy of helping young people. Ive always been Messed that Ive been able to fill my commitments, she explained, noting that shes never had to forego any of her church or duties, despite difficulties with her back and a rheumatic heart. helping crafts-coordinat- day-cam- p The Hathaways involvement in service to others is not limited to the day camp program. Joseph Hathaway is seventies group leader of the 18th North Ward, Ensign Stake, and has just completed a stake mission. His wife was recently released from the ward Relief Society presidency and was called by the bishop to work with local children who are burdened with many of the same p youngsters. problems as the Moreover, the Hathaways are involved in the family home evening program at the Utah State Prison, taking time to go hold family home evening with inmates. Their concern for children begins at home. In addition to their son Joel, 24, and daughter Susanne, 20, they have living with them attractive, friendly Mara Brunson, 17, whom they treat as a daughter. And while they were being interviewed, the couple shared their time with d a pixie-face- d neighborhood who had come by to visit and show off' his birthday gift. Pei haps Joseph Hathaway hit on the ; key to their involvement with children when he recalled their work with the Guide Patrol boys in Montana: day-cam- seven-year-ol- ' Those little guys, they knew that we loved them. Thats the secret. WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 3, 1973 CHURCH -- 13 |