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Majors Ralph and Ivy Hood bring encouragement and knowledge to children’s workers in Mexico.
by James Hood, Major –
Retired Western officers Majors Ralph and Ivy Hood were special guests at a recent Mexico Territory conference to benefit officers in charge of the territory’s 19 children’s homes, averaging 60 children per home, and three daycare centers. The theme was “Protecting the Mission”: preserving the mission of the Army while providing for the needs of the children.
In his keynote address, Territorial Chief Secretary Lt. Colonel Josue Cerezo reminded the attendees that the Army’s primary purpose is to “save souls, grow saints, and serve suffering humanity,” emphasizing the care of spiritual needs as well as physical ones.
Representatives from the Mexican Government Department for Total Development of the Family commended the Army for its efforts to raise the standards of care in its children’s homes to a professional level while still maintaining a spiritual component.
“I was inspired by the deep dedication of the officers and their sincere desire to serve the Lord,” Major Ivy Hood said.
Serving as pastors, the Hoods led morning devotions and taught on protection of the family. They also met for private discussions and counseling between and after sessions.
In the final session, Major Ralph Hood challenged the officers to make personal holiness a top priority. At the conclusion, many knelt to rededicate themselves to the Lord and his call on their lives.
“Most of the officers are younger, very energetic and highly educated. They brought that into their professional leadership of the homes,” Hood said.
During their visit to the territory, Major Ivy Hood spoke on “How to be a Mary in a Martha’s World” at a United Home League Meeting and distributed copies of the book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanne Weaver, thanks to a donation from the Western Territory. She also shared ideas on economical home entertaining.
The Mexico Territory is grateful both to the Canada Territory as primary sponsor and to the U.S. Western Territory for its sponsorship of the Protecting the Mission conference.
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