After 23 months of humanitarian service across Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Chuuk, Yap, Pohnpei, and Kosrae, Elder Craig and Sister Brenda Brooksby are concluding their mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During their service, they helped develop 62 humanitarian projects, including 11 emergency response initiatives, and saw 58 projects completed throughout every major island in the Micronesia Guam Mission.
From clean water systems and educational resources to disaster recovery and self-reliance initiatives, their work focused not only on addressing immediate needs but also on helping communities build lasting capacity, resilience, and hope for the future. They worked with 27 nonprofit, community, and faith-based organizations, including the Red Cross, UNICEF, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and Operation Christmas Drop.
Looking back on their mission, the Brooksbys say one lesson shaped nearly every project they undertook.
“We learned very quickly that we needed to serve what people actually needed, not what we thought they needed,” Elder Brooksby said.
That principle guided partnerships with schools, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, local leaders, and communities throughout Micronesia.
Listening Before Serving
Providing humanitarian assistance across Micronesia brought unique challenges. Many communities are separated by hundreds of miles of ocean, limited infrastructure, and scarce resources. Rather than arriving with predetermined solutions, the Brooksbys learned the importance of listening first.
Projects were designed to encourage local participation and long-term sustainability. Communities were invited to contribute labor, planning, and maintenance so that assistance would continue providing benefits long after a project was completed.
“We didn't just want to hand something over and hope it worked,” Elder Brooksby explained. “We wanted to make sure people could use it, maintain it and benefit from it long after we left.”
Bringing Safe Water to Island Communities
Among the most significant humanitarian efforts of the Brooksby's mission was helping improve access to safe drinking water throughout Micronesia.
Across many island communities, families rely on rain catchment systems, aging wells, or bottled water for their daily needs. Recognizing the need for sustainable solutions, Elder Brooksby spent months researching and developing filtration systems that could be installed locally and maintained without costly replacement parts.
His efforts led to the deployment of filtration systems for homes, schools, and community facilities across the region. Humanitarian projects during the mission also provided approximately 240 water tanks and distributed hundreds of portable bucket filtration systems through child nutrition initiatives in Pohnpei and Chuuk. Additional filtration systems were later installed in Yap, while humanitarian support helped address critical water needs in Kosrae.
For Elder Brooksby, seeing the projects come to fruition was especially rewarding after years of planning and development.
“I was beginning to wonder if we'd ever get there,” Elder Brooksby reflected. “So seeing people actually use them and benefit from them has been incredibly satisfying.”
Expanding Opportunities Through Simple Solutions
Some of the most meaningful humanitarian efforts came through simple innovations that opened new opportunities for others.
Throughout the Brooksbys' mission, approximately 950 wheelchairs were provided through various humanitarian initiatives across the region. One particularly memorable project involved the Center for Living Independently on Saipan, which serves individuals with disabilities. When specialized beach wheelchairs proved too expensive, an alternative solution was identified through conversion kits that transformed standard wheelchairs into beach-accessible mobility devices at a fraction of the cost.
The project enabled participants to enjoy recreational opportunities that had previously been difficult or unavailable.
“The joy on their faces was priceless,” Sister Brooksby said.
Strengthening Education Across Island Communities
Education was another major focus of humanitarian efforts during the Brooksby's mission.
Working with 53 schools throughout Micronesia, humanitarian projects provided approximately 410 computers, along with educational resources, water systems, school supplies, library materials, and infrastructure improvements designed to support both students and teachers. Schools in Chuuk, Pohnpei, Yap, Palau, and other island communities benefited from resources that helped strengthen learning environments and expand educational opportunities.
Beyond the materials and equipment provided, lasting relationships developed between local educators and humanitarian partners. School leaders frequently shared updates on how the resources were being used and the positive impact they were having on students and classrooms.
For the Brooksbys, these partnerships reflected the broader goal of humanitarian service: helping communities build lasting capacity while creating opportunities for future generations to learn and succeed.
Communities Rebuilding Together in Chuuk
One of the most inspiring examples of community cooperation came through housing projects in Chuuk following Typhoon Sinlaku.
Working alongside local leaders, missionaries, and community members, the Church helped provide materials and training to strengthen and rebuild homes affected by the storm. Rather than simply constructing homes for residents, the initiative encouraged families, neighbors, and villages to work together in the rebuilding process. Community members learned construction techniques designed to improve structural strength and increase resilience against future storms.
The effort has benefited approximately 70 households and continues to provide safer housing for families throughout the region.
One experience particularly stayed with the Brooksbys. After receiving a rebuilt home, an elderly woman quietly stood inside and wrapped her arms around one of the support posts. Having spent years living in a fragile structure, she now had a stronger and more secure place to call home. According to those involved in the project, she remained there for some time, simply grateful to be in her new house.
For all who witnessed it, the moment served as a powerful reminder that humanitarian service is about more than buildings. It is about restoring dignity, security, and hope.
Building Relationships Through Service
While many projects focused on practical needs, some of the most meaningful impacts came through personal connections.
During her mission setting apart, Sister Brooksby felt impressed that her role would be to share love with the people she met. Throughout her service, she built relationships with children, families, educators, and community leaders across Micronesia. Music often became a bridge that helped create those connections.
She learned songs in Chuukese and frequently sang with children during community visits and humanitarian activities. Simple interactions often helped break down barriers and build trust.
“My assignment was to carry the Lord's message of love,” she said. “That was easy.”
A Legacy of Service That Continues
As Elder and Sister Brooksby prepare to return home, the projects, partnerships, and friendships they helped support continue throughout Micronesia.
From improved access to clean water and stronger schools to increased opportunities for individuals with disabilities and safer homes for families, these efforts reflect the Church’s ongoing commitment to caring for those in need and strengthening communities through collaborative service.
For Elder Brooksby, humanitarian work has always been about helping people feel seen and supported.
“Humanitarian service opens doors,” he said. “It helps people know the Church cares.”
Though the Brooksbys’ mission is coming to an end, the strengthened communities, lasting relationships, and lives blessed through these humanitarian efforts will continue to benefit Micronesia for years to come