[dropcap]W[/dropcap]e'll try to keep the COVID-19 news to a minimum this week as we come down from our General Conference recap high. Josie Gleave has kindly hopped into the hot seat, which means great international news!

How was your global fast on Good Friday? Did it work? Is coronavirus over? In all seriousness, it was cool to see everyone come together to fight this thing, but it's also worth noting that other Christians have been fasting on Good Friday for centuries. Latter-day Saints did not invent the Good Friday fast! We are not leaders here!

Blogger and author Jana Riess, herself a convert to the Church, has her own thoughts on how to Make Fasting Great Again, including to bring a more somber contemplative approach to it, rather than a transactional one.

You can also learn about five times a prophet has called for a global fast, but it was only done by three men. Tricky!

The Church is busy helping with the COVID-19 relief effort in many ways around the world:

* Since its initial donation of medical masks, goggles and gowns to China, the Church has received numerous requests for similar assistance. Those requests are being evaluated and addressed as the Church is able to do so, although our ability to supply and deliver those products is limited by a global demand for such resources.

* Support via donations to LDS Charities is providing supplies and raw materials for medical care in hospitals and emergency rooms for medical personnel and patient care.For now, the Church of Jesus Christ, through Latter-day Saint Charitable Services, has managed to provide aid in Cambodia, China, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Italy, Iran, Japan, Mongolia, the Philippines, Singapore , South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.

* Church donates use of official building in San Antonio, Chile to be used as a hospital for patients with mild virus symptoms. Estimated 48 beds are being installed. (Same building was similarly provided to be converted into a hospital during the 1985 earthquake).

* Food and supplies from Bishop's Central Storehouse sent to Navajo reservations in SW area. Volunteers dropped off 100 boxes of food to help out.

* First Presidency approves massive relief campaigns in 57 countries.

Coronavirus has affected the youth of the Church in different ways. The Church was forced to