Volunteers from the Mormon church are working with the U.S. Navy and other relief organizations on a humanitarian mission to provide medical care to the needy in Central and South America.

Traveling aboard the USNS Comfort, a full-service medical ship, Operation Continuing Promise 2009 will visit seven countries. At each stop, medical personnel and volunteers will perform cleft palate reconstruction, cataract repair and other surgeries.

Some patients are flown to the ship by helicopter for treatment. Volunteers also go ashore to set up temporary clinics in schools and community centers.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has also donated about 250 pallets of humanitarian relief supplies, including medical supplies, hygiene its, school kits, toys, and blankets.