Sailors assigned to amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) volunteered for a community relations project (COMREL) at a women's shelter during a port visit to Bahrain, Jan. 12.

Sailors accompanied by Cmdr. Thomas Ianucci, a Navy chaplain assigned to Makin Island, visited the Embassy of the Philippines in Bahrain which houses a shelter for Filipino women.

Sailors provided the women living at the shelter with clothing, toiletries, and kitchen items donated by the U.S. 5th Fleet chaplain's office. Ianucci also held a Catholic service at the embassy, which included readings about finding the strength to overcome adversity.

"Sometimes when we are sitting in one place and we can't see what tomorrow holds, we must have faith that tomorrow will be better than today," said Ianucci.

After the service, Sailors spoke with the women about their time at the shelter and their families in the Philippines. Many of the women smiled when they spoke of each other and the comfort they provide one another, describing their relationships as an extended family.

Smiles continued as the women and Sailors competed on mixed teams during a game of charades.

Ensign Kayla Inouye described the visit as a starring moment during her visit to Bahrain.

"It was a truly humbling experience to hear the challenges these women have faced while being separated from their families," said Inouye, "yet they are still able to laugh and smile and find joy in life."

Makin Island is the flagship of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, and is deployed with the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

For additional information on the 11th MEU contact Maj. Craig Thomas, 11th MEU public affairs officer at craig.thomas@makin-island.usmc.mil; or Lt. David Gardner, Commander, Amphibious Squadron 5 public affairs officer at gardnedm@lhd8.navy.mil.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from USS Makin Island (LHD 8), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd8/, www.facebook.com/USSMakinIsland, or www.twitter.com/USSMakinIsland.

For more news from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, visit www.facebook.com/11thmeu, www.twitter.com/11thmeu or www.dvidshub.net/unit/11MEU.