Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

Rockwell Palmer, 19, is a missionary who is making his way around the UK, sharing his faith and helping people out when he can. 

Rockwell landed in the UK from his home in Utah 18 months ago, and has been helping people out with day-to-day tasks in places such as Southampton, Bristol and Poole.

As part of his faith at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, followers are expected to spend two years abroad as missionaries, where they give up their spare time to help people out in the community for free.

Now in Blackwood, Rockwell offered his help in a community group on Facebook and received hundreds of positive comments from people all over Caerphilly County Borough.

Speaking about what the response has meant to him, Rockwell said: “It’s heart-warming to see. I usually put these posts up and they don’t get many responses, the people of Wales have been really kind to me.”

Despite only arriving in Blackwood a week ago, he already has 20 appointments booked in to help people with jobs such as painting and gardening.

“I try to make a difference wherever I go,” he said. “We don’t provide the material, just the labour, that’s the one thing people don’t have the time to offer these days.”

As part of his job as a missionary, Mr Palmer also “spreads the word of Jesus Christ,” which in his words means “sharing peace and joy” with people. 

He continued: “The people of Caerphilly have been really nice to me. Life can be tough sometimes, so to see people be so positive over something as simple as this is awesome.”