How do I share?

I've noticed that since I got married, and now have a child, I tend to stay home...a lot. I've also noticed that spending so much time at home has drastically reduced the amount of friends I have, especially ones not of our faith. In fact, I'm pretty sure the count is now at zero, unless you count neighbors, though, at this point, I don't. The only real interaction I get with other adult women is at church, where everyone is...well...a member of the church. So, since I pretty much have no friends who aren't LDS, how can I do missionary work? I've wondered about this for awhile now, and I think I've found my answer.
You may be surprised to find out just how many people in the church still need missionary work & fellowshipping. I've seen it first hand in my calling as the Relief Society 2nd Counselor. We go on weekly presidency visits to those who are less active, people we've never even met, or sisters we are just concerned about. The first visit I went on in my new calling was to a 19-year-old girl that we hadn't seen at church since we were moved into a new ward.
We knocked...she opened...we visited for over an hour & it seemed like she was asking all the right questions. Is there a singles ward here? I'd like to learn more about the gospel, are there sister missionaries that could teach me? Where is the church? It was amazing! She is doing so well, & all it took was one visit from sisters who cared enough to go!
I am constantly amazed (though you think I'd get used to it by now) that every time we visit we are guided to the right person at just the right time, when they really need us the most. I've seen lives changed by one visit. People just want to know that they are missed & cared about. Missionary work doesn't have to involve passing out Books of Mormon or Pass-along cards (though that is a great way!). It can simply be doing your visiting teaching, especially to less-active members. It can be sending a letter to a sister you don't know very well. I could tell story after story, just from the last 9 months of serving in the Relief Society of sisters who came back simply because someone took a few moments to let them know they are loved. It's a wonderful feeling to know that you are doing what the Lord wants you to!

Need A Jump?

Before getting hitched I served on the Compassionate Service committee for two years. My husband, when fresh off his mission, was called as our singles’ Ward Mission Leader. Surprisingly, we worked very closely together in our callings. We updated each other on contact information for less-actives, exchanged insights into the needs of members in our ward and went on visits together.

Our callings, extended and accepted a year apart, united us in purpose and prepared us for future responsibilities we’d share as husband and wife.

For the first three years of marriage we were called together to serve as: Sunbeam teachers, nursery leaders, youth Sunday School teachers (14-16), CTR5 teachers, youth Sunday School teachers (12-14), and ward magazine representatives.

There were a few months once we moved to Massachusetts we didn’t share a calling.
Then we were called as the activities committee. That was a year ago.
Now we have been released as the activities committee.
And my husband has accepted the call as Branch Mission Leader.

Full circle.

But, serving in a singles’ ward varies greatly from serving in a family unit. Not to mention every ward and branch has different demographics to work with.
Also, serving as a single varies greatly from serving as a family.

The hardest hurdle for this calling is being united in purpose. With a toddler, a baby-on-the-way, my calling, his calling, meetings, his work and school schedule, and the in’s and out’s of my duties, who really has the time, right?

Missionary work: bah, humbug!

However, last Tuesday the missionaries recommended a way we as a family can be united in missionary work.
They gave us the following list and asked us to generate a catalog of non-members we know. We were instructed to pray daily about the people we had written down, to ask about ways we can serve them or share the Gospel with them, and to follow the promptings we received.

-click the enlarge-

We’ve been doing this for almost a week now.
The results have been:
1) uniting us in missionary work as a family and
2) strengthening our faith that the Lord is preparing people to receive us and the restored gospel.
I have remained surprised as we continue to add people to our catalog whether because we somehow managed to overlook them initially or have just met this past week.

This exercise is a very easy way to jump-start
missionary work in your life.

-AND-

Baked-potato Bar
Bake-up some spuds, toss a salad, and serve with garlic bread.
Easy, cheap, feeds a crowd.
Possible toppings include:

• salsa
• mushrooms
• onions
• cheese
• chili
• cilantro
• bacon
• ham
• butter
• sour cream
• French’s fried onion
• chives
• cream of broccoli soup
• gravy
• any number of veggies

(what do you like on your baked potato?)


for Dessert:
Creamy Jell-O Pie

Topic: October 24 week

Share ways your family supports missionary work

in your ward or branch

(and maybe a missionary-friendly recipe for those dinner appointments)

Don't forget to e-mail Paula your ideas for upcoming topics!