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