Last month I finally got Home Teachers. Instead of waiting for them to set an appointment with me, I set an appointment with them. I think sometimes HT don't realize how important it is to single women to have diligent home teachers who actually make a monthly home visit. Oh, wait, isn't that how it is supposed to be? Yes, even if an individual or family is doing well, or appears to be doing well, Home Teaching is important. I have a friend whose marriage and family life appears to be honkey dorey from the outside, but inside the home, the marriage is struggling and testimonies are faltering. Her Home Teacher came over last month (first time they'd had Home Teachers in several months) and he left a General Conference talk and a challenge. He had no idea that his simple challenge changed that family.
I'm sure you are curious about MY new Home Teachers and the title to this blog post. Well, they came over, as scheduled by me, shared a nice message and asked if there was anything they could do for me. At the moment, I had nothing, but I assured them I would find something. Yesterday, I found something. A dead bird! Gross! A dead bird on my back porch. Ugh. I have no idea where it came from (well, yeah, the sky, but why was it on my porch?). I almost puked. The thought of picking it up caused me to dry heave and run into the house for fresh air that didn't have dead bird air wafting close to my nostrils. How in the world was I going to get rid of it? Oh, wait, I was not going to get rid of it...this was a job for the Home Teachers! Yes! I had found something for them to do. I knew they would be thrilled with an opportunity to serve!
So this afternoon, I called one of my HT's wife's. I told her about the dead bird on the porch and asked if he could help out. She assured me her husband could take care of it and as we tried to coordinate schedules, we decided I didn't need to be home and he could come through the back gate and take care of the deceased.
I got home from work and two of the popsicle kids came over for candy and to look at my garden they helped tend while I was traveling this summer. I noticed the bird was gone. Hooray! The Home Teacher was quick about his daring duty.
Now, you may call me a whimp or a sissy, I will proudly claim those titles. I don't know if I am physically able to handle disposing of a dead bird. I continue to dry heaved writing this post.
I went merrily on my way to our Young Women's activity and after, I received this text from the HT's wife:
Hey, my husband just got back from your house. I thought you said it was a bird but he said it was a kitten. I could have misheard you...I have a hard time understanding other people on the phone.
My response:
Ah! It WAS a bird! It was gone so I thought he came! Was there a dead cat?!? EWWWWWWWWWWW! Did it eat the dead bird ???
Her response:
Yes, it was a dead kitten. Maybe the kitten ate the bird.
Gagging sounds coming from me. What in the heck? I had a dead bird AND a dead cat in my back yard!?!? I had no idea there was a pet cemetery in my backyard. What a nightmare. All I have to say is THANK HEAVENS FOR HOME TEACHERS!
"If you’ll think about the families you visit, those of you who are
blessed to be called home teachers, you know the help they need is
beyond your casual effort." Elder Henry B. Eyring, April 1998
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Member Care
Last month, I was blessed to go to
England to see the British
Pageant. Because I am single, I don't have permanent travel
companion. I have had many WONDERFUL and FUN travel companions in the
past, but for this trip, trying to find someone to go to England with was a
little challenging. I asked my VT companion, former roommates, married
friends, single friends, etc. however no one could leave their kids, take
the time off work, justify the cost, etc. I had the time, money saved,
etc. and I really wanted to see the Pageant, so I decided to go anyway.
Luckily, I have a former college roommate, Terisha, whose husband is stationed
in England and I was able to stay with her for most of my trip. She
showed me around and did some sight seeing with me in London. Don't hate
me, but while I was in England, I toured the Harry Potter Movie Studio!
Yes, I cried I was so excited.
I saw "Warhorse" and "Wicked."
LOVED them both!!!! We rented bikes and rode around the
city--neither of us had been on a bike for several years and I was in a
skirt--it was a fun adventure. We also drove to the London Temple.
Terisha's Stake chartered a bus to drive up to the Pageant and I rode with them. My plane home was out of the Manchester airport, so I had to stay the night by myself in Chorley, while she returned home on the bus with the Stake. The Pageant was AMAZING! My friend, Alex Mackenzie Johns, directed it and another friend, Charly Burridge Jones, was the stage manager (I met them both while working on the Nauvoo Pageant).
I didn't know how I was going to get from the Pageant to my hotel. I knew some other friends from the Nauvoo Pageant were going to be there, but I also knew they probably would not have cars--I was right. The Pageant ended at 10:15 p.m. I saw a few friends, but they were all from the U.S. and...none of them had cars or a way to help me get to my hotel. I didn't really know how to get to there by foot and it was dark--probably not the safest for a single gal. I kept trying to see if any of my friends were going in the direction of my hotel--nothing.
After the cast prayer at 11:00 p.m. and still no prospects of shuttle service, I started to get worried. I kept praying that I would find someone that could take me. Because I was unfamiliar with the area, my friend gave me her laptop to look it up on Mapquest. I had to go to the Stake Center up the hill to get WIFI. On my way, I was feeling desperate. As I passed by cast members and audience members, to no one in particular, I asked, "Anyone going to the Travel Lodge?" (of course, I said this in an English accent). I kept asking, hopeful that someone would be headed in that direction. No one. Some ladies, dressed in Pageant costumes, like everyone else, said they were not staying there as they started their car. I moved on and then they called out and asked me which Travel Lodge. I told them and even though they were not staying at the hotel, they offered to drive me! So, I was taken to my hotel by some cast members--Mormons I had never met before. They were so kind and eager to help me in my desperation. I finally learned their names as we headed for the hotel. I don't know what I would have done, had they not offered me a ride. They were truly an answer to prayer.
Sunday morning I arranged for a taxi to take me to church, but I didn't know
how I was going to get from the church to the bus station to get to the
airport. I entered the building with my luggage and the first people I
met were Senior Missionaries from Utah. They had only been in England two
weeks. They offered to take me to the bus station, but they said they
still were learning how to drive in England and didn't know their way
around. We took my luggage to their car to be stored during church
meetings. I attend Relief Society and basked in the spirit of Pageant
aftermath excitement.
At the opening of Sunday School, the Senior Missionary pulled me aside and said he found someone else (during Elder's Quorum) to take me to the bus station. He introduced me and we exchanged greetings as the lesson began. The man leaned over to his wife and whispered something. He turned back to me said before he took me to the bus station, he and his wife would like to have me join them for dinner. I had only been in the church building for a little over an hour and I had my luggage safely stored, secured a ride to the bus station, and sweetly been given a dinner invitation. Sunday dinner had already been planned for family members and some friends visiting for the Pageant--easy at pie to add one more Mormon to the menu. Who does that? I didn't even know his name and in a hour, I would be eating pickled beets and mashed potatoes in his home.
After a delicious dinner and delightful conversation, my new friends drove me not just to the bus station, but all the way to the airport!
I feel so fortunate to belong to a church that
takes care of its people. It is comforting to know that I can go anywhere
in the world, and I can immediately find kindred spirits and kind souls.
As members of the same faith, we know we have similar goals and desires.
We want to be like Jesus Christ. We live to take care of each
other. My experience in England was just one more example of
"Member Care."
BTW, We don't just take care of our people...
"Using funds donated by generous members, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sends food, clothing, and other essentials to relieve the suffering of adults and children all over the world. These humanitarian donations, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in the last decade, are made without any consideration of religion, race, or nationality.
Our massive relief effort following the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami provided $13 million in cash and relief supplies. In addition, more than 31,000 Church-sponsored volunteers gave more than 600,000 hours of service. Our humanitarian assistance to the victims of Hurricane Sandy in the eastern United States included large donations of various resources, plus almost 300,000 hours of service in cleanup efforts by about 28,000 Church members. Among many other examples last year, we provided 300,000 pounds (136,000 kg) of clothing and shoes for the refugees in the African nation of Chad. During the last quarter century we have assisted nearly 30 million people in 179 countries. Truly, the people called “Mormons” know how to give to the poor and needy."
-Elder Dallin H. Oaks at the April 2013 General Conference
 |
| Gryffindor Commons Room |
 |
| Riding the Night Bus |
Terisha's Stake chartered a bus to drive up to the Pageant and I rode with them. My plane home was out of the Manchester airport, so I had to stay the night by myself in Chorley, while she returned home on the bus with the Stake. The Pageant was AMAZING! My friend, Alex Mackenzie Johns, directed it and another friend, Charly Burridge Jones, was the stage manager (I met them both while working on the Nauvoo Pageant).
I didn't know how I was going to get from the Pageant to my hotel. I knew some other friends from the Nauvoo Pageant were going to be there, but I also knew they probably would not have cars--I was right. The Pageant ended at 10:15 p.m. I saw a few friends, but they were all from the U.S. and...none of them had cars or a way to help me get to my hotel. I didn't really know how to get to there by foot and it was dark--probably not the safest for a single gal. I kept trying to see if any of my friends were going in the direction of my hotel--nothing.
After the cast prayer at 11:00 p.m. and still no prospects of shuttle service, I started to get worried. I kept praying that I would find someone that could take me. Because I was unfamiliar with the area, my friend gave me her laptop to look it up on Mapquest. I had to go to the Stake Center up the hill to get WIFI. On my way, I was feeling desperate. As I passed by cast members and audience members, to no one in particular, I asked, "Anyone going to the Travel Lodge?" (of course, I said this in an English accent). I kept asking, hopeful that someone would be headed in that direction. No one. Some ladies, dressed in Pageant costumes, like everyone else, said they were not staying there as they started their car. I moved on and then they called out and asked me which Travel Lodge. I told them and even though they were not staying at the hotel, they offered to drive me! So, I was taken to my hotel by some cast members--Mormons I had never met before. They were so kind and eager to help me in my desperation. I finally learned their names as we headed for the hotel. I don't know what I would have done, had they not offered me a ride. They were truly an answer to prayer.
 |
| These are the darling ladies that drove me to my hotel. |
At the opening of Sunday School, the Senior Missionary pulled me aside and said he found someone else (during Elder's Quorum) to take me to the bus station. He introduced me and we exchanged greetings as the lesson began. The man leaned over to his wife and whispered something. He turned back to me said before he took me to the bus station, he and his wife would like to have me join them for dinner. I had only been in the church building for a little over an hour and I had my luggage safely stored, secured a ride to the bus station, and sweetly been given a dinner invitation. Sunday dinner had already been planned for family members and some friends visiting for the Pageant--easy at pie to add one more Mormon to the menu. Who does that? I didn't even know his name and in a hour, I would be eating pickled beets and mashed potatoes in his home.
After a delicious dinner and delightful conversation, my new friends drove me not just to the bus station, but all the way to the airport!
 |
| These are the folks I ate Sunday dinner with in Chorley. |
BTW, We don't just take care of our people...
"Using funds donated by generous members, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sends food, clothing, and other essentials to relieve the suffering of adults and children all over the world. These humanitarian donations, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in the last decade, are made without any consideration of religion, race, or nationality.
Our massive relief effort following the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami provided $13 million in cash and relief supplies. In addition, more than 31,000 Church-sponsored volunteers gave more than 600,000 hours of service. Our humanitarian assistance to the victims of Hurricane Sandy in the eastern United States included large donations of various resources, plus almost 300,000 hours of service in cleanup efforts by about 28,000 Church members. Among many other examples last year, we provided 300,000 pounds (136,000 kg) of clothing and shoes for the refugees in the African nation of Chad. During the last quarter century we have assisted nearly 30 million people in 179 countries. Truly, the people called “Mormons” know how to give to the poor and needy."
-Elder Dallin H. Oaks at the April 2013 General Conference
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