A nice arrangement for an lovely evening. Notice the center pieces. It was a cake made to look like a pumpkin. It was the dessert. Clever. Also, notice Brother Esplin. He was the Bishopric Representative.
Holly is giving us the rundown and letting us know the program. She had us all stand up and say our name and tell something that we were thankful for that began with the first letter of our name.
Angela, Abbie, Becky and Katy singing "My Sister's Hands."
Ladies getting their dinner of soup, bread, and several salads.
A few shots of those who attended. I'm sorry I'm not putting names. I don't know all of the first names, although many of the faces are familiar to me. This evening was very well attended.
Sister Kris Thomas and Sister Jody Deryke from the Stake Relief Society.
Photo's of the Nursery after the event. The Young Women and others did a great job with the Nursery. I'm not positive all of those who helped, but THANK YOU so much. You did a great job. Honestly, we could not have done it without your help. So many mother's would have stayed home.
The pictures always come first. I know, I should be completely literate in my computer skills, but I know what I need to know. This may end up just being a post, in which case, I'm sorry. I wanted it to have FEELING like we had at the event. I'm just going to read through my notes and try to make sense of them. If I don't mention a quote and who said it, please forgive me. I've added a few things here and there that I heard this evening or at other times.
The evening began with us each standing in turn saying our name and something we were thankful for that began with the first letter of our name. Angela, Abbie, Becky and Katy sang "My Sister's Hands" to set the feeling of the meeting.
Connie created a video of one of the sister's in our ward's story of how Visiting Teaching helped her. It was directly related to Visiting Teaching. Elaine had a great Visiting Teacher who helped her for many years as her VT and friend. I didn't catch Holly's last name, but she was persistent and genuine. It was very up lifting and made you feel like the work you do does truly make a difference. The program is an inspired.
Some of the comments Holly Clark gave us were that we should cherish each other, watch over each other and comfort each other. If you can develop a true sisterhood with your Visiting Teacher or those that you teach, you can handle trials better. You have a friend that you can call any time that you know will be there for you. And they are serious when they say "You have our phone number. Call us if you need anything." Many make up a little fridge magnet and hope that it is on your fridge for quick reference. Seldom are those just words said without meaning them. I couldn't find the exact quote but Bro. Eyering said that "You are called to represent His voice". Julie Beck said " There are no small callings to represent the Lord. Visiting Teaching is the Lord's program of Individual Watch Care. We are called to help the Savior". Although the Relief Society Presidency would LOVE to take care of all of us individually at all times, there are only so many hours in the day, they have families, too, and they are planning inspiring things to help bolster us. PLEASE don't be offended if they aren't at your door. They trust Visiting Teacher's to follow the spirit and their hearts in their place. Holly told the story of the Star Fish. Many had not heard it before. I remembered it from Young Women. There was a little boy on the beach filled with star fish. He was tossing them back into the water one by one. A man walked by and asked him why he was doing that. There were to many of them and he wasn't going to make a difference. The little boy continued throwing star fish in one by one as he told the man that he had made a difference in that one's life. As Visiting Teacher's, we can make a difference in one, two or three peoples lives. Often times we don't even realize the difference we make.
If your Visiting Teacher's are trying, please let them in. If you aren't seeing them, please realize that they may not know exactly how to approach it. In our ward, it is possible that this is the first VT assignment they have had. You may need your Visiting Teachers. Or maybe they have been assigned to you because they need YOU. We can always be someone's sister. As Visiting Teacher's we should make the best effort to go because you never want to be the one forgotten or left out. I know I've said that in a post before the Convention, but it is very true.
Candace's mom, Sister Giles, stood up to share an experience. When they lived in another State. She asked this woman about visiting teaching. She had 9 sister's to visit. She had one sister 50 miles out one direction, 30 miles another, etc. She visited each one every month because she never wanted to be the one forgotten or left out. Yes, I've said that again. But I don't think that can be shared enough.
When you begin visiting teaching you sometimes feel awkward, uncomfortable, insecure, scared and out of your comfort zone. All of us feel/ have felt that way. Visiting Teaching is so much more than just doing it so you can tell your supervisor that you did it. You truly make a difference in someone elses life.
Brother Esplin gave a few words. He spoke of something Steven Covey had mentioned. He spoke of the "Trim Tab". Ships steer by the Rutter. A Trim Tab is a tiny piece on the back of the Rutter. The Trim Tab is what makes the Rutter steer. It is such a tiny, mostly overlooked piece, but the ship could not steer as it does with out it or if it malfunctioned. Brother Esplin said that it isn't the big things that always make the most difference. Whatever calling you have, it's the small callings that help the larger callings happen. The Relief Society president couldn't do her job as well if it were not for Visiting Teacher's.
Brother Esplin said it doesn't matter what big influence you have in the church, just a smile, a kind word, or even acknowledgment makes a huge impact. Relief Society was established by God, through a Prophet of God. Visiting Teaching is a Divine calling. Not just busy work.
Shannon Guyman, Utah said : "I have heard people say that visiting teaching is a pointless inconvenience, that life is just too busy and that there are more important things to do." Would you tell the Prophet that this is what you thought or why you didn't complete a calling you said you would do? Whatever that calling may be.
I have two stories here that I hope is ok to add. I didn't grow up in an active family. I didn't know what Temple's were for until I began attending Young Women with a friend. My parent's are baptized member's and I was baptized, but my brother hasn't been baptized into anything. My mom had visiting teachers who thought her an inconvenience. Then, when I was in high school, she had an amazing VT. She came every month, even if she just stood at the door with a note, jar of jam, or smile. Linda eventually got my mom to attend what was called Homemaking then. Long story short, my mom and Linda became great friends. Linda truly cared about my mom. And was persistent in a non intrusive way. My mom has lived in Switzerland for nearly 22 years. When she came to visit me when we lived in my home town she made a lunch appointment with Linda. My mom never became active in the church but the friendship lasted many many years. And survived continents. Linda also helped my mom understand why I wanted to get married in the Temple and help her with her apprehension. I don't know who she would have trusted to ask the questions she had.
This story is about just giving a smile and saying hello. You may have heard it. There was a boy leaving high school with an armload of books. His head was down and he was walking quickly. Someone knocked the books out of his hand and another boy stopped to help him gather his things. This second boy talked to the first. Asking him questions about himself, what classes he was taking, and such. The second boy was popular and well established in the school. That day began a friendship. They were best friends throughout school. The first boy graduated high school as Valedictorian. In his speech he said all the right things. He closed by thanking his friend for saving his life. He said his friend didn't know this but he was heading home to kill himself. Nothing seemed right, kids were always teasing him, he just couldn't think of any way to feel better. He said the day he met his friend, he had cleaned out his school locker so his mom wouldn't have to later. But his whole life changed with a smile and kindness from someone who began as a stranger. This may be extreme, but the message is true none the less.
Holly made hand outs that had this story:
When my daughter, Mary, was just a small child, she was asked to perform for a PTA talent contest, this is her experience exactly as she wrote it in her seven-year-old script.
What Can I Be?"I was practicing the piano one day, and it made me cry because it was so bad. Then I decided to practice ballet, and it made me cry more; it was so bad too. So then I decided to draw a picture because I knew I could do that good, but it was horrid. Of course it made me
cry".
"Then my little three-year-old brother came up, and I said, 'Duffy, what can I be? What can I be? I can't be a piano player or an artist or a ballet girl. What can I be?' he came up to me and whispered,
'You can be my sister.'"
Patricia T. Holland
Thank you so much to those who put in so much time and effort to make such an enjoyable evening.
Lines of people getting their food.
