it is true, service comes in such an amazing way from things that are so unexpected. we served in spanish branch for 7 plus years since we moved to california, and it was sacrifice for sure, we had to drive for the last 3 years 2 cars, since alf was in the presidency and it was tough sometimes, because our church buiding is only 2 minutes away and the branch was 20 some minutes, but the rewards you get out of it are just simply amazing, the people you help and serve are so blessed by your service, but at the end of the day, you are the one that receives double because you know that there is soooo much more out there, and sometimes this people are soo limited in what they have and what they do, that they just can't see further away of all the opportunities that they receive and will have. the church is wonderful but it is tough because sometimes a lot of these people have never known about it, and comming to it as adults, or children for the first time, there are a lot, and i mean a lot of pulls that magnetized them away from church so it is a challenge for them to continue to go, even on a weekly basis, but then when you see them be so faithful, that only adds to your own faithfulness, and that is when you and members that are willing to serve in these circumstances make a difference in these people's lives. i always thought in serving all these years...many are called and few are chosen, because of the experience of providing service many don't want to pay the price and do it...because it is inconvenient or hard, or whatever, but when you do it, it truly is miraculous. i love that you said that they sing that song everytime someone leaves, special, like in the pioneer times....you know kristi it is amazing what you can do to serve, even if you think you are not soo talented, you become blessed because you manage to bring soo much hope and good for these people...what i mean to say is that you are soo much needed there, than when you come away from there, you see how easy 'regular wards have it' also you come after many years of service, thinking....i just want to blend in for a while in our reg ward...but then they spot you immediately and give you a calling...its okay...i miss my time in that branch it was truly exceptional. sorry about the big, long sermon.
Kristi, I love your Sunday posts! I am so impressed with the service you are giving, and the rewards as well. How wonderful what your bishop said about no one caring where the service comes from. It sounds perfectly draining, filling, difficult, and wonderful to make the effort to do what you are doing!
What a wonderful post. I can totally understand how special your ward is, yet how difficult it must be to continue serving there.
Back when you were first discussing the possibility of going to this ward I was totally amazed that you guys were considering it. It sounded so much harder than walking across the street to your local building. I'm sure it helped that you and Jeff are both return missionaries are such energetic and giving people.
The perspective this experience has given your family is life-changing, what a gift that is. Really to be reminded weekly in such an extreme way that you have so much (how funny about the dvd player in the car just to get to church) temporally, physically, emotionally, family, education, opportunities, such abundance. You must just crash when you come home each week.
I'm sure the Lord will strengthen your family as long as you continue to do this.
I love these posts. I miss the Capitol Hill ward whenever I read about your experiences. Going to the CH ward made it so much easier to dedicate the whole Sabbath to the Lord. There is always so much to be done in these wards, especially when it comes to the youth. They need all the encouragement they can get, and having a shining example like your family has to be such a blessing to them, even if it's taxing on you.
I love the story about the tutoring program. So many acquaintances have participated in programs like this in DC, and I know it has blessed them just as much as it's blessed those on the receiving end.
I am so glad you choose to share these experiences with us. The blessings and memories of this year will long outlast the weariness you feel. That is one of the most amazing things about having a Savior and doing his work he helps us keep going when we think we have given all we can give.
the tutoring program sounds amazing.. service is something that has been on my mind a ton lately.. what a blessing that the ward is so open and ready for any help and service.. what a blessing this is for your family.. I imagine your days are long..
love the comment about wants becoming needs.. and you still having the dvd for the car! love that.. we live in a blessed time! thanks for sharing your life- and especially your sweet moments of service!
i love this post, kristi. what a beautiful experience you are having and what a growing experience for your family. this will make a huge impact on your girls as they grow older. that last thought- 'how do you continue to give when you feel you have nothing left to give?' is really interesting to me. it's at those points in our lives, i think, that we realize how much we can become instruments in god's hands if we let ourselves be. when we have nothing left to give, he does- and he can use us in that way. what a wonderful example of service and love your family is- no wonder you are tired. it's a good tired, though- i'm sure. :)
Thank you for taking the time to share every detail. I needed this perpsective today. The happiest times in our marriage and family have been when we are serving in ways that stretched us in ways we did not know possible.(1-In a Migrant Farm Workers Branch 2-My Husband being the Bishop of a Singles Ward and me home alone with little ones)We worried about our children and the affect it would have on them. They have grown in to wonderful adults, who have (and are) served missions, and continue to roll up their sleeves and dive in to serve in some amazing capacities. They speak of those days with fondness. They also know how to serve at any level under any circumstance. Their ability to love others unconditionally with no judgement, I believe is a result of the service opportunities we have had. You will never be the same--for the better, as a result of this season of service.
Kristi, thanks so much for sharing this. I needed a little perspective. I have been struggling with my "difficult" calling teaching a rather challenging class in Primary. I come home totally exhausted but it pales in comparison to what you must be feeling. I needed the reminder too that I should be looking for the blessings of the calling. I need a more joyful, selfless, open heart. I would bet it would make a difference for me. I don't know that the kids in the class would get any easier but I would probably feel a lot better about my Sabbath. Anyhow, thanks again...
Again, as with Jill's recent blog post, ppl are coming up with fantastic words of comfort and support, for which I'm glad.
In addition to all these words of wisdom, I just wanted to add that it's thrilling to hear that your girls are so immersed in this church, e.g. AK's singing! It sounds such a friendly place. I'm sure God will keep you filled up to the brim with enough fuel for the journey!
Love Claudia's 'Many are called...' quote. I'd forgotten about that and it's really got me thinking about it again. Thank you, C!
I always enjoy reading your posts about your experiences on Sundays. Although I am not LDS, I can definitely see how this experience can be totally overwhelming... in good way and in not-so-good ways.
You and your family have been very blessed, but it hasn't come without great sacrifices, so I sincerely hope that you don't ever feel guilty. Enjoy your success and don't be afraid to share your stuggles so that others can see that they too can have what you have.
Sunday I can't believe 4 Sunday's have gone by and I have not taken the time to write about our experiences downtown going to church. I thought for sure last week with being home I would have the time to play Sunday Catch Up.
It has been 6 months now and I feel like I am finally getting to know people's names. The travel down to church seems for some reason to be getting harder on the kids and us. They seem to fall asleep 5 minutes before we pull up and then we spend the next three hours with cranky kids. We have not had a video player in our car for sometime and out of desperation I went to buy one just for Sunday's, hoping it would help the time we spend in the car. I had told this to our Bishop's wife in our other ward and she said to me. "It is interesting when you start to think your wants now become your needs" I take her advice whole heartedly and appreciate it, because it is true. But I still have the movie player.
A year ago our Bishop started a community tutoring program on Wednesday nights at our church building. With the help of young professionals in the area the building became a place where anyone could bring job applications, homework or such to get done. A few weeks ago we had a special sacrament meeting on Education. A few of the students who tutored spoke, a few tutors spoke and one of the directors of the program. The had a special musical number with all the students and tutors. I counted 48 people singing - ages ranging from the young to the old. It was absolutely beautiful. Years will go by before I forget that feeling I had that day. When Andy spoke he went through each student and tutor talking about what they had accomplished the past year. He spoke about one boy that on the day he met his tutor he found out that he had been the Valedictorian of his High School class. The boy asked, what is a Valedictorian? His tutor told them he was the top of his class and the student said, "then I want to be that too." This student finished the year with a 4.0 GPA. They told story after story of the lives that were changed from this program and it was the tutors as well as the students. There is an upcoming article in the Ensign (our church magazine) about this amazing year in our ward. I sat there thinking, "why am I so lucky to be here and listen and feel what I feel" It is days like that 6 hours Sunday seems to shrink.
A few weeks ago the mission president in the area came to speak with his wife. It was the last few weeks of their mission and such a blessing to hear them give our ward a farewell. I know they probably feel endearing to all the wards, but there was just something in their eyes when they spoke to ours. There have been many converts in our ward over the past 3 years and they seemed to know them all. The mission president told the most amazing story of a young missionary who found and taught the ambassador to another country and since that has opened their country to having missionary work there. The story is unbelievable. We have a tradition in our ward that when it is a members last Sunday the ward stands at the end of the meeting and sings, "God be with you 'till we Meet Again" There have been a few times they have done this for different people and I just think what will it be like when it is our last Sunday. Seeing the faces of this couple who has given three years of their lives for bettering a community, while feeling the spirit of the song, again makes me feel bad when I get frustrated about the time commitment and difficulty of attending this ward.[Image]one of the homes by our church building
On Father's day it was a wonderful Sunday. There are no a lot of Dads in our ward Most of the young men come to church all by themselves. Because of the smaller ward we seemed to be blessed with opportunities that may not happen in a bigger ward. Jeff and 3 other men got to sing in Sacrament meeting with all the primary during sacrament meeting. They sang "Teach Me to Walk in the Light" (if you have never heard the song, take a minute to do so) Annie Kate has sung more in 6 months in church than she probably has in 8 years. I loved seeing Jeff up there with two of his girls. Sally Jane yelling "Hi dad" added to my emotion, but not to the song.
The fun thing about this ward is it is where tourists visit. They have a tradition where after Sacrament meeting everyone visiting stands and introduces themselves. We had 37 visitors the other week. Awesome. Last Sunday I missed a good mail blogger who visited with her family. It made being sick that much harder. I can't wait to hear how she liked it.
Primary is so unique and I call myself the Primary Bouncer. My heart breaks the more I learn specific situations of each child and it helps me to be more patient with them, but I still struggle with how you discipline someone who is never disciplined without having them never want to return to church. The stories of my Sunday's in the basement (where Primary is) seem almost unreal when I tell them to friends. [Image]many churches have large tables set up downtown on Sunday's for people to come get clothes or other necessities.
Two Sunday's ago I left church and got in the car and seriously cried for the ride home. I said to Jeff "why does my life get to be so good and some others have it so hard?" It just does not seem fair. It is almost jealousy (if you have not read Jill's amazing post and answers, indulge yourself, there is no other blog like hers) in reverse, I don't feel like I deserve what I have and want it to be more even and spread out. I come home every Sunday and appreciate my bed, my food, my clothes, air conditioning, my tall skinny house, more after going to church downtown. It has just been such a blessing for me but still seems to be getting a little more difficult on our family to find the energy to do it. It seems to be really "Stretching" (my word of the year) me and my emotions in areas I didn't even know exsisted. I find myself wanting to do more than I am doing. Give more, expect less. I will never forget our first Sunday when we asked the Bishop what we tell people why were we were going to church there. No one really knows that we live far away and have been asked to attend this ward. We said, we don't want anyone to think we think we are doing something they can't or step on anyone's toes." I will never forget the look on his face as he said, "no one cares why you are here, we just need the service we don't care how it comes or from where". It seems that in other social situations when someone comes into help there can be a boundary of "this is how WE do it" ... there is none of that here which is so refreshing. No one cares how something is conducted, announced, explained or taught. Everyone is so happy to have help, love and support it does not matter how it comes. I love it. I have learned great lessons in this. Because there are such big yet simple day to day needs that need to be met, no one cares if someone didn't get invited to something or how a handout was made.
So to sum up my long post about the feelings of the past few weeks. We feel so blessed to be doing what we are doing, but also tired. It is amazing how service can recharge you though when you think you can't give anymore. I have often said that if any other member in the Stake came to our ward one Sunday, there would be line out the door of people wanting to do what we have been so lucky to do, but I still wonder how you continue to give when you don't know if you have any more to give?
posted by everything pink! at 6:19 AM on Jul 8, 2007
Untitled
14 Comments -
it is true, service comes in such an amazing way from things that are so unexpected. we served in spanish branch for 7 plus years since we moved to california, and it was sacrifice for sure, we had to drive for the last 3 years 2 cars, since alf was in the presidency and it was tough sometimes, because our church buiding is only 2 minutes away and the branch was 20 some minutes, but the rewards you get out of it are just simply amazing, the people you help and serve are so blessed by your service, but at the end of the day, you are the one that receives double because you know that there is soooo much more out there, and sometimes this people are soo limited in what they have and what they do, that they just can't see further away of all the opportunities that they receive and will have. the church is wonderful but it is tough because sometimes a lot of these people have never known about it, and comming to it as adults, or children for the first time, there are a lot, and i mean a lot of pulls that magnetized them away from church so it is a challenge for them to continue to go, even on a weekly basis, but then when you see them be so faithful, that only adds to your own faithfulness, and that is when you and members that are willing to serve in these circumstances make a difference in these people's lives. i always thought in serving all these years...many are called and few are chosen, because of the experience of providing service many don't want to pay the price and do it...because it is inconvenient or hard, or whatever, but when you do it, it truly is miraculous. i love that you said that they sing that song everytime someone leaves, special, like in the pioneer times....you know kristi it is amazing what you can do to serve, even if you think you are not soo talented, you become blessed because you manage to bring soo much hope and good for these people...what i mean to say is that you are soo much needed there, than when you come away from there, you see how easy 'regular wards have it' also you come after many years of service, thinking....i just want to blend in for a while in our reg ward...but then they spot you immediately and give you a calling...its okay...i miss my time in that branch it was truly exceptional. sorry about the big, long sermon.
9:54 AM
Kristi, I love your Sunday posts! I am so impressed with the service you are giving, and the rewards as well. How wonderful what your bishop said about no one caring where the service comes from. It sounds perfectly draining, filling, difficult, and wonderful to make the effort to do what you are doing!
10:01 AM
claudia! THANK YOU!
10:03 AM
What a wonderful post. I can totally understand how special your ward is, yet how difficult it must be to continue serving there.
Back when you were first discussing the possibility of going to this ward I was totally amazed that you guys were considering it. It sounded so much harder than walking across the street to your local building. I'm sure it helped that you and Jeff are both return missionaries are such energetic and giving people.
The perspective this experience has given your family is life-changing, what a gift that is. Really to be reminded weekly in such an extreme way that you have so much (how funny about the dvd player in the car just to get to church) temporally, physically, emotionally, family, education, opportunities, such abundance. You must just crash when you come home each week.
I'm sure the Lord will strengthen your family as long as you continue to do this.
10:58 AM
I love these posts. I miss the Capitol Hill ward whenever I read about your experiences. Going to the CH ward made it so much easier to dedicate the whole Sabbath to the Lord. There is always so much to be done in these wards, especially when it comes to the youth. They need all the encouragement they can get, and having a shining example like your family has to be such a blessing to them, even if it's taxing on you.
I love the story about the tutoring program. So many acquaintances have participated in programs like this in DC, and I know it has blessed them just as much as it's blessed those on the receiving end.
12:40 PM
I am so glad you choose to share these experiences with us. The blessings and memories of this year will long outlast the weariness you feel. That is one of the most amazing things about having a Savior and doing his work he helps us keep going when we think we have given all we can give.
3:29 PM
Glad you are back to posting. I love hearing about your experiences in your ward. I also loved AK's bike for the July 4th parade. Very, very cool.
4:28 PM
the tutoring program sounds amazing.. service is something that has been on my mind a ton lately.. what a blessing that the ward is so open and ready for any help and service.. what a blessing this is for your family.. I imagine your days are long..
love the comment about wants becoming needs.. and you still having the dvd for the car! love that.. we live in a blessed time!
thanks for sharing your life- and especially your sweet moments of service!
7:45 PM
i love this post, kristi. what a beautiful experience you are having and what a growing experience for your family. this will make a huge impact on your girls as they grow older. that last thought- 'how do you continue to give when you feel you have nothing left to give?' is really interesting to me. it's at those points in our lives, i think, that we realize how much we can become instruments in god's hands if we let ourselves be. when we have nothing left to give, he does- and he can use us in that way. what a wonderful example of service and love your family is- no wonder you are tired. it's a good tired, though- i'm sure. :)
9:43 PM
Thank you for taking the time to share every detail. I needed this perpsective today. The happiest times in our marriage and family have been when we are serving in ways that stretched us in ways we did not know possible.(1-In a Migrant Farm Workers Branch 2-My Husband being the Bishop of a Singles Ward and me home alone with little ones)We worried about our children and the affect it would have on them. They have grown in to wonderful adults, who have (and are) served missions, and continue to roll up their sleeves and dive in to serve in some amazing capacities. They speak of those days with fondness. They also know how to serve at any level under any circumstance. Their ability to love others unconditionally with no judgement, I believe is a result of the service opportunities we have had. You will never be the same--for the better, as a result of this season of service.
10:12 PM
Kristi, thanks so much for sharing this. I needed a little perspective. I have been struggling with my "difficult" calling teaching a rather challenging class in Primary. I come home totally exhausted but it pales in comparison to what you must be feeling. I needed the reminder too that I should be looking for the blessings of the calling. I need a more joyful, selfless, open heart. I would bet it would make a difference for me. I don't know that the kids in the class would get any easier but I would probably feel a lot better about my Sabbath. Anyhow, thanks again...
12:48 AM
Again, as with Jill's recent blog post, ppl are coming up with fantastic words of comfort and support, for which I'm glad.
In addition to all these words of wisdom, I just wanted to add that it's thrilling to hear that your girls are so immersed in this church, e.g. AK's singing! It sounds such a friendly place. I'm sure God will keep you filled up to the brim with enough fuel for the journey!
Love Claudia's 'Many are called...' quote. I'd forgotten about that and it's really got me thinking about it again. Thank you, C!
6:14 AM
I always enjoy reading your posts about your experiences on Sundays. Although I am not LDS, I can definitely see how this experience can be totally overwhelming... in good way and in not-so-good ways.
You and your family have been very blessed, but it hasn't come without great sacrifices, so I sincerely hope that you don't ever feel guilty. Enjoy your success and don't be afraid to share your stuggles so that others can see that they too can have what you have.
6:31 AM
I enjoyed the Ensign article today!
5:16 PM