Serving and Army of Servants

With the Holidays bustling around us, the women of our local church congregation (we call our congregations "wards" because we divide ourselves up geographically. That way we worship with our neighbors, and we are nearby fellow churchgoers so we can support and help each other in time of need. Just a little "mormonism" for the day...)were asked to feed a large group of full-time missionaries. This is quite an undertaking, to prepare a hot meal for over 70 strapping boys, some 12 beautiful young women and a smattering of retired couples. These missionaries have volunteered their time for 18-24 months. They pay their own expenses and spend all their days in the service of others. Their first duty is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. They also give service in the community and stand as wonderful examples for the youth of the church. They live meagerly during their service and we church members often have them in our homes for meals. Missionaries are between 19-22 years old. They should be off partying in college, thinking about themselves and generally living it up; but no. Instead they dedicate themselves to Christ, they leave their homes and families to serve wherever they are called (even Texas) and often they learn new languages and participate in cultures foreign to their own. THey are paired with a companion, and that partnership changes multiple times over the course of their service, so they are constantly learning to get along with, help, encourage work hard with many different kinds of people (of course, the boy missionaries or "elders" are NEVER paired to be a companion to the girl missionaries or "sisters"...I'm sure you knew that ;)

So, with holiday crazy-ness all the way around 30-40 women cooked hams, made funeral potatoes and homemade rolls. Many more made candy necklaces, which were given to the missionaries as christmas gifts from us all. Even more donated neckties and appropriate "girl" accessories so these servants to look forward to a little something new. The children in our congregation wrote letters and colored Christmas cards that were set at each plate. Some of us decorated the church gym to look a little more like home, and even more still served and cleaned up the meal. It was a mighty effort to support a mighty cause. And so well worth it. A song of thanks was all they had to give in return; oh yea, and their two years of dedicated service...



missionaries display full plates of warm food, and candy necklaces as they choose which tie to add to their small collections.

In this church, the world is very small. Here you see Elder CARTER HURST from our old congregation in Boise Idaho. Elder Hurst was called to serve in this mission, and has been doing so faithfully unknown to us-when I showed up to help at the luncheon he recognized me and said hello! My John used to be Carter's scout leader, and has seen him tough out 50 mile hikes and do all sorts of shenanigans in a younger day. Just look at this clean cut, clean living young man! How fun to watch a boy become a servant of the God he's come to know and Love for himself.

This mighty group of servants, all arranged for a photo op. Parents hear from their missionary sons and daughters about once a week, and only by letter or email. These kids call home on Christmas during their missions and that's it; these photos will go home to families, and I guarantee they'll be placed in prominent places for all to see the service of their missionary son or daughter.