Another week. Wow!
Okay, I don't have enough time to rant around like I usually do...so I will try to cut straight to the chase. This week has been busy! And it is still busy! it also snowed hard the other day. So life is perfect, I love the snow.
We had a big event almost everyday of the week, so we didn't get to do as much proselytizing as I would have liked.
Tuesday- was New Missionary Training
Wednesday- was District Meeting
Thursday - Just Serve activity
Friday- Just Serve activity
Saturday- Exchanges
Sunday- Weekly Planning
Basically, a lot happened. I don't have a ton of time so I will focus on Just Serve!
I don't know how many of you have heard of the program before so I will explain it briefly: Just Serve has been introduced as a new program from the church to provide more opportunities to support and sustain the community. The idea is that we teach by example, just like the Savior did. So we can't proselytize (we can't do any preaching/teaching) it is explicitly just serving. Really cool.
My zone got to be a part of the first Just Serve activity in our mission!
Here is a basic run down of what we were doing:
A man named Tom and his family run this organization. Each year in Chicago they have a huge food vendor convention, and afterwards, they donate all the left over food to Tom's organization. Literally tons and tons of food. 3 semi trucks full of food. When Tom gets the food, he packages and organizes it until it is ready to be shipped out. The end product is that they feed over 22,000 people on Christmas Day! It is really an incredible process.
We were privileged to help out such a cool organization.
All of the missionaries in my zone spent 5 hrs on Thursday and Friday working there. We unpacked and unboxed tons and tons of food and then organized them into categories. It was a lot of hard work, but super satisfying. When we finished, Tom explained that the work that we did in those 2 days usually takes him 6 weeks to accomplish. Pretty incredible right?
The funniest part is that I doubt he had ever seen that many people love serving and working. All us missionaries just loved it hahaha! Service is like candy to us. And it was nice to have someone actually want our service hahahah (;
What I am trying to point out here is the importance of Service.
Think of the Savior.
Look around you! There are people everywhere that are in need of help. People need support, and people need to feel loved. It can be something small, or might be something really big. It could be your neighbor, your friend, your coworker, or maybe even a member of your family. Regardless, I hope you feel and take some responsibility. This is people we are talking about, human lives that need someone to be there for them. Do not waste an opportunity to reach out.
D&C 81:
5 Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.
We all have an office of responsibility that is given to us. We can all improve!
Especially in this season of Thanksgiving please remember to give thanks by giving.
I love you all, and pray for the best to come your way!
Remember that because God gave us everything we have, and for that reason we too must give.
Homework: Read Mosiah 4 before Thanksgiving! One of my all time favorite chapters of the Book of Mormon. Report back to me on your experience(:
Elder Stewart-Chester
1319 Butterfield Rd Suite 522
Downers Grove, IL 60515