what if their story were my story?

Today I had the incredible opportunity to meet with New American Pathways, an organization that helps to resettle refugees here in Georgia.  

Since my new calling in the Relief Society Presidency I had recently been tasked with finding a service project for our women in the Athens 1st area. 

The following three talks I had heard in the past two weeks lead me to know exactly where I thought we could be of use:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/refuge-from-the-storm?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/what-shall-we-do?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/i-was-a-stranger?lang=eng

After today I am feeling fueled to help these refugees.  My heart was touched to hear some of the circumstances these people face and the journey it is for them to find freedom and to feel safe.  Although there are nearly 60 million refugees in the world and that can feel overwhelming I know and believe what is in the scriptures, "the worth of souls is great in the sight of God."  (Doctrine and Covenants 18:10.) And even if we can help ONE soul, it means everything to that soul and everything to God.  We are all His children.  

I also believe in what Jesus Christ taught and how we can apply this to our brothers and sisters  in Matthew 25, "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in."

I believe in service.  I believe in helping hands.  And I believe that we are God's hands.

The state of Georgia is in the top 5 of the US states that help to resettle refugees.  New American Pathways helps to resettle almost 500 refugees each year.  I want to be on the helping side and I want to make a difference.  

The LDS Relief Society is THE LARGEST WOMENS ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD.  With over 6 million women in 170 different countries.  I am so proud to be a little moving part in that big force.  The RS motto is "Charity never faileth."  If we are giving help and extending kindness and showing love how Jesus Christ does then we cannot and will not fail. 

I am waiting on my back ground check to come back clear and then we can get to work! 

Goodbye Seminary // Armor of God challenge part two

I recently realized that I never got around to posting part two of The Armor of God Challenge.  To be honest I don't even remember what I wrote for part one and I'm a little too lazy right now to even figure it out.  But suffice it to say that today I came across all of the old pictures from the whole process on my iPad and I felt home sick for all of it.  Actually I felt homesick for seminary in general.

I was recently released from my early morning seminary calling.  To say that I was blindsided and heartbroken pretty much covers it.  I cried quite a bit.  It's just that I grew in ways I couldn't have possibly imagined and learned so much about my self, others, and the gospel.  I feel like I learned a sliver of what Christ-like love feels like.  I came to cherish and care for those teenagers, kids who weren't mine, and it was a love unlike anything I've experienced.  I prayed for those teenagers and worried about them and their struggles, I was so proud of their joys and accomplishments and I poured every bit I could in to the lessons I prepared for them.  I took very seriously the stewardship I had over that little flock of emotional, fickle, smelly, chatty, spiritual, teenagers. My little flock, I can name them each and every one by name....well the Lord's flock really.

I prayed so many times to have the right words to say and that the spirit would always be with us as we met together those early mornings to discuss the scriptures and things of the gospel. I sought help from my Heavenly Father to understand the hearts of those teenagers and the things that would help them the most.

I loved those early mornings driving in the darkness to the church when so much of the world wasn't even awake yet.  I loved pulling in to an empty parking lot and unlocking the door to the quiet empty church.  I loved seeing those sleepy eyed devoted students saunter in.  I loved the Friday breakfast, the games, the memorable lessons, the surprising comments, the spirit, the sharing, the testifying, the growing.

I loved the productivity I felt when by 7am I had already gotten up, gotten dressed, and really studied and talked about the scriptures.  I loved the students who would stay behind to tell me things and share with me the details of their lives.  I loved how fulfilled I felt and how I felt that I was truly using some of the talents that God gave me for good.  I felt that I was making a difference. I hope I did. 

I miss it.  I'll always miss it.  There will always be a special place in my heart for that year and a half.

Monroe Ward

Serves the lord

Fight with might

To shine your light

Together we stand

Strong and tall

Do good

Be good

Hoo ha-ha

#monroewardseminary