We have been volunteering at a thrift store in the area we are in as part of JustServe. For those of you who don't know what JustServe is, it is a program the Church has come out with and is slowly rolling out across the USA. It has a website that different service opportunities posted on it to give people an opportunity and the knowledge to reach out in their community. Well, all the volunteers at this thrift store were invited to a luncheon at a community church. There were a total of 8 missionaries amongst the many, many volunteers. I had the opportunity to talk to the pastor and thank him for hosting the luncheon and for the prayer he offered. As the missionaries were getting up to leave (we all had appointments, so we had to leave a few minutes early), while they were handing out prizes, they directed everybody's attention to us, then they thanked us for the service that we give. They call us their "Mormon Power". Have a group of Mormon missionaries recognized at another church for their contributions, check.
On the topic of service, we finally finished assembling a play set for a less-active part-member family. It looks incredible, but that is of course because it was done by missionaries. The family is going to start taking the lessons soon (they just had schedule conflicts during most of the school year).
Elder LR and I met with D, a less-active member. He grew up in Utah, but went into the Army and fell away from the Church. He decided that he needs to give the Church another shot. We invited him to church, and he came! We sat with him near the back, but the great thing about this ward is that they seem to be very mindful of those sitting in the back. Several members came up after Sacrament Meeting and introduced themselves. There was also a family with a deaf mother and daughter that is planning on moving into the ward soon, and they came for the first time today. Several of our youth know sign language, and immediately started talking with them. They had an interpreter, so several other members had a chance to talk to them as well! That is the kind of ward missionaries absolutely love!
For those of you who have received your patriarchal blessing, your lineage in a tribe of Israel has been revealed to you. many of us skim over that part and move onto the "good stuff". The reason it's called a patriarchal blessing is that it involves the blessings given to the Patriarchs, as in Adam, and Abraham, etc. Your lineage is a very powerful thing. You have been given a high and holy task from the Lord, and that is found within your lineage. For us Ephraimites, we sometimes think, "My whole neighborhood is probably of Ephraim, I'm not special." Those of the lineage of Ephraim are foreordained to be the leaders of this Church and this generation. That is extremely powerful. I'm not a patriarch, and I don't know all the blessings and responsibilities that each tribe holds, but remember the stewardship God has given to you. Do all you can to honor your tribe, and to honor your Father in Heaven. As you seek to follow his will, you will be blessed beyond measure, and you will find peace as you fulfill your purpose in life. I know that this is the true Church, and that Israel is being gathered for the final time in preparation for the Second Coming of Messiah. I know He lives, and I leave that with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Until next week, do not dishonor your involvement.
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The Lord's Soldier,
Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts
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| Our awesome accomplishment of a play set. By the way, we did that all in white shirts and ties. MORMON POWER!!!! |
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