Visiting Teaching

I just had the loveliest visit from my Visiting Teachers today and I thought I would share my experience with you.  First of all, I need to clarify something with you. I have not always had the kind of Visiting Teachers visiting me, that I needed to have. I also have to admit that at one time in my life, I asked to NOT have Visiting teachers come to me for a variety of reasons, even though I have always been active in this church.  But this time, I do have them, and I am so grateful.  Today, we had a great visit just talking about different things, and one of this partnership had to go to work, and left. The other half of the partnership stayed and we visited and visited and I felt loved.

She sincerely asked me to tell her what I wanted in a Visiting Teacher. From the experiences that I have had throughout my life, both good and not so good, I shared with her many of them that led me to know exactly what I hoped for in my Visiting Teachers. With a tear in my eye and tender feelings surfacing,  I told her that bottom line with me was that I wanted to know that my Visiting teachers really want to come to my home each month to visit me.  I want them to actually care for me and develop a genuine friendship.  I said that when my Visiting Teachers left our visit, that when they said, "let me know if I can do anything for you", that they really mean it, and aren't just saying it.

I don't need all that I do for the ladies that I teach or even the things that I display on my blog, but I do need and want a trusted friend.  I am so pleased to say that I believe that these two sweet sisters, are what I have hoped to have as Visiting Teachers.  I  believe that they really do care for me, and that if I needed a listening ear, or if I needed to reach outside of my own family for help in any way, that I could call on them.  Now how nice is that?

I told this friend of mine, that I am the kind of Visiting teacher that I want to have, and that is important to me.  I believe that everyone wants and needs to be thought about and watched over.  I also know that unless women can understand just how important Visiting Teaching is in the lives of LDS women, that many will feel the way that I use to feel.  NOW, I hope that these sisters don't get reassigned anytime too soon, because I love to be able to look forward to their visits, and know that our friendship will continue to develop over time. 

Sisters, I have been very frank about my feelings and vision for Visiting Teaching.  I have opened my heart and expressed my feelings that have been hidden for years.  It's sort of like I told my Visiting teachers today, the reason I began writing my Visiting Teaching blogs, was because I hoped to promote the good efforts and maybe motivate sisters to understand the importance and vision of what this wonderful calling is all about.  I began my google group "Extraordinary Visiting Teachers" because of wanting sisters to share uplifting ideas and conversation and get the job done.  I hope that all of you will catch the vision and be the Visiting teacher that your sisters need in their life, remembering it isn't the numbers or percentages that really matter in this work, but it is the friendshipping, love and service that you provide.  Watch care, that is what it is all about and Sister Julie Beck said it all in the following quote taken from this months Visiting teaching message:

"Through visiting teaching, we provide watchcare by contacting each sister, sharing a gospel message, and seeking to know her and her family's needs. “Visiting teaching becomes the Lord’s work when our focus is on people rather than percentages,” explains Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president. “In reality, visiting teaching is never finished. It is more a way of life than a task. Faithfully serving as a visiting teacher is evidence of our discipleship.”

Lives can be changed  and hearts softened through Visiting Teaching! Many women who had fallen away are now back into this marvelous church because Visiting teachers kept coming.  The time that you take away in doing your Visiting teaching will come back to you again and again. I know too that when we meet our Lord one day and when he asks us the accountability questions, and in particular..."And how did you do with your Visiting Teaching", I want to be able to look Him in the eye and say .... Lord, I did my best, and I loved  and cared.  I can only hope that He will answer... "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, and inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my bretheren, ye have done it unto me. "

It is my prayer that you will become a disciple of Jesus Christ as you minister over the sisters that you teach.
Enjoy!  Katie G.