Visiting Teachers are Heaven Sent

I was just reading through my blog and I reread my motto on the right hand column by Elder James E. Faust, taken from the Nov. 20o2 Ensign called "You are all Heaven Sent".  I believe that Visiting Teachers are indeed Heaven sent, because I know that our Father in Heaven watches over us daily.  He needs us to be His helpers to carry forth and do His work on this Earth.  What we do in His name will not only bless the lives of those we serve, but will ensure some wonderful blessings for us in
the eternities. 

Serving others builds personal qualities such as integredy, compassion, love, generosity, and shows our children that their mommies are indeed the one of the two greatest influences for good in their lives, as well as in the lives of others.  Serving others through Visiting Teaching is a Win/Win situation for all of us!

This idea of Visiting Teachers are Heaven Sent, could be a wonderful theme for a Visiting Teaching Conference, lesson, or simply an evening meeting with the Relief Society Sisters.  You know me by now, if you have been following my blog for a while, that I just can't stop my mind from producing new ideas.  Well... here you go... you can use this theme in lots of ways:

• There are limitless stories of how Visiting Teachers have blessed the lives of the sisters they teach, and you can share some of these, or supply your own as a motivation for your sisters to get their VT done.  I love the story that I have used this month shared with me by my VT companion. (Scroll down and read it as it is also published in the Ensign)
• What about taking the direction of Heaven Sent and doing a play on words, and changing "sent" to "Scent", which takes on a whole different meaning.  If you wanted to have an activity to go with the spiritual message, you could create wonderful "Scents" through a Cooking class demo for making and mixing your own homemade spice combinations, Fabuluous recipes with a cooking demo from India, Mexico or any other country that highly spices their foods. 
• Another play on the word Scent might be to go the direction of making your own homemade perfume, spritzers, cleaning products, using household items. This could encourage Self reliance!!!
• To me, there is no better "Scent" than the aroma of homemade bread baking.  It permiates the entire home and makes your mouth water from the scent alone.  How about an evening of making homemade rolls, breads, etc., and teach how to use a grain mill, grinding your own flour for bread.  Talk about storing yeast and other products used in making bread

April 2012 Visiting Teaching message

Go to http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com/
to get the larger image to print this card to go
with you as you Visit teach this month.

This month, my sweet partner and I went out and did our Visiting teaching.  It was her turn to present the message.  I feel such gratitude for her and the wonderful story she shared because I personally could not seem to come up with any kind of a lesson to teach with this months message.  My only thoughts were to make sure that my sisters knew that they were loved and I would ask them if they felt comfortable enough with their Visiting Teachers, that they really would call on us in their times of need.
 
My Partner shared an absolutely beautiful story of a woman who had lost one of her children in a tragic drowning accident in their home.  This woman fell into depression and could barely function.  One day a woman in her ward showed up at her door.  This woman could see the state of mind she was in and  she just jumped in and began to help do things around the house.  Each day she would call and if her voice sounded like she was still in a bad state of mind, this woman would then come over and help her sister in need.  The woman who had lost the child was in such a state for many months, that many time she was oblivious to the fact that this woman was even in her home.  Anyway there is so much more to the story, in particular about the circumstances of the women who was helping out this sister. The greatest part of the story was at the end, where my Visiting Teaching partner shared with us, that she was the woman in depression. 

This story is a must read and especially if you are struggling with a message this month like I was, this story was published in the 1997 Ensign, under the topic of "Feeding His Sheep".  Here is the direct link http://www.lds.org/ensign/1997/03/feeding-his-sheep?lang=eng  There are several stories told under this heading but her story is entitled "Reaching out with Love".  The first half of the story is sort of a preamble to the story that my partner told our sisters, so don't think you have the wrong one.  After a few paragraphs, it changes to the Paragraph that says: "Two months after we moved to England, tragedy struck our family...."  This story in the Ensign was not printed with the amount of grief my partner was feeling after the death of her child, so I must tell you that she was in such a state that she could barely function or take care of her other children and this went on for months.  So read what happens and I know you can see why I directed you to this article. 

We women have the ability to bless the lives of those around us in need, if we will.  In return our lives are blessed by our reaching out and touching the lives of those around us.  I think Heavenly Father made it this  way and made us as women, born nurtureres, with emotions and sensitivity and the ability to just jump in and know what needs to be done in any time and in any place. 

Bless you sisters, for your dilligence in Visiting Teaching.  You are filling the needs of your sisters, and you are becoming an earthly ministering angel for then.  Much Love, Katie G.

Visiting Teaching Videos

Go to http://www.lds.org/service/leadership/relief-society?lang=eng#visiting-teaching-in-the-work-of-salvation and see the wonderful videos that are there about Visiting teaching.  These would be great if you are having interviews, or training throughout the year.  Our church does such a wonderful job with their media and these are great examples of ways that will inspire all of us to do better!  Enjoy!
Katie G.

LDS Easter Advertising Campaign Easter Weekend

I received this from the church and felt it worthy to pass on.  Please take this message and pass it on to your friends, family and others who might want to learn more about the church.  Be a part of this missionary and good will effort! 

Easter Advertising Campaign - April 6-8, 2012

Dear Profile Owner,

The Church is launching a three-day advertising campaign this weekend in conjunction with Easter. The campaign will take place on YouTube and Facebook. The focus is to help those not of our faith understand that we believe in and follow Jesus Christ. The campaign features members of the Church sharing their beliefs about the Savior.

Short advertisements will be shown on YouTube on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (April 6-8). We anticipate the ads will be viewed a minimum of 15 million times. The advertising will link to a specially designed mormon.org page has been created where visitors can share why Jesus Christ is important to them, learn more about our beliefs in the Savior, download the Bible videos app, or order a free Bible (U.S. and Canada only).

Visitors to the mormon.org Facebook page will also be encouraged to share their feelings about Jesus Christ. It is hoped that thousands of Church members and nonmembers will express their testimonies of Jesus Christ during the Easter weekend.

Church members are invited to be involved with the campaign in several ways:

1. Tell family and friends about the campaign and encourage them to tell their family and friends. Encourage family and friends to participate on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday by visiting mormon.org/easter or facebook.com/mormon.

2. Encourage family and friends to look for the YouTube ads and visit mormon.org/easter.

3. On Friday, Saturday, or Sunday Church members are encouraged to visit mormon.org/easter and share their feelings about Jesus Christ.

Note that the mormon.org/easter page will not be "live" until early Friday morning.

We believe this will be a unique opportunity for Church members to engage in conversations with those not of our faith about the importance of Jesus Christ in the lives of God's children.

Media Division,
Missionary Department

Easter treats

Last year I posted that I found these darling little hollow sugar eggs with a little Easter scene inside. I have had a few questions about where you can get them this year, so because I am nice and like to be helpful, I phoned Peppermint Place in Alpine, Utah to see if they had any of those left.  SOOOO sorry to dash your hopes, but they are all sold out of those, but they do have other things there.  They do have the same kinds of eggs in a larger size but they sell per egg, and are higher price, so if you were thinking of treating your R.S. Sisters with those, the larger one would cost probably too much

Good news though.. I asked what things they had in bulk for cheap prices and I was given a few ideas to pass on to you:

• Easter Decorated Suckers on a stick $.50 each
• Spring Suckers on a stick in the shape of a flower, the same price $.50 each.
• Hazelnut Chocolates or Chocolate for a 6 lb box $11.99.  I am not sure what this really is, but I think they are individual chocolates and 6 lbs of them could go a long way.
• They always carry the striped candy stick for a box of 200 it's$15.00.... however I don't know what flavors they have in right now.  You would have to go and see.  That would certainly be a reasonable priced treat for the R.S. Sisters!I have seen pastel ones in the past, but once again, I don't know if they have any now.  Mabye call them before you go there.

They have lots of other things, but those of you who have inquired about them specifically wondered about the cheaper priced items that you could give to large numbers and wouldn't break the budget or bank.

Peppermint place is located in Alpine, Utah at 188 North Main. It's worth a visit, and make sure you drive around and see what a beautiful town Alpine is! I lived there for about 12 years.

I don't know if Sister Julie B. Beck will be upset at me for telling this, but she lives in Alpine, Utah and not far from the Peppermint Place. Now I won't disclose the exact location, but Sister Beck and family has lived in Alpine for many, many years.  It was such a surprise that she was released as General Relief Society President this past Conference.  She has truly touched the hearts of women everywhere in the world, and her vision and impact will be felt for years to come. 
Hope this helps you as I like to pass on good tips.

Happy Easter! Love, Katie G.