Thursday, October 17, 2013

October 16, 2013

I arrived at the storehouse in a cab, checked the humidifier, and helped Elder Kearl bag some bananas in the prep room. After I had prayer with Sister Pilling, Sister Kearl, Elder Kearl, Sister LeFeuvre, and Elder LeFeuvre, we all got to work filling the out of town orders.

Once the out of town orders were all taken care of, we all worked together to stock all of the shelves with products from the warehouse so that the evening shift wouldn't have to do so much heavy lifting.

On an end note, the LeFeuvres are usually on a different shift than I am, so I asked to get pictures with them just in case we don't work together for the rest of my mission!


Sunday, October 13, 2013

October 12, 2013

I took a taxi to the storehouse since Sister Bly is away. When I got there, the driver tried to give me too much change, but I gently insisted on the correct amount; I mean, I value my soul more than a bit of pocket change and my soul would be tarnished if I valued money over it.

Anyway, after having prayer with Sister Pilling, Elder Kearl, and Sister Kearl, we spent the majority of the morning helping patrons; it was Thanksgiving weekend, after all. We only had time to help patrons, spot clean, do a tiny bit of stocking, and the paperwork.

I found amazing joy in helping people being able to have food in their homes and I think it's important to be grateful for what we have and what joy we can give others. Not everyone is well off, nor do they feel that they have joy they can give others.

Everyone can give and receive joy; that's part of the promise of the Atonement.

October 11, 2013

I arrived at the storehouse, found Elder LeFeuvre working in the warehouse because Woolfs and Gallups were both away, and then I got to work. I emptied, cleaned, and restocked a shelf before Grandma Woolf and a volunteer arrived.

After group prayer, we all worked together to stock the storehouse shelves and when the order came, I continued stocking alone. At about eleven-thirty, my mom came to the storehouse to pick me up and she helped me stock shelves for about half an hour.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

October 6, 2013 - Experience of Active Faith

I am not sure why I am sharing this, but I feel it will be beneficial to those who read this blog.

This weekend is General Conference and this morning was the second-last session. As the closing hymn 'We Thank Thee, O God, For A Prophet' was played, I took a pizza box outside to the trash as I had spent since Friday eating the pizza inside that was now finished. I returned to find the door had locked behind me.

I did not lose my cool at this sudden problem, however; I instead offered a quiet prayer for help and then calmly went to the front door and asked the upstairs tenant for help. Her name escapes me, as I have always had a difficult time with names, but her kindness does not. She allowed me to use her phone to call the landlord and as we waited for the landlord to come with extra keys, she let me stay inside out of the cold.

We did try to unlock the door that led to the basement, but I ended up slipping or missing a step and falling down several steps feet first. Miraculously, I was not injured and only needed a minute before the pain disappeared. The Lord truly has protected me from serious injury by prompting me to take care for myself.

It took a few minutes for the landlord to arrive, but in that time, I was able to share that I am currently a part-time Church Service Missionary at the Bishop's Storehouse in Lethbridge and that after people who are in need speak to the leader of the ward they live in, they come to the storehouse and receive compassion and love from the missionaries who are there to help them. I was also able to explain about General Conference in that it's a wonderful two day event in which we learn from the prophet of the Mormon church and the other leaders about how we can do and be better.

I could see the intriguing impression I had been able to leave with her about the Mormons thanks to the assistance I received from the Spirit of God. A seed, was planted because of the Spirit, this I know to be true and, through the Atonement, we can all feel the love and direction from the Spirit of God.

The land eventually came and I got back into my house having had a wonderful spiritual experience.

Friday, October 4, 2013

October 1, 2013

I arrived and weighed, bagged, and shelved a box of bananas for the out of town orders in the day and for patrons to take in the evening. After group prayer, I assisted Sister Woolf, Sister Kearls, Sister Pilling, Sister Bly, Elder Gallup, and Sister Gallup in filling the out of town orders.

At 10 a.m., all of the missionaries and staff members within the LDS Welfare Services complex gathered in the conference room to say goodbye to Elder Dunkam and Elder and Sister Eklund, all of whom had completed their terms of missionary service honorably. Brother Murray first gave a devotional featuring several scriptures in the Book of Mormon that highlighted service (Mosiah 4:19, Mosiah 2:17, and Mosiah 4:26).

After the devotional, all of the missionaries and staffers were invited to eat and be merry. I chose to take pictures with the departing missionaries because I served with them in the field office early in my mission.




It's always sad when missionaries are finished their terms of service, but blessings come to those who serve faithfully and diligently in whatever capacity they can.

As of this weekend, I am down to five months left until the end of my mission, as my release date is in March 2014 and I anticipate that I will be highly blessed for my faithfulness and dedication to the Lord's work.



September 28, 2013

Time comes and goes, but reliability, dependability, and trust are important qualities to have not just during the course of missionary service, but in all of your mortal and eternal days.

We helped people as we always do, but it made me feel good to be complimented by a patron about how safe and comfortable I helped them to feel when helping them with their order. I have been in their shoes, and I am not ashamed to say that, so I understand the importance of helping patrons feel safe and secure during their time at the storehouse in such a way that they can carry those feelings with them.

September 27, 2013

A pretty quiet day today.

I cleaned a few shelves and did some stocking while offering prayers of song to my dearest Heavenly Father.  I also got some compliments on my countenance from Grandma Woolf and Sister Woolf. :)

September 21, 2013

Sister Bly and I arrived at the storehouse before the Kearls, but when they arrived, we all went inside and had a wonderful group prayer. Sister Kearl and I then weighed, bagged, sealed, and shelved bananas for patrons to take when they came in. We did help patrons throughout the morning and I always get such a happy feeling when I help in the Lord's work.

I also feel the Spirit very intensely, yet so very calmly, when I see the joy that being cared for beings to the patrons and it is a joy to me to care for them all.

September 20, 2013

I got to the storehouse early and turned on the lights, emptied the humidifier, and checked the produce.

After prayer, a volunteer and I worked together to clear, clean, and restock five different shelves.

Volunteers are wonderful to have at the storehouse and anyone is welcome to volunteer at the storehouse if they want to; all they have to do is phone the storehouse managers, Elder Woolf and/or Sister Woolf and arrange a day and time to come volunteer. Working with volunteers is one of the many great pleasures that comes with serving a mission at the Bishop's Storehouse; another pleasure is serving others.

September 19, 2013

Today was a big order day and what does that mean?

A big order day means that products come into the warehouse and both missionaries and volunteers work together to count what we receive and then put it either in a designated place in the warehouse or in the storehouse.

The Spirit of God was so wonderfully strong the entire time and it carried into the staff meeting afterwards.

September 17, 2013

I got to the storehouse early and took a box of bananas into the veggie prep room; there, I weighed, bagged, and sealed them into bags that would go on the storehouse shelf for patrons to take. I then helped the Woolfs, Sister Bly, the Gallups, Sister Pilling, and Sister Kearl with the out of town orders.

After the orders were taken care of, I taught Sister Kearl how to gather the sour cream and cottage cheese and then I bagged more bananas and also helped Sister Pilling fill another order.

September 14, 2013

Sister Bly and I got to the storehouse and after prayer, Sister Kearl and I quite a few shelves and also helped  a few patrons. I enjoy the feeling I get when I help people to feel a sense of peace and security that can only come from acting through the Spirit of God.

September 13, 2013

After group prayer at the storehouse, I topped off some of the shelves, got a few products from the warehouse, and stocked the depleted bottoms of the four row shelves.

The storehouse is definitely a place of peace for me where I feel safe and close to God. :)

September 7, 2013

Sister Bly and I got to the storehouse and had prayer with Elder Kearl, Sister Kearl, and Sister Pilling before we spent the morning stocking shelves and helping those who came to us in need of help.

September 6, 2013

I got to the storehouse earlier than everyone else and after the other missionaries and volunteers arrived, we had group prayer. After prayer was done, I cleaned a couple of shelves and then stocked them thoroughly.

September 3, 2013

I arrived at the storehouse and promptly prepped both the storage bins and the carts and then I checked the produce while I waited for everyone else to be ready. After group prayer, Sister Bly, Sister Woolf, Elder and Sister Gallup, and I took care of filling the out of town orders. I then stocked the storehouse cooler and some shelves that needed stocking.

While I was doing this, I found myself reflecting on patience; how can I help people be more patient with me and how can I be more patient with people who may not understand the way I am?

August 31, 2013

Sister Bly picked up up and we got to the storehouse in good time. We had prayer with Sister Kearl, Elder Kearl, and Sister Pilling shortly thereafter and then spent the morning alternating between stocking, helping patrons, and ensuring that the storehouse was clean.

August 30, 2013

I got to the storehouse and promptly emptied the humidifier. Once Elder Woolf, Sister Woolf, Grandma Woolf, and the volunteers arrived, we had group prayer and then I vacated, cleaned, and restocked a shelf, which can take about an hour if I do it by myself. I then did some stocking and also helped doctor cabbages for bagging. At the end of the morning, I helped a volunteer take expired/damaged producs to the soup kitchen so that nothing would go to waste.