Sunday, December 29, 2013

December 21, 2013

Had prayer with Sister Pilling, the Kearls, Elder Goodsell, Sister Bly, and Elder Woolf.

Things were quite hectic today because the storehouse closes after today until about January 3rd due to the holidays; the patrons who came today were all so grateful for our love, assistance, and Christlike compassion and also our willingness to help them have a Merry Christmas.

December 20, 2013

After having prayer with the group, I stocked shelves and that took about three hours because the shelves had been emptied to ensure people had enough to eat, which is their purpose; to satisfy the needs of those who come to the storehouse. After the shelves were stocked, I helped Grandma Woolf and Sister Woolf bag celery until 2 p.m.

December 18, 2013

After prayer, Woolfs, Gallups, Elder Goodsell, Sister Bly, Grandma Woolf, and I filled out of town orders from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and I got the opportunity to train Elder Goodsell in how to fill an out of town order; I enjoy every opportunity I get to teach somebody else how to do something.

At noon, all the people working, volunteering, or serving missions in the LDS Welfare Complex gathered at the New Dynasty restaurant for a devotional and Christmas lunch.

The devotional was on gratitude and how it is a feeling of appreciation for that which we have received; he who receives all things will be made glorious. We can be thankful and express gratitude to God and we should especially grateful to Christ and all He did. Gratitude brings awareness to effort and grateful awareness heightens our sensitivity to divine direction...mercies and blessings come in different forms...thou shalt be thankful to the Lord for all things, even trials, as there are hidden blessings... each day given is a gift...

From 1 to 4 p.m., I filled the cottage cheese and sour cream portions of the orders while others took care of the meat, milk, and bread portions. I then helped others stock shelves.

December 17, 2013 - Christmas Family Home Evening at Woolfs

Sister Bly, bless her heart, came and picked me up and took me out to Woolfs house near Welling so that I could have Family Home Evening with Woolfs, Graves, Gallups, and Kearls. The opening prayer was given by Elder Woolf and then Sister Woolf played a song called 'The Innkeeper' on the CD 'The Forgotten Carols.' After that, Sister Gallup played a few Christmas carols on the piano and we all got to eat a variety of wonderful foods prepared by everyone.

I then went to Magrath and spent the night at Sister Bly's house.

December 14, 2013

Sister Bly got to the storehouse in good time and had prayer with the Kearls, Sister Pilling, and Elder Goodsell already there.

We all quickly got to work helping patrons and we ended up being so busy with everything that Woolfs and their granddaughter, Myah, came in to help with stocking and bagging bananas.

It was so incredible to help people get ready for Christmas!

December 13, 2013

After prayer with Woolfs, Gallups, and Elder Goodsell, I fixed up the order sheets on the computer, helped stock shelves, and then scrubbed the mop drains in the maintenance rooms. I then helped Grandma Woolf, Sister Gallup, and Sister Woolf bag tomatoes, yams, and cabbages in the prep room.

I then swept the prep room at the end of the day.

December 7, 2013

Sister Bly picked me up and when we got to the storehouse, we ended up having prayer with the other missionaries after helping some patrons. There were many opportunities to help patrons, do paperwork, and I also got to make new paperwork for 2014 on the computer.

Today, as I try to each time I interact with patrons, I made a special point of telling every patron that they were loved, a child of God, and that it was a delight to help them; I feel this helps patrons feel comfortable coming in, especially when they express emotion about arriving close to closing time.

December 6, 2013

I took a cab to the storehouse from downtown and had prayer with the Woolfs before I bagged apples with Grandma Woolf in the prep room, stocked shelves, and helped a volunteer bag celery.

We also got a new elder at the storehouse named Elder Goodsell, who is 19 years old and makes me feel like everything will be okay at the storehouse when my mission is done.

December 3, 2013

There was a bad snowstorm in the previous days and I ended up being texted by Sister Woolf and told not to come into the storehouse today because of the weather. About 20 minutes after that, I found out on Facebook that all the buses were shut down and I offered prayers of gratitude that the Spirit helped keep the missionaries safe.

November 30, 2013

Sister Bly picked me up at home and we got to the storehouse in good time while exchanging pleasant conversation.

After we had prayer with Elder Kearl, Sister Kearl, and Sister Pilling, I finished off the computer paperwork and then helped stock, serve patrons, do paperwork, and clean.

November 29, 2013

There were only three workers at the storehouse today due to sickness or other commitments; myself, Elder Woolf, and Grandma Woolf.

Before and after prayer, I topped and stocked shelves.