the street that leads to our building

Sunday

I can't believe 4 Sunday's have gone by and I have not taken the time to write about our experiences downtown going to church. I thought for sure last week with being home I would have the time to play Sunday Catch Up.

It has been 6 months now and I feel like I am finally getting to know people's names. The travel down to church seems for some reason to be getting harder on the kids and us. They seem to fall asleep 5 minutes before we pull up and then we spend the next three hours with cranky kids. We have not had a video player in our car for sometime and out of desperation I went to buy one just for Sunday's, hoping it would help the time we spend in the car. I had told this to our Bishop's wife in our other ward and she said to me. "It is interesting when you start to think your wants now become your needs" I take her advice whole heartedly and appreciate it, because it is true. But I still have the movie player.

A year ago our Bishop started a community tutoring program on Wednesday nights at our church building. With the help of young professionals in the area the building became a place where anyone could bring job applications, homework or such to get done. A few weeks ago we had a special sacrament meeting on Education. A few of the students who tutored spoke, a few tutors spoke and one of the directors of the program. The had a special musical number with all the students and tutors. I counted 48 people singing - ages ranging from the young to the old. It was absolutely beautiful. Years will go by before I forget that feeling I had that day. When Andy spoke he went through each student and tutor talking about what they had accomplished the past year. He spoke about one boy that on the day he met his tutor he found out that he had been the Valedictorian of his High School class. The boy asked, what is a Valedictorian? His tutor told them he was the top of his class and the student said, "then I want to be that too." This student finished the year with a 4.0 GPA. They told story after story of the lives that were changed from this program and it was the tutors as well as the students. There is an upcoming article in the Ensign (our church magazine) about this amazing year in our ward. I sat there thinking, "why am I so lucky to be here and listen and feel what I feel" It is days like that 6 hours Sunday seems to shrink.

A few weeks ago the mission president in the area came to speak with his wife. It was the last few weeks of their mission and such a blessing to hear them give our ward a farewell. I know they probably feel endearing to all the wards, but there was just something in their eyes when they spoke to ours. There have been many converts in our ward over the past 3 years and they seemed to know them all. The mission president told the most amazing story of a young missionary who found and taught the ambassador to another country and since that has opened their country to having missionary work there. The story is unbelievable. We have a tradition in our ward that when it is a members last Sunday the ward stands at the end of the meeting and sings, "God be with you 'till we Meet Again" There have been a few times they have done this for different people and I just think what will it be like when it is our last Sunday. Seeing the faces of this couple who has given three years of their lives for bettering a community, while feeling the spirit of the song, again makes me feel bad when I get frustrated about the time commitment and difficulty of attending this ward.one of the homes by our church building

On Father's day it was a wonderful Sunday. There are no a lot of Dads in our ward Most of the young men come to church all by themselves. Because of the smaller ward we seemed to be blessed with opportunities that may not happen in a bigger ward. Jeff and 3 other men got to sing in Sacrament meeting with all the primary during sacrament meeting. They sang "Teach Me to Walk in the Light" (if you have never heard the song, take a minute to do so) Annie Kate has sung more in 6 months in church than she probably has in 8 years. I loved seeing Jeff up there with two of his girls. Sally Jane yelling "Hi dad" added to my emotion, but not to the song.

The fun thing about this ward is it is where tourists visit. They have a tradition where after Sacrament meeting everyone visiting stands and introduces themselves. We had 37 visitors the other week. Awesome. Last Sunday I missed a good mail blogger who visited with her family. It made being sick that much harder. I can't wait to hear how she liked it.

Primary is so unique and I call myself the Primary Bouncer. My heart breaks the more I learn specific situations of each child and it helps me to be more patient with them, but I still struggle with how you discipline someone who is never disciplined without having them never want to return to church. The stories of my Sunday's in the basement (where Primary is) seem almost unreal when I tell them to friends.

many churches have large tables set up downtown on Sunday's
for people to come get clothes or other necessities.

Two Sunday's ago I left church and got in the car and seriously cried for the ride home. I said to Jeff "why does my life get to be so good and some others have it so hard?" It just does not seem fair. It is almost jealousy (if you have not read Jill's amazing post and answers, indulge yourself, there is no other blog like hers) in reverse, I don't feel like I deserve what I have and want it to be more even and spread out. I come home every Sunday and appreciate my bed, my food, my clothes, air conditioning, my tall skinny house, more after going to church downtown. It has just been such a blessing for me but still seems to be getting a little more difficult on our family to find the energy to do it. It seems to be really "Stretching" (my word of the year) me and my emotions in areas I didn't even know exsisted. I find myself wanting to do more than I am doing. Give more, expect less.
I will never forget our first Sunday when we asked the Bishop what we tell people why were we were going to church there. No one really knows that we live far away and have been asked to attend this ward. We said, we don't want anyone to think we think we are doing something they can't or step on anyone's toes." I will never forget the look on his face as he said, "no one cares why you are here, we just need the service we don't care how it comes or from where". It seems that in other social situations when someone comes into help there can be a boundary of "this is how WE do it" ... there is none of that here which is so refreshing. No one cares how something is conducted, announced, explained or taught. Everyone is so happy to have help, love and support it does not matter how it comes. I love it. I have learned great lessons in this. Because there are such big yet simple day to day needs that need to be met, no one cares if someone didn't get invited to something or how a handout was made.

So to sum up my long post about the feelings of the past few weeks. We feel so blessed to be doing what we are doing, but also tired. It is amazing how service can recharge you though when you think you can't give anymore. I have often said that if any other member in the Stake came to our ward one Sunday, there would be line out the door of people wanting to do what we have been so lucky to do, but I still wonder how you continue to give when you don't know if you have any more to give?

Rainy Sunday, burnt cornbread and white gloves

Today we got some much needed rain. I always think of the farmers of my favorite local farm and how thrilled they must be on days like this.

I have not written about Sunday's for some time. They seem to be getting more and more tender and I see our family becoming more and more emotionally involved. I can't even begin to think of how or when we might leave and go back to our other ward.

His mother fixing his tie and him looking up at the Bishop.

A few weeks ago this sweet 8 year old boy in primary got baptized. He comes every Sunday often without his parents. He is so smart. He was so nervous. During Primary I took him into the font with the water running and the two of us just sat down and ran our fingers through the water and talked about being excited and being nervous and how sometimes they feel the same. After the baptism the Bishop had him come to the front to see how many people had come to support him. He said, "In a ward mostly made of up converts you are one of the few that has been a member his whole life." It was true. This has been the first congregation I think I have ever been in where the converts to the church totally outnumber those who where raised in our church. I thought it was awesome! This ward is truly a representative of a typical ward in our church around the world.

It is so hard to ever calculate when we think we are going to get home and this week I learned my lesson not to put the timer on in the oven. I made some green chile cornbread and it would bake and still have 20 minutes left when we walked in the door. So we could eat it warm with our meal.
Well our day got extended a little and we ended up not walking in the door until 6:30pm. The bread had probably cooked 3 times over and was charred on the top and a yellow rock on the inside. We were so hungry we tried to find some good parts, but there were none. Peanut Butter and Jelly and Lucky Charms are sounding like our new Sunday Meal. By the time we get home most of us are too tired to eat much of anything.

A few weeks ago our Church magazine (The Ensign) had sent a photographer and writer to spend a week with our ward and write a story about a tutoring program that our Bishop created less than a year ago. It is an amazing program. He invited some of the young D.C. interns to come to our Church building one night a week to help the youth with their homework. The youth started bringing their friends that brought their friends. Their friends started inviting any one from the neighborhood who needed help with a job application, adults who wanted to learn how to read etc, to come for hot dogs and learn or do anything they need. It in a matter of months it turned our building into a community center for the city to come to. It is a miracle on so many levels.
Today we had an awesome sharing time. Our chorister is out of the country for awhile and we are all taking turns doing music time. this is the scariest thing I could ever do for service. My voice is small, weak and out of tune. But my love for the kids and energy is high. I got everything ready but ended up not needing to do it because of our great sharing time. I was so relieved. This is good though to "stretch" myself and learn how to do new things.
A woman in our ward has a good friend who designed a sharing time around teaching children what a testimony is, through the symbol of a white glove. She had taught it to many children in the Philippines for years. As Barb, got ready to teach our children she looked for a song in the primary hymn book on the subject and could not find what she was looking for so she wrote one. It is amazing. The sharing time idea along with the song will be published in an upcoming issue of the Friend Magazine (our church magazine for children) to share with all the primary children around the world. Barb's friend ask that we take photos of the children learning the activity and the song for the article. It must have just been thrilling for Barb to see her song in action and hear those sweet kids singing it.
As you sing each part of the song each teaches you one by one the different parts of what make a testimony. I thought it was so cute how this girl counted them off as each part of the song was sung. (just as Barb I am sure intended it to be done)

Caroline learning the different meaning of each photo on her white glove.

Our primary with their "testimony gloves" It was really an amazing Sunday again we just feel so blessed for this opportunity to serve. It makes up for the charred corn bread for sure.

Drained

We came home today from church and Jeff hit the nail on the head when he said. "I am not physically tired, but emotionally"The beauty of spring is everyone was on the front steps as we walked into church. There is no foyer so everyone greets each other on the steps.

It was our Sunday where members from the congregation share their feelings about the church and it is always so emotional to hear of others trials and struggles. The cute little lady that gave us $1.00 our first week sang a little song from her childhood again. I don't know if she does this every month, but I quite like it.

. I feel like I can't stop hugging anyone I walk by. When I hugged cute little Chad this week, he was as stiff as a board and am sure thinking, "Crazy lady get away from me"

Primary is such a struggle. I am so torn with how you teach reverence to the children. Children yell during the prayers, get up and run around during sharing time, scream the songs and turn them in to rap songs. It is just something I have not learned how to do yet. So after 2 hours of being with the kids, the Primary President up front, on the edge of tears, me in the back being the primary bouncer, a girl raised her hand. She was visiting for her first time and had come with her neighbor. She asked. "If you are telling me Jesus loves me how come some people's lives are so hard and they die and get cancer?" A small silence went over the room and me and the Primary President looked at each other with tears. And that is why we do it!

Jeff and I got in the car and just looked at each other. We both said, you will not believe the stories from today. We both had experienced some real hard stories and struggles of these great pioneers. I feel I am have so much, but so helpless. What can I do. I want to take some of them home with me. Take them to our family reunion this summer and give them a break from their day to day struggles. I feel just like that little girl who raised her hand and I want to say, "Why do I have so much, why does my life seem easier than others?"
15 miles down the road from where we go to church is some of the nicest parts of the city or country for that matter. The extremes I see on Sunday's often make me confused. Where is my part in this. How do I give? How much do I give? How could we stop going to church here in 10 months? That is not enough time to really help. It is a flood of emotions for sure.

After church a young married couple invited us over for dinner. They live in a great place in Chevy Chase, with a doorman and someone calls them up from the front desk to let them know we were there. She was an incredible cook and made our favorite Mexican.
It was great to talk with them as they are ending a 3 year service of attending that ward. (they were asked to do a year too) They are moving and I can see on their faces how how it will be for them to leave.
I told Jessica that I have been crying all day and the reality is almost too much for me. She is the Young Women's president and told some incredible stories. It was great to talk to her and a huge help.

So at the end of this Sunday I realize it feels good to be needed and have a responsibility even though at times it hurts my heart.

Caroline walking into church

the street we often park on a block from the church

Sunday

It seems every Sunday we learn some big life lessons that must be common to most, but for us are becoming new and fresh.

We had a short Sunday with no meetings before church and nothing afterward. Our 5 1/2 hour day seemed like somewhat of a vacation and almost like we would not know what to do with our extra time. We feel like what we are learning is that once you make yourself available to serve you don't worry about how long or short it takes.

Jeff and I both spoke in Church today. Annie Kate and her primary class sang "Dearest Children God is Near You" They were all excited and did a great job.

For my talk I started with a quote I got form Sheri

"God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we prove our dependability, he will increase our capability!" -Neal A. Maxwell

It seemed to fit perfectly with my talk on learning to learn and learning to teach. I had recently discovered the Worldwide Leadership Training online one night while sewing. (I am such the multi tasker, I usually watch old conference talks while sewing) We each picked our own subject for our talks and I chose this recent address.
I was surprised at what anxiety I felt the night before and up to the moment of speaking. This was so rare for me as I usually never get nervous. It was good for me to be a little anxious as to "stretch" myself and do my very best.
The girls were crazy! Jeff was in the hallway with them screaming during my talk and I got off the stand and switched with him so he could talk. The tough thing is there is no real hallway the chapel doors stay open and are 25 feet from the front door of the building, so there is no place to hide with noisy kids without going to the basement. We are definitely being given the opportunity to learn patience with these little ones, I just hope we hurry up and learn it.

Jeff gave such a great talk and used this great story about bees and wasps that he had seen on PBS. (turns out one of the girls in the meeting is the one who had edited it for PBS) He talked about protecting our families and finding Peace in the Easter Season.



Primary continues to be a challenge with Reverence. The extreme situation some of the kids are coming from - between home and church - remind me to be patient but at the same time I don't want to be indulgent either. It is just going to take time for sure.
The older boys class did sharing time and it was amazing. The teacher did such a good job of having them do it. She had them each write down their testimony and read it. Chad gave me his, I thought it was so sweet!

We were thrilled to make it home by 5:30 yet still very tired from the day. My visiting teacher called me to see if I want to go with her to the Stake Relief Society Fireside (devotional). I would have to leave at 6:30 and knew I would probably not be home until 9:30pm. My mind quickly talked myself out of it by thinking I had been at the Stake Center the week before for a Stake Primary meeting and I had already had a long day, but because I love my visiting teacher so much I could not pass up the 20 min each way conversation I was going to get with her. I don't see her as much and so I am not going to pass up any chance I get spending time with her. (see my selfish motives)

flyer for fireside with my little note pad to take notes

The Fireside was INCREDIBLE! Our Stake President is getting released in a few weeks so it was timely that they had his wife on the schedule to speak.
They had a musical number by 3 women in my new ward and it was wonderful. It was something in D minor and just gave me such an appreciation for skilled musicians. I must admit I felt a little pride being associated with my new downtown friends.

The Stake President introduced his wife by reading a little something by her 8 children. (7 boys and 1 girl) it was amazing to hear. One of her sons referenced this amazing talk "A Mother Heart". It is a must read for any woman having a bad day! Here is the highlight for me.

"Who can find a . . . woman [with a mother heart]? for her price is far above rubies. . . . She . . . worketh willingly with her hands. . . . With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. . . . She stretcheth out her hand to the poor. . . . Strength and honour are her clothing. . . . She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness" (Proverbs 31:10, 13, 16, 20, 25–27). A woman with a mother heart has a testimony of the restored gospel, and she teaches the principles of the gospel without equivocation. She is keeping sacred covenants made in holy temples. Her talents and skills are shared unselfishly. She gains as much education as her circumstances will allow, improving her mind and spirit with the desire to teach what she learns to the generations who follow her.

Margaret was a wonderful speaker and put a face and a reality to what I want to accomplish as a woman. A few things I wrote in my notes that she said,

"You did not come to this earth to get your worth, you came with it"
"We should care more about life forever than life today"

There were a few other things that I could not write down fast enough. So I have written her a note along with returned self addressed stamped envelope in hopes she will send me one quote that was amazing. I will post it when I get it.
She spoke of her struggle with Cancer and losing her father at 16 years old and how those trials have made her the stronger. I was grateful that I had a visiting teacher call me and encourage me to go and not get a long day get in the way of my decisions.

This Stake does not disappoint when doing anything. The flowers were gorgeous.
They had sugar cookies in the shape of women.
Then they had tubes of white and pink icing so that you could make each sugar cookie unique and special just like we are. (i wanted to just pick up the icing and squirt it in my mouth, but didn't see anyone else doing it so I resisted)

It was really a great night and so fun to see all my friends from both wards and feel so fortunate for the short time we have lived here how many wonderful people I have met.

One of the most wonderful things is coming out of the meeting to see the large D.C. Temple it just puts everything in perspective. The stake center is next door to the temple

Miracle Sunday

Today was another great Sunday. It kind of pains me that I can't just run around with my camera on for our three hours of church to put a picture in your minds of these wonderful people.

We left about 10 minutes late for downtown which put us driving by the church building around the corner from us, right when our ward was walking to their cars. It was fun to stop and say hello to our best hometeacher EVER! But what was interesting it has only been a few weeks and it didn't even feel like we should have been there, it just feel so right for us to be going to our new ward.

Once we got to the city there was a ton of traffic by our normal route. We made a side turn and then thought we were closer to the building than we were. We were so excited to see an open parking spot Jeff just took it and said, "I think it is right around the corner" Parking is such a tricky thing for the location of our building. We were actually 6 blocks away.

Very few parts of the sidewalks were shoveled off with snow. Walking in heels on a snow day made the 6 block walk seem like 12. But the miracle of our parking disaster was that as we got out of our car a father and son walked past us both pulling suitcases down the snowy sidewalks walking the other direction. They said to us, "Are you going to the Mormon church?" We said we are. They told us that they had been wandering around the neighborhood looking for where the church was. And with them walking in the other direction they would never have found it. So they turned around and walked with us. It was obvious they were tourists and I asked them where they were from. They said, "Mesa Arizona" We told them we had just moved here from Tennessee about 6 months ago. The dad said that his brother in law used to live in Tennesse and by chance did we know him: Randy Karchner? The Karchner family was in our ward in Franklin. Is that just amazing!

Jeff and I both got callings today. I am in Primary and Jeff is in the Young Men's program.
The Young Men's program is really amazing. I don't dare say all, but close to it, are converts to the church and come despite being the only members of their family. They have a strong group and a great basketball team. We can't wait to go to one of their games. The YM president bought a 12 passenger van for $1000 to be able to pick them all up and take them places. I am amazed by the service that is given in this ward

The Primary is so different then I have seen in the church. Many of these kids come to church by themselves and are not used to reverence, sitting in their chairs, taking turns or raising their hands. The questions the kids were asking during sharing time where incredible. Will God really listen to me when I pray?
Caroline kept playing with one of the girls next to her hair. She kept saying your hair is so cute! She had lots of braids and cool barrettes and beads.
There was a boy in the back who was 7 and was really tough. They found him hiding in the halls and had to bring him in. As he was leaving I asked him to come over so I could learn his name. (which I have now forgotten) but he put his hand on my hair and rubbed it and said, "I really like your hair" and I said to him I really like yours. He had long 6" braids. As I talked to him and put my arm around him his toughness melted away. (good thing I didn't get a perm last week huh?)

A few things that feel different than other wards we have been in is:

• a lot of members clapped after the primary musical number today in Sacrament Meeting, but it was sweet when they did.
  
• after the deacons passed the sacrament the Bishopric member thanked them and asked them to return to sit with their friends (not families)
• the most common question we get asked is "how long have you been a member of the church?" this ward is full of many modern day pioneers.
• after sacrament meeting they have anyone visiting the church for the first time stand up and introduce themselves. It feels so cozy and such a great way to welcome the visitors

We took two of the Young Men to the Temple Visitors center for a fireside after church. What a treat for us. It was wonderful to hear how they found the church, how much they love it and what a change it has made in their lives. They were so excited to go to the fireside because they were going to get to reunite with the missionaries who taught them the gospel. They asked us how long we have been members and when we said our whole lives, their mouths dropped. Then when we said our parents and grandparents are members and some of our family where pioneers with Brigham Young their chins were on the floor. It was a great conversation.

When we got home we asked Annie Kate what feels different about our new ward and her answer was amazing. she said, "nothing really" Children are a wonderful blessing in lives because just when we think we are so smart they remind us were have so much to learn.

Children Going to Church - André-Henri Dargelas, 1828-1906

Sunday

This Sunday my girls are sick and Jeff is out of town so that will keep us from going to our new ward downtown. I tried everything to figure out how to make it happen, my friend even offered to watch the girls, but we just stayed home. Annie Kate was supposed to give a talk and with it being testimony meeting I was really excited to go and have a chance to get to know a lot of people. But today was not our day.
I can't believe a whole week went by and I didn't even write about our first week last Sunday with the girls so I thought today would be a good day to do catch up.
The above print is perfect for remembering the first day taking the girls. It was snowing when we came out of the building. One of our concerns with doing this year in another ward was how it would affect our little ones. There are only 2 primary classes, one for the older kids and one one for the younger. Annie Kate has loved her primary, teacher and all the boys in her class. I think she was a little surprised how small the building is when we pulled up. Some of the rooms don't have heat and it is much older than our current building. But she never said one negative word. She has taken this really serious of being a good example and having a good attitude. She even volunteered to give a talk for the next Sunday. She walked right into her class and said, "Hi I am new!"
Sacrament meeting was wonderful. Elder Earl C. Tingey (who is a leader in our Church from Salt Lake City) was there and gave a great, short talk at the end.
The man who conducted the meeting was very spirited and so welcoming, raising his arms saying, "Welcome, Welcome, Welcome"
A 15 year old boy spoke in sacrament meeting as well. He did not look once at his notes. It was the most incredible talk I have ever heard given by a young man of his age and as well as most adults
We met a couple our age who is in the ward. The husband is also from Seattle and had played Jeff in tennis in high school.. small world.
It was just an all around great day. A long day (with travel time and church it is about 5 1/2 hours) but a great day.
We feel so lucky to be able to be doing this!