Called To Serve

"I wish to be up and doing. I wish to face each day with resolution and purpose. I wish to use every waking hour to give encouragement, to bless those whose burdens are heavy, to build faith and strength of testimony.”

—Gordon B. Hinckley, “Testimony,” Ensign, May 1998, 69

Over the past few months we have had several missionaries speak in sacrament meeting (for my non-member friends, that is the hour of church in which the whole congregation meets together to partake of the sacrament and hear talks on specific subjects). As I go through journal entries written during this time i realize I have several entries about wanting to serve. During one of these "Missionary Sacrament Meetings", I leaned over to Brandon and whispered, "We need to do this". Next thing I know (as in, the very next day...), Brandon has missionary applications in hand. He found a service mission for us! The mission will be for The Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder Day Saints, Addiction Recovery Program.

A couple of months ago we were able to sit in on a 12-step meeting then later meet with a missionary couple who coordinate the program in our area. Shortly thereafter we were asked by this same couple to get involved with a 12-step program taking place in our area on Sunday evenings.

So as a result of all of this, we are currently facilitating a local 12-step program (Sunday evenings). Our actual mission will be served at a Women's Recovery Center, also in our area.

I am still not sure I am the type to wear a missionary name tag, but maybe that is the very thing I bring to the table. Ha! Our papers are in and we've been attending missionary training meetings as well as meetings to help us facilitate on Sunday nights.

Here is some information about what a church service mission is:

http://lds.org/service/missionary-service/church-service-missionaries?lang=eng

Since 1979, the Church-Service Missionary Program has provided a growing and varied number of opportunities to serve. This important missionary workforce helps many Church departments and operations provide needed products and services. Serving others brings great blessings to those who serve and to the Church worldwide.

You can contact the Church-Service Missionary Program office at Church headquarters at 1-800-453-3860, ext. 2-4914 (or 801-240-4914), or e-mail csm-support@ldschurch.org.

What are church service missionaries?
The purpose of the Church-Service Missionary Program is to provide opportunities for members to give their time to the Lord through work-related service missions. Church-service missionaries serve at least 8 hours per week. They normally serve for 6 to 24months.

What are the qualifications to serve?All Church-service missionaries must be worthy to hold a temple recommend and should have no minor children living at home. They must be physically, mentally, and emotionally able to fulfill the specific call and its related duties. Prospective missionaries must also provide their own transportation and financial support. Church-service missionaries are responsible for their own medical and dental needs, including eye-care and prescription-drug expenses.

Brandon and I are so excited to serve. I think we both feel like we have no clue what we are doing and are scared to death, but the peace in this opportunity is amazing. I think we both just feel lucky and blessed and humbled. Our mission starts on June 1st and our badges arrived today when I came home from work! We are just waiting for our official call to come, which should be any day now. What an exciting time in our lives!