Lessons From a New Congregation
One of our highlights of traveling is getting to attend a church service with one of our ward families in another area. It's a great feeling to have 300 new friends every week. This week we went to the Choctaw, OK ward and I was blown away.
First of all, the people here are generally very kind. During the Sacrament service, two young men spoke - one recently returned from a 2-year church mission, and one preparing to leave. They delivered two very well prepared messages! Afterward, it wasn't 15 seconds before we had members of the ward there greeting us and asking about our visit.
Secondly, I was amazed at their interactions as all the women gathered for the Relief Society meeting, the last hour of the block. Again, it wasn't a few seconds after I'd sat down that someone turned to me and asked who I was. We chatted for a few minutes, then the meeting started and they pointed me out as a visitor. My fast, new friend spoke up and said, "This is my friend, Ashley". I introduced myself and received a surprise reaction at why we were there, and many of the women proceeded to ask me lots of questions about our journey, time-frame, our cats, etc. They were so kind and genuinely interested, that I instantly felt a part of their group. They interacted with each other like TRUE sisters. Sitting back and observing the rest of their announcements before the lesson began, I felt like I learned so much in those few minutes.
1. I need to do better at reaching out and making others feel welcome. Not just at church, but in any group setting. Feeling like an outsider can be a downer. There is a small window of time initially where that transition from newcomer to insider can be made flawlessly. I want to act more quickly to help others make that transition more smoothly.
2. I felt that everyone in that room truly loved each other. The difference of personalities ran the range of every extreme, but they were patient, loving and sincere in their responses and interactions with each other. They expressed love for each sister, and sincerely celebrated each others successes, and genuinely mourned each others losses. Interruptions weren't seen as that. They were flexible and cared more about their sisters than keeping a schedule, or following an agenda. It made me think of the quote by President Thomas S. Monson: “Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.” What a great reminder for me today.
It was one of the most uplifting meetings I've been to in a while. I feel so blessed to have been able to worship my Savior with this group of my brothers and sisters this week. They have reminded me of some valuable and simple truths, many of which I can and will do better at in the coming weeks.
First of all, the people here are generally very kind. During the Sacrament service, two young men spoke - one recently returned from a 2-year church mission, and one preparing to leave. They delivered two very well prepared messages! Afterward, it wasn't 15 seconds before we had members of the ward there greeting us and asking about our visit.
Secondly, I was amazed at their interactions as all the women gathered for the Relief Society meeting, the last hour of the block. Again, it wasn't a few seconds after I'd sat down that someone turned to me and asked who I was. We chatted for a few minutes, then the meeting started and they pointed me out as a visitor. My fast, new friend spoke up and said, "This is my friend, Ashley". I introduced myself and received a surprise reaction at why we were there, and many of the women proceeded to ask me lots of questions about our journey, time-frame, our cats, etc. They were so kind and genuinely interested, that I instantly felt a part of their group. They interacted with each other like TRUE sisters. Sitting back and observing the rest of their announcements before the lesson began, I felt like I learned so much in those few minutes.
1. I need to do better at reaching out and making others feel welcome. Not just at church, but in any group setting. Feeling like an outsider can be a downer. There is a small window of time initially where that transition from newcomer to insider can be made flawlessly. I want to act more quickly to help others make that transition more smoothly.
2. I felt that everyone in that room truly loved each other. The difference of personalities ran the range of every extreme, but they were patient, loving and sincere in their responses and interactions with each other. They expressed love for each sister, and sincerely celebrated each others successes, and genuinely mourned each others losses. Interruptions weren't seen as that. They were flexible and cared more about their sisters than keeping a schedule, or following an agenda. It made me think of the quote by President Thomas S. Monson: “Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.” What a great reminder for me today.
It was one of the most uplifting meetings I've been to in a while. I feel so blessed to have been able to worship my Savior with this group of my brothers and sisters this week. They have reminded me of some valuable and simple truths, many of which I can and will do better at in the coming weeks.
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