Know Before You Go...To a Litter Pickup in the Rain

In a post written a couple of weeks ago, I wrote that in the near future I would have two opportunities to complete Good Works Elective Experience #6:

Spend at least three hours giving service outside your family. Ask your ward or branch Relief Society president or a community leader for suggestions for service. For example, you might take care of children while parents attend the temple; collect, make, or recondition toys or games for a nursery; accept an assignment to clean the meetinghouse; or perform errands for or read to a homebound person or others in need. Record in your journal the reactions of the person you served and possible goals for future service opportunities.

On Tuesday, March 31, the Young Women of our ward went to an orphan relief organization and helped them for two hours in their distribution center. We sorted clothes, hung them up or folded them, restocked shelves, and hauled boxes. It was a fun activity and everyone loved the feel of serving.

Yesterday was our town's annual 'Day of Service', which our ward participated in. We were assigned to do a litter pickup at several parks in the area. Our group found some pretty odd things, namely, dozens of zip-ties, a bunch of blue confetti, a $1 coin in a plastic Easter egg, and cat food bowls, just to name a few. 

Oh, and did I mention that it rained? Only lightly, but the ground was a bit muddy, and my shoes and socks were instantly soaked at the toes. Plus, it is apparently gnat season right now, and everyone was swatting at flies. In fact, I found a dead bug in my ear a few hours later!

All in all, it was fantastic service, and I enjoyed it. I hope that everyone gets to have an opportunity to do service and feel the joy it brings!!!

Embark!

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Serve, Serve, Serve!

Hey everyone! Good Works must be a really great value if it's already getting two posts just to itself! (Read the other here.) But it goes really well with the Mutual Theme this year: 'O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve Him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength, that ye may stand blameless before Him at the last day.' (D&C 4:2)

In the January New Era, there was an article called 'Serving God Through Personal Progress'. It gives some great ideas for ways to serve and live the 2015 theme while doing Personal Progress. 

In addition to the suggestions given in this article, Good Works Elective Experience #6 is great! Three hours of service, however, seemed a bit...much. How could I possibly find that much service??? I wasn't sure if I would be doing that one...

Until my awesome ward and Young Women leaders plan two separate service projects that are each about three hours.

Yep. I just hit the mother lode. 

I had actually been not-too-seriously pondering this experience, but I was still trying to think what types of service I could do. Then, over the pulpit in Sacrament Meeting, the bishop's counselor announced and outlined our annual 'Day of Service'. We'd literally spend three hours just serving our beautiful community! That's going to be in a few weeks. Just two hours later, in Young Women Opening Exercises, the YW President told us that next week, we'll be going to an orphan relief place and spending the whole morning serving there. 

Seriously, this is the best coincidence. Or maybe not. I don't really think it's a coincidence. But there it is. More than enough service hours for me to do this awesome experience and serve others! I'm excited for these opportunities, and I'll keep you posted (pun not intended). 

Have a lovely Wednesday! And tell me your favorite service experience in the comments. I'd love to hear about it!

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