Called To Serve

Our first Sunday at church on Guam was new and exciting. The building is small and beautiful. It has chapel with large window panes on three sides. Instead of hallways it has breezeways, outdoor covered walkways to go from building to building. It has an outdoor baptismal font. It is small but large enough for our wards use.

 

A huge tropical storm came and left during sacrament meeting. The windows became foggy and the noise of the rain was loud and intense on the roof.

 

The members were very friendly on our first Sunday. We were invited to eat at the Collins home with another family. It was nice to visit with new friends and hear move about Guam, the Navy and our new Ward.

 

The real purpose of this post is to thank my Mom and Dad for teaching me to never say no to a calling or assignment given in the church. I specifically remember them drilling this into me and it stuck. It has always been stuck but I realized here on Guam how stuck it is. ;)

 

Let me tell you what's been going on. 

 

On our 2nds Sunday I was called and asked if I would sub the Sunbeam class. I love children and teaching, but teaching a new class can be intimidating when you don't know the children.

 

The following week I received a call to teach the Relief Society Lesson. I haven't done this in years, since my college days and I remember being intimidated about this back then too. This definitely made me anxious and uneasy but I said yes.

 

The next week I was asked to do Singing time in primary. This is my favorite calling in the church but once again, I'm new. I don't know any of these kids, what new songs they are learning or much else.   

 

The week after Tyson and I spoke in Sacrament meeting, we knew this call would eventually be coming and it did. But upon arriving at church I was asked to lead the music in Sacrament meeting as well. And following that meeting I subbed singing time once again.  

 

All of these calls came and they obviously needed someone to fill in and serve. Sure it would definitely be easier and more convenient to say "No" but I am glad that my parents taught me to say "Yes" even if it is last minute, if it makes me nervous or is out of my comfort zone. I've learned that those ones usually make you grow the most.

 

Lydia has also already given a talk on Forgiveness and Tyson taught the same lesson in Elders Quorum that I did in Relief Society.

 

I don't say any of this to brag or toot my own horn, this experience has honestly made me feel blessed to realize that wherever we live and move in this world, even if its to a small island in the middle of the pacific ocean that the church is the same, its programs are the same, the way its run and organized are no different than back home.

PS. Our music appreciation lesson in Sunbeams took a fun turn. I let each child (age 3) choose their favorite primary song and then we sang them. (Or I sang them while they played.) Little Bo Bo told me her choice and it was, "Let it Go" so guess what song I sang? ;)