Our day today was geared toward dinner with our branch YSAs. We have 22 Young Single Adults on the record in our little branch. Of those 22, I personally know 7. One of those 7 left this week for Provo and the MTC and then on to San Jose California. Of the greater number of 22, there is no valid phone number, address or email to contact 5 of them. Of the remaining 17, 7 did not respond to text messages and/or emails and voice messages inviting them to join us. Of the 10 remaining - one (as I mentioned) just left on a mission, 2 were unable to be here, and there were 4 maybe answers and three yeses.
We went ahead and prepared a dinner for about 10....always optimistic! Starting in the afternoon, we received word from each of 6 of them that they woudn't be able to make it for various reasons. That left us with one young man! I called him and told him what was happening, and told him we would love to have him come to dinner even though he was the only one. He said he would rather wait until we rescheduled. I know he would have been uncomfortable!
So we called our senior missionary neighbors! They were the only ones I could call at the very last minute, explain the situation and invite them to come to dinner. They graciously came over and we all relaxed and enjoyed the evening. One of our senior sisters was unable to come because she has been sick, and that was a disappointment, but otherwise it was really a lovely evening.
We learned some things today. Saturday is the wrong day of the week to do this. People should be invited to come along with someone they know....not just a cold call invitation from a stranger. It has given us some ideas for the future. SK and I have been talking about what it is that we should be doing with our prime directive of "Bringing souls to Christ," and the second very important one of providing opportunities for the YSAs to spend time with each other in meaningful ways.
As each message came in cancelling, we talked more and more about how we can accomplish our goals. I think we came up with some really constructive and positive ideas! We hope to meet with our Stake President soon and talk with him about what his vision is. I am excited about implementing some of the things we want to do.
And it is still the beginning of a new year! What better time to get going?
Beyond every cloud is a silver lining.
ReplyDeleteBeyond every cloud is a silver lining! I'm sure you've found it. L&P
I think I found it....but it was such a disappointment nevertheless. I guess that is what we would call "a learning experience."
ReplyDeleteHmmm. That reminds me a lot of my old young women's roster in New Jersey! When I got called there were 25 young women actually listed as being in the ward, but as we started trying to locate them, we marked off almost 15 names! What made me the most sad was that no one living at the apartments knew where they had gone. No forwarding address. I know that those sweet girls are known to the Lord but it was sad for us to have "lost" them.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said. It is sad to lose them...and I pray that someone, if not us, will find them and pull them back into the warmth of the gospel.
ReplyDelete