I just discovered this old post about the YW training I was so stressed about! When I wrote about it, I got a little carried away and ran out of time...and forgot to get back to publish it... So, here's my belated report in all it's wordy glory:
April 23, 2009
That's right, I've been rejoicing for a week! The meeting went beautifully--as good as I could have hoped for. There is no question that the spirit guided and I felt completely humbled to be "teaching" these amazing women that lead the girls in our stake. We talked a lot about ministering. We have a prophet who ministers and we can follow his example. Really, that is just loving & serving each girl individually, not as a group--getting to know them, interacting one-on-one, putting our arms around them, looking them in the eye, calling them by name, and praying for how we can affect them knowing that as we prepare spiritually each day, the Lord will tell us what to do and when to do it on individual levels. I could tell you my entire lesson and get excited all over again, but I will spare you! We were THRILLED to hear feedback that everyone left feeling encouraged and inspired. Totally what we were going for. Hooray!! What a relief.
I really love the young women's program. My testimony of it gets deeper the longer I serve in it. I love the girls throughout our stake, many I know, many more I'm trying to get familiar with, but somehow I have a soft spot for each of them. It touches me how strong many of them are and what an impact one virtuous girl can have on those around her. I love that I get to be involved with them, even from a more distant stake position. They make me want to be a better person so that any time any one of them sees me anywhere, I can be a positive example. They get pulled in so many directions--they just need to feel our love as women in the church, be told how great they are, and see that we have joy because we live the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are so blessed to have it and we have an enormous responsibility to impress that on our youth. I'm thankful I get to be apart of all of it.
If you need a lift, I highly recommend watching the most recent YW General Broadcast from Mar 09. Young woman or not, it's worth hearing.
April 23, 2009
That's right, I've been rejoicing for a week! The meeting went beautifully--as good as I could have hoped for. There is no question that the spirit guided and I felt completely humbled to be "teaching" these amazing women that lead the girls in our stake. We talked a lot about ministering. We have a prophet who ministers and we can follow his example. Really, that is just loving & serving each girl individually, not as a group--getting to know them, interacting one-on-one, putting our arms around them, looking them in the eye, calling them by name, and praying for how we can affect them knowing that as we prepare spiritually each day, the Lord will tell us what to do and when to do it on individual levels. I could tell you my entire lesson and get excited all over again, but I will spare you! We were THRILLED to hear feedback that everyone left feeling encouraged and inspired. Totally what we were going for. Hooray!! What a relief.
I really love the young women's program. My testimony of it gets deeper the longer I serve in it. I love the girls throughout our stake, many I know, many more I'm trying to get familiar with, but somehow I have a soft spot for each of them. It touches me how strong many of them are and what an impact one virtuous girl can have on those around her. I love that I get to be involved with them, even from a more distant stake position. They make me want to be a better person so that any time any one of them sees me anywhere, I can be a positive example. They get pulled in so many directions--they just need to feel our love as women in the church, be told how great they are, and see that we have joy because we live the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are so blessed to have it and we have an enormous responsibility to impress that on our youth. I'm thankful I get to be apart of all of it.
If you need a lift, I highly recommend watching the most recent YW General Broadcast from Mar 09. Young woman or not, it's worth hearing.
4 comments:
Not that I don't try to be, but you help me want to be a better leader. It's funny how the two callings I've been the most excited for (and the most stressed out about) have coincided with your callings.
It's easy to for me to get worked up about the small details of such callings and you've help remind me that it boils down to being there for the youth. Like you said, one-on-one and looking them in the eye. You've taught me an extraordinary amount in learning how to function as more than a "manual to face teacher". Thank you for that.
I know this is sort of gushy- you'll just have to get over it.
I love YW's too, and even though it can be exhausting in many ways, that's where my heart is. I'm sure you are a wonderful and amazing stake leader and as the girls get to know you, I'm sure they adore you.
Maybe by the time Maddie is 12, you'll take a turn on the ward level again. I'll cross my fingers, because honestly out of all of my wonderful memories of my 3 1/2 year stint as YW's president, the best is that I got to be with Kristi all that time. What a treasure that was.
And back to Maddie, she is so beautiful and looks much more than a few months older than Dallin to me. She is growing up FAST!!
Still have never served in YW even once. All of my sisters have, but not me. I've had just about every RS calling there is, and was a primary counselor under 4 different presidents, but no YW. Your post has me hoping that I'll get a chance one day. They just called a new YW presidency in our ward today and I'm always so interested to find out who will be impacting my daughter. Wish you were in our stake, Tracy!
Love your perspective Tracy. You are the kind of leader I can only hope to be. Thanks for keeping us all aiming high.
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