I Can Prepare Now to Serve a Full-Time Mission

This was my first sharing time and I spent practically the entire Saturday before to come up with the presentation.  Earlier during that week, I thought I had a plan figured out but I ended up going a totally different direction.  Thanks to Google and Pinterest I ran into several websites (including lds.org) and ended up incorporating a few ideas and came up with this one!  I apologize but at the time I didn't think to save the links.  Anyway, here's what I did ...

I introduced this poster as Elder Callister, a dear, dear friend of mine that is a full-time missionary visiting our Primary.  I told the kids he had a sore throat so I'd be talking for him.  He came to tell us about missionary work.  He said that there were some item in the bag that he uses in his mission.  I asked for volunteers to grab an item, purposely leaving out the missionary tag.  When all the items were taken out, I pointed out that having these items doesn't make somebody a missionary then I asked the children what was missing.  Answer: missionary tag, and that's when I pulled out the missionary tag item.  I informed them that it gave the missionary a public identity that they were representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with a special message from God.  Also, pointed out that specifically for Elder Callister, it symbolized his testimony.  Then I went over the 5 essential parts of a testimony:

"1. I know that God is our Heavenly Father and He loves us. 2. I know that His Son, Jesus Christ, is our Savior and Redeemer. 3. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. He restored the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth and translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God. 4. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s Church on the earth today. 5. I know that this Church is led by a living prophet who receives revelation." (Liahona). 

I concluded with my testimony, making sure to include all 5 parts ... I got all choked up because I mentioned that Elder Callister is a real person (he was the one who baptized me 20+ years ago) and encourage them to prepare to serve a full-time mission because there are more people like me out there.

For the Senior Primary group (ages 7-11), I added the door presentation below.  I had them play pretend missionary and knock on "doors".  I put the doors up on the blackboard and had a different child knock on each door and on the back was the response of the "person" who opened the door.  The children would provide me their reply to the scenario.  The kids seem to have had a kick out of this part and the replies were pretty awesome!! :)

The Beginning

Back in mid October, our stake announced major boundary changes.  Ward names were dissolved and renamed.  Even times were changed.  It left many in shock but most were excited for the new adventure. 

The announcement automatically released many from their callings.  I, included.  I had been Visiting Teaching Coordinator for a little over 1.5 years and just like that, I had no calling.  Two weeks later (Stake Conference the week after announcement) we all attended our new ward and you can imagine the great scramble the bishops had to fill callings.  A week later I was called to be Primary 1st Counselor.  I was practically clueless about the Primary dealings so you can imagine how terrified I was but accepted the calling knowing it was the Lord's will. 

November 18th became the first day for the entire newly called Primary Presidency (though our Primary President was out of town for that week and the following).  It was a bit confusing for us, the Primary teachers, and the  children but we managed.  That said, the following Sunday would be my first sharing time.

Of the presidency, I was the most lost.  Our second counselor had previous experience in the primary presidency so she was on the ball with everything ... suggesting ideas left and right and having just been Relief Society President, she was use to leading. Our secretary was pretty adept and our president had primary presidency experience as well.  That left me quiet and struggling to adapt and make some sort of contribution.  It was such an awful feeling!!

My first sharing time went well and it gave me uplift that I did have something to contribute.  Then I did sharing time yesterday and one of the teachers, who was happy and impressed, complimented me that I was correctly called to the position.  She made my day!  I felt some semblance of belonging.  It may perhaps be that sharing time is my strong suit, I certainly will do my darnedest to continue that and learn all the other aspects of my calling.  I absolutely didn't know ANYTHING about Activity Days.  I'm so glad that the newly called Activity Days Leader is knowledgeable and have everything under control ...makes my life easier!  Hehe...  Plus, I have "old" (previous ward) friends to pick their brains for help.  I'll get there, I'll get there!

Well, that's my story and I created this blog to document my journey in this new calling.  Giving place for sharing time presentations I did or plan to do.  Perhaps someone out there is in a similar boat and might find something useful here. 

Pray for me!  Thanks.  :)