Tag: service

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Hill Country Handbags for Hope

By Ken Jarvis, San Antonio Area Media Specialist

The San Antonio Texas Hill Country Stake Relief Society Presidency, recognized a need in San Antonio to help the temporary residents of the Battered Women’s/Children’s Shelter. They found out from the director of the shelter that one of the many items needed at the shelter were purses filled with personal items that will help support them as they begin this new transition. Almost immediately, a request for assistance in this effort was sent to all women’s ministry leaders (Relief Society Presidents) in each congregation within the Stake boundaries to help collect “Handbags of Hope”.

“Handbags for Hope” are collected at the San Antonio Texas Hill Country Stake Fiesta celebration.

In the request that was issued the San Antonio Texas Hill Country Stake Relief Society Presidency, stated that, “Along with ministering and loving the sisters in our wards, we have been given the opportunity to tend and care for the sheep of another fold, those being temporary residents of the Battered Women’s/Children’s Shelter.” The message went on to say that these women were in “…very desperate situations that have made them suddenly homeless and consequently sharing quarters with up to 100 other women who are trying to get a fresh start on life.”

More handbags are collected as Fiesta attendees drop off purses and supplies.

Each congregation’s Relief Society, or women’s ministry, was asked to provide as many gently used or new purses as they could. In addition they were asked to fill each purse with the following items: a wallet, small mirror, hair ties, lip balm, feminine hygiene products, hand sanitizer, small notebook with pen, hand moisturizer, and socks.

The number of purses to be delivered to the Battered Women/Children’s Shelter grow.

The goal was to deliver them prior to Mother’s Day, a day that mothers are celebrated worldwide! The hope was “…to help make these ladies’ Mother’s Day be a little bit more special,” according to Cynthia Y. Miller, Stake Relief Society first Counselor.

Cindy Beattie, Stake Relief Society President, said that the goal was to have 100 filled purses delivered to Stake’s meetinghouse for the Fiesta celebration on April 22, 2023. “I’m delighted to announce that we were able to deliver over 200 filled purses to the shelter the following Monday,” Beattie said.

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A Miracle to be Seen

wheeler-family-miracle

Written by Shanna Glover Wheeler

Traditionally this time of year is a time of reflection for so many people around the world. As my family and I have thought a lot about what the next year will bring, it’s looked a little bit different than it has in the past. You see, something happens when you’re told that you’ve got three to six months left to live. This is not the news I expected to hear at forty-five years old, after a three-year battle with breast cancer. It’s the kind of news that really makes you look long and hard in the mirror. It makes you contemplate your life, the choices you’ve made, and whether or not you’ve used the time you’ve had in ways that will leave a lasting impact on those you love the most.

Time is a funny thing when it’s something you’re running a little short of and it’s a masterful teacher.  It’s taught me a unique perspective. Consequently, my family and I have learned a few lessons over the past few months. I’d love to share some of these with you.

wheeler-family-miracle

“Why me?”

As I think back over the past number of years I can see how the Lord has been preparing me to come back home.  Interestingly enough, I’ve seen His hand mostly in helping me prepare my children. My husband and I have ten kids. We’ve adopted eight of them and fostered another forty-two throughout our marriage. All of this has been especially challenging for them as most of my kids have already lost a parent and experienced so much trauma in their lives. Again and again I’ve asked, “Why wouldn’t God want me to be here to help them?Why me? I have more work left to do!” Daily I wrestled with these questions and the concept of needing to give my will to God. 

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Finding Peace

During this period I’d also been spending time at the temple. It was there that I was able to receive peace and was finally able to reconcile my will to His. The Spirit spoke to me and reminded me that I don’t stop being their mother when I’m not here on earth any longer. That fact doesn’t change regardless of which side of the veil I’m on. It was a beautiful reminder that being a wife and mother is what knits together my eternal identity. It’s who I am. Furthermore, my understanding deepened of why God made it possible for families to be eternal. It’s because He loves us! He doesn’t want us to be separated from those we love the most. I’ve felt so grateful for this perspective! I have received so much peace because of it. Continue reading “A Miracle to be Seen”