12 August 2012

CHANGE

Yes, I've been MIA from the blogging world for a while.
My phone stopped letting me upload pictures,
and Phil doesn't TAKE pictures on his phone,
so...we can't blog without pictures, can we?

Today our lives changed.
BIG.

We got released from our callings as Young Men and Young Women Presidents.
We'd both been serving with the youth the entire time we've been married
and the last two years have been as presidents.

I had a feeling a few days ago that it was time for us to be done
and I'd had my emotional break-down, sobbing time.
What could be more important for us to do?
How could there be a better place for us to be?
But it was time.

Phil hadn't had time to process the idea,
and today was REALLY hard for him.
I've never seen him so invested in ANYTHING before.
He was more committed to those young men than anything else.
He belonged there. And he loved it.
But he'd been feeling recently like his efforts weren't producing any fruit.
He was getting discouraged and worried that he hadn't "succeeded".
That they weren't getting "it."
And then got released.
So he felt like a failure.
And broke down.
For the last hour at church, he got to say goodbye.
And each of the young men shared what they appreciated about him.
MORE TEARS.
LOTS of tears.
Yes, from teenage boys.
And Phil.
He walked out of that meeting with the reassurance he needed.
What a tender mercy for Heavenly Father to share with him, 
through the young men,
how much he meant to them and affected them.

We did the same thing in Young Women's, 
and it was such a gift.
It's scary to leave a calling with the youth.
You never know what will come up in their lives.
And you're not a part of their intimate lives anymore.
How will they manage without you?
Will they remember your testimony?
Will they be better because of something you did?
Did it even matter?
Much of the time, we never know.
And it's scary when it's someone you love.
What a blessing to get to hear them share when they've learned.

In young women's, I asked them to tell me MY testimony.
Because it's great to be friends, and feel welcome, and be positive,
But did they get it?
So I asked each of them to say something that THEY know I know.
What a great spirit I felt, 
And comfort to know that the Holy Ghost had been teaching them,
and they had each heard something different.
But they heard my testimony.

It's such a blessing to have a calling!
What a privilege to see others change, and be a part of it!
We're horribly sad for this chapter of our lives to end,
But we know there's more to come and more to do.

"I'll go where you want me to go.
I'll say what you want me to say.
I'll be what you want me to be."

3 comments:

  1. SAD!!! I'm sure you guys changed their lives and they will always remember you. But I can only imagine how sad it was to say goodbye to that chapter. Tell Phil Hi. You guys are awesome!

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  2. You will see the fruits, it may take a few years but as they graduate, go to college, go on missions, married in the temple - you will celebrate those moments even if it is from a far. What a neat idea to have the girls tell you your testimony. I am glad Phil had that moment with the young men. It will be a new experience on whatever is next and it will be good too.

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  3. Wow... that's a couple big, emotional events all at once. It's hard to leave something like a beloved calling and move on. You will be missed, for sure.

    I love that you had them share your testimony too. :) Thanks for sharing some of it here. It makes me happy to read about how much you both loved your callings and those you were able to work with.

    I can't wait to see what you both do next! :) Love ya!

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