Seriously Inspirational



Jared's 4 years of med school were memorable; Memorable in more ways than one.





Church is and was a huge part of our lives. The first ward we were in was like a giant BYU newlywed ward. It was primarily made up of medical or dental students and their spouses. We had a lot of fun and we loved it.

Then, we were called to the inner-city Milwaukee branch. The first week our branch president told us it would be an experience like no other and that we were in for a treat.


I wish everyone could have experienced a single sacrament meeting there. We walked in the first day and everyone greeted us. Not just a few half smiles and hand shakes. These were warm hugs and genuine inquiries about our lives. We were immediately invited to dinner and immediately made part of their ward family. The first speaker stood up and said "Good Morning" and everyone responded "Good Morning" in return.

I have been in wards with lots of members that have been newly converted, but for some reason there was something special about this one. Their sweet, simple, pure testimonies were powerful and real. It was a huge blessing in our lives.
That being said, the branch had a very diverse make-up. Non-tradiational families with kids living with aunties, grandmas, cousins. We had Hmong, African-Americans, students, families, you name it. It could have been segregate, but it was the closet ward I have ever been apart of.

We had never heard the sacrament prayer said in ubonics "We ax (ask) thee..."




Jared and I were immediately called to young mens and young womens. It was not a Sunday / Tuesday calling. It was an everyday calling. Parent teacher conferences, footballs games, driving them from here to there, phone calls for advice, and lots of love. There were some very raw emotions felt during those times. When 2 sisters were no longer able to live in their home, when an auntie-mom had a severe accident that left her paralized and nearly dead, listening to the challenges of inner-city neighborhoods and inner-city schools. Drive-by shootings being part of the everyday background noise. Seriously, the things these kids faced are things that most of us will never have to deal with.

One boy had a goal to serve a mission. Boys from the branch didn't serve missions. There were no boys with family support in that sort of thing. They had no examples of return missionaries. They had no money.





That one boy did serve a mission. He reported his mission last Sunday in Milwaukee. We weren't able to make it to his homecoming, but we have talked to many people who did. We have talked to him on the phone. He has grown. He has grown spiritually and socially. He now looks you in the eye to talk to you. He articulates. He has education goals.

We are so excited for him. We are proud of the example he is to all of us, especially to his peers in the city branch.

There will be always be a place in our hearts for the City Branch Youth of Milwaukee.


Comments

  1. Hearing Rodney speak last Sunday was INCREDIBLE. The Branch truly is one of a kind. We miss you guys!

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  2. WOW! Shad and I are so shy of big service like this. Young Womens in a regular ward makes me tired. I really admire people like you and am grateful for you at the same time. Maybe I can be you when I grow up.

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  3. Al, I TOTALLY cherish my family/Jared time. This calling was just different. We got out way more than we put into it. Like I said, these kids were inspiring. Many of them have fallen away but Rodney is now a return missionary. That makes it all worth it! Plus, at that time we didn't have kids and Jared was a student so we had more time :)

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  4. Sounds like an awesome experience Heidi! That's great that one of the Young Men were able to go on a mission and be an example for the rest.

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  5. I usually just put my foot in my mouth when I try to comment on blogs so I hope no one takes this wrong. But, you really realize how great a ward is when you have a bad ward experience to compare it to. Don't get me wrong most wards are great and a lot depends on your attitude but some wards just fit better and make for a better experience than others, am I right?

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  6. I loved your post (and pictures!) Heidi. It made me tear up. Boy we miss that place. "Normal" sacrament meeting always seems so boring now! Especially testimony meetings. ;) We will always remember and cherish our time serving with you in the branch.

    So when are we going to get together with prez and go skiing again? Maybe when we're there next April-May we'll have to fly prez out and SKI!

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  7. Linds - I totally miss it too. I was wondering when you were coming out!! We're excited to see you guys and hang-out for a couple of months :)

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  8. That was really awesome to hear. Thanks for sharing!

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  9. We miss all the boys and freinds from the brach as well. although we only visited and had the boys come out here for a couple of weeks.. they made us feel like we were part of the ward family as well... Welcome home to Rodney.. we love you !!!!

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