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.