One of the blessings of being a member of the Relief Society in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is that we are one in sisterhood no matter what country we live or visit.
For the month of June, Sis. Robbins and Sis Lydia Callihan chose to have our activity focus on the part of President Nelson's talk about giving "thanks unto God, the Father of our spirits, which makes us all brother and sisters - one great global family".
Sis. Erin Laird shared about her experience living in Japan. Their family was stationed there for 18 months. Even though they attended an American ward there, she shared her testimony of her spiritual awakening and how all are Heavenly Father's children no matter where in the world we live. Their family came to love Japan and the culture.
Sis Chelsea Dorn has lived in Dubai. The church building there is quite different than here in the States. The Sabbath is on Friday there. Most members take a taxi, public transportation, or ride share just to get to church. It is a luxury to be able to attend. There were 28 different nationalities that Chelsea noticed. There are no hymn books. The Spirit feels the same though. It was a relief just to be in the building each week and be with other members. She shared her favorite memory of their ward Christmas party out in the desert. There was a live nativity and the Spirit brought her a new appreciation for that which we celebrate.
Sis Noreen Holness grew up in Jamaica. She shared that she felt it was very Americanized. They did not have cars but walked to church. She had to get up at 4:30 to walk to seminary each morning. What was remarkable to her was that when she came to the States she felt the exact same love that she had felt in Jamaica. Noreen shared part of a talk from Elder Jackson called " The Culture of Christ". She also expressed how grateful she was for the sisters that took her under their wings and brought her into their homes and went to the temple with her.
Sis Amy Henderson shared her experiences as she has traveled through Mexico, Columbia and Aruba. Many of these saints are in very humble circumstances and yet are so happy and willing to share. Amy shared with us that there are things we do in the fellowship of the saints that are simple like stacking chairs and singing in Primary, 'Once there was a Snowman' in a country where there is no snow. These things help cement our sisterhood even though they seem small.
Sis Jennifer Tripp shared about her experiences in Denmark as a child. She couldn't understand the language but she remembered that the songs sounded the same.
We are so very blessed to have this assurance that where ever we travel or live that the gospel of Jesus Christ remains the same. We have instant family and sisters that are willing to love and serve.
Please share in the comments how you have been supported by the sisterhood that we have in the gospel.
I've felt the love and support of the sisterhood in the church in every ward/branch we have lived in. When I was investigating the church and a new member in the church the sisters really loved me and accepted me. They answered my questions, they were just there for me. A year after I joined the church, they went with us to the Tokyo Temple where Gary and I were sealed and had the girls sealed to us.
ReplyDeleteWe lived overseas most of the time Gary was in the Air Force and those Relief Society sisters were my sisters, my friends, my tribe. In both Germany and Japan, we had opportunities to work and worship with the local saints. It was amazing that the love and sisterhood is not blocked by language barriers. We have so many amazing memories of serving and worshipping together. We had so much in common because of our membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints.
While in Germany, we were often in the temple with saints from many different countries. It put the gospel in perspective. It is a worldwide eternal gospel. No matter what language we speak, or where we live, the gospel is true. The worldwide sisterhood is a blessing to each and everyone of us.
When I think of sisterhood, I think of visiting teaching and now, ministering to each other. What I love and appreciate about the divine organization of the church is that we are blessed to interact and serve and get to know others who are very different from ourselves. It has been through ministering that I have come to know and love women I probably wouldn't have developed relationships with otherwise, relationships that bless me so much. It is our love for Jesus Christ and His gospel that unites us and creates a bond of sisterhood that can cross over different cultures, personalities, and family situations. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to minister and serve my sisters and feel connected and close as I do so.
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