The last few weeks have been filled with stories of inspiring people making a difference in the lives of people they do not know. I have been amazed at the charity people can show in times of need. Service is all around and yet sometimes many feel they do not know how they can help. I hope the stories I will share will help you to reach out and make a difference.
My daughter was invited to attend a party in which her friends were making t-shirts to sell and donate the funds to those in Haiti. At the same party, posters were made for the school to help the people of Haiti also. My daughter thought it was so wonderful to be apart of a service project that was not a part of young women’s or another organization, but rather just a group of girls trying to make a difference.
I met another woman who shared a story of how she was a refuge who had escaped from her countries oppression. They got a sponsor to help bring her family to the Utah Valley. She did not speak a word of English, they were poor and tried to learn the holidays and customs of the United States. Because of her struggle and difficulties with living in a new country, she decided to go into a job that would help people like her. She now works at a non-profit organization that feeds families, provides services for families in need and educates families on how to manage their funds to stop the cycle of poverty. She has been working in this field for 20 years.
Over Christmas break, a family decided to go to another country and help build a school. They brought their older children ranging from 9 to 13. Instead of opening presents in the comforts of their home around a Christmas tree, they were working hard at literally building a school. They were painting, cutting wood and using a hammer. They said it was a lot of work but it was the best Christmas they had ever had. Instead of receiving physical gifts, they were giving.
I share these very short versions of people making a difference to show that there is no limit to the possibilities we have to help. We do not need to be a part of an organization to make an impact. The Lord needs us to serve outside the bounds of what we do daily. We can be a voice for those in need. We can take the talents we’ve been given and use them to bless the lives of others. As written in Mosiah 2:17, “When ye are in service of fellow beings, ye are in service of God.” It is my hope that all of us can find some time is our busy schedules to lighten the load of someone in need or gather people together to make a bigger impact. No matter the size of service, the Lord needs us.
Wendy M. Johnson