Today at church we saw old friends and met new ones. Several months ago, a 19-year old young woman had just traveled to NY from Portland a few weeks after her baptism. We helped her with a resume and with networking. She found a job quickly. We have not seen her for months. We noticed her sitting by herself at church just after we walked in. Sheila invited her to sit by us.
She told us this was the first time she had been to church in a long time. She ran into a fellow member who was on his way to church, so she decided to come today. She had quit her job, was living in the shelter in Bronx (tough place to live with high crime, violence, etc.), and didn’t seem to be doing so well. She sat by us again in Sunday School. We encouraged her and told her to come back and visit us in the employment center. She convinced us she would come. We can help her get back on track.
Another familiar person (I can’t remember his difficult-to-pronounce name) who immigrated from Turkey was sitting by himself on the opposite side of the chapel. I went over to get reacquainted with him and ask about his situation. He looked a little sad and lonely, but he generally looks like that. His English has improved a lot. I’m not surprised. He’s tough, determined, and is hanging on well. He told me he was still waiting for his work permit, but in the meantime was working on a website with a friend. The site is a “negotiation school.” He was excited to show it to me on his phone. I wished him success with it. I asked him what shape his resume was in. He showed it to me on his phone. I politely (I hope) told him I thought it needed some work. I mentioned that if he emailed it to me, I would be happy to edit it. I gave him my email address.
Joseph was introduced to me by the bishop. He was just baptized last week and is looking for work. I gave him our contact information and told him to call, text, or email to set up an appointment. Or, if it is easier for him, just come by during our office hours. He seemed relieved to know that we could potentially help him and were offering to do so.
Cora bore her testimony about fasting and praying for a new job she had applied for and feeling really good about getting it. She is qualified and they know her. They hired someone else for the position and she is a bit discouraged and doesn’t know why her exercise of faith wasn’t answered the way she wanted. She also is determined to keep relying upon her faith and believes she’ll know the answer eventually. After church I offered to help her with her resume and job search. She seemed grateful. I hope she’ll take us up on the offer. I think we can help.
One other: A niece of a good friend came to church for the first time in a long time. During Sunday School, she mentioned something that was doctrinally incorrect. My instinct was to correct her. I resisted the instinct because I thought the correction would do less to help and more to harm her tender spiritual condition. Just as there is joy in heaven when someone repents, there is joy in heaven when people come to church. Better to leave with a feeling of the love of God than a knowledge of a minor (or most of the time even major) doctrinal point.
When we adopt the attitude of helping others, “Who can I help today? Who needs healing today? when we attend church, opportunities emerge: When we’re looking for those we can help, church is a beautiful, miracle-filled experience. People come to worship, come for healing, come to hear the good word of God, and come to feel God’s love. When we come in the spirit of helping, healing, and sharing God’s love, He is more likely to put people in our paths that need just that. He even allows us to be the means for help, healing and conveying His love to His children–what a blessing!