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Michelle in Maine

Last Wednesday we had the service project of all time and I really hope we can repeat it at some time in the future.

My Relief Society President and the Homemaking Counselor decided that it would be a good idea to do a Super Service Project instead of having a Super Saturday.

So, being incredibly inspired, they planned this wonderful day.  The area missionaries zone conference was being held in our Stake Center and our ward was assigned to feed the missionaries.  We decided not to JUST feed them. Practically all of the sisters in the ward participated and we gathered extra suits and white shirts, a local men's shop donated 50 or so pairs of black sox, a couple of brand new suits (one was a two pant suit), 10 or 15 boxes of white shirts (don't know how many shirts were in each box) and even had one elder brought in for measuring to have a custom-made suit ordered because he is so huge that his suits cost $900 apiece.  This wonderful elder is from Wyoming and was here on his mission with one suit.

We had the missionaries bring all the mending that they needed done which included ripped crotches, buttons, and tailoring of the new suits that some of them were given.  We provided hair cuts by three sisters in the ward who are beauticians (my daughter-in-law was one because she's close to the end of school).  We fed them a wonderful lunch.  And all in all just loved them to pieces.

It was the most rewarding day I have had in just about my whole life.  They were so darling and they were so grateful.  They sang for us and shook every one of our hands.  One elder was practically skipping down the hall because he found a suit that fit him.  He was from Germany and he was so excited about a new suit.  One elder was here while two of his brothers are on missions also.  He was deeply grateful for simple repairs which were made to his very worn suit.

I'm telling you Michelle, it was an incredible thing.

My cousin sent this letter this morning.  It was more information regarding their service project, thought you might want to read it too.

Love, Michelle in Maine

I forgot to tell you two other fun things about the project.  Another thing we did was give each elder at his place at the table a cute bag with some survival goodies in it.  One pair of sox was in it along with a toothbrush, some travel sized shampoo and other stuff, cookies, and a "scrubbie" which is a little round "Scotch Brite" kind of thing that we learned to make in Relief Society this year with a crochet hook and stiff net.  The Homemaking Counselor made up the most darling poem to go with the scrubbie.

Also, when we were mending, we had a real chuckle over the pants that needed patches from biking accidents.  There were more than one.

We asked one elder where he was from.  He obviously was of Asian descent and had a pretty strong accent.  We all laughed to tears when he quipped "from Salt Lake!"  (Actually he was from the Cook Islands)