Sunday, July 26, 2009

Released

Today was very bitter-sweet for me. This week I received a call from the Executive Secretary in the ward - never a good thing. ;) Marcos and I had plans and couldn't meet with the bishopric until the following day. Imagine my anticipation. It was BRUTAL! My mind was doing summersaults trying to figure out what this meeting was about. Could the Bishop be that in tune that he knew how mean I had been to Marcos Monday night and that I didn't get over my insanity until late Tuesday afternoon? I was ready to be chastised for being such a horrible wife. :) Thursday evening, the bishopric stopped by and extended a call to me - 2nd counselor in the Young Women's presidency. Holy cow! I didn't see that one coming. I smiled, accepted the calling, and got a huge knot in my stomach. What a responsibility...and oh how much I am going to miss my calling as the Primary Chorister. I LOVE my Primary kids so much! I love Primary music and I love teaching them. I love the interaction - teaching, testifying, playing and even teasing a little bit...oh and crying, don't forget crying. I LOVE that all the kids know me and light up when they see me. The hugs don't hurt either. :) It's been so much fun and I've tried to make the most of it. It can be overwhelming having to prepare for two different groups of kids to "entertain" for 20+ minutes (40 total) every week, but I tried to have a plan and then wing it when the plan went astray. I think I magnified my calling to the best of my ability. BUT... I guess it's time. I'm weird. I bond to people way too easily. So it's difficult for me to "leave" anything. You should've seen me when I had to leave my Jr High friends to move 1 1/2 away when I was 14. You would've thought someone had died.

When the Bishop told me the names of the other members of the presidency, my heart was so full. It was an immediate confirmation that it was right. And I guess the president had a similar experience in knowing I was the one needed for that calling at this time. I've been praying since Thursday night and I know it's right. It's hard to leave, but for some reason I'm needed in YW right now and I'm excited for this new experience. I ran into the new YW President at Sam's Club Friday afternoon and we both got teary-eyed before we even said a word. It was one of those amazing spiritual confirmations that comes from the miraculous gift of the Holy Ghost - a tender mercy from the Lord (remember that talk from Elder Bednar? Awesome!)

My mom had a similar experience calling her counselors (she was recently put in as YW President in her ward). She was told a couple of times that so and so isn't available for a calling due to this or that, but for weeks that's who she felt was right for the calling. The Bishop finally said he had known for awhile, but wanted to make sure she wasn't being swayed since one of them happened to be his wife. The guidance one can receive from the Holy Ghost is truly amazing. The experience with my being called was very similar. I wondered why this lady kept coming into the Primary room. She has four kids in Primary, but they are all very well behaved. I thought she must just want to check up on them. Come to find out she was checking up on me. :) And today before I was set apart the newly released 2nd counselor in the YW told me when I walked into the chapel that she knew I was being called to the YW - she just had a feeling. Isn't that amazing? I told her she must be more in tune than me because it really caught me off guard. :)

It makes my heart swell to know that the Lord has such an incredible plan for each of us. I would have never known it would be my time to be released from Primary. We've got a Primary program in two months you know. :) But I am grateful for a Father in Heaven that knows far more than I do, and I am ready and willing to accept a new calling and to serve wherever I am needed to the best of my ability. I'm excited to be able to work with the Beehives. I love the youth! A few of the Beehives and many of the Mia Maids were my activity days' girls many years ago. It'll be fun to get reacquainted and to meet all the new girls that weren't around back then. I haven't been a leader in YW before though so I'm super nervous. It's going to take some work to get me up to speed - new values and all that. Wish me luck...oh and a few prayers wouldn't hurt either. ;)

6 comments:

Tiffany said...

Eeek!!! I am so so so so so excited for you!!!! Being in YW was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it was also, one of the biggest blessings of my life. The love you develop for those girls over the course of your calling is only something a parent could relate to. Good thing you like crying...you'll probably do a lot of it ;) Good luck!

Lisa said...

YEA---you will be great in YW... I love young womens and wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I have a deep love for the YW program and know what a blessing it is for the beautiful daughters of God!!
You will be a wonderful leader to your girls.

Jen said...

What a fun calling and neat experience, you will do awesome, no worries!

Sarah Hamblin said...

Hey Congrats, I'm second counselor in YW too. You will love it. You may have already used this site for primary, but I love sugardoodle.net for help with YW. They have everything there lesson helps, activity ideas and anything else you could need.

Hagberg Fam said...

Maria you were such a great chorister. I am going to miss you tons, but I know that you are perfect for the YW! I don't think that I have ever heard the kids sing so well!

Laura said...

I am sure you will be great in there. Good luck and get ready for LOOOOTS of fun!!!!