Elvers

We're too young to be feeding the missionaries, we thought when we were approached by our Ward Mission Leader in August of last year. Apparently the same families were feeding them over and over and they were trying a new tactic, asking families directly whether they could feed the missionaries on a specific day. And we're so glad they did.

Over the last several months, we have gotten to know that Elders serving in our ward and have been so blessed because of them visiting our home. Elder P was the first one we got to know and we so enjoyed having the missionary spirit in our home that we kept inviting them back and got to know Elders T and B. At first I was really intimidated, thinking that we would have to have a new name for them to contact each time they came, but we quickly found out that they wouldn't storm out the door if we didn't have a golden missionary opportunity to hand to them. They extended invitations and asked us to accept assignments that would help us further the missionary efforts in our area and outside our area as well. Utilizing Facebook and other social media and getting outside of our comfort zone and realizing that there are simple and easy ways to share the gospel. 

They also leave us with a spiritual thought each time they visit and they have been so meaningful to us. There is no doubt in my mind that the spirit is incredibly strong with these young men as they deliver messages to us that are incredibly timely and sometimes answers to prayers. Our most recent companionship consists of two young men who both come from less active families and one whose family isn't supportive of him serving a mission. For a young man or woman to serve a mission and dedicate two years of their life to serving the Lord and sharing the Gospel is honorable in the first place, but to do so in the face of opposition from your own family, on whom most usually rely on for support is incredible. We have a lot of respect for these particular Elders and know that their life experiences will help them relate to those investigating the church and those that have doubts. The spirit they invite into our home and the blessings that they invoke on our family as they pray keep us wanting to invite them back (which is good, because our ward is so small.)

And while she refers to them as "Elvers", I am so glad that my three year old recognizes these young men and what they represent. They taught her how to shake hands and made her comfortable enough that she insisted on sharing her vast collection of hats with them. We were messing around with Mason's clothes and she stumbled across his small collection of ties. She brought one out and insisted that she wanted him to look like an Elver. As I put the tie on, she combed his hair to the side.

Initially I thought that we were being asked to serve them by feeding them, but we've come to realize over the last few months that we are the ones receiving service. Especially when I burn dinner and they eat it with smiles on their faces. In a nutshell: feed your local missionaries - you're not as young as you think you are.