Not-quite three years ago, I was invited to be the elder's quorum president here in Stephenville. When I was set apart, I was told this would be a "short" time, which I had interpreted to mean I wouldn't serve the full customary three years. I guess I did miss three years by 2-3 months, but I thought of a shorter "short" time than it turned out to be.
I was most concerned when I was called because I felt like I didn't know most of the men in the ward. I had been working with the youth for six years as seminary teacher and deacon's quorum advisor, and before that I was doing institute with the young adults, so I hadn't been with the older adult men in some time. I spent the first few months trying to get to know the men, their families, and understand what challenges they were facing so I could better adapt lessons and activities to their needs.
At the time, folks talked about how they also felt like they didn't know the other men in the quorum, so we spent time in the quorum sharing testimonies with each other and having small-group conversations. I hadn't really planned to be a "ministering president," but if people feel alone and like they don't know each other, well, going out and ministering to each other is one great solution, and it was something the Spirit kept emphasizing to me.
I'm really thankful for the brethren who served in our presidency. I'm especially thankful for Francisco Alonso, who stuck it out for the full 3 years with me. He did a lot of work on his own initiative to strengthen the Spanish-speaking members. His example throughout has really been golden.
I also appreciated Sister Dipple who took over playing prelude for me each Sunday so I could spend the time greeting everyone and helping folks feel welcome at church. It's not the most comfortable thing in the world for me, but I eventually grew to really enjoy and look forward to it. I'm very thankful she has agreed to keep on playing prelude so I can keep greeting people, even though I'm not in the presidency anymore. It's important to me that everyone know that we legitimately and honestly care about them, not "just" because it started because I wanted to do it as part of my calling.
When the stake president told me about my release a few weeks ago, he assured me that we had done a really outstanding job together. He also mentioned that it might be several weeks before a new presidency was called, so just keep marching on until then. Surprise! The release was made public the very next week as a new presidency was called. I hadn't even had time to warn my counselors!
I have enjoyed setting down the backpack. I was very quick to say to myself, "Okay, so I used to be responsible for doing that, but that's not my job anymore, so I'm just going to sit here with my family!"
Then today when I went in for my temple recommend renewal interview, I received a new calling instead, to teach Sunday School for the adults once a month. That's one of my dream callings just because I love teaching the gospel every chance I get. So I'm really looking forward to it. Bro. Harmsen said, "We couldn't leave you without a calling for long." I quickly reassured him that I already have one: I'm the organist still. And now that we have a choir, I'm the choir accompanist too, though that one isn't an official calling. But I'm delighted just the same.
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