What Can I Do to Help?

Hello.  I just thought I would report on this activity.  We did this last night with our combined YM/YW.  We didn't tell anyone -- just the YM president, his wife, our presidency, and our advisors.  No one told!  We invited the bishopric and their wives, and the YM advisors and their wives.  We felt we might need the support! 

We divided into three groups, 8 at the table, 20 on the blankets, and the remaining 35 or so on the floor.  We did provide chairs for the "over age 25" set.  Everyone was told as they were set that they had to remain where they were.  The only group that could move from their seats were those at the table.  They couldn't switch places, but they could get up and move around.  The initial reaction was stunning.  Everyone wanted what the table had, except those at the table.  They were extremely uncomfortable.  Interestingly, the first group to share was those on the blankets.  They had carrots and shared with those on the floor.  After seeing that, those at the table started getting wise.  I told them they could share one thing from the table to start.  They started with whole apples we had used as centerpieces and rolls.  Then, they got smarter and started cutting up the apples so they could share with a bigger group.  We did feed the group on the floor, tortillas, rice and water, but they had more because the table shared their rolls and apples.  Also, for the table we brought out divine chocolate parfaits plus cupcakes so they could share.  (I think the cupcakes stopped any real hard feelings.)  After the food we talked for a minute about how we are born into different circumstances.  We talked about how we can all do something to help.  We showed the video "Ye Have Done It Unto Me" from the "In the Service of Your God" video from the Distribution Center.  There were some teary eyes.  We then closed by talking about what we can do.  We gave a handout with a picture of the Good Samaritan followed by a list of "What Can I Do to Help?"  On the back side of the handout, which was the size of a bookmark, we put the scripture Matthew 25:34-40.  We concluded with the song, "Because I Have Been Given Much." 

We had some interesting comments from adults and youth.  I did hear quite a bit that this had made them really think. 

All in all, I would consider this activity a success.  However, I would never do it lightly.  We prayed, and prayed, and prayed.  We worried and fretted.  We went over and over each step.  We prayed before we went over to the church, after we got there as a presidency, our opening prayer was given by the YM president who knew what was going to happen, and the closing prayer by a member of the bishopric.  We knew that the only way this activity would mean anything or make any difference to the audience would be if they could feel the spirit.

I hope this may help those who are planning this activity.  Also, we did have two youth who were acting out and unhappy.  We did contact their parents immediately after the activity to hopefully head off any problems or complaints that may hit the bishop.  We never want to make his job any harder! 

Kristin Beckstead