Jefferson 1st Ward

Today is Sunday, Mother's Day, and we were attending Jefferson 1st Ward as usual. On Easter, we felt that our little Jefferson 1st Ward had as nice of Easter Service as we've ever participated in. The spirit was so strong, it was amazing. Today with Mothers's Day, we again felt the spirit strongly. The talks were about mothers. One sister who was speaking quoted Mark Twain, "I gave my mother a lot of trouble. And I think she really enjoyed it". After Sacrament Mtg, we went to Sunday School. Last week, we had about 25 in our class, and almost all were recently activated or newly baptized members. Today, we only had about 12 people attending. One couple, sitting in the middle of the room, had some problems however. The woman, started to appear quite lethargic. The boyfriend said that she was diabetic and she was having trouble. I ran out of the car to get her some jelly beans. I gave them to her. I was sitting behind her and just watched. She didn't really put any jelly beans into her mouth. She kind of just sat there. About 5 minutes later, as I watched, she just slumped over and out of her seat and onto the floor. The boyfriend and her next door neighbor started to panic. I knew we needed help so I went to call 911. i saw the clerk by the Bishops office and I just told him to call for me. By now, the next door friend was in tears. I tell everyone that I will wait by the door for the paramedics and that things are OK. Dick comes and I tell him to move the class away from the woman. The paramedics come and Dick shows them to the classroom. By now, the woman's boyfriend is absolutely falling apart in tears. I ask if he is OK and I realize that he is "pretty doped up" and is looking like he too is going into shock. The Bishop comes and I ask if he can get the boyfriend a chair. I try to calm the boyfriend and assure him his girlfriend is going to be OK. By now, her eyes are open and she is talking to the paramedics. He relaxes and starts to again cry. I ask the bishop if someone could drive him to the hospital. The guy was so drugged that I felt he was not safe to drive. The bishop could see the problem so he arranged two brethren to drive and follow. They leave for the hospital and the Bishop smiles and says to Dick, "I can't stand boring Sundays".  The boyfriend says to me, "I think I am going to drive home first and get my mother. Isn't that what mothers are for?"

Our Ward is very unique with it being an inner city ward and all. I wondered how many times the Bishop has had to call the paramedics. I couldn't help but imagine how many times he has had members in need that had similar situations. But I also couldn't help but wonder, if the Savior had been there today, what would he have done? Here were two struggling man and woman, a newly baptized brother and sister, attending Church, trying to make it through the day, with special needs. I wondered how else should we respond to those who have needs and are struggling? It turned out to be an interesting Mothers Day church service.

Transfer week this week and I am again excited for the new missionaries and the many changes that comes.