Jena's talk

From Facebook on the day of her talk as a missionary: "No pictures but a great day nonetheless. Jena spoke in our ward on service as part of her call to serve her mission. Then we had an open house which we shared food and conversation with family and friends celebrating this moment with us. One sweet moment occurred this morning when I double checked to make sure she had her talk with her. Attached to the printout of her talk which we had done together was a sticky note with a couple of notes which she had added to her beginning. I loved it. She started with "Hi guys, I am Sis. Hall" and flashed a big smile. My tears started then.... love that girl and her desire to serve Heavenly Father."


The week before she spoke I had a little meltdown as I felt bad that she wasn't going to speak in the Walnut Grove Ward (of old) where she had grown up, where people knew and loved her, and could understand her speech.  The place where she knew everyone and everyone knew her.  It didn't seem right that she was "sharing" this special day with our new ward, Barber Acres.  Of course, Jena doesn't seem to worry about such things.  She introduced herself (like all of the talks we have had in our new ward as we try to get to know each other) and said that she loves to read the scriptures every day and then continued with her talk on service.


I was so grateful that the YM Presidency was also speaking on that day and the YM President was Bro. Brad Allen.  He had served in the Bishopric in Walnut Grove during the first four years of Jena's YW experience and they are good friends of ours.  He shared that when he had sat down by Jena before the meeting started he asked her what she was talking about and she said cookies.  He continued, "I thought she was teasing me because she will do that from time to time, but she really did talk about cookies." (Her talk was on service and giving cookies to people was one of her examples.)  He then went on to share some interactions he had had with Jena at Girls Camp and told the congregation that when Jena was speaking about being kind and giving service she was sharing as one who tries to do that every day.  It was very sweet and tender and made me acknowledge how much my Heavenly Father loves and looks after Jena.  She got to sit by this sweet man who loved her and our new ward got to know a little bit more about her.  Did I mention that I cried?


And of course, many many of our Walnut Grove friends attended her talk and then gave over after the block to share treats with us.


And then later in the week, we came home to find a plate of cookies and the sweetest note from one of the families in our old Walnut Grove Ward.  They had attended her talk and decided to bring her cookies to thank her for her sweet example of kindness and service.  Some people really go the extra mile....and I teared up again. 

Her official missionary tag!