“Because we follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ, we value this sacred assignment to love, know, serve, understand, teach, and minister in His behalf.”
Julie B. Beck’s statement given September 26, 2009, during the General Relief Society Meeting, motivates me to want to be a better visiting teacher. Understanding the purpose of visiting teaching changes my perspective, and that makes all the difference. I feel pretty lame to admit that in the past the disconnect for me usually occurs in the reporting. That’s not cool if I honestly believe in the importance of the communication. Sister Beck also said, “Our reports are most helpful to the bishop and the Relief Society president when we inform them of the spiritual and temporal well-being of sisters and how we have been able to serve and love them.”
Here are three simple tools that are helping me to change.
I already write down basically everything that matters to me, so this additional step isn’t a stretch. Heaven knows my planner is packed with notes that keep me on task juggling family needs, work responsibilities, and church commitments. Creating a specific place to track my monthly visiting teaching assignments has at once helped me to simplify the process and much more importantly, better focus on the people. I’ve learned that if it matters to me, I better write it down, and then I don’t miss opportunities.
First, I’m noting the visiting teaching message each month and recording a few brief notes. Whether or not I actually have the chance to share the message really isn’t the point. IIIIIIF… I’m prayerfully hoping to receive individual guidance that may pertain to and bless the lives of the sisters I visit, I probably should back my prayers with at least a nod to the inspired guidance that’s printed every month. With a bit of faithful preparation I feel hopeful about receiveing further inspiration.
Next, I want to have a place to note details about my companion. After all, we’re a team and her life matters too! When I pray for the sisters on my list, I likewise want to be able to pray for my companion. If I don’t know anything about her life and day-to-day needs, it’s hard for my prayers in her behalf to be very specific. I’m not interested in sending Hallmark cards up to Heaven.
After those two beginning sections, I have written the name of each sister I visit followed by current information pertaining to her life. I actually remember using this same technique when I was an 18 years old and working for Nordstrom. It sounds like Big Brother, but the business motivation was only to build connections and increase sales. It worked! Keeping brief notes on the sisters I visit teach builds connections, helps me remember what’s going on in their lives, and basically reduces the ‘idiot factor’…which I constantly battle. Don’t you just hate repeating the same questions each month? I hope I’m not the only one that sometimes makes that mistake. These little notes have helped me stay focused, and recall the particulars, even when our lives don’t cross paths very often.
The notes also make a huge difference when it comes time to report (ahem) on the sisters I visit teach. (I’m going to be better at this!) It bugs me to make a phone call and say, “Hi! This is me. I did what I was supposed to. Put a check my my name.” I don’t want to report on MYSELF. That’s never been the goal. Having a few notes written down helps me at the end of each month when it’s time to share what I’ve been able to learn about the individuals lives of the sisters I visit. Careful to respect privacy, I can share details on sisters that are being pounded by a work promotion, or donating endless hours of volunteer service at the hospital, or tending grandchildren after coming home from a job, or diligently working through the lengthy process of applying to law schools all over the country.
“Visiting teaching becomes the Lord’s work when our focus is on people rather than percentages. In reality, visiting teaching is never finished. It is more a way of life than a task.” I’m thankful for Julie Beck’s leadership. I believe her when she says, “…angels will be our associates and we will be participants in amazing miracles.”
