Ministering Assignments

It took us quite sometime to put up the new ministering list, and I had decided to post the detailed ministering list in the Relief Society WhatsApp group chat.

The purposes of which letting the sisters check the information as stated in the Church record is the latest information of theirs and their family, such as the hand phone contacts, home address and email address.

And at the same time, can let the sisters know who is who’s ministering sisters. I did this before in the group chat, but this is the first time I did after we have joined by more sisters into Puchong branch.

After a while, I received a message from Sister Annie that one of the sisters was not comfortable as her home address was shown in the public. Immediately after that the sister personally message me if is it possible that the addresses can be removed from the list and kept private. Thus, I deleted the detailed ministering list and replaced with the proposed ministering assignment list, which without information but just the names of the sisters.

Later I just checked with the sister would want her information to keep private from her companion sister too, and I apologized to her for putting up the list that had made her feel uncomfortable.

The sister shared with me that she is ok sharing her information with her companion sister and all the sisters whom are ministering to her and she is ministering to. She was not comfortable with having that information being made public and she is staying alone, so she just wanted to be safe than sorry.

After which I apologize to her again as I being not sensitive enough and I will forward the ministering list separately then. She asked me not to be worried about it, thanks and appreciate for having the trouble to send the ministering list separately to the sisters.

This incident have given me some thoughts that I never experience before when I serve my calling. I guess all these while I am not sensitive enough to the needs of the sisters. This is quite an embarrassing experience as I am like in the spotlight and being watching by all the sisters in the group chat.

After the text communications with the sister, I feel more easy and comfortable. But I am grateful that it gives me a chance to sort of get to know the sister and knows about her concerns.

The first thought that came to my mind is the Lord is teaching me to minister His sheep one by one. Ministering one by one is how the Savior does.

I have been struggled with ministering for quite sometime even before I received my current calling as Relief Society President. I think my calling came as a result of my prayer to the Lord seeking for help to improve in my ministering. Not knowing before hand, this small prayer of mine had caught me red handed and such a weight just landed on my shoulders.

For the first year of my calling, I have tried and juggling between my work, serve in the Church, my family responsibilities. I had already wanted to give up especially after came back from Kuching which we celebrated Chinese New Year there.

I had been lectured much from my sister in-law as my roles as a mother to monitor and cultivate both my children’s interest and attentions into their studies. Well it is a good wake up call for myself, and at that moment I was feeling not up to standard of being a ‘Mother’.

Last year after I talked to the branch president, then the MCO lockdown occurred in our country. While during at home busy preparing meals and household chores, both of my counsellors came up to me and reminded me that we should strengthen each sisters so that they would be spiritual uplifted during this pandemic.

Even though I thought that I would be released soon but I still need to continue to fulfil my calling till the day I will be released. Sisters were happy when we did our video calling them. And that was how I learned more about sweetness of the fruits of ministering. Seeing the beautiful faces of the sisters and how firm their foundation are strengthen me.

After our country started to go for the recovery order, my life again with the work, daily chores, everyday errant and I kind of lacking in my service while the Church from last March 2020 till now is unable to open again due to the spike of Covid-19 cases again.

Due to Puchong branch Relief Society members became larger after the ex Subang Jaya Relief Society sisters joined in, we need to adjust the new ministering list.

I feel as it is quite difficult for me alone to do the assignment list. I have been hearing about that I can get the revelation I needed to do it because I the Lord will inspire me to do so.

I am not sure if the list which I came out is good enough for all the sisters, but I hope that everyone of us the sisters can able to try to do that little part of this caring about a sister life and becoming part of her life.

And today I know that, the Lord is further to teach me to minister one by one as He did, which I am grateful for – that I still able to recognize this impression that came.

I thanked for the continuous teaching that He willingly to pour unto me, even though sometime I have become numb to that still, small yet powerful voice that is always ready to guide me daily.

I know that He is there to give me experience that He knows that I lack of. I am grateful for that I did not miss the opportunity that He gives me to truly hear and connect with that sister and getting to know her better.