July Charity Chatter

July Birthdays!
2 - Joan Nelson
3 - Andrena Christensen
4 - Tiffany Myers
6 - Sarah Bennett
7 - Clarise Johnstone
10 - Marleena Alkire
Chelsea Dorn
11 - Cheyanne Hewitt
15 - Jo Ann Renfrow
Julia Campbell
18 – Katelynn Peck
20 - Debra Briones
21 - Kim Judd
Kristine Wilcock
22 - Katherine Taft
Bree Whittle
23 - Lindsey Enger
Jacqueline Brisky
26 - Lorie Hanson
Alisa Bowman
Heather Thibodeaux
27 - Denise Carter
Allyson Mann
29 - Margaret Thompson
30 - Cherish Driskill

:)

Grand Forks Ward Campout!
Coming up is our ward campout, fireside and breakfast at Turtle River State Park! Keep Friday the 6th of August through Saturday the 7th reserved on your calendars. All are welcome! Stay tuned for more details as the time draws nearer.

Book Club Meeting
We are going to meet on July 29th at Darla Baugh’s home to discuss the book The Brothers
by Chris Stewart. It is the first book in the series The Great and Terrible.

“We Are Family”
Keep Saturday, August 14th from 2-4 pm free for our next RS Meeting!

Lesson Schedule

July 4 – Presidency Message - Bree Whittle
July 11 – Lesson #14 “The Priesthood Organization” pg. 73 - Summer Evans

July 18 – Lesson #13 “The Priesthood” pg. 67 - Mary Kovarik
July 25 – May 2010 Ensign, pg. 47 “Healing the Sick” by Elder Dallin H. Oaks

- Christy Byzewski

Spotlight!!!

Lillie Loesevitz and her husband, Michael, met while he served a mission in Las Vegas, where she was born and raised. She met him two days after being baptized. After his mission they got in touch, then waited and married a year later in the Louisville, KY Temple. They have two children, Wesley (5) & Sophia (2), and have a sweet dog, Rue (10). Michael got a job with a local law firm as an attorney, and they plan to settle down and make Grand Forks their permanent home! Lillie’s favorite food is Mexican food! She loves dogs and also enjoys doing crafty things with her sewing machine, painting, decorating, shopping and watching MLB. Her favorite game is Mexican Train (a domino game). A fun fact about Lillie is that she appeared in an infomercial/commercial for Proactiv. Lillie loves being with her family and she loves to laugh. She says that moving to Grand Forks is going to be a big challenge, as she has never lived away from either her family or her husband’s. She’s a bit scared, but says she knows it’s the perfect place for their little family. One of her favorite scriptures is 2 Nephi 2:27. “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.”

Pioneer Day Thought
Today pioneer blood flows in our veins just as it did with those who walked west. It’s the essence of our courage to face modern-day mountains and our commitment to carry on. The faith of those early pioneers burns still, and nations are being blessed by latter-day pioneers who possess a clear vision of this work of the Lord. The footsteps that made such a deep impression over the heartland of America make similar impressions in countries across the world—from Belgium to Brazil and France to the Philippines. Step by faithful step, we walk together toward a glorious destiny, building the kingdom of God on earth and preparing the minds and hearts of people everywhere to come unto Christ, the Redeemer and Savior of the world.
“Faith in Every Footstep: The Epic Pioneer Journey,” Ensign, May 1997

100% VT & HT!
Our stake president has asked us to make an extra effort for the month of July to do all we can to contact the sisters we visit teach! Of course it is optimal if you visit your sisters, but a letter or call will also be great! Let us diligently try to follow the counsel and encouragement of our wonderful stake president!

July Visiting Teaching Message -

Strengthening Families and Homes
Study this material, and as appropriate, discuss it with the sisters you visit.
Use the questions to help you strengthen your sisters and to make Relief Society an active part of your own life.

Strengthening at Every Opportunity
"Each of us is in a different family situation. Some families have a mother and father with children at home. Some couples no longer have children at home. Many members of the Church are single, and some are single parents. Others are widows or widowers living alone.
"No matter what our family looks like, each of us can work to strengthen our own families or help in strengthening others.
"[Once] I stayed in the home of my niece and her family. That evening before the children went to bed, we had a short family home evening and a scripture story. Their father told about the family of Lehi and how he taught his children that they must hold fast to the iron rod, which is the word of God. Holding fast to the iron rod would keep them safe and lead them to joy and happiness. If they should let go of the iron rod, there was danger of drowning in the river of dirty water.
"To demonstrate this to the children, their mother became the 'iron rod' that they must cling to, and their father played the role of the devil, trying to pull the children away from safety and happiness. The children loved the story and learned how important it is to hold fast to the iron rod. After the scripture story it was time for family prayer. . . .
"Scriptures, family home evening, and family prayer will strengthen families. We need to take every opportunity to strengthen families and support one another to stay on the right path."
Barbara Thompson, 2nd counselor in the Relief Society general presidency.

From the Scriptures - Genesis 18:19; Mosiah 4:15; D&C 93:40; Moses 6:55–58
From Our History - From the beginning Relief Society has had a charge to strengthen families and homes. The Prophet Joseph taught sisters at an early Relief Society meeting, "When you go home, never give a cross or unkind word to your husbands, but let kindness, charity and love crown your works henceforward."
In 1914 President Joseph F. Smith told Relief Society sisters, "Wherever there is ignorance or at least a lack of understanding in regard to the family, . . . there this organization exists or is near at hand, and by the natural endowments and inspiration that belongs to the organization they are prepared and ready to impart instruction with reference to those important duties.”