The Enrichment Cottage

“If inactivity is the problem, then seek out the sisters who do not attend and let them give you the reasons they are not coming. Only the inactive people know why they do not come. And once they can be heard—really listened to—and the leaders begin to respond to what they actually say, then a solution is probably very close. Local Relief Societies can make sure that the meeting rooms are attractive, that the lessons are good, that the atmosphere is friendly, and that the spirit of love pervades, especially to those who are being introduced to Relief Society or reactivated.” (1)

Be the Example

Many times the top two reasons people quit going to an activity is from either feeling left out or they were offended in some way. Most will not say something, they will just quietly quit coming.

Here is a story to illustrate this example. A sister went to a church scrapbooking group in her new ward. She was excited to meet new sisters and form new friendships. Everyone appeared friendly when she first came and set up her supplies.

However, the conversation turned ugly and they began to gossip about people they’ve known in the past who were receiving church assistance and how they felt that they were undeserving of it for this and that reason. This sister had hard times in the past and with the help from the church they worked past those times. She didn’t say anything, but was sad and offended at the judgmental conversation of these sisters. Later, the sister who was the most outspoken became the Relief Society President. While this sister did quit coming to the main church meetings, she did quit coming to the church activities in that ward to avoid future negative conversation.

While we can’t control everyone or anything and situations will surely arise at some point where someone is offended without the offending person having any intention of doing so, we can try to keep the atmosphere as light and loving as possible. When we show unconditional love, it is love without bounds or judgment.

Love them Back

No matter the reason the sister goes inactive, love her unconditionally. In another example, one sister took another sister under her wing and loved unconditionally her through her inactivity. She called this inactive sister every Sunday that she wasn’t there and told her how much she missed her. She would come to her house some Sunday’s to encourage and help her get her children and belongings to church. If the sister resisted, she agreed respectfully and told her she’d call her soon. She called often and shared her testimony and love whenever she had the opportunity. Some days this sister would come out to her car to find a note on her windshield with encouraging thoughts. She loved this sister back into activity. I’m sure there were many times she felt quiet discouragement when the sister resisted, but she never gave up.

Whatever position in Relief Society you are in, be it a Visiting Teacher or Relief Society President, we can each try to find that sister who needs the love in her life. She may not return to activity at this time- and that’s okay- at least you can show her unconditional Christ-like love. You may never know how far reaching that loving kindness can go.

1- Barbara B. Smith, “Relief Society Today,” Ensign, Mar 1980

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Shiloah Baker is a mom of seven, pregnant with #8, married to the man she’s madly in love with. Exercise is her vice. She runs a The Homemaking Cottage and homeschools. In her spare time she sews, crafts, writes and reads. Join us at The Homemaking Cottage Deluxe Edition for 897 ways to improve your home and family! http://www.homemaking-cottage.com/ And don’t forget to join our ezine for free ideas. Free Homemaking Newsletter

Reprints of this article are permitted as long as it includes this byline.

By Shiloah Baker

When you walk through the doors of the church and see a small table with an eye-catching display it usually captures your interest. It doesn’t have to be full of gaudy show; a simply decorated table with a nice tablecloth is quick to catch the eye. Like most people, they will walk up to it with interest and excitement if they suspect it is something related to Enrichment Nights or other fun Relief Society Happenings.

In most of the Home, Family and Personal Enrichment downloads that I write I include “Table décor” ideas. I do this because this is a way to advertise your Enrichment meeting. When I create the night I suggest objects or other items that could be used to decorate this table simply and inexpensively such as: table cloth colors, pictures, décor, handouts and ideas on what to put them in to go along with the theme and feel of the upcoming activity.
There are several good reasons to utilize the Relief Society table.

1. It captures attention. It creates excitement about what is going to be happening. It is a free and powerful tool for advertising your activity.
2. It shows organization. The organized enrichment leader is one who cares about her calling and who cares about the sisters she is helping to teach. The best part about it is even if you aren’t completely organized it makes you appear to be!
3. It saves time. It saves time on the amount you have to announce pertaining to the activities. Simply refer them to the Relief Society table.

Don’t forget the positive power that visual aids and handouts have to remind and excite sisters about your programs or activities. Utilize this simple tool- the Relief Society Table.

In the 2006/2007 Ice Storm

by: Shanon Matson

(2nd place in our HFPE Give-away)

Some Things the Kearney Ward Sisters Learned

1) Water is your biggest issue.

a. Store it in 2 liter bottles.
b. Store it in Laundry detergent bottles so you can use them to wash your hands. (best if they are the big ones with the push spouts.)
c. If you can, fill your bathtub up with water/snow so you can use it to flush your toilets. (you may have to melt the snow)
d. Place your water bottles in the freezer so you can use them to keep some items cold if it is necessary.
e. Store distilled water is it purer.
f. If you have canning jars that are not used, fill them with “canned” water to keep the water and them in use.
g. Have some canteens on hand. If you do have to leave, they will be easier to carry.
h. 2 liter bottles with a rope attached can be used in case of emergency

2) 72 hour kits

a. Have a list of items that you have in your kit so you know when you need to replace food/water/clothing, activities, etc.
b. Use 5 gallon buckets
c. Use back packs for smaller children so they can “help”
d. Use sports duffle bags
e. Rotate your contents at General conference time (twice a year)

3) Food

a. Store foods that everyone will eat.
b. Gradually bring whole wheat into your diet (otherwise if you are forced to use the whole wheat it will upset your digestive system
c. Find a friend to go in on an order for bulk at Cash-Wa or Sam’s club
d. Go through your refrigerator and make 1 pot meals with things that will go together before they spoil, for example, meat, veggies, pasta for a quick stew or pot casserole, top with cheese.
e. You may need to keep an updated list of foods in your freezer so if it goes bad you will have the contents for your insurance company.

4) Misc. Items of business.

a. Store your batteries in your flashlights, radio’s, lanterns, upside down
b. Put all of your flashlights, emergency lights and radios in a Rubbermaid container keep all together-sizes of batteries you need.
c. See if you can find a wind up radio/flashlight/charger
d. Put up a tent to keep the heat in one area.
e. Have a portable D.V.D. player. Get a power booster that can be used in a vehicle. (plug in lighter outlet, on the other end has reg. Plug)
f. Have games, card games, board games that your family loves to play, ENJOY EACH OTHER.
g. Store you FUEL in 5 gallon containers, not all cars can be siphoned.
h. Your Camping equipment should be used in Open Air (stoves, etc)

?25 Ways To Be A Cheaper Housekeeper (Word Doc)

?Creative Gift Ideas (word doc)

?Cooking For A Crowd (PDF)

?Wives of The Prophets (PDF)

?Some Things the Kearney Ward Sisters Learned

by: Cathy Summersell
Grimsby 2nd Ward, North East Lincolnshire, England

Winner of our 2007 Handouts Contest!

Handout

Poster

by: Polly Tuialii

We understand that the sisters of our ward are very busy women, We find that we had to extend our Home, Family & Personal Enrichment to cater to the sisters needs. So we have re-organized our month on these grounds.

The number of sisters at College, Work, Full time mothers would find getting to an enrichment difficult if we had it in the day time. Older sisters may not be able to drive at night, or Young single sisters don’t always find enrichment what they want to hear at that time of their life. With our very concerned Enrichment leaders they have put together a program that can enrich our major groups of sisters by having on going enrichment activities through out the month:

*

1st wk we have an extension to enrichment called LDS Mothers Group,
*

2nd wk, We have a Night Home, Family & Personal Enrichment (We invite all of our sisters by name and also give extra’s for V.T to send to less active & encourage our Ward Missionaries to have invitation to hand out),
*

3rd wk LDS Mothers Group (mother’s w/ children under 5yr or school age. We have found this to be a good time to invite friends from out side the church and introduce them to a warm loving atmosphere)
*

4th wk we have Day Home, Family & Personal Enrichment (For our older generation to enjoy Spiritual Enlightenment, We find at this time of season for these sisters they enjoy company, love Christ like friendships.)
*

5th Tuesday of the month we organize a sports activities for all sisters to enjoy. (This activity is organized by our Y.S.A sisters. )

We find this works with our sisters at this time of season for them. I hope this is helpful hints for sister around the world.

With a Christ like LOVE
Polly Tuialii
2nd Counselor

by: Debbie Dixon

Sister Spotlight

1.. Your full name_________________________________.

2.. Where were you born? Where did you grow up?

3.. How many brothers and sisters do you have? Where do you fit in oldest/youngest?

4.. If you have children, how many? Names and ages. If not at home where are they living now?

5.. What are some of the different places you have lived? Your favorite place? Why?

6.. Your favorite color?

7.. Your favorite food?

8.. What are some things that you enjoy doing? (hobbies, crafts, reading, sewing, cooking, singing, etc..)

9.. Share one of your most embarrassing moments.

10.. Share something about you that no one would know about.

11.. Share a dream that you have, something you would like to do or see some day.

12.. Name a movie or book that best describes you or your life.

13.. What are some of the callings you have had in the church? Which was your favorite? Why?

14.. Who is your favorite Latter-day Prophet and why?

by: Netta

1. To get those sisters on time, instead of 1/2 hour later, we had a Trash to Treasure craft that was free or less than $1.00.

2. We had a “letter a month” for one of the missionaries. We just had sisters jot down a sentence or two and sign their name.

3. The HFPE before me made a cake every Homemaking. If there were sisters that had birthdays in that month, we would have them pick a number (the HFPE already had a number picked), whoever was closest, got the Birthday Cake. When I got in, I continued this idea, but had a friend toll paint something inexpensive.

4. As a VT incentive, we bought inexpensive trinkets/candy and had notes of appreciation, example: a miniature MOUNDS bar with the following note taped to the candy “MOUNDS of thanks for doing your VT” Sisters with 100% got to get a candy. I realize that we aren’t suppose to do this, but it didn’t come out of the budget . . . I paid for it.

5. We had a lot of mini classes (scrap booking, book review, beginning crocheting/knitting, stamping, etc), 1 craft that took some time (usually toll painting, which is expensive), ALWAYS a quilt.

6. We had a Food Chairman, but she was mainly responsible for passing a sign-up sheet around. Either the HFPE leader decided on food or the Food Chairman.

7. My latest idea was having a morning Home, Family and Personal Enrichment meeting.

by: Shiloah Baker

Have everyone that wants to participate, sign up that they would like to go on the Road Rally.

Send around a sign up for sister’s to volunteer to open up their homes and show them things they’ve made, crafted, collect, etc. Then if they’d like, demonstrate how to do one thing.

You as the Enrichment Leader, decide where you’d like to go first, how the car-pool arrangements should go, etc.

Another thing I did was passed out the Homemaking Surveys to everyone. As we go along they fill out what they would like to learn, what they would like to teach, etc. Ideas can be added as they go along the rally.

The night you begin, meet at a certain destination. Then end at the same destination. You can have as many carloads of sisters as you’d like. You can either all go to the same houses at the same time or if you have a large group, split them up and take turns at everyone’s homes. Make sure you all end together at the same home for refreshments.

By: Barbara

Jolly Rancher Night

It is a Jolly Rancher Night. As the sisters come in they each have to take a Jolly Rancher candy out of a jar. Whatever color they get is the color table they have to sit at. Tables will be set up with different colored table clothes.

Refreshments will be served, something simple like ice cream or
strawberry shortcake. There will also be a jar in the middle of each table with different “get to know ya” questions in it. Then sisters can pick a question out of the jar and each sister at the table can answer it.

Penny For Your Story

Collect lots of pennies from different years. Have each sister
choose a penny and then when it is her turn she tells something that
happened in her life that year. If the date is before her time, or
she can’t think of something then she just tells a little about
herself.

Find Someone Like You

Play the game where you have a list of people to find:

* Find someone born in the same state as you
* find someone born in the same month as you, etc.

I Have Never

This one is like musical chairs, one person stands in the middle, everyone else seated. The middle person says, I have never ______.
Anyone who has done ______ gets up and scrambles for a chair while
the person in the middle does the same.

Human Knot

Put women in small groups (not too small!) and they stand in a circle. They grab for any hand and they it is up to them to untangle themselves (if they can).

Teamwork

Another activity that will stress teamwork. I will ask them to line up according to birthday month Jan-Dec, but without speaking.

Feet Off The Ground

For instance, if I get 10 women I will divide into 2 groups of 5.
then i will ask the group to get 10 feet off the ground. They will
finally (hopefully) figure out that I want them to get their feet up
off the ground not get 10 feet in measurement. The Sundays before
use a digital camera to take close up pictures of body
parts like an eye, eyebrow, nose, mouth, finger, ear, foot etc. Then
at the activity they will have to guess who it is.

The first one was a Candy Bar game. Everyone sits in chairs that
are forming a circle. I walked around to all the sisters with my
big bag full of different kinds of candy bars. They chose one and
hid it under their clothes. After everyone had a candy bar they all
brought them out from hiding for about 30 seconds so everyone could
see how had what. I had a pair of over sized dice, I gave them to
one sister who was our starting point of a round. She rolls the
dice in front of her if she gets 7 or doubles of any kind she can
ask any sister for their candy bar, only if she can remember exactly
what kind she has. If she guesses wrong she doesn’t get it and the
other sister does not show her what she really had. The game goes
on to the next sister and around as many times as you would like. I
think we went around 2 or 3 times because we had such a big group.
If a sister has more than one candy bar and another sister can
remember all that she has after rolling a 7 or doubles she can take
all that she has.