May mag

n g i I te

Sunset Ward Relief Society Newsletter

MAY 2018

Welcome Hi Sisters Welcome to our May magazine, we have had a few changes over the past month which we have addressed a bit in the magazine this month, if anyone has any questions or concerns please feel free to ask either in person on sunday or send us a message on facebook.

The message for this month is going to be based on ministering, from what I have read and from conference talks ministering to me is all about the person it’s about getting to know each other as friends and becoming friends, getting invovled with each other, it’s not just an obligation to get a task done but its more personal. It reminds me of the scripture Matthew 22: 37-39 which reads Thou salt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

The gospel is about showing love to each other, being there for each other. Heavenly Father will always bless you for your efforts Please bear with us as we transition to the new program.

If there is anything we can do for you please let us konw. We love you all very much and value each one of you. Have a great month.

Love from the Relief Society Presidency Jenie, Sonia and Alvina

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In this issue Welcome

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Changes to VT

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Getting to know: Loretta Nizetich

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Birthdays

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Welcome to RS Hannah Shin

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Laurels Page

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Exercise Move to Snooze

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Recipes

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Do you need Help?

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Woman and their shoes

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Self Reliance

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Love Soup Service

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Ministering

Changes to VT During the Sunday afternoon seession of April general conference, President Russell M. Nelson announced that the separate programs of home teaching and visiting teachinh are now a coordinated effort called ‘ministering.”

Ministering as the Saviour did

What does ministering look like?

Ministering will better focus the efforts of Melchizedek Priesthood quorums and Relief Societies on ministering as the Savior did, leaders explained in subsequent conference addresses.

Ministering brothers and sisters represent the Savior, Sister Bingham said. And when they consider how to minister, they should ask themselves, “What does he or she need?”

“Combining Relief Society efforts with the now-restructured elders quorum (see related story) will bring a unity that can yield astonishing results,” said Sister Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President.

The coordinated ministering effort helps fulfill the priesthood duty to “visit the house of each member” and to “watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them” (see D&C 20:47, 53) and “the Relief Society purpose to help one another prepare for the blessings of eternal life,” she said.

(See Handbook 2: Administering the Church [2010], 9.1.1).

Relief Society presidencies will assign ministering sisters to each adult sister. Sister Bingham suggested elders quorum and Relief Society leaders counsel together prayerfully.

Then, she said, “rather than leaders just handing out slips of paper,” they make assignments in person in a conversation about the strengths, needs, and challenges of those to whom brothers and sisters minister.

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“Coupling that question with a sincere desire to serve, we are then led by the Spirit to do what would lift and strengthen the individual [or family],” she said.

Ministering does not include a set monthly message in the Church magazines nor a prescribed way to keep in contact, such as inhome, face-to-face visits each month—even though visits are important when they are possible, the leaders explained.

The purpose of ministering, as said of those in Alma’s day, is to “watch over their people, and … nourish them with things pertaining to righteousness” (Mosiah 23:18), explained Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

“With these adjustments we want more care and concern, not less,” Elder Holland cautioned.

“What does ministering look like?” Sister Bingham asked. Ministering looks like going for a walk, getting together for a game night, offering service, serving together, visiting

(in person, by phone, online, or via text), delivering a birthday card, and cheering at a soccer game, she said. “It looks like sharing a scripture or quote from a conference talk that would be meaningful to that individual.

It looks like discussing a gospel question and sharing testimony to bring clarity and peace.

It looks like becoming part of someone’s life and caring about him or her.”

Invovle youth Ministering may include Laurels and Mia Maids as companions to Relief Society sisters.

“Youth can share their unique gifts and grow spiritually as they serve alongside adults in the work of salvation,” she said. Involving youth also increases the number of members caring for others, and helps the youth “better prepare to fulfill their roles as leaders in the Church and community and as contributing partners in their families.”

Counsel together in ministering interviews Elder Holland explained that ministering brothers and sisters will no longer report monthly visits, but will instead counsel with leaders in a quarterly “absolutely crucial” ministering interview about the needs and strengths of those they are assigned. The number of interviews leaders had with ministering companionships during a quarter is the only formal report that will be made.

However, the purpose of the interview, Elder Holland explained, is for priesthood and Relief Society leaders to understand the “spiritual and temporal condition of the people.”

“As we accept the opportunity to wholeheartedly minister to our sisters and brothers,” Sister Bingham concluded, “we are blessed to become more spiritually refined, more in tune with the will of God, and more able to understand His plan to help each one return to Him.” Page 5

Getting to know

Loretta Nizetich I was born in Hamilton and raised in Glenfield.

I’m a convert to the church and the only member in my family. My mother and brother have been inactive for about 20 years now.

Even after all these years I really miss not having them at church.

At the age of 18 I left home to attend BYU Hawaii for three years and then I lived in London for a couple of years. I then spent the next 10 years living in San Francisco and Los Angles. During my years in London, SF and LA I nannied for the rich and famous. I have some great nanny stories to tell - some good some not so good.

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A ‘not so good’ nanny story: I was asked by a lovely couple to nanny for their two year-old boy. After a few interviews, they chose me to travel with them on a holiday of a lifetime.

The first destination of their holiday was Tahiti. On our first morning in Tahiti I woke up covered in chicken pox from head to toe (even down my throat). This was as much a surprise to me as it was to them, but needless to say, I was a pretty useless nanny during the ten days in Tahiti. The third part of the trip was the Caribbean. The first morning there the two year-old woke up covered in chicken pox from head to toe. The parents did not cope well with a miserable, crying, irritated

May Birthdays! son and were pretty unhappy their holiday had been ruined by chicken pox - all thanks to their nanny! I did eventually find ways to make it up to this couple, but it took them quite some time to forgive me. But this story ends well - I actually continued to nanny for them for another two years.

In my spare time I love to do journal writing, occasionally update our family blog, walk in the evenings under the starry sky, do pilates, go shopping, listen to David Archuletta, take tenminute power naps and watch Judge Rinder.

I have three boys who love to regularly ask me hypothetical questions; such as, “What would you do if you had a million dollars”?

Or, “Would you rather drown or be burned to death”? I have to seriously give thought to these questions every week! So, here is this week’s question; “If you were stranded on an island for six months and could only choose three foods to keep you alive, what would they be?” My answer: 1. Lewis Road Chocolate milk (which I’m seriously addicted too!) 2. Hummus and 3. Watermelon.

Happy birthday to the following sisters this month. We hope you have a wonderful day on your birthday.

5 May - Fiona Hollis 7 May - Amber Hollis 11 May - Pricilla Richards 13 May - Meredith Norman 14 May - Melissa Higgins

- Whaiora Hotere

27 May - Marion Elliott

Happy Birthday

Ever since my teenage years I have loved sharing quotes. I recently found a really good one; ‘When the grass looks greener on the other side, it is the Holy Spirit telling you to water the grass you are already standing on.’

• And finally this one I love, which is inspirational and important for every sister, especially during times when we feel we’re failing or can’t quite make it. Don’t trust in things of the world, trust in the wings Heavenly Father gave each of us and He will help us use them.

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Welcome to Relief Society

Hannah Shin A BIG welcome to Relief Society Hannah Shin who turned 18 in April. We are so excited to

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have you in Relief Society and look forward to seeing your smiling face!

Young Womans

Laurels Hi Laurels we have a page dedicated just for you! First off we would love to thank you for conducting the hymns on Sunday, it has been an absolute pleasure watching you serve and help out in the ward and its always nice to have beautiful smiling faces conducting our hymns.

Coming up to conduct is Maania, Alysha then Caroline. If you would like to conduct please let Sister Tania Mitchell know.

Thank you, here is a few pictures from your latest YW’s activity about bonding as Young Woman, love to see more photos please submit stories and photos through.

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Internet sourced

Move to What time of the day do you think exercise would best help you sleep? Morning?

Afternoon? Right before bed?

It is interesting to find exercising vigorously right before bed or within about three hours of your bedtime can make it harder to fall asleep, not easier as many people think.

Vigorous exercise right before bed raises your body temperature and stimulates the body to secrete the stress hormone cortisol, which helps activate the alerting pathway in the brain – not ideal for a sound slumber!

Importantly, morning exercise can relieve stress and improve mood. These effects can indirectly improve sleep. People with anxiety or depression tend to sleep poorly.

To get more direct sleep-promoting benefit from morning exercise, you should exercise outdoors. Natural light is an external cue – called zeitgebers (great name!) – with the biggest impact on our sleep cycle.

When it comes to having a direct effect on getting a good night’s sleep, it’s vigorous exercise in the late afternoon or early evening that appears to be the best. This uses your raise in body temperature as a positive, because it will fall as you get ready for bed, acting as a trigger for sleep.

Did you know that exercise helps shift workers and people suffering from jet-lag reset their sleep cycle more effectively? How good is that?!

So, the take home message is:

Exercise when your schedule allows it, and aim for at least 30 minutes per day. If you are having sleep problems, exercising at least three hours before bedtime may be beneficial.

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Cooking

Easy Donuts 2 cups of self raising flour 1 cup greek yoghurt

Method Put flour into a bowl then add yoghurt. Mix with a knife then tip onto bench and knead until it comes together. (Mix looks dry keep kneading till it comes together).

Once you have dough shape it into whatever you like then deep fry in hot oil until golden brown. Drain on paper towels, cool and add whipped cream and jam, dust with icing sugar. Enjoy

Easy Peasy Date Loaf 1/2 cup Chopped dates 1 Tbsp Butter/ marg 1 c Boiling water 1/2 c Sugar 1tsp Baking soda 1 1/2 cups Self raising flour

Method Preheat oven to 160â °C Place dates, butter, boiling water, sugar and baking soda in a bowl stir until sugar is dissolved and dates are softened.

Add flour and mix well Bake in loaf tine for 40 mins.

Freezes well.

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Do you need help ?

Mental health, Food, child care Physical health, spiritual help

Sisters do you need help with the following? Do you know where to go if you need help? If you need help with anything please contact anyone in the Relief Society presidency, we are here to help and have several resources available to help you. We also have our compassionate service team who are ready to help. We are available during church and we are also available by phone or via fb messenger. Please don’t be afraid to ask for help.

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shoes

Enrichment weekday meeting - Tania Mitchell

Woman and their 18 women excitedly brought all variety of shoes and a matching story to Enrichment

feel powerful”. Much nodding and agreement followed such a relatable statement.

tonight. First up shiny, beige-coloured, patent leather pumps, which are worn each

Practical shoes to wear through the streets of Paris, Asia and Italy were humbly presented in contrast to the less than humble places the shoes had been.

We are women. We know shoes. The humble gumboot displayed as a lesson in parents loving you enough to teach you to work. We were all taught tonight. Taught that “Red’s a tart’s colour” and shoes of that shade should only be worn by, well, tarts. Funnily enough, no nodding or agreement followed that statement. Taught that white shoes no matter how dirty they get “I seem to be able to remove the stains” – more about repentance than Nikes. White baptismal socks are, several months on, proudly still being worn. The warmest reaction in the room to these two items befitting the women of the gospel that we are. As we eagerly heard each others stories we were unified and blessed – and the cupcakes were awesome.

A pair of $20 boots impulsively bought but given priceless credence “The shoes make me

We are women. We know truth.

Sunday, and stared down at, during momentous occasions that only great wives of great men will truly understand.

Mothers understand the heartache of sons on missions. The one, black missionary shoe produced, surely befitted this sentiment.

Next, we had every fitness brand touted as the method to health, well-being, self-care and madness. Mudders, half-marathons, hills and running – madness.

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Conference Talk - Saturday afternoon session

Young Woman

in the Work

Every young woman in the Church should feel valued, have opportunities to serve, and feel that she has something of worth to contribute to this work.

A year ago, in the general priesthood session of conference, Bishop Gérald Caussé spoke to the men of the Church describing how Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood holders are inseparable partners in accomplishing the work of salvation.1 That message has been a great blessing in helping the young men who hold the Aaronic Priesthood see the part they play in building the kingdom of God on this earth. Their joint service strengthens the Church and brings about deeper conversion and commitment in the hearts of our young men as they see the value of their contribution and how magnificent this work is.

Today I would like for my remarks to be a bookend to that message as I talk about the young women of the Church, who are equally needed and essential in accomplishing the work of the Lord in their families and in His Church.

Like Bishop Caussé, I lived in a small branch of the Church during a good part of my teen years, and I was often asked to fulfill assignments and callings that would normally have been done by adults. For example, those of us in the youth program often took the Page 16

lead in helping organize and run our activities and special events. We wrote plays, formed a singing group to entertain at branch activities, and were full participants in every meeting. I was called to be the branch music leader and led the singing in sacrament meeting each week. It was a great experience as a 16-yearold to stand in front of everyone in the branch each Sunday and lead them in singing the hymns. I felt needed and knew I had something to contribute. People depended on me to be there, and I loved feeling useful.

That experience helped build my testimony of Jesus Christ, and just as it did for Bishop Caussé, it anchored my life in gospel service.

Each member should know how much he or she is needed. Each person has something important to contribute and has unique talents and abilities that help move this important work along. Our young men have Aaronic Priesthood duties described in the Doctrine and Covenants that are rather visible. It may be less obvious to the young women of the Church, their parents, and their leaders that, from the time they are baptized, young women have covenant responsibilities

“to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that [they] may be in, even until death.”2 Young women have opportunities to fulfill these responsibilities in their wards and branches and when they serve in class presidencies, on youth councils, and in other callings. Every young woman in the Church should feel valued, have opportunities to serve, and feel that she has something of worth to contribute to this work.

In Handbook 2, we learn that the work of salvation within our wards includes “member missionary work, convert retention, activation of less-active members, temple and family history work, and teaching the gospel.”3 This work is directed by our faithful bishops, who hold priesthood keys for their ward. For many years now, our presidency has been asking the question “Which of these areas mentioned should our young women not be involved in?” The answer is that they have something to contribute in all areas of this work.

For example, I recently met several young women in the Las Vegas area who have been called to serve as ward temple and family history consultants. They were glowing with enthusiasm about being able to teach and help members of their ward find their ancestors. They had valuable skills on the computer, had learned how to use FamilySearch, and were excited to share that knowledge with others. It was clear that they had testimonies and an understanding of the importance of seeking out the names of our deceased ancestors so that essential saving ordinances can be performed for them in the temple.

Several months ago, I had the opportunity to test an idea with two 14-year-old young women. I obtained copies of two actual ward council agendas and gave Emma and Maggie

each a copy. I asked them to read over the agendas and see if there were any action items from the ward councils in which they might be able to be of service. Emma saw that a new family was moving into the ward, and she said she could help them move in and unpack. She thought she could befriend the children in the family and show them around their new school. She saw there was a ward dinner coming up and felt there were many different ways she could offer her services.

Maggie saw that there were several elderly people in the ward who needed visits and fellowshipping. She said she would love to visit with and be of help to these wonderful older members. She also felt she could help teach members of the ward how to set up and use social media accounts. There really wasn’t one thing on those agendas with which those two young women could not help!

Do those who sit on ward councils, or hold any calling in the ward, see the young women as valuable resources to help fill the many needs within our wards? There is usually a long list of situations that require someone to serve, and we often think only of the adults in the ward to meet those needs. Just as our Aaronic Priesthood holders have been invited to labor with their fathers and other men of the Melchizedek Priesthood, our young women can be called upon to provide service and minister to the needs of ward members with their mothers or other exemplary sisters.

They are capable, eager, and willing to do so much more than merely attend church on Sundays!

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Self-Reliance Courses Personal Finances 12 weeks 2 classes Tuesday nights and Weds night For those who want better control over their finances. Group members will learn how to eliminate debt, protect against financial hardship, and invest in the future. They will create a financial plan and follow a budget. Spouses are encouraged to attend together. This workbook includes the booklet My Foundation for Self-Reliance.

Education for Better work 6 weeks, Tuesday night For those who need additional education or training to get a job.

Group members will research, create, and present career and education plans. They will also spend time each week practicing skills that will help them be more effective learners. This workbook includes the booklet My Foundation for Self-Reliance.

MyJob Search 6 weeks Tuesday night This self-reliance group helps members learn the best

way to find a job and succeed in it. Group members identify good job opportunities and practice networking, presenting themselves powerfully, preparing for interviews, and excelling on the job. The goal of this group is not only to help you find a job; it is also to help you act in greater obedience and faith in the Lord and receive His promised blessings of temporal and spiritual self-reliance.

Starting and Growing my Business 12 weeks Wednesday night This self-reliance group will help you learn to make wise business decisions as you start or grow a business. The goal of this group is not only to help you with your business; it is also to help you act in greater obedience and faith in the Lord and receive His promised blessings of temporal and spiritual self-reliance. Members practice key business principles for self-employment such as record keeping, marketing, and cash management.

For more information about the Self Reliance courses please see Brother Keyes.

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Love Soup

for Auckland City Mission Anyone can have the opportunity to do food preparation & serve the homeless each month, for the Auckland City Mission under the “Love Soup� Organisation with Julie King.

Stacey & Jenie participated in this last month, and it was truly a blessing to be a part of it.

We highly recommend anyone who is keen to serve, feel free to contact us and we can let you know of the dates, time & location (2-3 hours each month).

We really had a fun time serving our fellowman. We are looking forward to continuing to serve with Julie in the future.

Who is Love Soup?

Julie King is the founder of Love Soup, Love Soup provide meals to the needy without judgement, they provide an outlet for those who have the desire to help by contributing in a meaninful way. For more information please visit their website lovesoup.org.nz

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