By Small and Simple Means

               Fort Stockton was not on the map or on our radar as we motored towards San Antonio, but as the night got later and later we decided to pull over so we could be ready for Sunday.  This decision proved to be a real blessing.  The next day when we arrived at church we were all taken back, the boys had never been to a branch before and coming from a ward of nearly 600 this was a real shocker. The building consisted of 3 or 4 rooms and had about 25 people attending. Most members had either a Green Bay Packers or a Pittsburg Steelers shirt on as it was Super Bowl Sunday.  There were two sets of missionary’s one set of Elders and the other a married couple from Logon, Utah.  The meetings were great and the kids really got a feel for what it’s like to be in a Young Men’s program were… you’re the program.  After the church meetings we stayed for a “Linger Longer, they had brought all kinds of unique foods for a potluck.  We had a chance to speak to the Branch President who had arrived six months earlier with his wife from Logon. He said that when they had got there that there was about 12 people attending regularly on Sunday’s, He commented that when they arrived there was some traditions that weren’t exactly  in the church handbook, they would pass “the Plated” on Sunday’s for donations among other things. Just then a little girl five years old walked by, the Branch President said, “when I arrived that was our primary, I felt inspired to call a Primary President and asked her to call two counselor’s and a secretary”, he continued to share just how surprised the new Primary President was and she reminded him that there was only one little girl in the primary. Then Branch President told her that the Church has a structure that is inspired and that the Lord will bless us as we are obedient and go forward w/ faith. The Primary President accepted the calling as did the two counselors’ and Secretary. They began to meet regularly and started thinking of other children that could be invited to activities both in church as well as outside. He got emotional as He expressed how much the Lord had blessed their little branch. They now have about 40 people attending every week and their primary has grown to 12 children.  The Branch President said that it had come down to showing Love, serving others and moving forward with faith. It was a wonderful experience, I felt like I was back out in the mission field and I felt blessed that our family was able to witness the power of Love, Service and Faith.