Another year is drawing to a close. It has been an eventful year for many of us. This year we have had many marvellous opportunities to increase our knowledge and our preparedness. Between using these welfare handouts as a point of reference, and
the counsel given during talks by Church leaders, even if only half of it was applied into our lives, we would have at least a 3 month supply of storage, and been well on the way to being fully organised in every aspect of the welfare program
Here is a brief overview of the year that was 2008.
We have had the opportunity to increase our food storage with: whole wheat, flour, sugar, egg powder and honey.
We have had some fantastic HFPE lessons on welfare and how to get organised with a three month supply and how to calculate
what we need (Thanks to Sister Bulfin).
We had a welfare lesson on dehydrating foods, with some surprisingly tasty results.
We learnt some great recipes for lentils (Sister Webb’s lentil burger/balls are still so popular our kids help make them)
We learnt from Sister Curtis how to make a delicious hot chocolate mix from food storage items, a handy recipe to have on hand.
We learnt about no dig and pot gardening from the Grotaers and some marvellous recipes there too.
We also learnt courtesy of the Blackburn ward how to make both laundry and dishwashing liquids.
We had the benefit of Chef Noah’s accelerated storage plan each month.
There have been some inspiring and thought provoking talks given during stake conferences and firesides about welfare and so many wonderful ideas and suggestions have been handed to me or shared with me I hope you have learnt as much as I have and I am grateful to all those who shared them with us.
This past year this welfare newsletter has covered ever aspect of the welfare program, a blog has been set up so that if you missed a week you were still able to catch up on it. All useful tools and information to have access too.
So ask yourself “How did I do?” What will you do next year? As with last New Year’s Eve here is a self questionaire designed to
help evaluate your level of preparedness and set yourself some goals for the new year.
‘But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.’ Mosiah 7:33
Each of us are in some way or another weak, we need to lean on the Lord, turn to the Lord and allow Him to strengthen us and help us overcome our own weaknesses and fulfill the righteous desires of our heart.
Employment:
Am I where I want to be? yes no
Can I do anything to change my employment status? yes no
What do I need to do?___________________________________________________________________________________
How will I achieve that change? __________________________________________________________________________
Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness:
Is my food storage up to date? Yes no
Which areas do I need to work on most? _____________________________________________________________________
Education and Literacy
Can I further my education in any way that will enhance my job prospects or way of life? yes no
What can I do? _______________________________________________________________________________________
Resource Management
Am I being a wise steward with what I have? yes no
Can I improve it or make changes to my stewardship that will help me to become more self-sufficient?
____________________________________________________________________________________
Social and Emotional Strength
Do I have any social or emotional weaknesses? yes no
What are they? _______________________________________________________________________________________
What can I do to turn each of these weaknesses into strengths?_______________________________________________
Physical Health
Am I treating my body like a Temple? Yes no
What areas can I improve upon? ________________________________________________________________________
What can I do to improve each of these areas?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spiritual Health
What can I do to help my spiritual self to feast on the word on a more regular basis?
___________________________________________________________________________________
Congratulations you now have a list of New Year Resolutions that are in part gospel based.
‘... I know, in the strength of the Lord thou canst do all things’ Alma 20:4
One of the aspects of the welfare plan I have not given as much attention to this year has been the 72 hour packs. We should make it a habit to check our packs and update them with the start of each new season. If you have glow sticks in your pack or kept in the house for times of power outage, replace them once a year. We had a power outage on Christmas night, of the two glow sticks I cracked to give Elizabeth some light, one worked the other did not. It would have been too little too late if I had need of them in a serious emergency. Make a list of the things you need for your packs and suggest family members help you gain a complete pack by buying some the items for you as gifts. Though many favour canned food for their durability over foil packaged foods, cans still need to be checked to ensure they have not been dented and a seal broken. Clothing needs to be rotated at least every second season so that you have appropriate clothing for the weather conditions. Poncho’s and space blankets should be kept in packs at all times. Copies of identifying documents should be kept in sealed bags.
The choice of what to keep in your pack is entirely up to personal choice. The principle is that you keep in a backpack or other mobile, easily carried bag, 3 days worth of food, water, clothing, first aid and shelter items as well as a heat source, a light source and copies of important documents to prove your identity as well as any other items you feel you may need. Whatever you choose to pack remember it is wise to ‘live’ out of your pack at least once, even from the comfort of your own home, so that you can have some idea of how well your pack will serve you.
Like food storage, 72 hour packs are only as good as we make them. We may not have the extremes of weather and volatile weather conditions that make having a 72 hour pack vital but we do still need to be obedient and be prepared. Add an item to the grocery list once a fortnight or month to go into the packs, make the most of lay by and sales to stock up on items for the packs.
Keep money reserves in packs, in small denominations. In an emergency stores will run out of change quickly and you won’t want to be stung paying triple the regular cost of a box of matches simply because you do not have change. The first Presidency has counselled us to work towards having three months of wages in a range of denominations on hand, so that should banks and ATM’s be inaccessible we will have enough for our needs until such times as an emergency is over. It is a big ask but not an impossible one. Make an achievable plan and stick to it as best you can.
In the early years of the church people had to grow their food or starve, they had to sew their own clothes or go naked and they had to build their own houses to protect them from the elements. Over the years the counsel has remained to do all that we can for ourselves. Convenience of modern technology means that clothes food and shelter are more easily accessible. The skills of sewing, gardening and other home tending skills has died away until they remain hobbies only. Although modern technology makes it cheaper to buy clothing and such the skills needed to provide for ourselves should not become a lost skill or outdated hobby. Make time to learn an ‘outdated’ skill, if you have one of these skills share it and your love of it with others. The scriptures come alive for us and have meaning for us because of the feelings ion our hearts. The spirit testifies to us. So to with these skills, learn them and study them so that your heart feels something and gains a testimony of themthen share that skill with others. We have been counselled to beautify our homes , how better to do it then by the skill of our own fingers?
All aspects of the welfare program can be achieved through prayerful planning and commitment. Avail yourselves of the church publications and website to strengthen your testimony and build your knowledge of the principles of the welfare program. Study the scriptures as well as the talks given during general conferences and other church publications. Seek out the best sites and information to continue to learn and implement the ideas that suit your personal needs best. As the scriptures say once you have been warned you must warn others.
‘Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath
been warned to warn his neighbor. Therefore, they are left without excuse, and their sins are upon their own heads’ D&C 88:81 - 82
For us that means teaching our children to ensure that they will in turn learn to be prepared and then turn our attention to warning others. Helping them to become prepared for all things. When I first joined the church 8 years ago I was given a list of legumes and beans that I did not normally eat on a regular basis and was told I had to buy them in bulk quantities and to store them and this was food storage. I took the list and promptly through it in the bin. A little while later I asked a member I had become friends with what the whole food storage thing was about. She showed me her laundry and all the sealed containers stacked to the ceiling.
She explained to me the true gospel principles behind the food storage For the next 6 years I listened as various members either expounded the virtues of food storage or scoff and rolled their eyes treating it like it was a rather old fashioned idea and joke. I was fortunate enough to gain a testimony of food storage early on in my church life and have striven to do my best with what I have. In the past two years plus that I have held this calling I have witnessed both the dedicated, the newly dedicated, the old hands and the ‘yeah yeah it won’t happen to me’ set. I am grateful for all those who have helped me to grow and learn more about welfare and the principals of serving others by serving the Lord. I pray that in the new year and all the years to come that we will each of us continue to do all we can to become prepared and then when we are fully converted to then warn others.
‘Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.’ D&C 64:34
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Christmas day, the day we choose to celebrate the Savior’s birth is a mere 4
days away.
In anticipation of Christmas day and all it means to us. Today I would like to
borrow from an American custom recently celebrated, Thanksgiving, and
focus on our emotional and spiritual strength.
Chritsmas time is many things to many people, a day of celebration and merry
making with loved one, a day of sorrow and loneliness thinking of loved ones
lost. A day of plenty or a day highlighting how much we lack. No matter how
it is for each of us we can draw strength from one thing.
The Savior.
Michael Mclean’s ‘The Forgotten Carols’ has a beautiful song about the birth
of the Savior from the perspective of the shepherd who did not hear the angels sing and he did not go to Bethlehem and see the baby, because he fell asleep. He sings ‘ Why would a God from heaven come to the world this way? Why in a lowly stable would the Messiah lay? I shook my head and asked them to tell the story one more time. And yes I did believe them though I’d not seen a thing, I did not go to Bethlehem or hear the angels sing but there was something magic in the air, that made me feel as if I had been there’
We were not there, but that does not mean we cannot share in the wonder of His birth. We can share the joy and love we feel with others. Whether it be by testifying of Christ, giving to the needy, inviting those who might be alone to spend the day with us, by reminding ourselves how blessed and lucky we are for what we have: our families, our friends, our being numbered of His flock, for every single day that we have, our agency, everything and anything.
Another of Michael McLean’s songs from the same stage production is about a woman who would never have children but was blessed by Mary, when Mary let her hold her baby. I love this song, it shows me the giving tender heart of Mary, knowing whom it was she had just delivered and yet she willingly shared Him with another. A pattern she would repeat throughout His and her life. The woman felt His love when she looked in His eyes. ‘Something in his eyes convinced me I could serve so many others, Mary let me hold her baby, so soft and warm, Mary let me hold her baby, and I was reborn.’
What a marvellous gift. To hold the Christ child in her arms and know she would never be the same. We have that same gift, though we did not hold the baby, we did not go to Bethlehem, we did not hear the Angels sing or see a bright star in the sky guiding us to His side. Our gift is Him, He gave of Himself freely, He gave us His life and His unending love. He gave us a way to return home to our Father in Heaven. He gave more than we can ever repay. And He asked only that we follow Him, take His name upon us and to love one another as He has loved us.
No matter what our affliction, struggle, challenge or attitude we need to be gentle and loving to our spiritual self, take time this Christmas to draw closer to the Lord. The same applies to our temporal feelings. Turning our hearts and minds to the Savior can not help but ease our suffering.
Know of my love for our Savior and His eternal gift to each of us. Know also of my love for each of you. May all we do this Christmas season be centred on Christ , our loved ones and be mindful of those in need. May we lift another, seek after the lost sheep, feed the hungry of body and spirit, clothe the naked and care for the sick and afflicted. I know that my redeemer lives, that He was born in a lowly manger and spent His life in the service of His fellow man and doing all that He was commanded to do by our Father in Heaven. I know he suffered for my sins willingly and
cares for me and that He will stand beside me on my day of reckoning. All this I know and I give thanks. I know he did the same for you too and for that I am also thankful. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Food Storage recipe
White beans instead of butter! Sounds dubious but I assure you it is
actually quite nice.
Soak and cook white beans such as cannellini beans ( also known as
great northern beans) until tender. Drain and puree in a blender allow to
cool. Use in place of butter in cookies and biscuit recipes. Cut sugar by
1/3 as the beans make it really sweet.
Most beans are a great source of B group vitamins and dietary fibre. All
beans should be boiled for 10 minutes to remove the anti nutritional
factors. Without getting all technical Anti Nutritional factors means the
substances found naturally occurring in legumes that prevent the
digestive system from breaking down and absorbing the the nutrients.
Some of the many uses for Vinegar.
Freshen wilted vegetables by soaking in a container of water with 2
tablespoons of vinegar.
Reduce the starch and stickiness of pasta by adding a dash of vinegar
while the pasta is cooking.
Remove kitchen odours by boiling a pot of water and vinegar.
Straight vinegar poured onto weeds in the garden kills them, especially
useful for the weeds that pop up in the crevices of the pathing.
Spray undiluted vinegar onto grout and bathroom surfaces to disinfect
surfaces.
Prevent lint from clinging to clothes by adding ½ cup vinegar to the
washing machine.
Stop insect bites from stinging and itching and sunburn from stinging
Until next time
yours in preparedness
Georgia
days away.
In anticipation of Christmas day and all it means to us. Today I would like to
borrow from an American custom recently celebrated, Thanksgiving, and
focus on our emotional and spiritual strength.
Chritsmas time is many things to many people, a day of celebration and merry
making with loved one, a day of sorrow and loneliness thinking of loved ones
lost. A day of plenty or a day highlighting how much we lack. No matter how
it is for each of us we can draw strength from one thing.
The Savior.
Michael Mclean’s ‘The Forgotten Carols’ has a beautiful song about the birth
of the Savior from the perspective of the shepherd who did not hear the angels sing and he did not go to Bethlehem and see the baby, because he fell asleep. He sings ‘ Why would a God from heaven come to the world this way? Why in a lowly stable would the Messiah lay? I shook my head and asked them to tell the story one more time. And yes I did believe them though I’d not seen a thing, I did not go to Bethlehem or hear the angels sing but there was something magic in the air, that made me feel as if I had been there’
We were not there, but that does not mean we cannot share in the wonder of His birth. We can share the joy and love we feel with others. Whether it be by testifying of Christ, giving to the needy, inviting those who might be alone to spend the day with us, by reminding ourselves how blessed and lucky we are for what we have: our families, our friends, our being numbered of His flock, for every single day that we have, our agency, everything and anything.
Another of Michael McLean’s songs from the same stage production is about a woman who would never have children but was blessed by Mary, when Mary let her hold her baby. I love this song, it shows me the giving tender heart of Mary, knowing whom it was she had just delivered and yet she willingly shared Him with another. A pattern she would repeat throughout His and her life. The woman felt His love when she looked in His eyes. ‘Something in his eyes convinced me I could serve so many others, Mary let me hold her baby, so soft and warm, Mary let me hold her baby, and I was reborn.’
What a marvellous gift. To hold the Christ child in her arms and know she would never be the same. We have that same gift, though we did not hold the baby, we did not go to Bethlehem, we did not hear the Angels sing or see a bright star in the sky guiding us to His side. Our gift is Him, He gave of Himself freely, He gave us His life and His unending love. He gave us a way to return home to our Father in Heaven. He gave more than we can ever repay. And He asked only that we follow Him, take His name upon us and to love one another as He has loved us.
No matter what our affliction, struggle, challenge or attitude we need to be gentle and loving to our spiritual self, take time this Christmas to draw closer to the Lord. The same applies to our temporal feelings. Turning our hearts and minds to the Savior can not help but ease our suffering.
Know of my love for our Savior and His eternal gift to each of us. Know also of my love for each of you. May all we do this Christmas season be centred on Christ , our loved ones and be mindful of those in need. May we lift another, seek after the lost sheep, feed the hungry of body and spirit, clothe the naked and care for the sick and afflicted. I know that my redeemer lives, that He was born in a lowly manger and spent His life in the service of His fellow man and doing all that He was commanded to do by our Father in Heaven. I know he suffered for my sins willingly and
cares for me and that He will stand beside me on my day of reckoning. All this I know and I give thanks. I know he did the same for you too and for that I am also thankful. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Food Storage recipe
White beans instead of butter! Sounds dubious but I assure you it is
actually quite nice.
Soak and cook white beans such as cannellini beans ( also known as
great northern beans) until tender. Drain and puree in a blender allow to
cool. Use in place of butter in cookies and biscuit recipes. Cut sugar by
1/3 as the beans make it really sweet.
Most beans are a great source of B group vitamins and dietary fibre. All
beans should be boiled for 10 minutes to remove the anti nutritional
factors. Without getting all technical Anti Nutritional factors means the
substances found naturally occurring in legumes that prevent the
digestive system from breaking down and absorbing the the nutrients.
Some of the many uses for Vinegar.
Freshen wilted vegetables by soaking in a container of water with 2
tablespoons of vinegar.
Reduce the starch and stickiness of pasta by adding a dash of vinegar
while the pasta is cooking.
Remove kitchen odours by boiling a pot of water and vinegar.
Straight vinegar poured onto weeds in the garden kills them, especially
useful for the weeds that pop up in the crevices of the pathing.
Spray undiluted vinegar onto grout and bathroom surfaces to disinfect
surfaces.
Prevent lint from clinging to clothes by adding ½ cup vinegar to the
washing machine.
Stop insect bites from stinging and itching and sunburn from stinging
Until next time
yours in preparedness
Georgia
Monday, November 24, 2008
Novemeber 23rd
f you don’t want to know how many days it is until Christmas
look away now! 32 days to go.
Physical health is important for our everyday movements and
our well being. Christmas is a time of rushing around, our
social obligations seem to treble overnight, we spend hours
scouring the shops for the perfect gift or last minute bargains,
late nights putting bikes and other ‘technical’ gifts together, the
change in weather to the long hot days of summer and extended
time traveling to visit family all lead to a strain on our physical
health. It is important at this time to take care of ourselves.
Ensure we are properly hydrated at all times by drinking plenty
of water and other replenishing fluids.
Dehydration is dangerous and can be a serious health risk
before it is even recognised that our bodies are dehydrated.
Lack of thirst is not an indication that your body is perfectly
hydrated. Last week at Darcy’s trampolining class I watched
half a dozen children of varying ages struggle to perform tasks
they normally did with ease. Each of them struggled to
remember what it was they had to do, they had poor co
ordination, felt dizzy, nauseous and tired quickly. All classic
Signs that they were suffering from dehydration.
Lack of sleep, poor quality sleep and sleep deprivation are other strains we put on our physical health. It is important to get enough sleep. Accidents at work, on the way to or from work / school etc and accidents around the home can largely be attributed to lack of sleep causing concentration problems. We may desire to get things done quickly because we are tired and take ‘short cuts’ that can cause accidents. Tiredness also leads to being cranky with our family and friends, not fun for anyone involved. Everyone's needs are different. You know your own needs better than anyone else, make it a priority to get decent amounts of sleep. The arrival of the police at your family gathering with the news of a death would be awful.
Exercise. The ultimate swear word to us couch potatoes. Despite my ample figure I too know the importance of exercise and actually do my bit to keep my body healthy. Walking with purpose, not strolling along window shopping is great exercise. Swimming, cycling, chasing the kids down the park are all great ways to keep fit. You don’t need to be an elite athlete, just a bit of heart beat raising several times a week to keep your body functioning as it should.
Exercise releases happy hormones (so does chocolate but a purposeful walk to the shop for a chocolate bar kind of defeats the purpose) Happy hormones work wonders for our self esteem, our emotional state of mind and our spiritual state of mind as well. It also helps you to sleep well. A good thing all round.
Eating properly also has its benefits. We have inside us a deep set programming to eat heavy full meals during the winter months when we are less active and need to keep warm and eat light meals during the summer months when our bodies don’t need to work as hard to keep us warm. But with such a diverse cultural history, Christmas can be a time of traditionally winter foods from the Northern Hemisphere, picking at party fare (also known as grazing), eating, drinking and generally making merry can all lead to us overloading or bodies. Sometimes traditional eating cannot be avoided, so when you know you are going to be in full party eating mode ensure the that the days before or after it are made up of lighter eating habits. Make lighter healthier choices wherever possible. Keep easy to prepare light foods on hand and drink plenty of water to keep your digestive system moving.
Attached is one of the welfare newsletters from the Blackburn ward. It is a fantastic article, very educational and useful. We are so blessed to have within our stake so many goodly members sharing their knowledge and experience with us, so that we may grow and be more prepared.
Until next week, remember it is good to be a health conscious, choice making, hydrated, well rested Latter Day Saint.
Yours in preparedness
Georgia
look away now! 32 days to go.
Physical health is important for our everyday movements and
our well being. Christmas is a time of rushing around, our
social obligations seem to treble overnight, we spend hours
scouring the shops for the perfect gift or last minute bargains,
late nights putting bikes and other ‘technical’ gifts together, the
change in weather to the long hot days of summer and extended
time traveling to visit family all lead to a strain on our physical
health. It is important at this time to take care of ourselves.
Ensure we are properly hydrated at all times by drinking plenty
of water and other replenishing fluids.
Dehydration is dangerous and can be a serious health risk
before it is even recognised that our bodies are dehydrated.
Lack of thirst is not an indication that your body is perfectly
hydrated. Last week at Darcy’s trampolining class I watched
half a dozen children of varying ages struggle to perform tasks
they normally did with ease. Each of them struggled to
remember what it was they had to do, they had poor co
ordination, felt dizzy, nauseous and tired quickly. All classic
Signs that they were suffering from dehydration.
Lack of sleep, poor quality sleep and sleep deprivation are other strains we put on our physical health. It is important to get enough sleep. Accidents at work, on the way to or from work / school etc and accidents around the home can largely be attributed to lack of sleep causing concentration problems. We may desire to get things done quickly because we are tired and take ‘short cuts’ that can cause accidents. Tiredness also leads to being cranky with our family and friends, not fun for anyone involved. Everyone's needs are different. You know your own needs better than anyone else, make it a priority to get decent amounts of sleep. The arrival of the police at your family gathering with the news of a death would be awful.
Exercise. The ultimate swear word to us couch potatoes. Despite my ample figure I too know the importance of exercise and actually do my bit to keep my body healthy. Walking with purpose, not strolling along window shopping is great exercise. Swimming, cycling, chasing the kids down the park are all great ways to keep fit. You don’t need to be an elite athlete, just a bit of heart beat raising several times a week to keep your body functioning as it should.
Exercise releases happy hormones (so does chocolate but a purposeful walk to the shop for a chocolate bar kind of defeats the purpose) Happy hormones work wonders for our self esteem, our emotional state of mind and our spiritual state of mind as well. It also helps you to sleep well. A good thing all round.
Eating properly also has its benefits. We have inside us a deep set programming to eat heavy full meals during the winter months when we are less active and need to keep warm and eat light meals during the summer months when our bodies don’t need to work as hard to keep us warm. But with such a diverse cultural history, Christmas can be a time of traditionally winter foods from the Northern Hemisphere, picking at party fare (also known as grazing), eating, drinking and generally making merry can all lead to us overloading or bodies. Sometimes traditional eating cannot be avoided, so when you know you are going to be in full party eating mode ensure the that the days before or after it are made up of lighter eating habits. Make lighter healthier choices wherever possible. Keep easy to prepare light foods on hand and drink plenty of water to keep your digestive system moving.
Attached is one of the welfare newsletters from the Blackburn ward. It is a fantastic article, very educational and useful. We are so blessed to have within our stake so many goodly members sharing their knowledge and experience with us, so that we may grow and be more prepared.
Until next week, remember it is good to be a health conscious, choice making, hydrated, well rested Latter Day Saint.
Yours in preparedness
Georgia
November 9th
Christmas is 45 days away. Need some ideas? Want to give a gift with meaning? Or a gift with a gospel principle in mind?
Carolyn Nicolaysen from totallyready.com wrote a marvellous article for Meridian Magazine, titled “The gift of preparedness”. She begins with “Toasters, ties, and toys. The season for giving not only tests our imagination and budget, but can also stretch our inspiration. Well, just in case your friends and kin could benefit from a little more Emergency Preparedness, here are some ideas on how to remember them with creative gift ideas that are fun and practical.”
Here are her practical ideas and one example from each.
1: The Theme Gift. Choose a theme and give a gift that delivers on that theme. Place a quote or scripture on the gift to announce your theme. For example: Light: “You light up my life” or quote John 12:35 -- “Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.” Include glow sticks, flashlights, maybe a flashlight and radio combo, candles in glass jars for power outages, or solar lights that can be charged during the day and brought in at night during a power outage.
2: Gift Certificates. Garden Kit: Purchase a garden bucket, add some packets of seeds, a trowel, a planting guide and a gift certificate good for your help with next spring’s garden planting. Add the book The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett for family reading.
3: The Survival Kit. Dinner basket. Purchase a large laundry basket and fill it with a copy of your favorite, or your student’s favorite, recipe. Purchase all the ingredients to make that recipe 5 times. Taco soup would be a great example since most of the ingredients are canned.
4: A Subscription. Order a subscription to the Liahona magazine for a family member or friend who served a foreign language mission. Some languages are published each month and some only once a year, but all are wonderful to receive. Of course, The Ensign, New Era, Friend, and Church News are excellent gifts for family who are not taking advantage of these resources.
5: Financial Preparedness. Cash for a rainy day. What will we do for cash, if the power is down, along with the internet connections to your local ATM? It takes discipline, but some well-hidden cash is an important part of preparedness planning. And of course, for college students, rolls of quarters are always appreciated. Likewise for students, a gift certificate to a local grocery store.
Obviously this is American, apart from changing it into our currency say: into a roll of dollar coins, we also have gift vouchers available at most supermarkets. A handy idea not just as a gift but as one (and not the only) source of a little something set aside.
For the full article here is the link. http://www.ldsmag.com/emergency/061115gift.html Take a moment to have a look at her other amazing articles.
Carol Tuttle gave a lecture on unplugging the Christmas machine. A very insightful talk. We are the Christmas machines. We take upon ourselves the idea that we must to do all our normal activities and then add a plethora (lots and lots) of Christmas related activities to it without giving anything up and wonder why we get stressed, burnt out, and generally have an awful time at Christmas. She made some insightful suggestions on how to unplug our Christmas machines, including, make a list of three words that perfectly describes Christmas to you. Remember how you feel affects your family too. Make a list of everything on your Christmas ‘to do’ list. Everything from shopping for presents and meal items to the parties your family gets invited to. Decide if anything can be left off the list. Reduce stress by sending cheque's instead of presents. Set very early a budget and stick to it. Have fun with the things you do, if it isn’t fun don’t do it. Don’t do things because it is a tradition of habit, do it for the love and spirit of it, if you have made the potato salad for family functions because it has always been that way, and you actually hate potato salad, tell the family you are making something else, if they want potato salad they will make it themselves. Learn to accept that what gets done gets done and it will be enough. Clear out old decorations and items you just don’t need anymore. Simplify as much as possible. And most importantly ask yourself ‘Do you feel the Spirit of Christ?’ if you don’t, think of how you can changes things so you do. Here is my example of my Christmas machine and how my steadfastness in it almost made me ruin it for someone I love, adore and cherish. My son.
I love Christmas. I love the time spent with family and treasured friends, the time focused on each other and the gift most precious to all of us, the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. I want to enjoy it and not get caught up in the crowded shops, last minute haste, crush of it all. So I turned one of my OCD habits to my advantage. I made a commitment to myself to be finished my Christmas gift shopping by the 1st of October each year. Then have my Christmas grocery shopping finished by the 30th of November. That way I could relax and not have my other OCD issues get out of control and turn my happy face into a get away from me face. For years it has worked perfectly for me. But I didn’t think about one vital thing in relation to Christmas. Not everyone is as OCD as I am. A few weeks ago, Darcy saw the neat pile of Christmas presents I had just finished wrapping and not yet put away. He smiled and eyed off the ones he knew were his, then his whole demeanour changed, he looked sad. I asked him what was wrong. He expressed to me that as great as it was that I was organised he didn’t feel a part of it because he had not chosen, bought or wrapped anything for anyone. My heart sank. I was so focused on avoiding what made me anxious and uncomfortable I forgot what truly mattered. Service. Love. Giving. All the things I thought I was doing, but to the exclusion of everyone else.
A few years back we decided to reduce the number of individual presents (the kids have way too many toys!!) and get family orientated gifts, things we could do as a family. We discuss them early in the year so everyone has some input and come Christmas it is still a surprise for the kids. But it meant that I became the present shopper and buyer. No problem for me, I love it, but in doing so I denied my children the opportunity to learn to love it too. While they were small it was fine, but now, they need to feel the same spirit I do.
So this year a new tradition has been born, Grant and I will each take a child and let them shop. Give them a budget (and the cash) as well as the freedom to choose whatever they want for the rest of the family. They get to pay for it, wrap it, secret it away if they choose until Christmas. Of course we swap children so they can buy for each of us without us ruining their spirit of gift giving. So what does this mean to my Christmas machine? It means I need to accept change, I need to take a deep breath, remain focused on Christ and my love for my children and go shopping for Christmas presents after October 1st ... Maybe be even in the month of December ... My mind screams ‘inconceivable’, but my heart is filled with the spirit of Christmas and shouts with joy as it is filled with the Holy Spirit confirming to me, the right choice has been made.
Whatever you choose to do this year, be kind to yourself and in doing so you will be kind to others. Emotional and Social Health is an important part of the welfare plan. Family is vital not just to our immediate happiness but to our eternal progression. I hope and pray this year we may all focus on what really matters, our dedication to our Father in Heaven and His son, Lord Jesus Christ, and to each other. I can think of no greater gift to give our children and each
other.
Until next week, remember it is good to be a Christ centred, family focused, true sprit of Christmas seeking, Christmas machine unplugging, loving our fellow man Latter Day Saint.
Yours in preparedness
Georgia
Carolyn Nicolaysen from totallyready.com wrote a marvellous article for Meridian Magazine, titled “The gift of preparedness”. She begins with “Toasters, ties, and toys. The season for giving not only tests our imagination and budget, but can also stretch our inspiration. Well, just in case your friends and kin could benefit from a little more Emergency Preparedness, here are some ideas on how to remember them with creative gift ideas that are fun and practical.”
Here are her practical ideas and one example from each.
1: The Theme Gift. Choose a theme and give a gift that delivers on that theme. Place a quote or scripture on the gift to announce your theme. For example: Light: “You light up my life” or quote John 12:35 -- “Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.” Include glow sticks, flashlights, maybe a flashlight and radio combo, candles in glass jars for power outages, or solar lights that can be charged during the day and brought in at night during a power outage.
2: Gift Certificates. Garden Kit: Purchase a garden bucket, add some packets of seeds, a trowel, a planting guide and a gift certificate good for your help with next spring’s garden planting. Add the book The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett for family reading.
3: The Survival Kit. Dinner basket. Purchase a large laundry basket and fill it with a copy of your favorite, or your student’s favorite, recipe. Purchase all the ingredients to make that recipe 5 times. Taco soup would be a great example since most of the ingredients are canned.
4: A Subscription. Order a subscription to the Liahona magazine for a family member or friend who served a foreign language mission. Some languages are published each month and some only once a year, but all are wonderful to receive. Of course, The Ensign, New Era, Friend, and Church News are excellent gifts for family who are not taking advantage of these resources.
5: Financial Preparedness. Cash for a rainy day. What will we do for cash, if the power is down, along with the internet connections to your local ATM? It takes discipline, but some well-hidden cash is an important part of preparedness planning. And of course, for college students, rolls of quarters are always appreciated. Likewise for students, a gift certificate to a local grocery store.
Obviously this is American, apart from changing it into our currency say: into a roll of dollar coins, we also have gift vouchers available at most supermarkets. A handy idea not just as a gift but as one (and not the only) source of a little something set aside.
For the full article here is the link. http://www.ldsmag.com/emergency/061115gift.html Take a moment to have a look at her other amazing articles.
Carol Tuttle gave a lecture on unplugging the Christmas machine. A very insightful talk. We are the Christmas machines. We take upon ourselves the idea that we must to do all our normal activities and then add a plethora (lots and lots) of Christmas related activities to it without giving anything up and wonder why we get stressed, burnt out, and generally have an awful time at Christmas. She made some insightful suggestions on how to unplug our Christmas machines, including, make a list of three words that perfectly describes Christmas to you. Remember how you feel affects your family too. Make a list of everything on your Christmas ‘to do’ list. Everything from shopping for presents and meal items to the parties your family gets invited to. Decide if anything can be left off the list. Reduce stress by sending cheque's instead of presents. Set very early a budget and stick to it. Have fun with the things you do, if it isn’t fun don’t do it. Don’t do things because it is a tradition of habit, do it for the love and spirit of it, if you have made the potato salad for family functions because it has always been that way, and you actually hate potato salad, tell the family you are making something else, if they want potato salad they will make it themselves. Learn to accept that what gets done gets done and it will be enough. Clear out old decorations and items you just don’t need anymore. Simplify as much as possible. And most importantly ask yourself ‘Do you feel the Spirit of Christ?’ if you don’t, think of how you can changes things so you do. Here is my example of my Christmas machine and how my steadfastness in it almost made me ruin it for someone I love, adore and cherish. My son.
I love Christmas. I love the time spent with family and treasured friends, the time focused on each other and the gift most precious to all of us, the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. I want to enjoy it and not get caught up in the crowded shops, last minute haste, crush of it all. So I turned one of my OCD habits to my advantage. I made a commitment to myself to be finished my Christmas gift shopping by the 1st of October each year. Then have my Christmas grocery shopping finished by the 30th of November. That way I could relax and not have my other OCD issues get out of control and turn my happy face into a get away from me face. For years it has worked perfectly for me. But I didn’t think about one vital thing in relation to Christmas. Not everyone is as OCD as I am. A few weeks ago, Darcy saw the neat pile of Christmas presents I had just finished wrapping and not yet put away. He smiled and eyed off the ones he knew were his, then his whole demeanour changed, he looked sad. I asked him what was wrong. He expressed to me that as great as it was that I was organised he didn’t feel a part of it because he had not chosen, bought or wrapped anything for anyone. My heart sank. I was so focused on avoiding what made me anxious and uncomfortable I forgot what truly mattered. Service. Love. Giving. All the things I thought I was doing, but to the exclusion of everyone else.
A few years back we decided to reduce the number of individual presents (the kids have way too many toys!!) and get family orientated gifts, things we could do as a family. We discuss them early in the year so everyone has some input and come Christmas it is still a surprise for the kids. But it meant that I became the present shopper and buyer. No problem for me, I love it, but in doing so I denied my children the opportunity to learn to love it too. While they were small it was fine, but now, they need to feel the same spirit I do.
So this year a new tradition has been born, Grant and I will each take a child and let them shop. Give them a budget (and the cash) as well as the freedom to choose whatever they want for the rest of the family. They get to pay for it, wrap it, secret it away if they choose until Christmas. Of course we swap children so they can buy for each of us without us ruining their spirit of gift giving. So what does this mean to my Christmas machine? It means I need to accept change, I need to take a deep breath, remain focused on Christ and my love for my children and go shopping for Christmas presents after October 1st ... Maybe be even in the month of December ... My mind screams ‘inconceivable’, but my heart is filled with the spirit of Christmas and shouts with joy as it is filled with the Holy Spirit confirming to me, the right choice has been made.
Whatever you choose to do this year, be kind to yourself and in doing so you will be kind to others. Emotional and Social Health is an important part of the welfare plan. Family is vital not just to our immediate happiness but to our eternal progression. I hope and pray this year we may all focus on what really matters, our dedication to our Father in Heaven and His son, Lord Jesus Christ, and to each other. I can think of no greater gift to give our children and each
other.
Until next week, remember it is good to be a Christ centred, family focused, true sprit of Christmas seeking, Christmas machine unplugging, loving our fellow man Latter Day Saint.
Yours in preparedness
Georgia
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Did you know it is only 52 Days until Christmas? Will the next few months be a silly season full of stress and financial anxiety or a time to find the peaceful quiet moments to focus on family and the true meaning of Christmas, celebrating the birth of our Savior?
I read a funny quote this past week that said ‘organised people are just too lazy to look for stuff’ made me giggle ... But ... when it comes to surviving the silly season and turning it back into a time for family and to focus on the miracle of the birth of Christ, organisation is the key to peace and harmony.
Over the next few weeks I thought we would take a look at Christmas and put a welfare spin on it starting with Family Finances.
The Church has some simply marvellous material devoted to Family Finances. They can be found at www.providentliving.lds.org Available as a PDF and as a paperback from the distribution centre is a booklet called ‘One for the Money’ by Elder Marvin J Ashton. In it he outlines 12 steps to financial stability. The 12 steps plus a
sentence from each are: 1: Pay an honest tith. Paying tithing promptly to Him who does not come to check up each month will teach us and our children to be more honest with those physically closer at hand 2: Learn to manage money before it manages you. Financial peace of mind is not determined by how much we make, but is dependant upon how much we spend.
3: Learn self discipline and self restraint in money matters. Money management skills should be learned together in a spirit of cooperation and love on a continuing basis. 4: Use a budget. Every family must have a predetermined understanding of how much money will be available each month and the amount to be spent in each category of the family budget. 5: Teach family members early the importance of working and earning. ‘In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread’ is not an outdated counsel. It is the basic of personal welfare. One of the greatest favours parents can do for their children is to teach them to work. 6: Teach children to make money decisions in keeping with their capacity to comprehend. Family unity comes from saving together for a common, jointly approved purpose.
7: Teach each family member to contribute to the total family welfare. As children mature they should understand the family financial position, budget, and investment goals and their individual responsibility within the family.
8: Make education a continuing process. Based on potential lifetime earnings, the hours spent furthering your education will be very valuable indeed.
9: Work toward home ownership. Home ownership qualifies as an investment not consumption. 10: Appropriately involve yourself in an insurance program. Costs associated with illness, accident and death may be so large that an uninsured family may be financially burdened for many years.
11: Understand the influence of external forces on family finances and investments. Inflation continues to off set a major portion of average wage increases.
12: Appropriately involve yourself in a food storage and emergency preparedness program. Accumulate your basic food storage and emergency supplies in a systematic and orderly way.
Financially, for us at Christmas time we should be set a budget and stick to it, avoid last minute shopping, make a clear agreed on list of presents or amount per person. Some people have a wish list up throughout the year so the children can write what they truly would like, it does make them think about their choices. Make lists and cross off each item as it has been done. Christmas jars is a fantastic book by LDS writer Jason F Wright. The story revolves around one family’s decision to save all their loose change throughout the year and use that money, and that money
only, for their Christmas gifts. An act of love by their young daughter sees their Christmas jar given to a woman in desperate need of financial help one year, creating a tradition of anonymous Christmas jar giving that spreads through out the country. The idea of putting our spare change into a jar and setting it somewhere where we can see it grow through the year is a good one. I know of many families who have adopted it both as an act of service and for their gift
purchasing. It helps to A: remind ourselves of the greatest gift of all given to us at Christmas and B: helps us to stay within our means and truly enjoy Christmas as a time together.
I hope and pray we each enjoy the lead up to Christmas and enjoy the spirit it brings when we apply gospel principles
and sound counsel to our lives.
I read a funny quote this past week that said ‘organised people are just too lazy to look for stuff’ made me giggle ... But ... when it comes to surviving the silly season and turning it back into a time for family and to focus on the miracle of the birth of Christ, organisation is the key to peace and harmony.
Over the next few weeks I thought we would take a look at Christmas and put a welfare spin on it starting with Family Finances.
The Church has some simply marvellous material devoted to Family Finances. They can be found at www.providentliving.lds.org Available as a PDF and as a paperback from the distribution centre is a booklet called ‘One for the Money’ by Elder Marvin J Ashton. In it he outlines 12 steps to financial stability. The 12 steps plus a
sentence from each are: 1: Pay an honest tith. Paying tithing promptly to Him who does not come to check up each month will teach us and our children to be more honest with those physically closer at hand 2: Learn to manage money before it manages you. Financial peace of mind is not determined by how much we make, but is dependant upon how much we spend.
3: Learn self discipline and self restraint in money matters. Money management skills should be learned together in a spirit of cooperation and love on a continuing basis. 4: Use a budget. Every family must have a predetermined understanding of how much money will be available each month and the amount to be spent in each category of the family budget. 5: Teach family members early the importance of working and earning. ‘In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread’ is not an outdated counsel. It is the basic of personal welfare. One of the greatest favours parents can do for their children is to teach them to work. 6: Teach children to make money decisions in keeping with their capacity to comprehend. Family unity comes from saving together for a common, jointly approved purpose.
7: Teach each family member to contribute to the total family welfare. As children mature they should understand the family financial position, budget, and investment goals and their individual responsibility within the family.
8: Make education a continuing process. Based on potential lifetime earnings, the hours spent furthering your education will be very valuable indeed.
9: Work toward home ownership. Home ownership qualifies as an investment not consumption. 10: Appropriately involve yourself in an insurance program. Costs associated with illness, accident and death may be so large that an uninsured family may be financially burdened for many years.
11: Understand the influence of external forces on family finances and investments. Inflation continues to off set a major portion of average wage increases.
12: Appropriately involve yourself in a food storage and emergency preparedness program. Accumulate your basic food storage and emergency supplies in a systematic and orderly way.
Financially, for us at Christmas time we should be set a budget and stick to it, avoid last minute shopping, make a clear agreed on list of presents or amount per person. Some people have a wish list up throughout the year so the children can write what they truly would like, it does make them think about their choices. Make lists and cross off each item as it has been done. Christmas jars is a fantastic book by LDS writer Jason F Wright. The story revolves around one family’s decision to save all their loose change throughout the year and use that money, and that money
only, for their Christmas gifts. An act of love by their young daughter sees their Christmas jar given to a woman in desperate need of financial help one year, creating a tradition of anonymous Christmas jar giving that spreads through out the country. The idea of putting our spare change into a jar and setting it somewhere where we can see it grow through the year is a good one. I know of many families who have adopted it both as an act of service and for their gift
purchasing. It helps to A: remind ourselves of the greatest gift of all given to us at Christmas and B: helps us to stay within our means and truly enjoy Christmas as a time together.
I hope and pray we each enjoy the lead up to Christmas and enjoy the spirit it brings when we apply gospel principles
and sound counsel to our lives.
There are so many things I wish to say to you my brothers and sisters, my mind is forever racing, telling me oh they need to know this or they need to know that. But I shall contain myself to just two things today.
First: in reading the October 2008, General Conference talks one section of the Priesthood session really stood out to me to be of welfare worth to us. I quote President Monson’s talk ‘To Learn, to Do, to Be’
‘Many areas of the world have experienced difficult economic times. Businesses have failed, jobs have been lost, and investments have been jeopardized. We must make certain that those for whom we share responsibility do not go hungry or unclothed or unsheltered. When the priesthood of this Church works together as one in meeting these vexing conditions, near miracles take place.
We urge all Latter-day Saints to be prudent in their planning, to be conservative in their living, and to avoid excessive or unnecessary debt. The financial affairs of the Church are being managed in this manner, for we are aware that your tithing and other contributions have not come without sacrifice and are sacred funds.
Let us make our homes sanctuaries of righteousness, places of prayer, and abodes of love that we might merit the blessings that can come only from our Heavenly Father. We need His guidance in our daily lives.”
The Church is in good hands, it is up to us to put our families in good hands, our own and the Lord’s.
President Monson also said “May we learn what we should learn, do what we should do, and be what we should be.”
This is a fantastic statement for welfare in all its many aspects. Family Home Storage, Employment, Education and Literacy, Physical Health, Social and Emotional Strength, Spiritual strength, Family Finances, Emergency Preparedness and Response. It is my prayer that you will find it of equal worth and apply this simple but effective principal to your welfare preparations.
My second topic for the day relates to the first. “Let us make our homes sanctuaries of righteousness, places of prayer, and abodes of love that we might merit the blessings that can come only from our Heavenly Father. We need His guidance in our daily lives.”
Brothers and Sisters we are often taught about the pure love of Christ and what it is to have Christ-like love for our fellow man. Sometimes it can be hard to understand exactly what is meant by Christ-like love when we feel so much less than Christ-like and far from perfect, how can we then find within us this pure love of Christ?
Unconditional Love is a form of Christ-like love. It is loving someone without putting conditions on that love. It is loving someone in the face of adversity, loving regardless of harsh words, actions or deeds. It is loving someone no matter what.
My Brothers and Sisters I can honestly say that I love each and every one of you unconditionally. And when I fall down and put a condition on that love, whether it be, oh that person really annoyed me today or oh they just don’t understand. I turn to the Lord. I express to Him my acknowledgement that I am not perfect, I have failings and human frailties of mind, but that I desire to love without condition everyone I meet, no matter what they do to me. I feel then of His Love for me, His unconditional love, then I feel a renewal of unconditional love fill my heart and every fibre of my being.
Brothers and Sisters we need to love each other unconditionally, we need to be doing everything in our power to love and lift each other up. We need to get our houses in order and stand ready to help others get their houses in order. We need to do this not because we have be counselled to do it, not because the Bishop or Relief Society President called and asked us to come serve but because our hearts are in tune with the Lord and we want to do it.
We need each other now more than ever, it is a great time to be alive and to be members of this Church, His Church, it is a great time to learn unconditional love and to make it a part of our daily lives. It is a great time to learn to love service for the peace and joy it brings you and not out of grudging duty.
This is my testimony, that He lives, He loves us and wants us to find the peace and joy that comes from loving each other. I love Father in Heaven, I love my Savior, I claim my right to worship them, to know them and to be numbered among their flock, to live my life in service to them and to you and this I say in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
First: in reading the October 2008, General Conference talks one section of the Priesthood session really stood out to me to be of welfare worth to us. I quote President Monson’s talk ‘To Learn, to Do, to Be’
‘Many areas of the world have experienced difficult economic times. Businesses have failed, jobs have been lost, and investments have been jeopardized. We must make certain that those for whom we share responsibility do not go hungry or unclothed or unsheltered. When the priesthood of this Church works together as one in meeting these vexing conditions, near miracles take place.
We urge all Latter-day Saints to be prudent in their planning, to be conservative in their living, and to avoid excessive or unnecessary debt. The financial affairs of the Church are being managed in this manner, for we are aware that your tithing and other contributions have not come without sacrifice and are sacred funds.
Let us make our homes sanctuaries of righteousness, places of prayer, and abodes of love that we might merit the blessings that can come only from our Heavenly Father. We need His guidance in our daily lives.”
The Church is in good hands, it is up to us to put our families in good hands, our own and the Lord’s.
President Monson also said “May we learn what we should learn, do what we should do, and be what we should be.”
This is a fantastic statement for welfare in all its many aspects. Family Home Storage, Employment, Education and Literacy, Physical Health, Social and Emotional Strength, Spiritual strength, Family Finances, Emergency Preparedness and Response. It is my prayer that you will find it of equal worth and apply this simple but effective principal to your welfare preparations.
My second topic for the day relates to the first. “Let us make our homes sanctuaries of righteousness, places of prayer, and abodes of love that we might merit the blessings that can come only from our Heavenly Father. We need His guidance in our daily lives.”
Brothers and Sisters we are often taught about the pure love of Christ and what it is to have Christ-like love for our fellow man. Sometimes it can be hard to understand exactly what is meant by Christ-like love when we feel so much less than Christ-like and far from perfect, how can we then find within us this pure love of Christ?
Unconditional Love is a form of Christ-like love. It is loving someone without putting conditions on that love. It is loving someone in the face of adversity, loving regardless of harsh words, actions or deeds. It is loving someone no matter what.
My Brothers and Sisters I can honestly say that I love each and every one of you unconditionally. And when I fall down and put a condition on that love, whether it be, oh that person really annoyed me today or oh they just don’t understand. I turn to the Lord. I express to Him my acknowledgement that I am not perfect, I have failings and human frailties of mind, but that I desire to love without condition everyone I meet, no matter what they do to me. I feel then of His Love for me, His unconditional love, then I feel a renewal of unconditional love fill my heart and every fibre of my being.
Brothers and Sisters we need to love each other unconditionally, we need to be doing everything in our power to love and lift each other up. We need to get our houses in order and stand ready to help others get their houses in order. We need to do this not because we have be counselled to do it, not because the Bishop or Relief Society President called and asked us to come serve but because our hearts are in tune with the Lord and we want to do it.
We need each other now more than ever, it is a great time to be alive and to be members of this Church, His Church, it is a great time to learn unconditional love and to make it a part of our daily lives. It is a great time to learn to love service for the peace and joy it brings you and not out of grudging duty.
This is my testimony, that He lives, He loves us and wants us to find the peace and joy that comes from loving each other. I love Father in Heaven, I love my Savior, I claim my right to worship them, to know them and to be numbered among their flock, to live my life in service to them and to you and this I say in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
22nd October
It has been a while since I last updated my blog.
Or even made Waverley Welfare newsletters.
But here are my last two that I have done... and finally uploaded.
Hopefully be back on track extolling the blessings and virtues of being prepared for all things.
Until next time
yours in preparedness
Georgia
Or even made Waverley Welfare newsletters.
But here are my last two that I have done... and finally uploaded.
Hopefully be back on track extolling the blessings and virtues of being prepared for all things.
Until next time
yours in preparedness
Georgia
20th September
Wednesday night’s enrichment night with the Grotaers was a very educational evening for all who attended.
Based around President Kimball’s admonition to grow as much fruit and vegetables for ourselves that we possibly can and to learn the skills of home production, the Grotaers shared with us their vast wealth of knowledge and the importance of using certified organic seeds and plants in our gardens.
Briefly: the reason is that the large seeds companies such as Yates have been bought out by even larger chemical companies who have introduced genetically modified seeds. These seeds contain herbicides and pesticides already built into them, worse yet they are genetically engineered to grow sterile fruit and vegetables, so that each year we must buy new seeds. As collecting the seeds from your crop will produce either little or no results. The most important thing for us to
know is that if we are growing genetically modified sterile fruits and vegetables then we are no longer eating living food and it will impact our health. It also means there can be little doubt the fruit and vegetables we buy are also sterile. We can see the impact of this in the rise in disease and illness in the population.
It may sound like hippie tree hugging propaganda, but it is a sad reality of the times in which we live. The seeds companies you can use with peace of mind are certified organic seeds companies such as Green patch, Green harvest and Eden. The Diggers club, which is an online ordering company, carry all organic seeds, their website is www.diggers.com.au.
Another company that has a select range of organic seeds is the New Gippsland Seeds & Bulbs, 120 Lewis Road, Silvan Victoria, Australia, 3795 P.O. Box 1 Silvan Victoria, Australia, 3795 Enquiries: (03) 9737 9560 Free call for orders: 1800
887 732 Free fax for orders: 1800 088 077 Email: orders@newgipps.com.au
I have used this company before and found them to be very helpful. You can see their full catalogue online.
The Grotaers are passionate about gardening and living the Prophets counsel to grow what we feasibly can, they run an organic growing class on the second Saturday of every month. Their contact details are: Pat and Vic Grotaers, 18A
Britannia Creek Rd, Wesburn, ph:59671134.
Of all that the Grotaers shared with us, the most important comment was: ‘Whether you like gardening or not President Kimball said to do it.” he likened it to years ago before there was a Temple in Australia, if you wanted to go to the Temple you had to go to New Zealand. He talked abut how people had to step out in faith and set a date to go and work towards it,
relying on the Lord to help them achieve their goal of getting to the Temple. He said we can liken it to gardening , make the determination to start, rely on the Lord and do it. Step out in faith and see what happens.
We also learnt that some bugs and creepy crawlies are friendly bugs and well worth keeping in your garden, such as the red centipedes we see, these are carnivorous and eat other bugs, namely the bad ones that like to munch on our tender plants like slatter bugs. Those little gray ones that roll into an armoured ball if you touch them. I think most of us came away from
the night with a renewed determination to grow our own vegetables. Attached is a copy of their monthly newsletter for their organic growers club, well worth a read.
One thing that is plainly clear is that growing your own vegetables used to be common practice in nearly every back yard. Now it is almost considered an old fashioned hobby. We need to embrace learning all we can to be prepared for all things. We need to teach our children, our youth, our young adults to be able to grow a garden, sew their own clothes, to be self
sufficient in as much as they can. We are quickly loosing the skills our grandparents grew up with, we need to get them back.
Based around President Kimball’s admonition to grow as much fruit and vegetables for ourselves that we possibly can and to learn the skills of home production, the Grotaers shared with us their vast wealth of knowledge and the importance of using certified organic seeds and plants in our gardens.
Briefly: the reason is that the large seeds companies such as Yates have been bought out by even larger chemical companies who have introduced genetically modified seeds. These seeds contain herbicides and pesticides already built into them, worse yet they are genetically engineered to grow sterile fruit and vegetables, so that each year we must buy new seeds. As collecting the seeds from your crop will produce either little or no results. The most important thing for us to
know is that if we are growing genetically modified sterile fruits and vegetables then we are no longer eating living food and it will impact our health. It also means there can be little doubt the fruit and vegetables we buy are also sterile. We can see the impact of this in the rise in disease and illness in the population.
It may sound like hippie tree hugging propaganda, but it is a sad reality of the times in which we live. The seeds companies you can use with peace of mind are certified organic seeds companies such as Green patch, Green harvest and Eden. The Diggers club, which is an online ordering company, carry all organic seeds, their website is www.diggers.com.au.
Another company that has a select range of organic seeds is the New Gippsland Seeds & Bulbs, 120 Lewis Road, Silvan Victoria, Australia, 3795 P.O. Box 1 Silvan Victoria, Australia, 3795 Enquiries: (03) 9737 9560 Free call for orders: 1800
887 732 Free fax for orders: 1800 088 077 Email: orders@newgipps.com.au
I have used this company before and found them to be very helpful. You can see their full catalogue online.
The Grotaers are passionate about gardening and living the Prophets counsel to grow what we feasibly can, they run an organic growing class on the second Saturday of every month. Their contact details are: Pat and Vic Grotaers, 18A
Britannia Creek Rd, Wesburn, ph:59671134.
Of all that the Grotaers shared with us, the most important comment was: ‘Whether you like gardening or not President Kimball said to do it.” he likened it to years ago before there was a Temple in Australia, if you wanted to go to the Temple you had to go to New Zealand. He talked abut how people had to step out in faith and set a date to go and work towards it,
relying on the Lord to help them achieve their goal of getting to the Temple. He said we can liken it to gardening , make the determination to start, rely on the Lord and do it. Step out in faith and see what happens.
We also learnt that some bugs and creepy crawlies are friendly bugs and well worth keeping in your garden, such as the red centipedes we see, these are carnivorous and eat other bugs, namely the bad ones that like to munch on our tender plants like slatter bugs. Those little gray ones that roll into an armoured ball if you touch them. I think most of us came away from
the night with a renewed determination to grow our own vegetables. Attached is a copy of their monthly newsletter for their organic growers club, well worth a read.
One thing that is plainly clear is that growing your own vegetables used to be common practice in nearly every back yard. Now it is almost considered an old fashioned hobby. We need to embrace learning all we can to be prepared for all things. We need to teach our children, our youth, our young adults to be able to grow a garden, sew their own clothes, to be self
sufficient in as much as they can. We are quickly loosing the skills our grandparents grew up with, we need to get them back.
7th September
Yesterday I had the pleasure of going to the Welfare day set up by the Bayswater / Mooroolbark wards. It was an informative day of stalls and information classes including: fire safety, managing finances, Home storage, Time management ( which I missed coz I was running late!) and mental strength. I met some very interesting people and came home with a nice little bundle of new recipes to try out. I also discovered who knows how to make both soft and hard cheese and I intend to add it to the welfare know how classes early next year.
Brothers and Sisters in what way can I help you to help yourselves become more prepared? I am at your service. Please let me know, even if you want to come around for a hot chocolate and a chat to fully cover everything you want to learn, I make a pretty good hot chocolate and I want very much to be of service. Put me to use my brothers and sisters.
On and off over the years we hear others say or even say ourselves that if the time came to rely on our storage we would not share with those who heeded not the counsel to prepare. Vaughn J Featherstone can put this to rest for us and for others when he said during the 1976 April conference ‘... I should like to address a few remarks to those who ask, ‘Do I share with my
neighbors who have not followed the counsel? And what about the nonmembers who do not have a year’s supply? Do we have to share with them?’ - No we don’t have to share -- we get to share! Let us not be concerned about silly thoughts of whether we would share or not. Of course we would share!’
Also from 1976 April conference Marion G Romney quoted Brigham Young ‘... If we are to be saved in an ark, as Noah and his family were, it will be because we built it... My faith does not lead me to think the Lord will provide us with roast pigs, bread already buttered, etc. He will give us the ability to raise the grain, to obtain the fruits of the earth, to make habitations,
to procure few boards to make a box, and when harvest cines, giving us the grain, it is for us to preserve it--to save the wheat until we have one, two, five or seven years provisions on hand, until there is enough of the staff of life saved by the people to bread themselves and those who will come here seeking safety ... (the fulfillment of that prophecy is yet in the future)’
In 1980 October conference Ezra Taft Benson said ‘Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize the the ravagers of war, economic disaster, famine and earth quake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not
happen, that they will somehow be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harboured such a delusion.’
Pretty straight forward and to the point for the Saints then and for us now. All of these trials are happening around us now. Some of it in this very country and we had better sit up and take notice. I am not without guilt here, I give thanks for the life I have and often times feel sure in my meager preparations. But no more, my brothers and sisters we need to be actively doing
what we can to prepare ourselves and our families and then get out there and help others to prepare. Not just food storage but every aspect of the gospel and its doctrine needs to be in place in our lives so that we may stand firm and sure in the days to come.
We can be as the the people the Lord called Zion ( Moses 7:17-18) of one heart and one mind. We can dwell in righteousness and have no poor among us. No poor of purse, of understanding, of heart, of want. The elect of the Lord are saved for the last days, if it is not us, it is our children to follow, we must help them so that they may indeed be the strongest and most faithful
and be able to endure all things to come. Make a start come to HFPE this Wednesday and learn from the Grotaers, by all accounts they are an incredible wealth of information. Men I know HFPE is for the women so if you want to know what they have to share ... send you women folk along to take notes for you.
Brothers and Sisters in what way can I help you to help yourselves become more prepared? I am at your service. Please let me know, even if you want to come around for a hot chocolate and a chat to fully cover everything you want to learn, I make a pretty good hot chocolate and I want very much to be of service. Put me to use my brothers and sisters.
On and off over the years we hear others say or even say ourselves that if the time came to rely on our storage we would not share with those who heeded not the counsel to prepare. Vaughn J Featherstone can put this to rest for us and for others when he said during the 1976 April conference ‘... I should like to address a few remarks to those who ask, ‘Do I share with my
neighbors who have not followed the counsel? And what about the nonmembers who do not have a year’s supply? Do we have to share with them?’ - No we don’t have to share -- we get to share! Let us not be concerned about silly thoughts of whether we would share or not. Of course we would share!’
Also from 1976 April conference Marion G Romney quoted Brigham Young ‘... If we are to be saved in an ark, as Noah and his family were, it will be because we built it... My faith does not lead me to think the Lord will provide us with roast pigs, bread already buttered, etc. He will give us the ability to raise the grain, to obtain the fruits of the earth, to make habitations,
to procure few boards to make a box, and when harvest cines, giving us the grain, it is for us to preserve it--to save the wheat until we have one, two, five or seven years provisions on hand, until there is enough of the staff of life saved by the people to bread themselves and those who will come here seeking safety ... (the fulfillment of that prophecy is yet in the future)’
In 1980 October conference Ezra Taft Benson said ‘Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize the the ravagers of war, economic disaster, famine and earth quake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not
happen, that they will somehow be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harboured such a delusion.’
Pretty straight forward and to the point for the Saints then and for us now. All of these trials are happening around us now. Some of it in this very country and we had better sit up and take notice. I am not without guilt here, I give thanks for the life I have and often times feel sure in my meager preparations. But no more, my brothers and sisters we need to be actively doing
what we can to prepare ourselves and our families and then get out there and help others to prepare. Not just food storage but every aspect of the gospel and its doctrine needs to be in place in our lives so that we may stand firm and sure in the days to come.
We can be as the the people the Lord called Zion ( Moses 7:17-18) of one heart and one mind. We can dwell in righteousness and have no poor among us. No poor of purse, of understanding, of heart, of want. The elect of the Lord are saved for the last days, if it is not us, it is our children to follow, we must help them so that they may indeed be the strongest and most faithful
and be able to endure all things to come. Make a start come to HFPE this Wednesday and learn from the Grotaers, by all accounts they are an incredible wealth of information. Men I know HFPE is for the women so if you want to know what they have to share ... send you women folk along to take notes for you.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
week ending 10th August
I would like to share with you some very sage words from the Blackburn Ward Welfare Coordinator Carolyn Kwong.
‘It was pointed out that many of the pioneers had to suddenly move West with only a handcart for survival. Hopefully our storage, our garden edibles and our 72 hour emergency packs will never have to be modern day ‘handcarts’.’
In 1976 Spencer W Kimball said ‘The time to disregard this counsel is over ... We want you to be ready with your personal storehouses filled with at least a year’s supply. You don’t argue why it cannot be done; you just plan to organise and get it done.’
In 1988 President Gordon B Hinckley said ‘There is a portent of stormy weather ahead to which we had better give heed.’
Then most recently from the Church we have been counselled to keep a Three-Month Supply ‘Build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet. One way to do this is to purchase a few extra items each week to build a one-week supply of food. Then you can gradually increase your supply until it is sufficient for three months. These items should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage.’ www.lds.org
It puts me to mind of the early days in the bible, Exodus 31-34. The Lord commanded Moses to cut two tablets of stone and bring them with him to the top of Mount Sinai where He, the Lord God, wrote on them with His finger the commandments which the people should follow. While Moses was away the people quickly forgot the Lord and looked for an idol, using the gold from their adornments they made a calf of gold to worship. The Lord was wrath with them and sought to destroy them because they had become a stiff necked people, yet Moses pleaded with the
Lord not to. After he came down from the mount with the tablets and saw for himself what the people had done Moses broke the tablets. The people could not live the law which he had received from the Lord. Later the Lord again bade him hew two stone tablets in which He would write the commandments upon. Moses then brought down these commandments, known to us as the ten commandments.
For close to, if not more than, seventy years now we have been counselled to prepare ourselves. First with a years supply and now a three month supply. How much longer will the Lord be lenient with us before He, as He was with the people led by Moses, is wrath with us.
President Hinckley said ‘Our safety lies in repentance. Our strength comes of obedience to the
commandments of God.’ The Times in Which We Live,” Ensign, Nov 2001, 72
The time for excuses is over, we need to do everything in our power to prepare ourselves and our families now.
‘It was pointed out that many of the pioneers had to suddenly move West with only a handcart for survival. Hopefully our storage, our garden edibles and our 72 hour emergency packs will never have to be modern day ‘handcarts’.’
In 1976 Spencer W Kimball said ‘The time to disregard this counsel is over ... We want you to be ready with your personal storehouses filled with at least a year’s supply. You don’t argue why it cannot be done; you just plan to organise and get it done.’
In 1988 President Gordon B Hinckley said ‘There is a portent of stormy weather ahead to which we had better give heed.’
Then most recently from the Church we have been counselled to keep a Three-Month Supply ‘Build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet. One way to do this is to purchase a few extra items each week to build a one-week supply of food. Then you can gradually increase your supply until it is sufficient for three months. These items should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage.’ www.lds.org
It puts me to mind of the early days in the bible, Exodus 31-34. The Lord commanded Moses to cut two tablets of stone and bring them with him to the top of Mount Sinai where He, the Lord God, wrote on them with His finger the commandments which the people should follow. While Moses was away the people quickly forgot the Lord and looked for an idol, using the gold from their adornments they made a calf of gold to worship. The Lord was wrath with them and sought to destroy them because they had become a stiff necked people, yet Moses pleaded with the
Lord not to. After he came down from the mount with the tablets and saw for himself what the people had done Moses broke the tablets. The people could not live the law which he had received from the Lord. Later the Lord again bade him hew two stone tablets in which He would write the commandments upon. Moses then brought down these commandments, known to us as the ten commandments.
For close to, if not more than, seventy years now we have been counselled to prepare ourselves. First with a years supply and now a three month supply. How much longer will the Lord be lenient with us before He, as He was with the people led by Moses, is wrath with us.
President Hinckley said ‘Our safety lies in repentance. Our strength comes of obedience to the
commandments of God.’ The Times in Which We Live,” Ensign, Nov 2001, 72
The time for excuses is over, we need to do everything in our power to prepare ourselves and our families now.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Whole Egg Powder
Having organised a whole egg powder order for the ward and others, and picking up the bulk bags. I settled in to bag 75kilo's of egg powder into 1kilo bags.
Ever wondered what 60 kilo of egg powder looks like? check out the pics below and you'll see. First there is the beginning phases of getting it all, bagged up, then I had to go through and insert an oxygen tab into every bag, then seal them all.
I am grateful for of my 4 year old daughter, who helped by stepping on the pedal to close the sealer and for taking the sealed bags and stacking them up for me. She did a great job and only caught my fingers in the mechanism once.
It was a mammoth job and took most of the day.
But well worth it knowing we are getting ourselves prepared.
Ever wondered what 60 kilo of egg powder looks like? check out the pics below and you'll see. First there is the beginning phases of getting it all, bagged up, then I had to go through and insert an oxygen tab into every bag, then seal them all.
I am grateful for of my 4 year old daughter, who helped by stepping on the pedal to close the sealer and for taking the sealed bags and stacking them up for me. She did a great job and only caught my fingers in the mechanism once.
It was a mammoth job and took most of the day.
But well worth it knowing we are getting ourselves prepared.
I often speak about the choir to which I belong. I love that choir, I love the people I have met there, the friendships, the shared love of singing, the sense of unity as we sing. I love the way our voices blend, sometimes in heart stirring harmony that leaves you feeling uplifted and close to tears, others times unified by the ghastly sound as we struggle with a particularly hard arrangement and our ability to laugh and try again. These people are my family, some close brothers and sisters, some cousins you meet from time to time and others you know by name but not sight, but family all the same. We as members of this Church are also family, we are all different, bringing to the Gospel our unique voice, blending it together in our shared love of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are one in sustaining our Prophet, his counsellors, the church leaders and authorities globally and locally. We are one in bending to the will of the Lord, in striving to live His commandments, commandments that are the same for each of us. When we work together in all things we bring harmony and uplifting peace not only to ourselves but to all within our reach. We stand as one, we need to continue to stand as one in all things. Joseph Smith said we were a peculiar people. Not strange bunch of weirdo's peculiar but peculiar unto the Lord, we are His people and that sets us apart from the rest of the world. Through the gospel principles and commandments and through the many wonderful axillaries and programs the church has in operation we are able to further our ‘peculiar’ habits that set us apart from the rest of the world.
Education is one of the ways we must stand together. We have been counselled to get an education.
‘And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith’. D&C 88:118
It is not by coincidence that the next verse is:
‘Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;’ D&C 88:119
Getting an education for our own progression and for our future ability to support ourselves and our families is vital to our spiritual progression. ‘It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.’ D&C 131:6
‘This is our labor, our business, and our calling—to grow in grace and in knowledge from day to day and from year to year’ Discourses of Brigham Young pg 248.
‘But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.’ 2 Nephi 9:29
We can see very clearly in the world around us the decline in social standards and expectations, ‘No amount of success can compensate for failure in the home’. Is a much used and loved quote from David. O. McKay. It speaks not only to the failing of family connections but the growing disrespect people have for themselves and for others, further reducing the social standards and expectations. Today’s society is becoming reduced to the lowest levels of education and tolerance. We see parents who allow their children to drink and smoke and use foul language as part of their daily lives, they are not teaching their children the value of work and common courtesy, they allow them to drop out of school and be unfit for any employment. These children in turn become parents of even lower educated and socially responsible children and the cycle continues in a downward spiral. My heart breaks for these children who have no clue of their divine worth nor of their temporal capability and worth. By getting an education we are lifting ourselves out of the current social expectations and allowing / encouraging our children to grow up and be educated knowing the value of improving ourselves. Giving our children chores and responsibilities and setting the social expectations based on Gospel principals cannot help but raise children who will have a solid work ethic, make righteous choices and raise their social and economic prospects. “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
President Hinckley encouraged women to also get an education and continue to learn, whether we chose to become stay at home mothers or not. Enrolling in short courses and learning not only increases our emotional state but our family life as well. A happy Mum is a happy home. Children learn by example, we can teach them the value of learning and to appreciate the gift of intelligence that our Father in Heaven bestowed upon us.
Spiritually speaking we need to continue to learn and study the scriptures.
‘We, of course, seek after knowledge, light, and intelligence and to inform ourselves upon all matters of importance. The glory of God, we have been told by the Prophet Joseph, is intelligence; and we desire to gain knowledge and to become as intelligent as we possibly can. But above and beyond all other things the fathers and the mothers in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints desire that their sons and daughters shall secure an abiding testimony, an absolute and a perfect knowledge regarding the divinity of the work in which we are engaged. That is of more value than anything else in this world, provided, of course, that those of us who receive that testimony, who obtain the knowledge that we are engaged in God's great work, abide therein and continue in the faith’ Heber J. Grant, Gospel Standards, p.160
We need to continue to learn and to grow, spiritually and temporally. We need to beactively engaged in living the 13th Article of faith, ‘We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.’
Until next week remember it is good to be an education seeking, spiritually growing, temporally preparing, scripture studying, knowledge gaining, family strengthening Latter Day Saint.
Yours in preparedness
Georgia
Education is one of the ways we must stand together. We have been counselled to get an education.
‘And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith’. D&C 88:118
It is not by coincidence that the next verse is:
‘Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;’ D&C 88:119
Getting an education for our own progression and for our future ability to support ourselves and our families is vital to our spiritual progression. ‘It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.’ D&C 131:6
‘This is our labor, our business, and our calling—to grow in grace and in knowledge from day to day and from year to year’ Discourses of Brigham Young pg 248.
‘But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.’ 2 Nephi 9:29
We can see very clearly in the world around us the decline in social standards and expectations, ‘No amount of success can compensate for failure in the home’. Is a much used and loved quote from David. O. McKay. It speaks not only to the failing of family connections but the growing disrespect people have for themselves and for others, further reducing the social standards and expectations. Today’s society is becoming reduced to the lowest levels of education and tolerance. We see parents who allow their children to drink and smoke and use foul language as part of their daily lives, they are not teaching their children the value of work and common courtesy, they allow them to drop out of school and be unfit for any employment. These children in turn become parents of even lower educated and socially responsible children and the cycle continues in a downward spiral. My heart breaks for these children who have no clue of their divine worth nor of their temporal capability and worth. By getting an education we are lifting ourselves out of the current social expectations and allowing / encouraging our children to grow up and be educated knowing the value of improving ourselves. Giving our children chores and responsibilities and setting the social expectations based on Gospel principals cannot help but raise children who will have a solid work ethic, make righteous choices and raise their social and economic prospects. “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
President Hinckley encouraged women to also get an education and continue to learn, whether we chose to become stay at home mothers or not. Enrolling in short courses and learning not only increases our emotional state but our family life as well. A happy Mum is a happy home. Children learn by example, we can teach them the value of learning and to appreciate the gift of intelligence that our Father in Heaven bestowed upon us.
Spiritually speaking we need to continue to learn and study the scriptures.
‘We, of course, seek after knowledge, light, and intelligence and to inform ourselves upon all matters of importance. The glory of God, we have been told by the Prophet Joseph, is intelligence; and we desire to gain knowledge and to become as intelligent as we possibly can. But above and beyond all other things the fathers and the mothers in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints desire that their sons and daughters shall secure an abiding testimony, an absolute and a perfect knowledge regarding the divinity of the work in which we are engaged. That is of more value than anything else in this world, provided, of course, that those of us who receive that testimony, who obtain the knowledge that we are engaged in God's great work, abide therein and continue in the faith’ Heber J. Grant, Gospel Standards, p.160
We need to continue to learn and to grow, spiritually and temporally. We need to beactively engaged in living the 13th Article of faith, ‘We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.’
Until next week remember it is good to be an education seeking, spiritually growing, temporally preparing, scripture studying, knowledge gaining, family strengthening Latter Day Saint.
Yours in preparedness
Georgia
Waverley Welfare week ending 27th July.
Self Reliant Tip
Sprouts and wheat grass.
To sprout wheat, broccoli, alfalfa and other seeds and grains soak the
seeds in a clean glass jar of warm water for about an hour. Place a piece
of cheesecloth or stocking or other loose weave material over the jar
opening and secure it with a rubber band. Turn the jar upside down to
drain off the water and sit the jar on an angle so the excess water can
drain out and sit on the window sill. Each morning half fill the jar with
water and swirl around the seeds, tip out the water and return to the
window sill. After three to five days you should have sprouts ready to
eat. Give them a final rinse and place in a container in the fridge to
prolong their life.
Wheat grass is made by layering cotton balls on a tray (with holes in it
to drain) sprinkle a single layer of wheat over the cotton balls and
wetting the whole lot, carefully drain off excess water and sit on the
window sill. Each day carefully water the wheat and once it is
approximately 10 cm high it is ready to be harvested for juicing and
salads etc. Cut at the point where the green begins with a pair of
scissors. A 20ml serve of wheat grass juice is equivalent to eating 1kg
of green vegetables.
Sprouts and wheat grass.
To sprout wheat, broccoli, alfalfa and other seeds and grains soak the
seeds in a clean glass jar of warm water for about an hour. Place a piece
of cheesecloth or stocking or other loose weave material over the jar
opening and secure it with a rubber band. Turn the jar upside down to
drain off the water and sit the jar on an angle so the excess water can
drain out and sit on the window sill. Each morning half fill the jar with
water and swirl around the seeds, tip out the water and return to the
window sill. After three to five days you should have sprouts ready to
eat. Give them a final rinse and place in a container in the fridge to
prolong their life.
Wheat grass is made by layering cotton balls on a tray (with holes in it
to drain) sprinkle a single layer of wheat over the cotton balls and
wetting the whole lot, carefully drain off excess water and sit on the
window sill. Each day carefully water the wheat and once it is
approximately 10 cm high it is ready to be harvested for juicing and
salads etc. Cut at the point where the green begins with a pair of
scissors. A 20ml serve of wheat grass juice is equivalent to eating 1kg
of green vegetables.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Week ending 20th July Main topic 'Self evaluation'
It has been a great week with the first ever Welfare Know How class. It was attended by 8 people on the Wednesday night and 1 on the Thursday morning. I am very pleased with the turn out and the interest shown. We tasted tomato, celery, carrot, mushroom, capsicum, kiwi, watermelon, yoghurt drops, banana, teriyaki tofu jerky and teriyaki beef jerkyas well as beef vegetable soup.
I look forward to more classes and more people coming along. The next class will be on fire safety and evacuation plans on Wednesday the 20th of August.
After expressing great frustration at finding a goodly source of freeze dried fruits and vegetables for us available in Australia and not in one tonne minimum orders, I have for the moment thrown my hands up in the air and given up ...But not for long, long enough to turn my full attention to other things that we stand in need of, then I will be back into it again.
Invest in some glow sticks (about 3 dollars from the Reject Shop) and
keep some in every room (yes even the kids rooms) in an easy to get to
place. During a power failure they will give instant light to help you
while you organise other lighting solutions you may have. Or just stick
with the glow sticks, they put out a decent amount of light. Have FHE
or family counsel meeting to discuss why they are being stored and to
stress the importance of the children not ‘accidentally’ using them.
It might be fun for the kids, if a night was spent with them as the light
source for the evening, so they will get used to the idea and not be
tempted to ‘just see’.
We often hear and even say ourselves that this Church is true, the one true Church on the earth today. I know this to be true. My heart sings with joy at being numbered in His flock. I love that we are never alone. No part of the gospel has been left for us to guess about. We have at our disposal information and assistance at every turn. How marvellous, how uplifting and heart warming. I am grateful for such guidance, such love from our Lord and Savior and from our
Church leaders. One part of the Welfare program that I haven’t spoken about for some time is Employment. We are encouraged to get a good education so that we may be employed to our full potential. The Church website has this to say as its header for employment. The Lord has commanded us to work and to provide for the needs of ourselves and our families (see
Genesis 3:17-19, 1 Timothy 5:8; D&C 42:42; 56:17). Suitable employment also gives us opportunities to improve our talents and develop the divine attributes within us.
Once we have a job however it is not the end of the story. Whether we like our job or loath it we need to be productive employees, we need to be increasing our skills and employment prospects. Whether that is staying current with job related tasks or seeking further education to be eligible for promotions and advancement or a career change.
‘The Activity Book’ has a great self evaluation questionaire, which I have reproduced here. We should all take some time to evaluate ourselves, whether we are happily employed in the job of our dreams, working a job we hate, studying or a homemaker. The questionaire can be fitted to each of us regardless of our current situation.
Self Evaluation (pg 41)
Seriously and honestly consider whether or not you are making any progress toward becoming the kind of person you want to be.
Do you know what kind of a person you want to be?
Yes_____ No_____
Are your present attitudes and behaviour helping you to
move in that direction?
Yes_____ No_____
Can you defend the things you do on the basis of your
reason for doing them?
Yes_____ No_____
Do you:
Defend the rights of others as you do your own?
Yes_____ No_____
Attempt to control your emotions and think before you
act?
Yes_____ No_____
Consider the effects of your attitudes or actions on
others?
Yes_____ No_____
Make life better in any way for anyone else?
Yes_____ No_____
Have reason to be proud of yourself?
Yes_____ No_____
Listen to other points of view with an open mind?
Yes_____ No_____
Treat others fairly?
Yes_____ No_____
Care whether or not you are a contributing member of
society?
Yes_____ No_____
Try to find more than one solution to problems?
Yes_____ No_____
Look at problems objectively rather than emotionally?
Yes_____ No_____
Want to improve our society?
Yes_____ No_____
Are you becoming — Yes No
More understanding?
More responsible?
More tolerant?
More patient?
More considerate?
More honest?
More dependable?
More cooperative?
More confident?
More sensitive?
More self directed?
More generous?
More appreciative?
More interesting?
More accepting?
More mature?
More determined?
More responsive?
More fun?
More loving?
We can also think of what we can do to improve each of these areas whether we ticked Yes or No.
Until next week remember it is good to be a self evaluating, constantly striving to improve, Spiritual and temporal strengthening, divine attribute developing Latter Day Saint.
Yours in preparedness
Georgia
I look forward to more classes and more people coming along. The next class will be on fire safety and evacuation plans on Wednesday the 20th of August.
After expressing great frustration at finding a goodly source of freeze dried fruits and vegetables for us available in Australia and not in one tonne minimum orders, I have for the moment thrown my hands up in the air and given up ...But not for long, long enough to turn my full attention to other things that we stand in need of, then I will be back into it again.
Self reliant Tip.
Invest in some glow sticks (about 3 dollars from the Reject Shop) and
keep some in every room (yes even the kids rooms) in an easy to get to
place. During a power failure they will give instant light to help you
while you organise other lighting solutions you may have. Or just stick
with the glow sticks, they put out a decent amount of light. Have FHE
or family counsel meeting to discuss why they are being stored and to
stress the importance of the children not ‘accidentally’ using them.
It might be fun for the kids, if a night was spent with them as the light
source for the evening, so they will get used to the idea and not be
tempted to ‘just see’.
We often hear and even say ourselves that this Church is true, the one true Church on the earth today. I know this to be true. My heart sings with joy at being numbered in His flock. I love that we are never alone. No part of the gospel has been left for us to guess about. We have at our disposal information and assistance at every turn. How marvellous, how uplifting and heart warming. I am grateful for such guidance, such love from our Lord and Savior and from our
Church leaders. One part of the Welfare program that I haven’t spoken about for some time is Employment. We are encouraged to get a good education so that we may be employed to our full potential. The Church website has this to say as its header for employment. The Lord has commanded us to work and to provide for the needs of ourselves and our families (see
Genesis 3:17-19, 1 Timothy 5:8; D&C 42:42; 56:17). Suitable employment also gives us opportunities to improve our talents and develop the divine attributes within us.
Once we have a job however it is not the end of the story. Whether we like our job or loath it we need to be productive employees, we need to be increasing our skills and employment prospects. Whether that is staying current with job related tasks or seeking further education to be eligible for promotions and advancement or a career change.
‘The Activity Book’ has a great self evaluation questionaire, which I have reproduced here. We should all take some time to evaluate ourselves, whether we are happily employed in the job of our dreams, working a job we hate, studying or a homemaker. The questionaire can be fitted to each of us regardless of our current situation.
Self Evaluation (pg 41)
Seriously and honestly consider whether or not you are making any progress toward becoming the kind of person you want to be.
Do you know what kind of a person you want to be?
Yes_____ No_____
Are your present attitudes and behaviour helping you to
move in that direction?
Yes_____ No_____
Can you defend the things you do on the basis of your
reason for doing them?
Yes_____ No_____
Do you:
Defend the rights of others as you do your own?
Yes_____ No_____
Attempt to control your emotions and think before you
act?
Yes_____ No_____
Consider the effects of your attitudes or actions on
others?
Yes_____ No_____
Make life better in any way for anyone else?
Yes_____ No_____
Have reason to be proud of yourself?
Yes_____ No_____
Listen to other points of view with an open mind?
Yes_____ No_____
Treat others fairly?
Yes_____ No_____
Care whether or not you are a contributing member of
society?
Yes_____ No_____
Try to find more than one solution to problems?
Yes_____ No_____
Look at problems objectively rather than emotionally?
Yes_____ No_____
Want to improve our society?
Yes_____ No_____
Are you becoming — Yes No
More understanding?
More responsible?
More tolerant?
More patient?
More considerate?
More honest?
More dependable?
More cooperative?
More confident?
More sensitive?
More self directed?
More generous?
More appreciative?
More interesting?
More accepting?
More mature?
More determined?
More responsive?
More fun?
More loving?
We can also think of what we can do to improve each of these areas whether we ticked Yes or No.
Until next week remember it is good to be a self evaluating, constantly striving to improve, Spiritual and temporal strengthening, divine attribute developing Latter Day Saint.
Yours in preparedness
Georgia
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Feeling grateful
Just thought I would take a minute to share with you how grateful I am for the opportunities that have come my way since taking on the calling of Ward Welfare Specialist.
I have learnt so much about being prepared, what it really means to be prepared and how to get myself and my family into a self reliant frame of mind.
I am humbled by the positive feedback and encouragement I have received from people within the ward and from other wards and non members.
I stand amazed daily at the information that falls into my hands, the contacts I have made and all the excellent bargains I have located. I know I am doing the Lord's will, I know it because I alone could not have found even a quarter of the information I have, let alone the contacts and bargains.
Many people who do not know or see the Lords hand in their lives may well scoff and say that I did find the information and I did all that I have done. I know because I was once a skeptic and a non believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. But now I know different. I am strong and I can do all things because He is with me. I believe He guides us, leads us gently to the experiences and knowledge we seek and I am honoured to be an instrument in His hands to bring the knowledge and skills we all need to be prepared for all things to this blog and to my Waverley welfare newsletter each week.
until next week.
yours in preparedness
Georgia
I have learnt so much about being prepared, what it really means to be prepared and how to get myself and my family into a self reliant frame of mind.
I am humbled by the positive feedback and encouragement I have received from people within the ward and from other wards and non members.
I stand amazed daily at the information that falls into my hands, the contacts I have made and all the excellent bargains I have located. I know I am doing the Lord's will, I know it because I alone could not have found even a quarter of the information I have, let alone the contacts and bargains.
Many people who do not know or see the Lords hand in their lives may well scoff and say that I did find the information and I did all that I have done. I know because I was once a skeptic and a non believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. But now I know different. I am strong and I can do all things because He is with me. I believe He guides us, leads us gently to the experiences and knowledge we seek and I am honoured to be an instrument in His hands to bring the knowledge and skills we all need to be prepared for all things to this blog and to my Waverley welfare newsletter each week.
until next week.
yours in preparedness
Georgia
Friday, July 4, 2008
Mini Survival kit.
Chances are an emergency will happen
while you are at work / school etc, rather
then when you are at home with
everything on hand.
A mini survival kit kept at work, in the
bottom of your school bag, in the car or
even in your handbag will help you
through. Your kit could consist of: a
mylar / space blanket, small first aid kit,
containing tweezers, sterile bandage,
band aids, antiseptic cream, tissues,
wipes. A small bottle of water and
something with a long shelf life to eat,
such as good quality muesli bars, fruit
leather, chewing gum, trail mix etc.
Small note pad and pencil/ pen. Torch/
batteries or wind up / static torch.
There is no such thing as over prepared,
only under prepared.
With the world going mad and the
increase of violence, it is a matter of time
before we see such tragedy’s as shootings
at school causing lock downs and the
children held in for hours. Prepare them
by providing a mini survival kit in their
school bags. Include a game and other
comfort foods such as chocolate. Add a
photo of the family to give them
something to focus on. Perhaps discuss
during FHE some instructions they could
have written down in their kits, cue cards
to keep them calm, such as: stay where
you are, remain calm, help will come etc.
Even a note from you expressing your
confidence in them to act appropriately
and your love for them.
while you are at work / school etc, rather
then when you are at home with
everything on hand.
A mini survival kit kept at work, in the
bottom of your school bag, in the car or
even in your handbag will help you
through. Your kit could consist of: a
mylar / space blanket, small first aid kit,
containing tweezers, sterile bandage,
band aids, antiseptic cream, tissues,
wipes. A small bottle of water and
something with a long shelf life to eat,
such as good quality muesli bars, fruit
leather, chewing gum, trail mix etc.
Small note pad and pencil/ pen. Torch/
batteries or wind up / static torch.
There is no such thing as over prepared,
only under prepared.
With the world going mad and the
increase of violence, it is a matter of time
before we see such tragedy’s as shootings
at school causing lock downs and the
children held in for hours. Prepare them
by providing a mini survival kit in their
school bags. Include a game and other
comfort foods such as chocolate. Add a
photo of the family to give them
something to focus on. Perhaps discuss
during FHE some instructions they could
have written down in their kits, cue cards
to keep them calm, such as: stay where
you are, remain calm, help will come etc.
Even a note from you expressing your
confidence in them to act appropriately
and your love for them.
July 4th 2008
The two way street
Recently the church published online a resource guide for disability’s.
A marvellous read, one I would recommend. It can be found at
www.lds.org under the home and family section. It covers all the major
disabilities such as autism, hearing / sight impairments, chronic illness,
mental, physical disabilities etc. Of course everyone has different needs
and it would be too exhaustive to cover them all, but as a general guide
it can be adaptive to the individual needs of the members.
The message is simple. Everyone has the right to full participation in
the church, whether it be as a child in Primary, YM/YW, YSA, RS,
Priesthood, Sunday school, as a teacher of those with special needs or
with special needs themselves or serving in any calling. Our limitations
due to disability should not impede our participation. The awareness of
and the incidence of disability is on the increase , we all need to do our
part.
This subject is fraught with danger. I will tread carefully but please pull
your feet under the seat so I don’t step on any toes.
We are all given talents and gifts, we are all given the opportunity to increase and magnify these gifts and talents to further our own journey towards exaltation and to glorify our Father in Heaven.
We are also given challenges and obstacles to overcome for the same reasons. To journey forward towards exaltation through endurance and faith; and to glorify our Father in Heaven. For many the challenge is a disability. For us as members of the Church we need to be understanding of these limitations and the with all sincerity ask how we may help these members fully participate. We then need to respect the way that person
/ parents deals with things and not try and force our ideals upon them. It is easy to get caught up in the ‘you just don’t understand’ frustrated attitude as a sufferer / parent and it is easy to get caught up in the ‘well I’d do it this way’ judgemental attitude. Both are wrong, both need repentance and forgiveness. Both need to
learn the unconditional pure love of Christ.
Page 276 of the teachings of the Presidents - Joseph Smith manual states:
‘The work in which we are unitedly engaged is one of no ordinary kind. The enemies we have to contend against are subtle and well skilled in manoeuvring; it behooves us to be on the alert to concentrate our energies, and the best feelings should exist in our midst; and then, by the help of the Almighty, we shall go on from victory to victory, and from conquest to conquest; our evil passions will be subdued, our prejudices depart; we shall find no room in our bosoms for hatred; vice will hide its deformed head, and we shall stand approved in the sight of heaven, and be acknowledged the sons of God.’
Here within the gospel should be our haven, our solace and safe harbour from the world, let us not bring it in here too. Love one another, be your brothers keeper, have compassion and understanding, even if your don’t understand and possibly never will, have the faith in the Lord and the love to not judge. It is too easy to become hardened, we are weak and we are wicked, but with the love and strength of the Lord we can be exhibitors of Christ like love for all. We are poor wayfaring men of grief and we are the ones
who took Him in and lifted Him up, we are all these things and more because of Him who died for us.
The conductor of the choir I am in told us of a member of his church choir who continually disrupts the rehearsals and makes a huge fuss over the way this person believes Amazing Grace should be sung. He reminded that person as he reminded us when we sang it last week that it is not how you sing it, it is to whom you are singing. It is what you are singing about.
Same for us, it is not what you look like, how you are dressed, how your hair is styled, how you speak, behave or any number of things, it is for whom we are here. It is to whom we have come to worship and adore that matters. He didn’t wear a suit with a crisp white shirt and conservative tie, He did not ask those around Him to come follow Him as long as they had the right shoes on or thought the way other people did.
He came to set free the sinner. To lift up the poor and lowly of heart, restore sight to the blind, health to the leper cause the lame to walk. He cares not what we look like, he cares that we follow Him and that we love one another.
From the bottom of my heart in all sincerity I love you my brothers and sisters and I pray the Lord will help me be compassionate and understanding, to put away my pride and unrighteous judgments and to always
love my fellow man.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Welfare article week ending 22nd June
Bargain Hunters Corner
Superior Foods at 769-781
Springvale Rd Mulgrave, has many
great bargains to be had.
Allied Mills Buttermilk pancake
mix 10kg for $39.00 or Edylln
Buttermilk pancake mix 10kg for
$33.00. Why pay $6.60 a kilo at
Coles for Pancake Parlour brand
buttermilk pancake mix which is
made by Allied Mills!
Also Alpen blend drinking
chocolate $14.80 equals 11
supermarket size jars, but saves
you $21.50 in price! (in my
opinion it is the nicest drinking
chocolate hot or cold)
I shall put a list, on the notice
board in the Relief Society room,
of the Allied Mills products that
Superior Foods will get in if you
ask them. Cake mixes, scone
mixes, muffin mixes, flours and
grains and other food stuffs.
WELFARE KNOW HOW
Our first night will be on using a dehydrator and the oven for
dehydrating. If you think dehydrating is just for making banana
chips, then come along for a surprise. Make soup mixes, jerky, fruit
leathers, dried fruits, dried vegetables. A whole world of possibilities
and goodies awaits you. Not just for the women folk or the Molly
Mormons among us ... Men folk I would love to see you there
learning and tasting. Youth and Young Adults don’t be shy come
along, you’ll be homemakers one day too!
Date and time to be advised next week.
HFPE Report
For those who were unable to come Wednesday night to the HFPE Welfare night, you missed a great
night. It was a night full of fun, laughter and learning. We had some great lessons and demonstrations and
some seriously nice food storage inspired food and drink.
Sister Bulfin gave us a great lesson on how to calculate what you would need to store for 3 months, based
on the First Presidency’s recent publication encouraging us to at least have a 3 month supply. Sister Bulfin
walked us through the process of list making and calculating the supplies needed. Here is a brief over
view, for further information please consult lds.org/providentliving
1: Make a list of dishes your family likes to eat.
2: How many times per week do you want to eat this dish?
3: Write down the recipe ingredients and amounts
4: Calculate what is needed per week, then for 3 months (12-15 weeks)
5: compile a master list of ingredients and the amounts you need to purchase for you 3 month supply.
6: Calculate non food items (date when open)
Include at least 10 mail meals, 4 breakfasts and 4 lunches.
Sister Webb wowed us all with her fantastic lentil balls and demonstration of easy meals made from food
storage items. It was great to see how many different ways each item could be used making a wide variety of
meals. Sister Curtis shared her recipe for hot chocolate and wheat germ loaf. They were both delicious.
The recipes are:
Hot Chocolate Wheat Germ Loaf
1 ½ cups white sugar 1 cup currents
1 cup dry milk powder 1 cup wheat germ
¾ cup coco powder 1 cup milk (milk powder is fine)
I cup coffee whitener ¾ cup raw sugar
mix together and store in a container mix and let stand for 2 hours
add two heaped spoonfuls to a cup Add 1 ½ cups self raising flour
add boiling water and marsh mallows Bake for about 1 hour at 180 degrees
Sister Oak brought along a delicious chocolate cake made from hand milled flour (thanks to her Dad and
fresh eggs thanks to their chickens) and Sister Jupi made a lovely banana cake. We also tried some of my
favourite kibbled rye and lentil bolognese sauce, canned butter, Amaranth cereal and flaked Quinoa
(pronounced keen-wah), both of which are high in essential amino acids and other minerals making them
great super foods to add to your storage.
I spoke about the main supplies to have on hand that will keep you alive should there be nothing else. Wheat
(and other grain) water, sugar, salt, oils and fats, honey. Adding to that the benefits of sprouting your wheat
to add much needed vitamins to your diet and wheat grass. As well as the above mentioned super foods of
Amaranth and Quinoa. I also discussed including spirulina which is high in antioxidants and other essential
and non essential amino acids, mineral and vitamins. In short a great all round pill or powder to keep to
ensure your body remains healthy.
All in all it was a fantastic night, thanks to all those who came and especially to all those who provided for
us on the night.
Self reliant Tip.
Each week I would like to include
a tip on something self reliant
whether it be a cleaning or storage
tip or anything else to do with
welfare. I need all the input I can
get, so please share with me so I
can share with others.
Microwave cleaning tip
A bowl of warm water and lemon
juice set on high for 1 minute will
loosen any food splatter making it
easier to clean off.
Georgia
Superior Foods at 769-781
Springvale Rd Mulgrave, has many
great bargains to be had.
Allied Mills Buttermilk pancake
mix 10kg for $39.00 or Edylln
Buttermilk pancake mix 10kg for
$33.00. Why pay $6.60 a kilo at
Coles for Pancake Parlour brand
buttermilk pancake mix which is
made by Allied Mills!
Also Alpen blend drinking
chocolate $14.80 equals 11
supermarket size jars, but saves
you $21.50 in price! (in my
opinion it is the nicest drinking
chocolate hot or cold)
I shall put a list, on the notice
board in the Relief Society room,
of the Allied Mills products that
Superior Foods will get in if you
ask them. Cake mixes, scone
mixes, muffin mixes, flours and
grains and other food stuffs.
WELFARE KNOW HOW
Our first night will be on using a dehydrator and the oven for
dehydrating. If you think dehydrating is just for making banana
chips, then come along for a surprise. Make soup mixes, jerky, fruit
leathers, dried fruits, dried vegetables. A whole world of possibilities
and goodies awaits you. Not just for the women folk or the Molly
Mormons among us ... Men folk I would love to see you there
learning and tasting. Youth and Young Adults don’t be shy come
along, you’ll be homemakers one day too!
Date and time to be advised next week.
HFPE Report
For those who were unable to come Wednesday night to the HFPE Welfare night, you missed a great
night. It was a night full of fun, laughter and learning. We had some great lessons and demonstrations and
some seriously nice food storage inspired food and drink.
Sister Bulfin gave us a great lesson on how to calculate what you would need to store for 3 months, based
on the First Presidency’s recent publication encouraging us to at least have a 3 month supply. Sister Bulfin
walked us through the process of list making and calculating the supplies needed. Here is a brief over
view, for further information please consult lds.org/providentliving
1: Make a list of dishes your family likes to eat.
2: How many times per week do you want to eat this dish?
3: Write down the recipe ingredients and amounts
4: Calculate what is needed per week, then for 3 months (12-15 weeks)
5: compile a master list of ingredients and the amounts you need to purchase for you 3 month supply.
6: Calculate non food items (date when open)
Include at least 10 mail meals, 4 breakfasts and 4 lunches.
Sister Webb wowed us all with her fantastic lentil balls and demonstration of easy meals made from food
storage items. It was great to see how many different ways each item could be used making a wide variety of
meals. Sister Curtis shared her recipe for hot chocolate and wheat germ loaf. They were both delicious.
The recipes are:
Hot Chocolate Wheat Germ Loaf
1 ½ cups white sugar 1 cup currents
1 cup dry milk powder 1 cup wheat germ
¾ cup coco powder 1 cup milk (milk powder is fine)
I cup coffee whitener ¾ cup raw sugar
mix together and store in a container mix and let stand for 2 hours
add two heaped spoonfuls to a cup Add 1 ½ cups self raising flour
add boiling water and marsh mallows Bake for about 1 hour at 180 degrees
Sister Oak brought along a delicious chocolate cake made from hand milled flour (thanks to her Dad and
fresh eggs thanks to their chickens) and Sister Jupi made a lovely banana cake. We also tried some of my
favourite kibbled rye and lentil bolognese sauce, canned butter, Amaranth cereal and flaked Quinoa
(pronounced keen-wah), both of which are high in essential amino acids and other minerals making them
great super foods to add to your storage.
I spoke about the main supplies to have on hand that will keep you alive should there be nothing else. Wheat
(and other grain) water, sugar, salt, oils and fats, honey. Adding to that the benefits of sprouting your wheat
to add much needed vitamins to your diet and wheat grass. As well as the above mentioned super foods of
Amaranth and Quinoa. I also discussed including spirulina which is high in antioxidants and other essential
and non essential amino acids, mineral and vitamins. In short a great all round pill or powder to keep to
ensure your body remains healthy.
All in all it was a fantastic night, thanks to all those who came and especially to all those who provided for
us on the night.
Self reliant Tip.
Each week I would like to include
a tip on something self reliant
whether it be a cleaning or storage
tip or anything else to do with
welfare. I need all the input I can
get, so please share with me so I
can share with others.
Microwave cleaning tip
A bowl of warm water and lemon
juice set on high for 1 minute will
loosen any food splatter making it
easier to clean off.
Georgia
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Welfare article for the week ending 15th June 2008
Bit of a mixed bag for you today my dear brothers and sisters.
At the end of last year there was a ‘questionnaire’ type form for a welfare version of New Year’s Resolutions. How are you going with your plan? How prepared do you think you are right now? Or, like true New Year’s Resolution fashion did you nod sagely thinking ‘yes, yes, I’ll do this’ and then promptly forget or assign it to the too hard basket? People’s desire to live the principals of self-reliance are challenged by any number of things. Such as financial strain or even abundance. Don’t have the money to get started (or so you think) or you have plenty of money so why bother, you can just buy it when you want it. Storage restrictions… Where will I store it all? I need a whole other house to store it all! I could go on and on about the challenges we face, but the facts remain the same. The Lord Jesus Christ does not lie, He cannot lie, so if he says prepare every needful thing, He means PREPARE EVERY NEEDFUL THING.
If he commands us to do something we need to do our best to do it, even if we do not have a testimony of it, we need to have the faith that it is the right thing to do and just do it. Leave the seemingly insurmountable opposition and challenges to do it to the Lord and just do it. Was it President McKay or President Benson who said ‘Do it, Do it right, Do it right now’? What are you waiting for? Shortages are happening now, so it is really time to get organised to do something about your food storage NOW. Don’t wait to be among the panicking mob, fighting over a meagre amount of goods in a bare supermarket.
And if you think I am being one of those scruffy looking fellow’s with the billboard proclaiming the end of the world, trying to raise some hysteria, think again. Take a good hard look in the supermarket next time you are there, notice that in some spots the shelves are getting a little bare. Sometimes it may even take days for a certain product to come back into stock.
Do it. Do it right. DO IT RIGHT NOW.
And now off my soapbox.
Coming soon... Welfare know how. A fun informative evening to learn more about welfare, from dehydrating and preserving to make shift shelters and escape plans. I am happy to run each class twice, once during the day at my house and then again in the evening at the chapel if it helps. Let me know what you want to learn so I can include it in the plans. So far we have dehydrating using a dehydrator as well as the oven, plus, and, later in the year closer to Christmas we will be learning how to make jams and other preserves. I am hoping to begin the jam making with an early morning adventure picking our own berries.
Not just for the women folk… meaning full glance around trying to catch some male eye contact. Yes my dear brothers I do mean you. As the hymn title says ‘Come all ye saints of the Lord’.
How’d I get back up on this soapbox? Hmm next topic.
Getting thrifty with it.
Tell me your thrifty ideas. Do you have a secret weapon for cleaning? Or an old wives tale you swear by? Share the wealth of knowledge, just like the parable of the talents, don’t bury it in the ground or keep it to yourself, share it, grow from it, learn in return. I would love to devote a section of the WAVERLEY WELFARE to thrifty tips and ideas… want to know something… ask and I can run a request for it, someone is bound to know.
Did you know that carpet deodorises are little more than sweet smelling sodium bicarbonate? Why pay a bundle for it when you can make your own? Bi carb soda as it is commonly called, has long been known for its odour clearing properties. A tablespoon in a small open container in the fridge helps keep fridge odours at bay. As does sprinkling it on carpets, letting sit for 20 minutes then vacuuming it up.
If you want a sweeter smelling carpet deodoriser mix in some lavender flowers. Or, sprinkle some water-soluble eucalyptus a container of bi carb, let it sit for a day or so, then break up the lumps and sprinkle it over your carpets. You can use good quality oils as well, as long as you mix it thoroughly so you don’t have clumps of oil laden bi carb sitting on your carpet. If you are unsure if it will stain, use it in a small out of the way spot to test it first.
Vinegar is another wonder product, great for cleaning windows, cutlery and glasses. I like to give our cutlery a super clean every so often, by filling the sink with boiling hot water and a liberal splash of vinegar, run a scrubbing brush over each piece especially the tines of the forks, let them sit for while in the sink, let them dry upright in the dish rack for a streak free finish.
Some of my favourite sites for finding information and getting great ideas are:
www.theideadoor.com www.preparedpantry.com www.rd.com/organize-your-home www.totallyready.com http://search.ldslibrary.com/article/view/77096 www.ema.gov.au www.chefnoah.com/index.htm www.providentliving.org www.thefoodguys.com/freesoftware.htm www.enlightenedhomemaker.com www.areyouprepared.com www.pantrylist.com.au www.p2s.com.au/public/home.ehtml
If you have some sites you like to visit let me know so I can share the wealth.
And one more that you can add to the list is my welfare blog. Anyone can check it out.
http://georgiaswelfarespot.blogspot.com So if you miss out on a welfare handout you know you can always catch up with it online. I have already uploaded all of last year’s and this year’s articles and will add to it each week. Isn’t technology marvellous? ( hello to all those reading this on the blog already)
I have also found a supplier of whole egg powder if anyone is interested. It comes in 15 kg bags. So my thought was to offer it in 1kg amounts and seal it into foil pouches for you. It will work out to $14.00 a kilo, which may sound like a lot, but it works out to around 35 cents an egg (ex large egg), that is quite comparable to fresh eggs (same size) at around 30 cents, but with the added benefit of a long shelf life.
If you would like to order whole egg powder see me for an order form. I will be placing the order Monday 28th of July so all orders and money needs to be in by Sunday 27th of July. Giving us all six weeks to get organised.
I had a go at making butter this week. Quite simple and easy. A little on the messy side sometimes but the end result was some seriously nice home made butter, free from artificial additives and preservatives. If you feel your arteries couldn’t cope with home made butter try mixing some flaxseed oil into it for a much healthier blend (it is higher in the essential omega 3. 6 and 9’s than fish and heavy metal free), still free from additives and much better in taste than common butter or chemical laden margarine. Price wise it works out around the same as buying a tub of butter. However if you want to get your body back to a healthier state by reducing the chemicals and other elements highly processed foods contain then it is a great alternative. Also handy to know for that Sunday afternoon when you find the butter dish empty and guests knocking at the door.
Last but not least is a great big plug for HFPE this coming Wednesday night. It is all about Welfare, with lots of fabulous information and taste testing! Come along and learn some great tips and ideas. Share your own tips and ideas. Don’t be shy, don’t roll your eyes and say you’re not interested. Think of the parable of the ten virgins. Do you want to be one of the five who freely went to meet the bridegroom or do you want to be one of the five who lamented and were left behind?
Until next week remember it is good to be an every needful thing preparing, welfare principal applying, clean living, resource seeking, (HFPE attending!) getting serious about self reliance Latter Day Saint.
Yours in Preparedness
Georgia
Friday, June 6, 2008
May 2008 Waverley Welfare
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. 13th Article of Faith.
I love the Articles of Faith, I could wax lyrical about how perfectly written they are not just for the age they were written in but for all ages. But I won’t. Instead I would like to focus on fourteen words.
We have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things.
Enduring all things can encompass the whole of Welfare, our physical and spiritual health, our education, employment, finances, our self-sufficiency, everything.
Often when we talk about enduring we talk about enduring to the end. So our thoughts and plans are geared towards the end. Being prepared for an event yet to come. So it is with welfare, we prepare for an event yet to come. Today however I would like to endure by looking at what is happening around us in the world and within our own shores.
On the worldwide stage we see devastating natural disasters in China, Burma and in parts of the USA. There are the on going droughts and hardships in Africa and other parts of the world. Italy is again under threat of volcanic eruptions, wars and civil unrest are breaking out across the world, terrorism is now a constant threat bringing with it, its brothers - suspicion and fear, who in turn bring their mates - violence and panic. It is pretty ugly out there.
Here within our golden shores and azure sky we fare no better really. Water is in short supply, which like on a global scale has had an impact on our food resources. Rice has gone up in price and we can expect many others to follow. The rising cost of fuel is also being felt in the supermarkets, as well as in our daily lives and budget. Another disaster sweeping the world is the loss of bees. Several theories and suggested causes have been put forward but the fact remains the same, the bees are dying which is a catastrophe for all of us. Bees help pollinate our fruits and vegetables, they provide numerous products from honey to antibiotic gels. If the bees die, we die.
Our government, like many, is slow to action in finding alternative resources for fuel and other commodities, fixing the problems we already have and in educating the populace. I believe in the articles of faith so I also follow the 12th article of faith.
‘We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.’
I sustain the law under which we live… but I don’t have to blindly sit around and wait for the government to tell me what I should do about natural or man made disasters and being prepared. I cannot live by the good old Aussie adage of ‘she’ll be right mate’ when it comes to welfare as we know it. Although the government is now starting to sporadically encourage the population to store food and other necessities, I personally don’t think it is enough.
We as Latter Day Saints are in the enviable position of having the knowledge and the guidance to be prepared, to endure the here and now as well as the end to come. But unless we get active and do it, we will, like the rest of the nation turn to the government for help and be left in the same untenable position as those poor souls in the hurricane Katrina disaster. Normally loving gentle folk turned into a savage mob, their government was unable to provide enough relief fast enough to prevent many of the follow on problems of food, shelter, disease, protection from the mobs etc.
We can be prepared; we must follow the counsel of our Prophets, both past and present. We must follow them or we will perish, whether that is physical or spiritual perishing it matters not, the end result is the same. We will stand before the Lord knowing we did nothing.
It is good to be an obedient, prepared, enduring, counsel following, Prophet heeding Latter Day Saint.
Yours in preparedness
Georgia
April 2008 Waverley Welfare
In looking up old ensign issues for welfare articles I found something really interesting. Each of the lead in sentences is in essence a mini lesson. For example:
Joseph B. Wirthlin, Ensign, May 1999, 76–79
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members strive to emulate the Savior's example as we seek to relieve suffering and foster self-reliance.
L. Tom Perry, Ensign, Nov. 1991, 64–66
The principle of self-reliance is spiritual as well as temporal. It is not a doomsday program; it is something to be practiced each and every day of our lives. (this was one of my personal favourites)
Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Sept. 1986, 2–5
The guiding principles [of welfare are] work, self-reliance, sound financial management, a year's supply, caring for the extended family, and wise use of Church resources.
Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, May 1986, 25–27
Few, if any, of the Lord's instructions are stated more often, or given greater emphasis, than the commandment to care for the poor and the needy. Our dispensation is no exception.
Robert D. Hales, Ensign, May 1986, 28–30
When we think of welfare, let us think of the plan revealed by our Lord for the eternal welfare of our souls.
Marion G. Romney, Ensign, Apr. 1981, 3–7
Self-reliance, as taught by the prophets, becomes a fundamental truth in the gospel plan.
Marion G. Romney, Ensign, May 1980, 82–84
The crowning aspect of a Christlike life is found in serving one's fellowmen.
Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, Nov. 1978, 74–77
Our houses can be in order by planned, consistent, and timely application of basic welfare principles and programs.
Aren’t they fantastic, precise to the point lessons, yet lovingly conveyed by the Lord’s anointed.
Latter Day Saints in general are held in high regard by some and as objects of ridicule and scorn by others. Our beliefs and practises make us exactly as Joseph Smith described us “a peculiar people”. And he had the backing of one of the first apostles Peter who said.
But ye are a achosen generation, a broyal cpriesthood, an dholy enation, a fpeculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of gdarkness into his marvellous hlight: (1st Peter 2:9)
And yet despite the scorn of many, our practises of food storage and preparedness are now spreading to the rest of the world and being embraced as a sensible idea rather than a quirk of our religion.
Our own Government has begun to say that each household should have some food stored in case of an emergency. The United States Government has also begun to make noises about the people being prepared by storing food.
An article in the 5th of April New Scientist magazine discussed the issue of what would happen in a pandemic. A pandemic is a virulent disease outbreak or other epidemic, which would affect the current world practises and habits on both a local and a global level, such as devastation by natural forces.
For example if the bird flu or some other deadly virus took hold again and people began to die, panic would set in and people would begin to horde supplies and not venture out for fear of contracting the disease. Hospitals would be inundated with sick and suffering people, work places would shut down due to loss of staff through death or fear and enforce closures to protect the companies from further infection and losses. Which would in a matter of days cripple a nation. The world is so vast and yet technology has made it so small. Supermarkets now carry only enough food for three or four days, why stock more when they can get more trucked in from storehouses? Same with hospitals they carry a three to four days supply of things like oxygen, medication would also run out pretty swiftly as would blood supplies. Government bodies are starting to look at this and take it seriously.
But this is something we have been counselled about for generations.
We know we need to be prepared against the days of trial and hardship, we know we need to be prepared for all things and we know how to do it, we have countless addresses by our Leaders, books and other instructional material for our use to help us to be prepared for all things.
Now is a fantastic time for us to share our knowledge and our gospel foundation for self-reliance and food storage. We as a peculiar people can show those who care to learn how to become self-reliant and in doing so share the gospel with them through living these principals.
Not only do we have our leaders and church materials to teach us, we have the scriptures, which also lead us and guide us and give us specific instruction.
James 1:27 areligion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To bvisit the cfatherless and dwidows in their eaffliction, and to keep himself funspotted from gthe hworld.
Jacob 1:17-19
Think of your abrethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your bsubstance, that cthey may be rich like unto you.
But abefore ye seek for briches, seek ye for the ckingdom of God.
And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to ado good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.
D&C 42:31
And inasmuch as ye aimpart of your bsubstance unto the cpoor, ye will do it unto me; and they shall be dlaid before the ebishop of my church and his fcounselors, two of the elders, or high priests, such as he shall appoint or has appointed and gset apart for that purpose.
D&C 104:15-18
And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine.
But it must needs be done in mine own away; and behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints, that the bpoor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low.
For the aearth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be bagents unto themselves.
Therefore, if any man shall take of the aabundance which I have made, and impart not his portion, according to the blaw of my gospel, unto the cpoor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in dhell, being in torment.
At the end of the day it comes back to this. The Lord has spoken directly to us through the scriptures, through His mouthpiece, the Prophet, through His apostles, His church leaders, all those who are called to serve. “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30).
I can show you the menu, but I can’t make you eat. The Lord can show you His choice food and help you to eat and digest it. Follow Him in all things. Don’t leave it to a worldly government to tell you what to do, get prepared now to the best of your ability and lean on the Lord.
It is a good to be prophet following, gospel abiding, getting prepared, humble example, faith building, peculiar Latter Day Saint.
Yours in preparedness
Georgia
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