By Jacqueline Blumhagen
Every month the sisters in the Jaffray Branch Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have an activity night with a message.
This month in conjunction with the Jaffray School’s efforts they are also going to help the Soles 4 Souls foundation by having a story night called “Walk a Day in My Shoes.” The Soles 4 Souls foundation helps to put people into others’ shoes worldwide, because half of the people in the world don’t own adequate shoes. “Shoes are worn for many reasons, and every pair has a story. Just like shoes, women are in different seasons of their life, and every woman has a story!”
The delightful evening started out with an opening prayer and hymn, and then we watched a very inspirational video about the Soles 4 Souls foundation and the work that is done. The hostess was first up to talk about the shoes she had brought and why they were so meaningful. For instance, the boots she wore on her first date, her wedding shoes when she married her best friend, and the pink slippers she wore at the hospital the day she became a mother. That was just the beginning of the rollercoaster ride of emotions. We went from crying to happy to feeling inspired and then excited about what may be in the future in our new shoes. Many touching stories were shared from the loss of loved ones, to marathons ran, and to worldwide adventures.
The Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the oldest and largest women's organization in the world. Relief Society was established in 1842 for women 18 years of age and older. It’s purpose is to build faith and personal righteousness, to strengthen homes and families, and to help those in need. They are a support network for women, and always have helpful tips, like how to prevent dryer fires, how to make your own laundry soap, and even a better way to make dehydrated apples yummier. They are a volunteer based church and a lot of what they do is humanitarian service work. They help local communities and worldwide. In the past they have made quilts for local women’s shelters, they have collected and assembled baby packages for people in Haiti, they also help by collecting food for and working at the local food bank, along with other various activities. Every woman is welcome and they usually meet the third Thursday of each month. For more information, please contact Shirley Miller, Jaffray Branch Relief Society President at 250-429-3224.