December 23 was Ben's birthday this is the email that was sent out before to the wards explaining what we were doing. My mom can say it better than I can.
"Many of you may know that today is my son Benjamin’s birthday and if he were still with us he would be turning 17. A group of his friends asked how we would be spending our day today because
theywanted to come over and spend some time with us as we took time to celebrate the 15 years we did have with him. At the time they were asking the only thing I really had planned was to visit his grave, beyond that I wasn’t really sure.
As Jenn Collins was thinking of things the youth could do she said the spirit reminded her about Bens love for the missionaries and missionary work. So she thought it would be a great idea to get the youth together to pass out pass along cards to the neighborhood. The minute she told me her idea I felt spirit and the words of one of Benjamin’s all time favorite primary songs passed my mind “...We are as the army of Helaman. We have been taught in our youth. And we will be the Lord’s missionaries to bring the world his truth…”. I absolutely knew this was the perfect way to spend his birthday.
I felt that since we were working with an army we could do a little more than just pass along cards. So, feeling very ambitious and relying completely on faith I ordered 300 videos (Together Forever) for the kids to pass out. I am going to write a little note to attach to the videos bearing our family’s testimony, as well as the testimony of Benjamin’s friends, of eternal families. Then this army of youth will go out and leave a video on 300 doorsteps in the neighborhood.
I know that Ben would love this activity and that he is working on the other side of the veil to do his part in teaching the gospel to others. I am so glad we have the opportunity to be united in this effort on his birthday and hope to make missionary work a tradition each year on his birthday.
So, with the youth doing the hard work of walking door to door, I am asking that each of you will say a special prayer with your families today that their hard work will be fruitful. Please pray that the hearts of those receiving our videos will be open to hear the message and that they will want to know more. I hope that if they aren’t willing to hear our message than at least they will know that we love and follow our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ and that some of the feelings that divide our community will be dispelled and their will be a greater tolerance for our church among those that don’t worship as we do. Please pray also that the testimonies of the youth participating in this activity will be strengthened and that those youth that may struggle will have their hearts converted because of the spirit they will feel and that they will continue to find ways to serve Heavenly Father and each other. I know that the strength and goodness of the hearts of these youth is a direct result from the truths that they have been taught at home. I am constantly amazed at how good our youth are and for the love they so willingly express to others.
I know that through our prayers miracles can happen.
I am truly, truly grateful for the wonderful friends and family in our lives. We feel the love that you constantly express to us and it gives us strength. I don’t know why I deserve such goodness in my life, but I express my gratitude every day to my Heavenly Father for it and for how you teach and touch our lives the way you do.
Love,
Christy "
As Jenn Collins was thinking of things the youth could do she said the spirit reminded her about Bens love for the missionaries and missionary work. So she thought it would be a great idea to get the youth together to pass out pass along cards to the neighborhood. The minute she told me her idea I felt spirit and the words of one of Benjamin’s all time favorite primary songs passed my mind “...We are as the army of Helaman. We have been taught in our youth. And we will be the Lord’s missionaries to bring the world his truth…”. I absolutely knew this was the perfect way to spend his birthday.
I felt that since we were working with an army we could do a little more than just pass along cards. So, feeling very ambitious and relying completely on faith I ordered 300 videos (Together Forever) for the kids to pass out. I am going to write a little note to attach to the videos bearing our family’s testimony, as well as the testimony of Benjamin’s friends, of eternal families. Then this army of youth will go out and leave a video on 300 doorsteps in the neighborhood.
I know that Ben would love this activity and that he is working on the other side of the veil to do his part in teaching the gospel to others. I am so glad we have the opportunity to be united in this effort on his birthday and hope to make missionary work a tradition each year on his birthday.
So, with the youth doing the hard work of walking door to door, I am asking that each of you will say a special prayer with your families today that their hard work will be fruitful. Please pray that the hearts of those receiving our videos will be open to hear the message and that they will want to know more. I hope that if they aren’t willing to hear our message than at least they will know that we love and follow our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ and that some of the feelings that divide our community will be dispelled and their will be a greater tolerance for our church among those that don’t worship as we do. Please pray also that the testimonies of the youth participating in this activity will be strengthened and that those youth that may struggle will have their hearts converted because of the spirit they will feel and that they will continue to find ways to serve Heavenly Father and each other. I know that the strength and goodness of the hearts of these youth is a direct result from the truths that they have been taught at home. I am constantly amazed at how good our youth are and for the love they so willingly express to others.
I know that through our prayers miracles can happen.
I am truly, truly grateful for the wonderful friends and family in our lives. We feel the love that you constantly express to us and it gives us strength. I don’t know why I deserve such goodness in my life, but I express my gratitude every day to my Heavenly Father for it and for how you teach and touch our lives the way you do.
Love,
Christy "
