By Lisa Pyron and Karen Rich
Rebekah was a remarkable example of courage and willing service. When Abraham's servent met her at the well and asked for a drink of water, she not only obliged, but also offered water to his ten camels. Watering ten camels using a pitcher is a lot of work! Yet she willingly offered her service! We can emulate Rebekah's example of courage, faith, and good works by serving diligently in our callings as visiting teachers. This includes serving without being asked and without hesitation (why may require some of us to overcome fears). Let us be the ones to say simply "I will go."
At baptism, we covenanted to bear one another's burdens (Mosiah 18:8-9.) We became disciples of Jesus Christ. Because we follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ, we value this sacred assignment, (visiting teaching) to love, know, serve, understand, teach, and minister in His behalf.
Heavenly Father wants to care for each of his daughters. We need to love as he did and do the things he would do to the sister we visit teach. We can pray for the sister and use the Holy Ghost to receive inspiration on how to teach and minister (serve, love) the sister.
Visiting teaching is a way of life. We should "never suppress a generous thought" (Camilla Kimball). We can know with certainty that our Father in Heaven knows us personally because He sends us to be His hands and heart to those in need. If a sister has a need, Heavenly Father does not pluck out of nowhere sisters to answer an alarm at a home they do not know. He is prepared - He will send sisters who understand their charge as visiting teachers. We need to work together with our companions to find an inspired way to watch over the sisters. Maybe it's one visiting and the other doing something else.
President Hinckley promised, "I honestly believe that visiting teachers will taste the sweet and wonderful feeling which comes of being an instrument in the hands of the Lord...visiting teaching is a very serious responsibility...but it is not a heavy burden -- it just take a little more faith. It is worthy of our very best effort. "
Please take time to watch the following two videos on visiting teaching:
http://www.lds.org/pa/rs/home/rsvideo.html?xml=rsvideo_8776c.xml
This video on YouTube has a variety of "scenarios" of the different kinds of visiting teacher we don't want to be --with a dose of humor!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkG1W0GeF_c
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