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Send a Soldier a Song: A Creative Service Project
By Rebecca | March 22, 2008
Several years ago our former home teacher returned from serving with the Army in Iraq. The first testimony meeting after his return he mentioned that church meetings with the military had many of the same elements as the meetings at home–except for female voices. Even when females joined the congregation, their voices were drowned out by the male voices singing around them. This father of two stalwart young women, as well as his fellow soldiers, missed the singing of mothers and daughters of Zion.
There are many organizations that send packages to troops serving overseas and support them in various other ways. There are detailed lists of items that have been requested by service men and women. (These requests sometimes seem very simple but often can be life saving. This same soldier, for instance, once requested the ward send him instant oatmeal since insurgents had taken to bombing the PX. He had, therefore, decided to avoid public places and eat in his tent for the time being.) Perhaps there are even members of your stake serving in the Armed Forces. However, none of these lists specify CDs of sacred music sung by women.
This is an item that the Young Women of the Church are uniquely able to provide to our troops. A CD of your ward or stake Young Women singing hymns can lift the spirits of these men who are valiantly fighting to defend freedom. They can also be an excellent opportunity for these men to share the comfort and joy of the gospel of Jesus Christ with their fellow soldiers.
If there are no members in your area serving in the military, you can find an organization online that distributes items to the troops. www.americasupportsyou.mil is a website that lists multiple organizations dedicated to serving the troops in various ways. www.adopt-a-chaplain.org is dedicated to the specific mission of providing Christ-like service to the troops through military chaplains. They have various programs, including praying for specific individuals and groups in the military, in addition to sending packages.
This could be a good service project for a ward, class or even individual to put together. The men and women in uniform would be blessed and uplifted by the music and the young women would be strengthened by sharing their testimonies through song.
Topics: Good Works, Music, Service, Soldiers |
