In the spirit of visiting teaching, I wanted to share my messages to more than just the sisters on my list. You are welcome to email or copy and print these and send them to the sisters on your list as well.

December Message: Our Responsibility to Participate in Temple and Family History Work



In the spirit of the Christmas, I also wanted to post this picture.  I think it very simply captures the bond between mother and child that comes naturally after your baby is born.  In that moment nothing else matters.  It's just you and your baby, safe, and here at last.

I've also uploaded a music video I found on YouTube. You can CLICK HERE to watch.  I will say though, it's not my favorite version of the song, but it's still good.  Merry Christmas and Happy Visiting Teaching!

November Message

No, I didn't get October done.  We were (and sort of still are) in the midst of a move.  Even though I do not have a route right now, I still wanted to update.  I surprise myself sometimes!  There actually is no official message for November.  It is the Conference issue, so any message you want to share with your sisters is up to you.  I did however, use this message (from November's Ensign) to pump you up!  You are welcome to use this along with your own message as well.

August Message

I wanted to post this one even though August is over.  It's only the first week of September!


 

Be a Better Visiting Teacher

How To Be Better Visiting Teaching Companions:
•Become friends
•Keep in touch
•Remember each other’s birthdays
•Socialize together at church and at activities
•Support each other
•Get along
•Encourage each other (especially those who are new to visiting teaching)
•Be a motivator, even if it means doing most or all of the work
•Decide in advance who will make the assignments and who will plan the lesson (one sister can do everything one month and the other can do it the next month or you can split the assignments and switch them each month)
•Help arrange baby sitting if necessary

How To Be Better Visiting Teachers:
•"Just Do It"
•Plan early
•Listen to your sisters and get to know them
•Pray for your sisters and pray for inspiration to help them
•Be aware of their needs (look beneath the surface) including health concerns
•Don't make them a statistic, love them
•Don't give up or be discouraged, have faith
•Respect them, don't judge them
•Have a message prepared but be open for spiritually inspired messages or teaching opportunities
•Read the full message with your sisters
•Remember their birthdays
•Socialize with your visiting teaching sisters at church and at activities
•One monthly visit/contact should be the minimum not the maximum

How to Have Better Visits:
•Teach with love
•Pray with your companion before the visit
•Begin and end each visit with a prayer
•Leave your own troubles at the door
•Learn to listen, don't just talk
•Cultivate Christ-like attributes
•Have one companion play with disruptive children while the other visits with the sister (when necessary)
•Don't gossip during or after your visits (center conversations around those present)
•Keep your visits confidential (unless something important should be reported to the Relief Society President or Bishop)
•Be positive and uplifting

How to Visit Less Active Sisters:
Including many of the ideas above here are some additional ideas to help you visit those sisters who are less active or who don't want to be visit taught:

•Make an effort to contact them more than once a month
•Invite them to activities/church
•Serve them
•Try all kinds of ways to contact them (notes, cards, treats, phone calls, flowers, small gifts, etc.)
•Leave a copy of the monthly message or other inspired thoughts/scriptures (it might be their only spiritual contact for the month)
•Pray for inspiration for other types of approaches you could use, such as humor or other special type of service
•Talk to their family or friends (if available) to see if they have any special concerns (such as health/allergies)
•Talk to their home teachers to see if they have had contact with them and if so see if you can accompany them on their next visit so the sister can get to know you
•Always pray for them

When we do our best the Lord will do the rest. Remember this is his work and if you are willing he will use you as a tool to accomplish his work.