January 8, 2014

I have not been called in for work today, but my work to promote the MormonYSA.blogspot.com is going well. I like to say the MormonYSA.blogspot.com, for it is a Mormon YSA Blog Spot, a blog spot for young single adults. Surprisingly the Filipino people are most active, and willing to write. We have 5 authors already. I have been trying to recruit bloggers individually, looking for YSA bloggers, and inviting large Mormon Facebook groups to join. My success so far has come from talking to individuals that 'like' my posts.

Today has been special somewhat because I have had chores given to me and getting outside. Writing in my journal as I walk around, I saw a homeless sister. Mormons call each other brother and sister. I always think of the scripture in Mosiah chapter 4, when going through life, seeing homeless people and service opportunities. The following sentences are the verses, starting at 16:

“16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just

18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.

21 And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.

22 And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.

23 I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world.

24 And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give.

25 And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are condemned; and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have not received.

26 And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.”

I usually don't have money on me because I just use my card to buy things, but I did have money. I approached the sister and spoke to her, asking what I could do to help. I listened a lot, and she said that she ponders, making a sign that says 'Reality is that you can be standing here homeless.' Her husband has lost work. He used to own a construction business, but one of his employees did not secure a ladder or platform well, and he fell off, falling through the second floor, landing on his back. He broke both his back and neck. Suffering from a nerve problem, he is losing use of a limb. I gave her what money that I had, and offered dinner to them, if my parents are willing.

My parents aren't really into my charity. Mormons use the word 'charity' interchangeably with doing charity work or acts of love. When people ask for change and things, I share what I can. Early in 2012 my mom gave me a bunch of change for my travels to San Francisco, and she rebuked me for giving it to a homeless person.

I spoke to another homeless guy named John, who lost his shelter early in December, and I invited him to join our family for dinner as I did the sister and a homeless veteran. John warned me that some people are dangerous to invite in a home.

I look forward to the day, when I can live as charitable as I can.

If you would like to help these homeless people, you can contact me. I have their contact information.