Reading book - True Religion

Sunday, January 1, 2012
We have been reading the book True Religion, the story of Church Welfare since 1930 (by Wayne's former mission president, Glen Rudd).  The book was sent to us from the Humanitarian Church Missionary Dept. to read in preparing us for our mission.  A section of the book is entitled "Welfare Success Stories."  One of the stories we wanted to share with you:
A Bowl of Oatmeal - On the morning before Christmas in 1970, a bishops' storehouse received a telephone call.  The caller told of a family in desperate need who had just arrived in the city and moved into a small apartment.  About noontime, the storehouse manager visited the home where the family was staying.  The mother and four young children, all under the age of ten, were obviously living in poverty.  They were members of the Church but had not been in the city long enough to contact a bishop.  She discussed their condition openly and said that they needed food and a few other items.  As she talked, it became obvious that the children were not planning to have a Christmas.  That very morning, a generous member of the Church had given the storehouse manager fifty dollars "for someone in need."  Because a transient order could provide the family with food and clothing through the storehouse, the manager felt that the money could be used to provide some kind of a Christmas for the family.  He asked the mother what she thought they would like.  She said they were prepared to go without and would mange quite well, but she did agree that a small Christmas tree would be appreciated.  The little girls responded that they would like a doll or stuffed animal.  The little boy, who was about six years of age, simply said, "I would like a bowl of oatmeal."  How hungry he must have been.  The manger told him he would get some good oatmeal, and maybe something else too.  Items were purchased and taken to their home. The mother was in tears and her children were overjoyed.  The children sang a Christmas song, and the visitors left the happy family with good wishes.  That night, as the storehouse manager's family gathered around their dinner table laden with good food, they gave thanks that a little boy had received his bowl of oatmeal.