Put your Shoulder to the Wheel

Have you ever thought what it takes to get enough cars for a growing Mission? Well I experienced that this week. I got a call from the Subaru dealer in Lafayette, Indiana last Tuesday letting me know they had 9 news cars for us, paid for and ready to pick up!

Sister Davis and I drove the hour north. It was an exciting day for all!!

I signed paperwork, was taught about the cars and got the keys! Now to the transporting. We are learning when you need help call the missionaries!

10 missionaries came in the mission van and 9 gladly drove brand new Subarus with less than 5 miles on them back to the mission office!

First stop the gas station. Gas is running $3.79 here. Most of the 9 cars had 1/4 of a tank of gas so fill up only took 2 gas cards. The gas cards Missionaries have are reloaded each month. I am sure the gas station was a bit shocked when 9 new cars drove in!

Maybe not, we are in the heartland of manufacturing! The car we picked up for the future Mission President of the Fort Wayne Mission was fully built in this plant 2 miles away where we picked up the cars.

It is Subaru’s only manufacturing plant outside of Japan. Interesting facts. It is the first U.S. auto plant to achieve zero landfill status. The facility has produced over 6 million vehicles since opening in 1989 and recently began producing hybrid models. We were told they roll out 400 cars a day! This plant employs over 6,500 workers.

GRATEFUL all made it safely back to the mission office. More cars to bless the missionaries and the Lords work!

Now to get bike racks and Tiwis installed in each one as well as a couple license plates so there is still work to get done but a HUGE step in moving the work forward!

Next day a phone call and a delivery of 3 more brand new cars from Ohio with less than 5 miles on them to the Mission Office! Still had plastic on seats and steering wheels. Then Yesterday 5 more cars so back to Lafayette. In all 17 cars in a week.

Thank goodness for a LARGE church parking lot! My hope is to get the high mileage cars swapped out at Zone conference which is in a week. So who gets the new cars? I have created a point system and the missionaries that take care of their vehicle responsibly will be able to have the brand new car. Keeping the car clean, reporting odometer readings daily, recording gas receipts with images. It is a great incentive and many of the missionaries are really improving how they treat the Lords vehicles.

So how do I tie this into a gospel message well…. A vehicle is just one of many resources the Lord uses to further his work.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell said..,

Our Heavenly Father has described His vast plan for His children by saying, “Behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). Consider the significance of the Lord’s use of the word work. What He is doing so lovingly and redemptively is, nevertheless, work—even for Him!

the capacity to work and work wisely will never become obsolete. And neither will the ability to learn. I have not seen any perspiration-free shortcuts to the celestial kingdom; there is no easy escalator to take us there.

There will always be plenty of work to do, especially for those who know how to do the Lord’s work!”

So Put your shoulder to the Wheel, and let’s all work together using whatever tools the Lord has given us to help move this great work forward. Each of us have, no matter how big or small, the tools available to us to make a difference. How grateful Sister Davis and I are to be able to serve in this part of the vineyard. Make it a great day!

❣️Skittles ❣️Elder Scott and Sister Kristy Davis