Weekly Challenge and Assignment (Week of November 14th)

Hi Carson Ward Family,

Quote:

"More than ever before, we need to learn and apply the principles of economic self-reliance. We do not know when the crisis involving sickness or unemployment may affect our own circumstance. We do know that the Lord has decreed global calamities for the future and has warned and forewarned us to be prepared. For this reason the Brethren have repeatedly stressed a "back to basics" program for temporal and spiritual welfare." Ezra Taft Benson, "Prepare for the Days of Tribulation," Ensign, Nov. 1980, page 32

Personal Experience:

Several years ago my husband Robert was hit by another driver while in his work truck. He had just pulled away from his last job and had not put on his seat belt yet. The fellow hit him on the driver side pretty hard, causing Robert to be thrown against the other side of the truck, hitting the door. He spent the next three months recovering from his injuries at home on Medical Disability from work. Many of you know, when you receive Disability from your job, the money is only a small portion of your regular income. I was a stay at home mom with small children. Our only income at the time was Robert's. Because we had listened to the counsel of our Church Leaders we had about 4-6 weeks of Food Storage on hand. Because of this we were able to handle the rest of our temporal needs and not ask the Bishop for Food Orders from the Church. We never know when our Food Storage and Savings will be needed to sustain our family. Great blessings and peace come from following the Leaders of our Church!

Weekly Assignment:

72 Hour Stressor Kit (one kit per family member);

1. Paper pad and pen
2. 5-in-1 Survival Whistle (I found these at BePrepared.com (Emergency Essentials) for $1.50. They are great!--whistle, compass, flint fire started, waterproof matches and signal mirror. You may also check with Major Survival Surplus Store in Gardnea, or other department/sporting goods stores.)
3. Copies of your insurance or name of the insurance companies with a list of the policy numbers and contact phone numbers, copies of medical insurance cards (back and front) and list of medications that person takes. You may only want this in the adult kit with at least a copy of the child's medical insurance card and medications they take in theirs.

Weekly Challenge:

While at our Relief Society Meeting Tuesday night some of the sisters and I were discussing Emergency Preparedness and how prepared our children's schools are. I know at our daughter's son's grade school in Torrance they are prepared for an emergency situation. Outside each class room there is a large trash can on wheels full of each child in the classroom a 72 Hour Emergency Kit . Each kit, with their name on the front in permanent marker, has food, water, a change of underwear and socks, and stressor things (book, family photo, small toy like a small Lego kit) for that child. I would also include a copy of their medical insurance card and any medications they are on and allergies in a small zip lock bag. These are provided by the parents since the parents know what their child will eat and is allergic t0. At the end of the school year they take them home and the parents bring a new 72 Hour Kit back the first day of the new school year and place it in the trash can outside the classroom.

Some schools have large metal containers somewhere on the school grounds with food and water. I have concern about these ones. Who knows how long the food and water has been stored there in the heat. The heat hitting that metal container may raise the temperature inside to an unsafe level, causing the food and water inside to deteriorate quicker than stored in a cool dry place. Plus, will your child eat the food that is stored? It is a proven fact, even when children are hunger, they will usually not each something they do not like or have not eaten before.

After speaking with a guest who came with one of our sister Tuesday night, she being a grade school teacher, we found out how unprepared some of our schools are for an emergency situation, this is frightening to think our children will not be provided for if this happens.

My challenge this week is to check with your children, grandchildren or nieces and nephews schools to see what emergency preparations they have made for your children. Tell your assigned visiting teaching sisters to also check. Talk to their school, especially the PTA, they are usually the ones involved with this. The PTA is a great source for making sure our children are protected while at school in case of an emergency situation. Find out what you can do to help make sure they are protected and provided for.

I really like the trash can idea since each 72 Hour Kit is provided by the parents who know their child. Of course, something like the containers is better than nothing, but how old is the food and water in them? The food and water should be replaced at every year or at the least every two years, depending on the temperature inside the metal containers.

As members of the church we are asked to be involved in our community, what a better way than to make sure our children are protected while at school.

Remember: Post your name and comment (if you want) at the end of each Weekly Challenge and Assignment for our Monthly FREE Giveaway Drawing at the end of November, the 28th.