Weekly Challenge and Assignment (Week of May 29th)

Hi Carson Ward, Family, and Friends,

Congratulations! Linda Guyan won a Coleman Lantern at our May Monthly FREE Giveaway Drawing last Sunday.

Wow! What an emotional week we have had with the tornadoes in the Midwestern, eastern and southern states. As many of you know our daughter and her family live about 20 minutes from Joplin. They attend church in Joplin. Her husband and younger children went home after their church meetings about 4:30PM. Tammy went to the high school graduation for awhile to support the youth from their Ward. She left the graduation early and was on highway 170, headed home, when she heard on the radio to pull over, get out of the car and get to shelter (a ditch or building). After the tornado passed she headed home. Their 17 year old son was in Joplin with the church missionaries, getting ready to visit some members, at their apartment when the tornado hit about 5:30PM. They got out and headed for shelter. They helped an elderly lady trapped in her collapsed apartment. Eight members were in the Stake Center when the tornado hit, all are safe and well. After the tornado was over the Bishop asked them to check out the damages to the Stake Center. It was destroyed, the only thing left was a wall with pictures of the Savior on it, the tithing envelope crack with tithing envelopes in it, a small wooden table with a statue of the Christos still standing on it, part of the clerk and Bishop's office with important documents still in tack. The important things were protected!

Many many lives have been lost, and many are still missing, homes, churches, schools, businesses, the hospital and parks are destroyed. Everything in the tornado's path is gone!

When Guido and Tammy went the next morning to Joplin to help out, there were fires due to the gas leaks, you could smell the gas and hear the hissing from the gas leaks. There were live wires everywhere and it was pouring down rain. Stores to purchase food and water were gone. There was dangerous debre everywhere. There was no electricity and water. There were injured people everywhere, people walking around confused, in shock, disoriented, grieving and feeling numb. There were people who had died. Structures were either damaged beyond recognition or completely gone. It looked like a nuclear bomb had gone off. The devastation was unbelievable!

Stake President Jones shares story of Joplin Tornado, after the commercial:

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2011/05/24/peirs.morgan.creed.jones.cnn.html

Story of Joplin Stake Center during and after the tornado, click on the white arrow:

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=15702528&nid=148

Would you be prepared if something similar like this happened to you, your family and your community? I think the majority of us are not prepared! I learned some very important things from speaking with our daughter and listening to the news reports.

1) Always listen to the warnings of our Church leaders and obey them.
2) Strive to be as prepared as you can for any emergency situation, natural disaster. Grab your 72 Hour Emergency Backpacks if you need to take shelter or leave.
3) You will be responsible for yourself and your family until help can get there.
4) You will need to assist your neighbors the best you can once you and your family are safe, and medical injures have been handled the best you can.
5) Check on your Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching families as soon as possible.
6) Do not use your cell phone during a storm when there is lightening, cell phones attract lightening and you could loose your life.
7) Texting usually works when the cell phone does not.
8) It will take Fema, rescue teams and equipment 3-4 days before they can get there to help.
9) It will probably take the community leaders, emergency preparedness teams days too.
10) Check with your community to see how prepared they are for an emergency situation and/or disaster.
11) Focus on the important things, not the material things we have lost, but on eternal relationships.
12) There will not only be life sustaining and physcial needs, but very high emotional needs.
13) Have different evacuation plans in place. Know your surroundings.
14) Keep at least half a tank of gas in your car at all times, no electricity mean no way to pump gas.
15) Have an out of state emergency contact number. So many people could not get in contact with loved ones in the area.

I received an interesting email from Bishop Ted and Carol Hansen regarding the hurricanes in Louisiana. "The Stake President in New Orleans told the members they should leave and go north. Those that went were protected. Those that didn't were not protected. We need to obey when our church leaders tell us to do something."

You may be saying, "but even those who were prepared have lost everything!" The important thing is that they obeyed the church leaders. When we are obeying our Church leaders and following their guidance we will be protected! We may not escape the trails, but we will be protected.

This blog is to help you and your loved ones, neighbors and community be prepared. Please read it, use it and apply it!

Let us all strive to be as prepared as we possibly can, for whatever comes our way!

Weekly Assignment:

Last week we completed, once again, the food part of our 72 Hour Emergency Backpacks. I was going to start the Personal Hygiene part but have decided we need to work on our home emergency medical supplies first. You can probably pick up most of these items at 99 Cent and discount stores. Watch expiration dates on medications! You can find the entire list on the "Weekly Challenge and Assignment, Week of May 8th".

This week add the following. Put all the items in a large plastic sealed container and keep in a place easy to access.

1) Band-aids (many assorted sizes)
2) Antiseptic/alcohol wipes (You can get the alcohol wipes by the diabetic supplies.)
3) Hand sanitizer (2 bottles at least)

Weekly Challenge:

1)Review your emergency preparedness supplies and organize them together (72 Hour Emergency Backpacks for each family member, food storage, water storage, medical supplies, shelter and sleeping bags, ways to cook, lighting, heating, personal hygiene, important papers are in order and together in one place, insurances in order and you understand your coverages, practicing fire and earthquake drills with the family monthly, out of state contact information, and whatever else you feel is important to you and your family.) All these things and much more can be found in this blog/website either in the postings on the right side or within the weekly challenges and assignments.
2) Make a list of the items in number 1 above.
3) Check off the ones you have completed.
4) Set goals to accomplish the ones that need completed and dates when they will be completed.
5) Start a saving account or jar for money to purchase the items you need.
6) Watch for sales on the items you need.

If you take one thing at a time you will not feel overwhelmed, and before you know it, you will have it done!

Remember: Post your name and comment at the end of these posting to have your name entered into our Monthly FREE Giveaway Drawing to beheld the last Sunday in June. If you have any questions please feel free to email me at theark.carsonward@gmail.com or call me at 310-835-0902.

Weekly Challenge and Assignment (Week of May 22nd)

Hi Carson Ward, Family and Friends,

This Sunday, May 22nd is our Monthly FREE Giveaway Drawing. Post your name by 9AM this Sunday!

Quote:

"The principle of the fat and lean kine is applicable today (even today) as it was in the days when, on the banks of the Nile, Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream. Officials (even today) now warn us, and warn again, that scant days are coming." (President Herber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., David O. McKay (First Presidency, Conference Report 1942)

You may say 1942 was long ago, but this counsel from the First President at that time is still as true today as it was then. We never know when our food and emergency supplies may become impossible to get or maybe even afford. I heard on the news this past week that food prices are going up again due to the many natural disasters in the mid-west. They cannot get the barges that carry vegetables and grains up the Mississippi River due to the flooding and heavy currants. Droughts in other areas are destroying crops. Members I speak with in Idaho and Utah are having a hard time getting their vegetable gardens started this year due to the cold and snowy weather they are continue to have. Even our Spring has been cooler than normal which can effect growing a garden.

If possible, we need to grow our own vegetables and fruits, even if we get a couple of large pots and plant some tomatoes or other type of vegetables. We are blessed to live in California with a long growing season. It is still not to late to plant some vegetables. The garden shops are still selling plants and seeds.

We need to be adding to our food storage each week, when we go grocery shopping put in one or two extra cans to store. Watch for great sales items and stock up. Add a little each week, and before you know it you will have one week, one month, two months, three months, and before you know it , you will have a year's supply. You do not need to store everything you eat, just the items that will sustain life. But remember the important rule, rotate what you store. Read the expiration dates, canned and packaged items only last a couple of years, and some less, like fruit juices.

Did you know you can freeze butter/margarine and even eggs? Eggs: To freeze eggs take a cupcake pan, line each cupcake section with plastic wrap, break the egg and mix gently (you do not want to get air into the eggs) before placing in the cupcake section (they do not freeze well if not mixed up), and place one egg in each cupcake space. Place the cupcake pan in the freezer and let freeze, take the eggs out of the cupcake pan, wrap and place the frozen eggs into a freezer container or freezer zip lock bag, mark the date, place in the bottom of the freezer where the coldest, not the door. Make sure you use only fresh eggs. They will keep frozen for one year. Make sure to thaw them in the refrigerator the day before you will use them. Good to use in receipes and for scrambled eggs. Butter/margarine freeze in the original package, freezes for one year. I rotate mine every time I buy butter.

Weekly Assignments:

First Assignment--72 Hour Emergency Food Kits (remember 3 of each item for each individual kit)

Add the following:
1) Beef Jerkey (snack)
2) Dried fruit or fruit rollups (snack)

Congratulations! You have just finished the 72 Hour Emergency Food Kits. Place all the items in a large zip lock bag, I double mine for safety and protection against water. All the items will fit, it takes some work, but they will fit. You should have 3 of each item below in your kit. Place the 3 day menu (below) inside facing out so you can see the items to eat each day. It will not fill you up but will sustain your life for a few days, high in calories. Place the food kit in your 72 Hour Emergency Backpack.

You should have the following in your food kit:
food items:
granola bars
fruit juice box drink (if you use a mix you will need more water)
hot chocolate mix
raisins (small box)
instant oatmeal
fruit cups
peanut butter crackers
dry soup mix
trail mix (if you buy a large bag, after opening only use 1/3 of it, save rest for next 2 days)
water (keep separate from food items, check often, may leak after a few months)
snacks--you only need one of each item (I put these items in a separate zip lock bag)
gum--1 pack
hard candy--about 10 pieces (if mint, put in separate plastic bag before putting in with other snack items)
beef jerky--1 small package
fruit snacks (1 package of dried fruit or 3 fruit rollups)

3 day menu (same menu each day):
Breakfast: instant oatmeal, raisins (small box), instant hot chocolate
Lunch: Peanut Butter crackers, Fruit Cup, Trail Mix
Dinner: Soup mix, Granola bar, fruit drink mix
Snacks: Fruit (dried, fruit rollup), gum, hardy candy, beef jerky)

Note: Watch the children, they may try to eat more than allowed for each meal or snack. Be careful purchasing food items from discount stores like the 99 Cent or Dollar General Stores. Their items usually expire quickly. The item expiraton date should be at least a year from the purchase date. Check your food and snack items and water often thoughtout the year to assure freshness and leakage. If you do not have a mess kit in your family bag then you will need to add 3 styrofoan cups and 3 spoons.

Second Assignment:

Never let you gas tank get below half a tank! Yes, this means you are filling up more and it takes time, but better to be safe than sorry. What if you needed to evacuate and your gas tank is almost empty and the electricity is out (the gas pumps do not work when there is no electricity)? Gas lines will be crazy and people will panic. Always be prepared! If you have at least a half tank of gas you would be able to get as far away as possible. If possible, store gas in authorized gas cans, out of the heat, for emergencies. If you have a generator you will need to store some gas for it. Try to store 4 five gallon cans of gas, or at least one. Do not store in your car! The best price I have found for the five gallon gas cans is WalMart. They are are about $10 each.

Week Challenge:

Procedures to follow if someone is injured during an emergency situation:
1) Are they in danger in their present location? If yes, move them quickly and as safely as possible. If not, keep them where they are.
2) Restore breathing and heart beat
3) Control bleeding
4) Prevent shock
5) Treat for burns, breaks, poisons
6) Examine carefully and seek medical help as soon as possible
7) Keep checking individual until help comes
Important: Be alert, calm, positive, give directions to those disoriented, dazed, disorganized. Read your first-aid book and know the first-aid procedures above.

Last day to post for the May drawing: Remember to post your name and comment by tomorrow 9AM, Sunday, May 22nd, for our May Monthly FREE Giveaway Drawing to be held this Sunday.

Weekly Challenge and Assignment (Week of May 15th)

Hi Carson Ward, Family and Friends,

Quote:

"Consider the important (ford storage) program which we must never forget nor put in the background. ... we feel sometimes that we do not need the supply that has been suggested by the Brethren... We must remember that conditions could change and a year's supply of basic commodities could be very much appreciated by us or others. So we would do well to listen to what we have been told and to follow it explicitly." (Spencer W. Kimball, in Conference Report, April 1976, 170 or Ensign, May 1976, page 124)

The home production and storage program is an integral part of the Church welfare services but is undertaken individually, according to the needs of each member of the family. Each family is different and their needs and eating habits are different. Remember, it is our sole individual responsibility as a family to store and produce items needed to sustain life. We need to prepare for adversity, be it loss of a job (financial), illness/accident, or natural disaster. If we do, we will enjoy the blessings of peace and security. (D&C 38:30-31)

Our Church leaders have realized it might be difficult for an individual and a family to acquire a year's supply of food and emergency supplies. This is why President Hinckley addressed this concern and admonished the Church members, and tell our neighbors, that we should first strive for at least a 3 months supply of food and emergency supplies. Once we have this we can work towards 6 months, 9 months and then a year. One step at a time, precept upon precept.
If you are not working towards a goal of food storage and emergency supplies, then set a goal and diligently work on it. If you have a goal and are not working on it then do so. If you have food storage, continually add to it and rotate what you have stored. As President Kimball always said and sat on his desk, "Do it".

Weekly Assignments:

1) Assignment #1--72 Hour Emergency Food Kit (remember you need 3 of each item for each individual food kit)

This week add the following:

a) Peanut Butter crackers (They usually come 6 to an individual package)

b) water (2 Liter bottle for 3 days, personally I think you need a gallon. We are told you need a gallon per day, but you will be limited in how much each person can carry. If you have the Seychelle Water Filter bottle you can purchase on the church store website, 2 Liters will be plenty since you will be able to filter other water, even muddy contaminated water.)

So far you should have the following, 3 items of each for each individual food kit placed in a large zip lock plastic bag. (Place this kit into your backpack as you add the food items):
1) granola bars
2) fruit juice box drink
3) hot chocolate mix
4) small box of raisins
5) instant oatmeal
6) fruit cups
7) trail mix
8) gum
9) dry soup mix
10) hardy candy

11) peanut butter crackers
12) water

2) Assignment #2--Vegetable Garden

For those of you have planted a vegetable garden, remember to weed regularly, you do not want the weeds taking over your garden and nutrients from the vegetables. If the vegetable seeds you planted have germinated and are growing well, plus the vegetable plants you planted, this is a good time to fertilize. I use Miracle Grow Tomato, Vegetable and Flower fertilizer. I buy the one you attach to your hose and spray. I used this last year and it worked well.

3) Assignment #3--First-aid Book
If you do not have a first-aid book purchase one. Review the book from time to time to familiarize yourself and other family members with emergency first-aid techniques. Practice them with a friend or as a family for Family Home Evening. The more familiar you are with them, the more you will remember them and how to apply them in an emergency situation.
Weekly Challenge:

Rotate food storage items into your kitchen pantry that need eaten soon. Replace those items rotated with new items.

Schedule and plan a trip to the Church Dry Pack Cannery in Los Angeles with friends or as a family, or with another family, to can food items for your food storage. Call the cannery to see how old your children must be to go. The Dry Pack Cannery number is 323-265-8051, Budd Fox is the manager. Address is 2730 E 12 St, Los Angeles., behind the Deseret Industries thrift store.
Remember: Post your name (remember to put your name) and comment (if you wish to make a comment) at the end of this blog to have your name entered into the May Monthly FREE Giveaway Drawing to be held May 22nd, next week. Or, send me an email to the Ward email if you are not able to post your name and comment, theark.carsonward@gmail.com

Weekly Challenge and Assignment (Week of May 8th)

Hi Carson Ward, Family and Friends,

Quote:

"How on the face of earth could a man enjoy his religion when he had been told by the Lord how to prepare for a day of famine, when, instead of doing so, he had fooled away that which would have sustained him and his family." Elder George A. Smith, Journal of Discourses, Volume 12, page 142

"There is a wise old saying 'Eat it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without'. Thrift is a practice of not wasting anything. Some people are able to get by because of the absence of expense. They have their shoes resoled, they patch, they mend, they sew and they save money. They avoid installment buying, and make purchases only after saving enough to pay cash, thus avoiding interest charges. Frugality means to practice careful economy." James E. Faust

It is our responsibility to provide for ourselves and our family, not the church, the government or the community. We all need to be self-reliant. I love to two quotes above. They remind us of this very thing. Do we continually say, "I have no time to get my food storage and emergency supplies together", but we seem to find time for the things of the world? Do we say, "I have no money for food storage", not even one can or package, but we have money for frivolous (wants not needs) things?

We need to change our priorities and waist no time in getting together as much food storage and emergency supplies as possible. The time is going to come when it is to late, just like the 5 Virgins without enough oil in their lamps. I know it can be overwhelming and some have small finances in which to purchase food and emergency supplies. May be leave out the chips, expensive cereals, junk food, fast foods (sodas add up, leave them out), etc. Take that money to purchase your food storage and emergency supplies. We need to re-budget our finances and needs. I promise you it will work and you will have money for your food storage and emergency supplies.

Weekly Assignments and Challenge:

1) Those working on their 72 Hour Emergency Food Kits, add the following (remember, you need 3 of each item for each food kit. If you missed the other items, go back through the first 4 blog postings):
a) dry soup mix (like Lipton's package Chicken Noodle Soup or Cup of Soups)
b) hard candy (at least 8 pieces per person per day, if you purchase mint candy, store it separately in a couple of zip lock bags, the mint flavor will be absorbed into the other food items)

2) Review your medical and medication supplies and add items you are lacking. You should have (besides your first aid kit) these items at home. Put them all together in a large plastic container with an air tight lid.:

1) Band-Aids (many assorted sizes)
2) Antiseptic/alcohol wipes
3) hand sanitizer bottles (2)
4) topical antibiotic ointment
5) hydrogen peroxide
6) Petroleum jelly (tube)
7) Sunscreen
8) Thermometer
9) Latex gloves (several pairs)
10) sterile gauze pads (various sizes)
11) adhesive bandage tape, hypoallergenic, 1 inch
12) triangular bandages (3)
13) bandage scissors (EMT scissors)
14) Maxi sanitary pads (5+) (for major wounds)
15) irrigation syringe
16) eye wash solution
17) Ace bandages--2", #' and 4" (2 each size)
18) two tweezers (one regular size, one small)
19) needle (consider including suture material and set--I got this from EmergencyEssentials.com)
20) scalpel with extra blades
21) Pepto-Bismol (check with your doctor for children's dosage and write on the bottle)
22) antacids
23) pain relievers (non-aspirin type, acetaminophen, ibuprofen for both adults and children)
24) stool softeners
25) anitfungal ointment/cream
26) Visine eye drops
27) cough and cold medications (for adults and children)
28) contact lens wearers: extra pair, solution
29) Diphendyramine (Benadryl) (This is an antihistamine used for hives, allergic rhinitis, etc. Check with your doctor for children's dosages)
30) Epi-Pen for sever allergic reactions (insects, food) (requires a prescription)
31) Ophthalmic antibiotic (requires prescription)
32) lighter or matches (to sterilize items like needles if you have no gas burner)
33) alcohol
34) any prescription medications family member take (high blood pressure, insulin and extra needles, etc)
Note: Do not go out and buy all this at once, add to it gradually

Remember: post your name and comment after this blog posting to have your name entered into the Ward Monthly FREE Giveaway Drawing to be held the last Sunday in May.