Midwest Area MBA Skis Winter Blues Away

By Sister Natalie Pezzenti

Statistics say that the winter months are most popular for individuals to fall into depression. Perhaps it is the bitter cold or perhaps the gloomy skies. But for members of the Midwest Region, the cold weekend of January 17-19, 2009, was anything but depressing or gloomy. That's because 15 members from around the region, as well as the members of the Cincinnati-Morrow Branch, met at Perfect North Ski Slopes in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, for a "Ski Your Blues Away Weekend. "

On Saturday, members (young and not-so-young) could be seen snowboarding, skiing, and tubing down the slopes, while others fellowshipped in the main lodge next to the fire. Following the day spent at Perfect North, the Maddox family invited everyone to their home for dinner and more time to fellowship. The group surprised Bro. Henry and Sis. Sandy Cardillo from the Youngstown, Ohio, branch with a cake to celebrate their 41st wedding anniversary.

The Lord truly was in the Sunday service the next day from the moment the opening hymn, #146 Sing Glory was sung. Bro. Bob Batson, Midwest Region Chaplain, welcomed everyone and said it was particularly great to see the enthusiasm of the young people throughout the weekend.

Bro. Dan McNamara from the Kinsman, Ohio, branch opened the service. He spoke about often feeling alone when he is away from the Saints of God, but how the moment he is reunited with them, he instantly feels the love. Bro. Dan spoke from 2 Chronicles, chapter 13, about a group of people that was led away from the Lord. "Standing up to the devil is a challenge we face daily," Bro. Dan said, "and we challenge him as we stand for Christ and as we shine our light."

Bro. Dan told the congregation in attendance that we must be proud of who we stand for and proclaim that we are members of the Lord's army. "If you want to stand up against the devil, you have to be serving God every second, every minute, of every day," he said.

Following the hymn, #122 In the Army of the True and Living God, Bro. Henry Cardillo followed by saying that in the Lord's army, He doesn't expect us to carry a rifle--but instead He expects us to carry the Spirit of the Lord.

"We are in a tremendous army; there is a lot of strife in the world. It doesn't understand that God is upon His throne and He's waiting to open His cornucopia of blessings to us," Bro. Henry said. "He is the commander-in-chief of this army. We don't have to worry about serving another lieutenant or sergeant."

Bro. Henry continued by saying that our promotion won't be general or lieutenant, but a Saint of the most high God.

After singing Sheltered in the Arms of God, Bro. Ken Staley from the Middle Tennessee Mission asked the congregation if we knew who we were standing up for when we take that stance. "Standing up for Jesus Christ, the son of God, is the best life. When I let Him do His thing, I feel like I'm in the army of the true and living God," he said. Bro. Ken said that while we will be tempted and tried throughout our lives, we have to remember who is always there for us and who we should focus on: "I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you." (Mosiah 5:12).

After a season of testimony and singing, Bro. Paul Pezzenti and Bro. Bob Batson distributed sacrament. Bro. Paul reminded the congregation of the famous words of President John F. Kennedy when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country." Bro. Paul said we must do the same with the Lord: "Ask not what the Lord can do for you, but what you can do for the Lord."

It was apparent at the end of the meeting that the winter blues had turned to winter joys for the Midwest Area MBA. God blessed the weekend immensely and proved that once again, when two or three are gathered together in His name, there He will be.