Back in the spring I came across an article in Better Homes and Gardens that had the words Stone Soup. I knew immediately that this was what I wanted my next ward activity to revolve around. I didn't know what we would do or what it even meant, but one thing was certain: the next activity would be entitled STONE SOUP.
In May I put a teaser in the ward Newsletter: Coming in September...Stone Soup! I cut each letter out separately from the newspaper and even found and onion or two to substitute for the o’s. Someone stopped me at church, “So what is STONE SOUP?” To which I replied, “You’ll have to come and see…” When in actuality I had no idea myself. As the weeks ticked on I was getting a little nervous that an idea hadn’t come to me. Then one June morning I woke up very early with the entire activity running though my head. I lay there for a while before jumping up and hurrying to the computer and my notebook to record it. Matt came out, “Why are you up so early?” I related to him my ideas and he said it sounded great and fun and all of that.
My next teaser in the July ward Newsletter was fashioned the same way with cut out letters: Stone Soup and Garden Share.
The task that lay ahead of me in August was a bit daunting. I had decided to film as many ward members as possible telling part of the story of Stone Soup. After all, that is exactly what Stone Soup is isn’t it? Everyone working together to complete something? Combining a couple versions of the story I wrote it out into speaking parts and with camcorder in tow was off to film the first household. I had quite the pit in my stomach on the way there. Not because I was changing my mind. I knew exactly how I wanted this to turn out. Not because it was going to be a lot of work. Hard work doesn’t scare me. It was because once I started, there would be no turning back, and well…I was stepping out of my comfort zone! It took several weeks trying to catch as many families home as possible. That had me filming right up until the deadline Media Link said they would need to edit it. I was there four hours with the editor putting music to it as well as a beginning and ending. As I watched it I got a little choked up because I had so enjoyed going into people’s homes and having the one-on-one time with them. Also I was able to personally invite everyone to the activity! It was a long four hours for Graham and Callie and I found myself looking at the door every so often hoping Matt would show up to rescue me. Then again, if the kids weren’t there it would have just been me and James and that could have been a little awkward. My sleeping, stinky boy on the couch and the teething tot in my arms seemed very appropriate.
I utilized the youth to pass around my last flyer, which I attached to a brown grocery sack. This was to carry extra produce from the garden to share at our Farmer’s Market table. I had advertised this as a dinner but as the ward arrived there were no tables set up. Instead the gym looked like a theatre with the movie screen set up and rows of chairs with dim lights. The RS pres told me later that her husbands comment as he walked in the gym were, “I’m starving, where the @#$% are the tables.”
I think the ward enjoyed watching themselves as much as I did tell the story of a starving soldier who enters a poor village during a time of poverty and war. He starts boiling water in his big pot over a crackling fire, which gets the towns attention and they want to know what he is cooking. “Stone Soup! But how much better it would be if I had an onion or two.” Slowly the town’s people donate what they have and it is a meal fit to feed a king and the town.
At the end of the video I said I wanted to take a minute to thank my committee and have them stand up. No one stood up. So then I said, "Everyone stand up! You are all my committee tonight. We are like the villagers who all need to work together. There are some needs in our village too. Brother Springer needs help moving furniture out, the Coleman’s need yard work done, the nursery needs toys cleaned, and we have a dinner to prepare and a cultural hall to set up!” I let people decide which activity they wanted to participate in and was impressed at well they all divvied themselves up. The kids washed toys and the youth got butter dishes and water out and the lemonade mixed. Sisters went right to the kitchen to prepare the stone soup. I had Day’s Market brown and season the meat for me and make the gravy soup base, which was already on the stove. Everyone had brought vegetables from their garden (or the store!) already steamed and ready to be added to the soup. We had a wide variety and both pots were full of delicious soup. Days also provided the rolls but it was the ward members who shared their sweet breads for dessert. I couldn’t believe that the work at the church was getting done just as the others arrived back from their service and we could eat. I loved the feeling there. Everyone was relaxed and visiting from working along side each other and many mixed up where they sat to eat. A brother remarked to me, “This is how it used to be in the old days, we all worked together.” –Mark Sullivan
The soup really did taste amazing and there was plenty for bowl after bowl. People even filled their containers on their way out with more soup. During dinner I had the ward choir come up and sing an impromptu verse of “Have I Done Any Good?” Has anyone’s burden been lighter today because I was willing to share? Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way? When they needed my help was I there?
YEAH FOR STONE SOUP!
Time to set up Katrina and her freind Brooke got the tables covered in no time.
Sasha with little Callie who I didn't have to tend to the entire night.
Working together to get the dinner prepared.
Yes Heber is proud to be home of the Wasps.
That's what I'm talkin bout.
The kids were not miserable at all doing service.
I didn't get the camera sent over in time to get pictures of the yard work being done
but it was reported to me, "We did get a picture of the ladder."
This is Karen's home. She is the sister I visit taught who passed away from pancreatic cancer. Her family is getting ready to sell her home and needed the heavy moved out.
Meanwhile, back at the church...
All together now, "I see freinds shaking hands, saying how do you do, they're really saying I love you."
Several kids had disposable cameras and went around taking pictures for me or in this case, of me.
Little Ava being a good sport and celebrating her birthday at the ward activity.
Matt: "Yeah, I was there, I saw the win in Texas!!!!"
We played the DVD again during dinner. Thanks to Matt who was my tech guy.
Bishop Adams enjoying the spoils. Sadly, he was released the following Sunday.
I told him this was his goodbye party.
We also wrote to the missionaries.
Clean up went just as smoothly as set up.
The most memorable person I got on the video was Cliff Frisbee who is celebrating his 104th birthday!
He was appropriately at...
...the end.
