Service Mission

Elder Eric Barrett is a member of the Bennington VT Branch and is currently performing a “Service Mission” and does so while at home and helping his family.  Tamarah Southwick recently reached out to Elder Eric Barrett to learn more about him and his service mission.  What follows below is what was received from Elder Barrett.

“I have been asked about the church and what my mission is all about a few times and I answer to the best of my ability without overwhelming them, just short simple answers that are to the point.

At the library I organize the book shelves so they are alphabetized from people and children browsing and not putting books back in the right place.  I also run the front desk where I check in and out books, and look up any copies that the visitor wants.  I also go around the library cleaning up messes and making the bookshelves and the books look more presentable and inviting (an example would be bringing the books to the front instead of the back so dark shadows are not cast on them). I also do a bunch of other little things like taking boxes up from and down to the basement.  I am always moving and always doing something in the library, lots of walking, crouching and lifting.

I also work on family history at home. I am not good at transcribing documents because I am quick to second guess myself, so instead of that I go into family search and participate in a program where people can analyze and correct previously inputted information. I look at the inputted location and correct it to a standardized format. (An example would be somebody puts in “NYC”, I would correct that to New York City, New York, United States). It can be pretty tough at times when I am unfamiliar with the country in question, or it is just a long string of numbers and letters. I have to really rely on the spirit and say multiple prayers in order to get the locations correct, other times it is easy and I don’t need to fret at all. It isn’t nearly as active or exciting as the library but it is still a vital service that I gladly undertake.

This isn’t even all I do, the bulk of my mission is spent helping out in various aspects in my family and local community as the needs arise and being friendly and conversing with the many people at the library.”

Elder Eric Barrett, Bennington VT Branch

To learn more about service missions you can go to the following church website - 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/service-missionary/a-service-mission?lang=eng