just saw your question nyt.
to all former pioneer bros.......how painful was it to lead the group everday
trying to think of something new to say....................ouch
i loved talks but hated service groups, partly because im NOT a morning person and could not think on my toes before 11AM. service groups were more frustrating than anything. i would refuse to do the text except as an absolute last resort but would try and think of something meaningful to say. the more meaningful the more blank stares id get, sometimes when id try and think up a new topic, how to handle this situation or that on RVs or BSs, id get complaints from the sisters, "i come to the group to find out what i should say at the doors."
and GOD, arranging the car groups. former sisters or anyone that never had to try and do this, be happy! one has to be aware of all the various pairs of sisters that should NOT be put together, has to accomodate the one sister with no car and 2 kids and 4 bible studies, and not appear that one is always saving the best people (the skilled time-waters) for ones own car group. and not a word of suggestion from any sisters to help, thats not the order of things. the order of things is to sit quietly, wait patiently for the brother to struggle thru the arrangements, occasionally piping up near the close to announce that "oh, by the way i have to quit/go to a bible study/pick up my kids at 10:30. that will be a problem." and then once you're finally done just go out to the parking lot and re-arrange the whole thing themselves.
toward the end, id would never show up on time for the service group. this served 2 purposes. if perchance another brother was there, he would probably take it. if not, it would be so late, i would say "since its late, lets just arrange the groups and go."
mox
