Serving the Young Women as a Family
Most people find that serving in the Church’s youth programme is rewarding, uplifting, exciting and full of surprises. One family’s surprise came when they realised that six of them were serving in the Young Women’s organisation at the same time.
Carole Fullwood (nee Sayers) was thrilled to be called as Exeter Ward’s Young Women president. At the same time, one of her daughters, Kimberley Fullwood, was serving as the Plymouth Stake’s Young Women president.
Carole says, “Imagine my delight when my eldest daughter, Holly Fullwood-Chalkley, also announced that she had been called as Chorley 1st Ward’s Young Women president, meaning we could share ideas and experiences.”
Carole joined the Church in Southport Ward, Liverpool Stake, in 1976. She served a mission in Toronto, Canada. On her return, her younger sister, Debbie Sayers, joined the Church. A year after, Carole married Lee Fullwood, and a year after that, Debbie married Scott Fullwood, Lee’s younger brother. Carole recalls, “The Sayers sisters became the Fullwood sisters.”
They have served in Relief Society, worked in the Young Women programme, and taught Primary. Carole adds, “Between us we have fourteen children, twelve of whom are daughters. We feel especially prepared to work with the young women.”
Debbie continues, “Carole and I were talking about our Church responsibilities. She told me of hers and her daughter’s callings. I was amazed as my daughter, Esther Wall, is Liverpool Stake’s Young Women president, while I am currently serving as a Young Women counsellor to Ruth Fullwood, also my daughter, who is the president of Young Women in Southport Ward!”
Carole finishes, “‘When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God (Mosiah 2:17).’ It’s exciting to see our children accepting opportunities to serve and realising they have the same enthusiasm as we do for our callings. The greatest reward is the happiness felt when we serve.”