An Opportunity to Serve: Fulfilling a Mission at The Salvation Army
On Monday afternoons you will find Josh Markham hard at work making lunches at The Salvation Army Center of Hope. A recent graduate from Brigham Young University, he is participating in a two-year mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of his assignments is volunteering with The Army.
“I’ve been helping with shipments, working on inventory in the food pantry and making sandwiches for lunch. I enjoy working consistently on something knowing it is for something good. It makes me feel like I’m following Christ being able to do the kinds of things I think he would do.”
Josh says by volunteering at The Salvation Army he has time for reflection and the ability to be a disciple full time.
“It always struck me that on Sunday you have a lot of time for God but throughout the rest of the week it feels like you don’t and then trying to balance that out. As part of my mission, I have the opportunity to focus on my discipleship.”
Volunteering with The Army has given Josh a unique perspective on serving those in need in the community. He says he’s been especially struck by how much staff members go out of their way to help.
“Observing the way residents at the shelter get to know the people who work here. Seeing that connection built and the light that brings to their lives—seeing that has touched me.”
He says his volunteer work also forces him to see people in circumstances that usually many of us try not to look at.
“It forces you to face it more squarely and it has softened my heart in some ways.”
Josh wishes he could do this work for the rest of his life, but says he knows eventually he will need to seek full time employment to provide for an eventual family. For now, as he spends the next year and half completing his mission assignment, he appreciates the opportunity to serve.
“In my mission, I’ve been able to go from enjoying the fruit of the vine to laboring in the vine. That has been the most fulfilling part of my life.”