28 February 2010

28 February 2010
Mission Journal

Greetings Family & Friends,
We have actually seen blues skies this week, not only once, but twice. I hadn't really realized that we hadn't seen a blue sky for so long until we did see one. The willow trees are starting to have a few green buds on the branches, so Spring is coming here too.

This week Nathan Mahana came into the Center a couple of days. He is really a great help typing in the jobs that different people e-mail or call into the Center. He is very patient with me and is teaching me some sign language relevant to what we are doing. The first day sat by him most of the time guiding him on what to do. The second day he was very independent, knowing and understanding what needed to be done.

This past week Julie (manager) was in Salt Lake City for the funeral of her brother-in-law. She was back into the office Tuesday of this week. Wednesday afternoon she received a phone call that her daughter-in-law, who lives in California, is 38 yrs old and has 5 children, had just had a stroke. She left immediately, arranged for a flight and went to help. She will fly in tomorrow (Monday) and then her and the assist. Manager, Donna will fly out to Denver, CO for some meetings w/SLC. Fortunately we are working more independently also and hopefully can cover most things that come up – at least we hope.

There was a couple that we went through the MTC with, the Nicheliasen's. We enjoyed their friendship and getting to know them while there. We have emailed back and forth a bit since. They were sent to Siberia/Russia. He wanted to set up a time for us to visit via Skype, where you have a little camera on your computer and you see each other on your computer and can see each other and listen to each other talk. It doesn't cost you anything after you're set up with your little camera. Elder Nicheliasen had figured out that 8:00 would be a good time for us to visit. It was 8:00 am in Dallas and 8:00 of the next day in Russia. We had a great visit learning about some of the things they are doing and experiencing on their Humanitarian Mission. The reason he had called however was because he was wanting some information on Employment Services that we are involved with. The Branch President had asked if he could come up with some time of program for their Branch there because of the high rate of unemployment they are experiencing. We shared some ideas and then sent him some attachments of training books etc. His problem will be sifting through it all, simplifying it then getting it translated into Russian. He said the church is so new over there, they are just getting programs up and going. For example last month the Branch President said he had been doing some reading and studying and came across a program that he thought would be good and that they should try. It was the Young Women's Program.

We have been able to Skype with Dustin, Lauren and family too. It is great to beable to see the kids and talk with them. What a marvelous thing. Technology is amazing.

Our P-Day found us in Jefferson, Texas. What an interesting and enjoyable place. We must go back there, it was a 3 hour drive each way so once there we didn't have a long time to spend experiencing the town. In the late 1800's it was a booming town. The steam boats came there from areas such as New Orleans – the town actually looks alot like New Orleans along the river front. Because of several factors, the railroad and a change in the river it suddenly diminished in revenue and population. I suppose you could say they had an employment problem. So not much has changed between then and now – very intriguing.

We had some presentations to do Saturday and Sunday so we were very glad that Friday was rather slow at the Center – it was a rainy day so not many people got out. We were able to finish up a lot of our preparing and gathering of materials. A Sister called in to speak with Julie about a fireside that she would be doing Sunday evening (today). We hadn't realized that she had this coming up – so Elder Nelson and I assumed the responsibility and will do a presentation this evening for her for the Single Adults in the Dallas Stake.

Yesterday we did a 3 hour workshop in the Denton Stake. This was for job seekers. We had about 25 people in attendance and we feel like it went quite well. There are always ways that you can see to improve at the end of the day, but over all we were pleased. People who didn't know how or weren't able to see or say anything positive about themselves when they arrived were able to get up and share some of their skills and achievements with each other. Once again Elder Nelson and I enjoyed team teaching together.

There were several Stake and Ward leaders there who were a great help also. It's good to meet and visit with some of the people we see on our records and email with or visit with on the phone. Each person is so interesting. There are many converts here and its interesting to hear their stories and how the church has made such a difference in their lives. After the workshop the Stake High Councilman and Brother Dotten, the Stake Employment Specialist and I visited about some of the things that they would like to see happen in the very near future. Brother Martino, HC, could see that many of these people will need continued help and guidance in order to improve their lives and find employment. He would like for us and Brother Dotten come up with some ideas and an outline of how we might approach this. As we talked about ideas, he really spoke of things that the new Development Specialist Program has to offer. I was amazed at the things that he was asking for and felt the need for. I think that the Lord is working in the hearts of the leaders here, the spirit seems to be teaching them what needs to happen next. I believe that they/we will all be so prepared for this new program when it is officially presented and announced. Brother Martino doesn't feel too much of a rush on this – just by Thursday evening he would like some type of outline!

Jack is working with Brother Martino on establishing ties with some of the companies and corporations in the area. Bro. Martino is a service missionary who visits these corporations about hiring BYU-I graduates on interships etc.

We enjoy working with Brother Dotten. He and his daughter came into the Center about 6 weeks ago. I spent the day helping his daughter and Elder Nelson spent the day with him, training and teaching him on his new calling as Stake Employment Specialist. His daughter was able to get a job within the next week and has been working for the past 5 weeks now.

This morning we went out to Gainseville, Denton Stake to do a presentation for a combined Priesthood/Relief Society mtg. This town/city is out in a more rural area, about 60 miles north of Dallas, near the Oklahoma border. (Oklahoma still being part of our regional office area.) However the Bishop was expecting us NEXT week. He felt horrible about it but we assured him it was absolutely no big deal. We would just return next week. As we were preparing to exit Jack visited with a man who knew where Logandale was, in fact he was from Henderson and married a girl from Logandale! Lisa Murray. He went and found her in the Family History Library and we had a wonderful visit with her and her husband. Jack taught her in school and I was her young women's President /teacher. I think she baby sat for us some too. Do you remember Kristi and Jill? I'm pretty sure she did. As most of us, she regrets some of her teenage attitudes now.

Well, I think its time to move on and brush up on our thoughts and notes for the fireside this evening. Wish us well, as always. I sure don't think we could do all of this if we weren't missionaries. The Lord really does bless us, help us and guide us in what we do and say. It's wonderful to be a part of His work that is rolling forward.

We love and miss each of you but we are grateful to have this opportunity to serve the Lord. Thanks for your notes and letters, we love each reminder of you and home. It keeps us connected.

Thanks for all of your prayers in our behalf.
And remember faith is in the future, not the past.

Our Love,
Dad & Mom, Jack & Gaye
Elder & Sister Nelson



Jack n Gaye

Gainsville Tx-Carrollton bike adventure

Sister Nelson along the bike path Saturday afternoon waiting for me to catch up

Me saying, Why do I have to keep up?

Me saying, "Man,I gotta rest!"

Sister Nelson saying, "Oh you are fine!"

Sister Nelson, "Now I have to rest"

Elder Nelson hanging out near the stream along the bike path

A Sunday trip to Gainsville Tx to make a Employment presentation. Nice back country on the Okla border.

Here at the Gainsville Ward we run into Lisa Murry Oakley and Husband

Lisa use to babysit for us back in the early days.

What a small world. She introduced her children, and said this is my English Teacher and Young women's leader.

Welcome to Texas

Home of Audie Murphy, Greenville Tx

The great Lone Star State, Republic of Texas

Welcome to Oklahoma

The Town of Gainsville is located on the Oklahoma Border

Headed in the Gainsville Ward Building

Be friendly in Texas

The great Red River. By the way, it is red!

Headed in to the employment meeting with the saints of the Gainville Tx ward

It takes some packing up for an Employment presentation.

Sister Nelson getting the material ready to go. This Weekend we did an employment workshop for the Denton Tx stake. There were 25 that attended. We talked about have yourself ready for the job market, worked on resumes, networking skills, and personal profiles with a strong "Me in 30 Seconds" Sunday at noon a meeting in the Gainsville ward 65 miles North of Dalles. A Sunday night fireside in the Dallas East Stake 55 miles the other direction. We stay busy and engaged in the work.

Jack n Gaye

Historic Jefferson Texas

The French gas lights near the Court House in Jefferson The Firehouse in Jefferson Tx
This is where the paddle boats off loaded goods back in the 1800's

On the way back to Dallas we cut through Overton Tx.

Near downtown square where you can sign on for a carriage ride

Much of the New Orleans influence is seen in the architecture of the buildings

The town was once the 5th largest in the state of Texas. It opened the Texas frontier by welcoming immigrant’s pioneers, riverboats captains, statesmen, and cowboys!

Cowboys gotta have coca-cola

There are walking tours of the many old homes that still look much the same as back in the day. The past life allows a glimpse into the past struggles of a bygone era.

The old Courthouse is still in use

Red Brick cobble stone streets

Texas is as much a state of mind as a Lone Star State.

Here you can board the paddle boat for a trip on the bayou and weave between the Cyprus knees

A log jam on the red river above Shreveport caused elevated water levels in the cypress bayous allowing steamboat traffic all the way to the city of Jefferson, Texas on the Texas, Louisiana border. You can still take a paddle boat all the way to New Orleans. You can see wildlife along the banks of the black water of the bayous turtles alligators gars fish duck and deer.

Looking for one of those armadillo's

Chasing the butterfly's

A stop at the chapel in Gilmer Texas

3 wards meet at this building

A beautiful Sunshine day in East Texas a great location for a P day

Crossing back over the Red River
The Dallas 6th ward is our home away from home
Well except for my friends the grain silo's. If the frustration level gets to high it is always a great spot for some quiet time.
The Relief Society President of the Dallas 6th Ward

Jack n Gaye

21 February 2010

Hello Family & Friends,
Time to share our week’s adventures. The weather has been much more pleasant with only a couple of days of rain, however I believe all of you are getting as much or more precipitation than us.
Things at the Center have not been quite so hectic as they were in December and January. It seems to me we are seeing more job openings and not quite so many coming in with layoffs. Hopefully that trend will continue for all of us. It’s nice to have some time to follow up with people and keep things a little more organized.
Tuesday evening Jack & I were invited to the home of the Ward Employment Specialist in our home away from home Ward, for dinner and visiting. They have a son who has cerebral palsy and is deaf. He is in his mid to late twenties, has served a full-time mission in Washington DC, sign language. We had a very pleasant evening and we were able to converse a little with the young man, Nathan.
The parents were interested in his getting some employment, however Nathan is not so interested in that. A thought came to us that since he really likes the computer and is quite good at it, would he be interested in coming in to the Center and volunteering for several days a week, for several hours and do some computer data entry for us. His face just lit up when we communicated this to him. He can read lips just a little bit and with my little bit of knowledge in sign language we were able to communicate with each other, even though it was limited. Of course we had to run this past the managers, but they thought it was a great idea. We worked out the details of him coming in via email the next couple of days. I’m very excited about it because I have done a lot of the things at the front desk, keeping email addresses, Ward and Stake Employment Specialist, Bishops and ‘rics info up to date not to mention getting the jobs typed up and emailed or printed so job seekers can see them. I think he will be able to help with all of this and really ease our burden. Then if he gets to the point where he wants to look for a job he will have experience that he can put on his resume. So I think it will be beneficial to all concerned!
The Presiding Bishopric is putting quite a bit of emphasis on helping those who need a little extra help in getting to be ‘job ready’. So on this past week’s conference phone call I was able to share another example of what we are doing here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to help move this along.
I have been trying to brush up on my sign language a little bit more. Those at the Center wanted me to teach them some basic things such as ‘How are you?’ so we’ve been practicing. It’s very different trying to communicate in a conversation as opposed to planning and preparing some words for a song. But I’m excited about it all and I’m grateful for the limited experience that I do have, at least I’m willing to try. I’m sure that we will do a lot of our communicating on computers – which should work fine.
We had a very special experience this week where we were able to witness the Lord’s hand. Wednesday morning a man (in his 30’s) came into the Center. He had lost his job, got a job as a truck driver but when he showed up for work the first day, they realized that he hadn’t driven for 2 years so they wouldn’t hire him. He is married and has a young family. He is investigating the Church and the missionaries are teaching him. He was so excited because he was trying to do what the Lord would want him to do and things were seeming to go so good, until this happened. He was just devastated! Jack and Donna were working with him and I was at the front desk. When asked what kind of job he was looking for he said truck driving or work in a warehouse, or anything he could find. As they were working with him and were about 15 minutes into it the phone rang and I answered the call. It was an employer, he said, ‘I don’t really know how to do this but I need to hire someone and I thought I would call over and talk to you.’ I asked him what type of job it was and he replied that he needed someone to drive truck for part of the time and then work in the warehouse the rest of the time. I told him we had someone in right then that he could talk to. We connected them on the phone and it seemed to be a good match. We helped him get a resume ready and prepare for an interview the following day.
Yesterday we called and talked with him, he was so excited!! He got the job and starts Monday (tomorrow) AND he was getting ready for his baptism that evening. It was just all truly amazing to be a witness to this experience. We all cheered and rang the bell loudly as we shared in his joy!
This past week Jack and I were able to go out to Fort Worth and visit the Botanical Garden and Japanese Gardens and a couple of museums on our P-day. It was so good to get out and finally have our P-day land on a sunny pleasant day. We really enjoyed it all and felt invigorated and ready to go back to the Center the next day.
Saturday Charlie and Carla Morrel invited us out to their home for dinner and an evening of visiting and playing recorder and harpsichord music. We really enjoy this. What a treat!! Well I really enjoy it and Jack is a good sport and takes along a book to read and visits with Carla while Charlie and I are playing.
Next weekend Jack and I go out to Denton (a couple of hours away) and do a workshop in their Stake. This will be for job seekers. It will be Saturday morning for 3 hours. Sunday we will go back out there and do a presentation during the 3 hour block for Relief Society & Priesthood combined in one of the Wards. This will be for everyone, job seekers and general membership. So we are getting our presentations ready to go.
We love our work here, we feel like we are settling in and getting more proficient at helping people find their direction in their job search, preparing their resumes, interviewing skills and even helping them decide on a career. There are so many tools and helps for them that we just point them in the direction. The church web site is getting a lot of the bugs worked out and we are all learning how to navigate it better.
We love and miss you all. Thanks for keeping us updated on the family and valley life. It’s always so good to hear from you!!
May the Lord keep us in his watchful, tender care,
Grandpa & Grandma, Dad & Mom, son & daughter, brother & sister,
aunt & uncle, Elder & Sister, friend,
Jack & Gaye
Jack n Gaye

Feb 15-20

Saturday evening with the Morell family playing music Saturday a very overcast day

I can walk out back and talk with the grain silo's and have a good listener

A brisk amount of folks came in on Saturday

The weather always affects the amount of people that visit the employment resource center

Sister Nelson doing a career assessment with a candidate

Professor Morell house out in Plano Texas. We have found a place of respite here

Last week of February the grass is beginning to green at the apartment

Very quite at the apartments on Sunday

A young lady came and found me at the apartments and said "I hit your truck backing out"

I went out with her to find a small dent in the bumper guard. Her car was devastated. It had a broken taillight. It had the trunk on the right side all caved in. This is the second one the old truck has been through.

Jack n Gaye