Feb 7th 2010

7 February 2010

This week in the Texas news –
We continue to be busy at the Center. Still people looking for work. A few people that we’ve talked to this week have come from other states, hoping to land a job here. We’ve also talked to several who are abt in their 50’s – the companies they have been working for for many years, 20-25 or so, have laid them off due to ‘cut backs.’ But then the companies turn around and hire a younger person to do their job who gets hired at a lower salary. I guess everyone is struggling including the businesses. You feel bad for them that there isn’t more loyalty between the employer and the employee.
We’ve seen some statistics this past week about unemployment and the housing crisis. Texas is way behind Nevada, Nevada being the 2nd in the nation on both accounts. Only California and Florida respectively being #1. Not a good thing to be #1 in.
People visiting the Bishop’s storehouse is going up weekly. Tuesday the Storehouse is open so that is a very busy day for us too. People come to pick up orders and stop by and get help from us too. At one point I stopped and counted how many the four of us were helping at one time – the total was 12, just for that given moment.
However, we have had some days that have been a little slower at times and we have had some time to make contact with some of the Stake leaders and call back people who have been in previously and check on them or let them know of job leads we have heard of in their field.
Wednesday we went out to Weatherford again. There were not very many people who came – it was raining and that seems to really make a difference if people go out and about. Jack was able to do some training with a couple of Stake and Ward Leaders. I worked with a lady, a friend of the church. I spent quite a bit of time with her in helping her get ready for her job search. I could tell she was skirting the issue on something. After her friend left and it was just her and I she told me straight out that she had a felony charge that she was dealing with. We have some resources on this at the Center but I had never come across it up to this point. So thru email I forwarded some things on to her. Just when you think you are getting a little better handle on things, something new comes up. It keeps it interesting for sure and we are glad for the challenge.
We had considered just staying over night in Weatherford because Thursday is our P-day but the weather was so poor and more rain was forecast so we just came back to the apartment.
I was rather tired that day so we didn’t venture off too far. In the afternoon we did go to a nice historical park here in Farmer’s Branch. Also that day we tried out the hammered dulcimer. It is Charlie’s, he had given it to us to try out a couple of weeks ago but we’ve never had time to play it until this week. It’s interesting, its set up rather like tetrachords. You play up four notes on one set of strings and then finish the octave on the other side of the bridge. Playing in different places for different keys. It would take a bit of practice – like everything I suppose for me to get the hang of it, so we’ll see. I’ve been interested in them before but never been around one to try. Jack was able to strum along with his guitar on a few simple tunes. The book that Jill and Brian gave us is actually perfect for this. Some of them are way too difficult for now but maybe I’ll grow into them.
I usually check the emails through out each day, responding to the ones I can or sending them on to the appropriate person. We had 3 requests for help. Each person I called was so grateful for the call. They were so discouraged and not knowing where to turn for help. I think it was good for them to have someone to discuss things with and give them some ideas of things to do and help with a course of action. One was very discouraged and thanked me so much for calling that day, he was really feeling down. Another was quite agitated when I called, I think he dealt with his frustration in a very different way. But as we visited and talked about some possibilities he calmed down and ended up being grateful too. The 3rd person was a ‘friend’ of the Church. We have to know that when we are helping them get on the website because they don’t have a membership number and they use a different number. I think he became worried that I wouldn’t help him (he is a hospital administrator) but I assured him we wouldn’t treat him any differently than we do anyone else. We was very grateful for the help and is going to come in next week for our workshops.
Friday evening we went to the Temple. It was very busy, they filled every seat. It made both of us a little homesick for our experiences in the Las Vegas Temple. We hope we can return to that service when we get home.
Saturday evening we had the Sister missionaries over for dinner. They called to see if the Elders could come too and some people they were visiting with. Fortunately it was just the elders and the sisters, our apartment isn’t very big. Other than they were an hour late we had a great time. The elders needed a ride back to the Sunbeck church to get their bikes, so we took them back over there. Jack put their bikes on the back on our bike rack and then took them to their next appointment. It had never considered before that these Elders are out riding their bikes around after dark and in the cold of night. It’s a good thing they are tough and young.
We are preparing for another Ward Sunday presentation at the end of the month, a Saturday morning 3-4 hour Workshop in one of the Stakes and another week out at Weatherford for training Ward leaders about the new web site.
We made some contacts on the Dallas 6th Ward list this evening. Jack made some phone calls to some. One of them had no phone number so we decided to go see if we could find their house and them. The lady was a member and the husband is not. It had been reported that he was very anti about the church and was quite belligerent. However, she was not home and he was very kind to us. He shared quite a bit of information about their situation, his wife is having some health problems and is having a difficult time. He asked us if we would come back another time and visit with her and see if we could give her any support or encouragement. Of course we told him we would be glad to. We asked if he would like us to send visiting teachers but he said for now he would rather we came. So you never know.
We definitely see the Lord’s hand amidst the things we do. Small miracles everyday of just being in the right place at the right time or saying something to someone. Such a testimony of how much the Lord loves each one of his children.
Last week our manager Julie spent the week in Salt lake for some meetings. Due to her great work, she was given some training modules that the church is producing for new missionaries in employment and training for centers. They sent these home with her and asked that she have just the missionaries in our Center here go through them and give our feedback. If nothing else we make good ginney pigs I suppose, but it is exciting to be apart of some of these new developments. So far they are wonderful, they will be such an asset to help the work move forward.
We are also getting some candidates lined up for the Developmental Specialist Program. There is a lady I’ve been talking with this week in Fort Worth who has someone in her ward who needs some help. At church today I had another person talk to me about a person in our Dallas 6th ward who needs some extra help. He is 28 and lives with his parents, he is deaf and has cerebral palsy. She invited us to dinner with them next week to meet him. Sounds like I will beable to brush up on a little sign language. Hopefully just a little, because that’s all I know.
I’m working on some thoughts – that may or may not turn into part of our presentation – regarding Bishop Edgeley’s talk, ‘This is your Phone Call.’ He briefly mentions the handcart pioneers and Brigham Young’s call to the Saints to rise up and help those people stranded out on the plains. He says that this is our call to action to help those who are in financial crisis.
Considering Jack’s Great Great Great Grandmother, Mary Priscilla, we have felt so grateful for those who were among the rescue party that saved her life and many others. We are humbled to be a part of the rescue party to help those in need today. We aren’t able to pay it back but hopefully we are can pay it forward.
We pray for the Lord to continue to bless us all as we go about doing the so many wonderful things of our lives. We love and miss all of you and the great states of Nevada and Utah but we are so glad to be here, doing what we are doing, serving where we are serving.
Jack continues to work with businesses as they want to be put on the web site. Its always exciting when we see people get a job through this way. He makes the calls to the Ward & Stake leaders, he is so good with people and helping them to feel comfortable and relaxed with him. Then he can visit with them about any needs or things we may be able to do to help them.
He is also so great to help out at our apartment – he does at least half of the chores that need to be done. If I cook dinner he cleans up or visa versa. Since we both go to the grocery store, he’ll take half the list and I the other half. I’ve only vacuumed once or twice since being here and he usually cleans the bathroom too. Okay, he probably does more than half. Anyway, I’m very grateful for his help and support. He seems to be able to go longer and stronger than I on most days, he’s very tough that way.
Well time to sign off for another week.
Sending you our love,
Mom & Dad, Grandma/pa, Jack & Gaye
Elder & Sister Nelson
PS if you ever need to call us during the day you can call 972-446-3733. Who knows you might even be able to hear one of us say, “LDS Employment Services, this is Elder or Sister Nelson. How may I help you today?”

Are you all surviving the rain and the snow?


Jack n Gaye