7 March 2010

7 March 2010

Greetings everyone,
I hope this finds you all well and happy. We have had another good week in Texas. Jack always comes up with some great place for us to visit on our P-days, this week being no exception.
We went out to Stephenville and Dublin, which is in the Weatherford Stake/Fort Worth Area. Jack had done a little research and found the address for the ranch that the Adam’s boy of Logandale own and run. It was fun to watch their faces as recognition dawned on them as to who we were. We had a nice visit, even though brief. They were heading out to a rodeo so we didn’t keep them long. Dusty and his wife visit the temple in Dallas fairly frequently so we hope that we can meet them there sometime. Randon’s wife just got baptized in December, so that was great news.
They invited us to look around their horse ranch there, so we had a good time enjoying the sights and smells that goes along with all of that. Its been a long time since we’ve hung on a fence and watched the cowboys ride.
In Dublin we visited the Doctor Pepper plant, pretty much the same way it was in the 1940’s. It was actually very fun. And I’m not much of a fan of Dr. Pepper. They still produce the old original recipe there, add some ice cream and it was good.
The entire town is gearing up St. Patrick’s day next week, however it looks like they celebrate all year round.
In Stephenville we stopped by an area where they had moved some of the old buildings of the town, the church was beautiful and the log homes were fun to poke around about in. We stopped at a local nursery there and bought 6 little tomatoe plants then came home and planted them in a pot on our back porch. – so now we have our garden going.
The weather is warming here and the days are getting longer. We are enjoying a bike ride after we get home more frequently. There is a park about a block away so we ride over there and make a little loop to get some fresh air and exercise. I’m not sure it’s what city folks do, since we are the only ones out doing this but…….. I guess it’s what country folks do when they are put in the middle of the city and don’t know any better.
We are enjoying some sunnier days on occasion and hear the chirping of birds once again. We even have a little bunny rabbit and squirrel that hang around.
This week at the Center both our managers – Julie and Donna – (Jack has quite a difficult time trying to keep up with which Donna I’m talking about) were out of town for several days for meetings and training in Colorado. It went quite smoothly, however there were times when I was put out of my comfort zone when things arose that I normally would have passed on. Such as a man calling in who had an unexpected interview come up with a company. He had a couple of hours to prepare his resume – he sent the one he had prepared as an attachment on email – I made suggestions, sent documents via email and phone calls. He also needed help with interviewing and salary negotiations. I prayed A LOT!! I told him that I had done a lot of studying on resumes but not as much on interviewing and negotiations but he was able to talk through things and tell me what his approach was and why. I was able to pass on a few tips for him to consider.
Jack signed on a music company a couple of days ago – the Lowe family Music Group from Missouri. They are needing a sound technician, they want an LDS person who isn’t going to go out partying every Sunday and then be wiped out on Monday when they go out on tour. Interestingly enough they are scheduled to do a performance in September in Overton, NV.
Fairly frequently Jack talks with companies/businesses that are not LDS but want LDS people to work for them because they want people of integrity and hard workers. Our example is so important where ever we are and no matter what we are doing.
It seems tome that there are not so many people coming into the Center on a daily basis, its been a while since we’ve had a day where 20 to 30 people come in such as we were having in December & January. We seem to be spending more time in posting jobs and contacting people about those job openings. We are hopeful that this is a good sign and the economy will soon take a turn for the better.
However one person reported that the company that he is working for had 60 job openings but there were 4,000 resumes submitted for those openings – the competition is pretty tough!!
Our volunteer, Nathan is doing really good, if it weren’t for him coming in right now and posting the jobs we would be in a world of hurt – so we really appreciate him. Our other Sister volunteer who comes in and works on this too has been ill so we rely on him heavily – or rather completely.
The MacPhearson’s who come in a couple of days a week to help – they are the ones who have served a CES mission in Australia – are back into the full swing of things. Sister MacPhearson was sick for several weeks and couldn’t come in. We enjoy their friendship a lot. They invited us over to their home Friday evening for a delicious dinner. We got there a little early so it was fun to help in the kitchen and visit. Afterward they even got Dad to play Rummy Cube. They have a fast way to play it that was fun. You don’t take turns, you just play, the first one out wins.
As some of you know at home Jack often received comments about how much he looks like Dustin Hoffman. It’s interesting that this still continues here. People will say that he is so familiar, they will think and think and then figure out that he reminds them of D Hoffman. In the temple one evening someone leaned over to the person next to them and said, ‘I didn’t know Dustin Hoffman joined the church.’ Some people call him the ‘Rainman’ or Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Imporium.” Kinda funny.
Larry Moses sent us one of his books that he has recently written, Jack is enjoying this SO much. It is about the handcart companies and he is loving it. It’s taking him a while to get through it because he doesn’t have very much free time but he sure is enjoying it.
We were able to go the temple Saturday evening and do some initiatory work. Always a great place to go. It was very busy but they fit us in.
Today we went to Gainesville and did a presentation for the 3rd hour combined Priesthood/Relief Society. There are some great folks out in that area, a wonderful Bishop too. It was good to see Lisa Murry Oakley and her husband again. He is a jet engine mechanic but also is very computer savvy and really helped us get set up for our Power Point Presentation.
We discussed Welfare and the importance of work – Education – Employment – the new ldsjobs.org web site – then a brief story about the Willie & Martin Handcart Companies (while pictures were displayed on the screen to match) – Brigham Young’s call to action – then some quotes Bishop Edgely’s conference talk, ‘This is Your Phone Call’ and some of his comments that we need to respond to the needs of those who are unemployed in the same fervent way as did the rescue party for the Hand cart companies.
We felt the help of the spirit there and there were some good comments and discussion too.
We are enjoying our service as missionaries here in this area, grateful for the blessings that it is bringing into our lives. We are learning so much. Even though I didn’t think I could get into the world of resumes/interviews and negotiations, it is the helping of people in need that makes it all worthwhile. We try to learn our part so we can be of better service to the people we meet and serve on a daily basis. This then gives them hope and then they are able to do the work needed so they can once again support themselves and their families. It is so great when this happens.
We had a man bring in doughnuts this week and share in his excitement of getting a job – it brings tears to your eyes after helping people and getting to know them personally – You truly rejoice with them when good things happen.
We pray the Lord will continue to bless our family and friends while we are away. We love each one so dearly, we miss you tremendously at times, but because of our rich blessings we are grateful for this opportunity to express our gratitude by serving in our Heavenly Father’s kingdom. We are so grateful for his spirit that guides us and blesses us daily.
Our Love,
Dad & Mom, Grandpa & Grandma, Jack & Gaye
Elder & Sister Nelson

See photos at www.jackngaye.blogspot.com

Jack n Gaye