June 13th 2010

13 June 2010

Greetings from Texas,
I hope this finds you cool, with your air conditioner working, except for the Utah folks, they may just be glad to have their heat off for a few days it sounds like. It has been warm here and quite humid but nothing too unbearable yet. Being indoors all day, we have nothing to complain about.
This has been a good week, steady but not too busy. Several people we have been working with have reported that they have gotten jobs this past week, we have rung the bell and cheered!!
Every Tuesday there is a ‘Satellite’ Employment Center open in the Arlington Stake Center. This is housed in the Family History Library. It works out very nicely because it is much closer for the people in Fort Worth and Weatherford. There are several local service missionaries called that work there. This past Tuesday they were short handed so Elder Nelson and I were asked to go out there. It was good to be out there and help. We had gone out with Julie P. when they were finalizing the plans for it all. They had about 8 people come in, which is good for a new program. However, at the Carrollton Center (our daily spot) they had 28 people that day. They were really swamped. At least we were missed! Brother Lawler will be gone the next 2 weeks also but I’m afraid they are on their own.
Being at that Center in the Family History Library it inspired me to spend some time on Family History however, so that was fun. We got away from there at 8:00 pm, so back to the apartment by 9:00.
Scot E., the fellow who moved to Las Vegas for work, has been living there for a couple of months. Now that school is out he came back to move his family out too. He was rounding up people to help him pack this past week and Jack hoped to be able to help but when it came right down to it he wasn’t able to leave the Center. After having such a busy day on Tuesday without us there Julie didn’t dare let him go.
Of the 2 sister missionaries, one of them speaks Spanish so they are going to the Carrollton Spanish Branch. The Branch doesn’t have any one who plays the piano so they are getting some classes started. They have requested and have been approved to get 4 keyboards from the fund set up in SLC. They should be here in a couple of weeks. They had their first class this past week, the sisters are teaching them about time signatures and note values etc. They have asked me to come and teach them at the piano. I willingly accepted the invitation. That should be fun to be involved with.
Wednesday the McPhearson’s come to help at the Center. We really enjoy their friendship. That evening we went out to eat together to the Cheesecake Factory. Yummy food and lots of it. Fortunatley Jack & I shared a plate or we never would have been able to eat it all.
For our P-Day we went to downtown Dallas and visited some sculptures of a cattle drive. They have art here that even a cowboy can enjoy. It was really amazing with more than 50 head of cattle and several horsemen.
We also went to the Dallas Historical Village. That was very interesting and enjoyable. We decided Texans really appreciate their history.
That evening Charlie and Carla invited us over for dinner and music. Another enjoyable evening with them. What great friends.
As you drive through the city streets on Sunday morning its interesting to see that near the bigger churches (not to include the LDS churches) there will be several police officers out directing traffic, allowing the members to get access into the buildings without creating a bottleneck of traffic. It’s nice so many people are going to church!
The Phelp’s have their daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren with them this week. Their little 2 year old granddaughter had the swine flu while they were in the MTC and was very ill. She reverted back to an infant stage, unable to walk and talk, they were pretty concerned for quite a while. We added our prayers with theirs for a full recovery. We were all so excited to see her happy, talking and running around when they visited the Center Friday.
The Phelp’s take their family to the airport Tuesday morning, they will return to the Center and then Jack & I will leave to go meet Dustin, Lauren and the kids. We are so very, very excited to have them come!! They are on their way now. It is working out perfectly at the Center for us to cover for each other.
We are glad that Kayde was not hurt any worse than he was in his accident and hope for a speedy recovery.
We love you all so much and miss you. We are so glad we are busy, other wise we just get too homesick!
It sounds like the school kids are enjoying the summer. We are excited for the arrival of a new little granddaughter in less than 2 weeks. We know the Lord will bless Jill & Brian and their little family as they prepare for this new arrival.
Our love and prayers are with you each and everyday.
Mom & Dad, Grandpa & Grandma
Jack & Gaye
Elder & Sister Nelson

Jack n Gaye