August 29th 2010

29 August 2010

Oh my, where has the day gone? It is getting late but I will try to write and hopefully it will make sense. At least this week I have an excuse.
It’s been another busy week, the unemployment rate has gone up another 2/10’s of a percentage and it seems like we really notice when it fluctuates. We are having some of those days where at the end of the day you just have to walk away and hope that the next day you can do some follow up before the new days work hits to hard and heavy.
We have had some successes this week. A young lady came in a week or so ago that I worked with, she sent her resume via email for me to review Tuesday morning. I reviewed it and had some suggestions to make but I was aware of a couple of jobs that she might be interested in. I told her about them, gave her contact information etc then said to go ahead and make these contacts and then call me back at her convenience about her resume. It was just a couple of hours later that she reported that she had gotten one of the jobs and she was so excited and grateful for the tip. Those experiences are wonderful, they are counted like baptisms in our field of labor. We help a lot of people but every once in a while you get something that happens that directly. It was with an employer that I had talked to also so both parties were happy.
Tuesday night Sister Wolfley asked Jack to help her with a Cub Scout program that she was doing in the Spanish Branch. He made a very good ‘Akeala’(or something close to that). Maybe you saw the pictures on the blog.
The piano class is going well, with a few that are really being consistent. I am certainly getting to practice my few Spanish words that I know. A couple speak very, very little English but there always seems to be someone to help translate so it all works out.
I’ve been helping the Stake Employment Specialist from Hurst as he prepares for some YSA employment classes such as passing on information and ideas that he might use. Brother Martino from Denton is also requesting some help and ideas regarding training Ward Welfare Committees so I’ve been working on that project too. We are always glad to help these Stake leaders as they promote the work in their area.
One day we had a man about 40 years old come in (looked 70). He had been living with his brother but his brother kicked him out. He had his only possession with him, a lawn mower. He was in pretty tough circumstances.
Jack & I keep some of those peanut butter or cheese crackers in our drawer for when we don’t have time to take a lunch break but need some quick nourishment. We’ve had opportunity to share them with some of the candidates this week.
Friday morning we had a Training Mtg. We go 30 minutes early and we’re able to get an hour or two in before it gets too busy. Family Services came and did a portion of the training. It was very helpful, they shared some good ideas. We meet with people who are in very difficult circumstances and sometimes it hard to know what our role is, when they need more help from a Bishop or a trained counselor.
There was a new Sr local service missionary that came and the subject came up of fixing something to eat for people that are hungry. They wanted to know how do you know, but we all just answered, you can just tell. Sometimes they will say something, but others that are really getting down on their luck you can tell by their appearance. You can say something to them such as, “I’m going to fix me a sandwich, can I fix you one to,.” or ‘I’ve got some crackers would like a few?’ It doesn’t happen all the time but maybe a couple of times a week.
I’ve also spend quite a bit of time this week making phone calls out to the people in our Stakes. They are further away than the other missionaries Stakes and so it’s harder for them to come to the Center. I’ve had some good conversations with several, enough to make me feel like the effort is worth it.
Jack continues to work with many of the candidates that come in and also spends quite a lot of time with company editors as new companies sign on. He is training Brother Bosewetter to help with doing this also. Friday the 2 of them and Elder Phelps had a luncheon with Brother Martino regarding these issues. Brother Martino works with BYU-I getting internships with companies, so with the help of Elder Nelson’s ideas they are going to try and co-ordinate their efforts.
Sister Grouch and I were able to go meet with Brookhaven College and learn more about the programs they offer. This helps us as we talk with people who may need more training or updating of skills.
We had a fun P-day this past week. Jack is working with Elder & Sister Harmon who live in Oklahoma. They are called as local service missionaries to work with the companies in OK. He invited us out to his ranch on Thursday in Bennington. We had such a good time. It’s in a beautiful spot, green rolling hills and very rural. They fixed a lunch for us and then we got to go on a little tour of their ranch – in an Artic Cat. Jack even got to help herd some cattle. Hard to believe but some of those cows were not where they were supposed to be. He has a creek that runs through his property along with abt 8 wells.
They had served a mission in Panaca several years ago. It was great fun as we discovered that they were staying in the same RV Park as we were when we had the Whitney Reunion up there. They said there were a lot of people that had their families there but then they asked if we were the ones that had shone the church movies on the side of the trailers. We apologized for being so noisy and taking up so much room but they said that they didn’t think we were any problem at all. Do you remember the missionary couple there that drove the big black ‘doolie’ truck? They are the ones.
On our way there we stopped in Dennison and went to a little museum at Eisenhower’s birthplace. A nice little town and an interesting historical stop.
On our way back to Dallas we noticed a shop that that made hammer dulcimers. We made a stop there and really enjoyed that too. The fellow who makes them was there and he is also a very good player and has even won contests. He was a very pleasant man and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit learning about the instrument and hearing him play.
We had an evening of music with the Morell’s. This week we had recorder, harpsichord, cello and a violin. It was great fun, I think we are all close to the same level and enjoy sight reading through music. Jack says he enjoys the live music as he relaxes and reads a good book.
Speaking of books and the Morell’s, Saturday night was their monthly book review group. Each one had read a biography and then gave a brief report on it. We really enjoyed the evening. There was a variety of books read that made it interesting.
We enjoyed the Church meetings today in the Dallas 6th Ward. Always good to see our friends and good people there. This evening was the first night of the Carrollton Stake Choir practice for a program about Joseph Smith. I was able to go to that, it was an enjoyable time. Time will tell if I can be consistent enough with the practices before they through me out.
I think it’s time to wrap this up and get some sleep and get ready for another day. We are enjoying the experiences and the service that we are involved with. What a marvelous program the welfare program is. Which reminds me, we talk about the 3 fold mission of the church -- there is nothing formal yet but we hear that in September that another aspect will be added to this – caring for the poor and the needy. So we’ll all keep our eyes and ears open to see what comes about. And the new Development Specialist job has been posted. There are about 6 centers that will be hiring a full time person to help with this program. They will be a trained social worker with proper licensing etc. – changed from what we originally thought would happen. Well anyway, its still late…
Love to all. We love and miss you but we are grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord and his children and the opportunity to serve together and share this experience as husband and wife.
May the Lord bless and keep you in his watchful and protecting care this week and always,
Mom & Dad, Grandpa & Grandma, Jack & Gaye
Elder & Sister Nelson


Jack n Gaye