September 5th 2010

5 September 2010

We are having such a great time – Jill, Isaac, Jackson, Anna and Susan arrived yesterday. It is wonderful to see all of them and to have our first time with Anna Isabel.
After the Center closed on Saturday we headed out to meet all of them. We finally met up with them in Wichita Falls. They were traveling from Albuquerque that day. We had stopped and got some KFC (chicken) prior to meeting up with them. So we pulled over in a church parking lot and visited and enjoyed a lunch.
We pretty much have wall to wall people and things and we are loving every minute of it. We took the dining room table out and put in on our back little porch. This made some space for an air mattress for Aunt Susan so we are situated.
We all went to church today, of course. This afternoon Jack, Susan and I went on a little ride to downtown Dallas, we saw Dealey Plaza, the Cattle Drive statues, the temple and a tour of the employment Center/Storehouse.
I knew I would be busy with visitors this weekend, I have learned from past times that I don’t like to take time away from family when they are here. So I made a few notes earlier in the week about some of the happenings and thoughts of the week.
Monday was a very busy day, Jack had a meeting with the other Employment service missionaries where they went over what companies they had contacts with and made a plan for which companies they needed to contact. It’s great to get more of these local service missionaries involved because they know people in the area, ward and stakes and where they work.
It was a busy day with a lot of candidates coming in for assistance also. We had a couple missionaries out sick, it’s Sister Groch and Donna’s regular day off so basically it was Jack and I helping the candidates out on the floor. At times we had 2 and even three people waiting for assistance which is very unusual, we are usually able to take care of people right away. The main issue was plain and simple, a matter of space and computers. Julie has bought 4 small notebook – lap top computers for our use at the Center. We were using all of these and every other computer we have. We had people set up in the conference room with these computers, every nook and cranny was being used. Things were really humming. One candidate came up to me and asked if there was someplace quiet that they could go to work but they really wasn’t any space available.
There are so many people that we work with that I admire their faith, strength and hope they have for their future during this difficult time of unemployment in their lives.
I feel an importance to work with these Employers and companies. Jack works more with the big companies, but I often have contact with the smaller businesses. I visit with them on the phone, post their jobs on the web site. As time allows I do searches and contact candidates but there is no way that we can do this for all jobs and all candidates. We have to remember it comes down to self-reliance, the candidates are responsible to check back to the website frequently to see what jobs are being posted. I try to stress this with them whether in person or on the phone, I hope they are doing it because we are posting some really great jobs – at all levels, whether it be entry level jobs or professional career jobs.
One thing I am frustrated with is the lack of candidates completing their profiles, then marking them to be seen by employers. With more than 2,700 people signed on in this region, less than 20% have completed their profiles. That means that when companies sign on and search for candidates, they don’t see very many people. I feel like it’s important to for the companies to have a good positive experience just as much as it is for the job seeker to be helped.
Well that was probably too much detail than anyone really wanted to know. But the bottom line is…………… there is more than enough work to be done. The other day I was thinking, I can’t believe I said before our mission that I was worried about being busy enough. I’m so glad we are but some days, well okay most days, it’s impossible to keep on top of everything that you need to accomplish. So I’m learning a lot about doing what you can and letting some of it go for the next day, prioritizing and/or working in one area for a few hours and then working in another area etc and keeping things moving along.
How blessed we are to be able to serve in this capacity. Particularly since serving as a Relief Society President I have a great love for the Welfare aspect of the church. It is truly an inspired program. The other day I was walking through the warehouse and one of the delivery trucks was backed in and they had fork lifts and people there unloading a truck of produce. It brought tears to my eyes to see all of this in action.
Tuesday and Saturday is a busy day for us because the store house is open and many people visit both areas. This past Tuesday people were having to invent places to park because the parking lot was full.
Jack was able to go on a little day trip with Brother Jack Samones, the patriarch of the Carrollton Stake and a member of the Dallas 6th Ward. They have gotten to be good friends at church and he invited him to go out with him. Brother Samones is a very humble man and has been a past Bishop and Stake President in the Dallas area. He worked with the YMCA in this area as his career and has been a prominent leader in that organization. He has influenced many, many young people in the Church and also through his work with the ‘Y’. Jack really enjoyed hearing about his many experiences.
I helped a man who had been referred to us through a friend. He had heard of the Mormons but didn’t really know what to expect from us. Most come in and just want to see what jobs we have. We get them signed on to the web site and then and show them how to see the jobs and fill out their profile and how it all works. We invite them to attend the workshops if they would like further help with the Career plan, resumes and interview skills. As he was leaving this man was curious about the other part of the building so I explained to him about the Bishop’s Storehouse and how it operates. He was very interested in it all.
On our P-day this week I was not feeling very well so we got a few things done here at the apartment and that was about it. I also spent the day Friday resting. I needed some antibiotics and was able to find a doctor who is a Bishop of one of the wards that really helped me out.

We hope all is well with you and yours. We love you all and pray the Lord will watch over you and bless you.
Our Love,
Grandpa & Grandma Nelson, Dad & Mom, Jack & Gaye
Elder & Sister Nelson
Jack n Gaye