Jan 30, 2011

Brother Jack & Keny Semons family, Carrollton Texas

30 January 2011

Dear Loved Ones,

We have had another busy week at the Dallas Employment Center, especially the first half of the week. Gloria was still out sick this week but she is doing better so we expect to see her tomorrow. We really miss her when she is gone. It’s nice to have someone to answer the phones, greet people and take care of the bulk of the paper work type things, keeping records current on Stake and Ward Employment Specialist etc. etc.

It does seem like we are having more and more people requesting help with interviewing. They can do a mock interview and even a taped interview. They play it back and watch it themselves and usually learn a lot about how they present themselves. Jack and the managers, Julie and Donna do the interviews. I stay away from this, but I’m always happy to set them up with Elder Nelson. He does very good, he knows a lot about a lot of things, that really is a benefit for all. Most are surprised that he can ask such in depth questions about their career field during an interview. One this week was surprised he knew so much about GIS, which if of course is Dustin’s area of expertise.

A young man called in this week with whom both Jack and I worked with, I helped more on his resume and Jack did an interview with him. He reported that he had gotten the job he was applying for at Ethan Allen’s as a designer.

I called and talked with the young brother and sister (abt 19 & 21) that Elder Nelson and I worked with a couple of weeks ago. They both have upcoming interviews and are getting out and finding places to apply. The young man was so grateful for the help that he has received from us and the other LDS people he knows, he said he is interested in learning more about the church and possibly becoming a member.

Another friend of the church from Denton had been referred to us by someone he knew. I had sent him a welcome email when he signed onto the ldsjobs website, offering assistance if needed. He called back and set up an appointment for Wednesday to come in. He is a respiratory therapist and a professional bull rider. Both are going slow for him so he is considering getting some more education and becoming an RN. (I still hold my breath and hope that the Lord will bless me to be able to help.)

I worked with a young lady, who will graduate from high school soon. She came in wanting to do the Career Exploration activities. She is not sure what direction to go in college. Her Dad is an engineer and after she was finished with the activities she is thinking that might be the direction she goes too.

Elder Nelson and I have been quite busy this week keeping up with job postings and he has had quite a few new companies to add to the website. We have had several volunteers this past week that have been very helpful in being able to post many of the jobs. We so appreciate them, especially right now where we don’t have our regular people coming to do this. We still really miss Nathan Mahanas. Sister Page was able to come in this week, she has had her surgery and was feeling well enough to come in this past Tuesday.

By the end of piano class this past Wednesday I was starting to feel quite poorly. Fever and chills kind of a thing. It worked out good that on Thursday Jack, Charlie and Will Boeswetter had made plans to go on a tour over at the Cowboy Stadium. They were able to go enjoy doing that and I was able to stay and the apartment and rest. They are gearing up for the Super bowl next week so they had quite the tour!!

I was still not feeling well on Friday so spent another day resting. By Saturday I was back on top of things and was able to go back to the Center.

Between sickness, the cold weather and gas prices we have stayed rather close to the apartment this week. However, yesterday and today have been very pleasant days. It doesn’t sound like that will stay for long, we expect another cold front by Tuesday.

Jack & Kenny Samones invited us over to their home this past week for dinner. They are such kind, gracious people. He is the patriarch in the Carrollton Stake and she is the kindest, sweetest lady you’ve every met. She is also involved in music, piano and voice, so we enjoy some similar interests. I think I forgot to mention in the last letter that the Labrums invited us over for dinner last Sunday evening. We have had the opportunity to meet and become friends with some really wonderful people here.

Our homeless friend, Roberto, whom we have known and helped for at least a year now, wanted to take Jack and I to lunch yesterday. He’s the one who calls me Donna, he doesn’t do that anymore, since when he asks for Donna when he calls in, they give him the real Donna. Anyway now he calls me Elder Sister Nelson. Elder Nelson has worked with him a lot too. He does some yard work and had worked a couple of days last week so that’s what he wanted to do with some of his money. He gave us a couple of places to go and we chose Wendy’s. We didn’t order a lot because we didn’t want him to use all of his money. It was a very nice thing for him to do and nice that he was concerned about giving back to others who have been helping him.

We are grateful for this opportunity to serve as missionaries. We love the Dallas area, the people are wonderful. It is hard to be away from home, especially with the happy things of new babies being born and other hard things that come into the lives of our family. We continue to trust in the Lord that he will bless us all, sustain us, and guide us. We pray that he will direct our paths. We appreciate your support, love and prayers, it means so much.

Our Love,

Mom & Dad, Grandpa & Grandma, Jack & Gaye

Elder & Sister Nelson

The old violin is waiting for someone to make some happy music. We both are looking forward to that day!

Jack n Gaye