Feb.13th, 2011

13 February 2011

Temperatures are starting to warm here in North Texas, we have had only one snow/frozen day this past week. Wednesday early morning we had a storm roll in that gave us a few more inches of rain, snow and ice, followed by a very cold day of temperatures in the teens and low 20’s. That night was the coldest night in recorded history for February in this area, reaching 15 degrees, not as cold as some places for sure, but cold enough for us.
Thursday was significantly warmer, each day warming after that. Last week we had the big storm that ended up with four snow days. On that first day when the power went out and the temperature was 17 degrees outside I figured there was a possibility of the pipes freezing so I promptly got up and filled our pitchers and bucket full of water. This Friday evening since the temperature was warming and we had made it past the big freezes I went ahead and emptied our extra water containers. Guess what? Yup, Saturday morning we woke to NO water. We called the apartment ‘hot line’ to find out it was not just us but several of the buildings and that it was a city water problem. Fortunately I had a couple gallons of bottled water that I bought for emergency use after we first arrived. At least we were able to wash our face and brush our teeth before heading to the Center. By the time we got home that afternoon all pipes were working – hooray.
This past Monday we were so glad to get back to work after all the time off last week. We were able to catch up on phone messages, emails – people sending us job opportunities, asking us to review resumes, questions about workshops etc., etc. It was a fairly busy day but not over whelming. Tuesday however, was an extremely busy day. Making up for time closed the week before I suppose. We had a steady stream of people coming in, we were able to keep up though, it always works out. That’s the great thing about being involved in the Lord’s work. He has a way with that.
We had a special treat on this Tuesday. Gloria Lyle spends the day in Arlington and the Phelps don’t come in until noon (they take the late shift from 12:00 to 8:00 pm on Tuesdays). I usually cover the front desk, greet people, answer phones etc. A young man came in and I started visiting with him and he said he was from Moapa!! It was Randy Nielson, Daisy May’s husband. I didn’t know him personally but Jack did, and had been on a deep sea fishing trip with him, among other things. He was here visiting a friend for a few days and doing some job searching. His friend recommended that he go to the Center for assistance. Elder Nelson was able to work with him; we gave him some job postings that he might be interested, we will certainly keep our eye open for more opportunities. Always so great to see someone from home and catch up on some of the happenings.
I worked with person a couple of days ago, as I made suggestions of things he could do to make his job search more effective he commented that he had been thinking of those things and it confirmed in his mind that these were really the things he needed to get out and do. I always say a prayer that I might be directed in the things that I say to people as I work with him so I was very grateful that he confirmed that these were things he was being prompted to do also.
Saturday a young man came in, he was a friend of the church brought in by a Branch President of one of the Spanish Branches. He had been incarcerated for 2 years and had got out of prison last December. He was able to go to work at his previous job but it is in construction, and we know how things are going there. He is not able to work very many hours and needs more to support his little family. As he told me about his experiences, he frequently would get tears in his eyes as he mentioned the past mistakes he had made. I felt impressed to tell him to remember the positive qualities and skills that he has; to look to the future with new hope, be positive and go forward to build a new life. We talked about body language, a firm handshake and looking people in the eye, always being truthful but recommitting himself to going forward in a new way. He had some stolen goods at his residence. When the person who stole the goods got caught, he told the police where the goods were, so this person was also convicted of burglary. He was put on probation but when he couldn’t keep up with the fees he had to spend 2 years in prison. Now it is very hard for him to find a job. There are some possibilities and places are ‘better to look for than others so we discussed that too.
The real treat of the week was being invited to attend the Texas Dallas Mission Zone Conference. It was held out in Frisco. Elder and Sister Ringwood of the Seventy was visiting the mission and spoke to the missionaries. This is the only Zone Conference we have been invited to and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It was just the boost for us to carry on for our two remaining months.
It was great to sing ‘Called to Serve’ and ‘The Army of Helaman’ with about 75 other missionaries, it’s so powerful. They all stood and recited D & C Section 4 also. Sister Smith spoke first and gave us some information about body language and what you are communicating this way. It was very interesting and helpful not only for the missionaries teaching the gospel but also for us at the Employment Center. This is one of the things we talk with people about in interviewing skills. President Smith talked about finding people and being more effective. We don’t have to worry about ‘finding’ people, they come to us or sign on to the website and we contact that way. Certainly I can work at being more effective, being more committed and applying myself.
Sister Ringwood spoke, she is the daughter of Elder Russell M. Nelson. She talked about having the spirit with us, we have been called to serve with divine power; the things we can do to qualify us for the work as found in Preach My Gospel; faith to go out and do; act on the promptings we receive; magnifying our calling.
Elder Ringwood spoke both before and after lunch. He feels like 1 Nephi Chapters 1 – 6 describe a mission. First Nephi is taught the gospel by his parents. 2. The call comes – to go to the wilderness. He was obedient and went, he left behind everything, all of his worldly possessions. He cried to the Lord to know the truth, once he has this knowledge he preached to his brothers; some listened but some didn’t, this sent him back to the Lord. He learned that if you keep the rules you prosper. Some murmured and complained and said it was too hard but Nephi said ‘I will go and do….. for I know the Lord will prepare a way..’ Reminding us that we are not here to fail! Some of the brothers wanted to go home but Nephi said we won’t go home. In I Nephi 4:2 we see that Nephi expected miracles like Moses experienced. Be faithful, the Lord will prepare the way. Nephi was led by the spirit, not knowing before hand what he would do. The mothers worry and say ‘Are you sure this was a good idea?’ But Lehi knows they are blessed and the Lord will deliver her sons. They were sent to the land of Promise, where they were suppose to be, here on your mission you learn how to live the rest of your life. Important to endure to the end.
He talked about when missionaries return home and people ask them if they are adjusting. He emphatically says – DON’T go home and adjust, don’t change when you get home. You have just spent two years learning how to live the rest of your life, don’t change! You are building a foundation, build on that foundation. Go home a build a mansion on the foundation you’ve built here in the mission field.
He then discussed 2 Kings 4:3-37. This is the story about Elisha and a woman whose son died. He uses the term 3 times through these verses ‘it fell on a day.’ He points out this is very different than saying ‘and it came to pass.’ ‘It fell on a day’ indicates that the events were orchestrated by the Lord. Those experiences that happen, when some time we say, I happened to be in this place or maybe we think that something was coincidence when in reality we could say ‘it fell on a day’.
He taught about three stages of missionary work.
1. Going through the motions
He mentioned that it was okay to homesick (what a relief to know this!) everyone does it, talk about it, tell your companion about it, if you talk about it and don’t keep it bottled up it will go away. You get out of stage 1 by feeling the spirit.
2. Sacrifice and Service
Open your heart to feel the spirit. The best way to feel the spirit is to teach and testify. This is when YOU feel the spirit, the person who is testifying. I had some feelings about these comments. It takes faith to do this I believe especially when your testimony is young and new. I realized that I have learned some things about faith serving in the capacity that we have been called in. I feel like I have many, many years experience and knowledge about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. But I can realize the ‘faith’ that it has taken to teach principles and concepts that I really have not had much experience in. My knowledge has increased as I have studied and taught and learn from those I have talked with. I have always felt it a very special and needful experience when others have told me about what has proved successful in their job search, it gives me confidence in teaching those principles and ideas. It has also been a great help when I’ve had a chance to talk to employers and learn what they are looking for, what things are most impressive to them. So this was eye opening to me in how we grow in faith.
He discussed Mark 10:17 when the man asked Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life. The man came running to him and kneeled before the Master, he was respectful and anxious, he was already keeping the commandments and sacrifice, he as obedient and faithful and Jesus loved him. Jesus said to go and sell all and take up the cross. We know the story that the man was unable to do this. Which brings us to the 3rd stage –
3. Consecrated Missionaries.
We have covenanted that we will give everything to building up the kingdom of God. How do you become consecrated? He discussed Orderville, Utah as they tried to live the United Order, in the end it came down to a teenager and a pair of levis. He had some fun with this and a missionary who was from Orderville, he helped to tell the story, then suggested if you could move from Orderville to Enoch, a few miles away, you would be well on your way.
We find pockets of places in the scriptures were we see the Law of Consecration being lived, as found in 4 Nephi, in Acts after the resurrection. They achieved the condition where there was no poor among them, they lived in love and peace and there was no contention. As missionaries this is the closest we will come to living the Law of Consecration. Each missionary receives the same amount of money each month (young Elders & Sisters that is), it doesn’t matter where you come from, all dress the same – a mission is a great equalizer. So how do you become a consecrated missionary? What do you think about when you’re not required to think about missionary work? He encouraged us all to yield our whole hearts to God for these 18 months or 2 years. Helaman 3:35 talks about becoming sanctified, which is being holy and pure. Then we can be led by the Spirit and we will be able to say ‘It fell on a day.’ We will be able to say ‘this was so worth it,’ not especially easy, but worth it.
When you’re consecrated he will bless you. If you’ve helped to get someone to baptism, you have changed the course of many waters. (As did Moses, see Moses 1. He was promised that he would be made stronger than many waters long before he needed to to it.)
It was really great to be able to listen and learn from a General Authority in this setting, very inspirational. Maybe next week I will make some notes on the talk after lunch, it is much shorter.
Following this we went over to the Dallas Temple and did a session. We were on the 4:00 session, which only had six people attending. This is the shift that Duane and Elaina Bryner work on so we saw both of them several times throughout the evening. We have enjoyed our friendship with them.
The speaker in church today told the story that President Eyring has given before about the Muddy mission. After leaving the Muddy Mission many of those people went to Orderville to live the United Order. As mentioned earlier it was successful for a time, one of the reasons was because the people had come from such harsh conditions and had nothing. Of course later worldly conditions and pride crept in and it failed.
We are expecting two new sister missionaries this week, replacing the two that were moved to the Salt Lake area several months ago. There has been a lot of activity trying to get two apartments furnished and kitchen ready. The sisters will each have their own apartment. One sister is expected to arrive tomorrow and the other on Wednesday. So training will begin again. I don’t know how our managers keep up with all of missionaries coming and going and all the training that goes along with it. Julie has also been notified that two sets of couples have been identified to replace the Phelps and us. The Phelps leave two weeks before we do.
The papers this week have had articles about the state budget, or the lack there of. Texas only meets every two years so now they have to make some cuts to balance the budget. It is expected that thousands of teachers will be laid off next year. Also Amazon has a big center here and they are having some big disagreements with taxes and will be closing up shop here and moving elsewhere. That will be a few hundred more job loses if not thousands. So I suppose the Center will continue to keep busy.
We send our love to all of you. We’re grateful this opportunity of service, we are learning and experiencing so much.
We pray that the Lord will continue to bless us and strengthen us all. Thank you for your sustaining love and prayers. We continue to trust in the Lord and His ways.
Our Love,
Grandpa & Grandma, Mom & Dad, Jack & Gaye
Elder & Sister Nelson
Jack n Gaye