3 April 2011

I can't remember if I'm just arriving or just leaving!

What a wonderful conference we have had this weekend. We still haven’t gotten very used to the times of 11:00 and 3:00. We didn’t have very many people that came into the Center on Saturday, only 3 or 4 ‘friends.’ We were able to set up a TV from Craig’s office in the Conference room and watch it while we were there. Donna T. is so great, she kept things going with the candidates as they came in so we were able to watch it all. The afternoon session we watched at the apartment on the computer and of course Elder Nelson went to the Stake Center for the Priesthood session. It’s always great when they give talks about where ever you serving so we have particularly enjoyed the talks about the Welfare Program. What a blessing it has been to serve a Welfare Mission! There were so many talks that spoke directly to us as missionaries and in other aspects of our life.
Cache Miller has been in Fort Worth for a couple of days for his work. He called Saturday night and wanted to go to Conference with us Sunday morning. It was wonderful to see him and spend a couple of hours with him and hear about him and his family. I fixed our traditional sandwiches for when we go out on Sunday trips and we stopped by the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. The roses were beautiful.
The closest building to where Cache was staying was the Fort Worth Church on 8th street. This was where we went last month when we helped a Ward Employment Specialist with some candidates. We saw a few people we knew there. In the chapel they had conference broadcast in Spanish so we joined about 20 other people in the Relief Society room for the Spanish version. Cache was willing to translate for us but happy when he didn’t have to. This is the building that they have the big gates surrounding it. When there are no meetings happening they have it all locked down and you have to put in a password to enter in.
After dropping him off, we went over to Kim Marshall Heaton’s. She had invited us over for the afternoon session of conference and dinner. It’s been so nice to have them here, they have really made us feel more at home in Texas.
This past week has been very busy. The Phelps left to go back home to Washington on Wednesday. We have spent our entire mission serving with them and they will always have a place in our hearts. With them gone, Sister Lyle no longer coming in (she does do some data entry from home for us, which is a great help) and Sister Burgess being sick for a couple of days, we have stayed very busy.
Monday Elder Nelson and I spent quite a few hours looking at job possibilities in the Stephenville area. The Bishop had commented that there wasn’t much available on the website for them out there. There was actually more there than you would think but we were able to add to it and make the jobs more visible. They meet in a very small ward building; there are no built in benches but they set up folding chairs each week. They have the ‘stand or podium area’ as found in a regular building, though it is a smaller version. After Sacrament meeting is over there is a sliding curtain that they pull across right in front of the podium, then they use the remaining area for class rooms.
A young man brought a friend into the Center on Monday who needed some assistance. Elder Nelson worked with him, as it turns out the young man is Darla Newman’s son. It was fun to visit with him for awhile and get caught up on the Newman family.
This is an example of just two hours of one of Jack’s mornings.
He called the young Elders and had them help him switch some beds around from the Phelps’ apartment and one of the new Sister’s. While he was gone one of the new Account Reps came in and needed to spend some time with him for some training. Just as Elder Nelson was walking in the door a lady was signing in who needed his assistance to complete some paperwork for a new job she has just gotten. An out of town employer had asked him to witness her signatures and help with the completion of the paper work. Before he was finished helping her, a company out of Houston called wanting to hire someone in the Dallas area and wanted to sign their company on the website; Houston had not been able to help him through the steps. Before he finished with that, a person walked in who needed his help with his job search – the new Account Rep. is still waiting – will need to get back with the employer editor later too. Then someone in the Center needs some documents scanned – he’s the guy for this task also. Finally he is able to help the new Account Rep and candidate. As they walked out the door Sister Nelson reminds him to call the Houston Employer back – uh-oh the next candidate walked through the door for help. So goes the day….. No time to become bored (or to have lunch)!
On our P-day this week we went out to the Dallas Arboretum, it was a beautiful Spring day, the first we’ve had for about a week, so it felt especially nice. The azaleas were in full bloom and were absolutely gorgeous. Charlie Morell was able to go too, Carla had a doctors appointment that she couldn’t change. After our visit to the gardens the four of us were able to go out to dinner at Joe’s Italian Restaurant. A little family owned restaurant with delicious food.
Our final tally of job placements is in for March – 193 job placements!!! That is a record. We were all very excited. We needed a good month because the previous month of February was our lowest at 75, we attribute the weeks of snow days to much of that both us and the candidates’ work came to a halt on those days.
A week ago Saturday Donna T. gave the spiritual thought, quoting from the Ensign about the necessity of asking the Lord for help and guidance through prayer. Fifteen minutes before closing a man came in for help. He had been out of work for almost 2 years and had become some discouraged and depressed. Friday morning he prayed that he could find some help for his situation. Friday evening he went to a networking meeting and someone at the meeting spoke with him and told him about the LDS Employment Center and encouraged to stop by and see us. He intended to get up first thing on Saturday and visit the Center but it took him all morning to find the will to do so. As Donna helped him and gave him some guidance and direction in things that he could do to make his job search more effective he once again began to feel hope and a sense of well being. He shared his story with her and she was able to share the talk in the Ensign about prayer and he even took her Ensign home with him to read all of it.
When President Hinckley dedicated the Welfare complex here in Carrollton he dedicated it as a temporal temple. Day after day we see hope and dignity restored in the lives of the people we assist. It is wonderful to be a part of this great work.
The work continues forward. We are grateful for the many, many opportunities to serve. May the Lord bless and keep you this week and always,
Our Love,
Mom & Dad, Grandpa & Grandma, Jack & Gaye Elder & sister Nelson

The Dallas Arboretum April

Jack n Gaye