Santa said for all the kids to be nice this year!
My Gosh, when did he get so big!
The meeting place was Brownwood Texas. This is West Texas at its best!
Maybe not after driving 19 hours straight from Nevada but it was great to visit with him anyway!
We have much to be thankful for. We are serving in a wonderful place with great people and have many opportunities to serve others on a daily basis. It’s somewhat different than what we thought we would be doing when we submitted our papers to be missionaries but we know the Lord knows us personally and has put us in a spot to learn and grow in many ways.
Monday and Tuesday of this past week were busy helping people who came into the Center needing and wanting help in their job search. We helped people sign on to ldsjobs.org, build a resume, rework a resume they’ve already begun, work on their career plan, encourage and help them identify companies and businesses where they would like to work, etc., etc. Sister Lyle has been out this week recovering from her foot surgery. She manages the front desk/office procedures so I helped there. She taught me how to do the daily updated reports of job placements – that has been a fun thing to do, to see people who have gotten jobs for that day. So far we have had 127 this month in this area; Julie likes to have at least somewhere between 125 and 150.
Last Sunday we went out to Weatherford 1st Ward after having called the candidates throughout the week. I wasn’t sure if we had really done any good and if the efforts were worth the time – maybe we should spend our energies doing something more worthwhile. However, when we got to the Center Monday morning there was an email from a man whom I had contacted earlier in the week and then we met at church. He expressed gratitude for our effort in coming to visit the ward and the work that we were doing and that we really were making a difference. It was really nice to get such a note from him. Then on Tuesday Elder Nelson saw the Bishop of that ward in the Storehouse while he was getting some food orders for people in his ward and he told him how glad he was that we had visited their ward. So I guess we’ll just keep on keepin’ on.
We were sad to hear that Nathan Mahana moved to southeast
I believe that last week I mentioned the two new men that were hired to help with Employer Development, Elder Nelson’s area of expertise. Already one of them has been hired on a new job! We are excited for him, which is one of the goals for them to work on their own job search while they are doing work for the Center. Since they are hired as part time/temporary they are told to take advantage of a job opportunity if it comes their way. Now to look for another person to take his place. Of course that is Julie’s job not ours.
Wednesday morning was very slow, no one came in at all so Julie P. told us we were going to close at noon. So of course at 11:30 people started coming. I also took a call from a Bishop in
By 12:30 we were able to walk away. Since the Center was closed Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the Thanksgiving holidays, we got permission to travel down to the
We spent most of the day there, then traveled back to our motel and went across the street to ‘Cracker Barrel’ for our Thanksgiving dinner, not quite like you get at home but it tasted pretty good. We missed the cranberry relish and pomegranate salad for sure. We did have several invitations for dinner here in Dallas, the Morells, the Moalas and Kim Heaton but our minds were set.
Thursday evening 3 crew members traveled back to earth from the Space Station, landing in
One thing they brought up was all of the activity and exercises that the astronauts have to do while in space. As soon as they leave the earth’s atmosphere and no longer have gravity, they immediately start to lose bone mass, their blood rises and other things happen because of the lack of gravity. They aren’t sure if babies could be born in space and if they would develop normally. Interesting that it appears that you have to be ‘on the earth’, with earthly conditions such as gravity to have our bodies develop and function normally.
Also some very happy news for Gloria, she called and told us that her family had just called her and invited her to Thanksgiving dinner with them. She was so thrilled and we were so happy for her. We just love her, she’s such a great lady.
Friday morning we traveled down to
After lunch we traveled to
The thing we enjoyed most about
Here in
I’ll attempt to tell a little of the history as good as a non-history person can tell it. The Texans were defeated at the Alamo, including Davy Crockett,
Santa Anna, the President of Mexico, was captured the following day and held as a prisoner of war. Three weeks later, he signed a peace treaty. This paved the way for
Interesting to think of what was going on in Pioneer history at that time. It seems to me that there was a lot more at stake than giving the families some much needed money. It was very important to our history for this to be the outcome. Brigham Young was indeed inspired to support the cause by sending the Mormon Battalion.
Also in this area was the Battleship Texas. We were able to tour the ship and enjoyed taking a view into ship life. Brian has told us stories when he was aboard ship for many months at a time, it makes it a little more personal and interesting.
We were able to make it back to
It sounds like family at home had some great family get togethers, we so grateful for all of you and love and miss you so much.
I was able to catch up with Stake President Blake today and get the final signatures for application for the Harmon grant keyboards. I think it’s ready to send off now. I think these two ladies are very deserving. President Blake was not aware of what has been going on but seemed very pleased with the program and it’s progress.
We hope you all have a wonderful week. Back to work tomorrow.
Our love,
Grandma & Grandpa Nelson, Dad & Mom, Jack & Gaye
Elder and Sister Nelson
This equipment highlights the life of a roughneck on these off-shore rigs
Chase Fredrick could have flown us to the Rig in the helicopter
There is Sister Nelson on the top deck checking on the progress of the ferry
It is amazing how quickly they can unload this outfit!
21 November 2010
Happy Thanksgiving Week
We wish everyone a wonderful week. We have so many blessings. We are so grateful to be serving as missionaries. We are having many wonderful experiences and meeting many wonderful people. When we left I felt the words to the hymn in my heart, ‘Because I have been given much, I too must give.’ Indeed we have many blessings. Yes, there are challenges but we try to focus on the positive things that are happening, the things that we are able to help with, the many good things we are learning and the many wonderful people we meet and the new friendships made. Looking back the time has passed so quickly, the months seem to seem to have wings.
It has been a very busy week at the Center. Everyday has been packed full. We worked with many people, helped volunteers, kept up with job postings etc. There are two new hired people that started this week. Will Bosewetter is finishing up his last few days as the Employment Developer. He was hired as part-time temporary employee. He will be replaced with two other men. Jack is spending time with them helping to get them trained. A major part of this job is to allow job seekers an opportunity to meet and network with people in the career field so after 3 months their time up and someone else gets that chance. It’s a new program and I think it will be a good one. Will really got to be a good friend so we are sad to see him go. He is a recent convert and it was great to be in that situation and see his growth. He had opportunities to give spiritual thoughts, prayers and even blessings.
We were even busy on Saturday this week, in fact very busy. We finally looked up and it was 2 o’clock already. Donna T. made a sign on the computer and posted next to the door at the Store House that said, ‘Need a Job? The
I worked with a man this week who is in a wheelchair He even has limited use of his arms and hands but I was so impressed with him. He is able to be so positive and motivated about getting a job. He has a great resume and has had some prior experience in upper level positions. Due so some health issues he has not been able to work the last couple of years but has spent time doing some great volunteer work at some nonprofit organizations. I didn’t find out a lot about his circumstances because it was such a non issue with him. He focused on what he could do. He was really amazing. I asked Donna T. to come on board and help give advice on his resume and job approach; as usual she was able to add some ideas and insights. The only thing that really indicated he had a disability was when he asked if I would open the door for him as he left.
I suppose we all have some disabilities of some kind, oh if we could approach them like he does his and not let them cripple us or restrict our activity but go forth with courage and strength. We learn so much from so many people.
There is one man that has been coming in regularly for a couple of weeks and all of us have been helping him. He comes in and works on his resume, filling out applications, working on the computer etc. He is one that needs help in knowing what to do next, get up every morning, get cleaned up and work on your job search. He called in the other day and I answered the phone. He was so discouraged, I went over what things he had been doing, he had been doing things as we had recommended but he was not having any success in getting any contact with people or getting any interviews. Finally I felt like he just needed encouragement, so I told him he was doing all the right things and he just needed to keep doing them, keep trying, keep looking, applying etc. About an hour later he called back and he had heard from a couple of HR people where he had applied and was able to set up 2 interviews for next week. We were all so happy for him and cheered at his success in getting to that step.
Another lady returned whom we had helped last summer for quite some time, she had lost her apartment, moved to Florida to live with her sister for a time, then found work in Arkansas at a furniture store for a couple of months. She has been coming in for a couple of weeks now but a couple of days ago she was hired at a furniture store in this area. Once again we all cheered and rang the bell for her.
It’s often difficult to choose our words when we greet people at the Center. When you see someone return you don’t know quite what to say, you hate to say, ‘It’s good to see you again,’ because of course that means that their employment situation is not going well. When someone is leaving, do you say, ‘I hope to see you again soon,’ or is it better to say ‘I hope I never see you again.’ Always a puzzlement.
This week I was able to get the forms for the Keyboard Harmon Grant and begin the application process for two of the ladies attending the piano classes. The one older lady (you know the one about my age) doesn’t speak any English. Her son comes and interprets for us as needed. The application requires their signature and comments. They sign under the statement, “I commit to use any materials received through this grant to improve my own musical ability and to share those talent through serving and teaching others.” I had the applications sent in English so I would know what they said. When I asked the son to explain to Sister Hernandez what it was all about and help her fill it out said there was no way that she would agree to that, there was NO way that she would sign, that she is too afraid. Finally I convinced to just explain it to her and let her decide whether she wanted to sign or not – let it be her decision. It explained it to her and she got this huge smile on her face and clapped her hands together and giggled and was so excited about it. It was really a precious moment to see her joy at the prospects of getting her very own keyboard. Her son was just amazed, he said, “I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it!”
The other lady is already teaching and helping the younger students; she comes early and sets up for us and does so much to help move the program forward. I was able to catch the Branch President and obtain his signature. He was pleased that there are a couple of people who are making such good progress. He is very supportive of the program and is so pleased to have the instruction going on in the Branch. He hopes that they can get to where they can have people playing for their ward like the other Wards do. I now have to catch up with the Stake President and get his signature also.
It’s really quite interesting teaching people who don’t have keyboards to practice on. But we do what we can. A member in the Stake donated a smaller keyboard and we have sent that home with a family where there are a couple of children coming. Some have smaller keyboards at home but there are a few who don’t have any keyboards at all. However, they come and are progressing.
This next week the kids in
Monday Family Home Evening at the Morells, Kay and her boys and Mark & Angie and their children came; also an investigator, several friends and the young Elders; the Bryners came including their son and his family. We played several of our recorder/violin/cello/harpsichord pieces and then Jack and I played several tunes on the mandolin & guitar. It was a fun evening.
One of the Morell family’s was not able to make it on Monday night so Friday evening we got together again. The Bryner’s didn’t come this evening so Charlie and I played recorder/harpsichord and then Jack and I played guitar & mandolin tunes. This audience was much younger so we adjusted to that. I took some of the other sizes of recorders and showed them and told about them, they were all pretty interested. All of these kids take piano lessons so they too played. It was fun to hear the children play, I haven’t heard some of those songs for more than a year now.
On our P-Day this week we went on a little trip up into
Last week when Joan and Delmar were here we were able to visit the
Today – Sunday, we went out to the Weatherford 1st Ward Sacrament Mtg. I had made calls to the candidates in that ward this past week and did the follow up with a visit to the Ward. I don’t know if we did any good but we are making the effort, hopefully somewhere it will make a difference, at least we tried.
On our way home we stopped by and visited Sister Gloria Lyle, she is a service missionary who serves at the Center M-F. She had some surgery on her other foot and will be out a couple of weeks. She is a wonderful person and does so much work a the Center, we really miss her but we’re glad that she can get her feet in better shape and not be in so much pain. I am trying to do some of the work that she normally does while she is away, such as update the placement reports each day etc. She is working from her computer at home and has posted on nearly 700 jobs in the last 2 days. Jack and Will gave her a blessing before her surgery. Jack included in her blessing that her family would rally around her. We know of her situation and know that her family has not been to visit her in more than a year – she wasn’t too sure about that part of the blessing. She called yesterday however and said that she had been humbled, her son and his family came to visit her and asked her if there was anything she needed. She was so thrilled!
I think that about wraps it up for this week. We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving week. Indeed we have many blessings, including family, friends, the gospel of Jesus Christ, our beautiful world and so many more. Thanks for being such a wonderful family.
We love and miss you,
Grandpa & Grandma, Mom & Dad, Jack & Gaye
The Chapel in Durant Oklahoma. This ward is part of the McKinney Stake
A stop on the Choctaw Indian Reservation 
A visit to the Morell's while Charlie recorded each Grand Child playing a piano piece
Sister Nelson giving a lesson on Recorders and their application in the Baroque period
I wonder if Mark or Stan would want to Farm this Oklahoma Red dirt?
