Our First Fun Day!

Memorial Day and our office was closed so off we went for our first excursion and really, our first day of a different kind of fun. We drove 15 minutes to this amazing cooled vat of magma that originally lay ten feet below the surface of the earth. Hundreds of thousands of years of erosion revealed this largest of all monoliths in the world! The carvings are honoring heroes of the south during the Civil War: Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. The figure of Lee stands nine stories tall! We took the Skyride to the top of the mountain while others hiked the 3 miles to the top. The picture of me in front of the mountain with the green grassy plain in the background, marks the area where at 9:30 at night there is a laser light show. We will go back and see that, but today people at work told us they don't get out of there before 1, 2 or as late as 3 in the morning due to the crowds, so....The picture of Vivica with us was taken on the train. She was delightful! From there we headed to a ward bar-b-que and met a lot of the ward members along with two sets of married couples who are temple missionaries. We left at 5 as I had an appointment with Dr. Basra who had an interview the next day and wanted to practice. We are all rooting for this talented hard-working man! Home to listen to two conference talks for FHE and then bedtime wasn't far behind. One of my favorite things about the day was while we were walking around SMP, a family passed us and the mother said, "Look! It's the sisters!"

Our Visit to a Sikh Conference

Friday night Dr. Basra invited us to a Sikh Conference being attended by devotees from as far away as New York and Canada. We arrived and took off our shoes and wrapped scarves around our heads. Dr. Basra was running a little late so we were there unattended but everyone was very gracious and welcoming. When Dr. Basra and his son arrived we ate "snacks" which was enough to be our dinner and then were given a guided tour of the paintings around the room. They were almost all depicting martyrdoms by faithful men, women and children who would not renounce their religion and join Islam. Sikhs are devoted to defending humanity and in particular defending women and children. They believe Jesus Christ was one who died for his beliefs. Several of their priests gathered around us and were sharing their desire to become one with God through meditation, which naturally rings true to Sister P and I. We were taken upstairs where all show respect for their last guru, which is depicted in their holy book. We stayed a respectful amount of time and then made our way to the exit but not before an elderly lady hugged us and expressed appreciation for our coming. We left grateful for devoted people who love God and will not waver in that belief. Dr. Basra agreed to attend our church and I am going to give him a Book of Mormon rather than engage in a lengthy discussion....just a short brief testimony of Heavenly Father and the Savior and then he can go directly to the scriptures and to God.

Blessings From Heaven

United Way is going to pay Justin Scott's ticket and re-instatement fees for his CDL license, so he could be driving again by the middle of next week! To show you the kind of man he is, he was driving through Mississippi some years ago and stopped at a rest stop. He noticed a man parked near him who had in the back of his pick-up truck a massive rack from a buck. Justin went up and struck up a conversation with the man admiring his "trophy". They spoke at length and then Justin, who is black, noticed also in the back of the truck KKK gear. Justin calmly continued the conversation and the other man suggested to Justin that he could give him directions for a different route that would get him to his destination several hours earlier. Justin, knowing who the man was, but based on the connection they made during their conversation and based also on his gut feeling, accepted the man's directions. He indeed arrive at his destination two hours earlier. Connections...and the brotherhood that should always exist between men.

The Picture in My Mind

I am not a proslyting missionary! I have had that picture in my mind for so many years that it is hard to erase, but I am trying. Sister Peterson and I are not to be visiting teachers or have ward callings as we will be visiting other wards on most Sundays. It may also be that we are NOT going to attend zone conferences for the mission (that was the policy for all previous missionaries) or even meet our Mission President, as our direct supervisor is in our office, and a great man. This all means that I must adjust to "not what I thought a mission would be like," but to what my mission really is...and I can do that! That does not mean that Sister Peterson and I are not working hard memorizing scriptures and part of the Joseph Smith History, as we want to be prepared should the opportunity arise that we may teach the gospel, but we do recognize that is not our focus. We have faith in our calls and love Heavenly Father and the Savior as well as the people we serve. All will be well.
Justin Scott called today, he was evicted from his apartment and spent the night in his car. Someone told United Way and they are finding him temporary housing. The best news is that they may help him pay his fine so he can return to the job he has had for 28 years, driving a truck! When I called UW last week inquiring about just that thing, they said they did not do those kinds of things...h-m-m-m. Mr. Scott made an appointment with me for Thursday morning and I am most anxious to meet this fine gentleman. Tomorrow Dr. Tejpal Singh Basra is coming in for the second day of the workshop. This contrast in clientele is not lost on me...both of these gentlemen demonstrate to me the dignity of living honorable lives although in vastly different circumstances. This is humbling work!

Heavenly Father Loves His Children

Any missionary knows before he/she leaves for the field that the title of their homecoming talk could always be, "Heavenly Father Loves His Children", and for me it is no different. Justin Scott is about 60 years old and has been a truck driver for almost 30 years. He had a heart attack while driving, was hospitalized and released and got a speeding ticket at 1 in the morning while delivering the load that was still on his truck. He then had another more severe heart attack and was in ICU for 14 days. At some point after his recovery he was at the DOL to renew his license and learned his CDL license was suspended because he had an unpaid ticket. He had completely forgotten about his ticket. He went to court and asked the judge to allow him to serve jail time in lieu of the $300 fine, but the judge declined. So now, Mr. Scott is looking for work to pay his fine, reinstate his license and return to his profession. I was on the phone working with him yesterday following up on some job leads he had applied for when he said, "I have had many serious challenges, but I am not down." This is a man who prays and is kindly and courteous. I told him I knew one reason he was upbeat and positive despite his trials and that was because I put his name in our temple and that five days a week there were about 200 people praying for him. The spirit witnessed that this was true. I am looking forward to seeing how Heavenly Father is going to work out the details. Mr. Scott walks to the library to get on the computer to follow leads and to make applications. I gave him a few hints for following up after submitting an application, making cold calls, using power statements and networking. It will all work out for him. Putting Mr. Scott's name in the temple was such a small thing, but of tremendous value. By the way, since the Atlanta Temple phone lines were closed, I put his and other names of candidates, in my Columbia River Temple, so you at home are praying for them all when you attend the temple at home. It is sweet to me to think you are all involved in blessing these dear people. Heavenly Father loves and is watching over Mr. Scott and I am grateful to be able to be involved in that process in a small way to bless this dear man.

Our Niche At The ERC

This is where you can picture me during most days at the ERC. The most important thing we do second to greeting and working with candidates who walk in to the center, is call those who have registered on the website, so we can offer assistance. I am telling you all....the Career Workshop (and the ERC itself) is one of the best kept secrets in the church and I am not sure why that is! Here is today's tender mercy for Sharif Warner who was a walk-in looking for a warehouse job. His mother is from Antigua, but Sharif is American-born. Long story short....we were going through the whole registration process, including an email account, and simply could not get him registered....we kept having all sorts of computer issues, (and I promise it was not me....someone in the know was watching), and we were alternating between one computer and the other to get screens to come up...so bizarre. We were working on this for quite some time and Sharif was so patient, and I was saying a silent prayer that we could help him before he left. A few minutes later off to the side I hear one job searcher say to another that such and such place was hiring warehouse forklift drivers tomorrow between 10-12. Thrill of thrills for me....so I passed that on to Sharif; did a bit of one-on-one training relative to Power Statements....now don't you know everyone is going to say they are a hard worker....Prove it with a Power Statement, and now Sharif can! He was upbeat walking out the door and I was most grateful for this tender mercy that is so illustrative of how Heavenly Father loves each of his children! Such a sweet experience. Oh, yes...Sharif has a brother who just was released from prison who he is going to bring in. Let's just sit by and watch what tender mercies Heavenly Father and the Savior have in store for him!
Yesterday Sister Peterson and I spent some time planning so we can do everything we are asked to do....we planned our individual study, our companion study, our exercise time....so this morning our schedule went well. We were ready for some down time after work, but after going to Walmart for a box fan for Sister P. because there is a little bird outside her window that has his days and nights mixed up....we walked two laps around our apartment complex. Were we ever glad to went to lunch after the temple Saturday and saved leftovers, because that is what we had for dinner tonight. That is going to be our pattern....lunch every Saturday after the temple....no cooking one night of the week. Fix a big Sunday dinner and then have that for two more nights...no cooking! For FHE we listened to the first two General Conference talks feeling such gratitude for a living prophet and for all the prophets who teach us the truths that help us be happy and at peace! Oh, how I wish everyone could know what we know! Personal activities after that, like this blog, and soon the end of a wonderful day, except I miss my family!

Atlanta BYU Management Society

Thursday night I headed to the Glenbridge building with an intern to help set up for the series of classes the ERC is sponsoring through the Atlanta BYU Management Society. Several thoughts I came away with from the keynote speaker, Mark Josie, a Regional Director for Franklin Covey:

• I am either a product of circumstances of a product of my choices
• I either live by default or I live by design
• When I can no longer change a situation, I am challenged to change myself
• I am either a fatalist, a procrastinator or I use my agency to prepare myself for whatever may happen

All good! The six classes were: Negotiating salary, business etiquette in the digital age, writing a branded resume', what do I say?...Me in 30 seconds, starting a business, reversing the hiring practice...starting from the top down. The panel discussion afterwards with recruiters was great. Two job searching tips:

• Become an expert at networking
• Set up an email account just for job searching and use as much of your name as possible...nothing cute as it turns recruiters off

Met a sweet young woman who is going to school, working and is a single mother. My heart goes out to women with these kinds of challenges...I admire their determination so much!
My companion, Sister Peterson arrived Thursday evening, so we spent Friday getting up to speed at the ERC. Our supervisor told us there are 12 stakes in our Co0ordinating Council, which adds up to about 100 wards and branches. Sister Peterson and I will be traveling each Sunday except one to each of these wards introducing ourselves and plugging the ERC services. At some point we may be traveling to stake centers to teach these workshops....the small temple pattern....take the program to the people. We came to work!
Today I did laundry, and not only did I come away with clean clothes and three items in my basket that were not mine (I left them neatly folded, family) I also will be the proud owner of a Droid, which I got for free along with free internet and unlimited text, minutes, and data. Another example of the many many blessings Heavenly Father is granting me. He also left me a fabric sheet for the dryer on the counter in the laundry room, as I had not bought any at the store! Tender mercies....have you ever worn nylon underclothing that was not dried with a Bounce? Enough said! The first app I am going to download is Google Maps along with a voice director! Next the scriptures! Next the hymns! Every thing in one small place!
After Sister P. finished unpacking, we went to the temple. It is smaller than our dear Columbia River Temple, but is very beautiful. I called the temple this evening to put three job candidates' names on the prayer roll since I forgot to do it when I was there, but the temple office closes at noon on Saturday, so I called my own CR Temple instead. Sweet!!!
Shopping, assembling shelves, cleaning, studying, and now bed....a good, very good day.

You're not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy!

Oh, my!!! By way of illustration, let me just say that since Monday I have had as candidates (three at the same time my first day) a sweet disabled lady who can't read and whose strength is sorting mail; the gentlest 58 year old retired janitor who wants to travel with his wife and wants to earn money to do that....he can't read or write; a married father of two from East Africa who came here from 14 years in Europe. The previous missionary couple helped him take the classes to become a CDL driver, but after two months he cannot stand the stress of being treated like a machine...."all they want me to do is put in time behind the wheel...they don't teach me anything....everything here is about money money money." I asked him if it was like that in Europe also and he said it was not. Must be the socialism. So....until a mentor from his country is available in three weeks, he is going to report to "Staffers" where employers come each day and grab men to work. Then yesterday and today I worked with a brilliant gentleman, a Sikh, who has a Phd in Chemistry and excellent credentials. He has five interviews starting Friday, but his problem is because he is so detail oriented, he gives all of that information in interviews. He has learned from an excellent volunteer yesterday and by practicing with me today, to be brief yet powerful. He invited me to his church and I told him my companion and I would go to his if he came to ours, so.....AND THIS IN JUST 3 DAYS! I have very tender feelings towards all of these people and wish they could have the jobs they need....we will keep working. My main boss, Daryl Blount has been out of the office all week, returning Friday. His office manager, Karen Finlayson who was here Monday, has been out of the office and in Louisiana for meetings. Tomorrow late afternoon, she is going directly to a big seminar she is sponsoring through BYU Management with a Franklin Covey gentleman's being the presenter. I will be at that, so....there hasn't been anyone here to train me, so it's been interesting, but grateful SLC sent my my materials early, and that I got good training in the MTC so I could muddle through. Heavenly FAther loves these people and I recognize He has helped me for their sakes. and I am grateful. My companion arrives tomorrow afternoon. Besides the apartment's not being totally clean and the kitchen faucet's squirting me every time I turn on the water....it is not bad at all! SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE A RECLINER! I am working on memorizing scriptures and a portion of Joseph Smith's First Vision as I have not given up hope that I will be able to teach the gospel sometime. I am so grateful and happy to be a missionary!

MTC Employment Resource Center Missionaries

This is my last day in the MTC with these wonderful friends who are all going to be serving as ERC missionaries. The only couple who I haven't mentioned before are Elder and Sister Bennett on the far right. They are successful grain farmers from Spring Coolee, Alberta, Canada and are just cute as can be. This is Elder Bennett"Me in 30 Seconds":

I am an apprentice brain surgeon.
I have six months experience on lab rats.
I can do a frontal lobotomy on a rat in 15 minutes.
(I haven't lost a rat yet!)

Today we have been introduced to the Small Business Workshop and decided we should all go into business together.

Auto Tek Car Repair and more Good People!

These are the Petersens from Rexburg Idaho, and the Watkins from New Haven, Utah. They are going to Thailand and Armenia, respectively as THE Employment Resource Centers! Both of the gentlemen have been Bishops and members of the Stake Presidency. Sister Petersen just had her clearance after five years of being free from "inoperable" cancer...and right away they left for a mission. Before he and his wife's mission call to Armenia, Elder Watkins served 15 months in Ogden as a missionary to the transients and homeless people. These people are all losing their lives in service

Sisters Ludwig and King are both nurses heading to Trinidad Tobago and California, respectively...they are both going by themselves without companions, so Sister King will be living with young sisters. We have enjoyed their company.

Elder and Sister Stock from from Orem, Utah, are our delightful Senior Missionary caretakers. The lift gate on my van would not open on Monday so I asked Elder Stock if he could recommend someone honest I could have repair my car. He recommended the Father/Sons business, Auto Tek at 720 North State in Orem. Remember that name, grandchildren. I dealt with Jason who repaired my car at no charge...so not only were they capable and honest, but also generous and charitable. Good people at every turn.

I had an impossible time falling asleep last night concerned about all I had to learn, so since I couldn't get up, I tossed and stewed until after 2 this morning, but amazingly I have been able to do what I needed to today without dragging. I decided to fast today and that brought the much needed peace and calm I needed. It was a good day...we spent the day being taught the Career Workshop by two capable Area Directors of ERCS. After dinner we had a two hour computer class. Did you know that if you brought the cursor arrow to the left margin of a word document and clicked twice it would highlight the paragraph, and if you clicked three times, it would highlight the entire page? I love to learn new things! Tomorrow is our last day in the MTC and I am really going to miss these people as we each are flung somewhere on the globe to do our small little work. I am most grateful to be a missionary.

A Tour of Welfare Square and The Humanitarian Center

Our classroom last week for studying Preach My Gospel

We grabbed a sack breakfast at 6:30 and boarded the bus for Salt Lake and Welfare Square. While Christians have always been taught to care for the poor and needy and our church always has done that, the program became organized with physical facilities in 1936 during the Great Depression. The three main tenets of the Welfare program are to foster self-reliance which then allows an individual to care for the poor and needy and to serve others. Today we saw multiple operations: a storehouse, from which the Bishops allow members in need to "shop"(no money is exchanged) for two weeks of food for their family, a dairy, bakery, cheese-making operation, a cannery for fruits and vegetables, jams and sauces. The church has farms which allow the church to produce 60% of the goods in the system. It also has "for profit" cattle ranches, from which 10% of the profits go to support this Welfare System. The rest of the money comes from donations from members of the church, and many many hours of volunteers. The Humanitarian Aid Services primarily serves those who are NOT of our faith and is also funded by donations of members. In 2011 the church saved 1.5 million children in developing nations by providing neo-natal resuscitation training to doctors and nurses. Last year 8 million pounds of clothing were shipped to those in need throughout the world. In addition the church has undertaken campaigns to eradicate polio and measles in developing countries through immunizations, and has donated tens of thousands of personal hygiene kits, newborn kits, school kits, and quilts. Also...projects to bring clean water to villages, using villagers to dig the trenches, etc. In addition, long after the cameras have quit rolling, the church remains in Indonesia (tsunami), Haiti and Japan, etc. It was very gratifying to see the magnitude of the church's efforts to care for our brothers and sisters who are in need throughout the world. We had lunch at the former Hotel Utah with 92 year old Elder Rudd, the former director of Welfare Square for 25 years. He was sharp as a tack, has retired three times, and is still actively involved in caring for the poor and needy. Sister Peterson and I agree....we would love to be able to do it all!

Sisters Chappell and Shawgo

Sister Chapel married a widower 18 years older than her and who was also the father of seven children. They had a whirlwind courtship….he and his daughter wrote her a letter inviting her to dinner and if things went well, invited her to spend the weekend at his home and meet his family. All of that happened, they courted for two weeks and then were engaged and married happily ever after! She nursed him for seven years as his health declined. Such a dear woman. Sister Shawgo had a 2 year old and a 6 month old when her husband decided parenting wasn’t for him, so he took off! She went to work and raised those boys alone….they got their educations, went on missions, and were married in the temple. She even had foster children to care for, and then her mother when she got ill.

Good People

Brother and Sister Talbert are serving their fourth mission and are going to Des Moine, Iowa to provide Leadership Support. The Talberts are converts of 55 years and are from Payson, Utah. Brother Talbert is partially deaf but is never frustrated or demanding...a kind and gentle man; and his wife is equally charitable. It is tender to see their love and support for each other, and as our District Leader, Elder Talbert has been one who has led by example. We are all better for our association with this dedicated wise couple.