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!