Another one of our Career Workshop candidates found work....but it has been a long two months of hard work on Sasha's part. She got her dream job through networking as the workshop teaches since it is the number one way people get jobs....hand offs! So thrilled for her and appreciative of her saying that learning there are methodical steps a job seeker has to take to find that job made the difference for her. Laurinda found a part time job, Pamela got school funding through the DOL's Workforce Investment Act....my first referral and she actually received money! We reworked Bola Bosomba's resume and wrote a nice cover letter and....he has an interview MOnday morning. This is a man who is working on his second MA degree --this one in Public Health. He is from the Democratic Republic of Congo and there worked for the government in the Dept. of Family Services educating families on the prevention, cause and treatment of HIV/AIDS. He once saw a man in the final stages of AIDS who was convinced that he was ill because of evil spirits and was seeking a cure through a tattoo. This had been Bola's motivation to do something about educating his people. We worked up a Curriculum Vitae for an internship with W.H.O. so he can be actively involved in that work once more. Sister Peterson missed two days of work as she was very sick with a cold but is starting to mend. I received special Heavenly help Friday evening and it went like this (from my journal): Sister P has been sick the last two days and I stayed after work a bit to make a phone call and to print some things out, when the phone rang. It was Daryl, my supervisor, saying he had left his coat in his office. He asked how long I planned to be there and I said as long as he needed me to, so he called his wife to see if she could pick up his coat on her way home from work, but I am supposing she had already left for home, since Daryl said he would be driving back to get it and would be there in about an hour. I suggested I meet him halfway, which we did as he was almost to Alabama. I said a prayer and asked for protection, to be able to find the meeting spot (the GPS was with Sister P) and to return home safely. It was bumper to bumper traffic going and coming, but I found the right exit and met them just fine. On the highway heading home with the traffic still heavy I saw out of the corner of my eye a car moving right into my lane. I screamed and instinctively moved into the left lane without even looking. Fortunately, Heavenly Father was protecting me as no one was in that lane to the left or I would have been sandwiched. So grateful...I am still saying prayers of thanks. Saturday morning I was cleaning toilets at the church and in walks Bola to mop the floors behind me! I gave him a big hug and then met his wife, Balonda, who was standing behind him. It's such a great life with all of these good people around you to go through life with! The best for last....Catherine and Justin and the missionaries met at our apartment for lunch and two discussions so they can have their last one Tuesday before their baptismal interviews on Thursday with the Zone Leaders, then their baptisms on Saturday at 11:00. Much credit has to go to Elder Nelson who has his own story to tell, but who is my hero. He genuinely loves the people, knows the scriptures like the back of his hand, and brings the spirit to the discussions. He is also exactly obedient. One Saturday C & J and the elders were invited to our apartment for lunch and a discussion and were to be here at 2:00. The elders were here on time, but C & J were held up for an hour. Elder Nelson and his companion stood on the porch on a chilly day until C & J arrived because the mission rule is: If there is a woman in the house but no male age 12 or older, the elders may not enter, even if the two women are missionaries and old enough to be his grandmother! We would never ask them in knowing the rule, and they were content to be on the porch while we stood in the doorway and made our plans for the discussion. Obedience yields power! I also have to give some credit to Mormon.org. Catherine said to me when she arrived that on the way over Justin said that he was not ready to commit to baptism and needed more time to think about it. I had my laptop on the counter and was listening to MoTab and had the screen on lds.org. Elder Nelson clicked on Mormon.org, and I suggested he show Justin the video clip of Kevin, the professional skateboarder who is also the son of a single mom and....a Mormon. Justin seemed very surprised that a skateboarder (as he is too) could be a good Mormon. Justin had said before that he didn't feel like he fit in. He also watched a segment on a professional female world champion surfer...she too a Mormon, naturally. Next thing we know, Justin is committing to baptism and gave a beautiful closing prayer. I feel so incredibly blessed to know these two wonderful people who are about to be blessed beyond their wildest expectations...joy for each of them. This is why I am a missionary.
No comments:
Post a Comment