Well, it's been awhile since I posted. I kept saying after this event or that one, but alas something else happens. So what's happening in employment? We have been fortunate in helping people find work, some of it is part time and some temporary, but at least people are working. One day a young man came in and signed up on ldsjobs.org when I saw his name I said I know your father, turns out I know his father and grandfather. He was looking for part time work and we helped him get a job. There are some who are hard to place, it takes a lot of patience and searching, but we have placed a couple of them. The other day we were at the Charlotte South Stake Center to help with Bishop's storehouse and to meet with a brother and help him sign on at ldsjobs.org. When we finished with the storehouse we sat down with this brother. Really a nice Southern man, new convert. Anyway as we are doing the computer work we get side tracked with telling stories (imagine that). He talks about his conversion, then tells me about when he was laid off. He went home and hadn't said anything about being laid off and the elders came over to teach him. They tell a story about a member who was laid off and how he handled it. After the lesson he says to the elders, you know I was just laid off. The elders tell him you need to call Elder and Sister Slade, they are in the employment center. So he calls and makes an appointment. He's thinking how the Lords works in mysterious ways. Then he tells me that the bishop wants him to receive the Aaronic Priesthood. He said it was very emotional he tells his wife (less active member) and she says slow down, next they will want you to go home teaching spending time away from your family. He was crushed and confused, so he didn't accept the offer. We were talking and I mentioned to him I thought he should, that if he had a testimony of the gospel and Joseph Smith is a prophet, then he would understand that this a revelation from Heavenly Father and part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So we continue through the process and his phone rings, it's his son in law, who works where he did. His son-in law says the boss is looking for him and wants to know if he wants to work. I said we have helped people finds jobs and in 1 case within 2 days, but never while we were filling out a profile. I said do you think there is another reason we are here together? He simple says the priesthood? There are more things about employment but this will do for now. We have other things to share. On the after hours side, Sister Slade and I went to 2 concerts (Christmas) one was Trans Siberian Orchestra, I love their Christmas music, but not this show. The other was Manhiem Steamroller, loved the music and the show. It was cold, rainy and foggy.
Yesterday was transfers and that is a very interesting time as well as emotional sometimes. We have here, in our apt. complex 2 sets of elders and 1 set of sisters. We have become very close to all of them. This transfer, 1 elder was going home after a faithful mission, and another was being transferred to another area. The blond one (Elder Laudee) was transferred. Elder Hass will stay here.
Elder Shumway ( to my right) has gone home. Jorgenson (to Sister Slade's left)
goes home in Jan. That's all fine, but Sister Phillips (someone we are very fond of) was transferred to High Point, NC. I think Sister Slade cried for an hr. the night before transfers. Sister Phillips came over and brought a picture she framed of us and her with sister "Z"(companion). It is very special. She asked me to give her a blessing, she truly said we are like her mom and dad. She was called to be a sister trainer leader (same as a zone leader for sisters) and for good reason.
Here are a couple of shots at transfers, the first one is of a group of new missionaries around a piano singing. It started out with 2 elders singing, without music, then 1 started to accompany on the piano on the stage. Next thing I see is a group with more joining in. It was quite touching, as they all came from the MTC together.
this next one is a man I met at the storehouse helping his ward and also driving missionaries to and from transfers, he is a retired conductor from the CXS. I knew he was a conductor by the way he walked (crippled) and his uncanny knack to be able to sleep while working. A great guy, Pete Smith.
A couple more shots, missionaries at lunch and after transfers
Absolutely Wonderful!
OK now on to even happier news, Elder Herr (Saguaro Park Ward Tucson AZ.) is in the North Carolina Charlotte mission, great news. We took him and his companions to dinner for his birthday along with the other senior couples.
Sorry it's so long, but tomorrow is Thanksgiving so expect more later and as always keep the faith,
