Been awhile -- 26 November 2014

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,

9 November 2014

Sunday November 9th at the Lancaster Branch. In order to arrive on time, and today we needed to be on time, we have to leave at 0840 to be there by 10:00. It is a easy drive and really pretty. Today Sister Slade and I spoke in Sacrament meeting. Going backwards, I helped Sister Slade with her talk, and then jotted down some notes for me. I want to mention that the other 2 senior couples came to support Sister Slade, they drove the 1 hr and 10 min drive to be there. It was a very kind thing to do, but even more important was that our pianist was not there and we sang accapella for the opening hymn and then Sister Urban (bless her heart) stepped up and played the piano. Boy we needed that, but such is life in a small branch. There are 3 speakers, 1st is Sister Banford, one of the full time sisters, followed by Sister Slade, intermediate hymn and then myself. So that should allow me about 15 minutes, good enough. Sacrament starts at 10 opening hymn, prayer, and it's time for the sacrament (it's a small branch) sacrament is finished and it's 10:12, Sister Banford finishes about 10:25 and Sister Slade is up and down and it's 10:32. Oooh boy. Let's see, I jotted a few notes about the employment resources and a scripture about service. Hmmmm. Well I wrapped it up about 11:02, lucky I had some railroad analogies to talk about. Anyway once again Sister Slade really did a great job, she actually ad-libbed some of her talk, it was funny and good. I really think she is getting rid of some of her fears. After church as we drove home I remembered a place I'd seen on the way to and from church I wanted to see, it was Andrew Jackson's home, where he was (maybe born) but surely raised as a young man. I say that because he really didn't know, but claims to have been born in SC. The place is Andrew Jackson State Park. I turned in and we visited it, we walked around and took a couple of pictures. It was interesting I just wish I could explain all the history of the area. Waxhaw, Camben the battles that were fought there.

 So the 1st picture is the outdoor amphitheater. That is me down on the stage, as usual nobody wants to listen to me.

That is Sister Slade reading the bulletin board outside the outhouse (yes she actually went inside)

                             Sister Slade, she can't turn away from a man in uniform and a hat.

                                                                The little schoolhouse

A picture of our bed and bedroom? Ok a replica of the time period.

My church clothes, I didn't bring much.

The old meeting house. 

Looks like some indians sneaking around

Anyway we had a really good time.

The next couple picture are of our branch building.

Just doesn't look like a typical meeting house, it is a converted restaurant. But let me say this, it isn't the building, it's the members that make it a branch/ward and we love them.

Last of all it's fall and, it's beautiful

Keep the faith

Bishop's storehouse

Last Sunday it was announced that it was the Lancaster Branch's turn to help with the distribution of the bishop store house items. They asked for volunteers, I raised my hand, as did another brother (1st counselor inn the presidency) anyway we were to meet at the stake center on Wednesday at 0800. Sister Slade and I arrived and joined to my surprise several branch members. The project was well organized and truly a wonderful experience. Everyone pitched in, particularly the recipients. Each helped each other in following the program, and by the way the program is followed properly! It was good to see members helping each other. So as the morning went on and we were cleaning everything up and putting things away one of the sisters says to me you are the employment missionaries, I said yes we are. Well my husband owns a bussiness and has been trying to fill some jobs vacancies. He has asked the bishop and members if they know of anyone, but he hasn't had any takers. I said you came to the right place, we have people to fill those jobs. I expressed my joy in meeting her and finding this out. It is way easier to fill a position when the candidate and the employer have a common connection. Think about it this way, is it easier to do missionary work by tracting or by member referrals? It's the same principle. Now I have another contact that I can say go talk to this person and the candidate has some one there in person to talk with. If I didn't volunteer to help with the storehouse I would've more than likely never met this good sister and her husband. Always be engaged in a good cause, oh and keep the faith.

3 November 2014 York, SC

Things at the ERC seems to be picking up.We have more people coming in off the "street" (walk ins). We are still trying to reach the stakes and help them get the stake and ward leaders signed up on lds.org as leaders. This enables them to see who is signed up from their ward/stake. This is important because we (the ERC) really do not get a chance to meet or know most of the candidates that we work with. We call them and email them every week check on them as we can but rarely do we have that close comforting assistance. The ward leaders on the other hand see these candidates at least weekly, they have the opportunity to talk to them face to face, put their arm around them, encourage them and lift their spirits.  Truly it is easy to see how the welfare program is an inspired program, when it is set up and executed properly. We had the opportunity to speak at the York ward council meeting. This is where you get to meet with and help the ward leaders get signed on. When they really learn how the program works they want to get on.  I took a couple of pictures of their building because I never saw a LDS building with colums. Hanging with the baptists. jk ( never use that kind of stuff).

Anyway the weather is changing and so are the leaves. It's still pretty though. 

Oh and by the way WE REALLY LOVE THE MISSION, just wanted to say that. More later, keep the faith.