29 April

Zone Conference  :-)

Today I attended my first Mission Zone Conference since being out on my mission. It was a great shot in the arm for me. Granted the whole day was focused on proselyting which I don't do. This time I remembered to bring scriptures with me and not rely on my iPod. However, I also needed Preach My Gospel which I didn't bring, so I still used my iPod. Next time I'll remember. The conference helped me to focus more on the purpose of a mission. The spirit there was wonderful and invigorating.

We had four new mission presidents attending our conference, in training. President Cook had attended our Christmas Conference. At that time he didn't know where he was going, but all his material was in French. It turns out they are going to the Congo Mission and leave on June 30. President and Sister Anderson are going to the Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission. They are from Hyrum which is just down the road from us.  President and Sister Curtis are going to the Idaho Twin Falls Mission. He is opening up that mission. They had been serving in Atlanta, Georgia, as Leader Support Missionaries. They came back to Utah for the birth of a grandchild in January and where called in to speak with Elder Ballard, an apostle. He call them to serve as the new Mission President for Twin Falls. The Curtis's had to return to their mission and let their leaders know that they would not be completing their mission in Atlanta. You could say they were extended three years (that is how long a mission president is called for). I also learned that the Curtis’s had been in the MTC the same time I was. We spent the first week together learning Preach My Gospel. They remembered me; unfortunately, I didn't remember them. There were only four of us single sisters in that group at the MTC. The Curtis's are from Tremonton which is just over the Wellsville Mountains and a little north of Brigham City.  I didn't get a chance to speak with the fourth couple. I think they were going to Zimbabwe, but I'm not sure.

After Thought

Elder Cook was telling me how poor the Congo is.  Their unemployment is 75%.  The returned missionaries (RMs) are being taught how to build the chapels and housing, so they will have skills and be able to earn an income.  They are desperately in need of education.  The Church's Perpetual Education Fund will be of great assistance there.  I learned from Elder Falabella last fall that the employment center and other welfare service units outside of the US and Canada will be called "Self Reliance Centers."  I told Elder Cook to just call and I'll come help with his Self Reliance Center. 

28 April

Missionary Work

As part of my work as an Employment specialist.  I meet with Stake Presidents and Bishops to share about the services we have to support them in their calling.  I have been assigned the Providence Young Single Adult (YSA) Stake to work with.  On the 14th of this month I visit the YSA 2nd Ward.  This past Sunday I visited the YSA 3rd Ward.  We were meeting him before church, so we were still able to attend Cobblestone 1st. Bishop Wootton was very receptive to my presentation of the services available at the employment center.  He has two young ladies he will be calling to be Ward Employment
Specialists. One is preparing to go on a mission. She has some medical issues she needs to stabilize before she can leave. The bishop wants to keep her busily engaged. She has been going out with the sister missionaries.

27 April

 Death by Chocolate

Weekends seem to go better if we have something to do or someplace to go, so I propsed that we go to see a play. We drove to Perry which is next door to Brigham City to see a community theatre production. The Heritage Theatre was putting on "Death by Chocolate" which sounded rather cute. The play was a delightfully sarcastic comical murder mystery spoof. Members of the newly renovated Meadowbrook Health Resort were dropping like flies! It was up to John Stone, the manager, to find the cause and the murderer. Stone found himself teaming up with Ed Parlor, mystery writer and amateur sleuth, in a wacky race against time. The clues pointed to a sinister box of chocolates, and the suspects include all the outlandish characters working for the resort: Lady Riverdale, owner of the resort, and a woman with dark secrets; Ralph Deadwood, gym instructor and all around cad; Dick Simmering, the aerobics instructor (think Richard Simmons); Anne, the panic stricken nurse; "Sweet Pea" Meadowbrook, overweight and grieving daughter of the recently deceased founder. I won't divulge the ending. I recognized the interlude music they played:  Peter Gunn, Get Smart, Pink Panther, Inspector Gadget, Perry Mason, and Murder She Wrote theme songs.

The theatre was a converted church (LDS of course). What would have been the front of the church building inside was the stage with no curtain. They had put up a nice lighting and sound booth in the back. The seats where stadium style, but very cushiony and large. They cater to "family friendly" entertainment. We are thinking we would like to go see the next production, "The Lightening Bug -- The Musical." It sounds like it has a plot similar to "You've Got Mail," but the venue is stage theatre versus moving pictures.

We ended the evening taking a scenic route back to Logan, then eating dinner at Angie's.

20 April

Providence's Spring Creek Festival

The weather was a bit overcast and a few drops fell here and there. We decided we needed to get out. 
We finished all our shopping then went to see what the festival was all about. Saturday's festivities were held at the Old Rock Church. It was an old church building (LDS of course) that had been turned into a "bed and breakfast." There were only a few vendors braving it outside. I bought some pretty silver earrings and a couple of homemade tamales. Yummm. We tried sauerkraut prepared several different ways and in chocolate cake. It wasn't bad.

Inside we were able to tour the bed and breakfast. A large boarding house structure had been added on to the church. It was set up with a grand staircase going from the house into the church for weddings. It sounds weird, but was actually very nice. The bride's room was very large with several vanities and a large mirrored alcove. I had the whim to use the top floor "exit."  It was a wooden staircase in need of a handyman. Let's hope no one has to use it as a fire escape in the near future. It might go up in flames first.

18 March

Last week Brekke joined us and this week Steven has joined us.  He is a retired teacher and principal.  I ended up working with him on his résumé.  He has a lot of good stuff and I hesitate to redo his résumé because he is a professional.  He has attended Elder Sidwell's Professional Career Workshop, so I figure he knows more about a professional résumé.  We'll see what Paul says about what we have created today.


Mission/Job
Sister Bell shared with me today how hard it is to leave a mission when you are finished.  They served in a mission office in Samoa.  She said it often felt like a "job."  When it came time to leave, she said it was very hard because she had formed attachments.  I hadn't shared with her my challenge at the employment center, but it was so reassuring to hear her say that their mission felt like a "job."  They also did the tourist thing during P day while they were on their mission.  I've struggle with that also:  Am I a missionary or a tourist?

14 April

Primary 3

Today I got to teach Primary, the 5 year olds.  Sister J called me at the Employment center on Friday to ask if I would sub for her.  I was thrilled to be asked.  This is the same class I visited on Easter.  We had all four students show up.  Malinda has a wonderful rapport with the little kids.  The lesson was on the Holy Ghost.  It is a little challenging to get back into the teaching mode for little children. 

Malinda is a quadriplegic and very independent in her motorized wheelchair.  She is also very positive.  I wasn't very in-tune to her needs during Open and Sharing.  Shes like to follow along in the songbook when the children are singing and has her own songbook.  Malinda just needs someone to get it out and open it for her.  She has a device taped to her hand to assist her in turning the pages.  The ward members are very aware and were right there to help.

9 April

April "Snow" Showers

Last night when I went to bed, it was raining and the winds were howling.  This morning I woke up to find snow on the ground.  It looked kind of pretty, but it turned out not to be so nice.  Everything under the snow was ice because it had been raining first.  The good news is the ice melted by mid-morning from the sunshine.  However, we aren't done with the snow.  As I look out the window this evening, I see tiny snowflakes blowing down from the sky like dandelion seeds.


 

7 April -- General Conference

Today felt more like Easter than last Sunday.  Wow, Conference was great!  Yesterday, we attempted to listen/watch conference on the internet.  The morning session went alright, but we couldn't stay connected to the afternoon session.  We reverted to my clock radio.

Today I went to the Stake Center to watch Conference.  (My companion stayed in the apartment because she hasn't been feeling well.)  The building was unlocked about 15 minutes before Conference started.  I had the building all to myself.  As I was settling in, I realized it wasn't going to comfortably warm inside, so I brought in a blanket from the car and snuggled in.  A few minutes before the morning session started another couple came in.  The woman had brought a blanket with her.

I enjoyed watching and listening to the speakers in the morning.  When I saw Elder L. Whitney Clayton come to the podium to speak, I thought "I have met him and shaken his hand."  What a thrill.  His talk was about marriages.  President Uchtdorf is always great to listen to and President Monson has fun stories to tell about himself.  He is a great storyteller and has wonderful facial expressions when he tells tales on himself.  He always ties his stories into marvelous lessons.  This time it was on obedience. 

For the afternoon session I brought my tied fleece blanket to wrap up in and warm sock for my feet.  The couple that had come in the morning were there again for the afternoon session.  Another familiar face showed up at the podium.  This time it was Elder Falabella.  I feel more partial to him because I actually had the opportunity to not only meet him, I also was able to sit and visit with him and his wife over lunch.  It was a more personal connection.  He spoke of the home, too, and the relationship between husband and wife.  Whenever he mentioned his wife Blanca, I could see her responding as he said. I also enjoyed the words of Elder Holland.  The three things I brought away from his talk is:  1 believing is holding on to what I believe, be strong; 2 be true to the faith I have, trust; 3 in times of doubt & difficulty ask for help, it comes from both sides of the veil.

I liked being in the Stake Center for conference.  The Spirit was there and I could feel it.  Watching conference on the computer is convenient, but there are things around the apartment that distract from the Spirit occasionally.

31 March -- HAPPY EASTER

Sister Watson had a baby boy yesterday.  :-)  The sun is shining and the temperatures are slowly getting warmer.

Sister Bews' family from Boise, Idaho, stopped by to see her for a couple hours on their way home from their vacation in Las Vegas, Nevada.  She was thrilled to be able to visit with her grandchildren.  

Carolyn sent me a plant for Easter.  It will be 4 to 6 weeks before they start blooming.  Hurray for flowers.  Daffodils and tulips are already blossoming in Livermore, but nothing has showed it's head here yet.  Jeanne and the kids sent me some Easter and Spring window gels, a Lego Friends Squirrel packet (I love Legos), and a Happy Spring hand towel.  Lots of fun things to brighten up the apartment and chase away the winter blahs.

I went to Primary with Malinda today for the Easter lesson.  Last week Sister Bews was with the YMYW learning about genealogy.  It was fun being with the little kids.  We only had one little girl in class and three adults.

I'm so looking forward to General Conference next weekend! :-)

24 March

A Meeting and Choir

Last night I received a return call from the Providence YSA Stake Secretary.  He arranged for me to have a meeting this morning with the Stake President so that I could explain the services at the LDS Employment Resource center.  I quickly put some things together for today.

The visit went well.  We met with the Stake President, one of his counselors, the Stake Executive Secretary (who knows the Prussos in Livermore--small world), and the Stake Financial Clerk.  Sister Bews was with me because we are a companionship. I had to give an impromptu Me in 30 Seconds to explain my background and expertise, then the Stake President wanted to know what the Employment center could offer.  After my brief description of services, with emphasis on the Career Workshop, he decided he would like the information shared with the wards and bishops.  He was not sure if it should be presented at Ward Conferences or in Sunday School.  As part of my responsibility in overseeing the Stake, I am to report to the Stake on a monthly basis about how things are going.  The Stake President asked that I report to the Stake Financial Clerk. 

We had our Easter program today.  Next Sunday is going to be fast Sunday.  The two adult speakers focused primarily on the Last Supper.  The choir sang "How Great is the Miracle" and "I Stand All Amazed."  I was doing okay until the choir director started having tears run down her face.  It was a challenge for our choir to learn these numbers because we are very limited on practice time.  We did it and it turned out beautiful.  I am sure we had lots of heavenly help.

22 March

Snow Again :-(

It is snowing again.  Just light scattered showers, but it is still snow and cold.  Fortunately the streets are only wet, not slushy or icy.  We get a few nice days and then a few cold days.  I'll be glad for the time when there are more nice days.  I'm ready for warmer weather.

8 March

Long Day

Yesterday was a long day.  We started out in the center in the morning then went to Ogden for a mission meeting, and finally a Relief Society birthday dinner back in Providence.

There were a couple reasons for going to Ogden; first and foremost was a special meeting with Elder L. Whitney Clayton who is in the Presidency of the Quorum of the 70s.  Second Sister Bews needed to pick up some prescriptions from the mission doctor.

The meeting with Elder Clayton was wonderful and uplifting, made me want to work harder at being a good missionary.  The first thing he wanted to do when he arrived was to shake every missionary's hand.  He reminded us that in our mission we have missionaries from all over the world.  We were told it matters where you serve and to be grateful we are here with the Hiers because they are a wonderful example.  It matters what we do with our calling because it impacts our families.

He shared a story about a young mission president who urged the missionaries not to be tape measure missionaries.  In other words, don't measure the path to see how wide it is and how close to the edge you can get.  Stay in the center of the path and things will be okay, follow the guidelines and keep the commandments.  This work is hard but not discouraging.  He referenced Alma 23:5-7 regarding converting people to the church and more specifically he focused on verse 7.  He challenged the missionaries to put down their weapons of rebellion:  lack of confidence, disobedience, etc.  He reminded the missionaries that when they were set apart they were also blessed with power and to follow Ammon's example.

The Ward Relief Society dinner was a celebration of the Relief Society's birthday this month.  It was a lovely meal and a nice end to a long day.

3 March

Rainy Sunday

Today it rained most of the day.  Better that than snow.  The sun is suppose to come out tomorrow.  March is suppose to be a on and off month.  Meaning, just when you think spring is coming, a snow shower pops up and the temperatures drop.  We'll see if it is in like a lion and out like a lamb.

And another one bites the dust.  Hurray, Karen has a job starting tomorrow.  She received an offer Friday, but had to do a little negotiating because they offered her a smaller salary than they had talked about in her interviews.  She negotiated a $1 more than they offered with another $1 increase in 60 days if she proves herself.  We have no doubt that she will prove herself invaluable to them because she is very good at what she does, even at 58.

We'll have a new candidate start on Monday.  Her name is Brekke and she is a chemical engineer.  She has a BA and some experience.  She worked on the TSA machines that were suppose to detect bombs.  Brekke and Michael would have been a fun team; he blows up things and she keeps them from blowing up.

The funniest part of Gospel Principles class was when Brother Watson was pulling food out from inside his jacket and putting it in his wife's tote bag.  It looked like a magic trick but it wasn't suppose to be.  He was trying to be subtle.  Sister Watson is pregnant (due March 30) and directs the choir.  We have practice right before church.  She had asked him to bring some snacks for her.  He pulled something from one inside pocket, then another item from a different inside pocket, and third item from another inside pocket.  It really looked like a slight of hand trick and made me laugh.
 

28 February--Half Way

Today I am officially half way through my mission.  I treated myself to dinner out.  We went to Cafe Sabor.  It is very similar to Casa Orozco in Livermore, but in an old train depot.

26 February

 Temple Sealings We went to the temple tonight and did sealings for our manager.  She gave us 30 daughters to seal to their parents.  It was the first time Sister Bews has done sealings since she was sealed to her deceased husband and daughter, and her living daughter.  It was a very special night.

24 February

Musical Fireside

The Utah Ogden Missionaries put on a musical fireside at the Logan Tabernacle tonight.  We have a lot of very talented missionaries in our mission.  About a dozen missionaries shared their conversion story then bore their testimony in their native language.  There were several beautiful numbers, two by a choir, and several small groups.  The spirit was very strong.

23 February

More Snow

I was up by 7am this morning and skies were somewhat clear.  As I looked to the north I could see the cold front moving in.  By 9am it was snowing and it continued to snow all day.  I think we received at least 4" of snow.

I am hoping this is the last storm of the season.  In commemoration of that I built a snowman by our garage/storage unit this afternoon.  The snow off the road seemed to stick better than the snow on the grounds.  Maybe the salt in it made it a little more moist.  I had to pack the snow instead of rolling it into snowballs, so my snowman is a little unique.  The snowplow man was grading the road around the apartments while I was out.  He offered to plow around my snowman.  How nice of him.

21 February

Hurray!!!  Colleen and Terry got jobs today.  

Colleen was up early and drove down to Clearfield to apply at a temp agency there.  We are talking a 30 minute drive at least from her place.  Afterwards she came to Logan.  While she was waiting to talk to me she received a phone call.  It was the temp agency offering her a position food distributor, which is very close to her home, temp to permanent.  :-)  She starts next Wednesday.  Colleen has lots of production experience, but had been doing substitute custodial work at schools.  She enjoyed the school environment and was hoping to find something permanent there.  However, the food place pays well for the area and she would have full time work and benefits in 90 days.

Terry is still very much of a little boy at heart, he likes to tease.  I can see him sitting in a classroom pulling on the braids/ponytail of the girl in front of him just cause they are there.  He has been turning in applications for shipping or purchasing positions all over the region.  He had five interviews to do in Salt Lake within a two day period a week ago.  He even went to Idaho Falls for an interview.  At the beginning of this week he had another interview with a different company in SLC.  He was offered the job this morning and accepted.  Not only that, he has received another offer since this morning but will stick with the first one.  Terry has been in our AJS program 30 days. 

Candidates do get jobs quickly if they are willing to work the program.  I have to keep reminding myself of that fact.  Some of our candidates seem like they are in the program forever and ever.  Generally that is because they are not matching their résumé and pounding the pavement.  There are some situations that take longer to get placed, but only because it is a specialized field.