Companion has arrived!!!

Yesterday I arose at 6am so I could exercise before heading out to pick up my companion at the MTC.  My plan was to leave by 7am so I would have time to get lost or stuck in traffic and still arrived by 10am.  Well, it was 7:30am when I was walking out the door.  Getting started in the mornings is a challenge for me.  As luck would have it, I arrived at the MTC by 9:30am.  I am confusing Bay area travel issues with Salt Lake City travel issues.  They have their problems, but still have a way to go before they can match the Bay area.  As a result, it took me only two hours instead of three.  To my daughters, I stayed within the speed limit all the way.  

in the Mission Office

When I walked into the lobby, I saw a lady sitting in a chair busy with her iPod.  The only other people there were behind the counter, so I walked over and sure enough her badge said "Sister Bews."  Elder Lloyd came through about the time we were gathering Sister Bews' things, so we got to say goodbye to him and his wife, again.  He found information about "This is the Place" we could visit it in Salt Lake on our way out.  As we were heading north on I-15 in the HOV lane (since there was two of us we could use it), we decided that we just wanted to get to Ogden without any stops along the way.

With the Mission President and his wife.

The first time I was in Ogden President Olsen was transitioning out and President Hiers had not arrived yet.  This time President Hiers and his wife were there and available to meet with us.  What a wonderful couple they are.  I really wanted to meet with them because I wanted clarification about what Senior Missionaries can do.  (My personality needs some guidelines.)  He said it was pretty much up to us to follow the spirit in deciding what we can do.  If we felt a movie was okay, then we could go to it.  If we needed to take a break from each other, it was okay; we don't have to stay within sight of each other.  If we want to watch TV or swim, it was our decision.  He encouraged us to go out with sister missionaries if we have time and attend baptisms.  We are welcomed to join them at zone conference in our area and the dinners they have with senior missionaries in various areas.  It is nice to feel accepted and included.

We ate lunch at the Greenery Restaurant at Rainbow Gardens which is located at the mouth of Ogden Canyon.  It had started out as a mineral springs resort in 1895, but had its ups and downs.  At one time, there was a huge ballroom, indoor and outdoor pool, and 18 bowling lanes.  I was told the old indoor swimming pool is a sunken gift shop and solarium, but we didn't make it there.  The food was good and reasonably prices.  

We arrived back in town in time to stop off at the employment center so Becky and Paul could meet Sister Bews.  

I've been experimenting with my Cannon settings.  Finally a sunset picture that I like.  I still need to do some more practicing.  Maybe I should read the instruction book.  Now were did I put it???????

Next blog I promise to give more details about what my work entails at the LDS Employment Center.  Hint:  I haven't strayed too far from my previous occupation.

Holiday and such

July 1st

We have had a few fires here in Utah, one not too far from my apartment complex but rather small in comparison to the other battles that have been raging.

This was near Millville just south of me.  You can see the carport cover in the picture to the left.  The fire department had it under control in 24 hours and out about 48-72 hours later.

July 3rd

 

Logan didn't cancel it's fireworks show, but they had them on the 3rd instead of on the 4th.  The pyrotechnics have a busy schedule this time of year.  One of the Sister's I work with has a nephew who does the Logan show and several others.  I guess it takes about three or four 12 hour days to get everything ready.  They had done a show in Idaho on June 30th so they were hussling to set up Logan.  It was a spectacular show.

I experimented with my camera taking lots of  shots of the program.

 I put my camera on a tripod to keep things a little more steady.










  


  These are some of the better shots.  

This clip is the finale.

July 4th

For the Fourth, I visited Willow Park Zoo.  It is small zoo they have here in town.  It is so small that they have a post at the entrance that has a slot in it for you to drop a recommended donation in.  

 Remember Night at the Museum, well this is a Capuchin monkey.

 This is actually a baby emu.

 Loving his watermelon on a hot day!

Would you believe this is an albino porcupine.  He looked kind of cute sleeping with his head on his paw and his paw on the branch.

I will be an Accelerated Job Search Facilitator (sounds impressive, huh) when our ERC starts implementing the program.  West Jordan, St. George, Welfare Square, Boise, and Sacramento have started.  Church headquarters wanted the pilot started last January.  My Director Becky Conger has been waiting for her full time missionaries to start because they will be responsible for running the pilot.  She has a couple from the area that will start next month as full time missionaries living at home as well as my companion.  They will all have to go through the MTC too.

People who come into the office are called candidates.  Some come in to practice for interviews and others want help with their resumes.  Still others come in to do job searches on our computers.  We have a bank of eight computers available for doing job searches.  We encourage everyone who comes in to take the Career Workshop.  All the services we offer are free to everyone.  

I plug away answering phones and registering people on LDSjobs.org.  One morning we had an individual come in seeking help with a summary on a college paper.  The candidates primary language is French and had been referred to LDS ERC to get assistance correcting it.  An intern from the college and myself went over the paper correcting grammar and sentence structure.  I have also been asked to mentor two individuals going through the Deseret Industries training program.  They are employees receiving training so that they can get jobs in the public sector.  They are assigned mentors from their church wards to work with them.  The mentors for these two associates had moved out of their ward.  DI people are referred to as associates instead of candidates. 

New Home

The top 3 windows belong to my unit.

I found a nice apartment in Providence, Utah.  Providence is right next door to Logan, like Dublin and Pleasanton.  Sister Conger had compiled a list of half a dozen places for me to look at.  We checked them out Friday afternoon and Saturday morning; by Saturday afternoon I had narrowed it down to two.  I think what ended up deciding me on the Deer Creek Apartments is they said they cleaned up the snow the day it fell, internet and local phone service is included, and a handyman is available 24/7.


I spent the past week setting up the apartment.  Thursday I physically moved into the apartment.  It is so nice to be unpacked!  The Mission has provided some nice furniture.  The mattresses are new.  Members at the Employment Resource Center (ERC) and in my new ward have brought over a variety of other items to help me set up my apartment.  I've received pots and pans, dishes, silverware, towels, etc.  I have been blessed with their kindness. 

Bedroom.  New mattressess--no bed bugs :-)

Good size kitchen.

Dinning room.  Washer and dryer are behind the double doors.

 I spent Wednesday and Friday in the ERC.  It is staffed with part-time Missionaries from the stakes in the Mission.  Most work two days a week in the center and some work at other centers that are under the direction of our office.  The Missionaries lead the classes that are offered at the center.  Besides the Career Workshops, they also offer Self-Employment Workshops, Networking, Professional Career Workshops, and a Scholarship workshop.  (Utah State University is located in Logan.)  I get to become familiar with all these workshops.  My responsibility will be working in the Accelerated Job Search (AJS) program.  I will work one-on-one with some candidates on their job search.  It is more of a mentorship.

Life at the MTC

gym/auditorium-Lorenzo Snow bldg

 

You rise every morning by 6:30am and are in bed every night by 10:30pm.  Breakfast is served from 7am to 8am, lunch from 11:30am to 1pm, and dinner from 4:30pm to 6pm.  The food is served cafeteria style and is very good (I have probably put on a few pounds).  There are at least three or four different meals to select from and every day there seems to be several new items on the menu.  It is amazing to watch some of the young elders fill their trays.  I think they must have two hollow legs besides an empty stomach.

main entrance- Wilford Woodruff bldg

The rooms are similar to ones you would find in a hotel except there are two twin beds, at least that is the case for the single senior sisters.  The rooms, however, do not have a TV or radio.  There is a bookstore, mail room, beauty/barber shop, laundry, and dry cleaning on campus.  Pretty much self contained.

The second week at the MTC was focused on Welfare Services.  We had a field trip on Monday to Welfare Square in Salt Lake to see the facilities there and learn more about the programs.  Tuesday through Thursday we spent in classes at the MTC learning about our specific program.  We had two groups for Welfare Services, humanitarian aid and employment resource specialists.

Logan

Friday was my travel day.  It took me about 90 minutest to get the Utah Ogden Mission Office.  I checked in with them and filled out an emergency form.  Talked with the staff a little bit and learned my primary responsibility will be the employment resource center (ERC).

looking from east to west across the valley

Logan is just a hop, skip, and a jump from Ogden.  I am staying the ERC director and her family until I have an apartment.  She had lined up several apartments for me to look.  I was anxious to get started so we ate some lunch then hit a couple of them Friday afternoon.  Saturday we looked at the rest she had on the list.  By Saturday afternoon had it narrowed down to two possibilities.

Saturday afternoon I drove around town to see what conveniences were available near each of the complexes.  I also wanted to get my bearings.  I had my Garmin available if I became totally disoriented.  By Saturday evening I had decided on which complex I would like to be in.  I'll go in Monday and apply.  I am hoping to be in my own place by this time next week.  I am getting very tired of living out of a suitcase!

The Week in Review

Drive to Utah

The morning we left the weather was a little cloudy but nice, and the traffic was moving at the limit. I thought the traffic might be a bit heavy since it was Memorial Day weekend.  Carolyn and I stopped just west of Sacramento for breakfast before heading into the Sierras. We encountered rain mixed with some snow as we climbed in elevation. By the time we reached Donner summit it was a very wet light snow. We were in and out of rain showers from then on. Whenever the elevation reached 6,000 feet the rain would become snow. Nothing was sticking to the road. It became a light snow flurry when we went across the Pequop Summit on the eastern edge of Neveda.

Sunday we went to church in Salt Lake City with Devany and her family, then I dropped Carolyn off at the airport. Devany was so sweet and invited me to join them for dinner. I appreciated being with family after dropping Carolyn off. After dinner I drove down to Provo and checked into the MTC.

Provo MTC aka Provo Missionary Training Center

There are 2200 young missionaries here, about 70 senior couple missionaries, and only four of us senior single sister missionaries.  Of the four, I am the youngest.  Our group of seniors are going all over the world and the United States.  Some couples in our group are going to Turkey, Macedonia, Malaysia, the Philippines; others in the group are going to California, Hawaii, Wisconsin, Idaho.  Some seniors are going to be office staff or support leadership, some have medical callings, while others will be serving humanitarian missions, and a few will be proselyting.  We four sisters are all serving as employment resource specialists.

The first week has been intensive study of Preach My Gospel and using the scriptures.  We are doing in one week what the younger elders and sisters do in three weeks (six weeks if they have a language to learn).  We all are working together to help each other succeed and have a wonderful experience.  It is the love for the gospel and the desire to share it with everyone that brings us together in this work.  I know the Book of Mormon is true and those who read it will draw closer to Jesus Christ and find peace in their life.

I am a Missionary :-)

:-) Well, it is official.  I am now a set apart missionary.  The Stake Presidency, my bishop, and Brother Bill Daily set me apart as a missionary after sacrament meeting.

:-( I received some sad news yesterday.  My mission companion has not received her visa yet and on top of that she has broken her arm.  She will not be able to travel for another four to six weeks.  Missionaries always go out in pairs (sometimes there are three somes, but never alone).  I will temporarily get another companion at the Missionary Training Center and in Logan.  

#-) Sunday night there was an Open House for me.  It was a wonderful opportunity to say good bye to friends and receive well wishes.  Thank you to everyone who came.  I appreciate your support, love, and enthusiasm for me.
 
B:-) Saturday Carolyn and I head for Utah.  Next week at this time I will be in the Provo Missionary Training Center.  I am excited!