The Mission Starts....

We started our Mission on September 1, 2009. We went for three days of training. Once we made the decision to serve, we were so excited to learn all we could about what we would be doing. They were very excited to have Ron there to help with the people that could not speak English. We call the people we help Candidates.

After the three days of training they basically turned us loose. The computer part was easy for me but trying to find solutions to some of the situations was harder. We work with Candidates from all walks of life. With the economy the way it is, people that thought they had their lives all in order, found themselves without a job.

It is so amazing how much the church does for people. We are adjacent to the Deseret Industries. We went on a tour of the facilities. They offer people a chance to change their lives. Upstairs is the Humanitarian department, which they are remodeling. They have part time Missionaries that help gather blankets, toys, toiletries, clothes, etc. for countries all over the world. I know in our ward, once a month the Sisters get together and make quilts, hats for newborns, leprosy bandages, puzzles, books, etc. for hospitals to give comfort to those that our having a hard time.

They also have a program to help their clients get their GED's. It is so great to see the program and how it is implemented with the Missionaries as mentors. They wanted Grandpa and I to do this. We both said, I hope it isn't in Math. She gave me a math workbook to look at. Some of the people have been out of school for many years and don't have much self-confidence. We try and make anyone we work with feel better about themselves when they leave.

Now, I have to tell you a story. Grandpa and I went to Las Vegas so that he could baptize Savannah. After a wonderful day we were heading home. Whenever we do anything related to the church, we need to wear our Missionary badges, so we had them on while we were traveling home. I was busy playing a game on my palm when Grandpa said oh, we are going to get a ticket. I said, "Were you speeding?" Sure enough, we saw the lights go on. We pulled over, and then we hear over a loud speaker to go further up to get out of the way of traffic. Of course, I said; "Oh, trouble." He came to my side of the car and said "Hello folks, do you know why I stopped you?" Grandpa said no, maybe speeding? He said yeah, you were going 83 in a 55 mile zone. Now, I have to tell you that it had just changed to go into the gorge. We both gulped. He then asked us where we had been. We told him to our daughter-in-laws baptism. He looked at my badge and said, so are you Missionaries. We told him yes. He asked us where we were serving. We told him at the LDS Employment Center. He said so if I lose my job, you will get one for me? We told him yes. He got Grandpa's license and registration. He was gone forever. He came back with a clipboard and I thought we are going to get a ticket. He showed us what we would of paid if we got the ticket. It would of been $483.00. He then said that he was just giving us a written warning. He told us to go talk to our Bishop the next day and tell him what we did. We laughed. Now I don't leave home without my badge. Just kidding. But I have to tell you, people show such respect to us when we have our badges on.

Also in our office we have a transient Bishop that work with the homeless, people who get stuck in St. George and can't get home and various other reasons. When I see them come in they look so sad and hopeless. Most of the people are homeless that come in. Some look like they haven't had a shower in a very long time. They also have children with them sometimes. A lot of times they let them work at the DI in exchange for shoes or clothes. One thing I heard from one of the Bishop's wife is that when people have been sent to the prison in Hurricane, which is the next town over, they are let out with the clothes that they came in with. One lady had been arrested in her nightgown. When she got out, she had gained weight, but they sent her out with the nightgown anyway. Now, if you don't have anyone to pick you up, you are in big trouble. There isn't any public transportation from the prison to St. George. This poor woman walked into our office in the ill fitting nightgown. They of course, got her something to wear. This has really been bothering me and I am going to look into getting donations to the prison with clothes and shoes for the ones being let out.