We have Rain!!

I just had to go outside and watch the rain as it is not the same from the window. It was actually a gentle rain and there is a promise of more. I looked to the heavens and expressed thanks. It is amazing how a cloudy sky, with promise, can refresh my spirit, but it has. It is cooler too! I will need to be careful to not grumble with a new season approaching and what that might bring.

We started our first week of Career Workshops and with one participant we felt blessed. Daniel Weger is a delightful young man who has been home from his mission to Equador for only a few months. His Mother volunteers in our office and was an encouraging influence on him to attend. His expression that he learned something helpful was welcomed by Elder Avery and I who feel like we are just learning ourselves. With 6 months into the mission, we know that we have much still ahead of us.

I was delighted when Hermana Butler and Amitoelau were not transferred elsewhere this past week. They help us every Thursday morning in the office and we have a tendency to enjoy seeing their faces each week. They are the only missionaries who have consistently invited us to visit investigators with them and we do enjoy that opportunity.

Our monthly planning meeting on Thursday actually had the two High Councilmen and two Stake Employment Specialists there. We have been working at this for some time and it was very gratifying to have it happen. We had a good discussion and planned the monthly Ward Employment meeting for this coming Thursday. We have great hopes for the attendance at that meeting to increase as well. We have 12 Wards that have Ward Employment Specialists out of 14. Bishop Garcia saw the need to change his and we met with Lupita Villarreal on Wednesday to instruct her. She is excited and it will be a delight to work with her. From what we can see, there needs to be some changes in the other wards also so we hope this will happen in time. WES are such an important part of what we are striving to accomplish with the Employment Center being the Welfare project of the two Stakes.

A couple of weeks ago, when we attended the LaJoya Ward, Bishop Rodriguez asked us to speak in the combined RS and Priesthood meeting about the Employment Center. I decided I wanted to have my talk translated into Spanish and give it in that meeting. Well, that took place today and I accomplished my goal. I have never practice reading a talk outloud as much as I did that one. I was pleased that I challenged myself to do that, but saying I did it once is okay with me.

On September 15th we will start having the Center open at night also, so that day will be a long day for us. We feel it will give those members who do work to be able to do some volunteer work. Also, the ward leaders are being encouraged to learn how the center functions and this will make it better for them. Also, we hope to eventually have opportunities for members to be instructed on writing résumés, interviewing skills, "me in 30 sec" and power statements, etc., and we can have qualified volunteers do the instructing. We want the people to realize that this is their Welfare assignment and to take it seriously. It is exciting to have the possibilities and with the Lord's help they can become a reality.

With love,
Los Averys