Averys On a Mission

2010-02-21T15:09:00.000-08:00

Elder and Sister Anderson arrived here about 4 pm Saturday, very much relieved to make their final destination. We met at the church and showed them the employment office and then took them to their extended stay motel. I think they were feeling a little overwhelmed, but after today, I really think they feel it. We went to the Mission 1st Ward today and they were greeted very warmly. I had lunch for them and we were able to acquaint them with the apartment as they will be staying here after we leave. They are a great couple and it is amazing how quickly we can bond with someone we meet for the first time. They are in their seventies and seem to be in good health. Sister Anderson will continue with the piano lessons, which I am so grateful for, and if these 'munchkins' don't see how blessed they are to be able to continue with this opportunity, I will be so disappointed. I am having a piano recital on Wednesday so the students can meet her and she them; I hope they practice!!!! Starting Monday, we will be doing all the computer/office training, missionary inspection route, meeting Pres. and Sister Miller, Zone Conference, and whatever else they will need to know. It is an awful BIG BITE to be given in a weeks time, but we know the Lord will bless them beyond what they think they can because He did with us. It is a wonderful thing to have the Lord on your side!

We should be in Caliente on March 6th and I already have a babysitting date with my grandkids. I am so excited to see Cooper, other than on skype, and all the family we can visit as we travel through Utah. Our twins Aidan and Ahston and all the grandchildren have probably grown so much. We are just excited!

See ya soon,
With love,
Los Averys

2010-02-14T16:56:00.000-08:00

On this Valentines Day I express my love to family and friends. I have appreciated having someone to share our experiences with. With only two weeks left before we start our journey home, I reflect on the past 12 months with a lot of emotion. It has been joyful at times, and exhausting at times. I have been stretched way beyond my comfort zone, and came through it knowing more. I have come to recognize more fully my weaknesses, and felt my Heavenly Father's love through it all. I have more compassion for people and the struggles they go through. I have recognized my blessings more fully and express gratitude more. I have become a step closer, although a very tiny step, to having no guile in my heart. I have no regrets about making the decision to serve a mission and feel honored that the Lord trusted me enough to let me have this opportunity to serve these good people in the Texas McAllen Mission.

With love,
Los Averys

2010-02-07T15:32:00.000-08:00

Even though Fast and Testimony Meeting was in Spanish today, I enjoyed being with these good people of the La Joya Barrio. We wanted to see the Wegers' before we went home and thought this the best way. Sister Weger (Silvia) and her two sons, Daniel and Luis, were volunteers in our office for a time. We attended Christmas dinner at their home and I feel a close friendship with Sister Weger. He husband is the new Bishop of the La Joya Barrio and is also a teacher at UTPA and also a PA at a medical facility; a very busy man. She was recently called to be the Institute teacher as there is no missionary couple coming to replace Elder and Sister Hudnor. Anyway, a very dedicated family that has been a privilege to know. I appreciated the message in Relief Society on the importance of Temple Marriage and the Relief Society Presidency was helpful is seeing that I had an interpreter.

Thursday, the General Presidencies of the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary were in the Stake Center for training. The three Stakes in the 'Valley' were involved and according to President Thompson, felt so privileged to have this wonderful opportunity. There was well over 200 leaders in attendance. I happened to see Sister Cook with the youth YW leaders in the High Council room and Sister Allred with the Spanish Relief Society leaders in the Chapel. This truly shows how mindful the Lord is of all His people.

As we listen to the General Conference CDs', we have particularly been drawn to President Uchtdorf's talk in the Priesthood Session. Maybe it is because we are so focused on teaching Self-Reliance that has endeared this talk to us. His personal experiences certainly portray a life of hard work and tenacity, a love of learning, and faith in the Lord. This is truly a testimony of how we can have great adversity and be enabled to rise above it. Everyone has the power to make their lives better because of what our Savior has done for them, and it is up to rest of us to guide them in seeing that.

We had supper again with President and Sister Miller and Elder and Sister Hudnor. I guess because we are both going home soon, they want to make more time for us and plus there just happens to be a BYU ball game scheduled. President Miller has led the McAllen Texas Mission very well and under his leadership there has been an average of 19,000 contacts a week. We have so enjoyed the Missionaries that we have had the privelege of associating with and feeling of their strong testimonies and their love for the people. This Mission has truly been a blessing in my life!

With love,
Los Averys

2010-01-31T15:10:00.000-08:00

Last day of January and I am sure you agree that it went way too fast! February being a shorter month, I feel it will go even faster. Even though it is our last month on our mission, we still have plenty to do; apartment inspections Friday, a youth workshop the following Saturday, a Ward Specialist training meeting the same week, deep cleaning the apartment for the Andersons', training the Andersons' the 22nd through the 26th, Zone Conference, piano recital, and packing. Speaking of feelings, it was a very good Sacrament meeting with the topic being Elder Watson's talk from October General Conference on "Being Temperate in all things". A married couple of only 6 weeks spoke and he has only been a member 6-7 months. I felt the spirit and was strengthened by their experience with being Temperate.

Some of our volunteers have stopped coming so we were pleasantly surprised when on Monday Socorro Farias from the McAllen 2nd Ward came to be a volunteer. Pres. Young had asked that the High Councilmen ask in their ward for someone to help us on certain days that had been shared by us. He will be pleased that it happened in that ward. She had a good experience helping Jose Cruz sign on the computer after she signed on herself earlier so she could learn how. She works for an abused women's shelter as a social worker and has a Bachelor's Degree. She has a long term goal of going back to school to get a degree in Culinary Arts as she is a good cook and wants to pursue that talent. We also had Kevin Jackson sign on the computer and I made business cards for him. He and his wife have a baby boy and are investigating the church and I felt him to be a humble man and also one with a lot of faith. There is always a lot of history with these dear people but always way too much to write about. We also had a Sister McDonald and her son come in who had recently moved here from Cedar City. Her husband was hired at UTPA as a teacher and what a change coming from Cedar to South Texas. They signed on the computer and because they had time, she did her "Me in 30 seconds", etc., getting her profile over 90% and her son got his up to 68%. She wrote down some job leads too. It was a good day!

I found a web site that was designed to show people that we are not just a bunch of "blindly" obedient people with no thought process of our own. It is called mormonscholarstestify.org and I have enjoyed reading it whenever I can make the time.

I read this in the Mormon Times and thought I would share it. It is by the late Truman Madsen: "To be or not to be is not the question. No one can choose to be or not to be...Everyone simply and eternally is an individual, free, conscious, enlargeable self. The question is not one of being, but of becoming. To become more or not to become more. This is the question faced by each intelligence in our universe. At this point, and not before, the absolute and inescapable need for God and His Christ arises. And those who choose are....added upon." There are two words that President Miller has used a lot as he has directed the Texas McAllen Missionaries, and those are to Remember and to Become.

We attended a class at the McAllen High School where we had been asked to discuss with the students what employers expect from their employees and the importance of following safety procedures. It went very well and were thankful for the opportunity. A few minutes were left for questions and one girl asked if we were really brother and sister because that is how we introduced ourselves. When it was explained what that meant and that we were married and had been for 40 years, she was delightfully moved by that and commented on how "cute" we were. It was a class on learning about careers and this week was having guest speakers. The librarian in the school is a member of the church and gave our name to the teacher. The class was made up of Seniors, Juniors, and Sophmores.

Saturday morning we got a call from Angela that Ruth and Cooper had been hit by another car when she was on her way to a class she has been attending for some added certification. An older woman had not been paying attention and hit Ruth's door causing her to jump the curb and hit a brick wall. Thank goodness they had been going just 25 miles an hour. All 4 air bags deployed filling the car with smoke to which Ruth reacted and managed to climb into the back seat to get a screaming baby and kick the door open to get out. We are so so grateful that it wasn't any worse, although the doctor at the ER that check them both, said she was going to be very sore. I don't know how the insurance will handle it all, but we pray it will work to their advantage and we advised her to not sign any closing settlements until she and Cooper got all the therapy they need. I am just thankful and am trying to be positive about the whole thing, which doesn't come easy for me, even though I want to be.

I read a quote in the Church News that I felt defines what we as a people are to be doing to assist others in this life, whether it is employement, sharing the gospel, or just being there for them. C. Terry Warner, a retired teacher at BYU said, "If we are living as the gospel requires, when we ourselves are learning, we are unwilling to leave others behind. An essential part of our growth comes in helping others grow. And then those we help in turn help others-among them....our own posterity. This draws us close to one another even across generations, and we become united, a Zion people."

With love,
Los Averys

2010-01-24T14:49:00.000-08:00

Our grandson, Nickolas, went on a scout klondike over the week end and Brother Christensen sent us some pictures of the event. You do have snow!! I didn't doubt the reports, it is just that I wasn't experiencing it so I didn't give it much thought. This is where we are grateful for all the moisture and a beautiful Spring that is sure to come. Okay, I know, it is easy for me to say enjoying 70 and 80 degree weather, but I am sure you agree.

A new week and I am wondering where last week went. I have been working on Missionary Résumés and have 7 done, working on #8, one is in the waiting file, and one yet still to come in. I see Elder Marrott every week when he comes for District Meeting and still he forgets. The departure date is February 10th so maybe he will make it this week. I told him that I wasn't going to remind him anymore. I also have been deleting a lot of outdated material off the computer. Sister Butler reminds me that the computer has a lot of memory, but I don't like a lot of clutter even if it is on the computer. I thought very carefully before I deleted and I think 1999 qualifies for outdated. It will make it so nice when I am teaching Sister Anderson about the computer to have less confusing information. We had people in the office most everyday and signed a few on the computer. Some have good computer skills, some a little, and some not at all and so we do it for them. We are gradually taking people off our contact list as some are getting jobs, some have moved from the area, some just aren't available because their phones have been out of service for a couple of months, and some we see no effort on their part.

I enjoyed the speakers in church today as they spoke on the Family Proclamation. They recently moved here from California and had had first-hand experience with all the problems over Proposition 8. It is good to hear such strong testimonies given.

Better close so we can go for a ride while the sun is still out so Elder Avery can wear his sunglasses as he broke his other glasses and won't have them until Friday. We kind of get cabin fever after awhile and just need to be outside.

With love,
Los Averys

2010-01-17T14:09:00.000-08:00

We took a ride this afternoon to the park we tried to see during the holidays and thought you might enjoy some of the pictures. This one shows the width of the river and you can see people in Mexico doing some of the same things the people on our side of the river are doing. Listening to the Spanish music coming from the other side and listening to the people on our side, we didn't hear any difference. Imagine that!

Thought you would enjoy a picture of a Border Patrol helicopter that just happened to fly by while we were there. We also saw Border Patrol vehicles patroling in the area.

It is interesting that this river, which is a resource for both countries, where both use the life-giving waters to sustain them, gives freely to both.

We had a good week which included a Zone Conference, Career Workshop, Ward Employment Specialist meeting, and signed 6 people on the computer. Sister Butler showed me on Monday how to download pictures and right after she did, I was able to help Ray Canchola by sending a picture of him to the police department. Someone in Minnesota was using his identity and the police needed Ray's picture along with the other information he gave them. We learned later that the man who did this was caught and we are so thankful this worked out for Ray.

We are so grateful for the blessings that have come to our nephew Jared. He suffered a stroke this past week and there were miracles in bringing such a quick reversal to his paralysis. He felt the power of prayer and love as we all petitioned our Heavenly Father in his behalf. I am thankful our prayers were answered.

I had an interesting comment on my blog from last week. Brother John Moore, a law student from a school in Pennslyvania, found my blog and felt it was an answer to his prayers. He is wanting to be able to attend an event put on by the Hidalgo County Bar Association and needed to be put in touch with someone affiliated with them. We looked on our information and found a member that is a lawyer and asked him to check into things for Brother Moore. This just happened Friday, so hopefully by early next week we should know something. I have emailed Brother Moore with the information and he emailed back his thanks. Feeling the Lord's hand in this, I am hopeful that he will have the information he seeks.

A thought from my reading: "Submission" may be the most powerful concept in the gospel. When we submit, we are saying, "not my will, but thine. " It could feel a lot like slavery or prison, but in the right frame of mind, it feels like complete freedom. Obedience might keep you on the straight and narrow, but submission opens the gate at the end of it. I am so grateful for our Savior who totally submitted himself to the will of the Father and gave us the greatest gift we could ever have. Words can't express the hope and peace that brings to my life!

With love,

Los Averys

2010-01-10T15:56:00.000-08:00

It was just barely a new year, and now 10 days have come and gone already. I am grateful for a few of those days to be gone, as we had some pretty cold weather this past week. Hopefully, there won't be any more of those while we are here. It is not that I am complaining (okay I am), but our wardrobe doesn't consist of sweaters and such because it wasn't suppose to get so cold. People were picking their citrus and covering plants with whatever extra blanket they had. We have been given lemons, oranges, and grapefruits a plenty, which we are so enjoying. If it didn't cost so much, I would mail some home.

The office was busy this week which we thought would happen after the holidays. We worked with 17 people and was able to actually sign some of those onto ldsjobs.org. We had a good question and answer day with Brother Stotts who was here on Thursday from Houston. He brought news that an Elder and Sister Anderson from Mt. Pleasant, Ut will be entering the MTC on February 1st and will be the couple replacing us. So, sometime in March we should be on our way home. We still have a lot we want to put into action, so will keep pressing forward in our service.

Missionary résumés have starting coming in, so I am working at keeping up with them as there are 11 going home in January. There was 19 that came out in December, so the missionary work continues to move forward. We really want to sign the missionaries that are going home onto the new web site and hopefully we can make that happen. President Miller gave his consent for it to happen on their departure day, so we need to somehow make that happen. We are thinking that the office couple, Elder and Sister Goldsberry, could do this so we didn't have to be out of our office. It sure takes a lot of planning to make things happen, but in the end, everything seems to work out.

I attended two Sacrament Meetings today and enjoyed both very much. We planned on attending one ward and then just as we were about to leave this morning, I got a call from Sister Brandt to play for her ward. Thank goodness they were in the same building, so I just left Sunday School class a little early in the 1st Ward so I could start prelude in the 2nd Ward.
The leaders are always so appreciative and again I am grateful to my mother for her persistence, and that there was a piano teacher in our little community so I could have the opportunity.

There are always such good articles in the Ensign and worth every minute of reading time. President Uchtdorf's words that we have a celestial pedigree and therefore have all the necessary talents to make our life an eternal success story, is something everyone needs to hear and believe is true. I was pleased to see that the Relief Society message was on Self-Reliance, which is the emphasis we have used on this mission. Elder Holland's counsel that the past is something to be learned from but not to be lived in. Faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives. In these troubled times, it is so comforting to have these great leaders to inspire us to have hope and courage; to remind us of who is really in charge.

With love,
Los Averys

2010-01-03T15:53:00.000-08:00

We just watched a video the Escobedo family made for us of their Christmas and oh how we enjoyed every minute of it. Juan was making gingerbread men and that made me hungry for gingerbread cake that I like to eat warm with whipped cream, so guess what I just finished making. I'll have to take a break soon to eat some while it is still warm. Naomi said we probably don't miss the craziness, but actually we really do. How grateful I am for family! I know I say that a lot, but I think you understand.

We have been having stormy, cooler weather and actually have seen some trees losing their leaves. I even saw a tree on one of our routes that had leaves that were red and orange. The Church buildings must not be heated at all so I am glad I have a portable heater in my office. I don't like to add to the electrical bill, but it gets too chilly with all the sitting we do.

Even though it has been slow in the office, we still have some good experiences. Felipe Martinez was due his unemployment check but it was not released to him because there needed to be some information added to his file on the computer. We were pleased that he came into our office asking for help and with Sister Lestarpe's help in interpreting, we were successful in getting the needed information entered in. He then made a phone call, and after a long waiting period for his turn, was told his check would be released in 48 hours. He was encouraged and given information on taking English second language classes as places that he had applied, required him to bilingual. Elders Marrott and Diamond brought in Jose, an investigator they are teaching, and we signed him on the ldsjobs.org site. He has computer & electronic repair skills and actually has business cards and has been working some. He is undocumented, so we encouraged him to get his ITIN # because he could then contract a job and pay his own taxes, making the person that hired him not responsible and thus be able to work without a SS#. We always hope for them to be successful.

We met with President Young, (I need to tell him that is my maiden name sometime) and updated him on the church's web sites. We were richly blessed by staying after our office hours, because he is really wanting the wards to take responsibility and is going to put together packets for his leaders and set up a 'return and report' between he and them. It is hard to put into words, but we are excited and so feel the Lord's hand in this work. It requires all those virtues that I am working on constantly. He will be working closely with President Berry of the other Stake, who is also excited about what needs to happen in the Wards.

New Year's Eve found us with about 12 or so missionaries, enjoying taco salad and an approved movie. If you haven't heard of the movie "UP", and you like animated movies, then I recommend it. The missionaries are always so appreciative of what we do for them. I only wish they like to play basketball less and would eat more as I seem to make too much food thinking they would like home-cooked food when they eat so much frozen prepared stuff and ramen soup. Oh well, we will just eat taco salad for a few meals, no big deal!

Jenny and Shane Mathews from Panaca, were at church today. They have been visiting her family during the Holidays and it was good to see someone from home. Shane said he could tell the people at home that we are smiling so all must be good. The closing hymn in Relief Society really touched me as I watched it signed by 4 deaf sisters, and heard it sung in Spanish and English all going on at the same time. "I Stand All Amazed" was the hymn, so I think you can feel what I am talking about. I am so thankful our Heavenly Father gave us his Son, and that His Son gave His life so we could all have the gift of Eternal Life.

With love,
Los Averys

2009-12-27T14:45:00.000-08:00

As I read my journal entries, of the past week, I see that it was a mixture of employment service and celebration of the Christmas season. We were excited to learn of Bill Friar getting hired at Academy Sports! We first knew about Bill clear back at the Halloween party we did for the missionaries when we put together food for the Sisters to take to him. They had encouraged him him to come to our office to visit with us and when he finally did, we enjoyed getting to know him. He had been baptized by this time. As we continued to give him job leads and with the involvement of the High Priest Group leader, Bro. Gillian, he applied for this job and was hired. There is actually more to the whole story that Bro. Gillian shared with us, but the bottom line is that the ward leaders were helping a brother in the gospel and a convert at that. I am hopeful that more of this goes on than we actually know about and isn't just reserved for this particular time of the year.

Stephen Burke and his wife stopped by to tell us of his interview at University Texas Pan Am and that it looks like he will be hired to work in the office of International Aid. He is also going to school there and they decided to move from Hidalgo to Edinburg where he will be closer to work and school. The other reason for the move is because they are foster parents and needed a bigger home to be able to have more children to care for. It is a priviledge to know them and see the love they have for these children. They feel that someday they will be able to adopt some of these children, and we pray for the miracles they will need to have this happen.

We met with a couple of families that just arrived here with the hopes that things would be better here than in their previous residence. We hope it will! Thank goodness for the gospel principles of faith and prayer and hard work, because if we don't have that, I don't know if we could be very positive during these hard economic times.

We spent one evening with President and Sister Miller, and Elder and Sister Hudnor eating good food and watching the BYU/Oregon State game. We enjoyed a little diversion from the norm and I actually enjoyed watching the game. One of our volunteers and her husband,(can't remember how to spell their name) took us and the two sister missionaries out to lunch. It was very good and we appreciate their friendship, which we will treasure. We also spent a couple of hours on Christmas Eve day and Christmas day helping serve food at the Salvation Army. Elder and Sister Hudnor were with us both days and the Sister missionaries were there on Thursday. A great experience! I even got to do something I was really good at; washing, drying, and folding laundry. There was some parents and young children from another faith that were passing out homemade cookies they had put in festive bags, and were wishing every one Merry Christmas. It is good to see people serving and teaching their children the same. We had Christmas Dinner with the Weger family, who have also done some volunteering at the office. The Hudnors' were there as well as Elder Wilde and Elder Butler who are assigned to Bishop Weger's ward. It was delicious food and very good company. When I saw how far away from the office that they live, I appreciated the sacrifice Sister Weger made to come to help us at the office.

We were able to visit with all our family by phone or through Skype, which really helped with having to be away from all of them for the first time. It is such a blessing to have this technology.
We love our family sooooo much and are so grateful they have work and their health. The Lord has truly blessed us and them!

We are sure that you also enjoyed this beautiful Christmas season with service of your own and enjoyed the love of family and friends. We all share in our hearts, love we have for our Savior, and how all of this is made possible through Him. Isn't it wonderful how it unites us no matter where we are.

With love,
Los Averys

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-20T14:05:00.000-08:00

As I write this, I am enjoying a beautiful Sabbath Day in 70+ degree weather, listening to a variety of old Christmas music favorites sung by Andy Williams, Doris Day, and others that bring back memories of my youth. I am thinking of family and friends and hope this Christmas season finds you all well and rejoicing in all that our Savior and Redeemer has done for us. I shed many tears of gratitude in Church today as feelings were expressed of the true meaning of Christmas and the Christmas hymns were sung. I know each of you are having similar experiences and it is wonderful to be connected in this way so many miles away.

In Sunday School class we finished the last lesson in the Prophet Joseph Smith manual and I gained an even greater appreciation for him, as Prophets, since his day, expressed their testimonies of him. I finished the Doctrine and Covenants some time ago, having read it completely through for the first time. I look forward to the study of the Old Testament and bought a book that will be helpful in that study. I also look forward to the new Gospel Principle book that we will study in Relief Society. I love to learn and am so grateful this is an essential part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are also listening to the General Conference CD's as we travel and I learn more every time we listen to the talks. Elder Jeffrey Holland's testimony of the Book of Mormon was powerful!

I found a little time to make some traditional holiday cheese balls and carmel popcorn for the Missionaries, as we did the apartment inspections on Friday, and for some of our regular volunteers. It took a bit of organization to make 13 cheeseballs but was well worth it as they 'dug in', savoring every bite. I made the carmel popcorn for Elder Valentine as he is lactose intolerant and also can't have gluten. He is on his way home tomorrow having completed his mission. We will miss him as well as Sister Amitoelau and Sister Fifita who got transferred this week. They were disappointed it happened before Christmas, but demonstrated obedience and a positive attitude. The missionaries are a great example to me!

It felt good to have our volunteers and Elder Avery find 12 people who found work this past week when they did the call backs. We even had some new people come into the office. I finished up the missionary résumés and made a couple of business cards for people trying to do some self-employment work. We also had a good meeting with the two Edinburg wards and are so grateful that President Barry of that Stake is so enthusiastic about the potential of the ldsjobs.org web site. We will meet with President Young of the other Stake this week, because we feel we need to have the leaders be informed if this work is going to flourish and reach its potential. I pray the Lord will bless them in the great responsibility they have with these good people.

Please know how much we love you and pray for you and your families!

Los Averys

2009-12-13T18:49:00.000-08:00

I read this quote from Elder Henry B. Erying and added it to my others that I often repeat to keep me focused. "Please let me serve this day. It doesn't matter to me how few things I may be able to do. Just let me know what I CAN do." I really appreciate the wisdom in those words.

We had an experience that I would not like to repeat, but was strengthened by it anyway. Sister Butler, Amitoelau, and Fifita, invited us to attend a lesson with a man, they contacted knocking doors, who had read the Book of Mormon several times. It sounded like a 'golden opportunity' and we looked forward to it. Well, he turned out to be very anti-mormon but, interestingly, was not rude about the way he talked to us. We were not given much chance to share anything and because we were not contending with him, it seemed to cause him to lose some of his original intent. Sister Butler gave him the phamphlet on the restoration with their phone no. incase he had any questions and then he gave the prayer basically asking that we come to our senses. Elder Avery shook his hand as we left and bore his testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Prophet Joseph Smith. He was trying to discredit the Book of Mormon because of all the mistakes that were in it. I later read again the title page that says that if there are faults, they are the mistakes of men; wherefore do not condemn the things of God. He must have missed that part in his reading as well as Mormon 8:12 where it says, whoso receiveth this record and shall not condemn it because of the imperfections which are in it, the same shall know of greater things than these.

Zone Conference was great and a big part of it was a Christmas program where many of the missionaries performed. Elder Valentine, who is finishing his mission in a couple of weeks, shared with the other missionaries the importance of being careful to not misplace their referral slips. He shared a personal experience where some disobedient missionaries had been replaced and when the new missionaries took over, they found referral slips all over the apartment. Something caused one of them to move the couch and there was another referral slip stuck in the heater vent. The people were contacted and they joined the church and later had four boys. Elder Valentine was the youngest of those boys. What a powerful testimony of the Lord's hand in our lives and of the importance of obedience.

Our Legal Aid information night went very well with about twice as many people as the first time. We so appreciate these two dedicated people who are willing to inform the people of what they need to be careful in doing or not doing as well as all about the immigration laws. They were told their is a lot of crooked lawyers that make promises, they have no business making, just so they can make money. It was in Spanish, of course, so we depend on someone to interpret for us and probably don't get all the information, but the people do and that is what is important.

We attended a Youth Christmas program tonight that was enjoyable and festive. Some of the young people that we got to know this summer were in it, as well as one of my piano students. They do the program twice in one night; one in English and then again in Spanish. They are quite the example of dedicated young people.

I love the Lord and am so grateful to be a part of His work. I pray he will let me know what I CAN do and bless me not to worry about whether it is enough.

With love,
Los Averys

2009-12-06T13:48:00.000-08:00

The locals have told us that "the valley" experienced unusual heat this summer and now colder than normal temperatures. I was concerned for the citrus crops, but the local paper said the crops are still okay. It has started warming up the last two days but I think the gardens were affected by this as they look like they got nipped by a frost. The few papaya trees in our neighborhood sure look sad with their wilted leaves, but maybe all is well with the fruit. I don't have much experience with tropical fruit.

The Institute Choir did well in the Institute's Christmas party. We got to eat good food and enjoy good company and talent, which made all the late practices worth it. Traveling one night to a practice, we had dogs run across the highway in front of us and we unavoidably hit one of them. It put quite a dent in our low front bumper and forced the upper section by the headlight to come loose, so it is going to need to be fixed. We will need to see if we can borrow a car from the mission if we decide to get it fixed now. I know things happen even when one is about the Lord's work, so I'll try not to grumble about the inconvenience of it all.

I took on another piano student this week so we start at 5:30 now. Isabella has been taking lessons from a local teacher that is no longer teaching, so when her mother approached me, I couldn't say no. I just hope there will be someone to keep teaching this young people when we go home. I guess that is why I get frustrated when they don't practice enough during the week so I can move them on to more instruction instead of doing the same lesson over again.

We should be complete with our instruction for the ward leaders by the end of December. The McAllen Stake is having us meet with two wards at a time, which means we have one English and one Spanish speaking ward at the same time. The meeting went well this week and we hope the rest will also go well. We sure appreciate Sister Weger and Sister Guerra that have translated our hand-outs into Spanish, as it really helps to cut down on the translation time in the meeting. We don't like to keep them more than an hour but it doesn't always work out that way.

We only had two Ward Employment Specialists to our monthly meeting. We didn't even have the High Councilmen or Stake Employment Specialists there. We sure try not to get discouraged, but with this new ldsjobs.org site information and how people are to be signed up in order for Church headquaters to see the progress of this area starting in January, it is hard not to wonder how it is all going to work out. I know it wont be like it needs to be before our mission is over, but it would be so nice to see it at least started and that is where the ward leaders are so needed to help make this happen.

We had a good Sabbath Day and felt the spirit as we attended Fast and Testimony meeting. The other meetings were just as inspiring and it is wonderful to worship together. I look forward to the First Presidency broadcast this evening and am grateful I can watch it in the comforts of our little abode.

I hope you and your loved ones are doing well!

With love,
Los Averys

2009-11-29T14:09:00.000-08:00

We finished the book "Our Search for Happiness" today on our way back from Church. It is amazing how much time can be utilized while traveling to and from meetings, etc. (I truly recommend this book if one has questions about why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints places so much emphasis on missionary work.) We have received our October Conference CDs' so will start listening to them now as we travel. I so appreciate the counsel we receive from our Leaders and look forward to hearing their words again and again.

There were 6 missionary couples that got together Thanksgiving Day at the Mission Home where we ate good food and enjoyed each others company. It helped us all not miss our families quite as much. On Saturday, our children and their families (except Nathan's family)were all together for a Thanksgiving dinner; That day worked out best for them to make this happen. We were able to see and talk with them on skype, which is truly remarkable technology. I was able to contribute to their dinner clear from Texas in an interesting way. Jason's family had been asked to contribute the Avery tradition of a unique cream style corn. He called me and wanted to know where he could purchase the corn for this dish. When I explained that it was corn that had been cooked on the cob, cut off the cob, put in a dehydrator, before eventually reconstituting and making into the completed dish, he groaned because he had promised everyone he would have it. Well, I happened to have two bags of corn that I had done the previous summer, so I sent him one of them and needless-to-say, he was relieved and grateful. Mothers have a way of coming through don't they!

I enjoy reading the Mormon Times paper that comes with the Church News, which I also enjoy reading. Several articles I expecially enjoyed: " Our whole sense of the world changes when we see through spiritual eyes and not our natural eyes" Elizabeth Barrett Browning said it well, "Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God. And only he who sees takes off his shoes." We must understand how to become spiritual beings because as President McKay said, "Spirituality is the consciousness of victory over self." Another article spoke of Joseph and Hyrum Smith as Gentle Men with the ultimate Gentle Men being the diving Father and Son. With all the pressures and harshness of an ungentle world, we are admonished to be gentle men and gentle women. Just as we have been given a legacy of grace and truth from these Gentle Men, we too can become a legacy of grace and truth. Another article was on "Spiritual" self-improvment, which is quite a bit different from the self-improvment of learning to play the piano or balance a checkbook. The focus of spiritual self-improvement is on serving others rather than focusing on ourselves. Just as flowing water is cleaner and brighter than standing water, when the spirit moves through us into the lives of others, it cleanses and brightens us as it passes through. We must be careful to not become as the Pharisees---obsessed with our own worthiness and spiritual well-being. When you bless the lives of others, you will get unseen results.

I so enjoyed the speakers in church today as we attended the McAllen 1st Ward. Their topic was on conversion and they used the scripture accounts of Alma and Amulek and their experience with Zeezrom and also the prophet Abinidi and the one priest, named Alma, who listened to his words. This couldn't help but make a difference with Abinidi when he was sentenced to death by wicked King Noah. He knew his words were not wasted and that the work of the Lord would carry on. For the 5th Sunday message, we watched Elder Bednar when he gave a talk at BYU Idaho on the Sacredness of the Body and how all this CyberSpace stuff is Satan's tool to turn our focus from what is real about us and our bodies and who we really are, to something that is so unreal and disconnected from truth. It is really a serious problem and I so appreciate his wisdom and warning, which I will have no problem heeding. It is always uplifting to meet with the saints as we learn and grow together, and to renew covenants each week. I am so grateful for the Sabbath Day and the command to keep it Holy.

With love,
Los Averys

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-22T13:29:00.000-08:00

We attended a ward Thanksgiving dinner on Friday and had the fun experience of sharing a table with a women that had a delightful Scottish accent. Robina had recently returned from a visit to Scotland to see her brother and she enjoyed asking Elder Avery what he remembered from his missionary days. She has a son that has been serving in Iraq and will be home any day now. Anyway, it was a delightful experience and we look forward to Thursday where 6 missionary couples will get together at the Mission home. I am taking a few family favorites as each couple will do. I hope each of you have an enjoyable Thanksgiving with your families and friends. We will sure miss our family but are so happy they are all getting together on Saturday. This strengthens my testimony of how important families being together forever really is and that we must do all that is in our power to make that happen.

Val Culverwell sends us the Ward Manna each month and I so appreciate her taking the time to do that. I really enjoyed Bishop Holt's message on personal revelation. "How many of us have received impressions, ideas, solutions to problems, strength to meet challenges and comfort to bear disappointment and sorrow, and have not recognized it as personal revelation?" I hadn't thought of it like this and I really appreciated his insight.

Even thought the number of people coming to the office has slowed down considerably, we seem to have plenty to do. I have been in the process of changing the employment bulletin board in our office. Our focus is on provident living, self-reliance, and serving others, which is easy to find plenty of information on. I also wanted to add to the employment section of the ward's bulletin boards. It is all about helping people help themselves and maybe that is why so few are coming in, because they are being required to work hard in their own job search. "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; Teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a life time."
We had a great experience at the Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid night where 50+ people attended. Sister Weger interpreted for us and we felt good about the very helpful information that was shared. We hope the one in December is attended by even more people as it covers a bigger area.
After meeting with the (mostly Spanish speaking) Hidalgo 1st Ward this week, (good meeting by-the-way) we asked some of our volunteers to translate our handouts. We felt like we could shorten the time for future meetings if the written material didn't have to be translated. We sure appreciate this help from these good people.
We do have some great experiences with people getting jobs that I don't always share because the details would take so long to tell. But I did want to mention one because I think I spoke about Tito in one of my blogs. He is the one who is 4' 8" and is a 'giant' of a man. He was hired this past week with a medical housekeeping agency, that we had found out about and told him, and he was on 'cloud nine'. He also got a temporary job doing some brick work, while he was waiting for his background check to come back, and we talked with the woman he worked for when we visited the Edinburg 1st Ward today. She was delighted with him and we always feel good when these job situations work out because occasionally someone disappoints us.

We are reading from the Missionary Reference Library the book entitled, "Our Search for Happiness" by M. Russell Ballard. We feel like we are sitting across from him in this wonderful conversation. Let me share one paragraph; "When Jesus Christ becomes a reality in your life, you find yourself wanting to do what He would do and respond as He would respond in an effort to bring your life in harmony with His. And an interesting thing happens whenever you attempt to place your feet in Christ's footsteps. If you really concentrate on trying to walk the way He walked- loving, caring, serving, and obeying each step of the way- one day you'll look up and discover that His path has led you directly to the throne of God." It is such inspired reading!

We were in the older part of the town of Pharr and stopped at a family bakery to get a treat. Felipe and his wife Irma have owned and operated the business for 20+ years. They got married when she was 16 and he was 18, 48 years ago. He as a jovial fellow and quite the talker. They have all kinds of old relics around the room of just about everything imaginable. I saw the Valentines I had as a kid in the 50s'. Cool! The decoratred sugar cookies of all shapes were beautifully decorated. I'll have to take pictures when they start making the Christmas cookies and hope the pictures show what talent it took to do them.

I am learning so much on this mission and the refining process that comes, when I open my heart to let it happen, is such a blessing. My heart is so full with Reverence for our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ. They love us so much!

With love,
Los Averys

2009-11-15T15:36:00.000-08:00

I had a great experience Saturday when I attended a quilt tying morning with the Relief Society sisters of the Mission second ward. The Stake RS had asked the wards to provide a number of baby quilts for an orphanage in Mexico. I don't very often have the time to participate with the wards as so many of our meetings conflict with theirs, but this time it was possible. I also played the organ in Sacrament meeting today for this ward and really enjoy their sweet spirit.

We didn't have many people come in this week but then we only had 3 days to really be opened. Monday the parking lot had to be closed for a 24 hour period so the church property can't be considered public domain so we parked across the street at a member's home. Friday we had Missionary apartment inspections and with 10 to do now, it takes most of the work day. I gave a few demonstrations on how to clean toliets and tubs and hope we see an improvement next time.
Tuesday evening we met with Bishop Smith, Brother Shipp, the YM's president, and Sister Chandler, the YW's president in our orientation meeting and had a great discussion. They felt that they had been enlightened on their role in the employment resource and we feel it was a good experience. That finishes up training on that stake. We met with the other Stake leaders today and feel positive about being able to do the same with them. I have to keep reminding myself that it take time and to be patient! Thursday evening we met with Bro. Guerra, High Councilman of the other stake, and felt good about his desire to make this all work. Then we traveled to Edinburg so I could play for the Institute choir that is practicing some christmas music. I don't have all the detail as to where and when they will be singing, so I hope it will work out with out schedule. They are a great group of young people and it was good to feel of their enthusiasm. A few late nights for this old missionary couple but the Lord sustains us and we keep pressing forward.

The Missionary resumes are done and after transfers this week I will need to get the next batch of pre-resume papers out to the missionaries going home in December. We are sure we will lose one or more of our sister missionaries that we have gotten close to, but then it will give us an opportunity to get more acquainted with others. Baptisms continue to take place and it is great to hear the missionaries talk about their investigators. It is wonderful to know this is going on all over the world and to be a part of it in some small way. I love the gospel and appreciate this opportunity to express that love in whatever way I can.

Have a meeting and another choir practice tonight so I've gotta run!

With love,
Los Averys

2009-11-08T14:34:00.000-08:00

We have been able to do some web cam skyping with some of our children and grandchildren which has been wonderful, (one more additional skill for the technology handicapped missionary couple) and it hopefully will make the holidays easier to bear without our family around.

This past week has had many late nights, but most have been well worth it. The Hidalgo 2nd Ward Bishop and Ward Employment Specialist were the only ones at the orientation meeting on Tuesday, however we had a great discussion and they felt good about the information we shared with them. I had most of the piano students on Wednesday, so I felt good about the progress there. Brother Stotts, our director, came on Thursday and taught us the updated information for entering job candidates on the computer. The requirements are an email address, which MANY of the candidates do not have, which means very few even have computers. The members need their membership record number to register and we have a generic number that is used for all the nonmembers. Need-less-to-say, I have felt overwhelmed ever since. This website is ldsjobs.org, which is not a new site, but because it wasn't very user friendly, it has been totally overhauled. We have a DVD with all the information which we need to study thoroughly. Basically, our work has doubled, tripled, and whatever that next one would be. Not only do we walk them through the process of signing up on the site, but we also have to sign them up on an email address. We have a feeling many will drop out of the program, especially the undocumented. We want to still be able to encourage them, however, and teach them as much as they are willing to learn about networking and other helpful information. We need to get a Spanish workshop going for them, so the focus of our prayers will be to that end. There just has to be someone who will make time and be willing to do this.

One of the Ward Employment Specialist was in a live community theater play in Pharr, so Friday night we had an evening out and went to support her. That cast did a good job, but 100 years of history and hard chairs made for a not so enjoyable evening. Lupita was pleased that we came, so it was worth it.

We attended the Weslaco Ward today and if you read the article in the October Ensign on Missionary work in this area, the red-haired women on the first page was the Relief Society teacher. We know her well from previous visits and Sister Chamberlain is as energetic as you will ever find in a person. You just have to be around her to experience what words don't adequately describe. Sacrament meeting was on Obedience and we were well taught. There were 3 speakers and they each shared different insights on obedience, and with the struggles I have had on this new computer information, it was important for me to hear. I was surely humbled. That is why I love the gospel so much because everything about it testifies how much we are loved by our Heavenly Father and how much he wants us to succeed in this life. It isn't just coincidence that we chose that ward today and that the message was on obedience. It bears testimony to me that the Lord is so mindful of us in every aspect of our lives. I am so grateful!

With love,
Los Averys

2009-11-01T15:18:00.000-08:00

We are experiencing what could be called fall-like weather. It has been nice to sleep with the window open and not have the air conditioning going. It still gets in the mid-eighties during the day, but the mornings have been in the low sixties; the nights maybe get even cooler than that. Anyway, it is great and even the Texans comment on how good it feels. We are seeing license plates from Minnesota and other cold places, so the Winter Texans or Snow Birds are returning. The oranges and grapefruit are starting to ripen on the trees and it is a beautiful sight to see.

We attended Mission 2nd Ward as I played the organ for Sacrement Meeting. Fast and Testimony meeting was uplifting as well as Sunday School and Relief Society. I was feeling the spirit very much this morning, even before meetings, and I so appreciate when the Holy Spirit touches my heart. I know it is from my Heavenly Father because of the way it makes me feel. The RS is making 20 baby quilts for an orphanage in Monterey Mexico in a couple of weeks and I put it on my calendar to go and help. This ward planted a garden together and I want to go and help weed it when we can fit it in. This would be such a nice break from the computer stuff and couldn't make me any more tired than all the sitting I do. It would actually be a refreshinig kind of tired. It is so strange to see all these gardens growing, when it is cold at home, but this the the perfect time here when it is not so hot. The other good time is in February through April or May. This is the ward Ray Canchola is in and he was there with his 3 children, which he has sole custody of. He has changed his life so much through rehab and coming back to church. We fasted and prayed for him and Luis (Tito) Mijangos today, because they are looking so hard for work. It sure is hard on the old heart strings when we work so closely with them and want them to succeed. We pray that one of the on-going resources we give them is eventually going to work out. Tito only stands 4'8" and is a giant of a man, but some might judge him because of that. I had visited with a mother, back when I played for the primary children, that is a Housekeeping Coordinator for 3 medical facilities. With the information I got from her, we sent both Ray and Tito to fill out applications. Tomorrow I will call her and put in a good word for them.

All the prayers, calling, and follow-up, Elder Avery has done with the Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid people has brought exciting results. We will have the first meeting Nov. 19th in LaJoya so Rio Grande City wont have so far to come; Dec. 10th will be the second meetinig in McAllen. It is an information only meeting, and even though it is held in the church buildings, it is not sponsored by the church. We have to be careful how things are handled when it comes to matters such as this.

We decided not to wait any longer for the McAllen Stake High Councilman over Employment to get their Stake more involved with knowing what the Employment Center is for. Elder Avery called the Stake President's Executive Secretary and made an appointment for us to meet with Pres. Wilson. We feel good about the progress with the McAllen West Stake and needed the other Stake to be making progress as well. We are called the Texas Rio Grande Employment Center, not the McAllen West Stake Employment Center.

The Hudnors' and the Averys' were the chaperones for 30 + Missionaries that could not be out on Halloween night. Sister Hudnor and I made sloppy joes with all the fixins and it was an enjoyable night for all. Those who didn't want to play volley ball or half-court basketball, played skipbo and other table games on the stage.

Sister Butler and Sister Amitoelau have been joined by a new sister named Sister Fifita of Tongan ancestry. Elder Avery and I made it to their favorite couple missionary list which makes us feel much loved and appreciated. These dear Sisters feel like family which helps as we miss our family so much. We truly love the mission experience, though, even when it's hard.

With love,
Los Averys

2009-10-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

The week got off to a great start by keeping us and our volunteers 'hopping'. I like to be busy but I also like to be able to spend quality time with the people. It is a little hard to have the privacy we want with each person because we use the church foyer for working with them most of the time. When we have several at once, we use the Stake President's chairs outside his office so we don't have conversations going on so close to each other. Often we use our offices, even though small, for internet job searches, applying for jobs online, and faxing résumés. We are grateful for what we have and we make it work. One of our volunteers helped us find information about how people, with education from other countries, can have their credits transfered to the United
States. It costs them money to do it but is worth it if it helps them in getting better jobs. Any information we get is a plus for us and our people.

We had the La Joya Ward elder's quorum president, his first counselor, and secretary, and the high priest group leader, and Bishop at our ward orientation night. Bishop Rodriguez interpreted for us and we feel it went very well. We have four more wards to meet with in this stake and hopefully by that time, we will have the other stake up to were this one is. It is all about doing the best we can and leaving the rest in the Lord's hands.

Zone Conference instruction was on Lesson 4 in "Preach my Gospel" in recognizing the spirit. Elder Scott's talk from General Conference and Nephi's experience in obtaining the Brass plates was also used. Sister Miller focused on the Christ-like attribute of gratitude. The sister missionaries and Sister Miller and I sang the hymn, Abide with Me in Spanish and it really sounded good. The knowledge and teaching ability of these young missionaries is definitely because they are listening to the spirit. I picture my grandsons someday doing the same and pray for their parents every day to guide their young lives.

Saturday I attended a Stake Relief Society meeting on Provident living which was very informative and well attended. I was able to help with prelude and the opening hymn. Elder Avery help with an Eagle project that was going on outside taking out dead plants and old grass and planting plants and laying rock and ground cover. He was sore the rest of the day but still helped get some house work done.

Today was the Hidalgo 1st Ward Primary Sacrament presentation that we have been practicing on for 3 weeks. It is always amazing how different the practices are from the actual performance. The children did a great job and the missionaries assigned to that ward said it was a good message on the importance of families. I love how music is universal and I could play even when sung in another language.

It was a good week and we are grateful to be doing the Lord's work!

With love,
Los Averys

2009-10-18T16:20:00.000-07:00

We visited the McAllen 1st Ward today and I felt the spirit as Bishop Kaufusi conducted the Sacrament Meeting. We have visited this ward at least two other times and I have been impressed with his kind and gentle manner. Bishop Kaufusi is of Samoan heritage, or one of those island places anyway, and we understand he cooks a great meal with roast pig and the works. The first speaker talked specifically to the youth and taught them the difference between a choice and an obstacle when making a decision to serve a mission. The choice needs to be made now and then when the obstacles come, there is no need to decide but only to press through the obstacle. He also talked how important member fellowshipping and missionary work is and for couples to prepare to serve missions. The second speaker shared council from the talks of Pres. Eyring and Elder Holland when they talked of "Safety in Council" and "Safety for the Soul ". With the latter-day ills that can so easily get us off track, there is safety in listening to and obeying the council of the Prophet and Apostles.

Sister Butler and Sister Amitoelau really went all out when they decorated my office door with balloons, hearts, and a Happy Birthday sign. They also made Tres Leche cup cakes which is 3 kinds of milk carefully poured into holes poked in the baked cake. This is a very popular way of making cakes down here and really is good. They were so thoughtful to do all this. With the calls from family members and grandchildren singing happy birthday, it was a great, great day!!

It was a good week at the Employment Center when Elder Avery found 9 of our bilingual candidates either working or getting more education and our volunteers found 6 Spanish speaking candidates working or going to school. This is why is it so important that we make these calls often because it is such a good feeling when they have made progress in their lives.

Family members, Ruth Ben, Cooper, Angela, Jason, Aidan, and Ashton went to Caliente for visit which makes us feel so good when our children an grandchildren get together. When Ruth called to ask a few questions about the yard, I couldn't stop the emotions when she told us they were cleaning the tall tall weeds in the garden and some other yard work because we have done so much for them and they wanted to do something for us. How blessed I feel to have such a great family! Ryan, Jordan, Brenan, and Camran were on their way also when Brenan got sick. He received a blessing from his Dad and Grandpa Kenny and we pray for his recovery. They later learned that a friend he was with, was diagnosed with the swine flu and we are very concerned for him and the rest of the family. We have called to see how he is but didn't get an answer so hopefully his mom calls us back or we'll call again. This is when we exercise our faith and trust in the Lord that all will be okay.

We look forward to a new week and all that comes with it!

With love,
Los Averys

2009-10-11T16:19:00.000-07:00

Today we visited the Rio Grande Branch which is about an hour away. It is a small Spanish branch and we have wanted to visit there for some time now and I am glad we made the extra effort. The two missionaries that serve in Rio Grande City were the speakers along with the High Councilman. We understand some words as they talk and at least feel of their love for the gospel. When I saw no one playing the piano, I asked a brother who spoke English, if there was anyone who played and he said they just sing to the CD player. I am so grateful at times like this that my Mom kept me going with my practicing. There are a few missionaries that play the piano in this mission and it would be wonderful if once in awhile one of them could be transferred to that ward. They seemed to enjoy having the piano played for a change. President Lopez told us through an interpreter that he released the inactive ward employment specialist and is working on getting another person called because there is really a need in his branch. Step by step we see good things starting to happen.

We are taking time at the end of each day to talk about the good things that happened that day. I don't know why it is so easy to look at the things that don't go right and focus on them, rather than look at the positive things. Since we have been doing this, it is amazing what we have discovered; People making the decision to start the process to get their GED or take an ESL class (English second language), a High Priest Group leader who lost his job and then got hired back, seeing a timid man step out of his comfort zone and do things he hadn't done before, giving job leads and having people that have been trying so hard get a job, giving people hope by making business cards and flyers so they can be self-employed, and all the miracles that lead up to people finding employment, that would take way too long to share. There are so many that haven't experienced these things yet, but we can't focus so much on that when there is so much good that is happening.

Brother Stotts was here for his monthly visit and we are always uplifted by things we learn from him. I thought we would have a change this month on how we enter data on the computer, but it won't be until next month. He always is helpful with all my computer questions and other technology, such as operating the video camera for mock interviews, using the projector and computer to give a group of leaders instructions from the church's web site, and accessing the official LDS employment logo so I can make business cards for the ward employment specialists.

Sister Butler and Sister Amitoelau thought they would get transferred this week but they are still together and so we have them for another 6 weeks. President Miller said he didn't know how that happened for the third time, but he guaranteed it would not happen again. Sister Amitoelau gave me a real Samoan I'E LavaLava which is kinda like a wrap around skirt. Now she just needs to teach me a Samoan dance.

I am playing for the Hidalgo 1st Ward Primary program so I have been making extra trips to that ward building for practices. On the way home Friday night, we had a very close call when a car directly to the left of us started to turn into us. We honked the horn twice to get their attention and went as far to the right as we could . We were already in the far right lane so at least there were no other cars to deal with. It was probably one of those cell phone talkers that we see so often and just wasn't paying attention . All I know is we were being protected because it was like everything was happening in slow motion because of how slowly they were moving into the lane we were in. Some of the people just zip from one lane to another and we have seen some very narrow escapes when they do this. Anyway we went and treated ourselves to our favorite, Italian Ice Cream, and expressed out deepest gratitude for coming through that experience unharmed.

Even though we don't actively preach the gospel, we have opportunities to share church DVDs' and pamphlets and give referrals when someone expresses an interest. We continue to see the results of that when the missionaries update us of the teaching process and of giving the baptism invitation. It is just another rewarding part of our mission and we just simply feel so blessed.

With love,
Los Averys

Welcome welcome Sabbath morning!

2009-10-04T06:18:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed conference so much yesterday and look forward to more today! I was amazed at 5 more temples to be built and with the economy as it is; this only testifies who is really in charge. To have that much percentage of members living within 200 miles of a Temple was truly a testimony of the Lord's gospel filling the whole earth. I need to be more diligent in my prayers for those nations that do not yet have the gospel, as President Monson asked. I appreciated Elder Scott's reminder of how strong emotions overcome the delicate promptings of the Holy Spirit and shared the comparison of eating a grape and jalopeno pepper together. The several others talks on the Holy Ghost were inspiring as well. Our Heavenly Father so wants us to know about His love for us and how we need to express our love each day, because many of the talks spoke of this. Elder Bednar's insites on Hypocrisy and Elder Watson sharing so many scriptures on Temperance, became welcomed teachings for me. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ!

We attended a youth music fireside last Sunday where some of the youth who helped us during the summer, were participates. It was on Chastity and they truly expressed the truths of this important law very well. The sister missionaries, that we associate with often, brought a young man they are teaching and he really enjoyed it. Sister Butler and Amitoelau also told us that Lisa and her son finally made it to church and had an awesome experience. We have been to her home with the missionaries a couple of times and really felt her desire to know more. The sisters felt inspired to have Janet, another single mom with two sons and is a new convert, to go with them when they visit. They have all connected through this process and it is wonderful to see the results of listening to the Holy Spirit. We anxiously and prayerfully await the announcement of Lisa's baptism.

I would like to share a little more about Janet and how we first came to know her. She started coming to our office around the last of August looking for possible job leads as she was almost finished with school as a receptionist. She is such a example of what people can do when they want to take charge of their lives. She is somewhat handicapped, due to a tumor in her brain that could not be completely removed because of what it would do to her. It has affected her balance but not her desire to better her circumstances. She is a beautiful spirit inside and out and a good mother to her boys. She struggled with the conversion process but embraced it fully a few months ago. She has now finished school and with subsequent visits to our office to improve her résumé and make copies and apply for jobs, she started working on Monday for an Accountant's office. She had such a spiritual experience in answer to her prayers that it strengthen her testimony and her confidence. We felt priviledge that she would share the experience with us.

Nohemi, a more advanced piano student, has been playing the prelude music in her Ward Sacrament meetings to get more experience. Her Obispo (Bishop Garcia) has challenged her even more by asking her to be prepared to play for Sacrament Meeting next week as their regular person will be having surgery. I spent the lesson helping her get the introduction to each hymn marked and leading the hymn while she played so she could see how she needs to keep playing through the mistakes. Bishop Garcia also asked if I could help his ward by playing for their Primary Sacrament Presentation. I don't know how the practice times will work with our schedule but we will pray it can all work out.

September's Ensign, on page 16-21, will show you some of the great people we know. I was so excited to see this article so family and friends could read about the good people here. Sister Chamberlain is such a strength to her ward in Weslaco and we have enjoyed her love of the gospel when we visited there a couple of times. President Chandler is the Priesthood leader we work with in getting the Employment Center and the Wards being united. The Merwins are great people and we worked with two of their children when they were home for the summer from school at BYU. Bishop Rodriguez of the LaJoya Ward, is where we spoke when I gave my talk in Spanish. Brother Beltran is a custodian of the church buildings and we see him often and so enjoy our association with him.

In the Church News of September 12th, we were delighted to see the missionary couple that was with us in the MTC. They are serving in Serbia and were chosen as volunteers along with 8 Elder missionaries to help with the 25th University Olympics held in Belgrade. Elder and Sister Densley are from St. George and Elder Avery knew her in his childhood days. We have often wondered how the couple missionaries are doing in their missions and it was so 'cool' to see this .

We have new pictures of Cooper and what a handsome baby! It is really is quite hard on this grandma to not be in his life right now but look forward to when we can. Our fridge door is loaded with family pictures and I so enjoy seeing this wonderful family the Lord has blessed me with. The Lord truly has been good to me!

With love,
Los Averys

2009-09-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

We had beautiful rain off and on all week and the temperatures actually dropped to the low sixties for two days. It brought a brief but enjoyable change as the temperatures are back to the nineties today. We just strive to enjoy each day no matter what and count our blessings!

We had another break-in attempt on the chapel that we teach piano/English lessons. When Elder Avery went to open the door he found it open with a stick keeping it from closing all the way. He decided to check out the building and proceeded to go in each of the classrooms and found a window broken out in the young women room. He contacted Brother Lyle who is over the buildings and was directed to call the police and report it all. The clerks office door had signs of trying to get it opened as well as one of the Bishop's office. It was interesting seeing how slow the leaders were in taking care of the broken glass and covering the window as it hadn't happened by the time we left at 8:30. This tendency to be critical of others is sure strong sometimes and we strive to remind each other when we are doing it.

We experienced a great Zone Conference on Thursay with a visiting General Authority of the First Quorum of Seventies. Elder Nielson and his wife shared such wonderful messages and it left us wanting more. Even though these conferences are directed to the young missionaries, we always see how they relate to us in our welfare mission . Sister Nielson invited us to embrace the differences in our missionary companions instead of merely tolerating the differences. She elaborated on this, sharing experiences her sons had and are having on their missions. (youngest recently left for Japan) She told an experience of listening to a beautiful choir and how during the last number she heard an instrument join the choir that directed her listening even more. It had lifted the choir to an even higher level of beauty. She later found out it was a "penny whistle" and bought one as soon as she could. It was flute-like in shape but very tiny and cost only seven dollors. She pointed out that this shows how each of us contributes to the work no matter how small our abilities may seem. Elder Nielson discussed with us the scripture reading assignment that we were asked to prepare for two weeks before the conference. I love being taught from the scriptures and applying them in our lives and am trying to do that more effectively. 1st Nephi Chapters 11-14 is teaching us about the Revelatory process. Nephi had a desire to know an sought answers in earnest prayer and the spirit said "What desirest thou?" Investigators have to want to know and be willing to do what it takes. The Lord doesn't give until we ask. 14 times the Lord told Nephi to look when He said "What beholdest thou?" Investigators need to be directed to look by asking what they learn from the reading assignments given them. (And to be devastated when they don't) Then in Chpt 15:6-11 Nephi asked his brothers, "Have you inquired of the Lord?" This teaches the investigator that the heavens are opened to all of us and that God still speaks today. I won't take the time to share how I felt this related to our work in the employment center but just knows that it does. Elder Nielson then spent the remaining time answering questions about his calling which included the details of how he was called; So inspiring! He will be speaking in the Sunday afternoon session of General Conference and two days later, he and his wife are moving to New Zealand to serve for a time there. What a testimony of serving wherever and whenever the Lord asks. It sure strenghtened me and I am grateful for the experience.

With love,
Los Averys

2009-09-20T16:37:00.000-07:00

We went for a drive last Sunday evening to check out a place that we found out about when the owner called with a request for an accountant. There is an actually lake, only about 15 minutes away, that not even many of the local people even know about. We definitely need to find time to go back and go on the horse drawn wagon ride that looks like it goes around at least part of the lake. We saw some very small deer that looked like they were not any bigger than a special dog we know by the name of Taz. We also saw buffalo and are curious as to what else we might see. There is a restaurant there and so many fish that loved the fish food the children were throwing out to them. It was in a setting quite different than the mountains and pine trees we know and love, but was very beautiful none-the-less.

We had Stake Conference today, which was the first since the Stakes split. The message throughout was on building faith in Jesus Christ and strengthening families. We were so blessed by being there. Also, three members that had recently gone to the temple in San Antonio bore their testimonies and were each unique and special. I share one about Jesse, who is hearing impaired, and how he had miracles happen for him and his wife to be able to go. Someone provided a vehicle for him and someone else gave a gift card for gas which was enough to get there. He didn't know how they would get the money for gas to return home but decided to exercise faith and go anyway. When it came to return home, someone, without them knowing who, gave them money in an envelope. We all felt a beautiful spirit of what this gospel is all about; serving one another. President Chandler had wonderful counsel for us and promised us that if we humbly prepared ourselves and listened to General Conference, that answers would come to help us in whatever trial we were experiencing. I am so grateful for how much we are loved.

I thoroughly enjoyed Elder Holland's talk in the Ensign on Lessons from Liberty Jail. I heard this particular time referred to by another person as being a "prison temple" and this article explained it so well. I shared one part of it with an investigator when we went with the Sisters, that really opened my heart even more. "Jesus experienced everything that the entire family of man had experienced and would experience in order that we would not have to face them so severly or so deeply. However heavy our load might be, it would be a lot heavier if the Savior had not gone that way before us and carried that burden with us and for us. In our moments of pain and trial, I guess we would shudder to think it could be worse, but without the Atonement it not only could be worse, it would be worse." We are visiting again on Monday and pray she will commit to baptism this time.

I am so grateful for the experiences we are having and how we are growing stronger in our marriage through this commitment to serve this mission. We are so tired at the end of a long day but are always renewed to do it again the next day. The Lord truly blesses us!

With love,
Los Averys

2009-09-13T15:43:00.000-07:00

It has been a good week! I was about to add 'productive' also but we don't always see the immediate outcome of our coaching with our candidates. All of us, to some extent, struggle with change, even is it for our good. We never give up however, and maybe it just takes a lot of repeating to finally sink in. That is also why we stay with our goal on the career workshops even when no one comes, which happened this last week.

Our director, Brother Stotts, was here on Thursday and said that when he comes next month he will have new training on how we enter in candidates on the computer, etc. A lot of what he expressed came from much speculation on his part, so we will be patient. I am learning not to under-estimate my computer abilities as I have learned more since being on our mission than I ever knew. I say that because I am wondering how much I will be stretched with this new information yet I find myself not being too concerned, which surprises me even as I say it. It turned out to be a later day than usual because Brother Brunson, the High Coucilman we have been working with, came in the late afternoon and received great instruction from Brother Stotts. It is exciting to be heading in the right direction and steadily climbing upwards!

We spoke in Mission 1st Ward today and we had our first experience at shortening our talk as we gave it. The Counselors in the Bishopric were released and new ones sustained so, of course, they were all asked to bear their testimonies. There also was a youth speaker. Anyway it turned out fine and we were blessed in being able to share the message in a way that what needed to be said was said. During the course of the rest of the meetings we had members giving us job leads and other valuable information. We also had Sister Medrano and Sister Lestarpe commit to helping us at the Center with translation. What a blessing!

We got a special call from our Davin wishing us Happy Grandparents Day and what a delightful surprise. Our family is so special to us and we feel blessed more than we probably deserve. The Lord has truly been good to us!

With love,
Los Averys

2009-09-06T11:41:00.000-07:00

It has been 6 months already and we can see how fast the time is going. In some ways, we feel like we have only just begun because there has been so much to learn. We do see progress, though, and are grateful for every step in the right direction even if it is a slower process than we would like. Listening to the spirit and following that guidance has to been constant because the Lord has not set limits on what He is willing to teach and give us and I don't want to be the one that hinders that in any way.

Monday we had 6 people come to the office and Sister Guerra's help with 3 that only spoke Spanish was a blessing. It wasn't her scheduled day but she felt to come in not knowing that our scheduled sister had car problems and couldn't come in. Yet on Friday when she was suppose to be there, she didn't come and we had to turn a few people away until next week. I am learning to go with the inconsistency more and more because there isn't much I can do about it, even if I wanted to. Tuesday brought only 1 person in so I prepared 11 pre-résumé forms to be mailed to the missionaries going home in October. I hope they get them filled out and mailed back quick so I can get them done during the regular scheduled office hours. Wednesday we spent time with 2 who came in and Elder Avery was able to give a blessing to one of them as she was very depressed. She is not a member but was receptive to the invitation of a blessing and coming to church on Sunday. We attended the Wards we had told her about, but she didn't come. Also on Wednesday, I added a new piano student by the name of Mariana who is about 8 years old, which makes 6 students. Thursday evening we had our monthly ward employment specialist training and it was the best attendance we have had so far. That means it can only get better and that is what is meant by the phrase "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass." During the day, the office was busy enough that our volunteers has a meaningful experience. Sister Frias helped me fix the Spanish "pass along job" card and encouraged Sister Salinas who had come in so I could do a résumé for her. Also mixed into this day was a short visit and delicious meal at the mission home with 3 other missionary couples and President and Sister Miller in saying good-bye to Elder and Sister Davidson. (our neighbors)We will miss them although we had different assignments and didn't spend a lot of time together. Elder and Sister Ott are serving in Harlingen in the employment center, Elder and Sister Law are teaching in Laredo, and Elder and Sister Hudnor are the CES institute missionaries in McAllen. We see them once in awhile but the others only on these rare occasions. They all came out about the same time as us into the mission field. Friday we had an enjoyable experience when two Elders brought in an investigator to see us plus invited us to participate in a discussion. We always enjoy those times when we can bear our testimony and see these great missionaries in action.

We are about finished with our "Hole in the Rock" pioneer book and WOW have I had some great testimony building experiences in the process. These pioneers were called to the San Juan Mission and what we are doing on our mission doesn't even come close to what they experienced. But sometimes I act like I am the one traveling on some wagon out in the middle of nowhere, and cooking my meals over an open fire. I feel I am finding out more and more about myself, though, and it is that I will not let these ever-present feelings of inadequacy stop me and see it through to the finish. I love the Lord so much!

With love,
Los Averys

We have Rain!!

2009-08-30T15:30:00.000-07:00

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

Longing for cooler weather!

2009-08-23T12:19:00.000-07:00

We asked the couple in the apartment across from us, when it cools down here. He said January and I said Nooooooo! I guess it depends on who you talk to because someone else told us there would some cooling down in October. I probably heard 'cooling down' and didn't hear the word 'some' which probably isn't enough to even get excited about. Elder Avery asked Brother Jara, a ward and stake employment specialist, if the leaders ever ask the people to pray for rain. He looked at him funny and didn't give an answer. Elder Avery didn't know if he didn't understand him because his English is not the best, or if he thought that was a really odd question. That is the first thing we desert people think of when there is a need for rain. There has not been any rain in this part of the Rio Grande Valley all summer and maybe even before that. Maybe they are concerned they would get a hurricane instead. I guess that one solitary short rumble of thunder we heard the other day is all we are going to get.

We left before 7:00 this morning to drive 25 min to meet with the Weslaco Bishopric. We had set up the appointment at the baptism last week but Bishop Deen obviously forgot because we felt like we shouldn't take too much of their time. Of course, we always strive to understand the situation and not take it personally. (is that one of those 'be without guile' opportunities?)
We then traveled 40 min to attend church in the Edinburg 1st Ward. Not being assigned to any particular ward is not my favorite way to worship, but we do have a better opportunity to meet more of the people this way; We are always made to feel welcome.

This past week we didn't have very many people come in the office. We never know when they will, so we are needing volunteers since our young volunteers start school tomorrow. We know that it is being announced in some of the wards but we haven't seen any action yet. I have had plenty of opportunities in my life to develop patience, but this mission has added a whole new level for me. Faith! Is that what whispers I am hearing? You would think that being bitten by the 'humble bug' as many times as I have would teach me something by now. Actually it has, and I am grateful for every minute of it. This refining process hurts so much sometimes, but I have hope because of Him who is the author and finisher of my faith.

I was able to mend a pair of pants for Elder Turley when we did the apartment inspections. He learned that a tear in the material can become almost concealed by some mending tape. He was very appreciative to still be able to use his pants as the tear was right on the sit down part.
For the most part, the missionary apartments don't look too bad and I actually give them higher marks than their work deserves. I guess it comes from the way I was raised and all those years in the motel business. I realized that a fairly new Elder from Argentina might not have understood me when I explained the whole bath tub cleaning thing, so next time I will explain it by actually doing it so he can see. This whole inspection comes around way too fast and one of these times I am turning it over to my partner so he can receive some of the blessings that I am more than willing to share. In spite of all this, we enjoy these young men and how dedicated they are to serving the Lord by serving His people. They are a great example!

With love,
Los Averys

2009-08-16T13:48:00.000-07:00

Spending time writing each week causes me to do a lot more reflecting on the experiences I am having than I would without this goal. I am surprised how easily I could let myself be content to let life happen and never spend time expressing my feelings by writing about it all. There was a time I actively wrote in a journal and can now recall how I was able to put my daily routine of caring for a family in writing and how that strengthened me. I experience the same blessing as I think back on the happenings of the week and can see more clearly the Lord's influence in this work. I so desire to see it in the moment it is taking place and will strive for that. From my scripture reading, I have added a favorite; ..... "let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed. " (D&C 123: 17)

We met with Brother Stotts, our supervisor from Houston, on Wednesday and was able to receive helpful instruction. We don't close the office when he comes, so being able to meet with him and take care of the people that come in, is an interesting experience. He showed us a DVD that the Employment Services has put together, and we are anxious to add it to our training of the leaders. At the suggestion of Brother Stotts, we decided we would have our Career Workshops every Tuesday and Thursday of the 2nd and 4th week of each month. We will build it first and then wait for "his arm to be revealed". We are letting the Bishops and Ward Employment Specialist know and we will invite people as they come into the office. I will also prepared a flyer for the bulletin boards, which, for now, will have to be English speaking only. We may not have anyone come for a time, but we will be prepared anyway. These workshops have such great tools available for people and we decided it was not going to happen if it was not already in place, so we are exercising our faith.

We attended another Spanish Ward today called La Joya. Bishop Rodriguez is a dedicated young man of only 29 years of age. He was ordained to his calling when he was 24 and had only been a member for 4 years. He has asked us to come back on the 5th Sunday of this month to talk to the priesthood and RS about the importance of service. We enjoy singing the hymns in Spanish and try to match the vowels sounds closely to what we have learned plus what we hear the other members singing.

We decided to attend a baptism of a sister tonight that Elder and Sister Davidson have been teaching. They are the office couple and will be going home to Washington in about a month. They have been so diligent with their work with President Miller, and also in wanting to teach the gospel. That wasn't part of their responsibilites, but Elder Davidson is a real missionary at heart and this has brought such joy to them. It is held in the Weslaco/Mercedes chapel and will take about 30 min to get there; we look forward to being able to be there. Sometime I will need to ask about how many baptisms are taken place because we believe there are quite a few. It truly is exciting work and the hope of a Temple here someday is truly possible.

With love,
Los Avery

2009-08-09T15:20:00.000-07:00

It is great to begin a new week with the renewal to the spirit that Sunday worship brings. Because I have a tendency to lose some of that during the week, I am grateful for this blessing each Sabbath Day. We started this day in a 7:30 am Stake council meeting where we were asked to share more about the Employment Center. Brother Brunson (High counselor over employment) started by explaining that the Center is the Stakes Welfare assignment just like some stakes have dairy, farming, etc., for their assignment. Elder Avery gave added to what Brunson said and the spirit was strong. We know it will be a process that we must exercise patience, but we feel good about what it starting to take place. There was a quote from Pres. Hinckley printed on the agenda that I had heard him say before but one that I need to memorize and repeat often. I think it was put there just for me. " It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us......If we will put our trust in Him, if we live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers." I think I remember him saying this after his sweetheart had passed away and it was such an example to me because my life really isn't that hard. I may think it is sometimes, but I am wrong. President Chandler is meeting with the Bishops next Saturday morning at 8:00 am and we are invited to share again with them what we did this morning. The Lord really does hear and answers prayers!

Saturday morning after getting a long needed haircut, I visited with Ruth and she put the phone to Cooper's ear where I sang him a song and told him I loved him. She said at first he had a quizzical look on his face and then he broke into a big smile. It is moments like this that I really feel I am sacrificing to do the Lord's work; all the others times I don't feel it is a sacrifice at all.
I choose to believe that the Lord understands those moments when I do.

This past week also brought letters and pictures from our Escobedo clan. We so enjoyed hearing of the special experience of their going to the Oquirrah Temple open house and how much they enjoyed it. Isabel told us in her letter how good she was getting on the piano and asked about the children I teach. The only one who likes learning like she does is a 9 year old (her same age) named Noemi. Her name is the Spanish version of Naomi and it brings to mind how connected we all are in this life.

We are reading a new book that Gerald Lund wrote entitled "The Undaunted" We have plenty of travel time so I read outloud while we go to and from. It is historical account of the Hole-In-The-Rock Pioneers using fictional characters to tell the story. Brother Lund is a gifted writer and we are enjoying learning about another account of pioneers and their dedication to the Lord's work. Even though we are only a few chapters into the book, we can tell we will have a spiritual experience.

We look forward to when the weather cools down some so we can get outside more. The oranges and grapfruits are getting big, although green yet and will not ripen until what we would call winter at home. There are only a few variety of trees that will loose leaves and only for a short time and then they get leaves again. I acknowledge that I really do like the different seasons and will appreciate it after living where there really is no distinct difference. It all is a great experience, however, and we are thankful for the opportunity that we are having. We love serving the people!

With love,
Los Averys

2009-08-02T16:58:00.000-07:00

We had some very full days this past week which we enjoy much more than when no one comes, like most of our Fridays. It is very exciting when some of our people find employment and we had several of those this past week. We have so many that are undocumented and mainly find work through self-employment means. These we do not know much about because their phones are often not in service and they have no emails. When we do get in contact with them, we can only offer encouragement for them to keep doing what they have done when they found work before. Sometimes we have some house cleaning and child care leads that usually don't require papers as well as some labor jobs. It sure doesn't feel like we are helping them much, but for now, it is all we have.

Wednesday we enjoyed a Zone Conference in which we learned so much through the experience. What we are taught by the missionaries and President and Sister Miller is certainly applicable to us in the employment center. We are always spiritually uplifted and motivated to keep going forward with faith in the Lord's work. A special addition to this Conference was the addition of 4 young woman and 10+ young men from one of the Stakes who were on a mini mission. They were teamed with a missionary as their companion and went every where with the missionaries. They stayed in member's homes so that it really seemed more like a mission. We had 2 young women with us in the office on Thursday with the sister missionaries helping us with interpreting and making calls. They were really enjoying their mini mission and Johanna expressed the desire to serve a mission as she was so impressed with the experience. The mini mission lasted Tuesday through Friday so they really got a taste of what it was like including tracting in the heat for hours. They were wringing wet when they came into the office(church) to cool down before they went out again. It is great when leaders see how important an experience like this can be for the young people and make it happen.

Elder Avery just got off the phone with Brother Brunson who is the Agent High Councilor over Employment. We are so excited because he has caught the vision of how the stakes, wards, and us are to be working together. We have our monthly meeting next week and he is being responsible for the whole meeting. We have handouts to assist him in the presentation and hopefully a powerpoint presentation that we will look for tomorrow. Now we need to pray even harder that the Ward Employment Specialists will make a serious effort to be there so they can have this instruction and catch the vision of how important their work is. We are seeing the answer to prayers and how much our Heavenly Father oversees the work of His kingdom.

Elder Avery ordered me a new scripture quad and I have started marking it with the scriptures references in the different sections in Preach My Gospel. It is a slow process because I am also reading and studying the sections along with reading and marking the scriptures. I feel I have so much to learn and want to make more effort than I have in the past. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

With love,
Los Averys

2009-07-26T14:13:00.000-07:00

We continue to have many experiences that remind us of the Lord's hand in missionary work, even in an employment office. Mary, a representative of a home health service, came into the office to drop off literature for her company. She commented that she liked the feeling she had being there and as we talked she indicated that she had attended church a few times and had asked for missionaries to visit her home. For some reason, that hasn't happened, so I took down her information and am following through on this. It is amazing how, in such a short time, one can get the feeling of another's spirit and what a good person they are. We have such experiences often and it is very uplifting and motivating.

I now have 6 piano students. One of the new students is a Dentist, probably in her fifties who actually took the place of a student that quit coming. Then last week a young man wanted to start which brought about needing to start at 5:30 to fit him in. He is Spanish speaking only, so it is good thing that I have piano books in Spanish. He will have to do the reading in the book to grasp what I am trying to instuct and hopefully he will understand. This is definitely one of those stretching moments for me. Actually, I have another man we met when we attended a Spanish ward today, who wants to learn so he can teach his children. He will probably have to do a lot himself but I will be able to help during some of the 8:00 times because that student is often working out of town. They are in the same ward and I asked him to find out those times he could come instead. The goal of the Church is to have piano students learn and then to teach others. That is what I am encouraging them to prepare for. With all the other responsiblities we have, I am not able to take another night in the week for this.

Hermana Butler and Hermana Amitoetau are missionaries who fill their service hours by helping us every Thursday. Most of the time they make calls for us but this last week they were able to help us with a family who came in the office. The man was an engineer and the woman a doctor who were members of the church originally from Venesuela who have been seeking assylum in the US for several years. Their son was eight and hadn't been baptized so the Sisters acted on that quickly. It will take time for all of their education to be recognized and be able to work in their chosen fields, but in the mean time they are willing to do whatever. We also had a great experience with these sister missionaries when they asked us to go with them to an investigator last night. He was a young father of two children whose wife is wanting to leave them all. He was down and discouraged but said he felt better after hearing the discussion and our testimonies. As a suprise to the Sisters, he had actually been baptized when he was about 13. They started teaching the Plan of Salvation and after he told us that he had been baptized, they switched to the Restoration. It was inspiring to see them change like that without a pause. It was a wonderful experience and we told them we would be available on Mondays whenever they needed us.

We are starting to feel very encouraged as we meet with the Stake High Councilor over Welfare. We have always felt that if we had the leaders working with us that we could accomplish so much more. The light at the end of the tunnel is starting to become brighter.

Our little Cooper is 2 months old now and Oriana turned 2 years old this month. August brings more birthdays with Davin's 4th , Brenan's 12th, and Alexibia's 7th. Ryan and Juan have August birthdays also and Jason and Nikki have an anniversary to celebrate. Families make life so much more than it ever could be without them as I sure you would agree. I am so grateful for mine!

With love,
Los Averys

40 Years!

2009-07-12T16:11:00.000-07:00

We celebrated our anniversary yesterday with a drive down to South Padre Island. It definitely is a place for people who love the beach and all that goes with that as well as those who like to fish. We were hoping to see dolphins and sea turtles but after spending about an hour in the hot sun, we gave up. We did go to a 'hospital' for injured sea turtles and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know more about them. The turtles are usually found by people on the beaches who then notify this agency who nurse the turtles back to health and released back into the ocean. The turtles are given names and most of them have lost one or more flippers due to predators (sharks), boat propelers, fishing net, or born without them. Some of them are permanent residents of the facility because they would never make it on their own. Their was an article in todays paper that asked beach-goers to watch where the Kemp Ridley turtles are laying eggs because they need to be moved to a safer place as only 1 or 2 out of 100 hatching sea turtles make it to adulthood. This is the only place where they allow people to watch when the sea turtles hatch and head for the water. It really was fascinating to learn about but way too much information to try to remember all of it.

It was another full week of job seekers and inspecting missionaries apartments and résumé writing. We may be tired by the end of the day, but we are never bored. Listening to the sad experiences of people and trying to give encouragement and hope is harder work than working in my garden. People seem to require more than simple watering and weeding. When we are able to talk about the hope that Christ can bring to their lives, we feel more encouraged in what we have to offer them.

The talks in Sacrament meeting were on Faith and I felt very uplifted by being there. I was reminded to look at trials as a polishing and refining rather than the 'dings and gouges' I often think they are doing. Sheri Dew expresses that, "Challenges that tax our faith are usually opportunities to stretch and strengthen our faith by finding out if we really believe the Lord will help us." Relief Society was on Charity and I feel that we tend to define charity as something we do or feel. These words of Sister Dew teaches us that it is so much more. "Charity is the word God uses to describe the character, nature, and very essence of His Son. Charity is who the Savior is. So when we plead for the gift of charity, we aren't asking for lovely feelings towards someone who bugs us or has injured us. We are actually pleading for our natures to be changed and for our character to become more and more like the Savior's." I am so grateful for the gospel and feel as if I have only begun to learn.

With love,
Los Averys

Proud to be an American!

2009-07-05T15:14:00.000-07:00

We attended a Stake breakfast yesterday in celebration of our great nation's birth. A group of men, young and old, sang the patriotic number that expresses the feelings of pride in being called an American. Other patriotic sentiments were shared and for a brief moment we were able to forget the conditions that are so prevelent and focus on what this great country really stands for. This was extent of our celebration except for what I will always hold dear in my heart. I have two nephews who are serving our country in the military and I honor them for their service and belief in that cause.

We had a very busy week in our office which doesn't leave much time for learning about more that is available to assist the unemployed. When I read articles in the Church News and Church Magazines about other LDS Employment Resource Services, I have to be careful to not bring comparison into the picture. At the same time, I must not let myself think there isn't a lot of hope for the people in the Rio Grande Valley and make excuses for how different the situations are here. We are in the process of working with resources, we have found, in bringing information to the undocumented of how important it is to start the necessary procedures and not wait and how to go about it. So many members of the church fit in this category and I have become more sympathatic to their situation being so close to it all every day. It would take a lot of writing to share the details, but what we are up-aganist can be overwhelming. I need to remind myself every day who is in charge and Be Still and Know.

We find as we visit the different Wards, that some are more friendly than others. I am so grateful that my home Ward chooses to be in the friendly category and have a reputation for being so. Because we are not assigned to a Ward like the young missionaries, it is more difficult in making those connections with the people. We are progressing, though, and some of the people are warming up to us and becoming more than acquaintences, even when we don't see them every week.

We had our monthly Bi-Stake Ward Employment Meeting which reminded me that we don't measure success by how many attend. Brother Martinez felt he was taught and that it was worth the 30 min. drive to come. We also meet Brother Vela, who is the newly called Stake Employment Specialist. We felt his enthusiasm and know that once we have the leaders educated to how the Wards and Employment Center are not separate entities, but need to be working together in this much needed service to our brothers and sisters.

Elder Avery brought stories with him of his ancestors and has been enjoying reading about them. I know how much I have enjoyed my family histories and so I understand his feelings. I have a desire to do more searching on my family when we are complete with this service. I am grateful that we never stop having so many wonderful opportunities to learn and serve. Is that not what this life is really all about!

With love,
Los Averys

Counting Blessings!

2009-06-28T15:15:00.000-07:00

I was sitting here thinking of how to start my blog for this past week and wondered if I have been expressing my gratitude for how blessed I am. I am comfortable in a nice air conditioned apartment, office, and car, while in our travels we notice conditions among some of the people that would be undesirable. I must stop myself whenever I start to complain about things that really don't matter, and replace that with expressions of thanks. It's not that I never acknowledge my blessings, because I do, but I need to do it more.

Eternal families are at the top of my grateful list. Very often, occasions present themselves when I am given the opportunity to talk about my family. After a busy week of trying to give hope to so many that are struggling, we long for the joyful sounds of grandchildren to soften the realities of this world. We see many families as we visit the wards but it is not the same as our own. What a blessing!

We took a much needed opportunity yesterday and went with Elder and Sister Davidson to a Nature Park. We knew it would be hot but ventured anyway. It was delightful being out, away from the busy life enjoying nature, which I've always been grateful for. The birds are simply beautiful and a joy to watch. There were several observations 'blinds' where we could watch without being detected so we were actually quite close. When we wanted to see the different ducks and egerts, we used the binoculars to see the details. The vibrant colors are amazing. Another blessing was visiting with a young family with two little boys and our guide Jose. He actually got a 'doodle bug' out of its home so the boys could see it and it reminded me of some grandchildren who like to interact with these little creatures.

We visited another Spanish Ward today and even though language skills are limited, we still are able to partake of the Sacrament and enjoy the blessing of worshiping with fellow members. We have some young people from this ward to interpret for us this summer while school is out. It is a good experience for them and we appreciate their time.

There really is so much to be thankful for and I want to be found expressing it more. We have great friends that we have enjoyed being with over the years and our extended families are so dear to us. I am especially grateful for my eternal companion as we work together for the Lord. He has turned out to be a great dishwasher and runs a 'mean' vacuum cleaner.

With love,
Los Averys

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T16:21:00.000-07:00

It has been a good day as I hope it has been for you. Elder Avery had pancakes, sausage, and fresh pineapple for his special day and was grateful. I am glad he is easy to please and doesn't mind having simple meals. He is a great companion!

We attended the Hidalgo 1st Ward (Spanish) today and certainly enjoyed being there even though we didn't understand. Some of my piano students are in this ward and it was great to see them. Elaine, who is only 13 or 14 led the music in Sacrament Meeting and I was asked to play as the regular piano player didn't show. It is a good thing music is the same no matter what language. It is always a delight to see the missionaries that are assigned to the wards and how they mingle with the members. We were able to meet with Bishop Garcia and what a delightful man. He is the Bishop that helped Brother Bolado who wanted to start his own business and got approved monies for him to buy his equipment. Brother Bolado has been working and the more he gets his flyers circulated, we feel confident his business will grow. A lot of the members are bilingual and so we got to interact with some of them.

Elder and Sister Ott, who are the employment missionaries in Harlingen, were in an accident yesterday. They were blessed to come through it all without harm, although the car is probably not worth fixing. President Miller(mission president) and Sister Miller went to see them and I hope they encouraged them to get checked out anyway, just to be sure.

I have been reading the Ensign and am always blessed with the confirming witness of the truths that I read. One particular article was Elder Christofferson inspired words on Moral Agency, especially the section on the central role of Jesus Christ. I have a hard time expressing the feelings I have for my Savior and what He did for me(for all of us). Also the articles on family finance, budget, and stretching your dollars are excellent. We really have no excuse with so much guidance for us to be successful, as long as we recognize that it doesn't happen instantly or without a lot of growing pains.

We had a zone conference this past week which was excellent as always. We got to see the missionaries in action when they divided into two teams and searched their memory as scriptures were read and they raced to see which team could find them first. In the near furture I want to get another set of scriptures and go through and mark them with the references in Preach My Gospel and colored code them for easier finding. I feel this will help me gain more knowledge and understanding and become more confident in sharing the gospel. Oh how blessed we are to have so much available to us.

Keep Smiling!

With love,
Los Averys

Ever Learning!

2009-06-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

I am continually reminded of how much I don't know, meaning that I am always being humbled by the experiences that come every day. I am not even asking for these experiences and they have a way of coming none-the-less. I am reminded of the primary song that tells how the rains came down and the floods came up on BOTH houses but only one survived the storm because of the foundation on which it was built. I feel I have a strong foundation but it is all the remodeling that keeps going on in my 'building'. I may not like the constant expansion of my rooms, but the end result, I am told, will be something to behold.

Because we spend a lot of time traveling, we are utilizing the time listening to the last General Conference. I am so grateful for the truths that are always taught in these talks. I am continually reminded of who is really in charge and to be patient with His timing. The Lord sees all things in an ever-present now and I MUST remember that He sees the beginning and the end and everything in between. My part is to trust this truth!

We had a Career Workshop on Tues and Thurs last week. It was a good experience and the tools that are a part of this program will be so beneficial if used fully. Jerry, who is 16, desires to be a doctor and after the first day, decided that it would be important for him to do volunteer work at a hospital. When he returned to the second day training, he had already called and enrolled in a training for volunteers. I feel that young man caught the vision of his potential and what it will take to fulfill his goal. What it takes to get one of these workshops going with participants and all, may seem like we are paddling upstream, but we find it is always worth it.

We keep pressing forward in this great work, and know that the little drop we add will become part of the whole. It is not about mighty achievements but simply loving the people and steadfastly doing the best we can.

With love,
Los Averys

How time flies!

2009-06-07T16:56:00.000-07:00

I guess that must mean we are having fun, which we are, mingled with just having more to do than what can be done in one day. All and all, it seems to make time go by so fast, which I am sure you would agree with your lives as well.

Our Supervisor, Brother Stotts, was here on Wednesday and we so enjoy the time he spends with us. We spent time visiting a Technical School, a CNA School, and South Texas College, to become acquainted with what they offer. We need information to share with candidates that come to our office so they can have more options to better their situation. Money is always a problem, so finding out more about financial aid opportunities is another step. Just talking about it brings overwhelming feelings of where do we find the time to do it. Brother Stotts also teaches us more on the computer and takes us to lunch, which is a real treat. We went to a place that has peanuts in shells on each table and you are suppose to throw the shells on the floor as you eat the peanuts. Seeing shells all over the floor and contributing to putting more there was an interesting experience for me and my preference for clean floors. It was a good meal non-the-less. While Brother Stotts was here, we also met together with Pres. Chandler who is the Agent Stake President over Welfare. We were able to get his sanction on a plan of action to hopefully help us be more effective in our mission. He also assigned a High Councilman to oversee the volunteers we need for our office. We definitely felt more hopeful in what can take place than what we previously had been feeling.

A bad storm came through on Wednesday evening and we were glad to get home safetly as many street lights were out and the rain comes down so hard that wipers just can't go fast enough to handle it. We were relieved and grateful to see lights on as we approached our abode.

There are many palm trees in our apartment complex and a two man team has been pruning them. The trees average 60-70 ft (a guess) and are about 25 inches in diameter for most of the height of the tree. The work is usually done while we are at work, but Saturday we got to watch how the man climbs the tree with a special device on his boots, with a chain saw hooked to him and belt that he attaches himself to the tree when he reaches the top, and a rope. I took pictures but haven't learned how to attach from my camera to the computer yet. We went and introduced ourselves when he was taking a water break and what a delightful fellow. He has been a member of the church for a year and had met his wife in Utah and worked there for a time. The other worker is busy on the ground gathering up all the prunings and loading them on the trailer. It really does make the trees look nice and I sure hope he gets paid good money because I don't think there are very many men who do that kind of work.

We visited the Weslaco Ward today which takes about a half hour to get there. It was a very close, friendly ward and we felt a great spirit as we met with them. We are having a career workshop this coming week in that ward and were able to meet Sister Raygoza who is the Ward Employment specialist and helping to get people to the workshop. She is a beautiful black women with two daughters and a supportive husband. A lot of heart-felt testimonies were shared and we were uplifted.

Our little Cooper is doing so well and had gained more than the normal weight gain at his two-week appointment. He has a very peaceful disposition and is definitely a keeper.

With love,
Los Averys

Pressing Forward!

2009-05-31T11:32:00.000-07:00

Even though Monday was a Holiday, even for us, we spent the morning in the office getting 9 pre-resumes ready to mail out for the missionaries going home in July and other catch-up items. We then made arrangements to meet with Brother and Sister Lyles at their home to glean imformation that could further assist us in working with the people. They practice provident living very well and it was great to see that in action. The family all worked together in providing us a delicious lunch all made from scratch and using well seasoned deer meat they had previously been prepared totally by them. They had four sons and then three daughters which was an interesting bit of information that we had in common with them. They also have been the foster parents to many youth and only had one they could not help. It was a delightful visit ending with a trip through the garden and meeting two wild hogs and their baby. Occasionally people are in need of a animal to barbeque and this family is able to accomadate them because of their expertise in hunting. Some of the sons were off to an afternoon of fishing at the gulf, which would be interesting to witness because of how much they can catch at one time.

Our Cooper is a week old and we so enjoy the pictures that we receive. His parents will need to send them regularly as a baby changes so quickly. That is a hint to his aunts and uncles to send pictures also, as we are sure all our grandchildren are growing by the minute.

We have had close to 40 job placements this month so we felt good about that with the economy at all. We want to do so much more by helping people gain knowledge and confidence
in becoming employed. We know it just takes time but we also know how fast time goes and there is so much to do.

Elder Avery read in the paper that Hurricane season officially starts tomorrow and there are two major hurricanes and five to seven other ones projected from Florida over to here. We had one day this week that we wondered if we were experiencing to some degree what it could be like with a hurricane. The wind almost took me and my umbrella flying!

We did my least favorite thing on Friday-inspecting the Missionaries apartments. I did so much of that kind of thing when we had the motel and besides these Missionaries do their best and it is hard to pick one over another. I can't help but wonder if there isn't a better way to encourage cleanliness but haven't spent any time on an alternative, so I just do my duty. Yep, you got it, I am the one that actually checks and marks the chart while Elder Avery does the other 'stuff'. We chose the apartment in Rio Grande City because they made such a noticeable effort to improve their little abode. I do enjoy meeting the missionaries, but with 10 places to inspect and with the travel time, I don't get to do much visiting. We were glad to be home and were more tired than our usual working day.

We talked again in Church today and always enjoy going to Sunday School, etc., with the members. The fifth Sunday message was on member missionary work. I was reminded of D&C 60: 2-3 which we had read this morning and it really brought thoughts of how better I need to be in opening my mouth and sharing the gospel message. My brother Chad's letter this week was on an experience he had and how he desires to share more often. I hadn't realized so profoundly as I did after reading that scripture, that we can lose our testimonies if we don't share them.

I think a nap sounds good as we have two appointments this evening and want to be at our best.

With Love,
Los Averys

A Baby Boy is born!

2009-05-24T15:20:00.000-07:00

Words seem insufficient to express how thankful we are for the safe arrival of our grandson and that he and his mom are doing so well. Cooper James Shelton was born Friday, May 22 at about 11:30 PM Utah time weighing 6 lbs 11 oz and 19 1/2 inches. I hope I got that close because with all the times zone differences I may not have heard right at 1:30 in the morning when we got the details. We are grateful for technology that allowed us to be a part of this wonderful time in Ruth and Ben's lives. He is so adorable and we long to hold him and let him know how much we love him. His birth has such a interesting beginning when Dr. Young didn't get to be a part of his entry into this world, even though he was in the same building and was on his way. Cooper just decided that he was ready and thank goodness the nurse acted quickly when Ruth said he was coming. Our daughter Naomi is on her way to Utah to be with Ruth and family for a week. It is so comforting knowing our children love each other and fill in for us while we are away.

Even though we get to take the holiday off, we will still go to the office for awhile as we have apartment inspections coming up and we need to call the missionaries tomorrow. We also have the resume information papers to get mailed out for the missionaries going home in July. I have the June resumes done except for two that haven't sent their information back to me. I gave them a call and left a message, so we will see if they respond with only a week left before they go home.

We spoke in the McAllen 1st Ward today and will speak next week in the Edinburg 1st Ward. The focus is Provident Living and Self-Reliance which is not a new principle but one we need to be reminded of once again. We are interesting creatures to have to be taught so often the same things over and over again when they are ultimately for our progress. I am grateful for a patient Heavenly Father.

We went with Elder Mullen and his companion to visit a women they are teaching. She is in a situation where her ex-husband is causing problems by taking two of their children to another state and she hasn't had any success in stopping him. She is a strong faithful women but was very emotionally distraught as we tried to comfort and support her. She seemed to connect with us as we are older, although the missionaries sure have a great spirit about them as they remind her of the love our Savior has for her and give her counsel. We will call her tomorrow to offer our continued support.

We are so grateful for the gospel and find that we have only just begun to learn all that the Lord has for us. Actually we have know this before now, but it has become even more obvious since our mission. We will continue pressing forward.

With Love,
Los Averys

Rain!

2009-05-17T17:29:00.000-07:00

We finally received some cooling refreshing rain. I guess it has been unusally dry here, so the people really appreciated the rain. We enjoyed it too and just barely missed begin caught in it when we visited the Santa Ana National wildlife refuge on Saturday. We had a good hike through the refuge and actually made it a tad bit longer by making a wrong turn. I was so grateful when we finally spotted our car. The boy scout with me said that according to the handbook, we broke all the rules. Anyway we climbed a tower that went higher than the trees and walked across a swinging bridge. There was Spanish moss everywhere and in places looked like something out of a scary movie. It was a good adventure even if we had a little more excitement than a couple of oldies should be doing. We'll be wiser next time and go to a place where we can actually see some animals.

We had a great experience on Wednesday, which Joe, our less-active volunteer, was able to be a part of. We hope this and gratefully more to come, will influence Joe to return to activity. It most surely reminds us that this is the Lord's work and His influence there even in people being able to find work. We have been working with Brother Bolado for about three weeks starting with planting the seed of sefl-employment. Then gathering information of what that would take so he could go to his Bishop for possible financial support. I probably should have said this all actually started when Elder Avery encouraged him to let his Bishop know he was unemployed. Because of pride, etc., he needed encouragement to take that step. It is steadly becoming a reality and he has received the money and with the support of his wife it is progressing. The next step required advertising with business cards and flyers. I was in the process of seeing what I could do with clip art when the experience took place. We have another man, Brother Gaytan, that has limited vision but is experienced with screenprinting and business cards. He came into the office at the same time that Brother Bolado was there. I must add that these men are only spanish speaking and that is where Joe came. It is hard to describe the whole process but I think one can picture what was taking place. I had been busy at the computer trying to find the right clipart for Brother Bolado when I thought to introduce him to Brother Gaytan. Elder Avery, with Joe interpreting, started the idea of Brother Gaytan doing what Brother Bolado needed and Brother Bolado hooking Brother Gaytan up with some ball teams needing screenprinting done on shirts. They seemed to bond quickly and started working out details of how to make it happen. Anyway, it is an experience we want to remember and to remind us of the Lord's hand in our lives.

We had a busy but enjoyable Sabbath Day. It started with meeting with another Bishop at 8:30 am which went very well. A little later we traveled 30 min. to the Mercedes Ward where we met with the Bishopric at 11:30 am and then stayed and attended their meetings which started at 1:00. It was our first spanish ward that we have attended. We had one brother that sat by Elder Avery and did some interpreting during Sacrament Meeting and then I had a Sister that did some for me in Relief Society. We got home at 4:30, ate lunch/dinner, and then went to a baptism. We actually had the blessing of referring a man who came into our office wanting to get active again and have his 9 year old son taught the discussions so he could be baptized. We connected him with the missionaries and his Bishop and we saw the results with his son's baptism tonight and his continual activity since he made the committment. The counselor in the Bishopric told Brother McWhorter that the next step is for him to have a calling. It is so good when a ward does what it should do and we have seen that happen here.

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of a grandson that seems to be a bit comfortable and not as cooperative as his parents need him to be. Our daughter Ruth and her husband Ben will make great parents and are learning the art of patience before he is actually here. It is hard not to be with them at this time even though we know they will be just fine. Anyway, we are excited to get the news!

With Love,
Los Averys

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T15:20:00.000-07:00

I think whoever decided Mother's Day should be on a Sunday knew what they were doing. It really makes this day even more special by attending church and all that goes with that. We attended one of the wards we have gone to before because we were hoping to meet up with the Bishop this time. The last time he was out of town. We are wanting to meet personally with all the Bishops, over time, to see how we can better assist the members. We have mostly nonmembers that come into the office and we know that they are important to the Lord too, however we desire to be able to do more with the members than we are currently doing. Anyway, back to church. The Stake Patriarch spoke after the youth speakers and expressed feelings of the faith and courage it takes for women to accept a proposal to marry and have children while knowing so little of what the future holds for her and her family. He also spoke to the children asking them to be more appreciative of what their Mothers do for them. He lost his parents at a young age and was raised by an Uncle, although he had to do much for himself. There was a beautiful musical number done by the primary, YMYW, and choir that made me think of home. The teachers were well prepared in their lessons and again I was reminded of how no matter where one goes, the church is under the direction of a Prophet and people love the Lord and want to do His work. The Sunday School lesson was onTemples and how temple work can keep us balanced and centered on our Savior and how we are empowered when we attend and that angels are with us to strengthen us and our families. It was all good as it always is.

Elder Avery went with Elder Davidson to South Padre Island to fish. It wasn't decided until 10:00 PM Friday night and they were leaving 5:00AM Saturday. Next time there is going to be nothing last minuet because I want to go. They saw dolphins, sea turtles and even caught fish. On the map this starts at Brownsville and extends to Corpus Cristi. This island is not very wide and has resorts at various places. It is about 100 miles from Mission. They went to a national wildlife refuge after they fished which has more variety of birds than any another refuge in the US. They even had Pahrangat valley on their list of wildlife references. What did I do? Got a long-needed hair cut and worked on a talk as we need to talk in two different wards the last two weeks of this month.

Because we never know who will come into the office from one day to the next, I can honestly say that every day is an adventure. We continue to have some volunteers that help us with the people. This last week we had the pleasure to work with a retired security officer who was referred to us by Brother Olsen who is his Home Teacher. Brother Alvarez is less-active and because he has had a hard time being retired, Bro. Olsen thought he would enjoy being an interpreter for us. He was a natural at making calls for us to see how people and their job searching was going. Because of his experience he was able to share incites that our younger interpreters lack. I think he enjoyed the time he spent and committed to come back next week. By-the-way, Bro. Olsen is Jenny Mathew's father; She lives in Panaca and is married to Shane.

Our supervisor, who lives in Houston, was in our office on Thursday and we thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent receiving more direction from him and sharing what we are doing and hope to do. Brother Stotts even took us out to lunch while we left Hermana Madrigal and Hermana Berhman in charge of the office. They are missionaries here and received permission from President Miller(mission president) to do service hours by helping us for a couple of hours one day a week.

We had a Zone Conference on Wednesday which is a choice experience to see these Elders present instruction. I really was in awe of their wisdom and abilities. President Miller was inspiring to watch as he led the missionaries in discussion on solutions, etc., while never telling them what they were to do. One of the discussions was on being without guile as they work together as companions. It is not about being right; it is about doing the right thing. It is hard to express spiritual things in words as I am sure you have experienced too. Some of these missionaries we have got to know quite well as they hold their district meeting every Tuesday in the building we are in. After their meeting they come in Elder Avery's office where they get a small candy bar that are kept in stock just for them. We also see many of the Elders on Mondays when they come in to play basketball.

It was a good week!

With love,
Los Averys

7:00 PM and 97 degrees

2009-05-03T16:56:00.000-07:00

We went for a Sunday afternoon drive and saw that temperature on a bank sign when we returned . We were in our nice air-conditioned car so didn't even notice as we enjoyed the beautiful scenery. We have been wanting to see where there just had to be field and field of corn grown and we found what we were looking for. We also saw sorghum cane and what we think is pinto bean plants. We are still learning about this part of the country because we have yet to find where they grow all the watermelons. Probably they are grown in Mexico and we won't be going there.

As we travel to and from work, the grocery store, and piano/english lessons, we see many child-care places and a new one to us is adult day care facilities. Men and women are selling newspapers right along the busy roads, even standing in the medium in the the middle of the roads. There are Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Jehovah Witness churches every where and many of these have an academy. There is even a Islamic Society with there very own Mosque they are building with bright brass covered dome shaped roofs. I have never seen so many medical hospitals, clinics, even night clinics, and many children's speciality clinics.
There is two car dealerships side by side with one named 'Burns' and the other named 'Payne'.
I found that humorous as well as a Ford dealership named 'Boggus'.

There are two Stakes we serve with seven wards in each. Eight of these wards are Spanish speaking. We have visited 6 different wards so far and not one of those are full Spanish so we soon need to be visiting those and are looking forward to an interesting experience. When I did the monthly report we were able to report 41 volunteer hours of those who have helped us in the center and we sit right there listening and working with the volunteer. Brother Bermudez, who speaks little English, has taken us under his wing and we spend Tuesday evenings with him learning spanish which is another interesting experience yet a good one at that.

I specially take care of all the resumes and part of that is the resumes for the Missionaries going home. There are 17 departing the first of June so I will be busy. Two of the Missionaries returned their paper work quickly so I have those done and now only 15 more to go. Three came in the mail Saturday so I know what I will be doing Monday. I also burn a CD with their resume on it but that turned out not as difficult as I thought. Elder Avery pretty much takes care of the candidates that come in the office when I am doing this as it is quite time consuming. I know of a few people that will be thinking, "wow she is actually doing computer stuff, way to go girl!"

Saturday, the Davidsons invited us to go to the Museum of Southern Texas. I don't know a lot of the Spaniard history but it sure was interesting to learn what we did. I took a lot of pictures and when I do that next step of learning how to email the pictures, I'll try to give a little explanation of them. Anyway we thouroughly enjoyed our 'P' day doing something than different than shopping for groceries and cleaning the apartment. We hope to have more of those.

With love,
Los Averys

Another great week!

2009-04-26T11:49:00.000-07:00

The week sure does go by fast which probably has something to do with the great work we are involved in. When it comes to the end of the week, however, we welcome it. We find we really need the time to get ourselves renewed for the next week and the Sabbath Day is the most valuable. Today we attended the Edinburg chapel where the congregation was made up of several wards who were being told of changes in boundries due to the creation of a new spanish ward and eliminating an english speaking ward. President Wilson of this McAllen Stake told the members that this change was inspired and that the First Presidency approved it without hesitation. This will help the members who have limited means to be able to attend church closer to them. Edinburg has grown in its new converts and this will encourage even more growth.

It was a beautiful experience singing the hymns in this mixed congregation and I think there were more singing spanish than us who were singing english. I felt a lot of emotion when we started the opening hymn. Each of the Bishops spoke bearing testimony of the Savior and of their support in this change. Bishop Jorgenson seemed like one with quite a sense of humor as he encourage his people with a Charlie Brown and Lucy story. It seems that Charlie Brown was on a ship deck and had aked Lucy for her advice on a matter of concern for him and she proceeded to counsel him with observing the people on the ship deck. The people who had their deck chairs facing backwards were always looking to the past. The people who had their chairs sideways were only concerned about the present. The ones with their chairs forward were looking to the future. She asked Charlie which way his chair faced and he said he didn't know because he hadn't even unfolded it yet. The Bishop then asked his members to unfold their deck chairs and look forward, not backwards or even sideways. Good advice for all of us!

Elder Avery was going fishing on the gulf Friday with Elder Davidson( Office Missionary) and Brother Lyles until the wind started. Brother Lyles and his family live off the land and bottle or freeze what they catch or hunt. There should be many more opportunities to do this while we are here. By the way, the wind is still blowing but we won't complain as it helps cool the temperatures somewhat. I had asked Elder Avery to not bring back any shark or sting-ray and I hope he remembers that when they do go.

We have a meeting this afternoon with the ward employement specialists, which is our first. We have so much to share but there will be more opportunities as we hold these once a month. Then right after that we have a special meeting with the McAllen West Stake, conducted by Pres. Chandler. All of the leaders of those wards are invited to view the new training from the First Presidency on Welfare with employment being an important part of that. We are excited to be there and view this training and receive all the guidance that is available for us. I hope it will be well attended because we really want to involve the wards much more in the employment of their people and how Career Workshops can assist them.

If we are not careful, we might come away from this experience truly knowing some technology. We had Dr. Young (the dentist who pulled Elder Avery's tooth) show us how to run the projector for our PowerPoint on the Career Workshop and also the video camera for holding 'mock' interviews for this workshop. This will really enhance our workshops which we want to hold on a regular basis. We can't help but be excited about it all and pray it won't take(I look for positive words here because these good people don't move fast enough for me) too long to reach fruition.

Love,
Los Averys

High humidity week!

2009-04-19T14:20:00.000-07:00

There has been a almost constant cloud cover all week which makes for the humidity. We have had very little rain out of it and even though the temperatures have been in the high 80s, it feels so much hotter than that. I am sure we are in for much, much more in the approaching summer months. If anyone reading this feels creative, a shower cap that has something to do with our early morning walks would help. Actually I am kidding, but I am not kidding about wearing a shower cap on the humid morning walks as it saves me time on the hair-do.

We continue to have new people in our office every day as well as a few coming back to check for more options. Some of these think we actually do the hiring but seem to be accepting enough when we show them how we search for resources for them. The ideal way is through net-working which will become better the more people we get to know outside of the Employment Center. Also we are gradually meeting with the Bishops and their ward counsels to get their help and what we have to offer as far as workshops, etc. It's a process so we just need to be patient with ourselves and with others.

This last Friday was a unique experience that will take place every 6 weeks. We got to visit eight apartments of missionaries for cleaning inspection. We really enjoyed getting to know the missionaries and they didn't seem too nervous about us looking at their cleaning job. One apartment even baked a german chocholate cake which was either for Elder Averys birthday(the day before) or to 'butter' us up. We turn in our 'pick' of all of them, which are compared with the other inspections, and then on zone conference the winners are awarded.

One of the unbelievable things that takes place with the missionaries is the purchasing of a 1,000 pound bale of ties of every color and design imaginable. Believe it because I saw the pile of ties in the office missionaries garage. This doesn't happen often but it happens enough. I saw pictures of a hammock made out of ties and sisters have made skirts out of them. Very interesting!

We had a great sabbath day in attending the Hidalgo 2nd ward. We arrived a little early so we drove a little ways to view the Wall that is going up on the border which was only about 100 ft from us. Anyway, back to our meeting. A newly baptized member was confirmed and she was one of several this month. A new missionary to the area was asked to share his testimony . Then a young man in the ward spoke and shared his strong feelings about the church but said several times during his talk that he was ready to serve a mission yet. A young father spoke next of the three- fold mission of the church and spent most of his time on all of us needing to be missionaries. He shared that serving a mission was a commandment for all worthy young men and I really hope the young man that spoke earlier was listening with an open heart. A return missionary in that ward spoke next which hopefully went to this young man's heart also. The missionary had just served in the Orlando, Florida area and shared a personal experience when he first went into the mission field. He and his companion had been having rejection after rejection and he told himself that he didn't come there for that and he was going home. His companion encouraged him as they continued to another place where they met with a man who said he was an atheist but invited them in anyway. The discouraged Elder thought, "here we go again", but as they shared their message, this man said he he believed them. This spiritual experience was the turning point for the Elder. What a testimony of how the Lord is part of our lives every moment. Bishop Hulse took a few moments and shared an experience that Miguel (the return missionary) had shared with him. Miguel and his companion had a dog sent after them by its owner and as the companion started to run, Miguel grabbed his shoulder and went to his knees and his companion followed in an attitude of prayer. The dog soon was letting them pet it much to the aggravation of its owner. With the energetic gifted piano playing of an elderly man and the young man who administered the sacrament interpreting the whole meeting for his mother, we were certainly spiritually fed this day.

Love,
Los Averys

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T11:48:00.000-07:00

We attended the Mission 1st ward today and truly felt the spirit of each message of our Savior's Atonement. My attention was drawn to the member sighning for the deaf. He put such feeling into his hands and facial expressions and had to keep wiping the tears from his own eyes as he shared the message being given. Sister Medrano was interpreting for the Hispanic members that didn't understand English. It came to me strongly that in every language we can express the tender feelings of our hearts. How grateful I am for the promises this day (Easter) holds for me; for all of us.

As we returned from church, we noticed the parking lot empty of a large grocery store and Elder Avery commented that it must be closed for Easter as the predominate religion is Catholic. It will be interesting to see if they do the same on Christmas.

On Thursday we went with Elder and Sis. Davidson (office missionaries) to the home of people they are friendshipping. Many friends and neighbors were there and the Elders that are in that area were there also. There were intrepreters for us and the family members of the Davidsons' that were visiting from Oregon. It was a delightful evening of plenty to eat, and enjoying each others company and to see that the language really doesn't have to be a barrier. The home we were actually at was Brother Garcia and there was an emotional testimony shared by him of a trial his family has gone through. His son had a piece of metal enter through his eye and lodge next to his skull. This happened when he was using a weed-eater during a service project. The son and his wife have been in San Antonio since December while the boy recuperates. He had the metal safely removed but also had to have his eye removed. He was fitted with an artificial eye. (I remembered my grandfather having an artificial eye that he used to tease us by taking it out. He lost his eye when it was penetrated by a mesquite thorn.) These people live in very humble circumstances and it was a humbling experience for us to be there. Elder Avery recognized some of them in the foyer at the church today and they felt comfortable asking him in their broken english where they were suppose to go because Elder Davidson hadn't found them yet. Anyway, we are having a great experience.

Elder Avery had to have a tooth removed that apparently didn't respond to the dental work we had done before our mission. He is healing well but will needs to have further attention to replace the tooth. My telling this has to do with finding out about a great bread store. It was in the dentist office that I received this information and I was excited because I have sorely been missing home-made bread. You would have thought I was a kid in a candy store when I saw all the wonderful home-made everything! Needless to say, I am a happy missionary.

There are gorgeous flowers blooming everywhere and the corn in the fields as about 8-10 inches tall. It is kind of hard to tell from the road as we pass by but we look forward to it already.

Employment work is going slow but we keep pressing forward. This area has the most unemployment in the whole state and we are not exactly sure why. There are a lot of undocumented here and we know that is a contributing factor as well as having a high school diploma or GED. We just know that the Lord has a here for a reason and we will continue to pray for solutions.

Love,
Los Averys

A great Sabbath day!

2009-04-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

I truly was spiritually edified the last two days as I listened to General Conference. What a blessing to have so much wisdom coming from our leaders. To have this guidance in our troubled times brings peace and hope that is not available any where else. I am so grateful for the love our Heavenly Father has for us that He most certainly has not left us to find our way alone. Our lives must be built and patterned after His Only Begotten Son who is a sure foundation. Words almost seem inadequate as I strive to express the feelings in my heart. Those reading this surely understand these feelings.

We have not yet been able to get the internet in our apartment so I am at the office writing tonight. We needed to get things ready for tomorrow's Career Workshop, so I took advantage of the time. We are enjoying our work here and with Pres. Edgely's talk in the Priesthood Session, we will have so much more we can expect from the local leaders. I pray they will heed his "phone call". It just verifies to me that the Lord is in charge and how important it is to Him that his people are provided for.

Elder Avery is a great companion and this is such a great experience to be working together in doing the Lord's work. We are learning so much as a couple and I know it will strengthen us to be able to endure whatever lies ahead because we do it together.

I so enjoyed the piano lesson time this past Wednesday. I appreciate the opportunity to do something that is so enjoyable and relaxing after sitting in front of a computer for hours. Elaine, Noemia, and Leslie ages range from 7 to 12. Nohemia is a mother with a 5 year old and a 1 year old. Brother Jara is in his sixtys. Quite a mixture of delightful people.

Well, it has been full day so had better close and get home and get some shut-eye.

Love,
Los Averys

We are solo!

2009-03-30T14:54:00.000-07:00

We have now finished all our training and had our first day of being on our own. We have had members sign up to volunteer their services in translating for us and what a blessing. Today we were busy and the translater was so needed. We keep track of all those volunteer hours and report them at the end of the month along with our number of job candidates. We even report all of our hours. We sure feel like we have put in a full day by the time we get home.

There are a lot of palm trees, flowering trees and scrubs, and, of course, orange and grapefruit trees. On our early morning walk we are often greeted by two or more cotton-tail rabbits which makes us feel right at home. Although in Caliente there are many more than two or three.

It takes us about 15 to 20 min to get to our office and we have the course mapped out good. We are even starting to venture out to other places to get a feel of what is available. Eventually we will get some site seeing in on Saturdays. On Friday, the couple we replaced took us to see where all the missionaries' apartments are that we inspect every 6 weeks. It took us over three hours as this is a big valley, so on that day we only work a half-day in the office.

Last Tuesday We attended a piano recital of the 4 piano students I will be teaching. While we were there another family asked if I would take their daughter and, of course I said yes. So every Wednesday night I will start at 6:00 and finish at 8:30. Elder Avery is supposed to be teaching some English classes during this time but he doesn't much about it yet.

Elder Avery went with Elder Rodriguez to a pulga, which is a big out-door flea market. I guess there was everything imaginable there. I got some nice avacados and mangos out of the trip.

Last week we have a Bi-Zone Conference because Elder Richardson of The Seventy was visiting
this mission. It was such a great spiritual experience that I almost wish we were proselyting instead. I really feel that it will be applicable to us also because everything is spiritual to the Lord and we will use it all I am sure.

Adios ,
Los Averys

First day on the job!

2009-03-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

We arrived in McAllen Texas Saturday and after a quick look at where our office is, we spent the rest of the day getting setteled in. We are pleased with our apartment and this area is really quite beautiful, and calling it home for a year is okay.

On Sunday we attended Mission 1st Ward which is one of many we will visit on a rotating basis. This ward is English speaking but they always have an interpreter on a headset and those who only speak spanish with earphones listening while this interpreter translates everything. There was also one deaf women who had one member doing sign language for her. We had to get use to hearing someone quietly talking during all the meetings and just tune it out and concentrate on the speaker or teacher. It really was a great experience. When we attend the Spanish speaking wards, we may not have this luxury so hopefully we will gradually pick up some spanish.

We have been concerned that our not knowing the language will hinder us but we already have members that have volunteered to come at a certain time on a certain day to help with the translating when we are helping people become self-reliant. They are loving people and it is going to be a great experience.

Today (Monday) we spent with the couple we are replaciing and started learning how they run the office. Even though we have had 3 weeks of training, every office is somewhat different and we need to know in detail our responsibilities. What a lot to learn!!!!!! With the Lord on our side we will make it. It sure is a humbling experience.

Time to get supper and rest so we can be energized for another day. I am sure I will have a lot to share when I blog next as this week is full of evening responsibilities which includes a big zone conference.

Elder and Sis. Avery

Houston is BIG!

2009-03-16T17:31:00.000-07:00

After another great week at the MTC learning about Career Workshops, Self-employment workshops, and gaining some more computer skills, we headed for Texas. As we passed through Moab we at least saw a beautiful arch from the road as time did not permit stops except to eat and 'potty' breaks. We traveled through the corner of Colorado and into New Mexico which was not much to behold because of how barren it was. At times we thought we were looking at a castle in the distance as the mountain formations brought to mind Hogwarts from Harry Potter. (I hope I have that right.) We saw lots of indian hogans and do not remember seeing any animals at all. We spent the first night in Albuquerque.

Finally we entered the State of Texas where we saw farming as far as the eye could see. Trees were still scarce but became more plentiful the farther we traveled. We expected to see cows, goats, sheep, and even the llamas wasn't much of a surprise, but when we saw camels we could hardly believe our eyes. I still need to find out the history behind that one!
We wanted to get past Fort Worth this second day before we stopped for the night. We both felt our stomach tie in knots in making all the right exits and were so relieved when we finally were able to stop and rest our weary souls.

Sunday morning dawned and we headed for Houston with overcast skies and the promise of rain. We planned on attending church and was pleased when we were able to do just that with help from two senior sister missionaries who met us and guided us to the building. It was their ward conference and it is wonderful to see that no matter where we go the sweet spirit of the gospel is the same. People were friendly and a couple of them even knew where Caliente was. After the meetings we were shown where we would stay for the week. It is called an extended stay motel and even though it is small we are comfortable.

Training this week will be a lot like what we got the second week at the MTC but we need all the reminders we can get as these brains can process only so much information at a time. The people in the Houston office are great and one feels a friendship right away. We do look forward to going on to our final destination on Saturday to McAllen as we have heard so many good things about 'The Valley". I need to say one more thing about the Houston office. They make the peanut butter for all the Bishop Storehouses in the church and also for food banks of other denominations. I have never seen such HUGH bags of shelled peanuts waiting to be 'buttered'.

Our life has been so full for more than two weeks and this is only the beginning but we always treasure those sweet moments when we think of our family and know that angels are looking after them while we are away.

With Love,
Los Averys

Our first week!

2009-03-07T12:16:00.000-08:00

In searching for the words to describe what we have felt here in the MTC I am at a loss. It has been WONDERFUL! One just has to experience it for themselves. I promise that you will not be disappointed. I invite you to set a goal to serve a mission as a couple as soon as your circumstances will allow. I feel the spirit as I say this, testifying to the truth of it.

We have met such special couples and sisters that will be serving all over the world. If you will indulge me I would like to list these places: Tonga, Italy, Canada, Ohio, Mexico City, New Jersey, Pittsburg, NY NY, Phillipines, Russia Samoa, Texas (2 besides us and different areas,) Montana, Australia, Congo, West Africa, California, Ukraine Kiev, Cambodia, Singpore, Church headquaters, Serbia Croatia, Cleveland Ranch in Nevada (we have come to know this couple well,) Argentina, Phoenix Ariz., Washington DC, West Indies. There assignments are just about as varied. Leadership trainers, Mission Office, Medical, Humanitarian, translation, welfare, proselyting, and many more. What choice experiences we will all have. I would love to meet up after our missions to share it all.

We testify to the truthfulness of this great work and we are so happy to be a part of it.

Los Averys