Corbett's Houston Helpers

 This week we had a new Service Missionary couple join our team at the employment center. We had a potluck lunch together to discuss how things are going and see if anyone had any issues or suggestions on what we could do to better help those who come into the employment center looking for help. We were finally able to get a picture of everyone in our group together: I received a call from the Relief Society President of one of the local wards about a couple and their 12 year old daughter that moved here from Florida. They had sent money to a person (who was supposed to be a friend) to reserve a place to rent when they got here. While traveling here from Florida in a U-Haul truck, he didn't answer his phone. When they got here, he was no where to be found and had took off with their money. They didn't have any place to stay or any money. We met them in the office on our day off and worked with them to put together resumes for each one. He had previously worked in security and I...

 I didn't get a chance to post anything last weekend because we were in Phoenix. There has been an outbreak of bird flu that has spread to Dairy Cattle for the first time. There are 8 states where it has been identified in dairy cattle with Texas being the first. I was asked to give a presentation on what is known so far and what can be done to prevent the spread. I got permission from Salt Lake to go to this meeting in Phoenix and give the presentation. Velyn and I flew to Phoenix on Friday the 12th, I spoke on Saturday the 13th and we flew back to Houston on Sunday the 14th. It was a quick trip but was good to see some of my friends at the meeting. As each day of our mission goes by, we are more and more grateful for the opportunity we have here of being able to help Heavenly Father's children each and every day. There are so many people that need help in ways other than just finding employment. Velyn received a call from a young mother of 4 that had just lost her husband and...

 Our daughter Sarah and our grandson Lu visited us over the Easter weekend. I've been to many airports around the world, but I have never been to one that was as congested as Houston Hobby. Cars were lined up for 1/2 mile waiting to pick up arriving passengers. Even though it was around 10 pm by the time we got to the freeway, the traffic was still stop and go in some areas. Even the Lima, Peru airport is less congested.  We had a great time with them. On Friday, we visited the Houston Aquarium. They had a very nice seafood restaurant with a large salt water aquarium the entire length of the restaurant.  We also had an animal encounter with an Armadillo. I was surprised at how they can completely curl up in a ball. We drove over to see the Employment Center and Deseret Industries before going back to our apartment. On Saturday we went to Old Town Spring and then to a Wild Animal Park. We would probably never make the effort to see these things that are close by since we a...