We have had so many wonderful experiences since my last post that I don't know where to start. We taught our last class of English Connect for the series on Thursday September 5th. We teach 25 lessons in total, and then start over with a new set starting from lesson 1. We teach two classes each night on Tuesday's and Thursdays, one from 5 pm to 6 pm, and the other from 7 pm to 8 pm. We had a cake made to celebrate them completing the course.

The 5 pm class had 4 ladies that came regularly, and one that could only come occasionaly because of work conflicts. The 4 who came regularly came up to us after we had the cake and said in Spanish how much they appreciated us teaching them English and for the materials we produced for them. Nelsi, the one that did the speaking, said that they had each contributed to a small gift for us. They then gave us a Visa Card for $100! These people barely have enough money to survive, and yet they all contributed to this gift for us. It was so touching that they would make that sacrifice for us. I felt guilty that they spent so much money to get a gift for us.  I couldn't give it back to them without hurting their feelings, and they had already spent the money so it couldn't be given back. They are all such wonderful people with sweet spirits. Here is the picture of our 5 pm class:

 

Back Row: Velyn, Nelsi, Claudia, Me. Front Row: Caren, Felicita, and Guadalupe.

Our 7 pm class is quite a bit larger, and we had a very special time with them as well. Two of them, Luis and Xiomara and taking the lessons from the Sister Missionaries now, and attending the Spanish speaking ward that meets in the same building that our English classes are held in. I think I have already mentioned that we teach another class member and his cousin, that could no longer come because of work on Sunday after he attends Sacrament Meeting with us. His name is Abelardo and his cousin is Isben. Here is the picture of our 7 pm class:

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Left to Right: Geobany, Adriana, Sofia, Alejandro, Hazell, Katheryn, Lisney, Erika, Cristina, Me, Velyn, Yensi, Xiomara, Luis, Juliana.

Sofia is the daughter of Geobany and Adriana and is only 7 years old. She did as well as any of the class members and often volunteered to say the closing prayer. Geobany was a literature professor at a University in Columbia before coming to the US. 

This was such a special night for us. One that we will never forget. These people are so humble and eager to learn. This is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences we have ever had.

We had our picture taken with Elder Butters since transfers were coming up and we didn't know if he would still be there after we got back from Salt Lake. We call him Elder Mantequilla, which Spanish for Butter.

After this class, we went back to our apartment to pack for our trip the following day. We left Friday morning for Salt Lake where we had a Conference for all of the Employment Center Managers for the entire US and Canada. After our arrival on Friday evening we drove up to Logan and had a chance to visit with Adam and Joseph for a while before going to our hotel.  The next day was Adam's daughter's birthday and also her baptism. She was very anxious about being baptized but Adam, Sarah, and several friends of theirs were able to help overcome that anxiousness and be baptized. Afterward, I had the opportunity and great blessing of being able to confirm her. We had lunch and then celebrated her birthday for the remainder of the day.

We got to go to Adam and Sara's ward on Sunday and then were able to spend the entire day with them, and Joseph and his family. We drove back to Salt Lake on Monday and checked into the hotel where our conference was going to be held. We were able to watch the Commemoration of President Russell M Nelson's 100th birthday before we had the opening social for our conference. What an amazing tribute is was for him. 

Our Employment Manager's Conference was absolutely one of greatest experiences we have had. It was all day Tuesday and Wednesday, and have a day Thursday. We received excellent training for our responsibilities as managers, and also received excellent training on the Spiritual aspects of our callings. We met and made many new friends there. One thing that really impressed me was that a significant part of our callings as managers is to provide an environment where the Service Missionaries for the employment services are able to feel fulfilled in their callings as well. 

We received a better understanding of how we should minister to those who come into the Employment Center regardless of religion. Our experience so far has shown us that a significant number of these people that come into the Employment Center need to know that someone cares about them, just as much or even more than the help we give them in finding employment. What a wonderful experience this has been for us to be here on our mission. We had dinner the second night at the "This is the Place" center. After dinner we took a few pictures and then had our entire group picture taken:

Velyn and I are kneeling in the center of the front row. However, by the time they got the picture taken, I had to press my "First Alert" button to send the message: "Help, I've knelt down and I can't get up". I don't think I have ever seen so many old people in one picture before.

Our conference ended on Thursday at 12:30 pm. We rushed to leave and drive down to Mount Pleasant where I had a doctors appt., and then to Ephraim where we both had appointments with Dr. Cummings, our eye doctor. We both needed new reading glasses, so he made them there and then said they were on him since we were on a mission. What a nice and thoughtful surprise that was for us. We took a suitcase full of clothes that we didn't need back with us, so we have a little more room when the time comes to return home. 

Friday morning we looked out the kitchen window and saw about 20 wild turkeys. Two of them were in the very top of the crab apple tree, eating the crab apples. I do not see how they could possibly balance themselves that high in the tree considering their weight. It was pretty amazing to see:

We got the sad news on the Friday we left for Salt Lake that one of my past dairy clients had passed away.  His name was Bob Bown. His viewing just happened to be on the Friday that we were home. We went to his viewing in Fayette, UT and were able to see all of his family. I especially was grateful to be able to see and visit with his younger brother Clark, who is one of the closest friends I have ever had.  He is like another son to me, and it meant so much to for me to see him. He is currently a Bishop and one of the greatest men I have ever known. Bob Bown's daughter, Alyssa, lost her son to a farm accident just a few months ago, so it was an extremely hard time for her. She had actually dated our son Jason a few times many years ago.

After the viewing we drove all the way back up to Logan and took some meat to Adam, Joseph, and Katie. Katie and her daughter Roxy had driven down to Logan from Billings, Montana to see us and celebrate Joseph's birthday which was on Saturday. It was so good to see her and Roxy, and also to be able to celebrate Joseph's 40th birthday. 

We had a really great visit with them and really appreciated the opportunity to see them all. We drove back to Salt Lake Saturday night so that we could catch a flight back to Houston the following morning.  It was so amazing that we were able to fit all of these important events in to our trip without any conflicts! We feel very blessed to be able to be there for Eily's Baptism and 8th Birthday, Joseph's 40th Birthday, the wonderful Employment Conference, the viewing of a good friend, and to see one of my closest friends. Not only was this a huge blessing to be able to do this, but it was almost exactly half way through our mission. I am already struggling with the thought of having to leave all of these wonderful people we have met here in Houston, but we are also looking forward to being back with our family. We both strongly feel that we could not have a better mission calling than what we have here in Houston. It is so rewarding, and we have been able to feel the Spirit so many times in our work.