We must reach out to those in need

A person who wants to work, is capable of working, and does not have work, is a person in NEED.  Our obligation is not to judge or speculate about a person’s reasons for not working, but to stand ready to assist those who can and want to work.  We are under covenant to bear one another’s burdens and lift up the hands that hang down – to assist Church members and non-members alike.

In the scriptures we learn that Christ taught the importance of having concern for others.  A certain lawyer tempted Jesus by asking “Master, what shall I do to inherit Eternal Life?”  The Savior, knowing the heart of the man responded with “What is written in the Law?  How readest thou?”  The Lawyer answered, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”  The Savior then said, “Thou hast answered right; this do, and thou shalt live.”

The Lawyer, in trying to justify himself, said unto Jesus, “and who is my neighbor?”  The Savior then taught us all a very important lesson…

A certain man went from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves.  He was stripped of his raiment, beaten, wounded and robbed, leaving him half dead.  Two different religious men – a priest and a Levite – both “passed him by on the other side” without offering any aide.  A third man – a Samaritan – saw him and had compassion.  He bound his wounds, set him on his beast and took him to an inn, and took care of him.  On the morrow when he departed, he paid the innkeeper and said, “Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I return, I will repay thee.”

Jesus now asked, “Which now of these three thinkest thou was neighbor unto him that fell among thieves?  They lawyer responded with “He that shewed mercy on him”.  “Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise”.

Are we like unto the Samaritan who stopped and offered help to his neighbor or are we like unto the Priest and Levite who passed by on the other side?  Are we reaching out to help those around us who are in need?

Being unemployed, and wanting to work is damaging to ones self-esteem.  One begins to question abilities and skills.  Family stress is increased because of financial pressures.  It produces a downward spiral that must be stopped.  Members – Priesthood holders and Relief Society Sisters – need to reach out to friends and neighbors to provide assistance to those around us.

“The real long-term objective of the welfare plan is the building of character in the members of the Church, givers and receivers, rescuing all that is finest down deep inside of them, and bringing to flower and fruitage the latent richness of the spirit, which after all is the mission and purpose and reason for being of this Church.”—President J. Reuben Clark

The structure is in place within the Church.  We are functioning as Area Employment Specialists.  We are working with the Stake and Ward Employment Specialist in providing training.  We will be holding a training conference in Aberdeen at the end of June to help the Ward Employment Specialist better understand their responsibilities.  We will be holding a Career Workshop in Edinburgh in July to assist individuals who are unemployed or under-employed be better prepared in their search for a job and the interview process.

This week has been rewarding for us.  We have recently met with a fellow who has been out of work for over 2 years…definitely in the downward spiral of lacking self-confidence.  We reviewed some principles of interviewing and being prepared with “power statements”.  We also will be reviewing his CV.   As he left our first meeting there was a change in his countenance and a more positive outlook on life.  We met with a sister who was beginning the process to search for employment.  She was convinced that she had no marketable skills.  After our meeting she realized that she did have something to offer an employer and is excited to continue the training process with us.

We are excited to be involved in this work.  We can see that things are beginning to come together for us.

Trip to Edinburgh

Today we made our first trip into Edinburgh.  We are living only about 8-10 miles (if that) from the actual downtown.  There is no where to park in the city so we ventured out on the bus.  We are about one block from a major road into town.  We weren’t sure which bus was the best to take but the people at the bus stop were very friendly and helpful.  The bus system here is very, very good.  There are buses everywhere…the big double decker type.  We have applied for a bus pass but it hasn’t come yet.  Anyone who lives here, and is over age 60, can ride the buses free.  (Tax dollars at work)  It is amazing to see how these buses navigate through the heavy traffic and narrow streets.  (That is also a challenge when driving and they come up along side your car and your mirror is inches away from the bus.

We got downtown and it was a beautiful day.  We are still getting used to the weather so we had jackets and sweaters on and really looked like tourists since the “locals” were in t-shirts.  (I ended up carrying my jacket most of the day)  We wandered around town and then went into the National Scottish Art Gallery.  The art was amazing!  Pictures painted in the 1700’s and 1800’s.  Some were huge – maybe 20 x 25 feet – life size people and horses.

We then walked up to the Edinburgh Castle and wandered down the “Royal Mile”.  The street goes from the castle down to the Holyrood House.  It was really a neat street to walk and lots to see.  Over all...just a fun day seeing the City.  We mastered the bus and made it back home without any worries.

A view of the "Meadows" between the Old Town and the newer shops on Princes Street.  You can see that the day started out very nice.  Blue skies have become a real treat since we arrived.  We haven't seen that many!!

 

 

Through out the town we saw pipers up and down the streets.  They were close enough to one another that it seemed that you could always hear the pipes as you walked down the road.  Some cities have people playing guitars trying to earn a buck...Edinburgh has pipers!  Lots of "photo ops".

 

This was an old church (Kirk) just down from the Castle.  I took the picture and then we walked over to see the name of the church.  As is common in Edinburgh, many of the churches have been "repurposed".  This one contained a tourist information company and a restaurant.  We had a nice lunch here.

 

 

This Church was still an active church along the Royal Mile.

 

 

By the afternoon, the blue sky had given into clouds and the threat of showers.  This is the view of the Edinburgh Castle from Princes Street at the bus stop to return home.

 

This is the view of the Castle when we first arrived in the morning.  We have purchased tickets to attend the Military Tattoo in August.  This is one of the great events I still remember from my visit here as a young missionary...oh, so many years ago.  I am really excited to see it again.  This link may take you to the right website, but if not, just Google the Edinburgh Tattoo.

 

http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/about-the-tattoo/the-visitor-experience

 

The Tattoo is a military festival that is unbelievable!!  Can' wait until August!!

 

 

A Busy Fortnight

We have now been operating the Employment Resource Centre for two weeks on our own.  The Hambelton’s have returned to Boise, Idaho and we are the Employment Specialists for the Mission.  We have been reading through all the material created for us and have been deciding how we are to move forward. 

Last Friday, Carolyn thought we should go to Aberdeen on Saturday…no particular reason, but thought we should go.  That afternoon we received an email from the Stake Employment Specialist in Aberdeen in response to our email introducing us to him.  He told us he was making a presentation on employment resources at the Stake Priesthood Leadership meeting.  He said he knew it was a long shot, but asked if we could come to the meeting to assist and also be introduced to the Stake Leaders.  Well, there was the reason for our trip to Aberdeen.  We drove up Saturday morning (a little over 2 ½ hour drive) and helped with the presentation at the 2:00 p.m. meeting.  Both Carolyn and I spoke briefly at the meeting to introduce ourselves.  On the drive to Aberdeen we saw fields and fields of blooming daffodils.  They pretty much grow wild in yards and along the roadside.

We stayed overnight and attended the Saturday evening session and the Sunday session of Stake Conference.  The Sunday session was a broadcast from Salt Lake City to all the Stakes in the UK and Ireland.  It was a good meeting.  Elder Baxter of the First Quorum of Seventy, (a native of Glasgow) conducted the meeting.  The other speakers included Richard G. Scott, one of the Apostles, and President Henry B. Eyring. 

We are getting settled into the area to better know our way around, and are getting used to the different terminology.  We can make it back and forth to work (to the Employment Centre) without using the “SatNav” which is what they call the Garmin GPS unit.  We attended a birthday dinner Friday night for Sister Price (she works in the Mission Office) and had “Gammon”, sweet potatoes, and beans.  Gammon is Ham.  It is cured differently but tastes pretty much the same.  We buy “Semi-skimmed” milk which is 2% milk.  We have “biscuits” for desert which are cookies.  We have registered at the medical Centre (hope we don’t need medical services while we are here), opened a bank account, obtained a library card, and applied for a bus pass…seniors age 60 can ride free on the local buses…and we can understand almost everyone.  Driving on the left is coming along pretty well.  I have started to study for the drivers test as my USA license is only good for one year.   The challenge is the narrow streets with cars parked on both sides, lots of unusual traffic signs, and lots of markings on the pavement directing lane changes.   (by the way, a "fortnight" is two weeks)

Yesterday we went with a group of senior missionaries to Pitlochry which is a town about 2 hours away.  The purpose for some was shopping but the main purpose was to see a stage play – "Hello Dolly".  It was a small community theatre and the production was very well done.  We had lunch, went the matinee performance, and then went on a short hike to some waterfalls.  It was a beautiful day.  The temperature was in the low 70s and felt like summer.  Today has been cloudy again and it will be rain again tomorrow.

 

 

Carolyn at "work" in the Employment Resource Centre

 

 

The Falls at the Heritage near Pitlochry

 

 

 

 

The town of Pitlochry on a beautiful day!  Saturday was the most sunshine we have seen since we arrived in the UK

 

 

River near Pitlochry

 

I used Google Maps to show the location of the Mission Home and the Stake Center.  The Stake Centre is the building on the right...the big roof.  You can see the addition of the Mission Office to the original house of the Mission Home.

 

Arthur's Seat...Also known as "Pratt's Hill"

Wednesday we spent the morning with the new missionaries who were just arriving from the MTC in Preston.  There were about 23 new Elders and Sisters.  There is a tradition in the mission that new missionaries climb “Pratt’s Hill”.  They also climb the hill again before they leave to go home.  We climbed the hill with the new missionaries and the Mission President & his wife.  The hill rises about 875 feet above the city and there is a great view of the surrounding area. 

In 1840 Orson Pratt was a young missionary for the Church who went to Scotland.  He climbed “Arthur’s Seat”, a hill near the center of Edinburgh to pray for success in his missionary efforts.  About 40 years ago, the mission president in Scotland at the time decided to take a few missionaries with him and they climbed up Arthur’s Seat and prayed for their success in their missionary efforts.  Hence, the tradition was born and the missionaries now refer to the hill as “Pratt’s Hill”. 

When the new missionaries arrived in Scotland, they climb the hill and sent goals for themselves for their work during the next 18-24 months. When they are ready to go home at the end of their mission, they climb the hill to reflect on what they have accomplished.

 

President Brown (in the hood) and his wife spoke to the missionaries about the tradition of climbing "Pratt's Hill"

The View of Edinburgh City Center - from the Holyrood House (the Queen's palace when she is in Scotland) to the Edinburgh Castle and beyond to the Firth of Forth.

Aye, that is me, Laddie

 

Carolyn, President & Sister Brown making the hike up the hill

Carolyn on Pratt's Hill

 

 

The Work Has Begun...(with some fun in between)

We landed in Birmingham England last Tuesday and were met at the airport by our son, Steve, and his wife and two of their kids.  It was great to see them again.  We had lunch with them and chatted for a couple of hours then took a short nap to try to adjust to the time zone.  At 6:30 p.m. we started a training session on working in the UK Employment Centre.  We had more training all day Wednesday and again on Thursday morning.

We left for Scotland at noon on Thursday and stopped at the Preston Temple to attend a session.  You can see from the pictures that it was cold and rainy.  We arrived in Edinburgh about 9:00 p.m.  We stayed at the Mission Home through Sunday night.  The Home is really a beautiful home that was built in the 1860’s.  An office was added on in the 1960’s. 

Elder & Sister Hambelton

This is the couple we are replacing

Elder & Sister Boden

A cold day at the Preston England Temple

 

We spent Friday in the Edinburgh Employment Resource Centre learning how it has been operating.  We went to dinner with the Employment Specialists and his wife from the Dundee Stake.  We ate in a pub/restaurant that was 350 years old.  I almost ordered haggis, but thought I would wait for another day.  On Saturday we drove to Glasgow to meet the Employment Specialist from the Paisley area.  They are great people who are dedicated to Employment Services and helping people become self-reliant.

We moved into our Flat on Monday...and started driving on the left side of the road!!  I'm doing pretty well but the biggest challenge is finding where things are around town.  We are very dependent on the "SatNav"...that is the Garmin GPS unit.

Ready for the road...notice where the steering wheel is located.

There is a huge modern grocery store next to our flat.

There is a second floor over the back half of the building and you can take the shopping trollies (shopping carts) up the escalator.  When the trolly is on the ramp, the wheels lock and the cart will stay put until you reach the next level.

Finally out of suitcases

After living out of a suitcase for nearly 3 ½ weeks we have finally moved into our flat.  (For you “yanks”, a flat is an apartment).  The flat has two bedrooms and two baths and is full of IKEA furniture.  J  It is not luxurious, but it will be home for the next 18 months.  We are getting used to being careful what we plug into the wall socket.  All the power outlets are 220 volt and everything we brought with us needs either an adapter plug to fit the wall socket or a converter/adapter to fit the wall socket and adjust from 110 volt to the 220 volt power.   The flat is located about 20 minutes from downtown Edinburgh.  It is adjacent to a major grocery store and petro (gas) station.  We picked up our car (a Vauxhall) tonight.  It is fairly new – 20,000 miles.  We don’t have to pay rent on the car – only the gas (diesel) and maintenance.  We have been driving around the area for the last few days with Elder & Sister Hambelton (the couple we are replacing) so I am getting used to riding on the left side of the road.  I’m not too worried about beginning to drive, but the biggest challenge will be finding our way around town.  The Hambelton’s have been driving about 1,500 miles per month.

In traveling around the Edinburgh area on Friday and Saturday, and traveling to Glasgow, it became clear that we will be relying heavily on our “SatNav” (a Garmin GPS) to help us find where things are located throughout the country.  We will be traveling between Paisley, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, on a regular basis.  We will also be visiting Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, and Limerick at least quarterly.

Friday we were orientated on the operation of the Edinburgh Employment Resource Centre.  We had dinner with the Stake Employment Specialists (SES) – Brother & Sister Nelson - from the Dundee Stake.  They are a very nice couple with a great sense of humor.  It will be fun to work with them.  Saturday we drove to Glasgow to meet the SES – Brother Mair (we have not yet met his wife) - from the Paisley Stake.  Brother Mair will also be a wonderful fellow to work with.  Today after church we met the SES from Edinburgh – Brother & Sister McMillan.  They are doing a grand job in the Edinburgh area and we look forward to working with them.

Our main tasks while we are here will be to support the Stake Leaders with training the Stake Employment Specialists who in turn will be training the Ward Employment Specialists.  The work will include conducting Work Choice Profiles –(a psychometric test used to assess your interests and preferences on several common dimensions related to work), conduct Career Workshops – (designed to help candidates identify their strengths and skills and prepare them for employment interviews), individual coaching of candidates who are looking for work or looking to upgrade their current employment, assisting the candidates in writing their Curriculum Vitae (CV), using LDSjobs.org to track a candidates progress and search for available jobs, and operating the Employment Resource Centre in Edinburgh.  Because of the distance to other Stakes, we will assist the SES in all of the above activities in their local areas.

    

Birmingham Mission office & Employment Centre

Scotland/Ireland Mission Home & Office

This home was build in the 1860's.  The office on the left was added on in the 1960's

Edinburgh Stake Building & Employment Centre

This is our "office" three day each week.  The rest of the time we will be here or traveling

Our Flat for the next 18 months.

We have a ground floor unit - 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, Kitchen & Living room

Wonderful Experience & Wonderful People

Well, just two more days and we will have finished our training in Provo.  We will spend the weekend with Carolyn's brother and his wife.  Monday we leave for England!!

We have met some wonderful people here this week.  They are all as excited as we are to get into the mission field to start their assignments.  We became very close to three couples who were in our "District".  The four couples spent all last week together in our training classes and one couple is with us this week in Employement Resource Center training.

In the top photo - Elder & Sister Boden, Elder & Sister Molinari (assigned to Milan, Italy.  Elder Molinari will assist with housing and cars & Sister Molinari is a nurse), Elder & Sister Conrad (assigned to Mauritius - an island off the coast of Madagascar and part of the Madagascar Mission.  They are assigned to Member Leadership Services), and Elder & Sister Stutz (assigned to Bulgaria to work in Employment Resource Centers).  We developed a good friendship and I hope we will stay in touch with each other throughout our missions.