When ye are in the service of your fellow beings....

Kat and I started new jobs this week! We got a call on Monday as I was registering for classes at Snow, from the LDS Employment. They told us someone just came in looking for workers to start immediately. We got the number from them and called the lady who had just came in. When we called the lady, Merleen, She told us to go to the Young Women's Empowerment Center (YWEC), and ask for Heather. When we arrived there (it is only about two blogs from our apartment) Heather was really excited and after we filled out the application, basically gave us a job on the spot without an interview or anything.

YWEC is a treatment center for teen girls that have had some trouble in the past. They vary in their backgrounds but they are here from all over the state and some from other states. They range in age from 13-17 and I am the first male "staff" they have had. Our job is to watch the girls, mentor them, and make sure they don't get in fights or run away, etc. We also cook dinner for them, or help them cook, and teach them things.

Heather told us that we would start out at minimum wage, but that things were changing and hopefully soon, we would be able to get raises. With Kat and I both working there, we will make the same amount of money as I did working for Ephraim so the stress of not having enough money for rent and things is gone.

I wasn't sure how I would like the job however, but since Tuesday, when I started, I have not had ANY doubts about this job. I LOVE this job! I have fallen in love with the girls here and I feel as they are my little girls, or my little sisters. The way they look up to me is amazing. I fear I am the only male role model these girls have ever had in their life, it's so sad. I feel like I am on my mission again, I really do. Working with these girls has renewed the same kind of joy and happiness i had while on the mission, well, that and I have also started reading the scriptures again every day for personal study (something I had been slacking on). I feel so comfortable working with these girls and have already done a lot for them, not trying to brag. I have counciled with one girl struggling with very low self esteem. She had mentioned earlier that she was LDS, so when she had a meltdown, I sat down with her and talked with her about what being a Child of God meant. Since then she has been a different person. Another girl had an allergic reaction to something but it got really bad. I wasn't sure if I'm allowed to do it and I'm still not positive I am, but I asked the other staff that was with me if I could give her a blessing, to which she replied "please do!". I asked the girl if she would like one to which she said yes. She is not LDS so I explained to her how the blessing worked. Two of the girls there, both were LDS, asked if they could sit in. I told them they could (the rest had gone to bed). I gave the blessing and ten minutes later, she had calmed down, the hives were subsiding, and she fell fast asleep on the couch where we could watch her. I do not say these experiences to brag, but to testify of the power of God and the many ways he works.

There have been other opportunities for me to teach and uplift the girls, but I will not tell them all. They are in there for a reason and sometimes they act out and are disrespectful, but I still can't help myself wanting the best in them. I can see them working on their goals to get better each new day, and the hours fly by when I am there. I also learn a lot from them. I see so much potential in each and every girl there. I wish sometimes that I could guide them in the ways I know to be true, but seeing how I can't (separation of church and state) I try my best to lead and guide them without bringing in the Gospel.
My patriarchal blessing tells me how I am to be a guide and councilor, and comforter to those who come to me. It also speaks a lot about missionary work. As I was sitting in church today, I could not help but feel like Kat and I were sent here in Ephraim, not to be a cop, but to have the opportunity to help these girls. I feel like this is the very reason I lost my job, not because of the excuses they gave me, but because the Lord had other plans for me. I am happier now than I have been in a long time. I have that feeling of peace come over me as I serve these girls and help them get past their past, and teach them how to become better people, and to know how to live good lives. I really feel like I am on my mission, because when I'm not working, I am thinking about them and thinking of how I can help them. I never thought I'd say this, but I am glad that I lost my job. I realize now how stressed i was as a cop, and how much time it took out of my life. I have new guidance now on what I want with my life and now I see how much happier Kat and I both are now that we are constantly serving others, and by doing that, serving our God. We truly have been blessed to be able to have this opportunity and I look forward to continuing on with this service. I hope whoever reads this will be inspired to serve others and really see how much happier you become.

blogging

Well, it's been a while since I last blogged, but I don't really know what to blog about. As most of you know, I recently lost my job. I won't go into details, but it has been a tough time, especially for my wife. We've fasted and prayed about it, and all's I can say is I feel a peace that it was meant to be. I have felt a need to change my career. Why? I have no idea, I loved being a cop! It is a very fun job. But the more I think about it, the more I feel it is right to change. That brought up another worry...What the heck do I want to be??? Well, after counseling with my wonderful wife, who is always full of wisdom (Although, I don't give her enough credit for it), I have decided to go into engineering and computer aided drafting. It feels right and we have both felt impressions that I should return to school and finish out my degree.
I have never felt better with my decisions than these ones. My whole life, my goal was to serve a mission, it was the best two years of my life! But, I never gave thought as to what I would do after. I feel really good about the decisions we've made and the only one left to make is if we should stay in Ephraim and go to Snow, or to go back and finish up school in a bigger city where there are more job opportunities. I guess the real kicker will be if we can sell the contract on our apartment that lasts until December or not.
I am always very grateful to have a knowledge that I am a child of God. That knowledge makes me know that He loves me and will always take care of me. I learned a great lesson on the mission that God will always provide for you, if you show faith. After all, Christ himself told us, " Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto YOUR children, How much MORE will your shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Matthew 7:9-11. God will protect us, and get us through this trial at this time in our life. I am glad to have married a woman of faith who is not afraid to pay a full tithe even when we just lost our main source of income. I guess I had more to blog about than I thought. :)

The Morning Breaks, The Shadow's Flee...

I got up for work this morning and got out to work just in time to see the sun come up. It was a very beautiful spring morning and I couldn't help but think of the hymn, "The Morning Breaks" as I saw the sunlight take over the world.

I love Spring! Spring is by far my favorite time of the year. The cold winter ends, and everything comes to life! I love the green, and the warm, but not hot weather.

I also love this time of year because we reflect on many special occasions. We celebrate the final week of Christ's ministry here on earth, the many miracles he did and the lesson's he taught us. More importantly, we celebrate what he did for us in the Garden of Gethsemene and upon the cross on Calvery. I truely stand all amazed at everything he did for us. For humbling himself before God and submitting to His will and drinking the bitter cup. We are forever in his debt. I am very greatful that I know and understand the reason he did these things and the reason we celebrate Easter. I am greatful for the knowledge and understanding of the Plan of Salvation and to know that Christ really did break the bands of death. I am happy to know that this life is not the end and that far greater things come after this life. I am also very greatful that I know I will keep this body after death.

We also can reflect on Christ's birth this time of year, although we mostly do this in December. Everyone knows December 25th was not Christ's birthday at all, but that the 25th was adopted from pagan worshipers. Thanks to Joseph Smith, we know that Christ was born on April 6th. When one thinks about it, it's kind of neat that here in the America's, on April 6th, a day and a night and a day passed as if it were one day. 30 some years later, there were 30 days of darkness here followed by one of the most sacred moments in history, the Savior's visit to the Americas.

Also, it was springtime when Joseph Smith went into a grove of trees as a little boy to pray, and there recieved his first vision where he talked with God and Jesus Christ. It was springtime when he found out that none of the churches were true and that he would be the one to restore the true church. It was also April 6th, that the church was again restored and organized, never to be taken off of the face of Earth again.

Again, I am so greatful and truely blessed to have a knowlege and more importantly, an understanding of all these things that happened in springtime. Springtime, like Christ, represents new life, a new begining. It is a chance for the world to shed off it's cold, bitter, wintery self, and become new again, full of life, warmth and happines! I like to compare it with us and Christ. If we take upon his name, and follow his commandments, we shed our old misserable selfs, and become new people, fresh, clean, full of life, and happy. This is represented through baptism, as we go into the water our old selfs, and come out a new person.

twitching in the face

About two months ago, I developed a really annoying twitch in my face. I had it in 7th or 8th grade for a while but it went away. My face twitches, kind of like my eyes squint and lately it has increased to muscle spasms in my chin/jaw. It's off and on how much I do it, but it gets really annoying especially out in public. Mary Ann thinks it may be Bell's Palsy, but I'm not sure. The doctor we went to said I might have to put Botox in my nerves to calm me down. We will see... So today sitting in church I decided another reason. Kat is just so beautiful, My eyes have to squint just to look at her :).

TOM

I do not like Tom! For those of you who understand, well, you understand. For those who don't, I hope you never have to :). Tom is evil! He causes emotions to range from really happy, to extremely mad, to really sad all in a matter of Ten minutes. Tom makes it so people don't make sense, He brings them down, and makes them crack at the littlest comment. Tom makes you love your enemies, but hate your loved ones. Tom makes people crazy and Guys just don't know how to deal with him. So to all you guys who have never met Tom yet in full force, God Bless!

Olympics and Books on tape

I have really been enjoying a few small things in life lately. My wife, of course, is the best thing that ever happened to me, and we have been enjoying two things we love to do together, watching the Olympics and listening to books on tape. The Olympics have been very exciting to watch! We love the diversity of sports they are showing, and are looking forward to the new sport, "dog sledding". It has been really fun cheering on the United States, and even more, I know an Olympian! Lt Fogt is on the American Bobsled team. He was in the UVU ROTC program with me.
Kat and I have also been listening to the "Children of the Promise" series by Dean Hughes. It is a great series and we love listening about a Mormon family in the middle of World War II. I have read them before but it has been a long time since I read them. It is good to refresh up on history. I have also been listening to "The Chronicles of Narnia" while at work and it is a great series. I can't believe the Parallelism it has with the Gospel. I am grateful for great books and great technology to let us enjoy small and simple things in life.

Greatful for a wife!

Yesterday was a very long day at work. I got called out at 5 a.m. to a burglary. It was good to go out because the kid caught the guy who has been doing the mass burglaries...it was his neighbor. But last night there were 4 burgs reported, but probably more got hit, and all were people who didn't lock their doors. Anyways, with the capture came a very long, busy day. At times like this, I am so greatful for my wonderful wife! She was very supportive of me all day long. She even brought me sandwhich's for lunch, and when I came home exhausted she had dinner ready and was a great help all day. I love kat so very much and am so happy I married her!