Welcome Home!

The day that Elder and Sister Dattage pulled out of Zuni we here at home were all so excited!  However, I couldn't help but think of the people and lives they had touched in Zuni.  As missionaries they had become part of the members every day lives.  I know they touched the lives of so many inactive or less active members.  However, I keep thinking of those stalwart, hard working active branch members who were so thrilled to them the Dattages there helping them move the work along.  I am sure Elder and Sister Dattage lightened their loads immediately.  Having met these wonderful members a few times I have no doubt that our Father in Heaven's work will move forward in Zuni!  The branch president's wife text me the night beofre they left sending a picutre of them receiving gifts from the branch members.  She was so thankful and oh so sad to see them leave.  The day after they returned home Elder Dattage got a text from the Branch President telling him that as he pulled inot the church parking lot and saw that big empty space where there trailer had been he felt there was something wrong, something very wrong!  In fact, even weeks after their return home brnach members were still texting them for help and advice!  Well done Mom and Dad.  We missed you terribley but our sacrifice was small!  We are grateful to have had the opportunity to "share you" for a year!  

Final Letter!!!!

September 11, 2016 Letter

            Dear Family and Friends,

            Can’t believe this is the last letter we will be writing.  Love all of you so much.

This week has been a typical week with car pooling, fixing dinners helping our friends and some amazing visits with all of them.  Tuesday night will be a pot luck fireside and we leave Wednesday Morning.  Very bitter sweet but with no problems our family wins out.  We  love them and we thank them for the amazing support and help they have been.  Time and time again they have helped us without so much as a thought.  We know it has been hard but we have all grown because of this Mission 

            A few really special things this week.  Saturday we had out final Temple Day.  We went to Albuquerque and we had 4 dear people come that hadn’t been for years. We took three car fulls of people from the zuni Branch.  It was very specials.  One girl did baptism and the other three a couple and an older sister did endowment sessions.  It was a really fun, spiritual day.  Love all of them.

            Last night we had a very special visit from our dear friend Maria.  She means so much to us and she has played a big role in our experience in Zuni.  She hasn’t made jewelry for years but she had made 6 silver pennants and 6 silver tie tacks representing the three degrees of glory.  Her hands were raw as she had worked so hard and they are beautiful.  Wow very emotional.  She wants us to share them with our children.  We can’t wait to do just that.  They are a treasure and so meaningful to us. 

            We were able to speak in church today and not get emotional.  I think it is because of Tuesday night and then we say good bye.  Loved our mission.  We had a great steak dinner with the Elders today.  We sure like the two Elders we are serving with and will miss them.  They have also blessed our lives. 

            So happy to be home so we can see Alicia ran an ½ marathon, our grandkids in their various activities and hunting  - Elder Dattage loves those pictures of them in their little orange hunting vests. Emma choosing chocolate over a dog.  I so agree with that girl.  Samantha we are happy for you and your school leadership.  Runners, dancers, tennis players, soccer players, baseball players, and just all around good examples.    The list goes on and on.  We thank our family for their over the top help and support.  Wow we are so blessed and we know it.   This is a short letter and we will see all of your soon.  Today we talked in church and told them in so many words good by and next Sunday we talk again and see our family and friends and Ward Family.  Time goes on and we have to work to keep up with it. 

            See you soon,

            Elder and Sister Dattage

September 4th letter

September 4, 2016 letter

Dear All,

Well only one more letter after this one.  What a fun week we have had.  We have been able to serve many different people that we usually do.  We even picket up 1,000 cans of Pepsi products from Gallup to bring to the Zuni Fair.  I though they ask for 6,000 cans so we were glad when it was only 1,000.  I was sure wishing it wasn’t Pepsi but oh well.

            Yesterday we went for wood with our District of senior Elders.  We were getting it for a lady that lives in Sawmill and works for the Church employment system.  She is a Navaho and has touched many lives with her goodness.  I sent a few pictures of the trees but they were so big.  We were glad that two young people were with us to help lift into the truck   We were able to get her 5 truck loads of wood.  She said it takes at least 30 loads of wood a winter for their family.    That represents a lot of work for them.

            We were glad to go to Window Rock and help our friends the Huffakers get on their way home.  Elder Huffaker had a heart attack and could only lift 2 lbs.  He is Stacie Huffakers uncle.  Anyway we helped them move and they are  home in Oregon by now.   They had to go home a bit early because of his health but he should be all right under a good doctor’s care.

            We sure like our new elder.  He is elder Willcomb and he is a very hard working Elder.  He and Elder Brurud work well together and are making a difference again.

            We went to Keyenta for our last District Leaders Meeting.  It is about 4 hours away each way.  That is our last meeting like that.  It was done well but a long trip in and a long trip back.

            We have told some of our family when we talk to them that we can’t get phone service at our trailer which is at the church.  So we drive up the road a bit by a mountain and text and call.  So we were in a lesson with a 20 year girl and she said I have a question.  She said,  what are you doing when you are sitting by the mountain.  I told her we were testing and sending pictures.  She said, oh I thought you were praying to the mountain.  What an experience we are having with these great people. 

            This letter will be short because we have been all over but everywhere we go has taken a day to accomplish.  Today has been so funny.  Just have to laugh and love the Zuni People.  First right after church John Park asks Elder Dattage to look at his car.  His wife drove it so church and something seemed wrong.  They open the hood and there is a squirrel in there with the belts wrapped around it.  Not dead just missing a tail and one leg.  So it is out there somewhere not.  Second we go to church and they tell about a pot luck on Wednesday night next week.  They remind the Branch that the dattages will only be here a bit so everyone should try to come.  We patiently tell them we will be home and visiting with our Home Stake President by the time they are having the pot luck.  No one ask us when we were going home.  They just figured it was some time after that.  They have changed the night to the Tuesday night before we leave.  We were ask to take the announcement and change or night around to 30 or 40 people.  Glad to help.  Should be very fun. 

            Then I am in Primary doing sharing time.  Brother Lalio calls me out into the stairway and says we were having the Elders to dinner but instead we will bring our part of the dinner and you can do whatever you have planned for you and we will all come to your house.  There are 6 of them.  I was scrambling but they brought chicken and we had a very good dinner.,  After the dinner the Elders gave Logan their 10 year old son a lesson .  He wants to be baptized as soon as he can.  We will probably come back down to see his baptism  It turned out to be a good night for sure.

            Good to talk to Mitchel on his almost 16 birthday.  Wow the older kids are growing up so fast.  Couldn’t even recognize his voice on the phone while we called him by the mountain.  Love all of you and look forward to seeing soon.  We will be home on the 14 then speak in our Ward on the 18 so it will be fast.   We are speaking here next Sunday and then in Providence the next Sunday.  Wow what a difference a week makes.

            Love all of you and have an amazing week.   We are planning on enjoying this week and know already that it will be busy but a fun kind of busy. 

            See you real soon,

Love, Elder and Sister Dattage

             

            

August 28th Letter

August 28, 2016

            Dear Friends and Family,

            So happy to be writing to you again.  We just returned from a very good Stake Conference.  Many of the good members from Zuni went.  When Sis Vicenti, Gina and I got there we had to save seats for 12 more.  Also many others were there that had driven their own cars and brought those that can’t drive with them.  It was a good conference with President Christensen of the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Southward of the Seventy teaching us.   They always remind us that it is the responsibility of the people to teach their neighbor about Jesus Christ.  This would be a very hard Stake because there are around 4,000 people that they can’t locate – no address, no phone.  They rely on the people in the wards and branches and the Missionaries to really help them.      

            Elder Daniels will be leaving to serve in another area.  He has been here two transfers and was a little surprised he was leaving to go to Crown Point.   He would like to stay but knows that the decisions are made by the President.   Elder Brurud will be staying and another Elder joining him.  Changes all the time as each transfer takes place. 

            We have had the opportunity to work with a lot of Elders and learn from these young men.  They are called upon to work very hard, to use such good social skills, to serve constantly and to do all of this happily and in the way Jesus Christ would want to be represented.  They are good men with lots of talents.  To all of those that have served Missions we love and respect all that you have done.   

            What a great week.  We finally picked apples from the Church trees.  They have not wanted anyone to take any of them but they have hundreds.  Finally a first picking and we took them around the branch to give to others.  Much needed so the apples can grow bigger and not break the limbs.

            We also visited all of the Elders trailers for the clean check.  This takes two days and it is so fun to see the different Elders and the way they treat each other and their personalities and Spirituality. 

            This week I want to concentrate on our family back home.  Can’t believe how proud of them we are.  They are a great example in loving, helping and serving.  So happy that their yard sale for the Cystic Fibrosis foundation went so well.  I had told them they could sell anything from our home except my bed and my bath tub.  I don’t think they thought I was serious.  We all love all of our grandchildren and would do anything for them.  This week we have thought a lot about Jaxon and the privilege it is to have him in our family.  What an amazing, strong, happy little boy.  He and his side kicks, Tyson, Maelee and Kinnock just are as cute as they love each other and Mêlée keeps them in order best she can.  So proud of Alicia and Ryan Dattage for their efforts to do this.  So grateful for their neighbors that shared their yard, Lance for protecting the merchandise over night,  Jodi, Kim and Jill and theiri husbands and children for donating, making posters, putting things on face book , setting up and taking down.   So many cookies and treats were made for this all for the love of our little Jaxon.  We are so blessed to have each other.  We are thankful for all of you as always.  So much work goes into all of this.  I can’t imagine how hard they worked together to get everything priced.  You are an amazing family and daily We thank our Father in Heaven for you and your support.  This definitely is the highlight of our week even if we couldn’t be there we could feel of the love of all of you and Alicias family also. 

            What a great experience our mission is.  We are blessed daily with seeing, meeting, talking to and helping someone and feeling of their love for the Savior and for what they have.  They are a beautiful people.

            Last night in Conference we heard from our Branch President, President Walker.  He did a wonderful talk and he reminded us of the fact that we are of worth.  We are all important to our Father in Heaven and we need to remember this.  We need the Priesthood in our lives and in the lives of our families.  Listen to the Holy Ghost and be guided by God not by man as it is so easy to do.  Love all of you and hope you have another wonderful week.  To all kids in school, do your best and learn all you can.  We love you.  To the parents, be grateful for this time with your families.  It goes fast.

Love you and have a good week,

Elder and Sister Dattage

dA 

August 21st letter

August 21, 2016

Dear All,

            Well we finally have a rainy monsoon time is Zuni.  We have rain and mud and then this kind of ground doesn’t absorb the water it just runs off and then many people need sand bags.  They need the rain .  They built a beautiful new elementary school and now there is like a pool next to it where all of the water drains.  It has got to be a real bad thing for the teachers at the school.  The school holds 800 students and the busing is almost impossible.  They are still working on how to send that many children home the same road as the high school feeds into.  One wreck and lots of waiting later they are still working on the problem.

            We have had some amazing visits this week.  Our dear friends the Waacos do not come to church but are getting close to it.  The older lady has liver cancer and Tammy who is about 4 5 to 50 has been worried.  She has been reading the Ensign and found an article about cancer and things happening in the Lords time.  She said she is finally starting to understand all of this and is so grateful for the doctors in Denver and in Albuquerque that are helping her mom.  She is on a liver transplant list and very hopeful.  They continue to pray for the help they need and even better they are so thankful to our Heavenly Father for the blessings they have at this time. 

            Another wonderful visit was with our friend Vanessa.  We so love this girl and want only the best for her.  She has been sick but until this time she has attended church.  Her mother had to leave their home and go to Albuquerque to \live with her sister because the dad and brother in the home were so mean to her.  Vanessa stays and takes care of them.  She loves the church and tries even though this is a very tough situation in her life. 

            We were so thrilled that Gina and her little girl called for a ride to church today.  She is a non member but she said she took the sacrament today and felt amazing.  She said that the Relief Society lesson was on the sacrament and she learned what it meant when she took it.  (I was in Young Womens and didn’t know she was learning and was so happy about what it meant.  We were driving them home and she told us that she has never felt this before.  We talked about the Spirit and recognizing it and how being baptized with strengthen all of them.  She is a very smart lady and loving her opportunities to learn.  She and her little 7 hear old and riding into Gallup to Stake Conference with us next week.  Love being around this lady.  She builds our testimonies every time we get to be with her.

            The other day we were talking to Kim.  We had only been talking a short time and everything went a little crazy.  We got a call to go to Window Rock to help a Senior Missionary couple move into their bran new trailer.  We then got a call from Maria that she couldn’t get to the church and clean unless we could take her, and in the next 5 minutes Vangie called and ask us to take her to the Back to School at the Middle School.  We were unable to even call Kim back because of the many little things we did and when we got back from Window Rock which is one and one half hours away we felt it was too late.  One thing about serving full time it that you never know what you will be doing adjustments.  Different that being home and having all of your time taken with many other good things.  Both are good things to be doing for sure.  Just last night we were at a member’s house and another lady ask us if we could bring dinner to them.  We said yes.  We got a little lazy and picked up two pizzas at the Giant Gas Station.  We love this little family and want to continue to help them whenever we can.

            We also had another different experience.  Miya Walker, President Walkers cute little 8 year old was baptized on Saturday.  We have a very little font that you get to by lifting a door in the kitchen.  We lifted it a few days before and there were all sorts of bugs and it was quite dirty.  We started to scrub it and two hours later it was good.  They pin a sheet to the back of it to cover all of the metal on the upper side of it.  I pressed for one hour trying to get it to look good.  It looked fine but not good when we were done. 

Saturday morning Elder Dattage went over and started to fill the font at 6:00 a.m.  We went over and got the room looking good for them knowing full well that cute Asha Walker would come and make it look pretty.  She has a talent for that.  It started at 10:00.  At 9:40 I decided to look in and see that everything looked good.  I couldn’t believe it but the water had drained down 10 inches. We were so sure it would take forever to get things going again.    By the time they had done the opening and it was time for her to be baptized, it was full enough.   Wow we were so glad.  Didn’t want to ruin a beautiful day for this cute little girl.  It was a great baptism and a good dinner after with their family.  Jodi had sent us a pretty necklace and a cute pillowcase for her to color about baptism.  Thanks Jodi.  She loved them and wore it to church today.    Love this family.  I got to help her Friday morning while she tried to clean.  Love that little baby and love helping with him any time.

            Loved talking to Kyson this week on his birthday and seeing everyone eating steak.  Cute pictures.  Kyson looks so tall land so cute with that smile of him  Love that boy.  Next week Jordon , then Mitch. 

            Today when I taught Young Womens I started to cry during the theme.  I so love Young Womens and the 3 girls there are all special to us.  I told them how much it meant to me to say the theme with the wonderful daughters of God.  They are indeed beautiful girls and have so much potential.  What a blessing it was to teach about motherhood to these girls.  Loved it. 

            Elder Dattage has been helping so many people this week.  Just a lot of little things like rain gutters, weeds, sand bags with the help of the Elders, and tomorrow we are fixing a bike.  Not sure how that will go.  So glad to serve where we can.

            Next week is Stake Conference in Gallup.  All of those that drive offer rides to the ones that can’t.  They want to go but many do not drive or have cars.  Looking forward to this conference. 

            We are still keeping very busy and hope we do to the day we pull out of Zuni and head to Cache Valley.  Good luck to all of those that are starting school this week.  Study hard and have fun.  Also to all of my teacher friends – you are making a difference.  It is hard but so important.  So proud of all of you.

            Hope all is well in Cache Valley.  Appreciate the updates I get from family and friends.  You are all amazing people and serving your friends and family and the church so well.