January 31, 2016
Hi to all that live in the land of snow,
Wow we have
seen pictures of Cache Vallley and it is so pretty but so much snow. We have no snow right now but a storm is
coming tomorrow. It will snow and melt
in the same day. Today there is a lot of
wind and that creates a lot of dust.
We have two
new Elders in our Branch Elder Tollifson who has been out 6 months and Elder
Huston who has been out 18 months. They
are really hard workers and very friendly.
They will be great Elders.
This week
has been full of good experiences and hard experiences. The people go through very hard things down
here. We have a little mom with 4
children that we look out for. One of
the children is a member and the others aren’t.
We went to check on them and she had us take her to a relative’s
house. Their father is out of jail and
has a restraining order but keeps calling her and telling her he is coming
over. They don’t always feel safe which
would be very hard.
On the
total flip side we have been working on our list of 50 very inactive people and
we are making progress. Sister Maria
who we take wood to weekly said she would go with us and show us where some of
them live. She was so helpful. Some
of them have asked for the Missionaries to come over and teach them. Along with that I have been visit teaching a
lot and love some of the Sisters that I go to.
Some of them don’t know what a Visiting Teacher is. I love that but even better I ask a lady if I
could help her with her list because she had never been Visit Teaching and her
partner couldn’t go. We had really
wonderful visits plus Vanissa who was my partner loved it. She talked and encouraged and said she would
go any time that I wanted. She was
amazing. However on Sunday she was so
heart broken. Her mother is living in a
safe house for a bit and right now is wandering around feeling homeless. This is very hard on Vanissa and wants her to
come to her house and to get a blessing by the Elders. Their lives are difficult for sure. She is growing leaps and bounds in her Church
attendance, testimony and her service.
The Young
Women cleaned the Church building this week and did a great job. The Branch is now assigning families to clean
for a month. By the way those of you
back home – it is one family for one month.
They are signed up until July. We
are the giver of the keys of the building and overseers I guess. Lots of little callings just happen but I
think they are ready to do most everything of their own. Great members.
We have
offered to drive to Albuquerque once a month to the Temple and take 4 others
with us. Last Thursday was the first
time and we had 4 members go with us. It
takes close to 3 hours to drive in there and their sessions start at various
times. We went for the 11:30 session and
it was so wonderful. The members sat
after and just enjoyed the feeling and the Spirit they felt in the Temple. It was a Spiritual boost to us for sure.
After we went to lunch at a Sweet Tomato Restaurant. The three women loved it but the men were
eating all the bread they could get.
Great visits as we drove in and back to Zuni.
We have
been introducing the new Elders to the Branch leaders and many others. They are reaching out to many and today
taught a Gospel Essentials class which we sure needed. They taught their investigators and some
visitors in with them. It looked like a
great idea.
On the Church
website I found this 14-Day Challenge. I
think we need it and it could help most of us.
Just passing this on if you are interested in trying to show actions
that show love and caring to all around us
Day 1: Show patience
with someone
Day 2: Overlook
someone’s short comings
Day 3: Look beyond
looks
Day 4: Resist the
impulse to categorize someone
Day 5: See a situation
through the other person’s eyes
Day 6: Forgive
somebody who has wronged you
Day 7: Don’t cricitize
actions or circumstances
Day 8: Show mercy to
someone
Day 9: Give 10
minutes to really listen to someone
Day 10: Speak kindly
Day 11: Say thank you
to somebody
Day 12: Focus on what you have in common with everybody you
meet.
Day 13: Offer up genuine compliments
Day 14: See everybody you talk to through God’s eyes
I thought I
could use so much of this advice and am going to try to make February a very
positive one.
Right now
the wind is blowing so hard – the hardest since we came – hope this trailer can
handle this.
Love all of
you and hope you are working hard at the things that are really important. I know you have so much snow and are all helping
each other shovel. I even see the little
boys out shoveling. Thanks Jaxon and
Kyson for all of your work while your daddy is so busy. So much fun for all of
you as you go skiing . Must be really
great or just build a big snowman. We
have laughed hard this week about some of the little things you share with us –
Andrew and drying on his clothes, Jaxon, Kyson and Kinnich and the funny things
they say, Maelee at school with her
snowman. Glad he made it back to
Utah. We had so much fun with him in Zuni. Telling Jodi Elder Dattage needs some macadamia
nut treats and finding out that she has sent them that very night. Wow perfect. Taylors team winning soccer games. Receiving beautiful flowers on Ryan’s birthday
from Ryan and Alicia and a beautiful card.
They liven up our trailer. So
beautiful. So thoughtful. Kinnick at the Daddy Daughter time with cute
Samantha. Loved this. The kids at the Ice skating rink. Reagan you look so grown up I had to do a
double take. Beautiful. Updates on all the kids from all of you. Love all of you and the people and examples
to us you are.
Love Elder and Sister Dattage
Dinner with the Branch President (President Walker) and his family! Mya dressed Grandpa up!
Sometimes we are just tired!
I LOVE this picture! My Dad can fall asleep in this exact position ANYWHERE at ANYTIME if he is tired enough!
Wood hauling with the 2 new Elders, Sam and Brother Salt
These Elders trust each other! One is pouding and one is holding the stake!
Grandpa and Brother Salt! He is Grandpa's favorite wood buddy and finds the biggest logs!
Temple Day with branch members in Albuquerque
We ate at The Sweet Tomato! Sister Vicente's favorite place!!
Fixing the door on Maria's trailer!
Grandpa enjoying the raisins from the Watrin's sunshin box!
Grandma got flowers on Ryan's birthday! Somehow when Ryan and Alicia started dating Ryan started sending his Mom flowers on HIS birthday to Thank her for giving birth to him and raising him! Funny how HE started doing when once Alicia was around! LOVE Ryan and LOVE HER!!
We sure enjoy our daily thoughts from our family! This one was SO cute!!!
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