Elder & Sister Dattage: "Thank you for finding me"

March 6, 2016 letter

Dear All,

I can’t believe it is March. We have had beautiful weather the last two weeks but today the wind is blowing hard and we are going to have a week of storms. Here comes the mud but the people do need the water so badly.

It seems like the family back home is so busy right now. I know that March through May is as busy as Christmas. Lots of fun things to attend. So glad Samantha’s play was so successful. Sounded fun. Andrew’s baptism – what a blessing for our Andrew. Sounds like even though the day before the baptism lots of family members were sick including Andrew that on Saturday all was beautiful and went well. Lots of blessings.

We had New Beginnings here on Wednesday, It was done so well. It was beautiful. They used Taylor’s decorations and others they made and it looked great. The girls all had parts and presented them well. The leaders spoke and shared their love and of course President Walker talked to them and was perfect. The girls had a great night. They all helped clean up even though we kept telling them to go home. Each family brought a treat and Sister Hooee made yummy fruit kabobs.

We have felt the need to take dinner to a few of our families. We can’t change their poverty level but we can help them with a few hot meals especially when little children are involved.

Zuni Library had a very fun Dr. Suez Day. I visit teach Jennifer that runs the library so we went by. She had them doing all sorts of cute crafts and watching a DVD about it. The little children sure had fun. She runs the library so well. Still working on getting her to come out more because she is one talented lady and has so much to give and receive.

Still taking wood to Sisters that need it. When we went to chop to take wood someone had already chopped some of it. That is amazing progress. Our District Leader visited this week and has asked us to explain our wood distribution program to the District meeting on Friday. He likes because it gives them wood but asks them for something in return such as their testimony written down to share will others and teaching them that we all have the ability to give of ourselves.

Marie and Grandma potato Chips needed a service project which included dirt and gravel. We ask and the Priesthood organized a service project to help her. Interesting enough we were able to go up the road and get sand for the first layer then return and get the gravel part. All of this is to no cost but you have to take picks and dig it out of the mountain and haul it. Most all of what is done here is done by the people themselves. Very few things are done by paying someone to fix or help them. We also organized meals and the sisters were very happy to do this. I visited with her for a half hour and even taxed Hayden to see what would be good menus for them. The ladies were so happy to help and wondered if they could do it on more days than I had listed. I worked with Sister Vicente the Relief Society President because she is a great leader. She continues to learn and is so loving and concerned.

We were invited to the Lalios to learn how to make Zuni bread and tamales. So I worked in the kitchen with 4 other ladies all of which were seasoned in making these items. They were nice but spoke in Zuni the whole time so I started to watch carefully and tried to make my bread look like theirs. Marcella was so busy but she was able to stop and shop me how to make the neck of the bread and little things like that. It was definitely a Grandma Fern experience because when I got there the bread was made and raising so we punched it down and let it rise a bit and then shaped it. The tamales were complicated and they even make the string they tie around them to hold them together. We don’t like them but interesting to see how they put them together. All of the meal was cooked in the outdoor ovens – 20 plus loaves of bread and 30 cinnamon rolls. Lots of tamales also.

In the Sunday School lesson material today Elder Richard G. Scott presented an object lesson. He said, In the middle, it is difficult to discern what is right and what is wrong. This middle area is where Satan works with righteous people. It is easy to become confused here. Live well within the wonderful area of good the Lord has defined, and you won’t have any problems with temptation. If you are not sure whether something is appropriate to look at, to listen to, to think about, or do to, then avoid it. You could be headed for one of Satan’s traps; I sure liked that it was great advice to all of us

This week has been Spiritual. Many contacts have called and ask for blessings. I think Elder Dattage and the Elders have given at least 8 this week. People have very hard lives down here especially if they haven’t learned to rely on the Lord yet. Many of them are coming. Great people. Kendal the little girl you gave clothes to always wears them. She loves them and is so happy to have them.

Today in Relief Society we were talking about coming unto the Savior and how Visiting Teaching and finding those that are not coming can help. I was sitting by Sister Hattie and she reached over and said, “Thank you for finding me.” We didn’t find her but the Savior did – we only found her name on a list and visited. She is amazing and so eager to learn. Love her and love the work we are doing here.

There is something special about having a Baptism in a family. We all reflect upon our own and the many blessings we have as members of this Church. I have been doing that today and know that I am such a blessed person because of my Membership in the Church. I know that Andrew will be blessed as well as all of our other children and grandchildren because of this in their lives. Be grateful for all you have. I can’t begin to list them because each of us treasures different blessings in different ways. Our family is our blessing and we have many others. Love all of them and the good, busy people they are. Blessed to have Alicia who is having a birthday today. Fun to talk to her and wish her happy birthday. She is beyond a joy to all of us. Thanks to her.

Hope everyone has a good week and feels well. So many colds and sick people but people are getting better.

Love,

Elder and Sister Dattage