Elder & Sister Dattage: You Matter to Him

April 17, 2016

Dear All,

We are loving our Mission in Zuni. Wow these people are just so amazing. I guess we always love the people we serve.

We went to Saw Mill to E/S Berry. It is pretty there but high in the mountains and quite cold. They are working hard and have a nice place to stay. Saw Mill is a Branch also.

Today was great. We had several non members, and less active members come to church. They are trying so hard. When we visited with Sister Hattie this week she ask if she could be one of those visiting teachers. She has returned to church this last two months. She is amazing and willing to change and serve and love everyone around her. We have visiting with her. She teaches us most of the time because of her willingness to work and follow the Savior.

SisterVicenti help a Visiting Teaching Conference on Wednesday. We set up chairs and made food but she did the conference. It was amazing. Brother Hooee told her that they had never had anything like that before. All but 4 sisters came to hear her teach them how to visit teach. She gave us nice books with information and she taught all of us. We finally have our list of very inactive members put together. We have been able to find the addresses of 40 – 50 sisters that are members. Elder Dattage and I have been able to visit with all of them but a couple. What great visits we have had. We really have enjoyed them. Now they are divided into groups and the sisters are ready to visit them. We will go with each group and introduce them to these people then they will visit them. Wow this is amazing. Sister Vicenti told us it is our responsibility to reach all of these Sisters and invite them back. Heavenly Father would want us to do that and we are the ones that must do it. She is amazing for sure. This is something that can be done here and in Utah. Lots of work for all of us. On Thursday nights the men go in twos and visit families. Every Thursday not just once a month. They are making progress in that area too.

We have done wood twice this week. It has been cold and people are wanting more. They go with us and help us get it then we divide it between several families. Hard for us to think that in order to be warm we would have to go haul wood. Some do not have trucks. Hard work to keep people warm.

I was asking Brianne Salt about graduation in May from High School. She said 14 kids were graduating. At their first of their Senior year there were 50 kids but the rest have dropped out. If they do not pass their tests they have to do a portfolio and present it. If it is good enough they graduate if not they don’t.

We saw pictures of snow in Utah but we had snow here also I was surprised but they said we could get more.

We are working hard and especially now that we are District Leaders. It added a lot more work but it is important.

Zone Conference was in monument Valley. It was a 4 hour drive there and 4 hours back. That is the day it snowed so it was a little slower. We talked about the Worth of Souls from the talk by President Dieter F. Uchtdoft, “you Matter to Him.” He says, “No matter where you live, no matter how humble your circumstances, how meager your employment, how limited your abilities, how ordinary your appearance or how little you calling in the Church may appear to you, you are not invisible to your Heavenly Father. He loves you. He knows your humble heart, and you acts of love and kindness. Together, they form a lasting testimony of your fidelity and faith.

We have such great Missionaries to serve with. Elder Huston and Elder Tollifson. They help us so much and they serve so hard. They are great examples to any one serving. Transfer day is next Saturday so we will see if we get to keep them.

. Love our family at home. They all had extremely busy weeks. They are busy doing good things. So glad Taylor got her drivers license. Thanks for the amazing pictures you have all sent. We love them. You are all so willing to help. Ask for sweet shirts and they are on their way. Thanks Jill. Seems though you are always serving us and we are grateful. We hope we will soon be over our colds. Elden has really had a bad cold. Mine is not as bad but annoying. Hope we both feel well soon Love serving in Zuni but miss the amazing people working so hard at home. Love all of you. Thanks for everything. Prom pictures were handsome and beautiful.. So fun for Taylor and Hunter. Kim and Reagan are working so hard on their play. Wish we could see it. Hayden love your one liner comments. Keep them coming. Love you tons,