Special Trip to the Temple

May 8, 2016 letter

Hi All,

            Happy Mothers to all.   Zuni is so windy this time of year and rain and of course that causes mud.   We have had a great day here.  The 16 Primary Children sing the same songs to mothers as they do at home.  We had a real neat thing in our Sacrament Meeting.  President Walker ask a non member who comes to church some times with his member wife to speak.  He said yes and today he stood up at the pulpit and talked about the love he has for his wife and his mother.  It was amazing.  He then went to the Gospel Principles Class and stayed to all meetings.  Wow there is power down here some times.  Also Sister Hattie has been coming to church for three months now and she was ask to say the opening prayer.  She said I might not be ready but President Walker said I think you are so she did it and did a very great job.  There are a lot of things that happen to give people opportunities in little Branches.  So few people and it takes everyone to help.

            Elder Dattage is a great Visiting Teacher.  Sister Vicenti has her visiting going so well.  Before we were here they didn’t visit teach but she has worked so hard with her sisters that they are now going.  We go with them to any home they haven’t been to before and introduce the teachers to the people.  Most of them know them because they went to school with each other years ago.  Any way we do a lot of visiting and we love it.  It makes a big difference when we take some one from the Branch with us because they relate so much to each other.  We will be going with two groups this week.

            It is our first District Meeting we are in charge of this Friday.  We have been putting it together but still not done.  One good thing is that we got the District Leaders Instruction Meeting done last week.  Our Zone leader and all District leaders for Senior Couples  in our Mission came to Zuni.  We had a good meeting then after that we walked to the bakery where Jim Pewya showed them how you take 88 loaves of bread from one big outside oven.  They loved it and ask how to build one.  I am not there yet but it is amazing for sure.  After we went to the only restaurant we have called Chu Chus.  The food was less than average for sure but we had a meal for them.  They drove around Zuni a bit and then headed home.  Some of them were 3 plus hours away and needed to get going home. 

            Also next week on Saturday we will do another Movie Night.  We have most of that ready but still have invitations to take out.  Thank goodness Jill can make them and we just have to copy them off and cut and deliver.  It takes a lot of time and we have to finish tomorrow.   We hope for a big group of families.  Lots coming up for sure.

            Saturday was the best day .  Sister Brenda Pinto went to the Temple to receive her endowments.  Wow what a great day. We love her and had the blessing to teach her the Temple class lessons.  She always was interested in the lessons and had such a desire to go.    I was so happy to be her escort and she was so ready to do this.  11 people from the Zuni Branch came to Albuquerque to be with her on this day and go through the session with her.  That also made her happy.  The Temple is as nice as the people in Logan.  Just making her feel loved and caring about her time spent there.  After we all went to get dinner and then home.  It was a very full day.  It takes us between 2 ½ hours plus to get there and up to the Temple.  Sister Pinto and I had to be there at 7:30 so we left at 4:30.  Sister Vicenti road with us and she did iniatory  I was with Brenda Pinto.  It was a very special day and will be one of the high lights of our Mission.  Another good thing was that Maria that lost her mother hadn’t been to the Temple in a long time and she came with us also.  She loved it as she is having a very hard time without her mom Grandma Potato Chips.     

             I had a great visit with Maxine Peterson this week.  She filled me in on how our Ward is doing.  Thanks to her for the call.  It was better than anything to face time our family today.  The Elders talked to their moms first and loved that time.  Then we called our family and face timed them.  We a great talk.  Each cute little grandchild.  They are all so different but so wonderful.   Busy doing good things in their lives and having fun .  I am proud of them as students, good friends to others, athletes, dancers , soccer players, golfers, even proud when the little ones sing their Mothers Day songs in Primary.  Oh Kim I just remembered that must have been you leading them.  Wow I bet they did a good job.  We had fun handing out chocolate Heresy bars that said Mothers on the front that Jodi and her family had put together.  They loved them and we think a few kids got their hands on them because everyone was taken.  That is fine that is why they were there.   I love the Grandma bracelet the family sent me.  It is beautiful and I already wore it to church.   Being a parent is so important and my grandkids have amazing parents and I am so happy they have the good Spiritual, happy homes they have.  Love all of them.  

Love this MOther's Day apron made by my Grand kids.  Also love the bracelet and fun picture they sent.  Love them!

            Sister Dattages dream come true.  Sunshine and flowers.  Love them!

 Albuquerque Temple with Marie (shorter lady) and Sister Pinto.  What a wonderful day!

Some of the branch members that went to the temple.  

Side note:  I have been to the Zuni branch 2 times.  I am guessing there are probably only around 20 endowed members.  So 1/2 of the branch showed up to support Sister Pinto.  Imagine if we could garner that sort of support around here!  What wonderful things could happen!!

 Lunch after the temple trip

Outside the Albuquerque temple with Sister Pinto

Rose Park (branch member) sitting down and makiner her pies at the Pewya Bakery.  Jim Paywa's daughter is helping her.  

Seniors at the Pewya Bakery after DLC

Sister Dattage's caption for this photo was "Poor Wood"  

Newest member in our branch.  Cruz John Walker.  So Cute!

Note:  This is Asha Walker.  Her husband is the branch president and a dentist in town.  She is the Primary President in the Branch.  This is her 5th little one!  This family is such a perfet example of devoting their entire life to serving our Father in Heaven.