That I Might Draw All Men Unto Me

May 16, 1016

            It is beautiful weather down here.  Warm but much too windy most of the time.  That is typical in May here but it usually comes with a little rain.  We are not getting much rain and it is so dry here.

            We had a fun visit with Ron Liechty and showed him a little around Zuni.  Fun to hear about how Providence is doing.  So many good people there. 

            We have been helping fix cars since the wood has slowed down a bit.    Elder Huston is very good with cars and fixing them so people ask him and he says yes then Elder Dattage gets involved.  People down here go and buy the parts then look around for someone in their family or friends to fix it.  Not much towing a car to a shop to be fixed.  Lots of duck tape for body work.   Also lots of pushing cars and they all just tow them by a strap.  There is a towing company down here and he does some work but most figure out how they can do it alone.

            Lots of good meals by members.  They feed us too much.  They have so little money but they will cook three meats at a time for a meal.  They are good cooks but lots of oil and very heavy food.  They love their food just as we do when we are at home.  We seem to fit in in that area for sure.

            We have been trying to get the post office box numbers so that the less active members and all members for that matter can get the Church magazines free.  Someone gave the Branch money to do this.  We have physical addresses that we have already found but now we have been going to visit them, asking about the magazines and getting their box number.  Some of you remember the magazine drive years ago – well this is a huge one.  It is a reason to go and visit them and they all say they want them.  What a great idea someone had.    The        visits have been good.           

            Our favorite visists have been when we visit the inactive list that Sister Vicenti made with some of the members going with us.    We go about two to three days a week and the people want them to come back.  They are so receptive and some lonely and want to visit with their friends.  This is a wonderful idea and I know that she has put a lot of prayer into her lists and her methods.  Love helping her with this.  Right before mothers day my Sister Wendee gave me about 35 of her famous dish cloths that she crochets.  I started taking them with us on these visits and they love them.  I try to give some two and they say no only one there are plenty of people that need these.  So humble. 

            Friday was our first District Meeting as District Leaders.  I was pretty nervous about it because our last District Leader was amazing.  He is now our Zone leader and does a great job.  We made it through it and accomplished a lot.  We used  the talk from Conference “That I Might Draw All Men Unto Me” as our theme.  By Elder Renlund.  His concept was that “the greater the distance between the giver and the receiver, the more the receiver develops a sense of entitlement.”  This is both physically and spiritually.  We see it down here so much physically.  We have some pretty unique requests from people.  Some we feel we can do and otheres we have learned to tell them no.  Spiritually is teaches us that Our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ are the ultimate Givers.  The more we distance ourselves from them, the more entitled we feel.  We begin to think that we deserve grace and are owed blessings.  We are more prone to look around, identify inequities, and feel aggrieved – even offended by the unfairness we perceive.  While the unfairness can range from small to big, when we are distant from God even small inequities loom large.  We feel that God has an obligation to fix things and fix them right now.  Many people down here really believe this.  He taught us of the importance of attending sacrament meeting each week and partaking of the Sacrament.  In the talk he promised us that you will feel nearer to God.  Natural tendencies to childish whining, disgruntled entitlement and skepticism will leave.  These will be replaced by feelings of greater love and gratitude for Heavenly Fathers gift of his son.  This is an amazing talk and all of it is true.  We have to do our part and be close to Got and Jesus Christ but the blessings are amazing.   I encourage all of you to reread it for you and see what you can gain from this message.

            On Saturday we were going hard again because we had a Missionary Movie night.  We popped popcorn for 2 ½ hours after we borrowed a big popper from the library, made rice krispie treats and set up.  We had 35 plus people come.  We would like to have had 50 but 35 was a good crowd.  Lots of laughing and fun for our  people.

            Sunday was Gallup Stake Seminary graduation.  Brianna Salt graduated so we went into Gallup to support her.  It was a great graduation and lots of kids graduated.  Sister Walker came to church with her 5 kids.  President Walker was on the stand and sacrament meeting went well.  I offered to keep the baby during the rest of the block because she is Primary President also.  What a beautiful little baby born into a beautiful family.  Love this family so much.  They are examples in doing the Lords will.  Their service is amazing.  Lots to learn from this young little family.  Sunday we  were able to take the Punchallo girls to church.  One of them wants to go to camp.  Their mom has been coming but was working and they are down to one car.  They are 21 and 16 and love coming.   We had a funny thing in church.  We thought we had the music so we down loaded it and had our blue tooth there.  A lady came that could play the piano so we didn’t need to I pad.  We turned it off.  When a High Councilors was talking and he was really off on a side kick for sure the blue tooth said machine is disconnected.  It was perfect timing for sure.  It let a little of the pressure of the moment go away.  Also when the other one was talking it said “Power off”.  It was funny because of the circumstances for sure. 

            What a great week at home.  We had so much fun trying to keep up with all of our children and grandchildren.  We are so glad they still involve us in their activities from a distance.  Lance and Ryan were at a tow shop and we got lots of great pictures there, Jaxon had a 5 year old birthday.  We are so grateful for this cute little busy 5 year old in  our family.  His birthday looked fun.  Lance wore an old baseball shirt of Elders because it was a baseball party.  We sure did laugh at that.  Kendal played her last soccer game – and danced beautifully.  Thanks for that video.  I have watched it twice already.  Jordan danced and looked so beautiful.  Hunter and Taylor went to Senior Ball and they must have been the most handsome and beautiful  ones there.  The pictures with them and dates were so fun to get.  Looked so fun.  So glad Hunter used our big table at home for part of his date. 

I text our Hayden and lot and love to hear from from him.  He is doing so well in school and extra things.  Proud of him also.  Reagan did her school play.  We absolutely loved the pictures of her.  I can only imagine how well she did.  She has great talents in this area.  Samantha is busy getting ready for her camps at her house and they will be amazing.  Andrew is loving his new basketball birthday present.  He is good.  Maelee is always busy with school field trips and starting t ball with her mom as her coach.  Emma is  a delight as she tries to do all of the things all of the kids do.  Love her pictures.   Kinnick, Jaxon and Kyson’s pictures of the stuffed animals in Jodi’s tub was the best .  They must have been busy filling that entire big tub.  So funny.    Loved the boys pictures of their soccer games.  They look like they are going for it this year.  So happy all of you are going to Salt Lake for the race for Jason.  Our family is so sup portative that it just makes my heart full.  It is a mother’s desire that her family will love each other and help each other.  Since we have been on this mission we are noticing from a distance all that goes on with the way they support each other.  Love and miss our friends also.  Here good things from you.  We appreciate you calls, e- mails and texts.  You are great people who have influenced us before we came here and now many people down are influencing us in so many different ways.  They are so grateful and talk about ways to help those who are poor.  It is very humbling to me to watch them .   This Mission is a blessing.  We are busy as can be helping all of them and hope something lasting will happen as they go to the Temple and build stronger families.  It is our blessing to be here and we are very thankful.  We are even thankful for our little trailer because we have learned to enjoy it a lot. 

            Thanks to all of you for the lives you are living and the service you give to friends and family.

            Love,  Elder and Sister Dattage 

           

            

Special thanks to Aunt Wendee for making all of these dish clothes for the people of Zuni!  So many stitches.  Love them!  Thank you Wendee!!  

 Working with big trees and just 2 saws!  Plenty of weight training going on here!!  I just wait!

Our friend the snake lives in our front yard!!  AHHHHHH!

 Some things never change!  Dad has added plenty of butter!  He is cooking this meat and potatoes for President Walker and his family!!  

We sure miss Dad's cooking on Sundays!!!  

 Thanks to Ron Liechty for the salsa!  Elder Dattage is loving it!  Note: I am jealous!!  Ron Leichty makes the BEST salsa!!!!!

The cards Carolyn sends monthly have opened doors!  They love the message and design on the cards!  Thanks Carolyn!

I love these Mother's Day flowers!  Using the lights from the Watrins with them!  So Pretty!!!

Loved the cute candy bars from Jodi's family!  The Branch had a good laugh!

 Grandpa using Kinnick's bug catchers!  Thanks Kinnick we are bug free!!

Popcorn for movie night!

 Marie broke down again!  Another repair job!!

 Dad doing his usual!  Telling the kids how to do it!!

The Elders ran in the color run!  Wwe just cheered them on!