May 1, 2016 letter
Dear All,
Wow already May. Each May 1, I think of my grandma Mae Pickett. She played a big role in our life because she
lived across the street. She was so
nice, kept busy quilting as long as she could see and very frugile. Loved her.
Another
busy week has gone by. They go fast but
we wouldn’t change that. Kept thinking
of Kendal as she became a teen ager – and a beautiful one at that.
We had such
a great time with Carolyn and Steve.
After they left we went on our first visits with two sisters to the very
inactive people. Sister Vicente thinks
that since we have met these people 1 time we can introduce them to them and
help activate them. She is an amazing
lady and will work hard to give everyone a chance to be active in our true
Church. We loved watching the Zuni
people relate to Sister Vicente and
Sister Walela. Lots of talks of
their childhood and the fun they used to have together.
Early
afternoon we headed to Grants to see the New Missionaries there. Elder and Sister Evans. They are very talented photographers, great
with music, and the autoharp. Fun to get
to know them. We then went to see the
Burks that live in Grants also. We know
them and so love them. They fed us
dinner and we just had a good visit.
Sister Burk got very sick on Tuesday and by Wednesday she was in the
Hospital They moved her from Grants to Albuquerque
to take care of her. She has a problem with her blood and all of her
counts were low. She had a rash. She should be coming home today with lots of
good meds and follow up. It happened so
fast. Glad they are able to help her.
Tuesday We
spent most of the day visiting Maria, and Punchellas. Marie ask us to help her with her move her
old stairs. They finally got the ramp
built for her trailer but too late to help Grandma Potato Chips who has passed
away. She now has a good ramp any
way.
When we
visited the inactives on Monday we met Sister Laate. She has two little kids and no wood. We decided to take her some on Tuesday from
the very small Branch pile. So hope
others can help her also. She was so
thankful and nice. It can be very hard
to live in Zuni without a truck and lots of help. Getting to meet a new person that is trying
but doesn’t have much is a blessing in out lives.
Today was
quite busy. I wasn’t feeling my best but
it all went well. We love Sister Hattie
and went to visit her. She is a blessing
to my life. She loves her family so much
and I constantly relate to her and the things she wants to do for them. She works hard to help her grandkids. They come to her house after school most
days. She has snacks for them and helps
them understand the importance of Prayer and the Book of Mormon.
We are
preparing for another movie night. We
have had Jodi sending DVD’s and I think we will pull it off. Jill always makes my invitations for these. Thanks Jill saves me lots of time. We are
going to give each member three invites and ask them to share two with
neighbors and friends. There certainly
are plenty of people to invite.
We are
still helping our friends Vanessa with school.
We took her up to the University to get her classes in order. Lots of prayers for her that she will stay
with this and better herself. She is a
very great girl. On top of this I was in
charge of Young Womens . The two leaders
were coming late because of commitments.
The girls wanted to make Lasagna and I was ask to teach them how and let
them make some of their own. I felt
pretty tired because of this lingering cold.
One of the girls said – are you tired.
I tried to stay upbeat and we had fun.
They were excited and made six extra small pans full to give to other
people. It was a fun night.
Thursday’s
best thing was that we talked to Kendal on her birthday. No surprise that she was eating steak. She still loves it. So proud of this 13 year old girl. She always texts us with little things. We sure love that girl.
We also
took the famous visiting teaching cards around.
They were so beautiful this month and I didn’t want to waste one of
them. They said, “your Father in Heaven
knows your name and knows your circumstances, ‘
He hears your prayers. He knows
your hopes and dreams including your fears and frustrations.” Elder Jeffery R. Holland This was perfect for all of us and more than
perfect for these ladies. Love the
visiting teaching messages.
We had our
first Missionary Meeting with President Haws the Gallup Stake President on
Thursday evening. It was really great to
hear his appreciation for the Missionaries and how we can work with the people
in the Wards and Branches. Very much
like at home when we are ask to help the Ward Missionaries. The big difference is that there are so many
people down here that need reactivated.
He reminded us that many of their cultural differences are good – they
are not all bad. He also said that some
of ours are challenging. What a great
man with an even greater message.
We have
taken wood to Vivian who just returned from Utah and helped her cut up the big
logs.
On Saturday
we were invited to Farmington with the young Elders. Elder Quintin Cook was there with Elder Ecco
Hawk. Wow it was amazing. Most of the time when a General Authority
comes we get to make a line and walk through and shake their hand. It is always a very special minute to do
this. We loved Sister Cook – she had all
of us up singing rounds with church songs.
She is a fun lady. Elder Cook
taught us about 4 missionary Statements.
They are for everybody because those of you at home can do so much Missionary
work with your own families, friends and neighbors. Every time I hear the wonderful words of our
Apostles I just want every member of our family to be here with us and to hear
what they have to say but way more important to have them feel of the Spirit
that is in these meetings. You can’t
deny the truth of the Gospel and the love for Jesus Christ as you listen and
feel the Spirit in the room. Feel very
lucky and blessed.
Here are the 4 Missionary Statements for all of us:
- We are
Ward and Branch builders.
- You
will have success when you invite someone to come to church regardless of
the outcome. We should be stepping
forward and inviting others to come unto Christ.
- You
are the message – I love this by
the way you look, your obedient, if you are warm and friendly and
gracious. The words we say when
we re out and around others and in our homes tell what we really are. We need to all learn to be kind to our
families and others. It is amassing
how much others may be watching all of us.
Heavenly Fathered is relying on His Children to help him with
others.
- Focus
our Spiritual powers on teaching, planning and our purpose. As we ask others to commit we are
teaching repentance. So grateful
for repentance. Thankful Heavenly
Father loves us no matter what and that we can repent and be better than
we were before. Love remembering
this. He told us that our Mission
is not just for us. It is for
everyone at home – and everyone we love.
That has been my prayer since we came to Zuni that our amazing
family would be blessed and that they would allow the Lord to bless them
and their families. Wow that
meeting really touched me.
On the way home I found out that
because our darling Sister Walker had her baby boy Elder Dattage and I would be
doing all of primary. We were able to
prepare the Sharing time and some songs to sing but the next morning Vanessa
called and was sick so she couldn’t come to give the lesson. I started studying fast.. Elder Dattage did the teaching of the Sharing
time about the restoration. I got the
lesson and an activity for them to make a gift for Sister Walker. The kids loved making the cards and hooking
them on small baby diapers. They were
cuties and we had about 14 of them. So glad that Elder Dattate is finally getting
better from his cold. He kept going as
he always does but good to have him feeling better.
A great
Sunday as we took wood later to a person that was burning old shoes to keep
warm. We didn’t cut it but we took some
from the Branch pile so they would be warm tonight. Please remember how fortunate all of you
are. You are blessed and loved by so
many. Love all of you for the amazing soccer
players, newspaper writers, dancers, friends to many people, doing plays,
wrestlers, being so smart and using it
to do good things, and fishing,learning to read, working hard at school and loving Emma. Thanks all of you so much. You are great. Everyone offers to do so much. Thanks to Shea and whoever went to the
ranch. You are so kind and so
amazing. Thanks to Kim for doing little
things to help me and also for getting the lights down at some point. You are workers and helpers. Elden loved the pictures Ryan sent him
Saturday about the wreck. I thought he
might head back to Utah he was so excited.
Thanks. Pictures and love are
amazing. Happy for our friends that are
doing well at home also. Love you guys,
Elder and Sister Dattage
Young Elders & Sisters waiting to hear Elder Cook
Elders at the Zuni fun run!
Elders and Branch members at the fun run
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