Elder & Sister Dattage: July 17, 2016

July 17. 2016

Dear All,

Each week brings so many new experiences and opportunities to serve Our Heavenly Father and the people in Zuni. There is some celebration going on here in which the dancers have been dressing in their dance clothes and walking around and then dancing and asking for rain in the evenings. Their costumes are amazing for sure.

You have heard me talk about little Keisha who is 11 years old. Kendal Dattage has sent her some very cute clothes and we have tried to help this family. Last week we helped Vangie the mom take Kendell to get stitches by his eye and to get them removed after Keisha threw a spoon at him. Yes kids are the same in Zuni as in Cache Valley. Monday night about 9:00 we get a call from Vangie that she has Keisha in Gallup and she is getting her appendix out. She had not been feeling well and they sent her from Zuni at the hospital to Gallup by ambulance. We told her we would go into Gallup the next morning to see how she was doing. She gave us a list of things that Keisha felt would taste good and we headed out Tuesday morning after our appointments for the grocery store and the Gallup Indian Hospital. When we got there she said they would be discharging her some time that day and would we stay and help get her home. We didn’t have to wait long and about 3:00 they said she could leave. She was so sick and hurt a lot. We had the white truck so we tried to make her comfortable in the front seat that tilts back. She fell asleep and slept all the way home. I felt bad for her and hoped she could rest. Next day in the afternoon we were taking Kendell up to get his stitches out and she came out with her mom. Her mom said she wanted to rest in the truck because her 3 brothers wouldn’t be quiet in the house and she was so tired. My heart really hurt for her and her family because of the limited circumstances they have and how sick she was. By the next day she looked better and we hope is still improving. Here again be thankful for your cars, your homes, your doctors, your extended family and for the Love of Heavenly Father as you are guided through hard times. Can be pretty hard down here for children.

Tuesday was great as we visited with Nicole who wants to be baptized on August 2. We took Megan Salt with us because she is young and so are the young Elders of course. We hoped she would enjoy and relate to her and she did. They talked about High School and how much had changed since them in the past 2 years. It was good. We will all see Nicole again on this Wednesday as she is getting close to her date.

Another hard thing that happened was when Brother Lalio told us his power was turned off when they got home from Albuquerque. They were for dental work and hadn’t paid the bill so it was turned off. We invited them to super that night and had the Elders come over. I don’t know but I think their power is on now. That happens a lot down here. They go without a few days then have to go in and get it turned on again.

Elder Huston leaves on Tuesday to go home. He has very mixed feelings. He has served very well in Zuni. Elder Daniels will stay and we get another Elder on Tuesday to work with him. It will be quiet here with out Elder Huston. He is a lot of fun and has been good with the people down here. Changes can be good and he is ready to go back to Texas. Saturday night we cooked dutch oven for the Elders because Huston is leaving. We did the family rice and chicken dish and then peach cobbler. Thought of how much our family enjoys this. It was a reminiscing day any way because it was Rykers Brithday so lots of things went through our minds about love of family and love of Heavenly Father. We thought of the Cook family on that day and of our family and the support we saw come from all of you for Lance. I laughed as each of you told of eating at Taco Bell because Ryker loved that place. Just a small tribute to our love for him. He truly was a light in all of our lives and is now still an example to us to be the best we can to serve and do what Heavenly father wants us to do to in our lives. We are blessed to have each other. We also have had Maxine on our minds because of the loss of her mom. Appreciated all you did back home to show your love to her at this time. Sure love that great lady and miss her.

So love the visits we have with the people down here. We still go around with the Visiting Teaching cards and talk and share our testimonies and invite them to Church. Last Sunday we were so thrilled to see so many investigators and less active members there as well as all of those we love that are amazing members. This week was just as special as they all came back and also our Vanessa came. We have missed her so much but she has been busy for about a month. Today she was able to make it back. This isn’t to say that the Elders and us with the help of our Heavenly Father guiding us haven’t visited 100’s of other people but we are so thrilled with each one as they come and learn to be more like the Savior and to take the Sacrament.

When I taught the Primary lesson today on Prophets, Nicole was there. She wanted to see Primary. I can’t tell you how I felt when she shared her testimony and answered questions right along with the children. There were 14 of them today and they are cuties. She helped me a lot during the lesson . I involved her in any way I could think of because they could feet her goodness and her Spirit. Love this 20 year old girl.

It is so amazing to me to hear their questions. They want to learn and listen and read. I looked down and Nicole was helping a little 6 year find the place we were studying in Helaman. Wow she great.

On top of all of the opportunities to work we have had we also took a detour of 2 hours to go to Pie Town. We didn’t even know if they had a pie place open there any more. Dorson Salt had told us about it one day when we were getting wood. Well we found it and it is a town of 57 people. There is a little shop that sells pies and sandwiches. The sandwiches are very good and the pies are amazing. We bought one for the Salt family because Dorson has been sick with gout in his feet. We also got one for us and the Elders. They are amazing pies – worth the 2 hour detour we took. Fun ride and great food. It is for tourists and she said they stay open all year. The man and woman love doing this and living in Pie Town.

We are going to President and Sister Walkers for Sunday dinner tonight. We love this family and their children. They are great examples in service and loving all. They work so hard for this Branch. Today in Church this Branch decides to do a float for the parade in Rama on Saturday. Rama is a little Mormon town and they celebrate the 24^th, No plans have been made but we are all meeting at the church on Tuesday at 6:00 to make a float. Hope we have a few supplies. How fun these people are. Love them and all we are learning from them. We have many opportunities to rely on the Spirit and are so blessed to be serving here at this time.

Love,

Elder and Sister Dattage