Elder & Sister Dattage: June 19, 26 and July 3rd letter with lots of pictures!

June 19, 2016

Hi and Happy Fathers Day

Hope all fathers are having a great day. They are important to their families and give so much to them. They bless our lives. Hope their day is the best it can be.

Zuni is very hot right now and coming from me that means that most people are really hot. We thing about 100 degrees. Our poor little air conditioners are working overtime.

We have had some amazing times visiting the members and non active members this week. Many of them are just overwhelmed with all they are called upon to do. These people want so much direction in their lives and are looking for it. Just hard at times to truly commit to it. Love and appreciate them as they help each other so much. We went visiting with two Sisters in the Branch to another family. We found out he had fell and was hurt and we had such a great visit. They really love it when great people that are Native come with us. They love their friends.

We had a unusual day on Tuesday. We had picked up some weeks from a neighbor and were going to the dump ground. Our truck was only half full and as we passed another person on the way we saw he had weeds that we could fit into our truck. We ask him and picked his up. As we were about to leave a man came over and ask if we needed his weeks for compost. We said no but we would love to add them to our load so we did – all 12 piles of them. As we talked to him we found out he was a member of the Church and we had a great visit. Interesting that we hadn’t known he was there before. He was a good man and interested in coming back with his wife. You never do know which time they hear the truth will touch them and they will want more.

On Friday we went to the Lalio family for dinner. We took cookies and salad and ate with them. They are a family that we really love. They want to come back to church and have ask the MISSIONARIES to teach their entire family again. They are all members except one but need to be taught again. The mother is looking for direction for her teen age boys lives and remembers the feelings she had when they were active members and had the boys Baptized. We are really praying for this family. They love their family and need direction as we all do.

Carolyn and Wendee all the cards this month and all the dish cloths are gone. They were cute as I took the extras I had and they shared them at a craft Relief Society Day. The message about the Temple on the cards is perfect because our Branch has been concentrating on the importance of this in the lives of families. I love to go into their homes and see these tapped up on their walls like a favorite picture. They love messages and pretty things. What great sisters I have to send things we can share with these people.

Saturday we sent up to Blanding to the Museum by the Cedars. Our family went there when they were here but only got to go outside because it was so late. We rode with the Senior Missionaries from Saw Mill, the Berrys. Long 4 plus hour drive in which we enjoyed our visit with them but we left at 6:20 and arrived back at l0:00 at night. My favorite part was that we took lunches and sat under a tree on grass and ate. Grass is something we do not have in Zuni. Not a blade so that was so fun.

We are amazed at the things that people here do just like at home. There was a hamburger cook out fund raiser for a person with cancer. We watched the ladies cook and work in the hard weather and it was all donated to a family having problems. Good people are every where.

Another thing the Sister in the Branch made cookies and filled bags for the Fathers in the Branch for Father Day gifts. The Primary children sang in sacrament meeting. Loved all of it.

We have so many prairie dogs in the field by us and they all have babies as well as our two lizards that live right by us Yikes we are being overcome with them.

Big thanks to our family and friends. Our grandchildren are blessed with amazing dads that love them and provide so well for them Especially a shout out for the Dads. We are blessed to have all of you in our lives and your examples to the grand children is amazing. Proud of all of you.

Been thinking of Reagan and Kim’s play and sad we are missing. Hope it is going so well. Glad Jill is back from camp with her family and know it would be so wonderful but tiring for sure. Lance sent such a cute fathers Day present for Elden. The tractor is the cutest thing ever. To Jodi and especially Jeff we are so sorry about your moms passing but we know she must have been wonderful because you are. She will be missed but we know she has been sick a long time. So sorry for all of you. Proud of our Ragnar Boys. Don’t know how, Lance, Shea, and Adam do it but we hope it was so fun and rewarding. Can’t wait to be there next year cheering you on, Love the pictures of the sleepover at Ryan and Alicias. The cutest little kids ever were at that sleep over. Love them. We sure laughed at Emma as she waited for her breakfast plate to be filled by Aunt Alicia. They are all so lucky to have the families they have and the blessings they have. Love all of you so much. Love our Mission but I am not going to say it is easy. We are working so hard and some times as I am sure everyone that has served a Mission knows you wonder if you are even making a dent. So many things that you can do and try to help. Thanks goodness the Lord has prepared people to hear the Gospel. We are blessed. Love all of you

June 26, 2016

Dear All,

Hard to believe it is already Sunday again and June is almost over. We just got through another 4 days of all stores closed and people fasting (just going without fatty meat). Now this week they will go on a long walk to what is called Zuni Heaven. Only their upper Zuni leaders do this. They walk 4 days . The ladies feed them before they go and as they return. Also there will be lots of dancing for rain. Today we got a little rain but they haven’t started to dance for it yet. Glad to have things open up again. It gets so quiet here during this time.

There are so many people that are sick. They need to go to Albuquerque for medical care. The care is paid for but they have to have gas money and food money. There are three different families going through this right now here. One is for an appointment concerning a liver transplant, one for chemo therapy follow up and the last one they are not sure but ultra sound and beginning tests. Hard to watch people that struggle so much.

Last Wednesday when we were visiting Sister Hattie who is a member we also were talking to her Granddaughter. The Elders gave a lesson and she has been reading the Book of Mormon with her grandma. She is 23 and wants to be baptized the first part of August. We will see but they are a family that tries. Grandpa works and her mother works so they are financially sound. I sure hope she stays with this to bless her life. It was a very spiritual meeting.

We also had the responsibility to take Ty Palocca and his leader Brother Park to Priesthood Missionary Camp. It was 1 ½ from here up a beautiful canyon. The young man is very inactive but he loved the camp so much. He felt the Spirit so strong. It made me think of my days that I got to spend at our MTC Camp in Logan. So spiritual. When we picked them up they were both so impressed with what was done, the food and the talks, and the Spirit that was there. President Adams – our Mission President) was their speaker. They sure loved it. Hopefully he will want more of that in his life.

So many good things this week. Today President and Sister Soloman from our Mission Presidency came to Zuni to talk in Sacrament meeting. I was afraid no one would come but there were 45 people there. They did an amazing job of teaching about the Spirit. We had asked them to have dinner with us right after and of course also the Elders. So in our little trailer we enjoyed dinner for 6. We had cooked a fun pulled roast recipe. twice baked potatoes, corn, rolls and cherry pie. You should have seen the trailer while I was cooking. We crowed around the table 5 of us and Elder Dattage ate at the computer desk. They are wonderful and live in Joseph City in a very big house. They were nice and it was good for the Elders to talk to them. They are the people that went to the shop and took their picture there and sent to us. They have relatives in Smithfield so they were in Cache Valley for a Temple Sealing.

Wow what an amazing day and week. We loved all of it.

We just had a visit from Ty. He also brough me a few blouses that his mom wanted me to have. She doesn’t fit them any more. He told us that there is something going on in the Village where the mud heads are going around and people throw water on them and then they hope it will cause it to rain. Should it is cloudy here and rainy now anyway. So many traditions for these people. We don’t know all of them but keep learning.

This has been a very Spiritual week. We feel so blessed to be here and having these experiences in our lives. Today we were reminded that it doesn’t matter what is said some times in Church but more importantly what you feel. Learn to recognize the Spirit and be so thankful for it. Ponder and listen to it as it tries to lead and guide us. Got to hold little Cruz Walker again but Brenda Pinto grabs him during Relief Society. He is getting big and so cute. In these little Branches they all have to help each other because there are less of them . We love the Walkers and their kids. They are amazing and serve with such devotion as they raise their 5 little ones. Loved talking to the grandkids this week. Maelee was adorable on her birthday. I got to talk to all of them that were in the car. Love them. All of the funny Emma things just keep us laughing for sure. Also cute pictures of Jaxon and Ryan and the horses. Grandpa loved the pictures so much. Jordan and I were texting one night until 11:00. I loved it. We heard good things about the play that Kim and Reagan are finishing up. Wow what a lot of devotion. Jodi and Jeff we thought of you a lot. Know that loosing a mom is tough. Also your St George house looks so wonderful. Loved the pool and al course the way Emma moved in for a few days. Samantha, Jordan and their snake story. Yikes. Andrew and everything he catches –especially lizards - he loves this. Lance sending a very cute fathers day gift for dad, Alicia offering to get the gift for Jodi and Jeff and of course doing a wonderful job because that is how she does things, and of course the box with two containers that Jodi sent dad with the Macadamia Nut and caramel clusters. Not only does dad love them but the young Elders seem to always find them and help eating them. We know that with all of this there is much hard work being done with your families and for us. Please know that we are so thankful and we express that to everyone down here about how blessed we are to have an amazing family. Love all of you,

Elder and Sister Dattage

July 3, 2016

Dear All,

Hope all of you are doing well. It has been slow in Zuni this week because of the Summer Solictice celebrating and cleansing. This is over now and the 4^th of July is here then all should be back to normal again. The women during this 4 day time work so hard to prepare food. They make a lot of stews. They bake bread in their outside ovens for days and have many family parties We have tried the mutton stew and the blue corn stew. They are cooked slowly overnight in the ovens. They use huge pans to cook these things in. Today’s church was a little smaller. Most of them are probably very tired because they have been feeding many for days.

Some times I think how many people can a very small trailer hold. Last week the Lalios came over for 3 hours. The Elders came over also. We just had treats and helped them copy pictures of their house to apply for a loan. They were 5 of them and the elders. Some time was spent outside but some inside eating and talking. We did enjoy them.

Wednesday was busy but during mutual we took the young men and went to get clay so they can make pots next week. It was a pretty place where there was some water and almost a wetland look. Unusual for Zuni area. We got the mud then cooked hotdogs, had chips and cookies. Pretty fun for them.

It is meeting week also. We had meetings in Gallup, Fort Wingate and Tsilte. Seems like a lot so it took up some of our time. They were good and in Tsilte we as District Leaders from the entire Mission worked on the project that will be used in our Zone meeting this month. Oh by the way Kim and Janie I had to lead the music. I am still very bad at that but sure have to step out of your comfort zone when you serve Missions. Will be glad to have that done. We like most of you have been trying to deal with the tragedy at home with our friends, the Cooks. We love them and are so sad for their family as they go through this very difficult time. Thanks to Lance, Ryan, Jill and Janie as you have kept us updated about how they are doing. Many prayers. I told President Smith I didn’t think there were enough hugs in the world for them right now. Hard time. Grateful for the Plan of Salvation but first they have to just take all of this in and rely on the Lord as they do this.

The only Missionarry out has been Megan Salt . She returned home Wednesday and we have met her. She served in Texas and loved her mission. Happy to be home but sad to leave her mission. They are a great family and very happy to all be together again.

Today in Primary Sister Walker and our Music leader were away visiting. Sister Salt and I did Primary. For singing time I used Kim’s idea about tic tac toe and they sang their hearts out. The sharing time was about the Temple. Loved being able to talk about the temples to them. They were excited to take home a picture of the Albuquerque Temple.

One of the high lights of our week was the picture of our grandkids on the steps of the church in Lake Town. Wow we loved it. They all looked to cute and dressed up and happy. What a blessing that is in our life. We love them so much. Thanks for the picture even if you did make the late church. Funny grandpa Elden loves the first session because many of the Lake Town people attend that one but to get 20 plus people ready and church that early is impossible. Thanks for all you do.

We have had some good visits with the inactive people. They want us to know they are baptized but are so set in their traditional ways that they can’t let any of them go.

Excited to be preparing a Temple trip on Saturday for 9 members. We love going to the Temple with these members. They are thankful for every time they can make the trip there.

What a blessing a Mission is in your life. So much time to study and learn. So many opportunities to bear witness of the Savior to others. There are opportunities to learn about other people and their lives and traditions. We feel blessed. Love all of you.

Love,

Elder and Sister Dattage