Elder & Sister Dattage

Monday, November 16, 2015

Reach out, show love, be your best!

Reach Out, Show Love, Be Your Best!!

Wow...what a wonderful letter we received from Elder and Sister Dattage this week. It is evident that they are completely immersed in this work. Accompanying the letter was this little bit from my mom.

Dear Family,

Hope you enjoy this letter. We love sharing our mission with the people we love most - our family. Have a good week. Reach out to your families, show love to those around you and be the best you can be.

Love you,

Mom and Dad

What great advice! We do need to reach out, show love, and be our best! Thanks for the wonderful words of wisdom!

Letter from Elder and Sister Dattage dated November 15, 1015

Hi to my Favorite People, Our Family,

Zuni is a great place to serve. We feel so blessed to be here among these great people. We have done some visiting this week and even more service. Most of these people are hard workers because they have to be to survive. They have to have wood to heat their stoves and can’t afford to heat with fuel. There are so many widows or women and children living alone and it is very hard for them to get enough wood to get warm. That is why it is a great blessing for President Walker to want us to go ahead with our wood day and to see how we can serve others. He doesn’t want them to feel that they can continually get something for nothing and is asking them to write their histories and their testimonies when the wood is divided so they can learn that there is a way they can give back.

Tuesday we had out District meeting in which we were taught to strengthen the core. The people already active then to work on others. That is happening in this little branch right now. People seem to really love President Walker and as we get a chance to talk to them we see that they want to be back in Church and feel of the good spirit that is there. Today there were around 60 people at Church. The Young Womens President is now a native Zuni lady named Pam. She loves the girls and is so happy. Today the Second Councilor in the Branch Presidency was sustained. He is an amazing man that went inactive but decided that it was too important for his family and has been coming back lately. He is a great man and has even been a Branch President before. Now he is back serving others and helping his own family as well as others.

We were asked by President Walker to come up with a plan to help those he asks to talk in church prepare and give a talk. Many of them are just afraid to do that. We found some information on the internet and revised it, and simplified it and hope that as we help them they will say yes to speak. We can easily get their materials the harder part is helping them regain the confidence give the talk.

On Thursday Elden build a back to the truck to haul extra wood and I baked cookies. Both jobs took all morning. I baked 100 cookies 12 cookies at a time. Kim says that Jodi has found pans that hold 24 – when I am back I would love one but for now I have the smallest oven ever!

Also that afternoon we went and helped our Relief Society President with wood that is at her house. She uses a little but wants to have it for Sisters as they call her if they don’t have any to keep warm. She then fed us spaghetti. We had a great visit with her. She is reorganizing the visit teaching groups and then we will go with her and visit all of those not on the list. Those that have been less active. Elder Dattage (dad) and I have been visiting many of those people but I love the idea of us going with her. She is native Zuni and an amazing person.

Thursday besides some visiting we helped Sister Bernadette with wood. She has some but can’t get it ready to use it so the Elders and us chopped and stacked it for her. She was good to help us all along the way. She then invited us in for macaroni and cheese and hot dogs. The Zuni people love hot dogs.

Now for the wood cutting project. We told President Walker we would take this on and help him. We took flyers to about 20 people that could help. We brought sandwiches, chips, 2 cases of water and the cookies I baked earlier. We were excited when 14 people came. One is an investigator and 3 are from a family that used to be active and don’t come now. We sent pictures of the tree. It was huge. Brother Salt is a real wood hauler and so we went for a big tree. Cut it in pieces, filled 5 trucks with it and someone can go back and get another truck full later. Sister Salt came to and I was so glad. She of course could chop wood at times. I only carry and load. She is such a cute fun lady. We get home, very tired and get a call to go to the Salts for Dinner with the Elders. I couldn’t believe her . Then when we show up for Relief Society on Sunday she is the one giving the lesson. She is also going to school to get her nursing degree and a mother of 6 children. Oldest daughter on a mission. The rest are home. Her fun relationship with her girls reminded me of my relationship with my daughters and daughter in law. Love them to pieces.

Another good thing on Sunday the Cheves family road with us again and the kids got parts for the Primary program. Only one is a member but she has never given a talk and both boys also have parts now also. We will go get them and take them to the practice on Wednesday. They are cute children and hope the mother will become a member. She is a good lady.

We are so busy just trying to help those that are working so hard in this Branch. We are meeting a lot of other people and we also love that part. We do love watching and helping these people learn how things work and watch them do good for each other.

I will let you know how the Thanskgiving dinner goes next Sunday. Yes it is right after the block. We are helping organize it. The day was a surprise but that is how it is done here. I guess like a linger longer in a Young Adult Ward or Something. It is a full dinner. We are cooking turkey, gravy and dressing. It was amazing to watch as every women there and I mean every women there signed up to bring some of the food. They are excited and ask to bring anyone then can with them.

Today we took home the little girl with Down syndrome and got to meet the disabled boy in our branch that is her brother. . She had us sing happy birthday to him even though it was a week ago. Elden also had the opportunity to learn how to fix a toilet. This is new for him but he isn’t afraid to try to help any and all who are in need. He had to fix a beeswax seal. It is still working so we are glad.

When we were taking out papers to have them help with wood we were able to meet all the boys that are prospective Aaronic Priesthood holders. As a result a father and two of the boys showed up. They gave a lot of service.

Taylor had asked us to look for a dream catcher for her. We were in Gallup looking a bit and went in one shop because we loved the one we got her and it was in the window. When we got in that was a store that sold things that back home would be called drug paraphanialia. No drugs just other stuff. We got a good laugh out of that. There were a lot of people buying in that store. Thanks to Jodi for the great books. I love them.

Had such a great talk with our neighbors who are inactive. The people with the bakery. She is still mourning the loss of her brother from alcohol poisoning but very blessed by many other things.

We both feel so blessed that not a single day goes by that we don’t have opportunities to serve both physically and spiritually. The Lord truly does that provide for those that seek opportunities to servants in his hands. One of Lances thoughs that we read from each morning was “The most effective missionaries always act out of Love.” By Dallin Oaks. We read these messages everyday and try to work our day from there. We do love Zuni, its great people and of course the rain and mud. To our grandchildren we say that we love you. We are proud of you and know you are doing good for others and for each other. It is a blessing to be around good people and I feel when you spend time with family you are spending time with some of the best. Love you so much and pray for all of your happiness – especially Spiritual happiness. Have a great week. We pray that all of you are service and loving the opportunity to serve those around you and to feel of the Spirit as it blesses your life. Love you so much.

Lots of great photos came in this week too. I have attached the captions that Elder and Sister Dattage sent with them.

Sister Salt taking a break from splitting wood.

Elders downing food, as usual.

President Walker on lunch break with Eddie and Chandler

Investigator talking with President and Eddie

Two of the five trucks we loaded

Look at the size of that tree!

More time looking at size of log and figuring how to cut it.

Open end of the log.

Cutting limbs

Dad cutting limbs

Notice the relish on the hot dog. Extra hot relish for Sister Burnadett. She fiexed dinner after splititng wood.

Mom (Sister Dattage) having dinner with two fo the Salt children.

Dad (Elder Dattage ) challenged Brianne to eat this. Then he snuck a picture.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Fun Pictures

Here are some fun pictures with captions that have rolled in over the last few days.

Out trackig down a Zuni to teach.

Sister Dattage saw the Zuni but couldn't cath him.

Last spotted the Zuni heading over the hill.

Replacing the beeswax seal o ring. Instructions said to sit on it and shake. A single sisters toilet repair.

Job done.

Old Zuni Mission

Locked out

Endless job cleaning cleaning shoes

Letter sent on November 8, 2015

Hi All,

Just got home from a Stake Conference in Ramah and we have a meeting with our New Branch President in an hour so I wanted to write our letter from last week. What a mixed up weather week with rain, snow, and sun but mostly mud.

Our new Branch President is President Wallace and is a zuni Native who left and went to dental school. He and his wife and 4 children are back here now. His wife’s father was baptized into the church by Dean Parker and has kept in close contact with the family. He has since gone on to be a Stake President and has an active family. Small world.

I now know:

You can’t get the mud off your shoes

: You Cant keep your truck clean

You often help clean some of the church

People are always caring

You are never too old to go to Mutual

You can’t buy books and gifts even in Gallup for special occasions.

Also Elder Dattage can now fix toilets, tables and is getting better at cutting and hauling wood.

One real different experience this week – we visited a home that we had been to before but this time they had a big sized pig running orotund in their house. These people are less active members and were working at fixing a pen outside but it had been in their house for a couple of days.

We have been visiting with a very cute family the Deycees. Shah is a member and wants her husband and little ten year old to join. We visit and gave them a Family DVD and hope heh will let the Elders come by and teach them more about the Church.

We have a new Elder, Elder Yorgensen a farm boy from Washington State. Hope he can sty and serve here for awhile.

Mutual this week was very touching. The president has moved so her two counselors did the activity. They taught the girls to make a shepherd pie then we took it to a very humble home. It was a cold night, around 8:00. This house had no electricity and no fire going. She was kind and grateful for the food. These girls really saw the true value that comes from helping those that have less than we do.

After that at 8:00 I met the Primary President (President Walkers wife) and the music leader for dinner at Chu Chus. It is the only sit down place to eat and is really close to where we are at the church. There are two deli like places in the grocery store and one in the gas station. They had invited me because they were planning the Primary program . They had good ideas. The twelve and less children that are in Primary really sing and will put on a program for the branch.

We had a great visit with a lady name Carma and her son Jace. She wants him to become more active but isn’t attending herself. It just doesn’t always work that way. Great visit and hope to see them in church.

We are planning a wood hulling activity for Branch members for this Saturday. They will take 4 trucks and get wood. They then come back and share with the widows of the Branch. People can use us to 10 – 12 loads of wood in the winter.

We were in a mans driveway looking for something and he came out and talked to us. He called us back the next night and wants us to come back out. The Lord blesses us so much.

I have been taking the nice cards Carolyn sends me with the Visit Teaching message on them. The ladies here love them and the Relief Society President is very happy with them. They are something nice to leave in their homes.

Our little trailer is warm enough now. We have insulated windows and use our electric heater a lot. I love thermals, sweaters, tights and good socks. Most of the time Elder Dattage is in short sleeves. Maybe not on snow days. We feel the Lord has blessed us with wonderful sons, son in laws, daughters and daughter in law and of course grand kids. Wow we hear about wrestling, runners, soccer games, newspaper editors, dancers, cheer leaders, debaters, foot ball, swimmers, gymnastics, t ball players, hunters, honor roll students, pre school activities, soon to be drivers and drivers, good friends, good examples in their wards and schools. Such good people serving in the ward and helping others. We are so blessed. We love all of you. We have been blessed with an amazing family. We love each of their daily thoughts, texts and calls. So proud of how they serve each other. Love every picture, wrestling poster, videos, newspapers and just all they are telling us about. We have challenges here in Zuni and at home but the Lord is aware of each one of us and is trying to bless our lives. He is also blessing others to help bless our lives.

This is an amazing experience and is building our testimonies. This month the card from Visit Teaching says”While a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, George Q. Cannon urged that we make a constant quest for the Spirit to be with us. He promised, and I promise it as well, that if we pursue that course, we will never lack for knowledge of the truth, never be in doubt or in darkness and our faith will be strong , our joy full. Quote by President Henry B. Eyring. Love that quote. Everything we are doing here requires us to rely on the Spirit as a guide. What a blessing it is to us.

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Snow in Zuni

My mom loves warm weather so I have to wonder how she felt about early snow and as it looks lots of it! Wow! She wrote, "We woke up to about 3 inches of snow today. I feel like I am in Cache Valley."

Special picture of my Dad with one of the members.

Studying with the Elders

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Halloween in Zuni

October 31, 2015

Dear Family,

This has been a great week both in service and in Spiritual experiences with good people.

Some things we have learned about the Zuni Nation:

People here like to laugh

People like good food and lots of it

People love their families

People here are kind to many people

People work hard to get enough wood to heat their home all winter.

They give funny directions when you ask where someone lives: the third house past the library then past the two story one or so on.

.They like hot food with lots of spices.

Meals are served with a plate of peppers like we would add olives or tomatoes

They are artists and make beautiful pottery and jewelry.

Their children like Halloween and candy just like ours do.

The children love to dress up.

The families eat a lot of pot luck at every event.

They have a Wellness Center where they go and exercise in the mornings

They love dogs and have three or four of them.

A few things we don’t have:

Our grandchildren

Our children

Our close friends

My car (Is anyone driving it)

A warm house

Town that is closer than 45 minutes

Paved roads

A little about this week:

We have had some great opportunities for service such as two days helping get wood with Brother Poway and Brother Benn.

Cleaning up a huge area , pulling weeks, pulling out trees, raking up and using the week eater to get most of the weeks. Also pulling out a few trees that were small. We are done and it is a good feeling to help those people.

Instead of going visit teaching once this month with Maxine I have gone 4 times with different sisters. Each Sister should go to 4 houses. Some times they do but most of the time they don’t. I love the cards Carolyn has been sending me with a part of the message on it. I have taken all 20 of them out to sisters. They think they are so pretty and they display them in their homes.

We went to a Wake. One of the members of the Branch Called us and said their friend had died. We had just visited the Hooees with Sister Vicente a few days before and met the father in the home of the Branch Member. He is a wonderful man who was coming to church. His wife and daughter still come some of the time. He has been offended but coming back. He went with us to the house. He gave a Spiritual talk at the Wake because the man who died was a less active member. He did a wonderful job and all of the other people in the room were not members but he stood there and taught about the Plan of Salvation and many other things. It was an amazing experience.

We had a trunk or treat in which about 70 people came to the church. We helped the Salt family decorate and it was cute. The children came in costume and had so much fun. We also ate chili made by the members. Way too hot for me but they don’t even need a drink of water when they eat. Great Branch activity. So different. We move the chairs out of the room and put up tables then take them down and have Sacrament meeting in the same room. Wow I am getting used to this.

Elden ate his first tamales cooked in corn husks made by out neighbor for helping her with her Ward. He liked them a lot.

They are building a Panda Express in Gallup – just so my grandkids know that we will soon be able to get Panda food.

We have been helping a lady named Maria. She broke her arm and takes care of her very old mother. She is so grateful for any and all help. She is coming back to church. I know Heavenly Father helped her to be ready for this. She is a very kind person.

The Young Women are happy with their pennants they made for their room. They are cute. I am so happy that Taylor is going to make some things to add to the room as she works on her Honor Bee. They will love the things you are making Taylor.

Had a fun phone call this week. Kendal was using a different phone and calling her mom. Instead she got us. We loved talking to that cutie. Love all the Watrins weekly updates . Amazing things happening everywhere. Cute pictures from those Johnson kids. They are so cute. Hayden we love; your answers to our questions. Often we get one word answers but we love them just the same. Pictures of the three little boys are priceless – in fact any pictures are priceless.

The Spirit is strong here. We love it and we keep so busy. There are many people to visit and revisit. They ask us to come back and we do. Today we had a great visiting day with people we wanted to have Visit Teaching Cards: We stopped at Marvis, Lalios, Sister Salts, REb eccas, Sister Dykcees, Anthony family and others. They are so nice. We didn’t stay long but just let them know we were thinking of them.

Heavenly Father directs the work here. You can feel the Spirit in all we get to do. We are so blessed to be here right now in this beautiful little Branch.

I think we are learning that there is nothing like family. Tell everyone in your family you love them and appreciate all they do for you – kids and adults. We are a blessed family. We miss all of you but feel the work here is also important. Love you, Mom and Dad

Here are some photos of the weed pulling, raking and tree cutting that has been taking place.

Sister Dattage has been doing all of this in her skirt and work boots! She sent us this photo!!

Here are the photos of the branch Halloween trunk of treat!

Young Women worldwide in the LDS church participate in a program called Personal Progress. Sister Dattage had a leadership role prior to her mission and has a real testimony of this program. She has instilled this testimony in her daughters and grandaughters. Here is a photo of the Young Women in Zuni making banners for each value color

Here is some general information about this wonderful program:

Purpose of Personal Progress

Personal Progress will help you strengthen your faith in and testimony of Jesus Christ as you learn His teachings and regularly apply them in your life. It will help you strengthen both your present family and your future family. It will help you prepare to make and keep sacred covenants and receive the ordinances of the temple. And it will prepare you to be a faithful, contributing member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Personal Progress program uses the eight Young Women values to help you understand more fully who you are, why you are here on the earth, and what you should be doing as a daughter of God to prepare for the day you go to the temple to make sacred covenants. It will help you prepare for your future roles as a faithful woman, wife, mother, and leader in God’s kingdom. Participating in Personal Progress teaches you to make commitments, carry them out, and report your progress to a parent or leader. The patterns you establish as you work on Personal Progress—such as prayer, scripture study, service, and journal keeping—will become personal daily habits. These habits will strengthen your testimony and help you learn and improve throughout your life.

Requirements

To complete the Personal Progress program, you will need to:

•

Attend sacrament meeting regularly (where possible).
•

Live the standards in For the Strength of Youth.
•

Complete the value experiences and value project for each of the eight values.
•

Keep a personal journal.
•

Attend seminary or participate in independent study (where available).
•

Read the Book of Mormon regularly.
•

Record your testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ.

After finishing these requirements, you will be eligible to receive the Young Womanhood Recognition following a worthiness interview with your bishop or branch president.

Here is a link to the LDS.ORG page that explains the program in greater depth:

https://www.lds.org/young-women/personal-progress/overview-for-young-women

Friday, October 30, 2015

A week full of work

Neither one of my parents have ever been afraid to work! This has served them well in Zuni!

Dad helping a member gather wood for the winter. Personal note: This may be my favorite picture we have received thus far! I just love how that sweet man is watching Dad work!