August 14th letter

August 14 ,  2016 Letter

Dear Friends and Family,

Hope you have had a good week – have a great week before school starts week.  We are having great weather and just had dinner with the Elders.  They were so nice.  They cooked our dinner which was a breakfast dinner consisting of pancakes, hash browns, bacon and eggs.  They did a very good job and worked so hard to make this happen.  They said it was a thank you because we always feed them.  They are good cooks and we had a very good meal.  Thanks to them. 

            This week has been full of ups and downs but at the end of the week we are thankful for all of the experiences we have had. 

            Along the lines of service we have had lots of opportunities.  We fixed our neighbor Vivians house.  We just had to nail boards around the bottom of parts of it so no animals can get under it.  We also helped her as a new pharmacist moved into Zuni to work at the hospital.  When we saw the big truck we were  a bit worried but the Elders and another young man named Joe came and it went so fast.  she is moving here for two years with three little children while he works and then they will go back to Washington State.  They had so much stuff because of the size of their family.  Wow big move.

            The Elders and us also went with Brother Salt and got wood to give to a lady who lives in Rama and then up a long road somewhere.  After getting the wood they stayed at her place until it was chopped and piled.  Big day but lots of wood for this good lady.

She works in the Albuquerque Temple  and does family history work as well as run the ranch since her husband passed away.  She was fun to talk to and a very nice lady.

            We also took Keisha into Gallup to see her Doctor with her post appendix surgery.  She, her mom Vangie and junior went in with us.  She passed all the tests so we went to McDonalds (the kids choice) and ate and let them play in the play land.  They played for over an hour.  So much fun for them.  Love those kids and their mama. 

            We also went to a District Meeting for our Elders because they didn’t have any enough men there.  It was a good meeting.  Elder Daniels did a good job. 

            At 2:00 p.m. we  were called to go to the hospital to help give a blessing to Brother Hooee’s brother.  He was dying of alcohol poisoning

  We were up most of the night but when we got there to the room there was a room ful of relatives there for him.  They knew he was dying but it was a blessing of comfort for this  35 year old man.  He has children and they all live with Sister Hooee who is a faithful but this son didn’t join the church and drank a lot.  He passed away on Friday and tonight will be his wake.  They will be up all night mourning his death.  Then tomorrow they will bury him.  It has to be done quickly because they do not do any embalming and just bury them in a blanket.  This will began at about 10:00 p.m. tonight.  It is all so different than how we take care of our loved ones that pass along.  We took food and chairs for Brother Hooee and will go back later to pay respect to the family. 

            On Friday we helped move a senior couple from Window Rock.  /They are getting a new trailer so we moved all of the old stuff out and they will live in a motel until the new one comes next week.  Lots of work for them but a nice trailer after.

            We also did our District Meeting that day.  We had gone prepared to do it instead of on Saturday if the right people were there.  All 8 of us were there.  We have two couples in our District that are sick and one that went home as well as one other that had another big commitment.     Actually it was one of the best meetings we have had ever.  We had our agenda and were ready to do the next day but so glad we were able to go into their church and have a meeting.   

            Saturday turned out to be a District Activity that we were also in charge of.  We just went to Gallup to the Indian Ceremonial activities.  There was a parade, rodeo which reminded us of Lake Town but maybe a tiny step upscale, and some dances.  Good day but very hot.  Lots of fun with our friends in our District. 

            Then today was back to Primary doing sharing only this time there were was only me and the music leader there with the kids.  The teacher didn’t show up but we did the best we could.  Love those kids.

            In Mutual last Wednesday, Elder Dattage and Brother Park were working with the boys and making pots from clay, letting it dry and sand and paint.  Elder Dattage was sanding like he would sand a car and he put a hole right in it.  Chelsea Lalio was helping them and she tried to fix it.  We will see how that turns out.  Fun activity for our Young Men. 

            In between times we were able to visit with some of our favorite members.    We have been taking a young girl to mutual.  Her family used to be active but have fallen away.  She loves mutual so we pick her up.  I was talking to her mom last week and gave her a Relief Society card that Carolyn sent.  She said thanks that she loved them and had kept everyone I had given her.  You never know what will touch their hearts. Tonight we are going to take food to Sister Hooee.  All of the sisters do their cooking and baking   We will visit a bit then leave the food for her family.  Love that they do this service for the people in our branch.  Love them.  Many of the people we spend timem with are not ready to come to church.  We still love them and pray for them.  Who knows mayjbe some day they will feel the desire to come .

            So blessed today to have some of the less active members come to church.  They know and love the Lord and know what they need to do but have some work to do.  Love their willingness to show their thanks to Heavenly Father by being obedient. 

            Sounds like it was a busy week for our family back home.  Talked to Emma who turned two and she is so very cute.  Taylor we are so happy that you made the tennis team.  So much fun for you.  Can’t wait to talk to the vacationers from the cruise – Watrins and from St George – Dattages and Morgans and Lance and hayden after their trip.   Jill’s family called us from Bear Lake and we loved seeing them having fun at the condo.  Love that Katie was there also.  Such two cute little families.    Loved all the swimming pool pictures with the girls and little boys.  Can’t imagine how tanned Kendal and Jordan are by now.  They both start out so naturally brown.  The ladies here say I am darker than them and just should stay.  It is true that most of them aren’t very dark.  Sounds a little like getting all of the fun they can out of summer before the school year starts.  School started here on Tuesday and they are all back and going strong.  

            Love all of you back home with your busy lives.  Serving home is so important and we hear good things.  Want to tell Janie I am so happy she is going to be the Young Women President.  She is so amazing – lucky girls.  Wow.  Thanks to all of you for the continued support.  We feel the love from all of you. 

            Love,

Elder and Sister Dattage

 Indian Hoop Dancer

 The next several pictures are all from the Gallup Parade.  

Gallup Rodeo.  This is a lot like the Laketown Rodeo

 In Gallup at McDonalds with Junior and Keisha

Poor Elder Dattage making pottery with the youth and John!  Oops!  

Elder Brurud

 Elder Daniels fixing Dinner

 Grandpa waiting for Sunday dinner that the Elder's were fixing

More Wood Hauling!!!

Happy Birthday Elder Dattage (August 7th letter)

August 7, 2016

            Thank you for everyone that wished Elder Dattage Happy Birthday.  We had a very amazing day.  There were 13 of us at one Temple that day and 3 in the other Temple.  We left at 6:30 in the morning and traveled to Snowflake Arizona.  The best part of this whole trip was that we had 3 Young Women with us that were doing baptisms for the dead.  They don’t get to do them very often and we were so excited.  While we were there we all went to different parts of the Temple and did Temple work.  It was such a wonderful day.  After we went to the food storage place and some of them got cases of food then we went to have lunch.  Because it was Elder Dattage’s birthday they gave him a card and we all had a wonderful time.  We were blessed to be in the Temple with good people.  We love it and love the work that is done there.  Pray for all of you at home that you can find time to be in the Temple, learning and feeling the amazing Spirit that is there.  I have been serving in Primary the last few weeks and it is all about Temples and the body being a Temple.  I love teaching that to children.  They listen and  learn.  We are very blessed to be here at this time. 

            We had a good experience this week also.  We helped our friend Pam clear up her weeds.  They had been raked and she had lots of piles.  When we were done our truck was full so we headed to the dump grounds .   We were unloading and a man from Zuni safety (clean up guy) came over to our truck.  We were both in the back with this huge load.  Three of them said they would like to help us unload.  They had seen us doing service and wanted to help us.  We had a very good talk and were very thankful for them. 

The next day we went back and took the Salt girls with us as for the next few weeks they will be working as our Branch Missionaries.  They share a beautiful video with her and talk to her.  We really love her and are so wish she was coming back to church.  It is so hard to see someone you love loose their testimony.  Pray that all can continually build on their testimonies so when someone is having a very hard time we are sad but we still love and care about her so much. 

            Here is a funny story and it is true.  We got home late on Thursday night.  We were so happy that the girls had their recommends for the Temple but President Walker couldn’t get his printer to work.  We printed them and he signed them and they were delivered.  We had just got on our Pajamas and decided to go up the road and call Brother Park who was driving another car to make sure all was good with them.  We said oh we could go in our pajamas because we were just making a call.  Well the phone didn’t work anywhere so we drive over to his place.  He is just getting home so he comes over to the truck to check what we want and laughs at Elder Dattage’s flannel pants and old shirt.  We get a feeling that we need to double check with Sister Pinto to make sure if she would let two other girls ride in her car.  So I won’t get out of the truck without going back and changing but you know Elder Dattage he marches right up to their door and makes the plans with the daughter and asks her to call us as soon as she is home.  We end up taking a recommend out to another young girl and all of this dressed in flannels.  All we could do is laugh about it. 

            I have learned that even though I am a little bit uncomfortable coming some places that some times we just have to do it.  Last night we went to a birthday party for Marias little niece who is turning 4.  She was adorable.  This is a very Zuni traditional family and I was a little nervous.  We took Marie and went and they were very nice to us.  Maria had told them it was Eldens birthday so they sand to him also.  Good week, busy week  Enjoyed a visit from Ben Jenkins and his sister on Sunday.  They came to dinner after they went to church with us and stayed and visited with us and the Elders.  We are having one more visit tonight – the Lalio family is bringing a birthday cake over later and another celebration begins.  If any of you are deciding about going on a Mission do it.  You are busy, happy and it is such a Spiritual experience as you want people grow in the gospel.  Even more you want yourself grow in the gospel and your Spirit.  Love all of you.

            So excited for Providence first Ward for having Janie as a Young Womens President.  She is the best of the best and they are very lucky girls. 

 So happy our girls are in good hands.

            Love our family and sure enjoyed phone calls from all but a few grandkids and their parents.  Such a good time talking to them.  Love that some of you were together because it is such a hard week for our family.  We seem to be blessed every year as we let the Lord bless us and let the atonement work as we go through the week that our Ryker was killed in.  Never get over it but just know more and more that he is so busy and doing many good things for our Heavenly Father.  We all have a lot of work to do to be able to love and understand him and know we will all be together some day.  Love him.  Enjoy some few days before school starts.  Wow what a fast summer.  The kids start school down here this week and they are glad.  They need to be busy and school keeps them busy

            The pictures of the Raspberry days were priceless, parade, rodeo and water.  So love that you were there together. 

Thank you for your love as we love all of you.  .

            Love,

Elder and Sister Dattage

 Great Zuni people helping us unload our weeds

 Cutting boards for Vivian with the Elders

 Beautiful Zuni Mountain

 So much RAIN!  This is the view from our trailer.  So many places are flooding

Visiting Blackrock Dam with Gina and her little girl

Grandpa's Birthday Dinner after a temple trip!  Note:  The Zuni Branch is held together by some of the most wonderful people and faithful members of the LDS Church!  Grandpa's dear friends the Salts are on the right.  Sister Vecenti is sitting next to Grandpa on the left and she is the RS President.    I have been able to meet these people are few times and feel so so grateful to know them!  Brother Salt is like Elder Dattage's bestie  (if grown men have besties:)in the mission field!  

Happy Birthday Elder Dattage (August 7th letter)

August 7, 2016

            Thank you for everyone that wished Elder Dattage Happy Birthday.  We had a very amazing day.  There were 13 of us at one Temple that day and 3 in the other Temple.  We left at 6:30 in the morning and traveled to Snowflake Arizona.  The best part of this whole trip was that we had 3 Young Women with us that were doing baptisms for the dead.  They don’t get to do them very often and we were so excited.  While we were there we all went to different parts of the Temple and did Temple work.  It was such a wonderful day.  After we went to the food storage place and some of them got cases of food then we went to have lunch.  Because it was Elder Dattage’s birthday they gave him a card and we all had a wonderful time.  We were blessed to be in the Temple with good people.  We love it and love the work that is done there.  Pray for all of you at home that you can find time to be in the Temple, learning and feeling the amazing Spirit that is there.  I have been serving in Primary the last few weeks and it is all about Temples and the body being a Temple.  I love teaching that to children.  They listen and  learn.  We are very blessed to be here at this time. 

            We had a good experience this week also.  We helped our friend Pam clear up her weeds.  They had been raked and she had lots of piles.  When we were done our truck was full so we headed to the dump grounds .   We were unloading and a man from Zuni safety (clean up guy) came over to our truck.  We were both in the back with this huge load.  Three of them said they would like to help us unload.  They had seen us doing service and wanted to help us.  We had a very good talk and were very thankful for them. 

The next day we went back and took the Salt girls with us as for the next few weeks they will be working as our Branch Missionaries.  They share a beautiful video with her and talk to her.  We really love her and are so wish she was coming back to church.  It is so hard to see someone you love loose their testimony.  Pray that all can continually build on their testimonies so when someone is having a very hard time we are sad but we still love and care about her so much. 

            Here is a funny story and it is true.  We got home late on Thursday night.  We were so happy that the girls had their recommends for the Temple but President Walker couldn’t get his printer to work.  We printed them and he signed them and they were delivered.  We had just got on our Pajamas and decided to go up the road and call Brother Park who was driving another car to make sure all was good with them.  We said oh we could go in our pajamas because we were just making a call.  Well the phone didn’t work anywhere so we drive over to his place.  He is just getting home so he comes over to the truck to check what we want and laughs at Elder Dattage’s flannel pants and old shirt.  We get a feeling that we need to double check with Sister Pinto to make sure if she would let two other girls ride in her car.  So I won’t get out of the truck without going back and changing but you know Elder Dattage he marches right up to their door and makes the plans with the daughter and asks her to call us as soon as she is home.  We end up taking a recommend out to another young girl and all of this dressed in flannels.  All we could do is laugh about it. 

            I have learned that even though I am a little bit uncomfortable coming some places that some times we just have to do it.  Last night we went to a birthday party for Marias little niece who is turning 4.  She was adorable.  This is a very Zuni traditional family and I was a little nervous.  We took Marie and went and they were very nice to us.  Maria had told them it was Eldens birthday so they sand to him also.  Good week, busy week  Enjoyed a visit from Ben Jenkins and his sister on Sunday.  They came to dinner after they went to church with us and stayed and visited with us and the Elders.  We are having one more visit tonight – the Lalio family is bringing a birthday cake over later and another celebration begins.  If any of you are deciding about going on a Mission do it.  You are busy, happy and it is such a Spiritual experience as you want people grow in the gospel.  Even more you want yourself grow in the gospel and your Spirit.  Love all of you.

            So excited for Providence first Ward for having Janie as a Young Womens President.  She is the best of the best and they are very lucky girls. 

 So happy our girls are in good hands.

            Love our family and sure enjoyed phone calls from all but a few grandkids and their parents.  Such a good time talking to them.  Love that some of you were together because it is such a hard week for our family.  We seem to be blessed every year as we let the Lord bless us and let the atonement work as we go through the week that our Ryker was killed in.  Never get over it but just know more and more that he is so busy and doing many good things for our Heavenly Father.  We all have a lot of work to do to be able to love and understand him and know we will all be together some day.  Love him.  Enjoy some few days before school starts.  Wow what a fast summer.  The kids start school down here this week and they are glad.  They need to be busy and school keeps them busy

            The pictures of the Raspberry days were priceless, parade, rodeo and water.  So love that you were there together. 

Thank you for your love as we love all of you.  .

            Love,

Elder and Sister Dattage

 Great Zuni people helping us unload our weeds

 Cutting boards for Vivian with the Elders

 Beautiful Zuni Mountain

 So much RAIN!  This is the view from our trailer.  So many places are flooding

Visiting Blackrock Dam with Gina and her little girl

Grandpa's Birthday Dinner after a temple trip!  Note:  The Zuni Branch is held together by some of the most wonderful people and faithful members of the LDS Church!  Grandpa's dear friends the Salts are on the right.  Sister Vecenti is sitting next to Grandpa on the left and she is the RS President.    I have been able to meet these people are few times and feel so so grateful to know them!  Brother Salt is like Elder Dattage's bestie  (if grown men have besties:)in the mission field!  

July 31 Letter

July 31^st Meeting

Dear All,

            Hope you are having good weather.  We finally got rain last night and it really rains in sheets here.  The thunder and lightening are pretty loud in our trailer.  No fires so I guess it didn’t hit as close as it sounded.  The rain brings the frogs out and they are loud but a fun sound.

            A few highlights of this week are:  we went for wood again.  We went with the Salts and it was for sister Lena.  It had been awhile – I think cold might be easier than heat but we got a great load for her. 

            On Tuesday wk took some Sisters to the Temple.  We had a good session, went to the food pantry which was closed until Friday, then of course always Wal-Mart. 

            Sister Asha Walker and I had a planning meeting on some things which was so fun.  I sure love that lady.  She is headed to Utah for two weeks and I am so happy for her and her beautiful family.  President Walker is still here but will join them soon.  One of the best families ever. 

            Today was Junior Chevez 4^th birthday.  Fun to stop by and give all 4 kids little gifts which included some school supplies.  They were so happy and are very cute.

            Mutual was the Great Race.  The girls loved it and we love that Chelsea Pinto has been coming on Wednesdays.  She is a cute 14 year old and the girls love her. 

            On top of our regular visits and such we are going to 45 homes to see if they have received their Magazines that were paid for by some one who was once here.  So far they have received them and as a bonus we get to visit with many of the less active members.  They are happy with the magazines.   They always say to come back and visit again.

            On Thursday We were ask by Elder Boyder our Zone Leader to help with Housing inspections for the Elders and Sisters trailers.  There are 10 or more of them but they are not close to each other.  So there is a bit of travel between each visit.  We need to finish on Monday because this is for July.  Our Missionary friends, the Burks are sick and in Phoenix getting Chemo.  We are doing this for them because they can’t.  This is a push but we are making it work.  Fun to see the Sisters and Elders in their Trailers.  They are typical and a bit messy but not many broken things.  Cute to meet and get to know them.   We had our monthly meeting with Haws, President Saolman from the Mission Presidency, the Zone leaders for the Young Elders and us.   He loves his Stake and works so hard for them.  Hard place to be Stake President as he is working with so many young Elders, Branch Presidents and Bishops.  We are so fortunate; we have a very wonderful Branch President – President Walker.  We love ;him and his family as they give and serve all of the people in the Zuni Branch,   Today I was serving in Primary but Elder Dattage said President Walker told everyone to stop their gossiping in the 5^th Sunday combined meeting.   Even happens in small places.  There are many good people here but we can all do better for sure. 

In Primary Sister Viola taught the lesson.  It was on Samuel the Laminate and she taught it with such a sweet, simple Spirit.  The children were listening as she told them the story.  What a great Spirit that wonderful lady has for sure.  She has been a member for about 4 years and is amazing. 

            We also went to Gallup to take back for wood for the Lalio family who are building a roof.  We sure care abut this family and love that they have been attending church consistently and reading the Book of Mormon. 

            We had a Zone Activity on Saturday at Mesa Verde.  We went and enjoyed some of the country but came back to meet with the Elders here.  We have a great group of Senior Missionaries here and it is fun to get to know them.

            This has been a very hard week.  There have been some disappointments in baptisms and other wonderful things.  We love these people and only want to help them have better lives. 

            We spend a lot of time serving them and helping them but also being with them and trying to help them.  This was definitely one of the hardest weeks we have had and can only trust in our Heavenly Father and know he loves his children so much and knows what is best for them.  We pray and pray for some of them.  We hope they can feel that we love them and want to help them become stronger as they attend Church and read the Book of Mormon.  So blessed to be here and feel of their strong Spirits  We are learning so much and feeling so much love from these good people.   They have a love for the Lord that has made them a happy people.  Love all of you at home and hope that your last few weeks before school will be wonderful.   Grateful for the health we have to serve.

            Thankful for our family back home.  We may have had  challenges but we are blessed as we serve and unite as a family.  I can’t believe how blessed we are with our children, and grandchildren.  You lift us both spiritually and help with so many little things.  We seem to be asking for something every week and no complaining.  I know when I get back I will be better at helping others because of our families example. 

Can’t believe the strength we feel as our grandchildren get older and share their beautiful thoughts and testimonies with us.  Sure does strengthen mine as I hear from them.  The little ones make us laugh with the pictures and the funny things they do and say.  Thanks more than a ton kids.  

            Hope everyone is doing the best they can.  Love all of you,

Elder and Sister Dattage