Fire in Church Compound, Elder Olson's former Mission President, Chad Lewis BYU & Philadelphia tight end

Dear Family and Friends,
  I guess there has been some excitement this last week.  Elder Olson drove in after dark on 24 April, to see the compost pile engulfed in flames.  Since our door and window face south and the pile is on the east, I had not seen the flames.  Things got pretty exciting for a couple of hours.
  The fire dept consisting of two Hopi Indians drove in and with quite a bit of work were able to put it out.  We still had little eruptions over the next couple of days, but we were able to keep things from starting up again.
  For RaDawn, Kellan, Dallin, JaKohbi, and Kage you will be glad to know it did not touch the trailer.  The first thing they asked was if anybody lived in it.  We assured them that no one was living in it.  Fortunately, it did not get damaged in any way.
  When I walked out I heard some men over the fence say something about how often people tossed their cigarette butts into the ditch way between our compound and the Catholic compound.  Don't know any more than that, so it was listed as a brush fire.  It did melt all the plastic on the fence which you can see in the picture and it did burn up 98% of the compost, but all in all we feel very blessed.
  Tonight we had a Young Men and Young Women Fireside where Chad Lewis spoke.  He was really fun to listen to and has a strong testimony of Jesus Christ.  He shared numerous stories about his life, being a skinny kid at high school, the mission he served, walking on at BYU,  playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, hiking up Mt Kilamangaro (SP?) in Africa with some Vietnam vets, two of whom had lost legs.  It was an amazing adventure and very inspirational to listen to.
  He encouraged the kids to stand up for what they believe in and surround themselves with greatness.  Don't be sucked into things you know will harm you and be brave enough to stand alone when you have to. He passed out several shirts and jackets then signed them.  It was very inspiring to listen to him tell about his dad who suffered a stroke and was told he would never walk again.  They kept a diary of all the blessing they witnessed and he does walk now, and even though it is with difficulty, he never stops pushing himself.
  It turns out that the man he works with in providing scholarships for Native Americans is Dale Tingey, who served as Mission President when Elder Olson was here as a young missionary.  I am not sure he remembered Elder Olson, but it was fun to take a few minutes of his time and visit.  Elder O told him he really didn't look much different, but Brother Tinger said, he sure felt older. ;o}
  The tillers are going pretty much all the time as people feel the temperatures rising and see the green leaves appearing everywhere. 
  Elder Olson is really behaving himself and will only  pick up the light things.  It helps that everyone knows he has weight limitations and they won't let him do to much. ;o}  He actually lays down when he gets tired which is a good thing and rule #23 in the mission handbook actually says you should take naps when you need them.  It is still my favorite rule, even if I don't get to use it much. ;o{
 When I get really tired and try to lay down, the odds are about 100% of someone coming by for a tiller or to ask about when the garden demo will be. ;O}  If the odds of winning the lottery were as good as someone coming by when I lay down I would be guaranteed on winning. Elder Olson reminds me that in order to win I have to buy a ticket. ;o}
  The ward boundaries were changed today and two new Bishops sustained.  It may be a little confusing for a while, but change can be good.  Both Relief Society Presidents ended up in the 1st Ward, so I look to see some changes there in the next week or so.  1st Ward's new Bishop just moved here from Kayenta, the 2nd Ward Bishop was serving as a clerk for the Bishop who was released.  It will be fun to watch history making changes in both wards.  The "news" about a change must have leaked out because attendance was up, so they could see who was being sustained.
  It is amazing how often miracles can be witnessed.  We see them daily and it is so fun to be a part of what is happening here.  Not only are gardens being grown, but "faith" is being grown and people feel of the spirit.  Hearts have indeed been prepared Alma 13:24.
  We would love to hear from you if you have a few minutes.
Elder & Sister Olson

Dear Family and Friends,

I know it has been many weeks since I wrote last.  I guess you might say life is a little hectic.  Some of you may not be aware that after a year of hoping for approval to have surgery it was finally given and Elder Olson had surgery in Durango, CO on Apr. 2  It was 3 weeks yesterday.  He had the stitches out last Friday and the incision looked really good.  It has healed nicely.  His pain level has not decreased, BUT the Dr. said that is not unusual and that he should begin to notice in another 3 weeks as the swelling and inflamation subside.  We are asking that everyone continue to keep him in your prayers for a full recovery. We still believe in miracles.

This is also the BUSY season, so we are on the go or at least "involved" with someone or some project every day.

Yesterday a package came in the mail.  It continues more than a ream of paper which has photo copies of obituaries, news articles, funeral programs and other pieces of information for Crownpoint, NM and although that is not a part of our stake it is Family History and a priceless treasure.  So my next big project is to index each article by name.  I have no idea how long it will take, but I am excited to get started.

Our fellow missionaries are wonderful.  They know how to roll up their sleeves and get things done.

Sister Harvey sent the following quotes which are wonderful.  I will try to get back into the routine of positng a blog each week for those of you who read them ;O]

Elder James M. Paremore of the Presidency of the Seventy: "The Church helps us to overcome selfishness and uncertainty by serving others in dozens of ways over a lifetime.  Some of our fondest memories go back to those associations we have had in service together. May 1988 Ensign.

President Marion G. Romney of the First Presidency:   “The Lord has said,   “‘He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it’ ( Matthew 10:39 ).

“We lose our life by serving and lifting others. By so doing we experience the only true and lasting happiness. Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made.

“Knowing that service is what gives our Father in Heaven fulfillment, and knowing that we want to be where He is and as He is, why must we be commanded to serve one another? Oh, for the glorious day when these things all come naturally because of the purity of our hearts. In that day there will be no need for a commandment because we will have experienced for ourselves that we are truly happy only when we are engaged in unselfish service. Let us use the freedom which comes from self-reliance in giving and serving.

“Can we see how critical self-reliance becomes when looked upon as the prerequisite to service, when we also know service is what Godhood is all about? Without self-reliance one cannot exercise these innate desires to serve. How can we give if there is nothing there? Food for the hungry cannot come from empty shelves. Money to assist the needy cannot come from an empty purse. Support and understanding cannot come from the emotionally starved. Teaching cannot come from the unlearned. And most important of all, spiritual guidance cannot come from the spiritually weak.

“There is an interdependence between those who have and those who have not. . . . Once a person has been made whole or self-reliant, he reaches out to aid others, and the cycle repeats itself.

“We are all self-reliant in some areas and dependent in others. Therefore, each of us should strive to help others in areas where we have strengths. At the same time, pride should not prevent us from graciously accepting the helping hand of another when we have a real need. To do so denies another person the opportunity to participate in a sanctifying experience” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1982, 135–36; or Ensign, Nov. 1982, 93 ).

Elder & Sister Olson