BIke Rodeo Navajo Style 9 Jun 2012

Dear  Family and Friends,

  Today was one of those unique days when you think you may have been listening to the spirit and you weren’t afraid to speak up.

  This morning we had the “Bike Rodeo” which is something Bishop Alexander loves to do each year.  Last year not one child showed up which had to be discouraging, but not so much that he didn’t announce and plan it for this year, showing up early and setting things up, long before the first child arrived.  We had 5 show up in all sizes, both of participants and of  bikes. 

  They started out by riding the course several times for practice, so they could get the lay out fixed in their minds.  Bishop Alexander and Sister Allen had come early and marked out a course with arrows and cones, so it was pretty easy to walk the route, then ride it a few times before they had to do it for real.

  Keep in mind that these kids are pretty “green” when it comes to riding their bikes and the blowing sand tends to get into the moving parts of the bikes making it a little more challenging to ride them. Today we lucked out and the wind didn’t start blowing until after the rodeo, so that was pretty great.

  The “timed” course was pretty fun and there were several do-overs for most of the participants, SO everyone laughed and had a lot of fun.

  The most challenging event  came when they had to ride between two lines, which started out at about 18” apart, but narrowed each time they  changed lanes.  The last one was probably 6 inches apart.  Now you have to keep in mind that these little people struggle to stay balanced and now they had to ride between narrow lined lanes.  One little girl named Autumn, was really struggling and could not stay on course.  She kept looking down and could not drive straight or stay balanced.  Her folks wanted her to be successful but it just wasn’t happening.

 Finally I walked over and said to the parents, tell her to ride to you, not look down, but look at your face and listen to your voice cheering her on.  Mom went to the start line and dad stayed at the finish line. Once she stayed focused on his face and listened to his voice she was able to make it with very little problems staying inside the lines.  Hurray for Autumn, she won the battle.

 

 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good ^acheer; it is I; be not afraid.

 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was ^aafraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little ^afaith, wherefore didst thou ^bdoubt?

Matt 14:29-31

Are we not the same?  When we are distracted by the “waves and noise” and fail to look up, we have a tough time staying on course, but when we look up and listen to the “still small voice” we can stay on course.  How often we forget who and what is at the end of the course.  He wants us to succeed, to stay within the lines which have been clearly marked, and when the way gets tough, keep looking up and listening to the voice that is cheering us on.

  I pray that we can remember Autumn and more importantly remember Him.

Elder & Sister Olson

I think the smile says it all.

Puppy Pile

Dear Family and Friends,
  I would like to call this the puppy pile.  Sure hope there is enough to go around ;o}  It is the season for puppy herds to appear everywhere.  You don't see a lot of kittens or cats.  The natives tell me the owls like them too much, but I have to admit I have never seen an owl.
  This Thursday we will be going to Durango for another post surgery check up.  I am not sure that Elder Olson can honestly tell any big difference, but he is hopeful that the Physical Therapy which he started will help.  He is pretty good about doing the exercises that will help strengthen his core muscles.
  Yesterday the young Elders baptized a young girl and she was confirmed today.  They have actually had several baptisms since we've been here and it so exciting to see people finding the gospel and moving forward.
  Yesterday was Stake Temple Day and the members in Kayenta were able to do 100 sealings.  We stayed in Tuba because Tad R Callister of the Seven Presidents of Seventy came to visit with 2 other men from Salt Lake.  One was Brother Brenn and the other Brother Bazier who will be taking the place of Dale Tingey who heads the American Indian Service, which provides scholarships for native American young people.  I think they said they gave out around 2,000 scholarships last year. 
  One of the comments made during the meeting was one of those one liners that I love to remember.  It went something like this "I have never heard of competition or comparsion as an essential principle of the gospel."  He also added that he wasn't sure that there would be football in heaven, but he was hoping the BYU team would be playing.  It was funny and made us all laugh, because he hoped other teams might not be there.
  The day time temperatures are really getting up there and if you go out at first light and work until about 7:30 or 8:00 you don't melt.  Then you work inside and come out in the late afternoon when the sun is going down.  The sunsets are amazing.
  I managed to make a fast trip to Utah and was able to spend the night.  I arrived at 12:00 A.M. Tues and left at 12:15 A.M. Wed.  Shelaine made every minute count, so we got a lot done.  It was great to see J'Lene and visit.  Also got to see Landy doing part of her routine at Karate.  The kids have grown so much, I am afraid to see the others.  I am sure they have grown a lot also.  I cried when I left and I cried when I saw all the little "Murphies" running around at church and at the Pizza Edge.  Makes me miss you all so much.
  I guess John and Jamie have moved into their new house in Lake Point and Shelaine and Derek will be moving in officially in a few weeks.  We are getting excited about coming up for the reunion...We hope to see everyone that comes up and catch up on things.
  The new gardners have jumped into the project and have things growing.  People have already started to eat the radishes.  I think their favorites are squash and Jalepeno Peppers.  My favorite is watermelon.
  We have around 50 that signed up but we have had a few drop out.  We picked up another participant today however, so the number flucuate a lot right up to the end of June.
  The ones that touch my heart the most are the single mothers who ask for the materials, but are willing to do all the work along side of their kids.  They don't expect handouts and are willing to work as hard as any man might do, so they can provide for their kids. 
  The piano playing is coming along, "playing" being the operative word.  We are suppose to have a paino recital on 22 Jun.  I may even do it without freaking out. lol
  The indexing of the materials that have been donated is a daily challenge, but each name recorded is another name to be found and sealed together for time and eternity.  I never cease to be amazed at how the Lord orchestrates the "record finding process" for the people here.  Each family has a unique story that develops and you get to witness the miracles that take place as they seek to find their kindred dead. It is fun to hear the stories about the dreams they have and where they lead them. 
  Elder Olson continues to do everything he can to make their gardens successful and I am confident that there are many unseen hands working along side of them in the gardens.  You watch lives change and confidence grow as they have success in making the desert blossom. 
Elder & Sister Olson