Easter 24 Apr 2011

Nelda

Dear Family and Friends,

We spoke in the Cameron Branch this morning and then gathered with other missionaries and the Branch Pres and wife for a potluck dinner. We were asked to speak about the Savior. I always prepare my talk and then wonder afterwards if I said what I had planned.

I remembered the first Easter sacrament after I joined. It was in a building half the size of the podium we spoke from today. I remember the Navajo sister who had walked 2 miles to church. I could not understand one word she said, but I have never forgotten the spirit that I felt. It doesn't seem to matter whether you are at the big conference center or in the humblest little building in the middle of nowhere, the spirit conveys the message.

We hit our 6 week out day last Wed. When I taught school we always waited for 6 weeks to made hard judgements. Things seem to iron themselves out at that point and that is pretty much what happened out here.

We are getting to know the people and their circumstances. Elder Olson put up several fences rototilled the one garden spot, once again and we plan to go out there again this week.

Tomorrow we are going to do all the prep things for a single father of two. He has been out of work for several months and if anything could go wrong, it has gone wrong. He is planning on meeting us at a certain place on the highway and leading us into his home. He will working beside Elder Olson and he wept when he found out that we would be able to bring him the materials so he could have a garden. He lives with his parents who may have had a garden years ago.

The fence we put up yesterday is on what I call the 'rock' how anything survives is a miracle, but miracles happen a lot out here because of the great faith that people have. The daughter just called to see if their tubing was in, but we have to drive to Kayenta to pick up the things that had not been shipped to Monticello. It is a 75 mile trip and we are going to be at Red Lake tomorrow, so we may just drive on over if we get things done in good time.

Elder Olson was putting up the last of the fence when the daughter got there. She said she wanted her grandmother to see the garden spot. I guess when she was little her family had a garden, but she had not been able to do that for many years. She thought her grandmother would sit on the rock on the south side and cry when she sees it. I wish we could be there to see her face. It will be more fun however to see her pick the first vegetables of the season.

We also went 5 miles off road to put the posts up on Matilda Bighorses' garden plot. We took a picture of the 'survey crew' sign that is the roof on the out house. As we drove in we didn't notice, but on the way out here is this bright orange sign right on top of the outhouse. It was hard to miss it. Maybe it glows in the moonlight. ;o]