Last of the Harvest at Red Lake

Top picture is George Lee's garden after he decided to burn off all the dead materials instead of tilling them into the ground.

Middle picture is Geraldine Maize with daughters harvesting the last of their potatoes.

Bottom picture is Anslom Maize tilling the part where they have extended their garden for next year.

Dear Family and Friends,

   WOW Thanksgiving will be here in four days.  We have cooked 10 turkeys in the last week, yes I said ten.  1st Ward had their Thanksgiving dinner on Wed night and then 2nd Ward had theirs on Friday.  Thursday night the Relief Society did a stuffing demo, which Sister Deaton taught.  She used wild rice and cranberries in hers and baked it in little cookie like mounds, so everyone could sample it.  That was a lot of fun and everybody enjoyed the fruits of her labor. ;o}

  Our 2^nd Ward Bishop’s wife was also going to do a demo, but their daughter is having her first baby any day now, so she went to be with her.  Their daughter and her husband live in Idaho Falls.  Bishop Kingsford will go up Wed and stay until Sunday.  Sister Kingsford will stay until Dec 21.  That way she can spend time with her daughter and new granddaughter.  Sounds good to me.

  This morning we drove 98 miles to speak at the Dennehotso Branch.  They have a beautiful new building and even though it is small they are growing and will probably outgrow it when everyone is attending on a regular basis.  The meeting went well and we enjoyed getting to know the Branch President, Brian Holiday and his counselor, Albert Tinhorn and the members. 

    It was the Branch President and his wife who adopted the baby not long after we came.  The social workers wanted them to meet in McDonald’s parking lot, but Sister Kirk said they weren’t coming to pick up a dog, and Sister Holiday said she was not going to tell their son that they got him at McDonalds.  It made us all laugh.  That little boy is now walking and getting into everything.

  President Holiday was talking about something in the Sunday School  lesson and he said that his dad did not like his name.  His name is Kee Happy Holiday.  He always got annoyed at this time of year because everyone was always saying his name.  President Holiday gave the Sunday School lesson on 3 Nephi  27.  He also shared a story about his mission and church names.  He served in Kentucky and there was a row of churches and one was named Ford Baptist.  A few blocks away there was Chevy Baptist.  The story he learned was that they had started out as one church, but disputes came over which was the better car, Ford or Chevy.  It became so heated that those who liked Chey’s  broke away and started their own church.  We had a great discussion on the name of our Church and whose church it really is.

   We shared dinner with Elder and Sister Chapman who will leave a few weeks before we do next spring.  They are really helping the branch out there and have shared a great many talents.  He loves rocks and has collected a great many of them.  They were beautiful laying there in front of their trailer.  He took a watering can and said this is what the people are really like and this is what the gospel does for them, then he sprayed water over the rocks.  The colors were absolutely amazing.

   He has also collected quite a few garnets that can be found not far from where their trailer is located at the chapel site.  He said some people find them as big as golf balls, but he has not as yet found any of the bigger ones.  I guess a lot of sisters go out and collect them where the Chapmans do.

  We drove home and visited the RS president who is in the hospital with pneumonia.  One of the members came in with the former Bishop and gave her a wonderful blessing.  The natives here often pause as they give blessings waiting for the Holy Ghost to direct their words.  It is a very humbling experience to be a part of that.

  We have Institute on Sunday evening and we were reading in Mosiah 4.  The people shared some really uplifting thoughts about the chapter.  It is so amazing to listen to what they have pondered and thought of when they study the scriptures.

  I may have mentioned the visit from Ranelle Wallace and Dr. Judith S. Moore.  I have found their books on line and I feel bad that I did not realize what great company had graced our home with their presence.  If you want to be uplifted I would encourage you to find their books on line and get them.

  Will close for now.  We hope you have a fun holiday and enjoy being with your family and friends.

Elder and Sister Olson