Blessing Lily

                                                                                                                                      31 Mar 2013

I am not sure that the letters to the grand kids are being read anymore, but this is the last one and I thought it would be nice to include it in the book we will be making at the end of our mission from all the blogs we post while we serve.

  We drove to Utah on Thursday, so we could participate in Lily's blessing.  John, Jamie and kids came as well as J'Lene for the blessing today.  They got permission from the Bishop to bless her at home, since she is at a high risk going into the public.  She will not be able to go to church for several months.

  They think she may have what her sister Landy had when she was born.  She is growing, but still very little.  Beautiful of course. :o}  NO prejudice from Grandma.

  It is fun to be with our kids for a few days.  We will head back on Thursday.

  We were saddened last Monday when we got word that Desbah Tsinnie had died from a heart attack Monday night.  Elder Olson baptized Desbah when he served out here as a young missionary.  He has been helping her and her daughters with a garden.  I had talked to her Sunday night when she came by to pick up her car which she had left in front of our apt.  Her funeral was yesterday, so we were unable to attend.  It was certainly unexpected.

This is the letter I wrote Mar 20, 2013

  I am doing something just a little different this time.  I am not sure if this letter will go to a granddaughter or a grandson as I begin to write some of the thoughts I had while reading an article in November Ensign that has the Conference addresses from Oct 2012.  It will soon be Conference time again and I always anticipate being able to listen to the prophets and those who have been chosen to address us.

  I read several articles tonight, but I was especially touched by Sister Carole M Stephens’ talk, titled “Wide Awake to Our Duties”  She said many wonderful things, but what really touched me was her comments about the trek the young people in her ward made.  The young women had to do part of the trek by themselves.  It was the same in the Tuba City Stake, when they did the trek in 2011.  The men were there, but at a certain point they could not help the girls at all. 

 Some of our young men ran ahead and tried to clear the path as much as they could, but they could not push or pull the carts.  Some of the young men wept, when they watched how difficult it was for the girls to push and pull the carts up the long hill to the top and not be able to step in and help. 

  Just as they did in Sister Stephens’ ward the sisters who reached the top, came back to help those who were still struggling. Many of the sisters had visible blisters and were totally exhausted, but came back to help with strength from unseen angels who lifted and supported them in helping those who still struggled.

  Many did not eat the meager rations that were provided at the end, because they were simply too tired to eat.  They laid down and quickly succumb to the exhaustion they all felt.

 As I was reading her thoughts about the priesthood brethren that lined both sides of the trail, willing and eager to help, but not able to so, it made me think of each of you.  You sweet granddaughters have the power of the  priesthood in your fathers and brothers, who can come to your aid when you need it.  You grandsons have mothers and sister who may at times need your encouragement and support when life gets a little overwhelming. You do not have the restrictions that those on the trek had.  You can rescue those you love by using the power of your priesthood authority.  You girls can ask for help when the trials of life are strewn with rocks or problems that challenge you.

  How grateful I am for each of you and the things you are doing in your life.  Each of you was sent to fulfill a different mission.   You were chosen by Heavenly Father to do much good.  Each day you will face challenges and have to make choices that may not always be easy.  You have ancestors who have gone before you and who love you.  They are close by and are able to guide and direct you.  They know you have been chosen to come at this time and they know what you are capable of achieving.

  We are here to prove ourselves.  We are never alone.  We pray that each of you would love and support each other.  That you would live in such a way that you would always know that even though you are separated by miles and time that you would never forget how much love you share and that you can always count on each other. 

Elder & Sister Olson