Naneiit'aashi: 19 Oct 2014 Dedication of Lukachukai Chapel, Tasille, AZ

I get pretty frustrated when I am merrily typing along and then all of a sudden half of what I typed disappears for no apparent reason. :o{ which just happened while I was posting to my BLOG page, so I am going to type on word, then cut and paste.

This morning we left at 7 A.M. and drove the 165 miles to Lukachukai where they dedicated the first chapel for the Lukachukai Ward. Ronnie figured it was about 46 years ago that he was transferred there, almost to the day. How awesome is that?

We got there about 9:40 and Elder Rogers and some of the young men were directing traffic and showing people where to park. We figure there was over 190 people all together for the dedication.

There were 4 speakers, Ed Tano the First Chinle Stake President, he is now a member of our 2 Ward in Tuba City. Bishop Ralph Begay who read the letter from Salt Lake saying the chapel had been approved. We were actually at the sacrament meeting in the gym at the college in Tsaille when he read it. Then Brother Harvey Gardner a Former Area Seventy who does an amazing job in helping further the work among the Navajo people. He lives in Page and when he turned 80 a grandson gave him a birthday card that said Happy 80^th birthday Grandpa, written below in gold lettering it said, Inside is a special message from God. When he opened it he read, See you soon. Fortunately Brother Gardner has a great sense of humor.

The final speaker was Stake President Romero Brown. Each speaker told of how things had been and what the people needed to do as they go forward with this beautiful new chapel. Attend meetings, pay and honest tithing, magnify callings, keep the church clean and a make it a sacred place.

I am confident they did not compare notes, but the messages were all the same in the counsel that they gave. It was a wonderful meeting and I am so glad we were able to go.

We renewed our friendships with the people that we had meet the first season we were here. The O’Daniels now have a baby girl, Cassidy Rose. They are always so gracious and welcoming. Brother O’Daniel is the 1^st counselor and he conducted the meeting. He is a great help to the people who garden over there.

Bishop Ralph Begay and his wife Priscilla also made us feel welcome and thanked us for driving so far.

Wesley Clement gave the closing prayer. He is the one who goes out and helps new gardeners. His wife and daughters are in the one picture.

We also got to see Rudy and Gloria Begay who drove over from Chinle. They have been called to serve in the Family History Center. I am hoping they will get the training they need very soon, so far it hasn’t happened, but hopefully soon.

We had a lot of memories flood our minds as we got closer to Lukachukai, I even suggested that we might ask for a transfer, only kidding LOL, but it did cross our minds.

The all day sitting was hard on Elder Olson and since falling it wasn’t as easy as it usually is for me, but we are back safe and sound and very grateful for an amazing day. The meeting was so full of peace and hope.

The family that did the Demo garden that first year over there has been baptized, how awesome is that? I am pretty sure she did not remember me, but I remembered her and told her how happy I was to see her there with 3 of her sons.

Tomorrow is our last missionary training meeting for the season, so I need to get some sleep.

Sister Olson