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Sunday, February 1, 2015

2014 Stats Report and Response from Brother Allen Christensen

This was a report I typed up for our Stake President. The stats for the two wards here are really pretty good, but trying to get stats for the other units can be a real challenge. We have lists of those who have gardened, but each time a new couple comes, it's like we have to start all over because it is so hard to find them. Addresses as such are pretty much nonexistent. We have put them on a GPS, but discovered that the one we used was not compatible with the church system. In any case I wanted to include this on my blog, since in essence it has been like a journal. The second letter was written by Allen Christensen who was president of the Benson Institute, but has since retired. Elder Seeley and his wife mentored us to take their place when we came in 2011. He continues to keep in touch and sometimes sends things to the folks in SLC. Apparently he sent the first report to President Justice and then received the second which he was kind enough to forward to us yesterday. We are so grateful to work with the people that we do. Sister Olson Dear President Justice, This is a rough draft of my findings. If the numbers have been added correctly, we had an 85.3% retention rate for the gardens in 1st & 2nd Ward in Tuba City. I hope we can get a more accurate account of the garden retention rate in the other units of the Stake. 2014 Report for TC Stake 1st & 2nd Stake Ward Stats Since 2010 Materials have been distributed to 287 participants in the Tuba City 1st and 2nd Wards since 2010. 245 of those have planted and harvested using the materials provided by the gardening program. 82% of the previous participants continue to utilize the original materials with minimum assistance from the missionaries. The main reasons for not using the materials are: 1. Employment somewhere else 2. Could not afford to haul water 3. Thought the increase in house water was to high 4. Had health issues which prevented them from doing the work involved 5. Dec = deceased We have had 6 participants pass away. Most of those gardens are still in production by other family members. Several participants have moved. Most of them have taken the materials and continue to plant at their new home sites. Those that move into the homes that have been left find fencing and irrigation and continue using the originally garden site. I have calculated that only 29 have let their gardens sit idle, which calculates to only 10% of the materials provided since 2010 are not being used. 2014 end of year stats In 2014 there was a total of 287 participants and 245 planted, which means 85% of people who were provided with materials planted and harvested. Four people who had missed planting in 2013 planted again in 2014. Many of our previous gardeners have become independent and require minimal if any help at all. A number of them have extended their gardens because they realized how valuable the investment had been. We hope to eventually get an accurate count of all those who have extended. They are doing this without any help from the church. They comment that they now know what can be done and how to do it. Those who are now confident, and many have become so, mentor new participants in their areas. This is happening in Dilcon, "Belentiville", Rocky Ridge, Hwy 89, Red Lake, and Tuba City. Families are mentoring family members. Those who have gained confidence share the skills they have mastered by attending the monthly garden demos. This was written to Elder Seeley by Allen Christensen. Thanks, Brother Seeley, For this wonderful report. It is of great interest to me as I am certain it is with other priesthood leaders. I deeply appreciate the devotion and courage of missionaries, members and priesthood leaders, all of whom have made this effort succeed with a success rate that is above that which we frequently had with Benson Projects in Latin America. Of course, I would be insensitive if I do not acknowledge the hand of the Lord in all of this. I think the Lord must be pleased with this effort. Skeptics have been moved to active participants, who now recognize that with training and a minimum bundle of resources and the Lord's blessing, these arid lands can be made to blossom. I think this effort represents a rather remarkable effort with the Children of Lehi. Thanks to you and Sister Seeley for the inspirational service that you have given and continued to give to this part of the Lord's vineyard. Clearly the Lord must be well pleased with the service of Elder and Sister Olson. Their effort have been and continues to be superb. Kindest personal regards, Allen

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