UPS, GPS, or DPS

Dear Family and Friends,
  This is a copy of a letter I sent to our Leaders about the little adventure we had last night.  Thought it would be OK to share it with you also.

  Some evenings are more fun than others and last night was one of them.  Sister Corry and I had gone out earlier in the day and were able to put a number of participants in the GPS that appeared to be missing.  We had quite the adventure finding some of the participants from last year that the Littlefields and the Hansens had tended.  We also got to meet several "friends" who were very helpful in pointing us in the right direction and which also provided opportunities to share a brief message about the church and what we were doing.

  Around 4:20  I felt like I should go and add a few more before I had to give the GPS unit back.  Elder Olson "sort of volunteered" to be the driver.  Several more "scenic" routes were taken, but eventually new participants were located and added to the system of coordinates, which will make it easier for new missionaries, young and old, to find in the future.

  We went by a "late comer" participant who's gr grandmother was a "Mormon", met her husband, and took the opportunity to tell them what an amazing job they were doing with all the "blow sand" they had to work with.  As we walked back to the garden, her new neighbor who is also a co-worker came to the fence and visited about what she was doing with her backyard.  She pointed out that they had a lot to do and she was loving the challenge.

  She had noticed that the previous occupant had had some sort of drip irrigation.  After visiting with the one we had come to see, we walked over to the neighbor's backyard and visited with her.       We have already given the young Elders the 2 new referrals.  It never ceases to amaze me how "orchestrated" our days are by the Lord. 

   Both of these women associate with the YW President of the 2nd Ward at their work place who told them about what the church does to help people put in gardens and become more self-reliant.  It was pretty obvious that the YW President has become a great example of sharing the gospel.

 While were were out, we were able to visit several less active families, leave a brief message, tell them how much we missed them, and leave behind a hug and hopes to see them again soon at church .

  As we drove away Elder Olson asked if I had put them on the UPS.  I assured  him that they were all on the GPS.  He smiled and said he was glad I had got them on the DPS.

  Every family expressed gratitude for the short visit and you could see in their eyes just how much those few minutes meant and the reminder of what they should be doing and where they should be on Sunday.  If our "Home Teachers" and "Visiting Teachers" could gain a testimony of how important those visits are to members they would go out each month and come home with their own increased testimony of how much those visits mean to the members.

  How grateful we are to be here and to be serving in the way that we are.  We recognize that these sacred funds are being well used and that almost every  previous gardener continues to plant each year.  Some continue to need assistance, but even more have the confidence to maintain their gardens on their own and are willing to help others start.

  The Senior Couple in Kaibeto have had a recent contact stand up to a friend when they were saying things about the Mormons which he did not hesitate to correct because of the interaction he has had with the Mormons.  Slowly but steadily, barriers are being taken down, and misunderstandings made right, by those who's hearts are being touched.

Sister Olson

Two Special Baptisms 12 May 2013

I know it has been several weeks since I last posted much and other than being very busy I am not sure why I haven't been posting.  Some amazing things are happening every day, but they said we shouldn't include any names and it somehow took a lot of the fun out of it.
  I can't imagine any of you posting these blogs on the "net" but I guess it happens and so it has been really hard to write things without including names.
  I mean who wants to write about she and he, or just a sister or a brother.  Guess I am frustrated.
Tonight we had two baptisms even though it was Mother's Day.  The grandfather performed the ordinances.  The spirit was so special.  Each person who spoke was so humble and so sincere and testified of such wonderful blessings that go along with being baptized and then confirmed.The
  The grandparents have become such special friends to us and a handshake is never enough.  You always get one of the best hugs you could ask for.
  I did miss phone calls from Daryl and RaDawn while we attended, but I know we were in the right place.  They will be in the 1st Ward and the Bishop gave such a wonderful message about what they were doing and how it would affect their lives forever.  These were young men who will receive the priesthood and their countenance was amazing.
  Many of the older people did not have the opportunity to learn to read and when they repeat the prayers they do so with such humility and such sincerity.  It is such an honor to be a witness to the event and feel of the spirit that is there.
  A couple of weeks ago another grandfather was a witness as his son-in-law baptized his granddaughter. The grandfather has learned to read and wants to read the scriptures every day. He has amazing dreams and often shares what he has learned from those who have gone before. He is one of the most humble men I have ever met.
  After the baptism tonight another couple was walking out as we were.  It had been mentioned that they had driven over from Kirkland, which is near Farmington. I took a chance and asked if they knew Dean Winn, who worked at Totso Trading Post in Luckachukai with his family when I taught there in 68-69.  They said they knew Jolene Winn Duncan his daughter, who is serving in the Stake Primary.  I gave her our email address and asked if she would give it to her.
  Yes, I know I used someone's name and so if you have to come see me in prison, so be it. ;o{
I sure hope she sends an email, I would love to know about what has happened to all those sweet kids.
  Some of you may know that we are headed home on May 22.  Many of you may not know that we are coming back in July. ;o}  We are going home for about 6 weeks to help Kellan and Dallin with cutting a semi load of firewood for next winter.  A lot of phone calls and a lot of work was done by our Mission President and Stake President to make this all work out, so we could come back, or maybe I should say continue serving here.
  Our new exit date will be 14 Feb 2014, but then we have the option to change to CSM missionaries, but that is in the future.
  I know I have not done the Grandma letters for several weeks either.  Hopefully I will be able to start that up again soon. ;o}
  We now have 635 gardens in the Stake 235 of which are here in Tuba City and Red Lake.  We did get a new couple that came in last week.  Elder Olson and I have been the only Gardening Missionaries for a long time.  We hope to "teach" them everything they need to know in the next 9 days. ;o} but we will make sure they have our phone numbers.
  From what we have already seen, I doubt they will need to call us though.  This is their third mission and they are 10+ years younger than we are and extremely capable of figuring things out.  I am sure they could replace us in a heart beat.
  Elder Olson says that people are always asking him when we are leaving and he says keep praying we will leave soon. ;o}
  Kellan and I will be flying to Maryland for a week while we are home.  That should be lots of fun, since Kellan has not been back there.
  It is late and I am tired, so I will try to post some pictures next week and write some more.
Elder & Sister Olson
If you find typos or other mistakes, chalk it up to old age and the lateness of the hour.

Quote on Conversion 11 May 2013

"Conversion means consecrating your life to caring for and serving others who need your help and sharing your gifts and blessings.

"Every unselfish act of kindness and service increases your spirituality.  God would use you to bless others.  Your continued spiritual growth and eternal progress are very much wrapped up in your relationships - in how you treat others.  Do you indeed love others and become a blessing in their lives?  Isn't the measure of the level of your conversion how you treat others?  The person who does only those things in the Church that concern himself alone will never reach the goal of perfection.  Service to others is what the gospel and exalted life are all about"  Conference Report, Apr. 2005, 96

I know each of you is serving every day and sometimes into the the night :o}  So I would also like to add the quote that Neal A Maxwell kept in his office. "My  life cannot implement in action the demands of all the people to whom my heart responds. "  Please remember to use wisdom as you serve each day.

Lily's Blessing Mar 31, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

  We made a trip to Utah to see family and be there for the blessing of Lily, who is our beautiful new grand daughter.  She is a good natured, sweet little munchkin.  It was hard to leave.

  I stayed with Shelaine and family, while Elder Olson went over to Lake Point to help John and Jamie with a couple of projects they needed done.  It worked out well and we both were able to help out where we were needed the most, which is very rewarding.

  The first picture is Lily, the second the whole Maxfield family, and picture three is John, Shandon, Kellie, Jamie and Kaycie who was sound asleep.  I guess March is celebrated by growing a mustache or beard.  John said he would be shaving it off for April.  It was quite a surprise to see him. ;o}

  I have several more pictures, but did not want to take the time to put them on this page.  I plan to print them and put them on our wall at the apt.

  Conference was amazing.  What a spiritual feast. Each speaker had a great message.  L. Tom Perry and Holland spoke with such power and conviction.  It is always such a highlight to be able to hear them speak and give such amazing counsel which is always relevant. I was touched by each speaker and the message they presented.  We had nonmembers come this morning. 

  I loved President Monson's story about the matches and what happened.  I had never heard that story before.  

  The folks here were glad to have us back and Elder Olson had to go right out to "his people" in Red Lake.   

  We will be having our second missionary meeting next Monday.  We will explain how the irrigation works and we will also package seeds to send with each couple back to their units.

  We will have a couple in each unit after Monday.  Right now Elder Olson and I are in Tuba alone, but hopefully we will get another couple or maybe two before too long.  Right now we have 225 gardens between the two wards.  

  Obviously we don't have to help all 225, but we do have 50 new gardeners and we want to make sure that they get the attention they need.  It has been fun to watch "natural leaders" step up and mentor  some of the new folks.  The goal is to eventually work ourselves out of a job. ;o} by finding members to take over what we are doing.  It is all pretty exciting really.

  One of our jobs is to make sure every participant is on the GPS system, so new couples can find them.  It is time consuming, but also fun to find them and make sure the next couple can find them as well.

  We added two more people to the area that I call the rock garden spot.  So far the couple who started in 2011 continues to lead the way and continues to have a wonderful garden.  The others have seen it and want what they have.  They are all hard working people and want to become more self reliant.

  The ones that are the most fun are the ones who garden in the "furthest most part of the vineyard" and have great success in what appears to be in a place that looks impossible to grow anything.  They have such great faith.

  The people are so kind and so full of faith.  The young Elders are having good success and many of the contacts are new gardeners.  We love the young Elders and their great love for the people and the work.

  We love our mission and those we serve, how could it be any better?

Elder & Sister Olson

  

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

First Gardening Missionary Conference 18 Mar 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

  These are just two of the amazing pictures we took in Monument Valley when we went there last month.  I hope we can go back some time and walk around a little more.

  I think "crazy busy" might describe our week pretty well.  The days are long, but we sure get a lot done on those days. You drop into bed dead tired, but you wake up rearing to go again.

  Tomorrow is our first Missionary Conference with the Gardening Missionaries.  Eight of the young Elders are coming also, even though it is their P-Day.  BUT they get to wear their P-Day clothes, so they are pretty excited.

  Not sure how many will come, but about 42 are on the list.  Really don't think we will get that many, but who knows.

  I have spent the last several weeks putting together Gardening Manuals.  This year I added what I would loved to have had when we first got here.  It includes important phone numbers, The Navajo Transit System schedule, which they can ride for $2  all the way from Tuba to Flagstaff, or Kayenta to Flagstaff.  They also have what they call Non-Emergent transportation, which will pick them up and take them to medical appts. as far away as Phoenix and back to their home, at no cost to them.

  I also had one of the sisters drop off a few copies of their phone book, which I will give to the new missionary couples that have already arrived.  One is out at Cameron and another in Dennehotso.  They are already settling in and getting to know people.

  We spent time in our own Demo Garden and getting the flower bed between the two apts ready for planting.  The weeds are growing, so you know it is getting close to planting time.

  We had some amazing gardening experiences this week, but I want to get the pictures on my computer so I can put them on the next blog post.  I will try to get to that after the meeting tomorrow and the Demo on Thurs.

  Deana Benally is going to do a demo on what happens to the soil after it has had the fertilizer, Humate, and manure added.  She fills two jars, one with what you find when you go out into the areas that they want their gardens, and the second with the soil after it is prepared.  It is very interesting to watch what happens when she adds water.  She will do the same demo on Thurs with the new garden participants.  The huge plus is that she will be able to present in both languages.  She is an amazing young woman.

  It is late and I have to be up and going pretty early.  I will say that I got just a little sun this week and Elder Olson got a lot of sun.  He even gave a Temple Prep class this afternoon about how faith can bring about miracles in your life.

  He is now able to move his arm fairly high and it appears that he is on the mend.  Thank you all for your prayers.  We still believe that God is truly a God of miracles and we have witnessed many.  We are grateful for each of you and your love and support.

Elder & Sister Olson

Elder Lame Duck and Sister Olson

Dear Family and Friends,

  The pictures above didn't come out like I added them.  The middle one should be last since it was taken most recently, but I guess you can figure it out.  This is Darrell Maloney, who I have talked about before.  He has made a huge change in his life.  You can see how much he has changed over the last year.  He has become a good friend and always stops in to see us when he is in Tuba.

  This week has been quite the week.  Some of you may know that Elder Olson hurt his arm on the previous Friday.  His shoulder and arm swelled up and he was in so much pain that I wanted to call 911.  He had blessings, massages, hot packs, cold packs and miserable nights, but he actually touched his nose with a finger on his right hand which was quite an accomplishment.

This is the email I sent to our kids earlier this week which might help explain where he was in behaving himself.

I wish I had video of your dad 2 nights ago when he was literally writhing in pain and I was ready to speed dial 911.  I cannot say he is well because he can only lift his right arm to his belt line and even that is difficult, so what do I see when I drive into the parking lot.Lame Duck is lifting the ramp with his left arm and planning to run the tiller up into the bed of the truck.

I did stop the truck, put it in park and turned if off before I flew over on my broom to ask him just what he was planning to do.  I hated to react if he was innocent, but all of us know him too well.  He did let me run the tiller up the ramp. ;o} but only after major threatening.

Last night he tried to sleep in the bed, but that didn't last long.  We make a squirrel nest on the couch with pillows and blankets propping up each vital body part, head, back, legs, and right arm of course.  I made sure he was tucked in very well.

  This morning he is up and I see the bed on the floor, he discovered that the back cushions come off as well as the seat cushions.  He had made a very nice bed and only had the heat up to about 90 degrees.  The arrangement made me instantly think of what you kids would do for sleeping arrangements. ;o}

  I wanted to take pictures, but got side tracked.  He was in so much pain two nights ago I did not know what to do.  There is a place for "pride" but not when you appear to be dying.

  We so appreciate your prayers in our behalf..  We know ward members are also praying and they had a Stake Temple Day today, so he is on the Temple Prayer roll in several Temples.  How grateful we are for what we know.

  One of the sisters gave us some Arnica which seems to have helped a lot also, plus Arnicare creme and Deep Blue Rub.  He is scheduled to see the Orthopedic surgeon on Wed. afternoon, the same time the folks from SLC are coming.  Looks like we will have to miss that meeting.  I will keep you updated.

  

We had another fun evening in the Family History Center getting Brother Barlow's family tree started.  We are learning a lot about Ancestral Quest.  Sister Norris and I are learning right along with everyone else.  It is fun to see them learning and growing just like we are.

There are several families involved in the Temple Prep class and part of their assignment is to come to the Family History Center and work on their family tree.

It has been fun to see how much they know when they say they don't much of anything.  They take group sheets home and bring them back or someone walks in and says I know that name and adds to what they already have.  We never ceased to be amazed by who ends up there together and find out that they are connected.  Coincidence, I don't think so.  The Lord truly does work in mysterious ways, His wonders to behold.

When the add Sister Barlow's family their kids will have quite a tree started.  On the one census we had his grandfather and his two wives with about 10 children.  It was pretty exciting since Brother Barlow's direct line ancestor was the youngest child on the census.

Hope you are working on your direct lines and adding to your children's tree.  You will be amazed by what and how you find information.  It can be quite a journey.

Elder Lame Duck and His first wife, Sister Olson ;o}