Sister Goldtooth's daughters

Picture of Sister Goldtooth's daughters

Elder Gay & Elder Teh

Yesterday, Saturday, June 21, 2014 we had a meeting from 10 to 2:30 with 2 members of the Quorum of the 70.  The area 70, Elder Rein, and a brother named Mike Murray who serves on the Perpetual Education Committee.
  I must confess even the idea of meeting them is a bit intimidating, let alone meeting with them for 4 1/2 hours and discussing what you are doing and how it is going.
  Our Stake President and his 2nd counselor were there of course and the meeting was actually set up for them.  We were invited to attend and share our feelings and some of the things that we have seen happen over the last 3 years. ;o}
  The Elders were Elder Robert Gay and Elder Michael Teh along with Mike Murray, who offered me a job when I left this mission.  LOL
  The first hour or so we talked about the Gardening Program and what we are doing in family history and how that was going.  Well, all of a sudden Elder Gay looks at President Justice and asks, "Do you want to  know why we really came?"
  We all looked up and each had some seconds of being slightly scared and racking our brain about what we had been doing recently that might have come to the attention of the brethren in SLC.  We all must have had similar expressions, which we laughed about later.  In any case, Elder Gay starts teaching this amazing insight about the scriptures relating it to what we are doing and how it is going.
  I could not begin to repeat all that was said, but it was an amazing experience to be across the table and hear the teaching of one who sits with prophet on a regular basis.  Their level of understanding of the scriptures is amazing.
  I have been keeping records of each participant ever since we got here.  I track them by name and know who has continued to plant and if they have not continued what the reason for stopping was, as we understood it.  Some stop because they move, some have actually passed away, but their family has continued.  Others are challenged with addictions and a few are just to lazy to do it anymore.  In any case I decided it would be helpful if I printed out the sheets with the names and what their planting record was for the last 4 years.
  I also did the percentage for each year, which I listed at the bottom of the spread sheet. They did look at it, but I wasn't sure how helpful it had been.  I also had prepared a PowerPoint presentation which we quickly went through.  Wasn't sure how effective that was either.
  In any case as we started to clean things up, Elder Teh folds all the spreadsheets and sticks them into his briefcase.  Elder Cay get out a thumb drive and wants to know if it is OK if he makes a copy of the PowerPoint Presentation.  I am going to assume that they want to check it out a little more when they have time.   I did tell him that I had made the presentation so he could use it if he wanted to.
  They made us all feel like we were doing some amazing things and we should continue to do what we are doing to help the people become more self-reliant through gardening and to work on their family history.  This week we were full to overflowing every day we were open.
  Our new Seminary Couple arrived Friday.  They are Elder & Sister Simpson from Layton, UT.  They are ready to jump in and get started.  I am so excited to have them here.  They seem eager and willing to help in any way that they can.  They have 7 children and 26 grandchildren.  I think we will do well together in furthering the work.
  President Batt called this afternoon and I guess nobody seems to know who we are and where we are, since they don't have any paperwork.  We were set apart 19 Dec 2013 for this mission which started on 14 Feb 2014.  Although I have sent rent money every month, it has not been taken out of our home ward acct.  He is going to work on that.  That may be why they keep calling to ask us our exit date.
  Tomorrow we will have our 4th funeral in 3 weeks. It is very interesting to watch how different things go when a member funeral takes place and what happens when a family that does not have the gospel in their lives takes place.  They cannot be comforted, because they  believe that the person is literally gone.
  Member families find peace and comfort in knowing that it is just a separation and that they will be reunited once again.
   Each day we learn more about the people and about ourselves and how much we need to continue learning and growing in the gospel.  I am so grateful for my testimony and The Book of Mormon.  We learned so much from Elder Gay about the First Vision.  I wish I had been able to record his words.
  We think of you and pray for you every day.
Love,
Elder & Sister Olson

Obituaries and Miracles

This week has been really extra-ordinary in several ways.  I am feeling very blessed to be a part of such a great work.

On Monday, June 9, I had the privilege of helping prepare a sweet sister to be put to rest. Although I did not know her well, I felt very happy to help the family in that small way.  She looked beautiful and so much at peace.

Tuesday Jun 10, in the Family History Center. We had 7 people working together on adding the information from the obituaries that we have found.  The top picture is of Janell, who has to work very hard to do the things we take for granted.  She is always persistent and fun to be around.

 The three ladies in the second picture came in together.  Kelly worked on her own family history. Ashley worked on the obituaries and although we had several "tech problems" she was able to add a couple of obituaries to our growing file.  What was really exciting was the fact that she was able to add one young man's parents and 5 brothers who had preceded him in death.

  Then we had Amber who out of no where found her gr grandparents names and a social security death record for each.  To add to that great find, she found a picture of their plaques at the cemetery, which someone posted to findagrave.com   That does not happen very often, at least on the reservation. 

  I suggested that she take what she had found over to the mortuary and ask if they might have been the ones who had assisted with the burials.  They were able to add both parents to one of her names and the mother of another of her names.  Another miracle in my book.

  Sister Thompson worked on the materials she is preparing for her class on How to Keep a Journal.  She wrote up some very short entries and put pictures to go with them.  She is trying to show the students that they do not have to write pages and pages each day, but they can write short little entries to keep track of their daily lives.

  She does an amazing job with those students, building their confidence and helping them with their family history.

  It may not seem as if we did a lot, but we were very busy and productive for 3 1/2 hours.  We laughed we shared, we bore testimony of the Spirit that we could feel as we entered the information.

  Kelly came back around 8 and wondered if I would be there much longer, she wanted to share what she had been doing with her sister.  We stayed until 8:30.

  What a great blessing to be a witness to the small miracles of the small and simple things that bring great things to pass.

Injunuity 101

“Injunuity 101”

Within the last 30 mins your madre would have made your grandpa, Skeeter, smile a lot and certainly would have had his nodding approval.

I guess I should start the story from about two hours ago.  Dad had left about 6:10 A.M. to drive to Preston Mesa or White Mesa, I actually forgot which for the moment, but that is only a small detail.  In any case it was another of many days alone.

I was not however without company, at 6:20 A. M.  the first visitor arrived while I was in dispose.  I quickly finished and ran to the door where I asked from behind the locked  door who it was.  A voice answered that they were looking for Elder Olson.  With that response I opened it and found 3 men standing on the other side.  They again repeated that they were looking for Elder Olson and I quickly asked if it was about the grave dedication.  They smiled and said, “Yes.”  I said that he had remembered and had left ten minutes ago.  They again smiled, apologized for disturbing me and left.

Dad actually ended up dedicating two graves, but this really isn’t a major part of my story for now anyway.  Just thought I would add why he was gone today.

Later in the morning the Elders came by and asked if I had “free time” to show them how to get started with their own family history.  I was actually working on getting a rug ready, so I told them I would be available in 20 mins.  When I did go over I was able to get Elder Lewis going while the other 3 were writing about this amazing experience that they have been having with one of the families we referred them to.  Another great story but not a major part of this one. ;o}

While over there I practiced the piano and although I am not good yet, it is getting better.  The Bishop and his family were cleaning the church so I helped a little and then came home.  Since I had not eaten any breakfast I proceeded to eat my way through the fridge with the leftovers from feeding the Elders last night, finishing with a pint of ice cream, which I totally wish I had not done.

That part was actually important however.  I decided I was very tired and since Dad was gone and it was a good day for a nap I laid down.  Before laying down I took off my earrings while I was taking care of something else in the bathroom and laid them on the sink with the little backs right with them. It would have only taken a second longer to put them on the shelf, but did I listen to that little voice, Oh no!  I went straight in and laid down.

The phone then rang 4 times and feeling the sense of responsibility that I do I got up and checked to make sure it wasn’t an emergency. It was actually two people who had called twice, but since I had the ear plugs in I did not hear all the rings.  I did call to make sure it wasn’t really that important, and it wasn’t so I again laid down.

I actually fell asleep and had one of those “nightmarish” type dreams and then woke up with a start.  I headed back to the bathroom and picked up the earrings managing to pop both the “backs” down the drain.  In a normal life that would not have been so awful, but when you only have two backs and the nearest Walmart is 75 miles away it was an “Oh c—p!” moment.

Instead of going into the “Woe is me how can I get Dad to open the drain” thoughts I quickly ran through a list of what I could say to guilt him into taking it apart without too many glaring looks from him directed to me while he was saying he didn’t really mind because he loved me so much.  (We all know what that really means though, right?)

Meanwhile, you need to know that I had awaken with leg cramps in the back of both thighs and they escalated in pain when I first went into the bathroom and then hobbled my way into the kitchen getting salt water as quickly as I could without screaming.  My stomach was in a bad way from indulging in all the left overs and I could not stand up straight. It’s kinda funny how hard the leg cramps became  when the “backs” went into the drain.

This all had happened since staggering from the bed and there was not one sympathetic soul anywhere to listen to me scream from the pain of the leg cramps and the agony of flipping both earring “backs” into the sink drain in one simple move as I picked them up to put on the shelf.

OK, I hobble back into the bathroom and go to plan B.  I wonder if I can tangle a small magnet down and bring them up.  Well, that does not work, too much gunk down there, which is extremely gross, trust me.

Now we go to plan C  I actually open the cupboard door and look at how things are put together under there.  Well, miracles still happen.  The pieces are actually plastic with screw on fitting parts. By then the cramps are on their way out and I can actually get to the floor. 

Some unseen person  was close because I hear this little voice pointing out that there will be water in those fittings.  Ah yes, the small waste can is lined with plastic and will fit under there.  I had tried turning the fittings and I could actually do it without much effort. Fortunately the voice whispered before I turned them too far.   I do take the stuff out of the waste can, which was also smart and then proceed.  It is indeed filled with very yucky fluid.   As it quickly drains,  I hear this faint little thunk, but only one thunk.  So now I have to decide if I really am that desperate.  I decide I am.  A few minutes working in a “groody mess” or a 150 mile trip to Walmart.  It took a little effort, and two false stabs and what appears to be a “back”, but finally there it is, the other “back”.  Yippee Skippy, and lots of thanks to the unseen mentors.

I did wash out the drain part with lots of hot water and bleach and a bottle scrub brush.  I then put it back which was also quite easy once I figured out which way to turn it (the whisperings you know).  I clean up the few drops that escaped going into the waste can.  I also soak the “backs” and scrub them.  This time I make sure there is something covering the drain, just in case.

I am not suggesting that I am a genius or anything, far from it, BUT I had the satisfaction of knowing I (or should I say, all the ancestors who are assigned to watch over me so I don’t mess up to bad trying to make my way back) figured it out.  I certainly can’t say I did it alone although I could not see all the ones who were giving me advice and rolling their eyes. ( Actually most of my kids and in-laws have this approach to solving problems already figured out. I am just the slow learner in the family, unless you are doing a crochet project)

Dad was happy to know that he did not have to do it.  His gag reflect is actually much lower or higher whichever one means he gags more quickly than I do at least over things like that.  You all know what makes me gag and it isn’t yucky water.

Well, this story is simple like me, but I thought you might be amused by reading it and remembering your dear aging mother and how she is learning to go more quickly  to “solution mode”  instead of spending too much time in the “Woe is me” phase of problem solving.

Love,

Mom

Sand or Stone

Tomorrow we will have our Missionary Training Meeting.  These are some of the thoughts that I plan to share with those who come.

  Every day we have the power to lift and strengthen someone who may be struggling in silence with a burden they feel they cannot share.  May we always be mindful of our brothers and sisters who remain silent, but pray that someone will hear their unspoken words.

Quotes from “Stand A Little Taller”  by President Gordon B Hinckley

Age is Relative

“They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.”  Psalm 92:14

                Age is a matter of how you feel, how you think, and what’s going on in your head than what’s going on in your feet.”    Pg. 267

Believe in Yourself

“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.” Hebrews 10:35

Believe in yourself.  Believe in yourself as a child of God.  Believe in your capacity to do good in the world, to spread light and truth and understanding; to reach out to those in distress and need to help and bless them.   Page 327

Do Not Despair

“All these things shall five thee experience, and shall be for thy good.”  D & C 122:7

We are in a period of stress across the world.  There are occasionally hard days for each of us.  Do not despair.  Do not give up.  Look for the sunlight through the clouds.  Opportunities will eventually open to you.  Do not let the prophets of gloom endanger your possibilities.  Pg. 359

A friend of mine sent an email recently about two friends while traveling in the desert  had an argument which escalated and ended up when one slapped the other.

Without returning the slap the one stooped down and wrote in the sand that his friend had slapped him.

They continued the journey and found an oasis.  Because the journey had been long and they were dying of thirst they first drank and then decided to bathe.  The one who had been slapped  became mired and was on the verge of drowning, when his friend rescued him.

Again the friend stooped, but this time he wrote “Today my friend saved me”  upon a stone.  Somewhat bewildered  by his friends actions he asked :

,    'AFTER   I  HURT    YOU,
YOU    WROTE    IN    THE    SAND    AND    NOW,
YOU    WRITE    ON    A     STONE,    WHY?'

THE   FRIEND    REPLIED
'WHEN    SOMEONE    HURTS    US
WE    SHOULD     WRITE    IT    DOWN
IN    SAND,   WHERE    WINDS    OF
FORGIVENESS    CAN     ERASE    IT AWAY.
BUT,    WHEN  SOMEONE    DOES
SOMETHING    GOOD    FOR    US,
WE    MUST    ENGRAVE    IT   IN   STONE
WHERE    NO    WIND
CAN    EVER;  ERASE    IT.'

LEARN    TO     WRITE
YOUR    HURTS    IN
THE    SAND    AND    TO
CARVE    YOUR
BENEFITS    IN    STONE.

  Unkown Author

Remember you are given the power to choose where you will write your story.

Hopi baskets, Piki, and Parched corn Demo in Moencopi

Today 12 Mar 2014 Sister Ann Thompson and I went to watch Sister Trujillo demonstrate how to weave a Hopi basket.  We all got a chance to practice, just a little bit.
  She gathers the Yucca plant at a certain time and splits them.  She moistened the strains by using her own "spit" which keeps the fibers more moist than using water.  You create a pattern by using multiplies of 1,3 and 5.   If you look very closely you can see that pattern.
  They wrap the strips that are not being used in a plastic bag, so they retain their moisture.  The tip is very pointed and sharp.  We also found out that you need to toughen your hands to do this.
  She also demonstrated how to sew it together.  She uses the baskets all the time and sells many of them also.  It is quite an art and I hope they continue to teach the young people how to do it.
  She also showed us how to make Piki (or piki bread)it  is a rolled bread made by the Hopi with nixtamalized corn meal. Blue corn and culinary ash give it a dark grayish-blue color.  You can see her spread a very thin layer on the stone grill.
  The wood fire has to stay at a fairly even temperature.  She puts the batter directly on the stone using her fingers.  She spreads 3 layers and when she could tell it was done she peeled it off and placed it to the side.  When the next piece was almost done,she placed the previous one over the cooking one, letting it become slightly moistened, which allowed her to fold it to the middle and then roll it together.  You can see the finished one in the photos.
  She cleaned the stone each time using olive oil and sheep brains.  It is a very coveted food and contains a lot of niacin. It is flake like and just a little sweet.  She said many eat it and drink water.  She said she liked it with grape soda.
  We then watched another woman make parched corn.  You will see "white culinary sand"  which is placed in the kettle sitting over the wood fire.  The uncooked corn is put in a basket, like the one she was weaving.  A salt water solution is dripped onto the corn before it is put into the kettle.  The white sand turns black and when the corn heats up it starts to pop like popcorn.  She said we should watch our cleavage or we would get burned.  She assured us that she was not joking.  She had worn a high neck shirt just for that reason.
  She also picked up the kernels that popped out onto the dirt and placed them back into the kettle.  She said they were still good and should not be wasted.