The weeks continue to be full of adventures. Twice in one day we headed out to visit a couple of different sisters. We never made it, though, because we would get a phone call that changed the plans. Some days it seems like we aren't able to do anything that we planned, but we always end up doing something just as important anyway. We just never know what each new day holds.

We had our District Meeting on Monday. The senior couple from Alaska had had their son send down some meat. They thought it was going to be halibut, but it ended up being halibut, salmon, moose, and caribou. So we were treated to an Alaskan cuisine that evening. Sure was delicious.

Sometimes the time around here can be confusing. We live in Arizona that doesn't do Daylight Savings Time, but the Navajo Reservation does. Sanders, about 20 miles west of here, isn't on the Reservation, so their time is 'normal' time. We were to take a sister to Sanders for a class. She said it started at 7:30 in the morning. We just assumed that that was our time, but found out different when we got there. She ended up being plenty early for her class. I guess we will have to deal with this for a few more weeks, and then we can both be on the same time again. A lot of the kids in this area go to Sanders for school. I wonder if that ever gets confusing for them, or just us 'old' folks.

We had quite a bit of rain again this week. One road just got filled in a few days ago, and it is already being washed away. We aren't able to get off the main roads very far if it has been storming. I guess we could, but we might not be able to get back on the main road for a few days.

We only made one RV trip this week. Tsaile elders were having problems with their hot water. When Owen checked it out, he determined that the water heater needed to be replaced. We thought we would be going back up to take care of that; but the housing coordinator was able to do it, so we didn't have to. Tsaile area is considered a ward, yet they have never had a church building. Dine' College is there, so they use rooms at the college for their meetings. They are finally going to be getting a church, in fact it is nearly ready for occupancy. They are hoping to have the dedication on the 19^th of this month. That means that the elders' RV and the senior couple's trailer will be moved to the church property. We only have to worry about the RV, however.

Saturday was a special day. We were able to be a part of a baptism for a young man. This is the one I think I mentioned a few weeks ago that told the Counselor that he wanted to be baptized. We thought

he already had been. So we have been teaching and working with him, and the 11^th was his special day – not only was he able to be baptized, but it was his birthday. His wife is already a member and they have an adorable four-month-old little guy. We had 25 people in attendance (eight of whom were missionaries). I thought that was pretty good for our small branch. He had asked Owen to do the baptizing. That turned out to be tougher than Owen thought it was going to be. The font definitely needed more water in it. Finally on the fourth try, they had him sit down on the bottom of the font with his legs out in front of him so all he had to do was lay back. That ended up being the lucky charm. A senior missionary told him that he hadn't set any records. His friend took 14 tries before he was finally baptized right. Owen was certainly glad that it didn't take that many times on Saturday.

I guess the tarantulas are migrating now. Owen has seen an occasional one crossing the road as we drive around. The other day we went out to get in the truck, and there was one right to the side of it. These are different than other ones I have seen. They are black, a little smaller, and just as ugly. Just as long as I see them before they see me, I guess we will be okay.

The work is progressing and we will continue to do what we can to help it move forward here in the Lupton area.

Special day - Baptism and Birthday!

The "elephant" rocks south of Lupton

On the road again. With all the rain we had last week, bad roads to drive on, and being the first of the month (Navajo holiday) we decided it would be a good time to check on some of the RVs. We were able to check on the ones in Tohlakai, Sawmill, and Polacca. The one in Tsaile will be moved in a couple of weeks. Their new church house will be dedicated about that time, so then the trailer will be moved from the trailer park to over by the church.

While we were in Polacca (Hopi Reservation), we decided to check out Second Mesa. That was very amazing. You drive up a steep, windy road to the top of the mountain (past a sign that says 'Taking Pictures Is Not Allowed'). The old, old, small, rock and or adobe homes are all flat-roofed, in a row, with three or four joined together. They are lined up along each edge of the mesa, with a shorter row down the middle. So you drive down the narrow dirt trail, loop around, and come back the other side. Some of the homes are 600 years old. It was like taking a step back in time. Owen said he wouldn't want to live up there if he was a sleep walker. The mesa isn't very wide up on top, and it is a long ways down. Cool view of the entire valley, though. That is probably why they built up there; so they could see someone coming before they could see them. I want to go back another time and have a Hopi guide show us around more and tell us about the history and culture.

During our Family Home Evening, Owen said something about going home. One guy said, “What do you mean going home? You aren't going anywhere.”

Another guy joined in with, “Yeah. They've issued you a census number, so now you can't leave.”

We have also had a couple of people offer us a piece of their land to build a home on. We love these people so much. They have won a special place in our hearts.

Great News! Our daughter-in-law who was injured was able to go home on Thursday. She still has many weeks yet of recovery to do, but she is making good progress and so glad to be home with her family. Family and friends built a ramp so she could get in the house, because she still can't put any weight on her right side and gets around in a wheelchair most of the time. We are so very grateful that they live in the community they do. The people are very compassionate and caring, plus they also have some family close by which helps a lot, too.

We have had a pretty spiritual last three days. Friday was our Zone Conference in Farmington. The Church wants all the missionaries to see the new Church documentary, Meet the Mormons. So we were privileged to have our own private showing of that movie. It is very, very good and well worth going to see. We encourage EVERYONE to go and see it on opening weekend (October 10th). The attendance they get on opening weekend will determine how long and other places it will be shown. Unfortunately it isn't showing in Gallup. So, if you can, be sure and see it.

The Housing Coordinator for the mission lives in Farmington. He has been so good to help Owen out with the RVs. He just happens to own a Ferrari. During lunch at the Zone Conference, he gave Owen a ride in it. Talk about excited! I guess that car is quite well known throughout the world. All the missionaries want to have their picture taken with it, and then they send the picture home to their families.

General Conference was great, as usual. We listened to some of it on the Internet and caught a couple of sessions at a member's home with an investigator. Such good talks, lots of food for thought. I am always glad they are printed in the Ensign, because it is just too much for me to take in at one time. We got a text Saturday from our Navajo friend that became active in February and then moved to Utah in June. She was at the Conference Center. It was exciting to know that she was having the special experience of being able to attend a Conference session.

We are continuing to teach and work with some very special people. It is exciting to see the light of Christ come into their lives, and how it changes them. Each new day brings new adventures.

This past week turned out to be quite interesting. We took a member to Crown Point so she could be there for drug court. Crown Point is 90 minutes away from here. It was a new place for us to see and visit. The court went well, and she is making an honest effort to try and turn her life around. So we just pray for her and hope she will be strong enough to resist all the temptations that are around.

The next day we ended up going the other direction to Wide Ruins. Two of our younger friends had missed the bus for their boarding school. The great grandmother wanted to know if we could take them. No one in that area has a car, so the kids would have to miss the whole week of school because the bus picks them up on Monday and then brings them home on Friday.

On the way home from Wide Ruins we stopped at a trading post and decided to get a Navajo taco for lunch. They are so delicious. Later that afternoon, we grabbed a quick bite of supper and went to Oak Springs for an appointment. The lady there had a pot of beans cooking. She said if we would stay, she would mix up some fry bread and we could have chili and fry bread. It is impolite to refuse an invitation to eat, even if you have just recently eaten. So for the second time that day we had fry bread and chili beans. I am sure you get the idea of what the rest of the evening was like. The fun part, however, was that the sister gave us a lesson on how to make fry bread. I am not one that likes to just estimate how much of each ingredient. I like to measure things out, which they do not do. Once the dough is mixed up, then it is the tricky part. She made it look so easy. I didn't have much trouble until it came time to do the flapping of the dough back and forth between the hands. Mine just did not want to work. I got it way too thin in the middle and too thick on the edges. Owen actually had an easier time doing it than I did. We sure laughed and had a good time. Instead of our dough turning out into a nice round circle like hers, our dough would resemble different states. So we had fun trying to name the state – California, Florida, Alaska, etc. I don't know if I will ever be able to develop the knack for making fry bread.

We are continuing to teach the missionary lessons and Temple Prep. lessons to some special people. They are progressing and have strong desires to take the next ordinance. But, Satan is working overtime, and it is hard to resist the temptations when they are all around you. Hopefully, they will be strong, and they will be able to realize the blessings that can be theirs if they can make the right choices. So we shall see.

I picked up our two young girls (Navajo grand daughters) on Saturday afternoon and brought them up to our home. We made a big batch of waffle cookies and played a couple of games. They were in no hurry to go home. I took them back home after about three hours, and then went back an hour or so later and picked them up to go to Gallup to the broadcast of the Women's Conference. It is fun to see their reactions to different things, things that have become common place for me because I have seen them my whole life – like the Conference Center, how the meeting works, etc. During one of the talks about temples, the one young lady leaned over and asked me, “Will I be able to go there, to the temple sometime?” Seeds are being planted in their lives.

Our daughter-in-law is recovering from the accident. Heavenly Father has certainly blessed her and the family. She might get to go home later this week. Course she will be in a wheelchair for a while until her bones heal sufficiently to support weight, then she can graduate to a walker.

A dear sister (the 91-year-old that we went to her birthday party a while ago) has been in the hospital for the past week. They brought her home on Wednesday, but had to take her back Thursday morning. We rode into Gallup today so Owen could help give her a Priesthood blessing. She didn't look very good. She is a very special grandmother whom we have come to love.

If any of you are considering going on a mission with your spouse, we recommend you request the New Mexico Farmington Mission. It is the BEST! Not only will you fall in love with the beautiful people and scenery, but it will be an adventure you will never forget.