Window Rock District - Olsens, Claytons, Pres. & Sis. Batt, Rogers, Englands & Jet, Jones, Jensens

Gifts for the children of the Branch

Navajo Nativity bought at a trading post

Navajo Nativity made by our friend

The weeks are flying by. Last week we celebrated our one-year anniversary of entering the MTC in Provo. On the 16^th of this week, it will be our first-year anniversary for being residents of Lupton, AZ. We have met some very special people during that time. We have had challenges that we didn't know if we would be able to handle or not. We have had some very special times that have brought much joy into our lives and strengthened our testimonies. We have seen so many tender mercies of the Lord and little miracles that we have no doubt He is watching over us, guiding our footsteps, and helping us as we serve His mission.

We were thrilled this week to be able to set a baptismal date (Jan. 10^th) for an investigator. We have a few items we need to finish up teaching him, but we can see him learning and growing in the Gospel each time we meet. He told us there was another senior couple here a few years ago that came by and tried to teach him. He said that he is embarrassed to admit it, but he was very antagonistic towards them. The Lord has softened his heart, and he is just like a sponge trying to absorb everything he can about the Gospel. He has been to church the last three Sundays. We didn't think he was coming today, but he showed up shortly after the meeting started. Our speakers today were a councilor in the Stake Presidency and his wife. They chose to share with us how they received their testimonies and how one can believe something to be true; but until they know it with their heart they are not truly converted. They talked about other things, too; all of which were exactly what the investigator needed to hear, and things we have also been discussing with him. I talked to the sister after the meeting and expressed how much I had enjoyed their talks and how they had been so good for the investigator. She told me that another couple had been assigned to speak in our Branch, but they had called them on Friday and asked if they would fill in for them because they wouldn't be able to make it on Sunday. Does the Lord have a hand in the details of our lives or was it all just by chance? For us, it was definitely another of the Lord's tender mercies.

We had another visit from one of our sons, his wife, and children. They are in-between their move from Oklahoma to California. They were able to stay for a couple of days. It was so good to see them and to spend some time with them. We showed them some of the sights around the area. We went to the Petrified Forest, but it started raining before we got there and even snowed on us on the way home. We didn't get to spend a lot of time checking out the different sites, but it was still a good day and just good to be together.

We never seem to lack for things to do. Sometimes we have a hard time trying to decide what to do when and squeezing everything in. But, somehow it all works out.

The excitement is starting to build for the upcoming Christmas. It will be our second Christmas in the mission field. What a wonderful time of year, and how blessed we are to be able to celebrate another Christmas among the Lamanite people.

Olsens at Window Rock Park

At the Petrified Forest

At the Visitors' Center at the Petrified Forest

Things are continuing to go well here in the LA area. Last week we had our son, daughter-in-law and five grandchildren stay with us on Sunday night. They left on Monday morning to drive on to their home in Oklahoma. I told them that we have enjoyed their weekly visits, and it would sure be nice if the visits could continue.

On Friday evening, one of my sisters and her husband came to our place. They stayed until after Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. Saturday morning we got up early and was at the Red Rock Park by Gallup by 7:00 a.m. to watch the hot air balloon festival. It was neat to be able to watch them prepare the balloons, inflate them, hook up the basket, and then lift off into the sky. They said that they had 90 balloonists register for the event, but only about 80 showed up to launch. This was our first experience seeing a hot air balloon festival like this. I thought it was pretty fascinating to see the process of how they launch a balloon and then to see so many balloons in the air at the same time.

We also had rain for a full day and a half. Lots and lots of rain that really play havoc on all the dirt roads. There wasn't a whole lot we could do in the rain or until the roads began to dry out. Our Branch President has even told us we are not to get on the roads when they are bad. So we took advantage of being shut in and worked on getting the Christmas presents ready for our kids and grand kids. It is nice to know that we at least have that much done towards Christmas. Now, hopefully, we won't forget to mail them.

Missionary work is still progressing, even though it was a little slow this week. We were able to spend time with some of the members, give a couple of lessons, have Family Home Evening, and prepare our lessons for Sunday. It is interesting to see how each week develops and how different it can be from the previous one. But, we continue to love it, love the people, and the time we are able to spend with them.

Red Rock Balloon Rally - getting the basket ready

rolling out the balloons

hooking the balloon to the basket

beginning to blow up the balloon

it's getting bigger

We have a lift-off.

A few of the balloons heading toward the red rocks

A large variety of shapes, sizes, and colors of balloons

I think this is how I would feel if I went for a ride.

The variety added to the fun.

Many, many more balloons

Aliece and Fred enjoying the spectacular sight.

Another interesting week for the missionaries in Lupton, Arizona. We weren't able to do a lot of visiting because of the holiday, people not home, or busy with other things. Our investigators are out-of-town, so we weren't able to give them lessons. We did have several visits with Branch members and tried to nourish them and give them a gospel message.

We had a special Family Home Evening on Wednesday. We had ten people come, filled our front room full. Owen gave the lesson on the history of Thanksgiving, and then we had a wonderful visit with them.

Our Thanksgiving was really nice. We were invited to a member's place. He is such a good cook. His great uncle, dad, sister, and a nephew were there, plus a couple of other members from the Branch. Not everyone can say that they had Thanksgiving dinner with the Pilgrims and Indians. I was in charge of desserts. So I fixed several pies. I thought I better take two cartons of Cool Whip in order to have enough. When it was time to go, Owen grabbed the cartons out of the fridge. I noticed that only one was being used and then put in the fridge until someone else wanted Cool Whip. When we were getting ready to go, I asked if the other Cool Whip bowl (still sitting on the table where I had put it) was empty. Our host politely informed me that it was not empty, and that it did contained left-overs or something rather than Cool Whip. Ooops! Sure enough it was left-overs (soon to be dog food), and thank goodness two cartons of Cool Whip had not been needed. Now you know I am a red-neck because I re-use the Cool Whip bowls to store things in.

We were on the road to Gallup eight times last week. Between getting the truck serviced, taking a family in so they could get some medicine for their baby, another person to the hospital to be with his young son, hauling wood, decorating the Seminary building for our District Meeting, picking up supplies to put skirting around an RV trailer, grocery shopping, etc., we can almost put the vehicle on automatic pilot. You would think we would be smart and combine the trips, but most of them weren't planned until the morning of, when we would get a text or a phone call.

One of our sons and his family were on their way from Utah to Oklahoma and stopped by and stayed with us Sunday night. Even though it was a short visit, we loved being able to visit with them, and especially the hugs. I guess I can use that as my excuse for not getting the blog written yesterday.

In LA the mission is going great, the people are great, the weather is great, and the scenery is great!

Anybody need a ride?

Petrified wood area about eight miles from here

Petrified log partially uncovered

My excuse for not doing the blog yesterday.