We weren't the only visitors at Chaco Canyon.

Smile!  You're on camera.

Mari's favorite thing to do is empty
Elder Olsen's shirt pocket

See how she has grown!

The master weaver - showing us how she cards
the wool to blend the colors together.  Her
rug is on the loom behind her.

Our District at the Rug Museum/Trading Post.
In the middle is Mark & Linda who run the Museum/ Trading Post.
The master weaver is on the right.

She is the daughter of the master weaver and wove
the rug that we previously bought.

This is a feather fan that Mari's mother made
for us.  It would be used during their dances
and ceremonies.

     Another good week in the lives of the missionaries in Lupton, AZ. We were able to meet with several people throughout the week. We needed to get with our baptismal candidate and finalize his baptismal program. It rained good for two days; but finally, we just said we have to go to his place even if we have to walk in. Oh my, driving on these clay roads when they are muddy can be a real challenge – even with four-wheel drive. The mud pretty well takes you wherever it wants you to go. I just close my eyes, hang on, and say a prayer that we won't get stuck. When we got to his place, his truck was gone. You mean we tackled that mud for nothing? But luck was on our side. His wife had driven the truck to work, so he was home after all. Friday was the special day that we have been anticipating for months. He was baptized, and we're so thrilled to see it finally happen. Owen got to baptize him. He talked in the program and said that he had been waiting half of his life for this special event (he is 51-years-old.) He is the first in his family to be baptized, so who knows what his example and the future will bring. His wife has expressed an interest in learning more especially after his baptism, and we have been working with and teaching one of his aunts. Great things could be in store for this special family.

     This was not a good week for my glasses. On Tuesday, the nose bridge broke. So we headed to Gallup to see if we could get them fixed. No one had frames that would fit the lenses, but they suggested that we get them soldered. So after checking out three more places, we finally found a place that could solder them. Yeah, I have my glasses back again. Then on Thursday night, I was sitting at the computer and one of the lenses and a screw lit in my lap. Talk about frustrating. Back to Gallup we go to get the glasses fixed again. I hope that is it for now, because I can't really do much without my spectacles.

      Some of the senior missionary couples were planning on getting together on Saturday and making a trip to Chaco Canyon. The weather did not cooperate. You have to drive 20 miles on a dirt road to get to it. They had snow in Gallup Friday night, and it was cold, windy, and rainy all day on Saturday. So they put together a plan B, and we went to the Petrified Forest instead. Main reason for choosing there is that it is paved roads all the way, even in the Park. The wild flowers were out in abundance. I don't think I have ever seen that many wild flowers. I think everyone had an enjoyable time, in spite of the cold wind.

     We only had one hour of meetings today so the members could spend the rest of the day with their families. We had the Branch President (his wife had to work) and his son, and one of our girls have lunch with us. Sure enjoy visiting with them. We are going to miss the dear friends that we have made here. But since we aren't really that far away, I am sure we will be coming back for an occasional visit.

glorious baptismal day

Before baptism with wife

That is wind-driven hail piled up along our trailer.

The hail riddled the leaves off the top of the trees.
That green is not grass, but leaf pieces.

petrified wood among the wild flowers

More wildflowers

     The week started out kind of slow, but sure picked up momentum with each passing day. Our car needed some TLC. So in one day, we made four trips to Gallup – one first thing in the morning to take the car to the mechanic, followed by the truck so we would have a way home; another trip at mid-day to get a hair cut; then back again later to pick the car up. That would be three trips with the truck and one with the car. But, at least the car is back in good shape again. We had already made a trip to Gallup on Monday to do shopping (not knowing how many times we would be going later on in the week).

     Our good friend celebrated his birthday this week, so we treated his father and him to lunch – in Gallup, of course.

     Owen took another senior elder with him and went to Holbrook for another adjustment on his back. It is doing much better now. The elder wanted to have the doctor check his shoulder for him. While they were eating lunch, an older gentleman came into the establishment. He stopped and looked at them and their badges. He made the comment, “It seems like the missionaries have been getting younger and younger; but now that I see you two, I don't know what to think.”

     They hadn't taken their wives with them because I had already made arrangements to go to the Senior Center to demonstrate how to make slippers. So I took the other sister with me while our guys went to Holbrook. I hope that some of the ladies at the Center will make slippers either for themselves, their family, or to sell at the flea market and get a little extra income.

     We tried all week to visit with one of our investigators, but things just kept getting in the way. Not only were we trying to visit with him, but we had to keep changing the time for his baptismal interview. Finally, today everything lined up and he met with the Zone Leaders, had his interview, and passed! This has been a long time coming, so we are really thrilled to know that he is this close to baptism. Satan and his minions have intervened time and time again to stop him from getting baptized. The Branch President feels that there are special things in store for him because of all the trials he has had to overcome in order to get this far.

     Our Senior Citizen Center sponsored a party on Friday to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of the Older American Act. They invited several other chapters to join in the fun. There were some chapters that traveled about two hours in big vans to get to Lupton. I bet there were around 200 people there. We went down early and helped them get things set up. They had speakers, various activities, and served a delicious lunch. It was so neat to watch the interaction between the elderly. You could tell they were excited to be there and to see some of the people they hadn't seen for years. They had all dressed up for the party-complete with their gorgeous turquoise or coral jewelry. As part of the entertainment, they had small groups of Navajos that would sing a song accompanied by a small drum. It wasn't long before the beat of the music got to them, and several couples starting dancing in a circle. Some of the elderly could hardly move, but they did their best to move to the music. It was a special day to recognize some of the elderly and honor them. The Center gave out Certificates of Appreciation, and we were honored to receive one to thank us for the times we have volunteered there.

     Saturday we left at 5:30 in the morning with four youth (3 girls and a boy) to go to the Albuquerque Temple so they could do baptisms for the dead. I thought they might sleep part of the way since we had an early start. Foolish me! They didn't sleep, and neither would they let me. It seemed like every time I closed my eyes, someone would tickle me on the neck, or I would hear a very quiet whisper calling my name. They laughed, visited, laughed, played games, and laughed some more. It is neat to see these special young people enter the temple and perform this ordinance. It was sad, too, knowing this would be our last time to experience this with them. All we can do is encourage them to continue to take advantage of every opportunity they have to go to the temple and to feel of the Lord's spirit there. Hopefully, this will help them want to live worthy of the temple throughout their lives. They are such special youth and we pray for the best for them.

Banner recognizing Older American Act

Some of the seniors

Senior dancers

Navajo male singers

Some of our special seniors - her gorgeous squash blossom necklace is
rug patterns done in bead work and silver 

Female Navajo singers

More dancers

Elder of the Year

Youth @ ABQ Temple