27th Week—March 12-18, 2012



Connie's sister and brother in law,
Renae & Kevin Thorton

Connie niece, Heidi Rich and her son, Romney

Heidi's oldest son, Coulson

Missionary Work

(This is a letter Dale wrote to his family during this past week.)

     We are having more success with visits to part member and newly baptized members in the afternoons and evenings. It does take quite a lot of time preparing special lessons for different situations. Last night we gave a second lesson to a less active family (Sidonio & Elena Vasquez) whose son, Abel, (they also a younger daughter named Leticia.) turned 8 last August. They are coming to church now and planning on taking him for a bishop's interview next Sunday.

 

     After the first family home evening they told us that they wanted to feed us the next time and asked what we would like to eat. We responded most anything and they said what is your most favorite food. I thought for a while and then said we are from Idaho so potatoes and gravy. Hermana Vasquez said okay that is what we will have! That is what she fixed: mashed potatoes and meat gravy, a whole canned ham (We only eat a few slices, so the major part was left over.) mixed vegetables, (carrots, broccoli & asparagus, cooked just right) and chocolate chip cookies. Oh yes, she also had stove topped stuffing. The only unusual thing was the gravy and stuffing were quite spicy hot.

     The parents and we sat around the table and the two kids sat around a small table.  It was interesting that at the start Hermana Vasquez asked Connie if she would like to serve me, which she did and then Hermana Vasquez served the rest of the family. Very interesting!

Love, Dad

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          We have never seen any of the Latinos let people dish up food themselves. At church dinners they always bring the food to you on a plate they have dished up.  At their homes they sometimes set the table but they usually bring the food to you already dished up.  If they put the food on the table, they often times dish it up for you.  They bring the dish so heaped up with food you cannot possibly eat it all.  We have had to tell them that we cannot eat as much as the young elders!  Many times, they don’t eat with you, they sit and watch you eat or they leave you alone to eat.  Many times they start cooking when you arrive.   We sometimes feel guilty because they have so little and we know they give us their best.

          Most of their apartments are very small.  The kitchen is so small the family cannot all eat in there at the same time.  There is usually one very small bedroom.  The kids usually sleep in a very small living room with a big screen TV.  And of course, they have a very small bathroom.  Sometimes the only privacy they have is a make shift curtain. Many times I have wondered how they manage but they seem happy to be here.

          President Baker rightfully advised us not to go to court with the Arzus to just observe.  He said we would be a target and the church does not get involved with court cases.  Their son did not get out of Juvenile Detention.  He is in there for at least another month.  We prayed with them and tried to encourage them.  We are meeting with them again this week this time to go back to the Book of Mormon Jesus lessons to Jorge. 

 

          Elder Moore and Elder Kuo taught Jaime Olazava about tithing, fasting, and fast offerings this week.  They had to leave a little early so Dale finished up by teaching him about the 11^th article of faith—obeying the laws of the land. We set his baptism date for Easter Sunday, April 8^th!

          We visited with an investigator, Selzo Castillo, Saturday.  His lady friend made us some Pupusas.  They are like very thick flour tortillas or bread dough with beans and cheese in the middle. They are cooked in a fry pan and served either hot or cold. They are very popular and the Latinos love them.  Dale has a very hard time eating them.  I don’t mind them.  I noticed he had “snarfed” his down quite well-- until we got out in the car.  He had eaten a little off of each one and put the rest in his suit coat pocket when no one was looking!

          My sister, Renae, and her husband Kevin came to a wedding in Los Angeles Saturday.  They came and saw us Sunday afternoon.  We invited my niece, Heidi, who lives in Pasadena, and her two sons Coulson (almost 3) and Romney (7 mo.) to come for dinner.  After dinner we looked at family pictures we have stored on our computer.  Coulson loved seeing himself as a baby.  After they left we found some of his mother as a baby.  We will have to show him those some other time. 

          This morning we got up and drove down to “The Alley.”  It spans 100 blocks with over 1,000 stores and warehouses.  They sell almost everything—such as jewelry, designer clothes, material, perfumes, purses, shoes, suits, levis, hats, flowers, makeup, toys ,etc., etc, etc.  They sell things 30% to 70% off.  You can barter so Dale had fun bartering after Renae picked out some jewelry and I picked out some perfume.  Afterwards we went to Glendale and ate at Mimis—a French Restaurant.  They left to go back to Arizona about 2 p.m.  They were our first visitors here and it was fun to see family again.

          For several years Dale and I have read and discussed together a recent conference talk while eating breakfast.  (When we have read all the talks before the next conference we read an article out of the Ensign.)  I would like to share a quote from Pres. Uchtdorf’s talk to the Relief Society women. 

   

“The happiest people I know ….are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments.  They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives.  These are they who are truly happy.”