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It's a Wrap We finished our mission August 7, 2022. It is a bittersweet experience.   The last month went by in a blur.  We were meeting new people that we would want to get to know better.   So much unfinished work to do.   Our last week we went to the Monticello temple with our sweet couple the Nimrods. Steven has chronic lung disease is on constant oxygen and in a wheelchair. The Monticello temple workers were marvelous in helping make his experience a memorable one.  There were also three funerals that same week.  One of the deaths was a dear friend I had made while making weekly visits to her assisted care facility.   Garden guru  I thought I knew how to garden, but the church and a very dedicated follower of the church’s gardening program taught me a new and effective way of gardening.   Thanks to a branch member who provided a trailer behind the Chapel for us to land, so we could rest and prepare for our visits. Youth  There didn’t seem to be a lot of youth on the reservat
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Miracles  Fourth of July Parade Former High Councilman Popping Wheelies on His Classic Tractor Relief Society Evening yeast bread class.  Everyone comes.    I had the best dishwasher ever.  He didn't realize how many dishes you could generate making bread.   Who we share the road with There was a wreck caused by a drunk driver that tied the road up for over 2 hours.  Rich took the opportunity to talk to people waiting for the road to clear.  Off to the side some brave souls tried a detour on the Navajo Pavement and when we finally went through watched the people who were stuck  trying to get unstuck. The fellow that was hit was ok.   We took a quick trip to Farmington to watch our Grandkids and Daughter in Music Man.  We can take the credit for Daija's talent, but maybe Bridger and Lizzy have some Heaton talent in them.  Cutest Winthrop and Amaryllis  Music Man Stars The Branch's Demonstration Garden   We have been praying for rain and it finally came.  Navajo Pavement is e
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Missions are great learning experiences. You get to meet new people and experience new cultures and thoughts and ideas. Some of those experiences are a little more trying than others. Things I have learned this month.   NAVAJO PAVEMENT Looks like a nice safety barrier....... Until enough people run into it - and it looks like this  For those that know me – you know I don’t like anything close to “high adventure”. While traveling on Navajo Pavement (sand, slickrock, washboard dirt, gravel, steep inclines, and deep washes) is a challenge and exciting for Rich, it somewhat terrifies me. I know how to have a tight grip on my seat and my eyes closed as we travel some of the roads. I can’t believe people travel these roads daily.  (The miracle is I haven’t gotten out and walked yet – thought about it but haven’t done it.)  Traffic Jam - One Lane dirt road  Our area is the area in blue.  FOOD  Navajos would rather eat fry bread than a cinnamon roll or cookie. (Not sure how that can
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Gardening 101 The gardening program that the church has instituted is amazing.  I am looking forward to putting in a “church” garden when I get home.  There are some gardens that have provided for them for years.  But like anything else, only a few continue with the work necessary to do it year after year.  I think we will have about 21 gardens in our Branch.  Our Branch clerk is in charge, and he does a tremendous amount of work on the garden at our church property.  Our chapel is located at about 6000 feet and so our season is a bit behind the other locations.  I am still happiest when I have a shovel or a weed eater in my hand.   We have three tillers that we lend out so people can prepare their ground.  The church provides the drip system, fencing, a bag of soil conditioner, and seeds for the season.  The participants have to provide the labor.  Water is still an issue so while we have several contacts that would like church gardens, it is a bit hard when they don’t have runnin
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