Pies/Rolls and Meetings

Dear Family and Friends,

Much of what we do every week is the same as the week before and for that reason I don't always talk about everything we do every week because my goal is to not bore you to tears. I also don't want you to think on any given week that we only do what you read about lest you think "wow, that wasn't a very busy week." Some weeks are more crowded than others but every Sunday we look back and think where did the time go and how has another week passed us by already.

This week at our ARP meeting we again had someone new join us. The word is getting out and we have people who have done the 12 Step Program but who like the added benefit of our faith based 12 steps joining us. We served Zuppa Toscana soup and breadsticks for lunch. Elder Lindsey has perfected a good breadstick recipe and one of the men asked for the soup recipe so we felt lunch was a success.

Friday we attended District Meeting in Winner. Elder Hildreth is our new District Leader and he did a great job training and leading the meeting. One of the things we talked about is what the Elders referred to as our motto in Rosebud (one I came up with) which is when working on the Reservation we have no expectations but we have hope. I explained that I came up with this because I realized that when I had expectations of people and the things they do or don't do I will always experience disappointment which makes it harder to love unconditionally.  On the other hand if I have hope for the people we work with and teach I will always be able to love them no matter what their behavior is.

Elders Byron and Hildreth our Rosebud Elders.

On our way home from Winner we stopped in Oak Creek and took a couple of pictures.

This is a pretty little Episcopal Church just off the highway.

This monument from WW1 stands just outside the church in the picture above.

Saturday was a cold and snowy day so we stayed home and passed the time preparing for Sunday. Elder Lindsey baked four pies for potluck after church on Sunday.

2 Lemon Meringue a Cherry and a Peach

He even does his own dishes...who knew!

I made rolls again but this time after letting the dough rise I punched it down and covered it and put it into the refrigerator overnight then on Sunday morning I rolled them out let them rise again and baked them fresh. They turned out great!

Yea...I'm proud!

I spent much of the day Saturday working on quilt blocks for more baby blankets. I finally got all of the flannel my friend Jan sent us cut into blocks. We will now work on putting them together and making more blankets for the hospital to give away. Elder Lindsey created a video we plan on showing next month at a Branch party.

Quilt blocks

Earlier in the week I finished two more quilts and three blankets.

It was High Council Sunday and since our speaker travels almost two hours to get to us we decided to have a potluck. We try to do them once a month. Everyone makes such good food and we have fun visiting and the children have a good time eating at their own table and playing together.

So while the cleanup was happening I was holding a couple babies (better than doing dishes) and all of a sudden I noticed I had my own little following. I felt a little like the Pied Piper!

How many babies can Sister Lindsey hold? 

We continue to have changeable weather. We had a couple days in the 50's but today our high was 12 degrees. As we look out the window though and watch the sun setting on the hills just east of us we feel blessed to be here. The Gospel is true and what a privilege it is for us to serve this  mission. 

We love you,

Elder and Sister Lindsey

Zone Conference & Changes

Dear Family and Friends,

So we have been in a pattern of changeable weather. Without offending anyone for being politically incorrect I would say that the weather here in South Dakota is bipolar! One day it's 57 degrees and the next day it's 17 degrees and you really just don't know what it will be until you get up in the morning. On the plus side no matter what the temperature is unless it is raining or snowing the sky is a clear beautiful blue and the air is wonderfully clean. Coming from Salt Lake City we really appreciate clean air!

On Monday we drove to Rapid City for Zone Conference. Monday afternoon we met up with the other Senior Couples in the Rapid City and Pierre Zones and went to dinner together at a Chinese restaurant. It was fun to spend time with other Senior Couples again. Rather than stay in a motel this time we stayed with Elder and Sister Forgren who are CES Missionaries assigned to one of the Stakes in Rapid City but who supervise the Seminary programs all over the mission.

After Dinner we went with the Forgren's to FHE with a group of Young Adults. We played the game Seek and enjoyed our time with them. It's a small world in that one of the Sisters had recently returned from a mission in South America and when I told her our granddaughter had recently returned from Ukraine she asked if  Kati knew her good friend who served in Ukraine by the name of Sister Sink. After texting Kati we found out that Sister Sink had been her companion in the MTC.

Elder and Sister Forgren put on a wonderful breakfast spread for all the Senior Missionaries on Tuesday morning. They were wonderful hosts and we really enjoyed our time with them.

After some great training on Tuesday morning focused on how to use Family History to spread the Gospel we headed for home. I had a meeting at 6:30pm with our ladies group that I didn't want to miss. We are doing a 30 day program to come closer to our Heavenly Father. Three of us are members and four are not and we have some wonderful discussions that I am really enjoying.

Wednesdays are always busy with our ARP group and lunch and this week I had to do my laundry since I wasn't in town on Tuesday morning.

 Wednesday night for YM and YW it was movie night. Miss Savannah helped us make popcorn!

Thursday Elder Lindsey and I made bread sticks in preparation for next weeks ARP lunch. It was our first attempt and they turned out great. Friday was clean the church and grocery shopping day.

We decided to celebrate Valentines Day by going to Valentine, Nebraska and attend the annual Bull Bash.

Bulls in pens lined the whole of Main Street.

We first went to the gun and craft show then walked Main Street checking out the bulls, farm equipment and the quilt show. We had to bundle up since the high temperature Saturday was 17 degrees. 

Valentine celebrates with hearts on their sidewalks 365 days a year!

We celebrated the day with lunch at the only Mexican restaurant in town and it was good! We decided we will always remember Valentines Day 2015 because we spent it in Valentine Nebraska!

Sunday I taught Primary, this time the Sunbeam class. We learned about prayer and I told them the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den then we colored pictures. I love these kiddos!

Starting from the left is Jack, Keaton, Dara, Heaven and Mikasia.

Annette with her two "daughters" Unique and Heaven.

Sometimes it feels like our hearts are breaking when we hear of the awful things that happen here on the reservation especially to the children. When drugs and alcohol are the guiding factors in lives the children suffer and it hurts that the only thing we can do is pray. Annette was able to do more. She is Auntie to these two girls and now she has taken them into her home to raise them in a safe and loving environment. I am so proud of her for the good and faithful life she lives. 

Annette is also a talented beader and made me this beautiful watch band for my birthday.

While in Rapid City on Monday we got word that we will be returning to Martin's Cove on March 30th to serve the last six months of our mission. It is  bitter sweet news. The sweet part is that we will once again walk the trails of our ancestors and feel of the spirit that is there and be with the missionaries we love serving with. The bitter part is leaving this little Branch and the people we love so much here in Rosebud. Lucky for us we live in SLC and most of the people here have ties there also which will make sure we see them again!

President Anderson expressed to us that the Church desperately needs more Senior Couples to serve missions. I know that at Martin's Cove right now they only have half the couples they need for this season. This mission has been one of the greatest experiences of our life together. If any of you are wondering if you should go our advice is GO! You won't regret it.

We love you all,

Elder and Sister Lindsey

Service

Dear Family and Friends,

On Monday we went back to Valentine, Nebraska so Elder Lindsey could see the doctor for a follow up. I'm happy to report that she was thrilled with how much better he looked and sounded. He has continued to improve during the week and is pretty much back to his old self.

While in Valentine we stopped at a store that was going out of business and scored a killer deal on a storage ottoman and new rug for the living room.

We're loving the new look!

Wednesday's ARP class went well and everyone enjoyed beef stew and fry bread for lunch. After taking people home we stopped in Mission and picked up a few groceries. On Thursday evening the young woman we have visited with on her doorstep about six times in the last two months committed to starting the lessons so Elder Lindsey and I picked her up and brought her to the Church to meet with the Elders. While Elder Lindsey attended the lesson I met with a few Sisters who have committed to working together on a 30 day program to help us come closer to our Heavenly Father. After the missionary lesson was finished they joined us for snacks and visiting.

The weather has been all over the place. One day the high temperature was 22 degrees and by Saturday the high was in the 60's We've had the door open and are loving the warmth and sunshine. We have been working on a service project of making baby quilts and blankets using the material my friend Jan sent. When we aren't teaching this project has and will continue to keep us busy. 

Elder Lindsey cutting out quilt blocks.

I finished three blankets and one quilt this week.

Sunday Elder Lindsey and I spoke in Sacrament meeting. Elder Lindsey talked about the relationship between justice and mercy using a story involving Jesse Allen (a young man in the Branch), himself and President Gilson (Branch President). He kept the attention of the youth which is always a good thing. I spoke on the miracle of forgiveness in our lives sharing the parable of the bicycle as told by Stephen E. Robinson. If you don't know it you can Google it or find it in his book "Believing Christ."

I also taught Primary today so I took a quick picture of our Primary during sharing time.

I sure do love these kiddos!

The weather was perfect again today so we smoked baby back ribs for dinner and invited Dr. Hodnett over to share them. Dr Hodnet is an OB doctor who works at the hospital two weeks out of every month. The other two weeks he lives in Corpus Christi, Texas. He is a great asset to the Branch on the weeks he is here. He and Elder Lindsey often bless the Sacrament together since we presently have no young men of Priest age.

My ribs turned out great!

We love and pray for you,

Elder and Sister Lindsey

Blankets and Birthdays

Dear Family and Friends,

Another busy week has flown by with lots of fun things happening. On Monday Sister Busche came over in the afternoon and she and I worked on getting things set up for our Relief Society activity on Tuesday. Since Elder Lindsey was still sick she brought over some chicken noodle soup for his dinner and a skillet dinner that she and I fixed and ate in the church. We just love Sister Busche. She is always thinking of others and reaching out and sharing. She is a true example of someone who gives Christ like service.

Our friend Jan Harris had received a donation of flannel material  and she in turn donated it to us here in Rosebud. Our Relief Society activity Tuesday evening was to make baby blankets and quilts to donate to the hospital here in Rosebud. The activity was a great success. We had a large group of ladies who came, brought their sewing machines and shared their talents. We also had several young women and a sweet primary girl who tried their hand at sewing for the first time and did a wonderful job. Pictures really tell the story though...so here they are.

Jennifer Gilson laying out her blanket.

Asia, Angel and Laura hard at work.

Our youngest seamstress being taught by Wanda (head ER nurse from the hospital and a master seamstress.)

We had sisters working in every corner of the cultural hall!

Just a few of the blankets we sent to the hospital. 

As a complete surprise to me the Sisters had also planned an early birthday party. Since my birthday is on February 1st and that's Fast Sunday they thought they would completely surprise me at Relief Society...and they did!

Sister Busche made me this delicious spice cake with cream cheese frosting. 

Ryan Barker (Laura's husband) made me this wonderful brownie cheesecake. It was better than Cheesecake factory!

There were other treats and some lovely gifts and I felt very loved. These Sisters are in my heart forever. I felt like I've known them for a lifetime and I know the friendships Elder Lindsey and I have made here will last through eternity.

Wednesday after our ARP class and lunch we headed over to Barker's to show the movie "Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration" to several of our investigators. Everyone enjoyed the movie and we shared our testimony of the Prophet and of the restoration which we love to do. 

Thursday we headed to Valentine so Elder Lindsey could see the doctor. After blood work and a chest X-ray we found he had bronchitis. After leaving the clinic we headed to Shopko to pick up four prescriptions. We will go back on Monday for a recheck. Friday we took the doctors advice and Elder Lindsey rested. 

Saturday morning Elder Lindsey made two pies for my birthday dinner at the Barker's on Sunday.

Elder Lindsey is becoming a master baker!

Saturday afternoon we went to the Founders Day Powwow at the college in Mission. Pictures tell the story much better than words ever could so here they are.

The costumes are beautiful and varied but these were three of my favorites.

This is Asia, Annettes niece. She has won many awards at the Powwows. 

This is another of Annette's nieces, Dara. Even the littles ones dance.

This dance was part of the Grand Entry.

Grand Entry

I picked up this hand painted jacket at the Powwow, actually the sisters at church today said I stole it since I paid so little. I had the artist sign it for me. Happy birthday to me. It goes great with my new purse that Jim got me!

The Powwows are fascinating and we love seeing the Native Culture come alive in everyone. The dancing to the beat of the drums is beautiful and everyone from the very young to the very elderly participate. One of our favorites is the honoring of the Veterans. After they talk about their service the Vets dance around a large circle and people come out of the audience to shake their hands and then get in line behind them. It is a wonderful show of respect and gratitude.

Winter returned Saturday afternoon and we woke today to cold...really cold temperatures and several inches of snow. Church was great with strong testimonies born and lots of love shared. In the evening we went to dinner at the Barker's along with the young Elders. Sister Barker was very sweet to fix a nice Sunday dinner for my birthday. We sure love our Branch here in Rosebud. In a short time they have become like family to us.

It was wonderful to hear from kids and many grandkids for my birthday. We even got to Facetime with Hannah and Nathan who shared the exciting news that they are going to be Ordinance Workers in the Washington DC Temple. 

We love you all and you are in our prayers,

Elder and Sister Lindsey