"I Am a Child of God" Primary Program

I can't believe we did it, but we had a great children's chorus for the Primary Program Sunday. I just about caved in several times; not thinking we could ever learn 8 songs. Typically, we'll have about 10 out to primary each week, but each Sunday it's a different group. So it has been really hard teaching all 8 songs to all the children.
We actually had about 20 out for the program. Most everything went well, except the leaders didn't have the script, so the children had to adlib, which was a little terrifying for some of them. But all shared their testimony, with a little help from Sister Sandoval.

Afterwards during primary, we did a Thanksgiving project to celebrate. They are really wonderful children, I just wish their parents would come every Sunday so the children had a full opportunity to learn the gospel. They would grow so much spiritually if they would -- but we're making progress, nevertheless, even with me as their out of tune chorister, and pianist.

Seminary Outreach Social

Tues. Nov. 11
No school today, so we hosted a seminary out-reach social to try and draw in some of the youth in the area to our seminary class. We limped along with early morning seminary for 10 weeks with just 1 or 2 kids coming and two adults. Finally we decided to try it after school and have had up to 6 kids who have come, but not always consistently. We are hopeful that by introducing more to the concept of seminary they'll want to come. We had at east 3 non-members attend our social (one of whom is now coming to seminar), with about 14 teens altogether. The young elders came as well, and several parents and younger siblings. We had a great time, and consumed about 6 pizzas. We will definitely try this again.

The kids worked on communication skills by giving directions to each other.


"Spoons" and Outburst were the two favorite table games we played. It was wild and crazy and all ages could enjoy it. I had never played spoons with 12 people before, and we didn't break a single plastic spoon -- amazing

While the pizzas were cooking at the first of the party, we played the head bopper name game, and categories. I love games and I think they did too.

Crocheting on the Rez

Wed. Nov. 12 The church was shampooed today, so we held our enrichment activites in our trailer. I was a little panicked at first which Sister Curley didn't show up to teach our first crocheting class, and there were 6 ladies ready to go. The only thing I know how to crochet is leper bandages and edging on burp pads. But she finally showed up and she and her sister Genevieve along with Sister Dia patiently taught everyone how to make granny squares. We had 10 wonderful ladies working and laughing non-stop for a couple of hours. When you look at their faces, you'll see part of the joy we feel as we serve here. They are great. Four of the sisters had never crocheted before, so they learned something new. Three were non-members. This has been a good sisterhood bonding activity.
The last hour of the activity, I talked to 6 of the sisters about writing their spiritual history, which will be part of the Ganado Branch History I hope to compile before we leave.

Seniors Keep us Busy

Today Elder Wilcox and I along with about 15 middle schoolers, served over 200 Senior Citizens their Thanksgiving dinner. We worked for 3 hours straight, with very few mishaps. The kids really were moving fast. while we and 3 of the kids dished the food up. Boy were we tired afterwards.

Last week, we provided a craft activity with a Thanksgiving scene, which they made out of stickers. It as fun and easy, and they enjoyed it. The month before we helped two different days as they wove leaves for fall. The ladies who come are delightful. We only wish we knew more of what they were saying.

Halloween Carnival in Ganado

Thankfully, the weather cooperated on Halloween, and we were able to hold most of our "fun and games" outside in the church parking lot.

The branch was super generous in helping contribute food, and prizes, and then they jumped in and ran the booths and activities too. Even the adults played games and were fierce competitors in musical chairs! It was actually one of the easier and fun activities we've seen here in the branch.
Of course, the kids loved throwing whipped cream at the young elders. I was the resident photographer, while Steve cooked hot dogs.

Provident Living #5 and #6--See Who's Counting

Like most Americans, Navajo families here on the reservation struggle with making ends meet. There are few jobs locally, so many travel outside the reservation to make a living. In our monthly Provident Living classes, We've taught several strategies on managing money. In September we used a method called envelope budgeting, and participants used play money to recreate a "realia" budget. As you can see from the picture, they really got into the exercise. Afterwards we served a variety of dishes using another of the food storage basics: Rice


Then in October we invited Elder and Sister Wright from Gallup, in the other mission, todo a workshop for our class, on financial debt management. They are the ones in the foreground of this pictures. They did an amazing job, and hopefully, many from our branch will followup on their invitation to work with them on an individual basis, to get out of debt. Some of the specific suggestions they gave were: 1. Never buy a NEW vehicle -- it is a depreciating investment that costs way too much. You will never recoup your investment. Instead buy something you can afford a later model, and save your money so you can pay cash for the next one.
2. Never borrow money from Quick Loan places. Some charge up to 200-300% of your loan. You are throwing your hard earned money away when you do this.
3. If you want to become financially solvent, pay your tithing. Remember the Lord first, and he will open the windows of heaven and pour down a blessing upon you.
4. Teach your family the difference between NEEDS and WANTS. Only buy the NEEDS until you get out of debt.
5. When paying off debts, like house loans, car, credit cards, education, rank them with the highest interest debt in #1 spot. That is the debt you work on paying off first. The rest of the debts, you pay the minimum acceptable amount, but pay extra on the high interest loan. Perhaps that means paying an extra $100 on it each month. Then as soon as debt #1 is paid off, then start paying that amount, plus the minimum of debt #2, and continue paying that amount until it is paid off, etc. etc. This is called the "Snowball Principle"
6. In order to make this work and get out of debt, you must have a budget, that you live by.
7. Get rid of debts that are wasting your money by charging interest. It is like a monkey on your back all the time. If you don't eliminate debt, and go deeper into debt, it turns into a gorilla! that is chained to you all the time. (The Wrights brought both a monkey and a Gorilla!)
The Wrights are serving their 5th mission, and even though they've had a home in Utah for 14 years, they haven't lived in it much. Their last mission was to New York city, where they also provided financial counseling, and had some good success stories to tell. That mission costs $4800 a month! You'd have to be a financial whiz to afford it!

Our food storage item for the month was oatmeal, and several sisters helped me again, provide 9 different dishes" Raisin, apple hot cereal, oatmeal muffins, cookies, bars, pie, meatballs, and yes, even oatmeal soup!