Little Oliver is Born, other special events

On May 25, 2013, little Oliver was born back home in Blanding, Utah to Kelly and Andrea's little family.  Now Jonas, Luke, and Alice have a baby brother.  What a wonderful blessing, and how grateful we are for SKYPE to help us keep in touch!

Occasionally, when we don’t have appointments on Monday, we spend our preparation day seeing the sights. Last month we went to Chautaugua Institute, a unique gated community that hosts remarkable concerts, art exhibits and guest speakers.  This particular day we were able to sit in the amphitheater and listen to Brian Greene explain quantum mechanics and string theory.  It was awesome!

Another incredible P-day was spent at Letchworth Park.  Several members had told us about this beautiful place and we looked forwards to going for months.  When the time came though we had a terrible time locating it.  Our GPS was useless.  We found ourselves driving around almost on top of this expansively beautiful site unable to find the entrance.  After better than an hour of serious frustration, we at last located it.  Our reservations were waiting for us in the Glen Iris Inn that night and dinner in the Inn’s beautiful restaurant.  Afterwards, even though a light rain was falling, we walked around the park, saw the gorgeous waterfalls and took in the Seneca Indian village complete with Mary Jemison’s statue. I had previously read Mary Jemison’s history and was captivated by her tragic and informative story.  She was a young girl, kidnapped by the Indians, her family murdered, and eventually adopted by the Senecas.  The Senecas treated her like one of their own. She was married to a chief and had several children.  Many of her ancestors are living on the reservation now; many of the Jimmersons, Jamisons, Jemisons, trace their ancestry back to Mary Jemison.

In the Sacred Grove with President Christianson

Last month during our Zone Conference, held in the Sacred Grove for the second time since we arrived, President Christianson gave us a very personal tour of the grove, pointing out special “witness trees”, the “Jack trees”, and the “apostle tree” (seen in photo).  We have been so blessed to be here during President and Sister Christianson’s three-years in the New York Rochester Mission.  Over and over again we have been inspired and educated by them.  Last week at a mission-wide transfer meeting we said our goodbyes.  This week in interviews we met President and Sister Francis.  Our prayers are with the Francis’ as they begin their three years. 

Myrlene and Sid Norman's Visit

Just a couple weeks ago we were pleasantly surprised by a visit from our friends Myrlene and Sid Norman of Corinne.  They drove out to see us in three and a half days, no easy task!  We spent some wonderful days together visiting Niagara Falls and the church history sites in both Palmyra and Kirtland.  It’s great to be with good friends and sharing the gospel with them is especially sweet.  The two even came to church with us on Sunday!  Thanks so much.  We had a wonderful time and it was so good to see them.

Friends from the Cattaraugus Branch

Buzz Dabolt, recently reactivated, has become a dear friend.  Brother Buzz has a great sense of humor and is a hard-working grape farmer, so Elder Jeppesen especially enjoys his colorful farm stories. The first time we went to visit Brother Buzz our GPS led us far astray.  We called him and he gave us directions.  When he asked what kind of car we were driving he laughingly stated that he was standing on his deck watching us drive back and forth past his house—the reason for the photo of him standing on his deck phone in hand.  It makes us laugh whenever we think about it.

Sister Ruthie Wease joined the church about two years ago.  Her husband Terry is not interested in the church.  Ruthie’s son David was baptized too but is not active.  Because the family doesn’t own a car we spend many afternoons taking Terry to the eye doctor or Ruthie to buy groceries.  Sister Ruthie is always so appreciative and shows her appreciation by fixing dinner for us now and then.  She loves to cook and recently gave me a hand-written recipe book of her favorite recipes. 

Sister Jenny John was injured in a car accident the December before our arrival.  Through it all she lost her leg and was very sick.  When we first visited her she was in the hospital and it was doubtful she would survive.  She has since returned home and has around the clock nursing services.

Sister Judy Boehm is another sister who has come very close to leaving this life.  We have spent many hours with Judy taking her to dialysis, providing her with dinner and Gospel Principles lessons, always happy when Vickie Seneca and Jeanne Berlin join us.   At the present time Judy is doing quite well and coming to church.  When she first regained her strength we picked her up for church but more recently Vicki has been bringing her.  Vicky lost a 3 year-old grandson in tragic circumstances a few months ago and has always been an attentive, loving grandmother so we have been concerned about her and glad she is coming with Judy to church.  Jeanne Berlin has become a dear friend but does not attend church at the Cattaraugus Branch.

William and Pat Shomers live in East Otto.  They have a beautiful home on a gorgeous hillside complete with pond and beautiful flowers.  Through our visits they have become good friends.  Recently, as we were leaving, Sister Shomers stated, “Don’t be surprised if you see us in church one of these Sundays.”  We were thrilled.

Monty and Corline Campbell are long-time members of the Branch who do their part and more when it comes to supporting the missionaries.   We have had several delicious meals in their home.  Their home, yard and surroundings are incredibly beautiful and they work hard keeping it that way. 

Brother Douglas Bunker is in our Stake High Council.  He is a devoted, dedicated and articulate man, active in civic and national affairs, and has traveled widely.  Although his health is failing somewhat he still remains active.  His wife, a non-member, is an accomplished academician with a busy, influential life who has taught at Columbia University and now works as a consultant for Disney Corp.  Brother Bunker owns a large farm where he raises beef cattle, sheep, and pigs.  Recently he took us on a tour of his farming operation.  The meat is packaged and sold at weekend Farmer’s Markets throughout the wider Buffalo area.  The Bunkers live in a beautifully expansive wood home of modern architecture.  At the back of their stunningly decorated great room/library are two-story windows where one can peer down across the treetops and into the valleys of their lovely mountain property.  We’ve enjoyed these farm tours and also enjoyed getting to know Brother Bunker.  He is truly an asset to our Branch.

Brother Stephen Blood is an example of many on our visiting list who lives such a busy life it is impossible to catch him at home, and phone calls are seldom answered.  We visited Brother Blood just once in the 14+ months we’ve been here and were pleasantly received. Even though it’s likely he won’t be home we willingly drive the several miles out to his home in Springville in part because the drive is beautiful, through rich farm country and lush green rolling hills and to get another glimpse at his beautifully landscaped yard, home and barn.   Included is a photo of his barn, taken just last week. 

Our Cattaraugus Branch Area

These photos are included to help us remember the Cattaraugus Branch, our area and the people we’ve grown to love so much.

The Cattaraugus Branch meetinghouse is small but nice.  It takes a lot of effort from the branch members to keep it looking neat and clean and often the task ends up being done by the same faithful few. Behind the church is a little cemetery where many devoted past saints of the Branch are buried.  To the south is a good-sized apple orchard. The orchard requires a lot of work. This year they tried spraying with an organic insecticide, i.e. pureed onions, garlic, and cayenne pepper steeped in hot water.  Elder Jeppesen was on the spraying end and I was given assignment to puree. Whew!  After some consideration, the second spraying was done using a quick and easy commercial insecticideJ!   

Attendance at church varies from 70-80.  Of those, about 60% are Native American, primarily Seneca, and 40% Anglo.  We’ve seen a gradual increase in attendance in the 14 months we’ve served.  Members of our Branch Presidency are all natives: President Jones is Seneca; Ira Jones, his brother and 1^st counselor, is also Seneca; and Cliff Garlow, 2^nd counselor, is Cayuga.  The Iroquois people consist of six tribes: Seneca, Cayuga, Oneida, Mohawk, Onandaga, and Tuscaurora.  Their confederacy symbol, a wampum belt called the Hiawatha Belt, is seen on homes, flags and buildings throughout the reservation.

We live on the edge of the Seneca Indian Reservation. The reservation is part of the Seneca Nation, an independent national entity.  According to Hugh Jones, our branch president and also a Seneca, the reservation is home to approximately 2000 of the 7000 Senecas living today. Senecas are of matrilineal descent meaning one is Seneca if born to a Seneca mother.  Many say the political system is corrupt and this causes much strife between families.  Also, because of the grand casinos on the reservations now generating income in the form of annuities there is a lot of drug and alcohol abuse.   Finding people living on the Rez who are interested in the church is difficult.  Some have told the missionaries they are not interested because “they are Longhouse now,” meaning they espouse the traditional religion.  We are told these traditional ceremonies, held in the traditional Longhouse on the Rez, are spoken in the Seneca language and few today can understand it. High Schools in the area allow students to take classes on their traditional languages so Seneca is now taught in nearby schools.  The Nations’ leaders, in recognition of the high incidence of diabetes related illnesses among their people, has taken up the slogan,  “Food is our medicine”, focusing upon eating more fruits and vegetables and encouraging families to plant gardens.  With this in mind, President Jones has also suggested branch members plant family gardens.  As a part of this effort members have planted a “demonstration garden” behind the church.  We’re all encouraged to take a part in its care.

  

One real benefit of living where we do is being able to take advantage of low gas prices on the reservation.  Because these establishments don’t collect state taxes, things like gas, food and cigarettes are considerably cheaper.   We get our gas at Wolf’s Run, the cheapest on the Rez.  We also eat at the Native Pride Diner, where you can get good sandwiches, soups and salads at very reasonable prices. 

Dusty Nephew is Baptized!

We continue to have our share of frustration. The phone calls we make are not answered, the appointments we made previously all fall through, and we drive for miles to knock on the doors of a few less active members only to find them not at home, or worse still, home and not answering their door. But then there are other days—days like today—when everything seems perfect.   Today Dusty Nephew got baptized!  Brother Nephew has been an investigator for years—one of those investigators who attends church every Sunday, whose wife is Primary President, and whose three young children make him appear the ideal Daddy.  Today, this remarkable man made a commitment with God to enter the gate and begin his life anew.  We were very much involved in the day’s events and had worked hard, like several other missionaries, teaching him and his family over the years.   Sixty-plus people attended the service. The program was lovely, the spirit strong, and the food afterwards delicious.  It will always be one of the high points of our mission.  Brother Nephew’s strength and goodness will bless his family and the Branch for years to come.  More importantly, though, he will go forth in his life, knowing he has done what the Lord requires, and is now on that straight and narrow path leading towards eternal life.