More Baptizing

I dont know where to start this week. It does not sound like you guys got my e mail last week which really bumbs me out. I am here this week though, and I hope that you all get this... actually! So much happens in two weeks here in the mission I don't even know where to start....but I have to tell you my area is the best area that I have ever been in. I love these people.
In the last three weeks I have learned so much. I have learned that the apperance of things is nothing, for example, I came to this area, with everyone whispering in my ear how hard it was, but that did not mean anything to me. I knew that the Lord was sending me here because I knew He had a plan for me here. I learned also that our attitude changes everything. We can be in the worst situation of our whole entire life, but when we choose to be happy, to smile, and to press forward everything changes, and in the end works out for our benefit. I have learned hard work. To put the will of the Lord above my own, and trusting in is celestial promises. I have learned to learn to love people who dont like you, and despite that which you do. You kill them with service, with a smile, with a pat on the shoulder, and in the end they cry when you leave....
Miracles have happened in this area in the last three weeks. As I told you all I came here, and they had not baptized in almost a year. I began to pray, and fast more fervantly than I have my whole life. I worked, and put my faith to the test. Things started happening that have never happened ever in this area. Members started working with us, members called us giving references, people recieved our messages, people are going to church, people are accepting baptism, and lives are changing. This week we have a baptism...next week we have a baptism....the eleventh of july we have a wedding or Ronnan and Moema, and their baptisms...we have a hand full of families we are teaching! All it started with attitude, desire, animation, and love for the work and the people. I have not done anything, but have been but an instrument in the hands of the lord in this great work. I recieved a letter from the president today...he was so happy, and emotional. The lord blesses his faithfull servants of this i have a testimony. My companion will have his first baptism of his mission this sunday. I am so happy for him.I have been helping him realize the purpose why we are here, and the importance of forgetting ourselves and the world. His heart has changed, and he is loving the work. I am so humbled to be where I am, doing what I am doing, spreading the gospel to the world. I know that the Lord will bless me a million times over for my faithfull work. I love my Savior, I love my Heavenly Father , I love you all, and I know that this is his work. I know that this church is true, I know that families can be togeather forever. I love the gospel, there is nothing I want more in this life than to live it. It brings true happiness, changes lives, brings families together, brings meaning to life, answers questions of the soul, heals hearts, and its mercy is endless. We all need to open up our hearts and partake of its goodness more often. We have the fullness, we have the truth, we have the power, we have the knowledge....I love our modern day prophet, and those who work so hard to build up the Saviors kingdom here upon the earth. They are true servants, and their blessings are eternal. We have been blessed with so much, lets takes advantage of it. We are chosen, open your mouths, preach peace unto the lost and lonely..they are waiting, and we are their hope.
Elder Gatten

Girls week-end 2009 Seattle

The annual girls  week for all the Gatten girls, sisters, sister-in-laws, and mom  was this past week end in Seattle.  We had a great time shopping, eating, sight seeing, working out, swimming laughing, telling stories and trying to get through the movie "Sleepless in Seattle", which is also the reason we couldn't get through the movie in one night...we were all sleepless in Seattle.!  We also loved having Dusty along some to help baby sit Jay. Thanks Dusty. We missed Lizzy and all thought what changes next  year will bring.

Tom gets a new Hat!!!

We had the opportunity to be present when Tom was made a Bishop this past Sunday in his ward in Utah.  When he first told us, a few days before that  it was happening, I was pleased but as I saw him take the mantle on his shoulders I felt worried.The spirit whispered to me when his Stake President set him apart that he was called of God.  As each of the keys of that office were bestowed I was overcome with the thoughts of the responsibility he will have leading not only his own family but as the father of his ward back to their Heavenly Father. The priests he will help to get on their missions and the young women to the temple.  His tender heart and understanding ways have prepared him and I know the ward is in good hands. We love you Tom and we know your sweet Brooke and the children will be such good supports for you.  We love you all so much.

Big Hole River Trip 2009

I picked Dusty up at the airport Tuesday to go with Steve early Wednesday morning to the Big Hole River by Wise River, Montana.  It has been a pilgrimage for the boys every summer for many years.  There they met Tom, Hayliann, Alyssa, and River up from Utah. I came with my brother Jim and his two boys Scott and Sam early Friday (4:30am)morning.  Brett and kids had planned on going but were not able to this year.

After lots of fishing, shooting and rafting we went "into to town" Jackson for a soak in the hot springs, dinner ( the biggest cheese burgers you have ever seen), and then off to Utah with Tom and kids.  

Jim, Leo, Jean, Sandra and Aunt Maryann

Helen, Dad, and Jean

Great Grandpa 85

Leo James Lee, my dad, granpa to my kids, and great-papa to my grand kids just celebrated his 85th birthday on June 7th. with his sister Maryann and many of his family at the home of his son James Lee. I want to tell everyone who may happen to read this blog about my dad.  He is a hero to about everyone who knows him because of his unwavering testimony of Jesus Christ and his many Christ like attributes.  He has spent his life in service to others. Anyone who comes to him for help knows he will do all in his power to be of service and will always do it with a smile and offering more than you have ever asked for.  He has worked very hard his whole life and provided well for my mother and us 4 children. And, now, since Mom passed and he has remarried, he cares very tenderly for his sweet Helen.  They work at the Spokane Temple two days a week and spend many hour in their yards.  He always has a project going and even as his body slows a little he finds so much to keep him busy.  I love him so dearly and find myself trying to live up to all he expects of me...much like my Heavenly Father does.

What a testimony...our Elder has!

I just want you all to know that I love you so much, and that I think about you everyday! I feel so blessed to have a family like I do, and to be able to share my testimony about the importance of families, and that families can be togeather for forever. I think of so much stuff when I think of you, happiness, sadness, doubt, shame, smiles, proudness, and so much more. Seriously, the family is the basics of everything, and yet these days people treat them like borrowed material. It is super sad, but I am so thankfull that Heavenly Father has a plan for us.
I was presented to a family last night who is totally golden. This family is totally ready for the gospel, and is it apparent from the look in their eyes. The father is a president of a huge company here in Manaus, and the wife is a stay at home mother which is almost unheard of here. They have some childern, and are totally open to everything. Afonso, the member who presented us to them, is the man. We taught the family the first lesson about the restoration of the gospel, and the spirit was so strong. The whole family cried, and the spirit touched their hearts. The scripture was fufilled that says the spirit will bring the message unto the hearts of the childern of men. In the end, like we always do, we asked them if they had any questions, and the father responded with a question. What do we have to do to become member of the church of jesus christ.....can you believe that? I am so excited to work with this family, and to teach them something to important and life changing. I will be holding their hands this sunday walking to church...miracles happen. This area is golden, i dont care if it has not baptized...things have happened this week that have never happened my whole mission. I cannot deny the divine help, direction, and hand of the lord in our work. at times i think why does the lord care about what we are doing in this little area here, or if he even cares about us, but i have no doubt he knows me, and love me. he knows my name, and answered my prayers. Fasting is powerful, and prayer is essencial. I have never had such an intimate relationship with my heavenly father, he is there, he DOES hear my prayers, and does bless me. We are teaching four more men here in the area that have great possibilites of being baptized. There are so many people to teach, so much responsibility, so much to do. And like Tyler always tells me, dont let anyone go by....i have that attitude. the spirit is so strong, I feel the Savior by my side, living the gospel is all that matters period... I know that this is the true gospel restored upon the earth. i know that Heavenly Father loves me, and I know that Jesus Christ lives, i know that the Book of Mormon is true, I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that Thomas S. Monson is also. I love this gospel....live it! tchau Elder Gatten

A special birthday!

Kiah is officially a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. She was baptised by her father, Tyler, last Saturday after her 8th birthday on May 30th. She has had such a great year in school and loves  it.  Many sports have caught her fancy this year with basketball, soccer, a triathlon sprint, fun run, and finally her first year of softball.  Kiah is a good friend and seems to love them all.  Quick with a smile and a helper to Mom and Dad, Kiah is growing up and becoming her own person.  We love her and are happy she belongs to us!

 

Angie D as we lovingly call her, is such a blessing in our lives and celebrated her birthday May 30th with a trip to the San Juan islands with Dusty. Hunting , skiing, horses, fly fishing, whitewater rafting, water skiing, camping, hiking, traveling, etc. keep her busy as well as a full time job.  What a great support she has been for Dusty while he has been going to dental and graduate school(literally). Angie's strong testimony of the gospel has sustained her in her trials and helped her to be so joyful in her blessings. She is willing to try anything once so gets put in situations that are a little crazy and scary.  Dusty sometimes thinks she is "one of the guys"  and encourages her to be more daring, but Angie will take part in all the activities he throws at her. She has been a perfect fit for Dusty and we love her.

 

Transfered and training again.

Hey you all, Gattens and other people that love me enough to care and read my letter! I hope that your all doing awesome, and that your healthy, happy, and making it in each of your personal life journeys. Take a minute and appreciate those around you, and take a deep breath…your alive.
I heard that Tim had surgery this last week or something. It is good to hear that he is recovering well, and that he is in such a great place for the rehab. Mom said that it is a renowned place with great doctors and such, so yes he is in good hands. Get better big brother! Love you!
Brynne, and Jon are up to the usual aren’t they, working out, playing sports, and living the dream! It is so neat to see them grow up and stuff as parents, but not loose their personalities, and continue with their passions. I want to be like them when I grow up, that is if I do
How is grandpa doing? I have not heard anything about him for a while now. I hope that he is doing well, and that he is not three sheets to the wind yet. I want to see the old man so bad, I love his guts out! Have you guys started cleaning out his back yard yet or no? I know that that is a dreaded job….
So, I told you all that I thought that I would not be transferred and everything, but I was wrong. Me and my companion were transferred from the area, and the president shut it because of lack of elders. That way the ward only has one set of missionaries instead of two. So my companion stayed close to the last area that we were in together, but I came here to the center of the city, in an area called Dom Pedro. It is located about five minutes southwest of the mission home, so it has been worked a lot. My new companion is from Salvador, Bahia, Brasil. He has a little bit of time on the mission, about three months. Lots of work ahead of me, training is not as easy as it sounds. The Brazilians are usually more prideful than the Americans when they get to the mission because they just left their houses, and they are still in their own country. Until now no problems, so cross your fingers. His name is Elder De Lima. He is the only member in his family, and has three years in the church. He is blacker than Obama, and is really quiet. I am District Leader over five or more groups of missionaries, and the areas are big, so lots of responsibility on top of the day to day work. I don’t know how I do it all, and I don’t know how long I can handle it. The area is difficult, but that is not a big deal to me. They have not baptized in nine months here, so as some people call it the hole of the mission. I wonder why I got put here, but I know already….President wants me to light a fire here, and to animate these elders. It is easy to get down when your not baptizing because you feel worthless, but I am here to save the day. I started it our by having a hard core spring cleaning in our house. They don’t understand that the spirit cannot reside in an unorganized place. So pray with me that we can turn things around here, that the members can humble themselves and work with us, and that we can truly find someone, anyone to baptize. I know that as I am obedient and diligent the lord will bless this area. I have no doubt, its all about attitude. For some reason this last week I felt really weird. I felt like the spirit was not with me like it had been the last year and seven months. I seriously did not know what it was. I asked my president what it was, and he told me that it is something that happens to everyone once in a while. We get so caught up in the work that we forget to feed ourselves spiritually, and that the true dose of medication I needed was prayer and scripture study. So I took his advice obviously, and wrote a list out of the blessings of which the Lord has poured upon me during my lifetime. The list was so huge, but helped me realize how much heavenly father loves me. After, I kneeled and began to pray, only thanking the Lord for the thinks on my list. In the end I felt as if I had poured out my soul as Enos did in the Book of Mormon, or when Joseph Smith did. After finishing, I stay exactly where I was for who knows how long. I could literally feel the Lord speak peace to my heart, and I could feel the presence of the spirit. I became overwhelmed; I know that Jesus is the Christ, and that Heavenly Father lives, and they love me. It was an experience that changed my life. I am so blessed, loved, and cared for. After everything that I can do, say, express, or anything, in the end it will never be enough. I wish I could write music, because I truly feel that it is the way to put words into feels, and as a result influence others and make them feel as you do or did. I am speechless, I know this church is the church of our Savior.
Thank you for your prayers, and thoughts. Things here are going awesome. Summer is getting here, and the heat is unbearable. I hope I can loose a couple pounds here as I continue with my Marine push up program. I am surprised at the progress in such a short amount of time. Besides that, I am alive, I am breathing, and I am preaching the true gospel. Cool huh?!I´m out Boys and Girls
Elder Gatten

My week in Vail, CO.

Main street in Vail Village

Physical Therapy 5 hours a day. All therapist have PHD or working on it

Tim spending 4-6 hour in motel room each day in 3 machines and then rest in icing machine.

Some of the walk of fame guys.  Arod and Kurt Warner had just been there also.

Tim in his hip brace and crutches he has to be in when not in machines or at therapy.

List of specialists.  Knees- Steadman, Philipon-Hip, Shoulder-Sterett etc.

Ryan and Trista Stutter of "The Bachelor" tv reality show.  This is where he works.

Vail fire station, one block from clinic.

Mt. Rainer from plane on way back home last night.  Tim has to stay until Sunday.  Hope he can do it all without me.