Elder Spike Gatten's Arrival Info

Elder Spike Gatten

Returning home from the

Brazil Manaus Mission

Here is the information of next weeks event for those who are interested in being at it...

Wednesday, Nov. 25th, at Noon, his Delta flight arrives to Spokane WA airport. Dad and Mom will be on the fight home with him, of course! They arrived in Sao Paulo Brazil this morning and will be on a flight to Manaus shortly to meet up with Spike and tour his mission for a week.

Spike's Homecoming talk at church will be held on Sunday, Nov. 29th, at 10:30 AM, at the Hayden Stake Center. All interested in coming are invited to attend. We know Spike would love to see everyone!

Also, we will be having the baby blessing of Dusty and Angie Gatten's baby, Gage, on Nov. 29th, at the Hayden Stake Center at 10:30 AM as well. It will be a special day to celebrate as family and friends.

We are so grateful for the example Spike has been to us all and for his service and love of the people in Brazil. We are grateful for our family miracle, baby Gage, finally coming to join our family and bring joy to our lives! We are indeed blessed to have these two blessings during this season of Thanksgiving. We truly are blessed, and we truly are thankful!

WELCOME HOME!!!

I have never felt so many mixed feelings in my life; I am sure of that. I left everything I knew to come to a place I had never heard of, and to partake in a sacred work. I came with faith, not knowing what it was like to be a missionary, or to speak a foreign language; but all in all it all turned out alright. I ask you now, why? The Lord was on my side, He was on my right hand and on my left, and His angles were continuously round about me bearing me up. I turned to him for strength, answers, and to feel his love. When I was in my deepest despair. He held me in his arms, and gave me the rest I most surely needed. He answered my prayers, and let me know that he was there, he was conscious of my situation. He never turned his back; he blessed me according to my obedience just like he said he would. I have come to know my savior, have a relationship with him, feel that he truly is my brother, and that his selfless sacrifice was most truly infinite. He never gave up on me, and for that I was able to bring many of my fellow brothers and sisters unto him, thus gaining the unbounded knowledge of his sacrifice and the necessity of his innocent shed blood. The Savior loves us, and his arms are open to hold us, and to carry us in times of need. Like I mentioned, I have seen literally countless lives change during my mission. I received a call from a cute family I baptized in Boa Vista this week. Threw their tears and goodbyes, they thanked me for the indescribable change I made in their lives. They have callings in the church, their children have been baptized, and they plan on going to the temple in January. This family is an example of what I call a real change. They have felt the spirit, and have been guided and directed. They will be blessed eternally as they continue making righteous choices. So I say, yes that family changed, and many others, but I would like to tell you that this last week I have realized the real change that has happened within me. When we are in the service of our fellow brethren, we receive more light, and it shines in our eyes. The gospel transforms us, and our desires, priorities, and goals change. There is a great alteration. I find the true joy the gospel brings into our lives as we live the commandments, and choose to be obedient. I have felt the warm loving arms of the savior, I have received answers to my prayers, I have seen miracles, I have felt the spirit and know that it is real, and I have seen the truths of the gospel testify unto those who have had yet the opportunity to hear its sweet message. I have had a change of heart, and a desire to do good continually. I have been able to look deep within myself, and see the defects which I have, and strived to change them. I know that happiness comes in righteousness. I have felt the great desire to attend the temple, and have been torn up not having this opportunity. The temple is the house of God, he abides there, it is a piece of heaven on earth. Everything in the gospel leads us to the temple, ever since the Old Testament. I have touched upon the eternal truths held within sacred scriptures, and have prayed to know their truth. I have felt the assurance of the Holy Ghost that there is a living prophet today, and that he is called of God. I am thankful that I have kept such great journals because I could go on for forever. Summing it all together, I have learned that living that gospel is all that matters!!I am just a man, I am a sinner, and an imperfect being, but I know that perfection is possible. I am weak, but the knowledge which I have gained makes me strong. I am hated by many, but it is because I embrace the name of our savior upon my shoulders. I love being hated for preaching his gospel. I have much to improve, and to learn. I have made so many goals for my return home, and for my life. If we don’t make goals we will start our lives, and finish, realizing that we are in the same place. I have a testimony of that. Goals are imperative. I love my Savior, I love you all. I am speechless knowing that I will see all of you. I am nervous, thinking that somehow I will disappoint you, but I know I have fought the good fight, and I can say I gave it all I had. I tried with all my heart, might, mind, and strength, but as the scriptures say, I am still an unprofitable servant. After all we can do, it will never be enough, but I like trying. We need to all be missionaries, we need to all make goals to share the gospel, we need to do it now. Put the goals up on the refrigerator, make them during FHE; somehow someway, just do it. I promise you all you will be blessed. We are under covenant to do it; there are no excuses, only condemnation if we don’t give it our all. I know that sharing the gospel is just a matter of praying for the strength, and then acting based upon the whispers of the spirit. Do it.I love you guys, I mean it. I will be there before you know it. Your all examples to me, and I am thankful for each one of you. I would not be here if it were not for your love, and kind words. Thank you, thank you, thank you. There is no more I could say. Have an awesome week. Tchau!Elder Gatten

Time is short

I really can hardly believe that we are packing up to leave for Brazil this week. That is, if we get out passports back today with Brazilian visa's attached! It has been really a trial for Steve especially to wait on that government and to be at their mercy. You who know his personality know what a planner he is and how difficult it is for him when he is not in control over things like this. But, the consulate supposedly sent them via courier to our broker yesterday. She sent an e-mail to Steve that thy are on their way via Fed Ex. Sooo, I really think the stars are aligned and we WILL be leaving Sunday to pick up Spike.

We are so looking forward to meeting the many people he has had the opportunity to teach and baptize. What a wonderful experience he has been able to have. He has been blessed so much!

And, we have been blessed as a family. Like Mikin said last night. Who is this coming home. The boy who left 2 yeas ago was the spoiled last child of 9 and pretty self centered. He always was strong in his beliefs and the way he lived his life, but as we have been blessed to read his letters we have seen so much growth. He has truly become an instrument in the Lord's hands and we have been uplifted by his testimony and life. He has served unwavering from that testimony and his letters each week have touched many. We as a family have learned and grown closer and stronger as he has served. We are so thankful for his hard work and sacrifice of 2 years of his life. It has strengthened our testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice of Heavenly Father. We are so grateful for His plan, the plan of happiness and joy. We all want to share with others. I can hardly wait for my turn to serve a mission.

With Love,

Your mom, sister, cousin, daughter, friend and a servant and daughter of a loving Heavenly Father

KATE'S BAPTISM DAY

Saturday was such a special day! Our little Kate was baptised by her dad Tim. She is being such a wonderful example for her younger siblings and cousins.

These are the priesthood holders that were in the circle

Kate and dad

Her family

Some of the rest of us that were there for the occasion

Hey, it was good to hear from you guys today. As for the transportation when you come, it will be expensive if we use taxis. The city here is pretty big, and complicated. And when we go to visit people, it will be hard to use taxis because we will be in like a neighborhood but they are big, and confusing, plus the fact that people could easily rob us, which is a real fact and concern. But we will see what we can do. This is the thing that I am worried about, but we will see.As for the schedule when you guys come it is more or less like this:15 November 2009 – My last interview with President Jayme16 November 2009 – The morning I will have a self-reliance class at 10am, then I will have the rest of the day to go visit people and to pack my bags. At 18:30 I will be going to president’s house to have my last dinner with him and the other elders leaving in my group. We will be done around 21:15; from there I will get our Executive secretary and will go to pick you guys up at the airport. Your flight comes in at 22:29. I will be there to pick you guys up, and then escort you to the hotel tropical with me.17 November 2009 – 8:00am we have to be at the mission office for the transfer meeting. There will be all the elders and their companions that will be getting transferred to other areas. Lots of my friends will be there and everything so you will be able to meet them and take pictures. The rest of the day from like 10:00 am we have nothing planned. Possibly go to the water meeting place of the Rio Negro and the Amazon. Go see some historical things in the center.18 November 2009 – We leave sometime to go to Ariaú I think you guys said21 November 2009 – We get back from Ariaú some time. At 19:00 we have the baptism of Hevelyn. Dad will baptize her. The area where they live is super far away from the hotel so we will have to hurry there. They will have a dinner and whatever after I think, or maybe before. There you will meet lots of my recent converts and friends. It was my fourth area. Nova Canaã. 22 November 2009 – Church 8:30am in my current area Dom Pedro. You will see my current companion and all my recent converts and whatever here. It will be awesome. We will spend the rest of the day visiting people here, and relaxing. 23 November 2009 – We will go to the center to buy stuff for everyone at home, and to see some historical things. You will walk a lot so get ready, and bring a towel, because you’re going to sweat a TON. At night we will visit my third area Laranjeiras. Possibly also we could go look at presidente figeredo. There a ton of waterfalls and stuff there, but it is like an hour or more to get there by car. I don’t know what we will do for transportation. 24 November 2009 – We fly out at 11:50 am. We have to get there AT LEAST two hours early. So 9:50. People will be there to say good-by to us and send us off….The tears will start falling if I have any left. And the nervousness starts…I will be going home. Sad. That is a super ruff draft of what we are going to do. We will be packed with things to do here; it’s just hard to plan every hour. I pray everythings goes well, and you guys enjoy the trip.

As for the weather, it has been really cool as of lately seriously, it has been windy and raining once in a while, which is unusual. The rainy season is starting early. It is still like 38-40 degrees Celsius. That’s like 100-104 degrees Fahrenheit. Then you have to take in the humidity which is abnormally high because of the rain. You are wet almost 24-7 or all the time in other words.

This week went awesome. We baptized Cláudio, a man that is the next door neighbor of a family that we baptized earlier. He is so awesome, and is really firm. He will receive the Aaronic priesthood Sunday, and has been firm for like three months. The baptism was astonishing, and spiritual. Like I have said and I will never stop saying, there is nothing like baptizing, and helping your fellow men achieve their salvation. It is so miraculous. I love the gospel, I love the people. I don’t know if I will make it going home, if I will be able to hold it together. I will have to find myself again. I love you all. I feel like a burden in so many ways to you guys. I feel like out of place or demanding of your time and attention. I can’t wait to just get home and to have the opportunity to serve you guys. I find true happiness in it. Service is everything, and there is nothing else of such great importance. When we serve our fellow beings we are in the service of our god, and if we have not charity we are nothing. I have learned so many lessons on my mission I can’t wait to put into practice at home. I have sat for hours these last couple days, and plan to sit for many more hours for the next week writing down my life goals for when I get home. I don’t know exactly what I am doing, but putting it down on paper is better than nothing. The lightest ink is brighter than the brightest memory. Without goal we will pass through life without reaching our full potential.I love this gospel, I know it to be true. I bore testimony of it this last Sunday for the last time I could in front of a Brazilian congregation. It was really emotional for me. I know this church is true.Any questions let me know. Elder Gatten

Week-end in Seattle

We were able to run over to Seattle for the week-end Thursday night. You will have to ask Steve how to get to China town in Seattle as we ended up there on the way to Dusty's. Steve had not been able to see Gage yet and I wanted to help out so we just went. I was able to spend some quality time with Gage in the middle of the night and and give Angie some much needed rest. They are great parents and doing so well. We loved being there.

Playing cribbage to pass the time

Still a miracle angie is a little tired

Halloween pumpkin(thanks Cassie for costume)

Sleepy boy

Papa meets Gage