When we first came into Mescalero we started teaching David Shanta. Even though we went into great depth about the apostasy and restoration, he could not give up his Catholic faith. But we have become good friends. He was having some problems with his wife at that time, but since got back together and moved to Washington State. When they arrived back in Mescalero for a visit, they called us and wanted to go for dinner. We were elated!!! They are fully aware that we want them to join the church and they are interested, but caught up in their old ways. They invited us to go way out on the reservation, where white people cannot go and showed us the land where he was raised. It is beautiful. The little church there was made just for his family, and the their water is piped in to the residence from a creek flowing through the property. There is only one family living there at this time and it is called "Indian Creek". We hiked through the trees, sagebrush, cactus, watching for rattlesnakes into the mountains. We saw all kinds of wildlife and a real bear going up the canyon. We waited for several minutes in hopes he would re-appear, but he didn't. They taught us about the food that actually survies on the deseret floor and how to survive. We tried to teach them all we could about the gospel of Jesus Christ. We both benefited. They are good friends. We know one day they will be baptized.
