Best of the Rez Week 15

est of the Rez            Week 15          April 24^th to May 1^st

Did the last week actually go by quickly?  In fact it is now May, so I assume time is moving along.  Some days seem to last for-ev-er and then all of the sudden time starts to fly.  Perhaps mission time will do the same.
The week had more good than bad, but I think the Sunday’s are starting to take their toll on me.  Oh, how lucky you are if your ward has people willing to accept callings and serve the Lord and their fellowmen.

1)      Okay, the first thing I need to do is share some wonderful news.  When we were in the MTC we were assigned into districts of 6 couples.  We keep in contact with one of the couple’s that is serving in Washington DC.  They sent some news that I must send on: “What we have learned that we didn’t know:  That there are thousands of members of the church in mainland China and hundreds of missionaries serving around the world from Mainland China.  If we think China is still waiting to hear the Gospel – we are wrong.  The member to member teaching there brings the gospel to many.  We have 2 Chinese Mainland missionaries that serve in the mission that tell us of the growth of the church there.  This is Elder Wang who comes from Chinese branch of 300 members, with 10 missionaries like him serving around the world from that single branch.  The Gospel is truly being preached in every land and clime.”  Elder/Sister Dougall

2)      Elder Parkinson got a rather early Father’s Day gift—a Benjamin Air Rifle Pellet Gun.  Oh my!  He has taken off most of the screens and is always kneeling on a bed trying to shoot Prairie Dogs out the windows.  President Curley told him it was legal but he was still worried.  Then the FM man told him to go out and shoot the things and now he is a bit braver.  ‘He is a dead eye!’  I am not sure his tally yet, but I think he has about another 300 to go to protect our gardens.

3)      We finally gave up and went to Gallup to get some groceries and supplies.  Yes, the Rez has grocery stores but they are pricey and do not have a great selection.  Whipping cream is $2.89 a cup and at Walmart in Gallup, it is $1.78 a pint.  And our gas went to $3.99 today.

4)      Tuesday was another day out with Sister Tsosie.  We are having terrible luck in finding the older women of the ward at home, but we are sure having a good time anyway.  And she thinks Elder Parkinson makes the best sandwiches in the world.  That night we taught Selena a follow-up lesson and then got stood up at another house.

5)      Wednesday is turning into our favorite day.  We start with a piano lesson with the RS President.  She is just eating up that Keyboard course book.  Then we go to the Wheelers.  Oh my, if only every experience could be so good.  We taught the plan of salvation and Elder was explaining that only really, really bad people go to ‘outer darkness.’   Brother Wheeler said ‘like Bin Laden,’ and his mother-in-law said, like ‘Geronimo.’   The Navajo and the Apache do not get along.  Then we went out to one of Sister Tsosie’s relative that makes jewelry.  Now that was an experience.  Sister Tsosie and her daughter were almost yelling in Navajo about giving us a good deal and all that.  In the meantime, a bee flew in and went behind the Grandma’s back.  I was trying to get the bee out and she couldn’t understand me.  Finally, they made her understand and she moved and saw the bee and started yelling about why people don’t shut the door.  We were wondering the same thing since we were rather chilly. 

6)      Thursday was such a sweet experience.  I mentioned last week that Elder blessed a house for a less active.  We found him the first month here.  When we went to bless his house it was a bit messy.  He invited us back in hopes that we could reteach him and teach his wife.  She wants absolutely nothing to do with the any church.  We showed up that night and the house was just spick and span.  He was so excited but his wife wouldn’t come out and his little boy just screamed and wouldn’t be consoled either so they both stayed in the bedroom.  When we asked him what he remembered about church, he just beamed.  “We went ever week until my mother died.  There were seven of us, and we all dressed up special.  All the boys wore white shirts and those little things that hang down.  We were all cute.”  When we asked him how it felt he said, “Safe.”  He wants to come back so bad.  He asked his wife about piano and everything, but she wouldn’t budge.  We told him we had 14 months, that we would slowly try to ease into her heart.  It almost broke my heart.  After that we had a really good lesson with the Tsosie girls where taught about daily prayer and we all made prayer rocks.  It was great fun.

7)      Friday we had to run to Chinle early to give Sister Tsosie a blessing.  We came home and got our next seminary lesson ready and took a nice walk in the wind.  By the way—we love teaching Seminary.  If Sarah, Courtney and Becca read this they might get a laugh, but our seminary class is the highlight of our day.  It has been wonderful to learn and teach about Joseph Smith and now the other prophets as well.  That night we had a first visit/discussion with a family we have been trying to reach for some time.  We had made an appointment with the daughter so we were worried.  The mother called and asked if they had an appointment for 7 PM—yes we said.  She then asked if we could make it at 5:30 instead.  Hurray—it worked and we had a great time.

8)      Saturday was another exciting experience.  The Young Women were preparing for girl’s camp so they asked me to do first aid and Elder Parkinson to do the plants and animals.  He was delighted and prepared a wonderful power point.  He started by showing everyone some clips of the ‘famous ES class’.  It was great fun.  Afterwards, they had a great lunch and we all had a nice time.  That evening we taught the Wheelers again and that just made our day.

9)      And Sunday was normal—2 straight hours of teaching with Elder Parkinson running back and forth trying to get interviews in to the Bishop.  His first day of Executive Secretary seemed to be successful.  That is exciting news.

The Church is True,

            Work Fast and Play Hard,

                        May the Lord Bless us all,

                                    Elder/Sister Parkinson

Our Rosey House Finch--we love waking up to our

bird songs.

By the time I got these pictures, my arm was aching.

Elder Parkinson will always be the ES teacher.

AHHHH!  Some blue flax--even on the REZ.

Young Women camp day.

Sister Curley in the apron and

Elder Lambert (Boston) teaching knots.

Elder Silva looks on and Bishop Benally is in the background.

Can you see the intense interest as Elder Parkinson teaches

the Flora and Fauna of Arizona.

Elder Parkinson "AT HOME" teaching his power point.

And he started it with showing off ES video clips.

Bishop Benally steady's his gun for target practice.