Best of the Rez Week 23

Best of Rez     Week 23     June 20^th to June 26^th

Will this never end – No, not the mission, but all the new adjustments that come with the mission.  In reading other missionary letters, Elder Webster wondered if it was the time that we had  hit the wall or something, but by the time Sunday was over, I was about to pull the covers over my head and …..  I guess I just don’t know what.

I guess I am going to start backwards today, because it was Sunday that took its toll on me.  I went over to church all happy; the music numbers were ready, Sunday School lesson ready, and Primary ready.  Elder Parkinson called me in the library where Sister Curley was crying her eyes out.  I held my breath because they were putting her in as Primary President that day.  As it turned out, her husband, President Curley (2^nd Counselor in the Stake Presidency) is a Navajo Nation Policeman.  So is his little brother, Darrel.  Saturday night, Darrel was shot and killed in the line of duty trying to break up an alcohol related domestic violence incident.  While Darrel was handcuffing one of the brothers, the father came out of another room and shot him in the back and as he turned, shot him 4 more times.  I cannot stand the fact that when you get a great guy on the Rez; a return missionary married in the temple, serving in the Bishopric of his ward, he is the one killed.  Sister Curley and both her daughters spoke in Sacrament Meeting and then Kelsey, the oldest, played a piano number and dedicated it to Darrel. 
Also, the stake president from Tuba City, noticed we have people coming here that should be going there.  When Sister Davis mentioned that is was 3 out of the 8 serving and 3 out of the 45 coming, she was informed that the other ward only had 20 with less serving.  Oh, and they only meet 2 hours and that church is about 15 miles closer than ours.  Okay, there goes our leadership.
We came home and had a bowl of soup and headed to our first appointment.  This is a darling couple where the man is a member and trying to get his ‘live in’ to convert.  It was over 100 degrees and I got so sick in the house I thought I was going down, but I made it.  Then after the lesson we asked if there were any questions we could answer.  The young man said, could you explain to her why I don’t drink tea.  We did and he just beamed because he was such a good church member.  We didn’t point out that maybe you shouldn’t get a girl pregnant and move in with her until you are married and that is more important than whether you drink tea or not. 
Second appointment went great.  She was with 2 granddaughters because their parents used all their money on drugs and didn’t feed the kids and the night before the parents had a big fight and the husband bit the mother’s finger bad.  (I swear I am going to start screaming at people)
Next we went to Shoobie’s birthday party.   Shoobie turned 2 and his mother asked Elder Parkinson to bless and name him.  He went up to the stand and sat down on the chair and never moved a muscle till it was over.  That is NOT Navajo childlike.  He is so cute and his mother wants to join the church so bad, but her ‘good Mormon family live in’ won’t marry her so she can’t. 
Next, we had a GREAT lesson with a part-member family.  The non member father said the closing prayer and asked for confirmation.  It was wonderful.
Then home to call and make appointments.  We called a family we are teaching temple prep to and the wife called us back in a panic because the husband had fallen off the wagon again and was drunk somewhere – she and the children had left.  We went to look for him, but couldn’t find him.  Then our first baptism stopped in and he is out of work and has got to get a job—none on the Rez.  He is willing to go anywhere.  They have 2 of his ‘sisters –not really—Rez talk, living with them.  The oldest turned them in for abuse which is totally not true so they wondered if we would talk with Social Services. 
They left and I just wanted to crawl under a blanket and hide for the next 12 and ½ months.  You have a good day and BAZOUSH!!!!

Good day—how about our first temple trip on the Rez.  Saturday we took one of the couples we are teaching temple prep to and another ward member to the temple to do baptisms for the dead.  The Curley family also went.  It was great.  Long trip though.  All the way there and back we watch church video’s so it was quite the day. 
As we were getting ready, the lady came that always wants money.  She has quit coming to church because I will not give her money.  I was in the bathtub.  She had a rug for me to buy.  ‘How much?’  $600.  Elder told her we couldn’t afford it.  She wanted me.  He kept explaining we were leaving for the temple and couldn’t afford a $600 rug.  When we returned the missionaries said she had sat in the parking lot for 2 hours that day.  Well, we no sooner pulled in than she was here.  She brought in the rug—and yes, it is beautiful and well worth $600 but we couldn’t afford it.  She wouldn’t leave.  I told her we would take her picture and make a poster about her and she could go to Canyon DeChilly to sell it.  We wrote it up and all.  She just sat there and sat there.  Then she said she couldn’t do it without gas money.  We told her we weren’t allowed to give out gas money (because of her, all senior missionaries have signs on their doors now).  Finally she left.  Even the good days leave a bad taste in your mouth.

As for the rest of the week, Monday was a lot of washing and gardening.  That evening we taught the Bia brother’s with the Elder’s.  That was good.  Then we got stood up and then a lesson with the Wheelers.

Tuesday was piano and then that night we taught a first lesson to Cecilia Hobson.  Then we got stood up but had a lady waiting for us here at the trailer.  She had an experience that day that renewed her faith.  We had a long talk about putting her life in order and living as she should and that miracles would happen.  It really sounded good, but she didn’t show up to church.  Then President Begay came and heard all about the ES program.  He liked it.

Wednesday was piano, and then we were supposed to go with Sister Tsosie but she went with her sister instead.  We taught the Bia brother’s and then after YM-YW we had the Wheeler’s here for a temple prep. 

Thursday I taught piano and then we taught Ardawn a wonderful lesson.  Oh, we wish something would work for her.  She gave the most amazing prayer.  Then we headed to Farmington for a Senior Conference.  That night was really fun.  We all did skits – most were funny but mine was serious.  Oh well!  Friday we ate breakfast at President/Sister Jones house. That was a huge mistake—everyone has to leave that beauty to return to the Rez.  President Jones taught us for about 3 hours.  Very good!  He said that in all his work all over the world, he felt that the Rez mission was the hardest on earth, because the people have no concept of work.  Anywhere else, if you want to eat—you must produce.  On the Rez, you hold your hand out.  You are given something but not enough for quality of life.  They tell the people over and over again; do not leave the 4 sacred mountains and they will provide for you.  And then they refuse to let in any business that would provide opportunity for work.  The men on the Rez are basically stripped of self-esteem, for they cannot work and provide for their families.  If only, if only….

So ends Week 23.  Elder said maybe I should have been more positive.  We had some great experiences, but the Curley murder has just ruined everything.  We are very optimistic about some of our families.  Our garden is just beautiful and we have family coming again this week, so all is not lost. 

The Church is True,

            Stretch both body and spirit,

                        Prayers keep more grounded than our knees,

                                    Love you much,

                                                Elder and Sister Parkinson

PS Did you know that if you double click on a picture, it will pop up really big for you?  It is so cool.

Grandpa bought this hat from Jacob for $13. 

Doesn't he look great?

Elder Parkinson and Elder Richins both show off their fine hats.

Elder Richins is our new District leader.

Our district's skit.  I will post it later.

I think that stuff we are standing on is called grass!

PresidentJones singing with Elder Wilson.

He was a good singer and plays the piano and guitar.

The back seat of our first temple trip:

From left: Cyrus and Crystal Wheeler, and Lettie Davis

At the Snowflake Temple!!

Add me and the Curley's.