Best of the Rez Week 48

Best of the Rez     Week 48     December 5^th to December 11^th

Okay so the time seems to by flying along.  I swear it is Seminary.  It is tough preparing every day with all the other things that we have going, but we can feel this year drawing to an end.

This week did not have a wonderful baptism, but it did have a highlight—we had a man complete all 12 steps of the Alcohol Addiction Program.  That is huge!!! We are very proud of him.  He has fallen off the wagon once, but came right back.  The Chinle missionaries have been doing ARP for 18 months and have never gotten anyone passed the 8^th lesson.  We are very proud of our man!!

Okay, now for the best story week on the Rez.  Our little church is about 1/8^th of a mile off the road and that really does stop a lot of people from just dropping in.  Chinle on the other hand is right on the beaten path and next to a gasoline station so they get people almost every day.  As the Roberts were getting out of their car from dropping off the seminary students, a man yelled from the road that he needed a prayer.  Sister Roberts said she would be glad to pray for him.  He came a running around the chain link fence.  It was cold and he asked if they could go inside to prayer.  They took him in and had a prayer.  Then he asked if he could shampoo his hair.  Sister Roberts said no but she would give him some shampoo in a little bag and he could do it later.  Then she made him a sandwich.  While she was doing that he said he had a urinary condition and wondered if he could use their bathroom.  ‘No’ she said again, but they took him over to the church and let him use that restroom.
The other day someone stopped and asked for a diaper.  When they said no he asked for money then.  They said no and he walked out and walked away without any children.

1)      We had planned to go to Gallup on Monday but the weather was bad so we just had a bit of a relaxing day at home.  The Elder have bonded so they came over to hang out.  That night we taught the Gene’s and the Wheeler’s which we very much enjoy.

2)      Tuesday we got stood up for a literacy lesson.  We spent the rest of the day handing out flyers for the RS Christmas work meeting.  Then piano which overlaps with RS. 
We were so thrilled.  We had 21 women show up for our little party.  We wrapped Christmas presents for the children, had a white elephant exchange (that was hilarious) and then ate.  It was great!  Our RS president was so happy.  It was great.  After that we taught the Logan’s – where I had taken care of the dogs.  They said they are on line for baptism on the 17^th.  WOW! This could be good, but they still need to come to church.

After meeting with them we drove Sister Tsosie back to Chinle.  It had been a very long and busy day and we finally made it home to crash—so tired.

3)      Our literacy man showed up but our appointment didn’t.  Elder Parkinson is teaching the literacy and the man is just eating it up.  He wants to come every day.  That is refreshing.
In the afternoon Elder Parkinson met with John Draper to plan out home teaching.  Now, our motto is ‘no expectations’ but we do hope something good happens with both our visiting teaching and home teaching beats.  It would be a first for a very long time.
We also got a call that our Sister Yoe had surgery so I fixed her up a meal.  We drove that out to her, picked up the Ahasteen boys and headed to the Chinle nursing home.  The YM-YW were going to sing Christmas Carols and then the YW gave out the lap blankets they had made. We took a keyboard and when Kelsey started to play all the women started coming out of their rooms.  They said it was the most patients that had ever come out.  The YW went around and gave every woman a blanket.  Now truthfully, the blankets were out of children’s material but those ladies were happy.  Chinle has 2 sisters that were called on missions to teach the CNA program here on the Rez.  They were there.  They have talked and talked about the experience.  They said that most of those ladies didn’t even know their own names, but they knew that someone was being nice to them—they knew kindness.  And did those little old ladies love their blankets with dinosaurs and kittens and teddy bears.  Sister Reid tried to pick one up to look at the pattern and the woman grabbed it and hugged it and then pointed to her name and shook her head ‘no.’  Anyhow, Sister Curley has really done a nice job with those girls.  They have made over 40 blankets to give away.
After they sang we took them all to Burger King for a sundae.  I think they had fun.

4)      We headed to Gallup for to get groceries and supplies.  We must have been been in need because we sure spent a lot.  We rushed right home to get to Kelsey’s piano recital.  She was wonderful.  It is so interesting to see the variety of styles on the Rez.  I hadn’t expected to see a Navajo Emo. 

That night we made a Peach Melba Dump Cake for Kelsey.  She came over with her mother to eat it and we sat and told stories for ever.  It was really fun.

5)      As we were driving in from seminary, our literacy man was already here.  He was only an hour and 10 minutes early.   Brad spent about 2 hours or more with him.  He wants to come back at 8 in the morning—Saturday—I don’t think so. 
We were having our couple over for supper that is supposed to get married and baptized next week.  When we went to get them they said they were thinking about coming.  WHAT?  They didn’t show!  Oh well!  We ran over to the Logan’s birthday for just a minute and then headed home to teach the Benally’s piano lessons.  After 6 lessons I  was beat.

6)      Saturday we went over to Chinle to attend Sister Larsen’s funeral.  He is the stake ward clerk—they are Beleganna’s that have lived her for a long time.  We taught the couple from the night before and planned their marriage and baptism and then we watched a movie.

7)      Sunday was pretty good.  Logan’s came to church so the baptism is on for the 3 of them.  The Tsosie girls were there and that was so fun to see them.  We had another new family with 2 primary children.  We had 63 which ties our record.  Christmas songs were pretty good.  Just lots of running around trying to help our new teachers and take care of sharing time.
After church we had Sister Yoe and Selena and Tivona (her grandma was in Montana for a funeral) come for homemade chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles.  Oh, it was good.  John Draper showed up as well.  Then Sister Davis came with more goodies for the children’s presents.  Then someone came dropping off clothing.  Then the Pinon Elder’s came because they were staying here and couldn’t get in.  We had the houseful all night.  Finally everyone left and we could work on seminary.

And so the week 48 ends.  A wonderful RS, a fabulous YM-YW!  Another 4 are committed to baptism.  A new counselor teacher in primary.  WOW!!
In the front of the house you can see a skiff of snow so I assume we are feeling like Christmas is approaching.  ‘I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams.’

The Church is True,

     Never underestimate an act of kindness,

          Our faith and prayers,

                Elder and Sister Parkinson

The Nursing Home asked us not to take pictures.  SORRY!

Kelsey playing in her piano recital.

Kelsey poses after wards.  Love her smile.