Best of the Rez Week 54

Best of the Rez     Week 54     January 16^th to January 22^nd

Up and down we go.  The ride on the Rez continues to keep us on our toes.  Today at church was no different; things happened that we almost felt were miracles and others made us very sad indeed.  I think I am understanding how this mission thing works but I must admit that some days I forget to put on my emotional seat belt.

1)      Monday they did hold the funeral.  We gave Brother Draper $25 for gas money, a ham, potato salad, chips and plates.  He stopped and picked it up around 8 AM.  Then Bishop Benally called and they decided he would ride to the funeral with EP while I taught the Benally’s piano lessons.  The funeral was at 10 about an hour away so they decided to meet at 9 to drive there.  At 10, they pulled in.  I asked if they decided to not go to the funeral.  “No, it won’t start on time.” 
That afternoon we taught the Nez children again.  So cute and a really good lesson.  Then we got stood up only to find out 3 days later they called and asked up to come early.

2)      Seminary again and it was fun.  Then we went to Dale Mitchell’s to teach him a literacy lesson.  This time he prayed in English and said he wanted to teach like he use to.  It broke our hearts that he used to hold a degree and be a teacher and now alcohol has destroyed all that.  So sad.
We headed to Rock Point (over 30 miles away) to teach piano only to find out they had a ball game and they were all gone.  We drove around and found one lady we had been looking for.  She didn’t seem overjoyed to see us.  She only speaks Navajo but she had grandchildren there to translate.  We did a little GPSing and headed home.
Four of the piano lessons showed up, ARP showed up, and then we had a great lesson with the Begaye’s.  We got a soft commitment for baptism.  Tivona would sure like her family to join her.  We were there 2 hours and it was great.

3)      In seminary we made sling shots to kill Goliath.  It was really fun but we did a lot of ducking.  That afternoon piano started and I taught 8 lessons while EP taught a missionary lesson to 2 of them.  Then EP was in a bishopric meeting.  Did you get that?? Our first bishopric meeting since we have been here (except the 20-30 minutes before church starts).  While he did that I taught the Wheeler’s and the Gene’s a gospel principles lesson.  The church was busy with YM-YW and a bit noisy.  We finally all made it through our meetings but I was one very tired and hungry lady.

4)      Thursday we had another fun seminary and then we were off visiting teaching.  Sister Tsosie is so cute.  We had a great visit with Evelyn Sam.  We also found a new sister, Alta Mitchell.  Everyone else was not at home.  Oh and we looked at temple dress sites to give her an idea of how to sew her temple dress. 
We had a good lesson in Round Rock that night and set a baptismal date for Johanna Yazzie.  Then home.  Very long day with 2 trips to Chinle and one trip to Round Rock.

5)      Another change—we had German pancakes and fresh strawberry syrup for seminary.  The girls really enjoyed it.  Then we drew Goliath and tried to hit him with our slings.  It was quite the day.  So fun.
We taught Dale another literacy lesson.  What a dear man!
Then home and the piano lessons started again.  I taught 7 lessons with 2 no shows.  The night went all crazy in trying to figure out where to go and when to wait.  It finally ended with the young elders over here having a bit of a celebration party.  The mission president is going to split our area and give us 2 more young elders.

6)      Saturday we had a baptism for the young elders – Sadie Tso.  It was very nice.  The piano lessons canceled so I had a moment to rest.  That afternoon Selena came and while I taught her piano, EP taught her mother temple prep. 
It was our first real wind storm with the sand just a blowing everywhere.  The windows in the church just howled—which really scared Selena.
The evening was free so we went out to eat.  Afterwards we went over to take the cookies to Roberts.  We all decided to meet the new missionaries, the Vogel’s from Michigan.  They were in Katie’s stake out there.  That was really interesting as we were answering Rez questions right and left.  They had pretty big eyes.  Just as we were getting ready to leave the electricity went off.  It kept going off all night as we were driving home.  Weird feeling.

7)      And that leaves Sunday.  It started early as I was so tired the night before I couldn’t get my primary papers ready.  I picked up Carolyn – she is so faithful.  She comes every week by herself and sits by herself.  Today she stayed for all the meetings.  We had 71 at church.  It looked good.  BUT—we had some wonderful firsts today.  Freda Tsosie  taught the Sunday School lesson.  This is her 4^th week in a row at church after years of inactivity.  She is Sister Margaret Tsosie’s daughter.  On Christmas Sunday she came with her 2 sisters and her Catholic daughter to church.  She has been wonderful ever since.  I was in Primary – but they said it was great.  At the end of her lesson, Sister Margaret Tsosie bore her testimony and just cried to have her daughter do such a wonderful thing.  And she was pretty happy that the ‘Elderly’s’ had come to her door and brought her back to church after 31 years.  Now she and her 3 daughters are all active.  (Now if someone will help with her sons)  Between meetings I was watching the children get a drink when the RS was coming down the hall.  I noticed a new lady and greeted her and thanked her for coming to church.  She beamed a smile and something prompted me.  ‘Teresa – you came.  Did you bring your sons?  Are you enjoying it?’  It was the lady that we had left the meeting early for and traveled over 30 miles to visit and she hadn’t been there.  She came!   We were thrilled.  We quickly set up a meeting to try them again.  (That was a quarter and a half to get the prompting on who she was.  She looked different.) Also, the Logan’s came.  I saw him walking down the hall beaming.  He hasn’t been back since he was baptized.  He was interviewed for the Priesthood and accepted the call of 2^nd Counselor in the YM.  Wahoo!!!!!  What a day for us!!!  That is huge. YM now has a president and 2 counselors.  AND for the first time ever, a ward member taught the Aaronic Priesthood lesson.  Primary went well with both teachers showing up.  Our secretary is great.  We had about 11 children there which is good for us.  This was a very good Sunday indeed. OTHER than my 4 piano players didn’t show up so I was doing a musical shuffle in Sacrament meeting.  Oh and they held their 6^th ward council.
After church I made some bread sticks and rolls and we headed to Chinle.  We had a wonderful dinner with the Roberts and then Sister Roberts and I decorated 8 dozen cookies for the 100 Year Seminary Fireside.  We actually got some people there and it was a great meeting.  You go Peru.  What an example.  Afterwards, we made it to the car and home.

And now week 54 is history also.  We were very excited about the ‘firsts’ we enjoyed at church.  We have no idea if we can hold the numbers till June 3^rd when Elder Callister comes back.  While success is a joy we realize how very fragile this place is.
The new week will bring some excitement as we greet 2 new elders to our ward.  We get another greenie so that should be fun.  (You have no idea what the word green means to me at this point!)

The Church is True,

            Serve Valiantly (you too Federer),

                        May God Bless,

                                    Elder and Sister Parkinson

We bought some more rock art.

A Rez Sunrise!

One of the joys of early morning seminary.

So Pretty!

All we could do, was watch in awe!

Goliath is in trouble with Kayla.

Goliath is doomed with Kelsey's attack.

If you show a sunrise -- you should show a sunset!

This is the darling Sadie Tso.  I just love her.

I think she is a complete convert.

The Elder's wanted us to meet the new Elder!

EP was so mad when we only got one new elder.

He calmed down when he met him.