Parkinson's at Navajo Nation

Monday, May 14, 2012

Best of the Rez Week 70

Best of the Rez Week 70 May 7^th to May 13^th

I think we will call this week the Loop the Loop Ride week. Most of the time we have not known whether we were right side up or upside down. I think I am still a bit dizzy.

#8 – I just cannot wait to see mail. I hope to get some cookies baked just to give the mailman. Oh what comforts, to have mail delivered to your home! Street names with addresses on the homes. WOW – is that like the coolest thing ever?

#7 - I just scheduled my haircut. I cannot wait to see Tammy and get a haircut I trust. Not to mention the opportunity to catch up on all her stories.

#6 – I want to drive up and down the streets of Rexburg and see all the stores providing for the community. The Rez believes that if you stay within the 4 sacred mountains, they will provide for you. All I see provided is expensive groceries, high gas, Laundromats and cell phones. Anything else you have to drive miles for.
And I cannot wait to see a DR office within blocks that will care for us.

And now for the week: (?’s)

1) Monday was an AMAZING and UPSETTING day. In fact you can call Monday the longest 20 days ever fit inside 24 hours. We canceled seminary and loaded up the elders at 7:00 AM and headed to Snowflake Temple for a special missionary temple session. Travel went well and we did not hit a cow or horse.
The session was wonderful and what an experience to be with so many missionaries in such a special place.
The Snowflake stake prepared a wonderful dinner afterwards. We were sitting with our Senior Zone Leader. During the conversation he asked if President Jones had called us yet. NO. “Oh, well we were wondering if we could get you to leave a few weeks early to help us shuffle the senior couples around as the new couples come in.” “WHAT?” The new CES couple is coming into Chinle so we need to move Roberts out and we thought that it would be slick to move them over to Many Farms for them to finish the last 6 months of their mission. That way they can teach your seminary and you can show them around and introduce them to all your people.” “Well, if that is what the Lord would like us to do, I think we could make that sacrifice.” Still it is funny what emotions are starting to swell.
So, then we come home. We played Farkel all the way home with the elders. Crazy games and so much fun. Once home we taught our temple prep but the young elders were at our reading home so we just came home.
Saturday we have a Waptism (that is where the couple gets married just before the baptism). The man is from Sanders which is in our mission but not our area. The woman is from Many Farms and has been waiting for 18 years for this to happen. EP called the Sanders elders to make sure they would have him interviewed by Friday. They announced that he was not ready and they would be no baptism. “WHAT?” It was a very long call. One of the main problems is that the couple asked the previous senior couple from Montana to come back and baptize him. Why hadn’t we been told? We asked the woman every Sunday at church and she assured us all was well. Anyhow, it ended up into several more calls until about 11:30 PM.

2) Seminary was great and then back to the phone. We called the mission president to see what we should do. We said we had to know so we could get a hold of Bartmess’s. “Too late – they are here.” We were just sick. Then within an hour, the woman called and said the baptism was off but the wedding was on and since she had waited 18 years for the marriage, she could wait a bit longer for the baptism.
Brother and Sister Watts from the seminary came and we had a fun chat with them before heading to Round Rock for temple prep. Next to Rock Point for piano and then a rush home to more piano. We had 4 out of 6 show.
EP taught ARP while I met with the stake clerk and the ward clerk. He just about died when he saw all the work we have compiled for our ward. However, he did say that it would take months upon months to enter into the system. The ward clerk was just shaking his head no—but I have faith the next missionaries will handle it.

3) Seminary and then we were going out GPSing but our guides fell through on us again. EP worked in the garden while I did house stuff. The Bartmess’s showed up around 4 and we visited with them for an hour. My piano was way late but I managed about a 10 minute lesson with each of them. The speaker did not show for YM-YW so we filled in there. We talked about budgeting and saving money. Love that topic but it is unheard of on the Rez.

4) We drew for seminary and had so much fun. Then we headed to Chinle to pick up Margaret Tsosie. EP broke tradition and picked up a pair of hitch-hikers. It was John and Opal Chee – they are about 80, don’t speak a word of English and were walking to Chinle. They pointed to Bashes, but we drove them straight to Margaret’s so she could talk to them. Margaret was quite the little missionary. We drove back to Many Farms where EP stayed to work on the garden while we went out for visits. We didn’t find anyone home but while we were eating Sister Sam called so we went back to her after lunch. We stopped at a house where one of our ladies had stayed and she was gone but we invited the girl. She said she would come. We didn’t get 100% but we had a good time. Then back to Chinle and home for the no show piano lessons. The first lesson came at 7:00. Oh, and our little kids didn’t show for their baptism/piano lessons. I am started to fear for that baptism. We worked in the garden most of the night and had a pretty good time.

5) Seminary had fun drawing again. We had another visit from the Rez seminary leaders but this time Brother Miller came along. He will be taking over for Brother Watts. We talked and talked with them and had to show off all their work. He took lots of pictures and even videoed the scripture squeeze we did. That put us behind and we really rushed to Round Rock for temple prep. We had a bit of time so we went out finding. The Trading Post postman helped us with a few names and we found a lost ward member home. It was great. She is a weaver and of course wanted me to buy a rug – only $250 for about a 2 & ½’ by 3 & ½’. Anyone interested? The wedding was setting up at 2:00 so we hurried back for that to have them show up about 7:00. I taught Tivona but Kelsey was sick. After we finished with all the wedding set up and rehearsal we went to Chinle and got saw dust for Sister Yoe’s garden and took that to her. The wind blew so hard that we were covered in saw dust. Then home and to get ready for the big day tomorrow.

6) I called and demanded that my 6 piano lessons come early. I had the wedding cakes to do and get ready myself and I wanted time to get it all done without stress. Then never called and they never came so I just took my time. OPPS. They showed up about 11:20. People were already coming for the wedding but I heard and helped just a bit. Then I started to play prelude. It was quite a while before they all showed up but it was so fun. They had a little flower girl and she would pick up one little petal and place it down and then walk a few feet and do it again. Meantime her little brother would hurry and pick them up and put them back. Finally the people behind her started grabbing and throwing petals. The wedding went supper and was really nice.
They were having a big gathering out at her place so everyone left and we cleaned up all the tables and chairs and vacuumed. We walked in the house to get ready to go out to the gathering when the phone rang and they had wind so everyone was coming back. SO-we set up all the tables and chairs again. We actually had it easy. Her caterer had called at 4AM and backed out-so they had gone out and killed and butchered a couple of sheep and roasted them along with making mutton stew before the 12:00 wedding. I cannot believe how calm Annabel was through all the trials! Anyhow, everyone came back and we had a wonderful party. The Bartmess’s seemed more than pleased to be there for ONLY the wedding so all ended well. And one side note—EP and I ate our first mutton – tough as nails but tasted great. It seemed like forever until we got all the tables and chairs put up for the second time and vacuumed and cleaned the church. We were exhausted.
So, we changed clothes and headed out to Sister Yoe’s to show her how to set up her drip irrigation system. When we stopped at our stop sign here at Many Farms, a rather large man was pushing a walker while carrying a folding chair and a coat. He would push about 6 inches and take a step. EP asked him where he was going and he said Chinle – 15 miles down the road. We told him to get in and we could drive him half way. After we got going, EP said we would drive him all the way in, get a burger and do Sister Yoe on the way home. Love that guy (EP that is)! Anyway we got to Sister Yoe’s and set up her garden and came home and completely collapsed.

7) Sunday already—yes-sir-ree and not only is it Mother’s Day but we are having our seminary graduation as well. We got everything ready and the people started to come – hurray – 87 of them. The meeting went just great except the bishop’s son that was to speak and sing didn’t show up (but the older son did come and sang a perfect solo) along with his wife and 5 of their children. Oh well, the rest went great. We had a lot of investigators to church. Primary had 11 children, 9 first time investigators. Since they had never been to primary before it was a bit wild. The 1^st counselor had a family emergency and the secretary didn’t show so there were only 2 of us to handle it but we survived.
Afterwards we fixed a sandwich and lay down but the phone rang steady until 5 PM. We went and visited a new ward member who moved in to teach art in the junior high. We tried our new members at Rough Rock but they still aren’t here. Then home to a few more phone calls trying to get the dinner together that I am in charge of next week. Our last call was around 10:30 and I was so tired I could have --- who knows.
I crawled into bed and remembered that as Sister Yoe left, she went through her bag and handed me a little package and said it was for my Mother's Day. I got up and went out to my jacket pocket and took it out. It was a darling sterling bracelet that I absolutely love but I am sure she does not have the money to give it to me. Some gifts are so wonderful and yet they hurt your heart.

And so week 70 turns into the longest week of our mission. Instead of 8 weeks to go, we are down to 5 weeks. That is not very long and we still have some things to accomplish. I have piano recitals May 21^st and June 9^th. EP had the garden’s looking great and most of the ward members have theirs done as well. Our latest GPS count was 151 found and 38 to go. We still need to get the numbers on some but ward members know them and will take us to show where they live when they are not buzy. So, that sums up 27 days into one very long week.

The Church is True,

Happy Mother’s Day,

God’s Speed,

Elder and Sister Parkinson

PS Kacee--email me!

Carolyn, Emery, AJ and the new little Ethan Yazzie.

Kaden Mitchell, the flower girl.

Cooper Scott, the ring bearer.

Calli Tucker Scott and Thelma Scott.

The beaming bride - Annabel Mitchell -

soon to be Annabel Scott.

Her uncle is escorting her.

The wedding!

This is my Navajo Auntie, Ardella Mitchell

Sister Tsosie and I have been her visiting teachers.

I wonder if that didn't help all this along.

The complete family - legally married.

Ervin & Annabel Scott, Elliot Mitchell (nephew), Calli,

Cooper, Cameron, Thelma and Grady Scott,

with Kaden Mitchell in front.

The wedding cakes and the marriage license.

EP had to go change from his suit top to his matching

jacket with the groom.

By the way--isn't it amazing I had lavender

frosting to decorate the cakes? Thanks Paula!

EP tries his first roast mutton. Bishop is yelling picture

and is taking the capturing the historic event.

I guess I am brave too. Pretty good but rather tough.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Best of the Rez Week 69

Best of the Rez Week 69 April 30^th to May 6^th

We shall call this the week of travel. Travel is something we are becoming familiar with since we have now put 36,000 miles on our ride. Still, we seem to enjoy getting around and especially on asphalt. Speaking of:

#9 – Asphalt—driving on paved roads. Turning off a highway onto another paved road. Turning off a road into a cement driveway. Oh, for smooth travel. We just can’t wait to travel and especially in our very green and lush area. We do believe in the beauty of all environments but let’s face it; our little area of the world is WONDERFUL.
GREEN--everywhere we will be driving will be filled with the color green. I want to see beautiful manicured yards with lots of colorful flowers; fields full of crops from the rich dark soil. I want to take the soil in my hands and smell life--the giving providing soil of Idaho. What a thrill it will be!

1) Monday was a Monday. Seminary was fun – then the young elders did their internet thing while I cut their hair and we traded GPS numbers. We cleaned up and got cleaned up and headed to Sam’s where EP taught Roxanna a literacy lesson. It was nice. Then to Rock Point for piano; they were very excited because they got their recital pieces. One learned her’s on the spot and one I fear is way too hard. We headed back to temple prep but we only had one sister show up. Still, she is so excited. That feels very good. Our reading fell through which was sad but okay as we really needed more time with seminary.

2) May Day – but with a non-Rez twist. EP has not been feeling terrific either and this was his turn to go to the Dr. We taught seminary and then got ready and headed out. We did our normal things in town and then spent forever in the Dr’s and labs getting tests run. We will see how this all pans out later.
I wanted to eat at a nice place so we found a BBQ rib place that was SO good. Then we headed back home and pulled in around 8:30.

3) After seminary we had hoped to go out with Sister Gene and do some more GPSing but she was tending kids so we headed out alone. We went up to Rough Rock and spent forever and found about two. Home to piano lessons and then YM-YW. We were supposed to go over the ward roll with the Bishopric but that got postponed to tomorrow night. Sister Yoe did a wonderful activity for the YW and EP helped the YM with ‘Duty to God.’

4) Another sleep in – the Curley’s went to New Mexico where President Curley’s brother that was killed on the job as a policeman was being honored. We went up to Round Rock to teach Sister Arthur a temple prep lesson. I think that went rather well. She told us of an amazing dream that certainly fit temple work. I had 3 piano lessons show but our little kids that do piano and missionary did not show. Selena came at 7:00 and that was when we were supposed to meet with the ward clerk but the bishop was late and the ward clerk does not know how to run the computer very well. It was an interesting night. They decided to call the stake man for help. So far in our searching we have found 15 that have moved, 5 dead and 5 that have joined another church—one is even the Lutheran minister.

5) Back to seminary and then E/S Vogel came and we headed to Round Rock to teach a temple prep and genealogy lesson together. The minute we finished Sister Davis was waiting to take us to Zuni. Oh my, what a day. She is a fast driver and the roads are not the best. The views were beautiful and we arrived safely. When we stopped in Gallup to eat we walked in with 2 of the office couples. We all ate together and had so much fun. On to Zuni Land – they do not call it a Rez. The Zuni’s really live different than Navajo; much closer together and everything is brick. They bake all these breads and pies in big brick ovens. We bought some bread and pies but didn’t go shopping. I was a bit sad as Zuni is my favorite jewelry. We found an old 1600 cemetery which I thought was very interesting. Also the Tony Hillerman we are reading now is about Zuni which made things more interesting. The trip was a lot of fun as we sure told the stories and had some good laughs. Then home again.

6) Saturday was a straight piano day making up for Tuesday and Friday. My first 6 were 1 & ½ hours late so that made the day wonderful. After 10 straight lessons we headed to Chinle to plan seminary graduation with the Roberts. Another fun time! Then home to get ready for Sunday. For some reason we were very tired.

7) Another Sunday on the Rez. We had 58 to church so not so great. The Sacrament meeting was very nice but primary was next and only 2 children stayed for primary. Not even the bishop’s children stayed and I had planned a fun activity. Tivona showed up at 11 so that was a bit of lift to my day. After church we had a bite to eat and then tried to nap. Sister Davis called the minute I shut my eyes so my nap was over. I got up and tried to blog since I had not had a minute to do so all week. I guess blogging on Sunday in not right because the computer ate it. We went out visiting but only found one person home and she was busy. Tomorrow is an early morning temple trip so we just came home and got everything ready for that.

Week 69 is now in the past. It was not a highlight of missionary work but we loved the three temple prep lessons we taught and seminary is the best. We are hoping for good results for EP’s medical tests. Zuni was a very fun trip. It was an interesting week and hopefully we did some good as well.

The Church is True,

Hope you see some May flowers,

Our love,

Elder and Sister Parkinson

The Yucca's are blooming.

We were sharing the walk with this fellow.

I must say he made me a bit nervous.

A rather unique road in Rock Point.

We found our member--not home.

Just more of the nice smooth road.

When they get bumpy, people just drive down the sides,

so eventually you have a 4 lane road.

Turn at the tire.

This is the spot where we had to pull the young elders out

last year. It has blown over again. Yes, it is a road.

The Dailey's home of Rough Rock.

We stopped at an unproductive investigators house, and her

cousin brothers tried to rope us. Cute kids.

Just a pretty plant on the Rez--so rare.

This is the second wild potentilla we have seen. They

are huge and smell just wonderful right now.

A very old Hogan. Want to live there?

We are bumping along the road when all the sudden EP asked

if I saw the red. NOPE. He jumps out and finds this.

Selena makes her mother a coupon book.

Sister Yoe teaches the YW to make IOU books for

their mothers.

The Zuni Oven

In the kitchen with Sister Rose Seeyouma. She is an RM

that recently married her DL of her mission (after her

first husband passed). They bake 3 days a week.

They heat the oven with a big fire inside.

Then pull out the coals and put in the pies.

And this is horn bread. Their name not ours.

A home in Zuni Land.

A cemetery dated back to 1600's.

We assume this is another Zuni home.

Best of the Rez Week 68

Best of the Rez Week 68 April 23^rd to April 29^th

You may ask yourself – if I were to leave my family, home, community, hobbies and interests for 18 months, and surround myself with a totally different lifestyle – what would I miss most. What would be some of the things that I would want to do first when I returned home? I thought it would be fun to do a top ten list for our last ten weeks of the mission of things that we look most forward to doing when we return home. At first we tried to rank them, but that didn’t always work, but we are going from maybe least important to most important for the end. So, compare and see if you would be in the same moccasins WHEN you decide to serve.

#10 – Pants. Okay, EP gets to wear pants all the time, but maybe he would like to wear something besides a white shirt and tie. And I think I will see him in a lot more Levi’s. As for me, I cannot wait to put on pants in the morning and wear them all day long—to the grocery store, Wal-Mart, out to eat; I just want to be in pants. Even if I am in dresses, I would love to open the closet to see more than my 3 Navajo skirts. I wear them 6 days a week, but I do have a few Sunday dresses.

1) Monday was a fun treat. The seminary girls were traveling back from Las Vegas so we got to sleep in a little. We got up and headed for the Canyon DeChilly and walked down to White House. It was a wonderful walk and we just about timed it right with the heat. It is starting to get hot. We came home, got cleaned up and headed to Rock Point. Fun! We decided it was time for a treat so we stopped at the Rock Point Giant gas station/store and bought a Mangum ice cream bar. DELICIOUS. We made it back in time to swallow some real food before our temple prep. Both sisters showed up and we had a good lesson. Then we went to read but that family wasn’t home so we came home and prepared for seminary.

2) Seminary was great—Daniel and his friends. There are some great videos from the seminary DVD. The rest of the day was trying to get the addresses and GPS numbers in. Finally piano lessons came or at least 3 out of 6 of them came. ARP also called and said he was too tired. We went over to teach our lesson and they were not ready so we went across the street and read with the no show from the night before and then taught Logan’s. That was a great lesson. We are very excited for them.

3) Seminary, exercise and GPS. We finished everything we have today. We went out and tried to find some new numbers and had a little fun at that. Most people are friendly enough and helpful if they can be. We have been pretty excited about how many people we have found, but once I got everything typed in—there are still way too many NEVER FOUND’s.
My four piano lessons’s showed up and got all ready to accompany Sacrament meeting Sunday. I am excited for them since it is their first time.
Sister Curley called and was nervous about YW so I told her we would help her. The YM came and headed to John Draper’s to help him with his garden. They worked till EP could hardly move. He said these young kids do not understand the concept of work and especially with a shovel. The YW made pot holders and it went really well.

4) Seminary was great as Daniel was in the lion’s den. I love how the king fasted and prayed all night for him. Then we had a little walk and headed for Sister Tsosie. On the way we found Ardella Mitchell and Elvira Begay and had good visits there. As we were driving out to Begay’s (absolutely worst road on the Rez) we found a big King snake. EP had to really swerve to miss it. He, of course, had to jump out to take pictures. Margaret was really getting a kick out of it and said, “I think he rose up to smile and pose for him.” Then we stopped to eat at our trailer. When we went back outside the sky was just dark. We cancelled our plans to finish and headed back to Chinle with Margaret. We didn’t make it before the wind set in. It was scary driving. We dropped her off and went over to the grocery store where we could not even see 30 feet in front of us. We waited there and finally went in. Then we tried to come home. It was the worst ever. We passed 2 big wrecks. After we got home we cancelled all our lessons and just sat. It was so bad!
Later that night a ward member called for a blessing so EP picked up President Curley and they gave a baby a blessing.

5) Waffles and drawing. We finished the picture for our 3^rd section of the Old Testament picture line. EP out did himself on this one. I have no idea where he comes up with all his ideas. The elders came over and we went through the GPS papers with them. We went out and found a few more and then piano started. I only had 4 show up but it was fun teaching.
Aaron Logan called and asked for help. He has been asked to baptize a cousin. He came to the church and EP taught him how to do it. He is sure excited. We really think he is going to stay with the church and be a wonderful asset to the ward.

6) Saturday we waited for the bishop’s family for piano but they never showed up. An investigator showed up for BB so EP went and played with all the young kids. He came home a little sore. We went over to Chinle and watched Aaron baptize his cousin. It was wonderful. They had a dinner afterward so we stayed for Navajo Taco’s. We drove up the Canyon a bit and had a nap and then went back to the church to pick up Kelsey and Kayla from their 1^st Aid Clinic. Kayla was informed that she is ranked #1 out of 141 freshman and Kelsey is also being added into the Honor Society (and she is the top piano student at Many Farms High School), so to honor them we took them out to Garcia’s. They were pretty cute. We had fun eating and then took them home. It seemed all too early but we had plenty of things to do to get ready for Sunday.

7) The Bishop was 7 minutes early today but one of the counselors forgot about the meeting before church and only showed up for the last 10 minutes. I put up a little temple board with pictures of all the temple trips we have made. The Ahasteen’s came way early and we all went through out songs again. They all did great. That makes 22 youth accompanying Sacrament meeting so far. The attendance was 66 and we feel pretty good about that (primary back up to 10). That leaves us 22 more for our June 3^rd meeting. Many Farms also had the 9^th straight ward council meeting today so that was great.

After our little lunch and nap we went out to find some more ward members. We found an area with really old people that only speak Navajo. One little lady was really cute; she seemed scared to death but just kept pointing at EP badge and shaking her head yes. We had some good chats with people and then headed home. We prepared for seminary and typed in all the new GPS stuff.

And so goes the famous week 68. Having only 10 weeks left brings some funny emotions to surface. We counted up our GPS and we have found 92 with 81 still out there. The elders are going to give us the Rough Rock coordinates tomorrow so hopefully that will help a little. We also have been putting in a better address than ‘against the mesa.’ Believe it or not, we found both people with that address. Now for ‘try Windy Valley against back dumpster.’

The Church is True,

We will try again tomorrow,

Our love,

Elder and Sister Parkinson