Best of the Rez Week 10

Best of the Rez                        Week 10

Wh-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-sh!  If you remember we were last on a roller-coaster ride.  Greg Hazard, who is on his own roller-coaster ride, wrote and told us about living by the world’s largest roller-coaster.  I actually think we had it beat.  Ours went down a long tunnel, underground and spun and spun before finally coming up—only to learn the switch man didn’t see us go by and forgot to push stop.

1)      I last mentioned that a ward member was upset (way too soft of a word) with the missionaries—both the young Elders and us—the Seniors.   It ended up going between the Mission President, the Stake President and the High Council for about 4 days.  No one told us a thing but we got plenty of rumors.  It was awful!  Thursday I broke and the tears fell for hours.  On Friday we had Zone Conference in Gallup and the Mission President walked up and said, “Oh, that mess is all resolved.  I called to tell you but you must have already left.” 

2)      Did I mention this horrible day was last Thursday, March 24^th?  It started with a lady saying she wouldn’t come back to church because I hadn’t given her money.  I explained that I was a missionary and my job was to help her come closer to Christ; that everyone of the Rez needed my money and I couldn’t pay for everyone’s problems.  She stood there for a long time just looking at me, but now we are friends so I guess all is well.

3)      Next we went up on the hill towards Rough Rock (which is the other direction from Round Rock and Rock Point but closer to Red Rock) for a teaching appointment.  We hit the worst sand storm of our young lives.  Those of you who check the blog should enjoy the pictures.  We pulled over, waited a while, and then turned around and headed back down.  What a scary experience.

4)      We drove into Gallup and got our Little Burro (pick-up) serviced.  Opps - that was not Rez talk.  You do not have a car, van or pick-up on the Rez—you have a ride.  ‘Nice ride’ they say as they walk up to your car or ‘Does your ride work good?’

5)      I felt so terrible that I thought maybe I should get my hair cut and evened out and maybe if it looked better, I would feel better.  It happened!!!! I was scalped!!!!  I did my best to explain and when I saw what she did, it had been done and having one side with hair and one side without, would have looked even worse.  It was not a pretty picture and I spent about an hour walking through Wal Mart’s back aisles bawling my eyes out.  The next morning Sister Meldrum from Tuba City saw me and said, “New hairdo.”  The tears welled up again and she said, “Oh just call it your mission do.”  She was happy as a lark which did help.  Still, I will need months to grow out the sides and years for the back.  Could the day get worse?

6)      YES!  We walked into the restaurant just as the BYU game ended in a tie.  They couldn’t get the right channel until overtime was almost over and I got to see that last horrible minute.

7)      The next day was zone conference with a lot of new people to meet.  Since our first news of the day was that the fiasco was over, it was rather a great day.  Lots of couples spoke and then President Jones gave a great talk on revelation.  Sister Jones, the mission president’s wife and I taught PE together at Provo High School in 1971.  I suggested we do the coordinated jumping jack for the group.  We started but I ended.  I hope the video works to show.

8)      Saturday was up and preparing for our second baptism.  I like this story.  A less active member came to church one Sunday where they announced that the Senior missionaries were teaching piano and basketball on Saturday mornings.  That Saturday he showed up with his two sons, Scott and Darren, for piano.  He went in and played BB.  Then he went home and got his wife and they stayed the whole 2 hours.  That afternoon he and his wife showed up at the house and said that his brother needed help.  After some discussion Elder Parkinson said he would get the Elders and go give him a blessing.  We did a quick recount of the gospel restoration and how the priesthood was restored and Elder Parkinson gave him a blessing.  We left and told the Elders to stay and see if they could make an appointment to teach him.  Well, we baptized him Saturday and his nephew accompanied both songs.  It was wonderful and the water was clear.

9)      Saturday I took some of the young girls to the YW Conference.  Wonderful. Afterwards we got Root Beer floats and laughed a lot.

10)  Then a couple came over for a lesson.  We had taught a first discussion but doing so realized she had no Christian background, so we started at the simple basics.  We took them through the church and explained all the rooms and what happen in each.  They said they would be to church the next day.  They were and just beaming.  They stayed all 3 hours and were about the last ones to leave.  That was very nice.  Oh and all the music was by the youth again, but Scott was late and didn’t get to play his song.  Another primary child playing in Sacrament meeting. 

11)  And speaking of music; Elder Parkinson took his harmonica the other night and played about 5 songs for a family.  Grandpa Joe loved it and now wants to find his harmonica and join in the fun.  It was great.

And that does it for another week—longest yet.  I do hope next week goes a little better.  Things are still not perfectly settled.  One day soon perhaps.  Till then:

The Church is True,

            Smile often,

                        Love you much,

                                    Elder & Sister Parkinson

I think you call this a dust storm.

If it works, it is a video of Zone Conference with

Sister Jones and I showing off the coordinated jumping jack

we learned at Provo High School in 1971.

Bill Thomas and family at his baptism. 

Scott is holding his piano music.

Selena Yoe with her horse, Kelly.  It is 1/2 Mustang and 1/2 Arabian.

Elder Parkinson is going to help her train him.

Selena lives in an orginal Hogan.  The door is rather short.

Elder Parkinson has bashed into it twice so far.

Best of the Rez Week 9

Best of the Rez            Week 9

I have been looking for a descriptive of week 9 and all that comes to mind is ‘Missionary Week.’  Sister Marilyn Anderson who just returned from the Czech Republic said it best, “You never experience such highs and then follow them with such lows.”  Being on a mission is a roller-coaster of emotions as you experience the good and the bad.  So pay your ticket and come along as we ride ‘Week 9.’

1)      It was Spring Break this week and most people were gone.  Piano lessons went down to 10 and there were a lot of missed appointments.  It didn’t damage our spirits too much as we hope things will return to normal this week.

2)      Tuesday we went to Tuba City with the Rogers for a seminary meeting.  It was a great trip and a new part of the Rez to see.  WOW!  Oh and the meeting was very good also.  For seminary graduation here, you do it in Sacrament Meeting.  The students will be the speakers and everyone—regardless of year or achievement will be awarded a certificate. 

3)      Tuba City and the garden project made the March Ensign (page 61).  The garden behind the church is unreal.  It instilled the bug in Elder Parkinson and he spent the next two days on the rotor-tiller.  After our last blog, one follower (Biddly) wrote and asked if it wasn’t the Indians that taught the Pilgrims how to raise maize?  Yes, things have changed and Many Farms takes the cake on that change.  Regardless of the name, there isn’t a farm with miles and miles.   Yes, there once was, and from what I understand it was started and run by Mormon Missionary couples.  Ever hear of Rex Furness?

4)      On the way home, we went through Hopi land.  It is very different from the Navajo.  We went up to what they call First Mesa where homes are over 1000 years old.  Yes, one thousand years old.  They do not allow camera’s up there unless you are invited into someone’s home and they allow it.  I guess if we would have had the time, people will come out selling things.  We must get back there as it was an amazing sight and even spending just 3 minutes there really was exciting.  In Hopi land, we only have one place/ward with missionaries  in Polacca.  The missionary couple is the Page’s and they are a riot.  She is very Southern with quite the accent.  You must all meet them.

5)      I think you can call it a ‘Golden Investigator’ when they come to you.  We are teaching a little girl and re-activating her mother and they were worried about missing an appointment so they drove in to us.  It was rather funny because we were on the phone trying to call them.  Fun lesson and we played a little Wii afterward.

6)      How many times will we get asked for money?  That is one part of being a missionary that I do not enjoy.  Everyone looks at us as a money purse.  We are told not to carry money or give because the line will never end.  Still, I get a sick feeling every time it happens. 

7)      Friday we showed Mobster’s and Mormon’s at the church.  We had a pretty good crowd and all seemed to enjoy the movie and popcorn. 

8)      Saturday was a huge day.  We started with Piano/Basketball.  I taught 5 lessons while Elder Parkinson organized Basketball in the gym.  He really complains on these people not respecting his age and treating him like a teenager on the court.  Since he still gets his share of wins; all is well.

9)      After the basketball we got things ready to take the youth on a hike.  We thought we might get 4 youth, but instead we had the entire Benally (Bishop) family – 9 of them and 5 of their cousins, and 4 of the Curley family.  Since it was blowing we changed our hike to going down into Canyon De Chilly where they also have 1000 old ruins—only no one lives in these.  The wind really blew, but it was a great hike.  It is just beautiful and you must all come do it.  Great experience! 

10)  As we were driving out of the Canyon, our phone rang and it was our daughter-in-law, Angella telling us she was 15 miles from Many Farms.  She actually beat us home.  She had the three girls:  Brooklyn-6,Kaiya-4 & Sarah-2.  We unloaded them and headed to the gym where we had hot dogs, beans, potato salad, chips and pop for everyone that went on the hike.  It was a lot of fun and great food. 

11)  As Angella walked into our trailer she said, “Wow, the pictures make it look bigger.”  Yes, we were cramped but we had a ball with the little ones that night.  Grandma got her hair done—after washing out about a pound of sand, we all watched a movie, and then Grandpa played his harmonica to put them all to sleep.  Long, FUN day.

12)  Okay, so Sunday was a massive roller-coaster.  In Sacrament Meeting, all 4 songs were accompanied by 4 different youth.  The Sacrament song was played by a 10 year old primary boy, Jacob Benally.  (Next week another story)  It was just a thrill to see and hear them.  Oh, and a funny—Sarah was running back and forth with the only other white lady in our ward, and somehow knocked off the lady’s glasses and the lens fell out.  The lens is still to be discovered after several searches so if any of you find it, I would be most happy.

13)  After Sacrament meeting, Angella and the girls left.  So sad—but the youth at church all gave me hugs to be my pretend grandkids.  Cute.  Then a calm Sunday afternoon until the roller coaster went into the slump.  No need for details, but all is not well with a ward member and the missionaries and my stomach will be in knots until this is resolved.

Another week ends.  How ------------ they fly.  Someday I will find the adjective to put there.  Till then, know that we love hearing from you.  Our prayers are with you—sometimes our tears as well.  We couldn’t do this without your support and the knowledge that our Heavenly Father wants us here.  May we all be an instrument in His hands.

The Church is True,

            Go BYU,

                        Our love and prayers always,

                                    Elder and Sister Parkinson

Jimmie Tsosie and family stopped in for some Wii.

He is boxing his little Sister, Tinisha.

His new bride, Rita, is looking on.

On the way to Tuba City, there are rocks called--Elephant's Feet.

And here you have........

Selena Yoe try the obstacle course.

Watch for her next week!!!!

The happy gardener.  But oh - how hard the soil.

The first blossoms of spring.

A group of ready hikers! 

On our way to White House,Old Anasazi Ruins.

The White House

The ruins below

Elder Parkinson and Brother Curley

(aka Officer Jim Chee.  Jim Chee is the Navajo Nation Police

star of Tony Hillerman's Books.  Must reads)

Brother Curley was the Bishop but they wouldn't let him be a

Bishop and police officer.  He now serves on the High Council.

Beautiful

Elder Parkinson ont the rock trail.

You guessed it--a tumbleweed tree.

Angella, Kaiya 4, Sarah 2 and Brooklyn 6.

I put the ages in wrong in the email.

What a wonderful visit.

Jacob Benally--first Primary child to accompany

Many Farms Sacrament Meeting.

Best of the Rez Week 8

Best of the Rez           Week 8

Going on a mission is just like anything else—you do it because it is the right thing to do.  And if you are thinking that because you are doing something good—everything is going to come up roses and all your troubles are over—your mission may be a very hard learning experience.  I told the Bishop I was going because I needed some better fire insurance—I needed good things in my life.  I wonder if this first 2 months as been a lesson for me.  Oh sure, wonderful things are happening and I think all of my family and friends are blessed, but that doesn’t mean life hasn’t had some VERY hard things to handle and I am so far away to be there for so many.  I just want you all to know that we pray for you daily in good and in bad times.

1)      I am sure we are settling a little, but life does seem to be going into a doable routine.  We get up and teach Seminary at 7 AM and then study and prepare.  Then we meet with the Elders and plan the day.  Next we exercise and get cleaned up.  Lunch and either a nap or piano lessons and then we are on our way.  This week we drove south and west and up.  It was pretty.  At our first stop no one was home but a rooster took off after Elder Parkinson.  When he turned on it—it just started pecking and acting like he wasn’t even there.  It was so funny.   I wish the picture could show how long those spurs were on its legs.

2)      Piano lessons are from 4 to 6 Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.  Wednesday I teach in the morning and then from 4 to 9ish.  Saturday I teach from 10 to 1.  Most are doing amazingly well. 

3)      We teach every night and many afternoons as well.  We found about 5 new families this week.  It is getting almost impossible to fit everyone in.  We gave some to the Elders, but they can’t seem to connect with them so I think we will take them back. 

4)      One thing we should start is to do a percentage on how many appointments are kept and how many times we get stood up.  We are not even going to try on the first week of the month again when they get paid.  No one is home that week.

5)      The big event of this week was Elder Parkinson’s birthday.  We tried to have a party with the Chinle Senior Missionaries but 2 out of 3 were busy.  Oh well, we went out to eat with Elder/Sister Rogers.  We went to Garcia’s and loved it.  I told the waitress it was Elder’s birthday and she asked for his name.  She brought him out a big piece of cake and asked if I wanted him sung to.  “Of course,” I say.  I thought she meant the waitresses but the entire restaurant was asked to sing to Brad on his birthday.  He is still so happy to have me around.  Good cake though.

6)      After we had dinner we rushed home to a teaching appointment.  It was a second lesson for the three Tsosie girls.  When we got there they were still eating so we waited a few minutes and turned down Schwan Pizza about 20 times.  (We were full.)  Soon they were ready and their older brother was there also.  Elder Parkinson had me start the lesson with “I am a Child of God.”  I signed it as I said the words.  Later in the lesson the son was talking about music and I mentioned that Elder Parkinson is a better singer and he could have sung “I am a Child of God” where I could only sign it.  The son then asked Brad to sing it.  I will never in my life get over the fact that Elder Parkinson without another prompting just started singing and sang the whole song.  They were all impressed (especially me).  They all 4 said they wanted to be baptized.  Then one of the girls was asked to pray and the son said he wanted to pray.  In the prayer is asked for Mr. Per-kan-sin to have a ‘happy birthday.’   What a sweet experience!

7)      There are a lot of things the Rez does without so I was totally amazed the other day when Elder Parkinson yelled that he had found our first rest stop.  I sat up to see a toilet sitting on the side of the road.  What a great picture. 

8)      We took Sister Tsosie to lunch and then went over to try genealogy.  What a fun day.  The waiter that gave us water was from our ward but hasn’t been there since we came.  He said he would come Sunday—he didn’t.  Our main waitress had worked for Sister Tsosie in BIA.  Then a nicely dressed man came and asked where we were serving.  He is from a branch down by Window Rock.  We had a fun chat.  When we introduced him to Sister Tsosie she started speaking Navajo and we soon learned that this man had gone to the school where Sister Tsosie used to work.  The man had run for Navajo Nation Vice President.  We had a fun chat.  As we were leaving I mentioned to the woman next to us with a large pistol on her belt that we sure felt safe with her there.  She laughed and said my black badge was all the help I needed.  She was a member from Mexican Hat and was on her way to see Officer Curley from our ward.  What a fun lunch.

9)      Saturday was another AMAZING day.  We went to Chinle for the first garden meeting.  They have called another 6 senior couples to be garden missionaries.  Then, whoever signs up, comes to these meetings.  NOW GET THIS -- Every ward is given a trailer and a roto-tiller.  Every family gets 120 feet of fencing with the post and brackets, 6 bags of sawdust, and 2 bags of fertilizer.  Then they teach you how to till and get it ready.  Next meeting we learn and get more.  These missionaries are running around the parking lot carrying fencing and bags like teenagers.  I asked the one lady how it was going and she said, “When I go to bed at night, I am tired and that is how it is supposed to be.  My husband has only been a member 10 years, but he has figured out that if we serve for 8 months and go home and come back for the next three years—we can serve a 2 year mission in three years.”  They were just as happy as they could be.  Oh do I pray for a success with this program.  I do realize it is winter, but it would be so wonderful to see anything grow in what use to be ‘Many Farms.’

10)  Elder Parkinson’s birthday was fun—but we were invited to Cyan Zoe Wheeler’s first birthday party.  OH MY GOODNESS!  What an event.  We thought we were going for cake and ice cream but NO WAY.  They had hot dogs, hamburgers, BBQ chicken, BBQ ribs and various steaks.  There must have been 20 huge salads with all the extra’s, including lots of peppers.  And then Navajo tortillas.  They are huge and actually fry bread that is just cooked without the grease—really good if you add salt.  There were so many people there and when Sister Tsosie’s sisters heard that I wanted to herd sheep the talk was on.  I am not sure who is going to get the last laugh at of all this.

And that about does it—another week comes to an end.  We are still very unsettled as Elder Parkinson met with the Stake President this morning and they are trying to decide what to do with us.  I am sure we will know soon and hope that from here on we will be a little more settled and productive.  We actually got a nice compliment from Brother Curley (the old Bishop) the other day.  He said it was obvious that we loved the people of Lehi and that we had hit the ground running.  That sounded nice.

The Church is True,

            Commitment is essential,

                        Love and Pray for you always,

                                     Elder/Sister Parkinson

               Mr. Rooster that quickly resinded the charge.

As you can well imagine--I have another picture

that someone won't let me post.

Later that day Elder Parkinson yelled'

"Don't look Ethel!" as someone created his own rest stop.

I will use any tactic available.  Since I love my Wii, I put it to gospel use.

This is Tia--I invited her over to play Wii

and then asked if she was interested in having

the lessons and being baptized.  They are coming back on Thursday.

This is Elder Parkinson showing them how to really fly on Wii.

Not for the faint of heart.  I told you our water changed colors. 

This was Wednesday's color. 

Want to wash your face and brush your teeth in this?

Dogs on the Rez try to commit suicide all the time. 

They just lay in the path of cars in the gas stations.

Another car pulled in on the other side just as close and it never budged.

This is the artist Chris Pinto and his mother showing us how to cook.

They put the steamed corn in OR TURKEY in and leave it overnight.

                             They said they are going to cook for our company--WHO IS COMING?

Another part of MODIFIED is that fact that we give haircuts to the Elders.

This is Elder Read (left) and Elder Silver.

All done! 

Elder and Sister Rogers from American Fork.

Lighting the cake.

YUMM!  And everyone sing!

Best of the REZ Week 7

Best of the Rez Week 7

Okay, so I am a senior couple missionary.  I seem to have forgotten to post last week’s blog.  Pardon me.  That means not only did you go without last week, but now you have to get sore eyes reading this week.  I love seeing all of the followers.  Thank you for sharing our mission with us.  We hope you enjoy the updates.  It is an amazing experience—both to the north and to the south, to the east and to the west.
That is very Navajo!

1) We will call this the week of new experiences and new investigators.  We started last Monday morning bright and early with early morning seminary.  We have one student.  There are 3 others within a block that could come but so far we have not excited them into doing so.  However, there may be a reader out there that knows of my testimony in teaching the one.  We absolutely love it.  Kelsey Curley is a dream and we are learning as we teach Doctrine and Covenants and church history.  Gloria Andrus strikes again.  We are using her stories as our devotionals.

2) We are also finding new investigators.  We had to go to Chinle for a seminary meeting the other day and on the way home stopped off to a few people.  One sister invited us to come back and teach at her home.  HUMMMM We got lost at night.  We came home and finally found a phone number and called and apologized.  She said we could try again the next week.  We went out in the light and sat by the side of the road and waited till the appointment.  We soon found out that her 12 year old daughter has not been baptized so we taught the restoration lesson.  They wanted us right back.  We returned and both the mother and daughter wanted the girl baptized.  We have scheduled for the 26^th of March.  She is also going to take piano lessons.  Sunday they both came to church and I think she really had a good time.  The mom was crying and smiling as she left Relief Society.  She said she loved it.  WAHOO!!!!!!

3) We also finally caught up with the three Tsosie girls, 18-13-9.  We really had a fun lesson with them.  They wanted us back when the dad could hear as well.  Cross your fingers and pray for us there.

4) More angels.  I got 4 more piano books but have no idea where they came from.  And guess what – they have 2 Christmas books.  That will be so fun.  My teaching pool is now up to 17 and I am thinking I am going to have to call a stop to new students.  Sunday, another youth accompanied in sacrament meeting and on the 20^th, every song—all 4 will be the youth playing.  We are so very excited.  The ward loves it.

5 ) I said angle(s).  Well, someone sent us more Florence’s.  Oh how we treasure the taste.  Also, the card inside was of one of our favorite drives in Idaho-Montana so we love it almost as much as what it said.  Thank you for thinking of us—and don’t lose that tick.

6) Okay- another mission miracle.  I have shown how my students do not have pianos at home so they practice on their tables.  I was telling one of the other senior couples about it and she asked why I didn’t order keyboards.  I explained that our ward has not even been given a ward budget yet and they would never have money for keyboard.  She told me to call a number—we did and it was the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  We apologized and hung up.  We checked our number and called again—same thing so I said I was calling for a certain lady and they said—“Oh, you want keyboards.”  Someone donated a ton of money and with the interest missionaries can asked for a keyboard for every family that has family members taking piano lessons.  If the students come prepared and show progress and help with the music in the ward, they get to keep the keyboard in their home.  If they do super well, after a year they can apply to keep it forever. 
SIX KEYBOARDS WERE DELIVERED TO THE MANY FARMS WARD THIS WEEK.  OH, HAPPY DAY!!!!!!
Elder Parkinson came in carrying keyboards as I was teaching Scott Thomas.  He just beamed and said, “I prayed they would come this week.” 

8) This isn’t quite a mission miracle, but the other night we eating and Elder Parkinson said, “We are really pretty good cooks.  Why did we go out to eat all the time at home?”  Funny how one life takes over another and you can hardly remember the old way.  Wish that were as easy for the Native Americans to give up on their ‘old traditional ways.’

Well that about sums up week 7.  Hopefully all is going super for all of you off the Rez.  March is supposed to get windy so I posted a couple of pictures of last year’s wind storms.  Life on the Rez is always interesting. 

The Church is True!

                Love Your Neighbor!

                                All our love!

                                                Elder and Sister Parkinson

Early morning seminary.  On Friday's we work on memorizing scripture mastery

so we serve pancakes as well. 

Here is Scott and Darren Thomas helping to unload the keyboards. 

The Fed Ex woman waited for us to get the camera--

I think she was happy to be in the picture as well.

Opps, cut off her head in this one. 

It was an exciting day at Many Farms!

One of Elder Parkinson's favorite sayings comes from Yogi Berra--

"If you come to a fork in the road --take it."

We are repeated told to turn at mile post ###.

When we do, we only have around 7 choices to choose from.

I am standing in the road by one of last year's sand drifts.

They just left it and drive over or around it.

Like I say--they love Mother Earth.

The other morning I caught 2 rabbits playing in our soon to be garden.

They are sure cute now--but I worry once the garden is planted.

Sorry they are about as brown as the dirt--but look carefully.

Shubie is one of our investigator's son. She really fixes him up cute.

We tried to show his traditional hair.  He was so cute.