Best of the Rez Week 14

Best of the Rez            Week 14          April 17^th to April 24^th

All I can say to start this off is that I am embarrassed and confused.  I had a couple of sweet notes last time complimenting us on how much we are doing and what a difference we are making.  From our view, it is almost impossible to see.  In fact, the other day, it hit us that missionaries have been here for years, and so little has changed.  The ward once had over 100 people coming and for one reason and another it has reduced to around 40.  The most discouraging thing to us is the lack of commitment to serve.  Our little ward is being held together with 4 or 5 families and I am constantly frightened that they are going to wear out. There is a Primary President that does not come.  There is a Youth Sunday School teacher that has shown up once in 2 months.  SO…. Do I go in and cover or do I sit to the side and let the ward realize they should be able to function without missionaries rushing in take over when someone just doesn’t care enough to show up?  We are contacting people every week, but although some give you the quaint responses on how they will start coming back, it seldom happens and if they do; within a couple of weeks they are gone again.  The Bishop does not dare call people to positions because once he does, they will stop coming.  Oh, if only we really knew how to make a difference.  We have resolved ourselves to the fact that we are probably here to serve the one, and hopefully the one may go on to help another one.  FAITH, a missionary needs a lot of faith along with a fair amount of energy and positive thinking.

And now for the news and updates of week 14—with a few new firsts to share:

1)      Sunday after church and a nap, we decided to go out for a few visits.  We found one lady home that we have been trying to find for weeks and at least got in a 5 minute visit.  Then we found a new Belegana that has come out for a couple of weeks and had a nice visit with him.  Then we went to find someone that said they might be interested and we set up an appointment to teach them.  We tried to find their neighbors, the Wheeler’s, that we had on our list to contact but they were not home.

2)      Monday our appointment fell through, so we started running around to people again.  We tried the Wheeler’s and they were just pulling out at the first intersection.  We then went over to see the Gene’s.  They were leaving with the Wheeler’s.  Sister Gene started to get in the car and then called me over.  Crystal Wheeler then told me that she wanted us to start coming and teaching them because she and her husband wanted to go through the temple.  WOW!  Now that is a first.  We set up an appointment for Wednesday morning.

3)      Tuesday was Seminary day.  I made Idaho Potato soup and homemade rolls for the dinner.   The meeting was in Chinle and it was a pretty good time.  Brother Watts is really a great guy, and Meldrum’s were there so we had a great time. 

4)      My 4:00 piano lesson did not show up for the second week in a row, so I took off to find him.  No one was at home and there was a note on the door saying—‘Dad, we went with Mom.’  I left a note at the bottom of it to call me.  No call and no one showed up for lessons.  After the next lessons, the Elders came rushing in—‘What happened at *****?’  ‘Nothing,’ I say, ‘they just didn’t show up for lessons.’  The Elders then told me they went there and the guy came to the door drunk; bawling because his wife just took the kids and left him.  Elder Parkinson made it perfectly clear that I was not driving off on my own again.

5)      Wednesday we had our first lesson with the Wheeler’s.  It was an amazing experience.  Yes, they both talked it over and have decided it was time to get active in the church and get their family sealed.  It was a great lesson and left us feeling rather wonderful.

6)      Another ‘modified’ and first for our mission.  One of our ward members is the Athletic Director at the Round Rock Junior High.  He asked Elder Parkinson to umpire his baseball game.  We called Elder Nawahine who used to be a coach also and he said he would help.  When we told Kelsey what we were doing she wanted to come also, so we picked her up and the 4 of us headed to Round Rock.  It was a riot.  It was Junior High, so they hardly knew what they were doing.  In fact after 5 runs have scored, you switch batting teams.  I went out to take a picture of Brad and the other coach yelled at me and said to get the parents off the field.  I yelled back that I wasn’t a parent—I was the umpire’s wife.  What a fun experience.

7)      Thursday Sister Tsosie and I went Visiting Teaching again.  We went to one of her relatives that has lost her husband and all 4 of her sons.  She only spoke Navajo so it was quite fun to watch—they really use their hands.  Afterward, I learned that she was telling a story about her Gall Stones and how she knew she had Gall Stones but the Dr was doing all these tests.  They would laugh and laugh.  The AD had given us some steaks and said that he was too busy to have us up so to cook them and have the Elders over.  We did and oh—were they good and Brad cooked them perfectly.  That night both of our appointments feel through L but one at least stopped and told us.  That never happens on the Rez.

8)      Friday—How long can you wait?  We were to be in Chinle at 1:00 for an interview with President Jones.  We went in just before 5:00.  We had more fun telling stories with everyone, so it was a good wait.  He is quite the guy and seems to have so much energy and love for people.

9)      That night – another first.  We went out to one of the people’s homes that we are working with and blessed his house.  That is huge in Navajo but we don’t use corn pollen.  It was really kind of fun.

10)  Saturday I finished my piano lessons in time to start the Primary Easter Party.  We expected and cooked for 5 children.  You guessed it—we had 17 children and about 17 adults.  We had this lady that is always asking me for money show up with her daughter- in-law and they ate four helpings—of which we were careful to dish up—and they have absolutely no one in Primary.  Oh my!  Elder Parkinson ran home and cooked more – then ran to the store to buy more, while I played games.  I think it was fun but I am not sure.

11)  Stake Conference.  We then headed to Stake conference where we were getting a new Stake President.  Elder Richards and Elder Webb were here.  The Saturday night meeting was very good and then we needed to be there at 8:30 Sunday for a new member meeting.  Our 2 new members didn’t show, but the meeting was very good.  I wish I knew it was for children and we would have invited Selena.  Sunday’s main session went very well.  President Brown is our new Stake President.  He has been in the church forever, and was a follower of George P. Lee, so he left for some time when George P. Lee left the church.  When he came back, he came back 100% and has served valiantly in our old Stake Presidency as well.  It was a great meeting, but we didn’t notice many people there from Many Farms.

Then we came home for an Easter feast of Shawn Chicken Pot Pies and a very nice nap.  Our lesson didn’t show but we shouldn’t have scheduled it on Easter.  We drove out to the lake and looked for ducks.  Not many ducks but we are getting some birds at our feeders here at the trailer.  So another week comes to a close and the excitement of wondering what the new week may hold is building.

The Church is True,

            Eat all those Easter Eggs (or save just one for me),

                        We dearly love you,

                                    Elder and Sister Parkinson

Elder Parkinson calling "Play Ball"

So official!

The Missionary Umpires!

Elder Nawahine and Elder Parkinson

Jacob Benally looks as his great Easter artwork.

Kash and Shubie

Taylor Price at the Easter Party.

Kaitlyn Price--one of our investigators.

Kaylana Brown and Zoe Wheeler.

Notice Zoe's new traditional moccasins.

Sierra Wheeler with her Easter Art.  She is Zoe's sister.

Darren Woody and his artwork.

Kash's masterpiece.  His mother is an investigator.

Best of the Rez Week 13

Best of the Rez                                 Week 12              April 10^th to April 17^th

Okay, so 13 is the unlucky number—or lucky number.  Actually it doesn’t matter, because it is the 14^th week of our mission—the 13^th on the Rez—so really the 13^th week has already happened and therefore everything should be great.  But interestingly enough, the 13^th of April happened this week as well.

1)      Finally someone set me straight as to what is going on here in the Many Farms ward.  Our Primary President isn’t coming—hasn’t been here for about the last 8 weeks.  The Relief Society President tells me that it is because the Primary President’s sister’s daughter had a fight 2 weeks ago with the Primary Counselor’s son that the Primary President’s sister’s daughter is living with.  Got that straight! 

2)      We went out to see a 16 year old girl that we have talked to before.  She mentioned that she would like to start coming back to church.  We also told her about our softball team we are starting.  She came out to the car and said that they couldn’t make church this morning because the peyote dance went too long the night before and they slept in.  Hummm—not sure where to go from there.

3)      Remember the door #3 comment.  When we drove in the other night, Elder said it again.  A little mother was sitting on our steps crying with her baby all wrapped in blankets.  Just how important is it to make the right decision at the right time.  She moved in with a guy and her parents were furious with her.  She had a baby.  Then the guy turns out to be a real jerk.  She talks to her mom and her mom said to just come home and start over.  She went home and the parents just wailed on her and started hitting her even when she was holding the baby.  They told her she was no longer their daughter and that her son was no longer their grandson.  So she ran back to the guy and they had another fight.  OH MY!!  Did I mention before that we also have counseling missionaries here—I called for help!

4)      Monday we went to Kelsey Curley’s piano recital.  WOW! What a facility.  The schools here are amazing and if you teach or work at the school you get a home for around $300+ a month depending on how big you want.  Anyway, it was interesting to see inside the school.  And yes, Kelsey was great.  I will still never believe she learned that song in 3 days.  Today she played it as the musical number for sacrament meeting as well.

5)      My Patriarchal Blessing tells me that I will be blessed with good friends.  Never has that been more evident than on this mission.  Sister Meldrum, from Tuba City, also teaches piano lessons.  She said that they only thing she has to use is the Keyboard Course booklet.  I mentioned that I posted a request for any old piano books on my email/blog.  She said she did also, but never got a one.  I had three shipments totally 40 books.  Her mouth just dropped open; you must have some ‘great friends.’  YES, I do.  Then the other day we wanted the tape from Truman Madsen on the martyrdom of Joseph Smith.  I was not even sure how to find it but one call to a ‘friend’ and the tape showed up at my door within days.  WOW—how lucky can one missionary couple be?  And I have already mentioned how another angel sends us articles on Joseph Smith each week.  They really help our church history lesson.   And we have received 2 boxes of Florence’s and 1 bag of candy from my sister.  I LOVE my friends.

6)      And speaking of friends—perhaps I have many new friends from Many Farms as well.  The Chinle Ward asked me to come teach aerobics for a weekly activity.  I asked Many Farms if they would let me try it out on them.  You may recall that I did it last week for them, and they asked to do it again this week.  We actually had two investigators show up.  They said they really had fun.  Well, after we finished Wednesday night, I suggested that it would be fun if some of them would come and do it in Chinle with me the next night.  I asked if anyone needed a ride.  Everyone’s hand went up and sure enough, every single member of our Wednesday night activity group showed up in Chinle the next night.  It was so much fun; especially when the young Elders drop out because they can’t keep up with the Senior Missionary’s work out.   BUT—today in church they announced I am doing it again this week.  YICKS!!  I am an old woman and I better be finding some more music.

7)      This week I actually got to go out visiting teaching (we call it that—but visiting teaching hasn’t existed here for about 40-50 years) with Sister Tsosie.  I picked her up and we headed to visit older sisters in the ward.  We found two at home and it was just great fun.  Most of the talking was in Navajo, but I could always tell when she was telling them how much happier she is since she started coming back to church.  After our visits we had sandwiches and soup and then took her home and headed to District meeting with the Elders. 

8)      Saturday was another garden day.  It was simply amazing.  They set up tables and had everyone fill up seed packets.  Those Senior Garden missionaries are the best.  Please—please let a garden grow here in Many Farms.  If it happens we are going to change the name to Mini Farms since they aren’t any farms within miles of the place.

9)      And Saturday night we tried out our Dutch Ovens.  We invited Jimmie and Rita (our marriage and baptism) over along with their son and his common law wife and their children and fixed chicken and potatoes.  They were a little concerned it was not steak but they did say it was good. 

10)   Sunday was our 14^th Sunday at Many Farms.  They called Elder Parkinson to be the Executive Secretary of the ward.  We also both spoke.  I spoke about my 4 clans; when a Navajo introduces themselves they are to tell about the 4 clans they come from.  I told about my grandparents and a family history story from each family and explained how their commitment helped developed my testimony.  I got to throw in a trek story so I was very happy.  Elder Parkinson spoke about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and keeping the 10 Commandments.  He is always surprised how many people here have never heard of them.  We had all three recent baptisms at church and six of our investigators so we felt very good about that.  And it is getting to be old hat by now so I will probably not mention again that all the music was by the youth, but we are getting more and more of them playing.

And that about does it for another week on the Rez.  It is always interesting at best.  There are those days you wonder if you have what it takes.  There are also those days that bring you such joy.  Yes, I guess the roller-coaster ride moves on.  We hope all is well at home with you and your families. 

The Church is True,

                Find Joy in the Journey,

                                Our faith and prayers to you all,

                                                Elder and Sister Parkinson

Kelsey Curley at her piano recital.

Her estatic teacher that will never believe she learned the song in 3 days.

The song is a waltz and Elder Parkinson insists that

Elvis Presley sang a song to the music.  Every time

he hears Kelsey practice he starts to waltz.  He told her

he would do it for the recital and when he didn't she called

him on it.  So we went up and danced after the recital.

Our granddaughter Katie wanted to know if we ever see horses.

Only every 10-15 minutes.  They eat on the side of the road and

never move a muscle when a car goes by.  This one is my favorite.

As you can see, there isn't much food.

At least once a week, a horse is hit by a car. 

That is the number one traffic concern--hitting animals on the Rez.

Now have you ever seen such beautiful rows?

It has taken a few hours but you can't believe how the

ground has changed with tilling, sawdust, manure, fertilizer

and one dedicated Elder.

Elder Parkinson considers himself quite the dog trainer.

He drives by all these 'Good Rez Dogs' and says,

"Good Dog, Lay Down, Roll Over, now Stay!"

The garden project for our part of the stake.

What a masterpiece of organization.

Thank You -- Garden Missionaries!

Our Jimmie Tsosie and his step-son Derek filling seed packets.

The garden project's trailer and roto-tiller.

Add the Elder and the post pounder.

Best of the Rez Week 12

Best of the Rez     Week 12     April 3rd  to April 10th

Three months today!  My granddaughter, Katie, said it felt like six.  Since time is measured differently on the Rez—everything is in slow mode—I really couldn’t say how it feels to us.  Elder Parkinson has a new saying for us each morning, “What do you think is behind door # 3 today?”  Oh my, do the adventures get more and more interesting.
I called last week the learning week on the Merry-Go-Round.  This week has been the meeting week with a nice tram ride at the end. 

1)      We evidently loved the drive over to Tuba City because we had to go back.  Elder Parkinson gave our garden away and put in another one in our backyard so we had to go get more supplies.  The Seminary teachers over there and Elder/Sister Meldrum from Raymond, Alberta, CA.  They are the greatest.  We had such a fun visit with them.  And we got to see Sister Olsen, from Star Valley, Wyoming for a few minutes.  She has the best story ever.  She came to the Rez to teach elementary school.  A young missionary baptized her in Chinle.  After his mission he looked her up, asked her out, and proposed on the first date.  Now they are back as garden missionaries and seem to be enjoying it.  I know they are sure working hard.  Anyway, we went out to eat with Meldrums  while Elder Parkinson and Elder Meldrum planned their motorcycle trip to Sturgis.  Then they showed us the dinosaur footprints.  It was a fun day, but we chatted so long (everyone is trying to give us advice) that we didn’t have time for 1^st Mesa.  We are going back in May.

2)      We taught Selena her last lesson and she is both excited and nervous.  She is such a cute little girl that gets so excited about things.  When we asked her who she wanted to baptize her, she asked for me.  When we explained it had to be a priesthood holder (man) she was a little upset.  Then Elder Parkinson went into the corral with her and now he is her hero.

3)      We have had some good lessons this week.  Our family of 6 is progressing nicely but when we said -- we hear you want to get married and baptized -- they quickly said they only wanted baptized.  After all, why marry after you have 4 children and have been together for years?  The Tsosie girls are also doing great and are really fun to teach.  When we tried to teach Sister Begay, she was eating with her daughter and told us to wait.  Then they came and got us and we ended up teaching three families instead of one.  That was fun.

4)      The Chinle Activity night group asked me to teach an aerobic routine.  We put some songs together and made up some moves.  I told Many Farms that I was going to try it out on them first, because I knew them and was more comfortable with them.  So Wednesday was the first try.  It was a ball!!  I had those Indians moaning and groaning all over the gym.  We had everyone from 4 year olds to Elder Parkinson.  They really seemed to have fun—but not near as much as I did.  Unfortunately, I got too excited and couldn’t sleep that night.

5)      A mission miracle of another kind:  Our little Kelsey Curley –our seminary girl and one of my piano students – is also taking a class piano lesson at school.  She came Tuesday with a piece that she was suppose to play for a recital on Monday, 11^th.  “So, how is it going?” I asked.  “I can play the 1^st three lines.”  I look at the piece and see that it is three pages.  I am wondering where they would come up with this music for a beginning class piece.  But we started one measure at a time—first top hand and then bottom hand and pretty soon we were to the end of the second page.  I told her we would only do top hand for a part and then end it right. I also said she could come every night for lessons.  When she showed up the next night, the teacher said it had to be all done, both hands and memorized for credit.  GLORY!  Again, one measure at a time with lots of positive talk and by Thursday night she could make it through the whole song.  Friday she came for another lesson – miracle.  She had played the entire piece, memorized, for her teacher that day and got an A.  I would have never believed it.  She was just beaming.
6)     Meetings week:  We met two hours with the Rez Seminary Coordinator on Tuesday, Brother Watts, a Catawba Indian married to a Navajo.  He is a riot.  Elder Parkinson practices some of his political correctness on him as well.  Brad asked if he spoke Navajo, “no” he answered.  “Well do you speak Catawba?” Brad asked.  Again “no,” to which Brad replies, “Well, you are kind of a poor excuse for an Indian.”  They sure laughed.  On Wednesday we met with the District leader where more advice and friendship was given and we had lunch together. 

7)      Friday we had another Senior Zone Conference.  They really are fun, but we were a bit rushed that day.  We ate at Garcia’s and then had a meeting for a couple of hours.  We had to leave early so we couldn’t get any pictures.  I was sad about that.  It is so fun to talk to everyone and hear their stories.  The Pages have also served in Hong Kong and the Paynes just got home for Mongolia.  They said there are so many similarities; you would think you were in the same county.

8)      WAHOO!!  Selena baptismal day.  Since we had the 4 hour zone meeting, we left filling the font to the young Elders.  You guessed it—they didn’t notice the water turn yellow and thought if they just keep it running it would lighten up.  It didn’t!  Again we get a yellow baptism.  And the wind was terrible—oh my—same as last time.  But by the time everyone came it was just a wonderful evening.  Her grandfather, Edward Yoe, use to be the Branch President but hasn’t been to church in years.  He came and said the opening prayer.  It was in Navajo and a very long prayer.  Her Auntie gave the closing prayer, also a less-active, and it was so sweet.  Her father who is not a member also came and seemed very excited about the whole event.  Then everyone got to see the ugly water and Selena really got scared again.  Very patiently, Elder Parkinson talked her into the water and the baptism itself was really slick.  Then we had chips, cake, cookies and ice cream.  It was a really wonderful night.

9)      We have made mention that our Bishop is really shy.  Well, he conducted the meeting in both English and Navajo for Brother Yoe.  He wasn’t shy then.  After the baptism I pointed to the old baptism bulletin board and said, “Three more.”  “Yes,” he said, “But where are the pictures?”  I told him we keep forgetting to save them on a jump drive and take them to Gallup with us in the two times we had been there.  “Can’t you at least print them on paper like this one?” he asked.  I then told him that I even brought picture paper but that we didn’t know how to do it.  “Well, I can,” he says and starts for our house.  He and Elder Parkinson go into the den and Elder keeps saying, “It just doesn’t work.  It’s all fouled up.”  Bishop just keeps telling him what to do.  Then all the sudden I hear the Bishop say, “You did it wrong.  Didn’t you look?  See, there is an arrow.”  To which Elder Parkinson replied in all his proper politically correctness, “Well, you’re the flippin’ Indian.  You are the one that should be looking for arrows.”  They had a wonderful laugh, and we learned that our Bishop is one SMART fellow.

10)      And Saturday was a complete cleaning day—both the house and the computer.  Elder Parkinson was on the computer for hours trying to get it to work and I was cleaning sand out of window sills.  It was wonderful to go to bed that night with everything clean.  Now the computer was still in turmoil but the Elders helped us fix it while we watched “Praise to the Man.”

11)  And Sunday was Selena’s Confirmation.  As she was sitting down someone asked who was going to do it and she yelled, “Isn’t he here?”  “I’m right here Selena.”  It sounded so fatherly.  Oh, it was a wonderful day. 

And another week, more wonderful than the last, is over.  It seemed a little slow, but ended so great.  Selena is the cutest thing and so excited.  Today, the Bishop came and asked Brad to teach the Priesthood lesson.  Fabulous!!  And all the church songs were played by the youth.  They are learning more and more—great kids—love ‘em to death.

The Church is True,

            Whatever the task, give it your best,

                        Our prayers and love to you all,

                                    Elder and Sister Parkinson

Dinasaur Footprints outside of Tuba City.

Have you been here, Gloria?

They say the water helps show them off.

They really were not very big, but there were sure a lot of them.

This is at a free site by a little pond. 

We saw bright pink gold fish in the pond.

The scenery where we looked for the footprintes.

We are always amazed at the layers of color in the mesas.

Selena at baptism. 
From left to right
Bishop Benally, Sister Yoe (her mom), Selena, Sammy Kee, (her father),
Edward Yoe (her grandather) Melissa Samuel (her Auntie)

And add the missionaries :-).

Selena with her congrats cake.
We all had a very good time.

Best of the Rez Week 11

Best of the Rez     Week 11     March 27 to April 3

We will call this the week of learning.  It is always interesting to start a new life as a missionary in a new country (yes, the Navajo Nation is a sovereign nation) with a completely new culture.  After two months of hearing how badly you are needed, we finally learn that half of the ward leadership does not want any help and the other half will just not show up and expect missionaries to rush in and save the day.  Only big problem is that Elder Parkinson is on the ‘we don’t want any help’ end regardless of the need, and I am on the ‘rush in and save end’ because the ward primary leaders don’t care enough to show up (which is only perpetuating the problem).  The Primary has 2 workers; the president and a counselor.  The president has not shown up for 7 out of the 10 weeks.  The counselor did not show up for 3 of them leaving the primary completely unstaffed.  What to do?  Elder Parkinson offered to help with the Aaronic Priesthood but the Bishop said no.  He offered to teach Temple Prep—again no.  Finally, we called for help and now we are getting an understanding of how the church in Rez land operates.  After hearing a ton of different stories, we are going to refind, reteach, retrain, teach seminary, teach piano lessons, and play in our garden. 

So, after that big adjustment the week actually was rather slow. Maybe you would say that we were on a Merry-Go-Round this time.

1)      Okay, I was scalped and have a complete men’s hairdo.  Sunday in church one of the ward members, Sister Curley, stood up and said that she was so thankful for Brother and Elder Parkinson to be here.  Elder Parkinson leaned over and asked which one I wanted to be.  Brother—I said—I don’t have the Priesthood.  I said it had to be the new mando that got such a response.

2)      Monday was a garden day.  It was so hot we got ourselves royally burned.  Now we are two redskin belegana’s in Navajo land.  We taught a very nice lady that actually has a grandson waiting for a mission call.  We are trying to get him to come and help teach her.

3)      Tuesday was more garden day, a couple of no show appointments but finally a fun lesson with the Tsosie girls.  They are excited for their baptism.

4)      Wednesday, the Zone Leader and District Leader went to lunch with us.  Finally lots of actual stories, stories where people are struggling just as we are.  I think the big problem with us is that they accepted piano lessons immediately and the position that Elder Parkinson was going to get didn’t materialize and so he felt shelved.  Anyway, we expressed a few concerns and got some ideas and support so – ‘all is progressing in Navajo land.’  And Wednesday I teach 4 hours of piano lessons.  In the middle of the lessons we got a call that the young Elders were stuck in a sand drift about 15 miles out of town.  We went to the rescue and pulled them out. 

5)      Thursday I tried to find Sister Tsosie to go visiting teaching with, but she didn’t hear me knock because her hearing aid broke.  We then had every single appointment fall through.  We had invited people over for outdoor grilling and the wind blew so hard we didn’t even do that.  How sad. 

6)      Friday was a bit of fun.  We made a big pot of soup for the Curley’s because she lost her sister Wednesday.  They came and picked it up.  Then I headed for Sister Tsosie.  We tried to go visiting teaching—but again—it was the first day of the month—payday.  Still we had a lot of fun driving around to people’s homes.  She showed me where she grew up and how she would run her horse down the wash and her Grandmother would tell her dad on her.  We laughed and laughed.  That night I took the Curley’s girls home after piano lessons to discover that their parents were still gone and going to be for hours.  I loaded them back up and we came home for hotdogs and chips.  Then we put on video’s and watched “Dennis the Menace” and “the Creature of the Black Lagoon.”  They also explained how to prepare the mutton for the gathering and I don’t think I am going there.

7)      Conference—WAHOO!!!  What a wonderful delight.  We drive to Chinle and watched it in the Stake Center there.  There were the missionaries and three people in the morning session and only missionaries in the afternoon.  Many people do have Satellites, so I am going to hope more watched it than it appeared.  During the break we went out for Chinese food.  After the afternoon session we came home and fixed a lunch.  I was going to stay home but the Sisters at Chinle said to come have finger foods.  That was fun and I got to learn more about the others missionaries there.  Then we got home and tried to get things going for the luncheon the next day.  Sister Tsosie called and was so sick and needed a prayer for her nephew.  We ended up rushing back to Chinle to give her a blessing.  We had the Elders in Flagstaff find her nephew, but he didn’t want a blessing.

8)      Conference again—and so good.  In the break we had a luncheon and can Chinle Sisters ever put on the feed.  Sister Nawahene brought 4 dishes and Sister Bearnson made the best rolls and another casserole.  The rest of us made salads and desserts and we had a grand lunch.  The young Elders enjoyed it the most.  We ran over and got Sister Tsosie for the final session.  When the choir would start to sing, she would just cry.  
Oh and did I mention there was wind.  It blew till we wondered if we could even walk.  Our face and teeth were just filled with sand and grit.

And so ends another week.  Hopefully we can act on all the things we learned and the wonderful boost that conference gave us.  All in all, a rather interesting week. 

The Church is True,

            Elder Scott was the sweetest,

                        Our love and prayers,

                                    Elder/Sister Parkinson

Just one of our outings looking for people.  We like it!

We went to help Sister Tsosie move.  The drift was a little larger,

but Elder Parkinson stayed on his side of the road.

Never underestimate a GMC!

See, no problem.  However, the Elder on their trip we not so lucky.

Ah, green on the Rez. 

This is one of the missionary couples trailers in Chinle.

I am trying to get Kenton and Marilyn Anderson to take up residency

here in August.  Just wishful thinking--but it is free for anyone interested in

teaching early morning seminary.  Any takers?

A pretty flower.  Elder Parkinson is now at home ;-).