Best of the Rez Week 12 April 10th to April 17th
Okay, so 13 is the unlucky number—or lucky number. Actually it doesn’t matter, because it is the 14th week of our mission—the 13th on the Rez—so really the 13th week has already happened and therefore everything should be great. But interestingly enough, the 13th 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 14th 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.
The garden looks great. I wish I'd been there for some dutch oven chicken--yum!
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