Parkinson's at Navajo Nation: Best of the Rez Week 24

Best of the Rez Week 24 June 27^th to July 3^rd

I did get a few letters expressing the fact that they felt and understood the pain of last week. Thank you! Then Greg Hazard put it all in perspective when he wrote and said, “You think you have had a bad week, Courtney and I just lost to Tanner and Annie. Now top that!” Comedy relief always hits the spot. And Chuck Porter really had a hay-day with the young man not drinking tea. I suppose there is always something to laugh at if we can just look past our own hang ups.

1) Monday started out really fun. When we got up, President Curley was already out in his garden trying to work off the pain. They had company and no food in the house so we told them to come for pancakes. Elder Parkinson cooked blueberry pancakes and bacon while I did scrambled eggs and set things up. We fed them in the church and it was really fun for us to help this wonderful family. That afternoon we went to the Bia boys, and then the Ahasteen’s. We also went to our first gathering. When someone dies you have gatherings every night. The police basically ran this one for Brother Curley. It was huge. People all come and bring food, and then the family comes in and everyone ‘wails’ and then you eat and comfort one another. We couldn’t stay too long but it was a new experience for us. Then we rushed back to do a family home evening for the Wheeler’s. Everything was so fun. Then we went and gave a blessing to Brother Thomas and Kylie Price. It was a big but successful day.

2) Tuesday was unique. Elder Parkinson went and taught about his ES program to some students and teachers at Chinle High School. I stayed home to teach piano lessons but the gathering lasted until after 2 AM so the Curley’s slept in. Then I taught the Brown girls piano. That night we fixed hamburgers for the Jimmie Tsosie and the Derrick Price families and taught them about ‘Living up to their Privileges.’ Then we headed to the Bia boys and then to Evelyn’s. Both lessons went really well. Late that night we got our new Elder. Elder Mears was transferred to Page and we got a brand new ‘Greenie,’ Elder Searle from American Fork, Utah. He played on his baseball team in the State Championship on one Friday, graduated from high school the next Friday, and was in the MTC the next. Now he is in Many Farms. He sure seems excited.

3) Wednesday started out all fouled up because we were trying to schedule around a family that had left town so we didn’t need to reschedule. Brad was really mad and it took me forever to figure that one out. Not me! We then drove over to Chinle and taught Margaret a lesson on temple prep. She gave me covers for my couch and chair. They are just beautiful and so very nice. We took her out to lunch and then headed home. We were supposed to teach Wheeler’s but they forgot they made it early. (Homes without air conditioning like to come to our place in the afternoon.) We went out to visit with a man that needs ARP—addiction recovery program. He had a couple of kids there so we talked in circles but we think he is going to go. Then we headed home for youth night and a piano lessons. No shows on both accounts. YM-YW decided without Curley’s not to meet I guess and the piano lesson was angry because I scheduled her before YW so she could stay and go to that, so she wouldn’t come either. Fun. Payne’s stopped by and that was so funny. He has so much energy and just bounces from one cause to the next. Brad had unloaded on him so he was now on a fresh cause. Then Brent walked in to play BB so we sent him to get the Elders and Brad changed. Then our 4 PM showed up so he went to play BB and the girls came in and looked at temple clothing sites on the internet. Brad was having a ball with Cyrus so he wouldn’t leave. Then the Elders came over and then really late, Nawahine’s showed up. He is in charge of ARP for Chinle and we called and asked if he would come over one night a week and teach it here for our people. SURE! Then he comes over and says he will do it 2 weeks and then we are on our own. MODIFIED AS NEEDED strikes again. What a crazy night. They left around 10:30 and we settled in for rest.

4) Thursday we will call ‘Stood Up’ day. Our seminary man, Brother Watts even called and canceled because he was ill. Then we got the Bia boys, but we were stood up 3 more times. The young zone leaders stopped by late to chat. They told us about some challenge so do whatever we can to baptize more. They thanked us for being such good missionaries. CUTE! We had just finished eating and all we had left was some sautéed onions. They ate them so fast we started pulling food from the fridge. We feed them some microwave pizza that I am sure was terrible. Nobody microwaves pizza. Then our Elders showed up so they wouldn’t miss the fun. Finally everyone left. Another late night but okay day.

5) Friday we were going to do another breakfast for the Curley’s but they had to rush out to dress the body so that fell through. We were going to teach Derrick and Vanessa but they left town again. I made a big taco soup and took half to Curley’s. Brother Watts came and we had a fun visit with him. Then we taught a new investigator. I really wonder what she thinks because she just says yes all the time, without any questions. I guess the Elders were tracking and found her and she told them she was member of the church. Anyhow, she had a child that is in a bad marriage (alcohol and drugs and abuse). In the closing prayer I prayed for her and her family and she just sat there and cried and cried. It was so sad.
Then we headed to Window Rock. We stopped at Payne’s and this time he was the one upset. We had a good visit there and then headed to our motel to meet the kids. They were late so we went and visited the Cain’s for a minute. Eric and Angella finally arrived but too late to swim. Brooklyn slept in our room that night.

6) Saturday I actually got to see one game of Wimbledon. We ate early and then headed to the funeral for Brother Curley. We got there close to an hour early and the place was jam-packed. They said people were coming at 6 AM. They let us in the parking lot and there was a parking in front of the missionary trailers. On the way in they asked us to sing in the choir so we even got seats. Chinle has a stake center and the place was completely full. Every classroom had chairs in it. The back foyer had chairs in it. There were people standing everywhere. POLICE –did I mention police? There were police and FBI from all over the state and as far away as Washington DC. The Navajo Nation President was there. The governor of AZ sent a representative to make a presentation. The border patrol was there. Every other Native American tribe in AZ had police there. The funeral was long but wonderful and was the missionary work ever done. Great talks. My little Kelsey played the piece I helped her with for her contest and she was wonderful. During the entire funeral they had 2 officers stand at the ends of the coffin and every minute they would change so that everyone could pay their last respects. I guess the police had stood guard on him the entire week and never left his body. Then the procession. We didn’t go but they went all the way to Fort Defiance (75 miles). Every police car in AZ (okay not quite every) lead the way. Eric and Angella pulled over for it and she started to cry just seeing it. It was an 11 miles procession and very impressive. He was a wonderful man and the Rez certainly needed him. Yet, in his passing, there were many lessons taught. So sad, so very, very sad.
The kids actually beat us home because we tried to grab some groceries on pay day. We got here and let the kids run in the gym. We grabbed a bite but the kids had eaten on the way. We drove around a little and looked at some of the ‘Rez sites.’ The girls were fascinated with our lizards. We ate some of our taco soup and watched a movie. Bed.

7) Sunday was interesting. We thought the holiday may take some but we were really low. Our testimony meeting was amazing. We had every type bear their testimony from bull rider, to a guy in basketball shorts with sunglasses, to Brother Tsingine in his suit. Two of our new primary workers didn’t come and didn’t tell us so Angella taught sharing time. She used one on the Holy Ghost that we had helped her with the week before. She told stories of different prophets and how the Holy Ghost had helped them. All the sudden Darren Woody yelled out, “But what about Elder Parkinson in Guatemala when he was stopped from falling down the pit.” Sweet! They are listening to our stories. We had our first Aaronic Priesthood meeting (HURRAY) but the YM President didn’t show either. Oh well. We all made it. Then we had a snack and fixed ribs for later. We taught one lesson that went well, and then visited with a wife where the husband had to run help his mother, and the next was a no show so home to supper. We had the young Elders over also so we really had a house full. So fun! Sarah loved the young Elders and was going crazy over them. She wouldn’t eat unless they were sitting by her. Ribs were a little too done but so good. We had fun that night. Wonderful to have some family.

And so ends another week on the Rez. Although the funeral was so sad, it was also a wonderful teaching experience. Having family was great. We got another commitment for baptism so that was wonderful. Our boys didn’t show up for church so we have to put that baptism off. Hope they follow through. Busy—fun—stressful week so all is well on the Rez.

The Church is True,

Keep the faith warm and the body cool,

Faith and Prayers Always,

Elder and Sister Parkinson