Parkinson's at Navajo Nation: Best of the Rez Week 29

Best of the Rez Week 29 August 1^st to August 7^th

So, how was your week? Amazing how you can fill up 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week, and about 1 hour of that whole process can change so much. There were wonderful parts of this week, but I still about lost it. No, I did lose it, but missionaries always bounce back – right?

1) Monday was a nice day. We did the usually cleaning, washing and gardening. Buffalo Pass is Elder Parkinson’s favorite spot so we drove up there for a picnic and he took over 200 pictures. We also started into our seminary materials. Then we cooked for both the Curley’s and Mr. Z. Mr. Zamudio is the Ag teacher at Many Farms High School. He is the hardest working and most energetic person we have met. He is Mexican but has been here for years. When he saw Elder Parkinson’s garden, he has been a regular visitor. He wants us to put up a big fence around it, because it looks so much better than his. His wife takes care of her elderly mother so she wouldn’t come but Mr. Z showed up a half hour early and the Curley’s showed up a half hour late. That made me a bit nervous. We had fresh garden salad, fresh cucumbers, Dutch oven potatoes, BBQ Dutch oven chicken, boiled crook neck squash, and dump cake. Sister Curley brought homemade tortillas that were out of this world. Fun night. Lots of conversations and good laughs. It was a lot of fun and a lot of clean up afterward.

2) Tuesday we really worked on Seminary. Then for some reason we drove out to try the Begaye’s again. We found them! We had a nice visit and then home. My piano lesson forget me because they forgot their laundry full of new shirts at the laundry mat and had to drive back to Chinle to find them. I was over at the church just playing the piano and Brad came over to set up for ARP. We had dinner and we did get someone to ARP—his 4^th time. That is very good! We then tried to set up some appointments and called it a day. As I was saying my prayers I remembered that we had missed an appointment. NO WAY! I was just sick and could not get to sleep.

3) Wednesday was a little fun. First off, the stake president wanted us to go to Rough Rock to try to find a man. He wasn’t there. Ouch! The stake president wanted him in our ward bad. Then we came home through the rain. We made an appointment to make up the one we missed and we drove out to it and they were not there this time. We stopped some cookies over to Dale Mitchell. He is such a fun guy. Then I taught piano lesson to the entire Thomas family again. Even there Aunt stopped into watch. (Thunder and lightning outside and she was walking and got scared.) Then it was time for YM-YW. We all went over to the ball park. We got it cleaned up and I thought everyone was having a great time. We had about 16 there. Then home and exhausted!

4) Thursday we went to Sister Tsosie’s. We taught about chastity and tithing. I am not sure tithing has been a high priority on the Rez – it is a much harder concept for people who feel so poor. Then we went shopping for groceries and headed home. The piano didn’t show up (new schedule) but we had a great lesson. We challenged a mother and her adult daughter to baptism. Her grandson is going on a mission Dec 7^th, Mexico City. She first said that she was so glad he was going in the US. Then we said that Mexico City was one of the largest cities in the world and she said she thought Phoenix was. We stayed there way longer than we expected, but I think some of them are going to accept baptism. Anyway, we are trying to get her to let her missionary grandson baptize her before he goes. She wants her whole family baptized with her. I think one is willing to accept but the other two may be more trouble.

5) Friday we headed to Chinle to take Brother Draper to the hospital for his shots. We drove around the Canyon for a while and then picked him up and headed home. The Elders needed haircuts to look spiffy for the special night. We helped the Elders fill the font. Oh my! The water was clear. We think we have figured it out. We then tried to teach our family again, and we were stood up again. We headed back and got everything ready for the baptism. I played the piano and Brad led the music. That was interesting. They had their son give the talks and it took 97 seconds. But then they waited for a niece for about 30 minutes. Finally he was baptized and it went great. We had made cookies for it, Elder Read made fry bread, and she brought a sandwich dinner for everyone. The Elders told us that the couple wanted to go through the temple. I went up and told them that after the missionaries finished with the follow up lessons we would start on temple prep and have them already before we left. She wanted an explanation. I told her they could go through the temple next August but we would be leaving in July. “But you will going through with us?!” Hum, I told her we would try. Cute!

6) Saturday started early with softball. We had a pretty good crowd and they seemed to have lots of fun. HOT! Then we just hung around trying to get appointments and get everything ready for our baptism. The Elders were melting so we had them come over and we watched seminary videos. The baptism had a pretty good turn out and Ty said it was the best day of his life. We had floats afterwards and the kids all played ball. Home and get everything ready for Sunday. We promised a family muffins if they would come to church so we had to cook on fast Sunday and couldn’t lick the bowl. We were so tired but we could not sleep.

7) Sunday started really early. I was playing in church and I didn’t know the songs so I had to leave early to practice. Besides the fact, I had to have a Sunday School lesson ready and music time for Primary. We got to church and saw the crowd and our little hearts jumped for joy and sank into the pit at the same time. Our 2 primary counselors were not there. Our baptism from last week, brother of this week, that was supposed to get the Priesthood was not there. Our muffin family was not there. Finally, our little boy getting baptized next week showed up so that is still on. Anyhow, I really felt bad – 41 people there. Still, the lady we challenged on Thursday came with 2 grandchildren and stayed for all 3 hours. Our members don’t even do that. And our new baptism stood and bore his testimony and made us cry and cry. That was very nice. Then our little ‘safe’ man came and wanted his children named and blessed. The son (2ish) screams at everything and everyone. We did it in the Bishop’s office after sacrament meeting and you have never heard such screaming. The little girl was as sweet and could be though. The father was thrilled. Sunday School went well but Primary was not my favorite. We still tried to pull it off. When I saw the Primary leaders not show again and all the people not show up that ‘promised’ us they would, it about broke my heart. I came home and the tears fell. Brad said my mistake is having expectations. You must relax on the Rez.
Brad made the yummiest meatloaf and while it cooked we took a nap. Wrong again, the phone rang. We had our dinner and then the Roberts came from Chinle. They are so excited about teaching seminary over there. Then we set up for our Gospel Institute class but no one came. We went out and found 3 seminary students and signed them up, but we are not taking odds on them ever showing up. The Elders went with us so we had a good time.
Elder Read was transferred to Farmington and then reassigned to Fort Wingate. He leaves Tuesday.

Done—a roaring week. It was hot but only one quick wind storm. We had a little rain so that was good. School is back in so a lot of people are getting back to a normal schedule. We got to see Katie’s family for the first time on Skype. It was Olivia’s and Brittan’s birthday Sunday. Brittan is 16 and ready to drive and date so watch out world.

The Church is True,

Exercise the body and calm the spirit,

Our love to you all,

Elder and Sister Parkinson