Parkinson's at Navajo Nation: Best of the Rez Week 37

Best of the Rez Week 37 September 19^th to September 25^th

I was actually doing this week’s writing each day as it happened. Then I got a bit caught up in life and it is gone. The computer shows you the file’s name, but says it no longer exists. I have no idea who ate it up, but now I am afraid I am going to forget what I was so anxious to write at the time. Yes, this is very late. Last week was another one of those ‘do Sister Parkinson in’ weeks and I decided it would be better not to write for a few days. A few days went way too long.

1. Monday was another headache day. I lay on the couch and put a pillow over my head for seminary. I would raise my hand and comment but it was not a good day. Elder Parkinson went out to the garden to do some work. He came in with this ice cream bucket and asked me to look inside. I had no idea if I was looking at sticks or some animal dung when all of the sudden they all started moving. He spent hours looking for them on the internet. We even called the head of the garden missionaries and sent him pictures on email. That was a wonderful call – he told Elder Parkinson that Elder Callister had called and said that Elder Parkinson’s gardens were wonderful and he was not even a full time garden missionary. Elder Seeley really complimented Brad which was fun to hear. Anyhow, they were sphinx moth larvae. That is one big, ugly bug.
That afternoon we went over to Chinle to buy some groceries. We started stopping to give away garden produce on the way home and it took us till nearly 8 PM to find people home to give food away.

2. Ahh! No headache but I could not sleep. After seminary we had the Elder’s come over for breakfast. We will dearly miss Elder Searle. They just sat with us till the very last minute when they had to leave. The rest of the day was rather calm as we got ready for seminary and worked some more in the garden. Piano started at 4. The new Elder showed up about 6:30 and since he was from Kuna we called Katie to see if they knew each other. That made me late for ARP. ARP was sad but good, but we just don’t have a convinced feeling this one is ready to change. After ARP we had a lesson with Sister Toledo and her son. That was a lot of fun but I am not sure how much the son enjoyed the lesson.

3. Seminary as always and we surely enjoy this opportunity to have a positive topping to the day. Then we met with the Elder’s to plan. We decided to take them around the ward and show them where people lived and who we were turning over to them. We drove for almost 5 hours with a lunch break. As we were going through the ward roll in Round Rock we found a name we wondered about. We stopped at the Trading Post and he pointed directions so we set off. What a wonderful drive – beautiful area. Anyhow, we saw a man at the water hole and stopped and it was the man we were looking for. He is a return missionary and invited us to meet with him and his wife. He said he is too busy for church but we can hope. Our new mission motto is now ‘no expectations.’ And then home. It was a good day and we got a couple of appointments out of it. And did we ever hear about our new Elder Schreeve – about 5 hours worth.
That night was YM-YW. The Bishop and his family didn’t come again, but we tried to tie some knots and play a little. The YW are making quilts so they were organized.

4. Thursday we had our Seminary and a little planning and then headed to Chinle to teach Sister Tsosie. She still wasn’t feeling very well. We did our best and asked if she would like to go to lunch. She wanted to bring her house-keeper and we said fine. We went over to Pizza Edge. She wanted a sandwich and they were out of bread. She wanted a Sprite and the Sprite was empty. She ordered Chicken Wings and they were not good. It was not going well. Then the 8 young Elder’s from our district walked in. She was just delighted to see them all. We meet a new Elder Orme and asked where he was from. “Rexburg Parky!” Elder Parkinson had not taught him in high school but Elder Orme had heard all about Parky. We asked where he lived. “2^nd East.” He was trying to explain this area or that area and I was all hung up on 2^nd East. I finally asked Brad if it wasn’t 2^nd East that he had grown up on? “No! It is the street we live on – in our condo.” Well, Sister Tsosie started to laugh and just couldn’t stop. I didn’t even know where I lived! But he lived down where it isn’t 2^nd East but North Yellowstone Highway. Anyhow, all the sudden Sister Tsosie felt so much better; eating with the Elder’s and me not knowing where I live.
We went over and talked with the Roberts about seminary. Our district supervisor was to visit them that day and us tomorrow. He didn’t show up for them but we sure had fun talking. (We wondered if we did poorly, if he would drop our pay or send us home.)

That night we taught the Ahasteen’s and the Yoe’s about our Prophet. I love that and felt like it went very well. Sister Yoe is so sweet and is trying so hard. They even gave us a piece of her father’s birthday cake.

5. We were up extra early getting everything ready for seminary. We had waffles that day. Brother Watts was really late, but it went very well anyway. He was impressed with our class and then we talked for a long time after seminary as well. We love Brother Watts and his wife, Nora.

It was Katie’s birthday and we had called her but she wasn’t home. She called back and the Elder’s were here. We all sang our lungs out only to find out she had taken another call and we were singing to no one. We finally connected and had a good visit.

The rest of the day was a complete flop. We even confirmed one 10 minutes before and they still didn’t show. Long night.

6. We were supposed to be at the Monticello Temple, but other things came up for the family involved. I taught piano lessons and Elder Parkinson started teaching Literacy classes. Busy morning. We tried to invite people to Women’s Conference but couldn’t find anyone home.
The stake calendar listed a meeting in Chinle for all women before the meeting. We rushed over and all that was there were the missionaries. Oh well! We had our meeting and a bowl of soup and then listened to the conference. Elder Parkinson came in and listened as well, and we both loved it. SO GOOD!!!!!

7. And then comes Sunday. Why are they the hardest days of the week? Sister Davis left some roast here and I am to cook them, then she and her mother can eat and then her mother will stay with us while she makes visits. I got up early and prepared the roast. Fast and Testimony meeting was good. The Snowflake Temple President and his wife came to all three meetings. They bore a sweet testimony of temple work. We were asked to teach our youth SS class but we didn’t know what lesson and prepared the wrong one so we showed a devotional on the right topic. Nursery went well, sharing time and singing time went well. Then home and to eat. Then I got a report on ward council and it just broke my heart; ward members not accepting one another. Then we found out our one investigator’s wife had a stroke. Then another committed baptism had the father of her children (not married) move back in. Then our new temple prep, ARP member, and just interviewed to get the priesthood man, fell off the wagon and his wife and family left him. We did get one lesson in and I think it went well. Needless to say, I was a little low. We watched 17 Miracles to cheer us up. It has some wonderful family scenes so we actually were thrilled to watch such a sad, sad movie.

And there you have week 37 all wrapped up in a bundle. It has been a while now, so I am much better, but I truly could have packed up and left after that Sunday. I am use to things not going so well, but I never expected the inner ward to do such things. Yet, we stay and seem to be resolved to finish it through the end. For some odd reason that sounds like a very long time today.

The Church is True,

Love the ‘Forget Me Not’s,’

Our love to you all,

Elder and Sister Parkinson