Parkinson's at Navajo Nation: Best of the Rez Week 38

Best of the Rez Week 38 September 26^th to October 2^nd

Now this week has an almost wonderful ending – General Conference! The reason I say almost wonderful is that so few attend conference here. We can all hope and pray they are watching it at home, but I do not think most of the homes have the means to do so. Yet, what a wonderful experience to hear from our Prophet and Apostles and other leaders.

I did have a wonderful thing happen this month. I found out that I am still a member of the 15^th ward. First, Sister Andrus had stopped to see us and we had such a wonderful visit. Then she sent me a long email catching me up on all the goings on. Then I got a letter and lesson from my visiting teacher, Sister Luce, and she sent along the ward bulletin. I have wanted to see a ward bulletin since I left, so I was thrilled. And then the Primary sent us a packet of letters and pictures and told us to keep trying. WHAT FUN!!! It is always a good thing to be remembered.

1) Monday we decided to head to Farmington right after Seminary. We need new tires and some groceries and I think a little break as well. We left early and went over Buffalo Pass so we enjoyed the ride. We got our tires and food and I got a Rubik cube. The ride was good and it is fun to have the cupboards full again.
We did have a bit of a surprise when we got home. As we were carrying the bags inside I let out a yell. When Brad wanted to know what was going on, I pointed to the back door. It was wide open. No one had entered and robbed us, but about 300 flies took up residence on our ceilings and walls. It took us hours to kill and vacuum up flies.

2) Seminary was great on Tuesday and then we prepared a while. Sister Davis called from Rock Point (35 miles away but still in our ward) and said that she had just had a delivery of over 1000 boxes of good will clothing and they had asked if her church would take some. She wanted both us and the Elders. We all headed to Rock Point. We loaded both cars with as many boxes as would fit and then moved all the boxes of quilts down her basement. Oh My! What an experience. We were just filthy. We got home and unloaded and stacked our boxes in the church. We are going to give them away at work meeting. We went through a few and surely had some good laughs. For those of you who do not blog, we found the largest pair of pants in the world. Both Elders got in them at once and was it ever funny looking.
We got cleaned up and then piano lessons started. The family that split over drinking is not coming and that breaks my heart. No one showed up for ARP and our appointment was rescheduled so we went over to see a dear sister. Her daughter is having some real trouble and since it happened she hasn’t been back to church. The lady asked if we would come back and bless her house and give her a blessing. Yes – tomorrow.

3) Wednesday was Seminary as always and great as always. Then we prepared and got ready for the day. We met with the Robert’s that afternoon to plan the Seminary party and the conference meal plan. Piano didn’t start until 6 and then it was a full house. I had Elder Parkinson on one piano with 2 students and I took the other piano with the other 4 students. We were all running back and forth and having a great time. It was so fun. Then YM-YW and still no Bishop’s family. We have one boy that only likes football so they went out in the parking lot and played football. That was a sight. The YW were still working on their quilts. I organized the thread box. When we got finished we were supposed to go give the blessings. Curley’s had gone for the Bishop so they could get their temple recommend interviews. We waited for them and then headed for the Sister’s home. Bishop blessed/dedicated her house and then Pres. Curley gave her a blessing. When we got home, our investigator whose wife had a stroke called and asked for a prayer. We loaded everyone up again and headed to her house. I think that was a good thing. She is a young mother of 5 and this is her second stroke. She can just barely move her left side and cannot speak. Faith and prayers are needed here.
Anyway, it was a busy but very nice night giving ward members priesthood blessings. We took the Bishop home and he said they had wanted to come to YM-YW but had no gas. Oh, the Rez.

4) Thursday turned out interesting as well. After Seminary and our planning and preparing we headed to Chinle for Sister Tsosie. The Wheeler’s (our temple family and her granddaughter) showed up just as we did. Elder Parkinson was working on her weeds and the women just talked but I did not get another necklace. We got a pizza at Pizza Edge and headed home. We picked up Sister Gene and I showed her how to do a Primary Program. We got it all organized with all the children getting parts. The most we have ever had to primary is 10 locals and we gave out 18 parts. That should be interesting.
Then I started to cook for the Logan’s that had the stroke. I was working up a storm, on the phone with Eric and the Elder’s came for their mail. When they came we told them, we have all these programs – seminary, temple prep, piano, gardening, ARP, Literacy and Executive Secretary and helping out with RS and primary – so we are going to turn the teaching with baptisms over to you. (But we did keep the families that have committed to us) As the Elder’s were leaving our new Elder told Brad that if he wanted to be a full time missionary, they would be glad to work with us. WHOA! After spending 3 or more hours a day on seminary, teaching 3 appointments that day, spending 2 hours doing a primary program and then cooking for a sick sister that did not go over well. As Elder Parkinson put it, he cleaned out his sinus on that one. We got an apology.

5) Friday was potatoes and eggs at Seminary and we only have 5 scriptures left to learn. Great day! Then Sister Davis came and we worked over the visiting teaching beats. This is scary but you have to start somewhere. I changed the piano around trying to help and I did get one student back. She said she had asked her parents if she could be baptized and they said yes. She is learning a baptism song to play at her grandmother’s and her baptism. Then we had a bite to eat and headed out. The first appointment didn’t go but rescheduled. The second wasn’t there yet, so we told them to call us. She did and we watched The Testament. That was a wonderful lead in to conference. She just loved it.

6) Saturday we got to sleep in and the headed to Chinle for conference. It was a wonderful turnout – all the Elder’s and the 2 Senior couples without a big TV. Of course we were in shock about the new temples as we had sold our cabin in Star Valley. That hurt! But conference was wonderful. During the break we went and ate with Roberts. Then back for another great session and then we took a break in the ride. During priesthood, the ladies got together and then when the men got out we had some sandwiches and goodies together. That was great fun. Then home.

7) Sunday we made some chili and corn bread and headed to Chinle. We watched the first session and then set up our pot luck. Oh my, was there ever food and no ward members stayed this time to eat with us. We went and got Sister Tsosie for the afternoon session and she loved it. We took her home and headed home ourselves. We stopped on the way to make visits. We got treated pretty rudely at one house but okay at the other 2 and no one around at the others. Our one appointment fell through but the Wheeler’s wanted a lesson so they came over at 7. It was wonderful. She is so excited and has been really teaching her inactive brothers. I do hope it helps.

And there you have week 38. It is close to a land mark; I will explain next week. I just love President Monson. When he stood up and said ‘Hello’ I thought I would die laughing. There were so many talks that seemed to be so relevant to our situation on the Rez. We pray every day to make some progress here, but I do not know how to put the gospel in their hearts. We watched 17 Miracles and realized the price our ancestors paid for our membership in the gospel. On the Rez, their ancestors were baptized to get a few free years off of placement program. We hear over and over again from our church leaders about personal sacrifice and how important it is in our eternal salvation. I think I am beginning to understand.

The Church is True,

Listen, Listen, to the still, small voice,

Our love and prayers,

Elder and Sister Parkinson