Best of the Rez Week 39

Best of the Rez     Week 39     October 3^rd to October 10^th

Okay, Elder Byron Webster, do you hit me or kiss me.  As Sunday night passed away into memory, our mission hit the half way mark; thirty-nine weeks down and thirty-nine weeks to go.  Please pray for our health, strength and success as we continue to do the Lord’s work.

1.      Seminary seemed early this morning simply because the other school district is out for a fall break for the entire week.  I guess it matches potato harvest.  However, our two little girls were in school so we had seminary as always.
Just a few facts on the school districts here.  Schools are more plentiful than gas stations and gas stations are the only business in town.  In Many Farms we have Many Farms Elementary which is part of Chinle School District; Many Farms High School which is a Department of Defense owned school with its own district, and Many Farms Community (1-8) which is a charter school run by BIA.  They all have their own schedule.  Many Farms Community and Many Farms High School have boarding rooms where even students from town can live, so their parents do not need to raise them. Now, for the really confusing part – you can choose any school you want to go to within about a one way 2 hour bus ride.  So, there were 10-14 students in our Sunday School class (now Sister Simpson’s class).  Between them they went to: Many Farms Elementary, Many Farms Community, Many Farms High School, Chinle Junior High, Chinle High School, Round Rock Junior High, Rough Rock Junior High, and West Mesa High School.  That is a lot of fun helping a class to bond when you have to fight both the clan and school system.
Monday afternoon we spent the day cooking for the Begay family.  A couple didn’t show up but we had 9 show up for BBQ chicken and Dutch oven potatoes.  They played ball and had a lot of fun.

2.      Tuesday started with Seminary and then planning.  We started getting calls on the young Elder’s Zone conference and whether we should be there or not.  It must have changed 10 times, but they finally called us and told us we needed to be there at 4.  I rearranged my piano lessons and we headed to Chinle for an interview with President Jones.  We told him our story and yes, our frustrations.  He was at the meeting when we – no not we as missionaries but local ward leaders - were charged to double the ward.  Since then the Bishop has shown up to 4 out of 12 meetings.  There hasn’t been much progress.  President Jones was very sympathetic.  Then we rushed home for the piano lessons that didn’t show, even after I called them right before.  Then we had ARP and our man showed back up so we were thrilled.  Next we headed out teaching and had a good lesson and set another baptismal date.

3.      Wednesday was normal but It rained so hard that day, they dismissed school early for mud.  It felt a little slow and calm until piano - we have 5 show up at once.  We even set up a keyboard and had students on 4 pianos.  Then the YM watched 17 Miracles while the YW made quilts.  So Good!

4.      Thursday we did a special project for our first quarter of seminary ending.  We went over to the church and they drew an Old Testament time line.  They are so artistic.  It is just wonderful.  Then it was a garden harvest day as they forecasted frost.  It had rained most of the day before and it was a bit muddy but the Elders helped us get all the tomatoes and peppers harvested.  We fixed them some Chili and then our entire evening fell through. 

5.      Friday was up and back to the church.  While the girls finished their picture, Elder Parkinson cooked them pancakes in the church kitchen.  The mural is just amazing.  I will try to get a picture of it.  Then we rushed home and made potatoes and rolls for the Senior District Meeting.  We got all that done and headed to Chinle.  It was a really good meeting, but he said he would turn the time over to the Parkinson’s to share object lessons with them.  It would have been nice to know that, so we could have taken our objects and not just told them about them. 
Then we headed home to piano lessons.  I was so thrilled that a mother and daughter that hadn’t come since March came again.  They were so happy.  Oh, I hope we can keep them coming and happy. 
We taught Sister Toledo again and her sons were there so she wanted us to show The Testament again.  That was fine with us.
It was too late to make the football game so we came home and watch Secretariat.  We loved that.

6.      Saturday we called to make sure our family of 6 were coming for piano lessons.  YES.  Well, I waited and waited and no one came.  We wrapped up tomatoes and worked around the yard and cleaned the church a little.  We took a long drive and handed out flyers on RS.  We went to our return missionary we were so excited about finding and he wanted nothing to do with us this time.  Actually, the day really was not that fun as most people turned us down rather rudely although some were nice.  We came home and made some brownies and headed to Chinle for the Seminary party.  There is this boy over there that in indescribable – and he wanted to play CURSES!  I am sure that is a fun game, but not for the mixed age groups there. Brad finally got up and left.  Finally it ended and we played some fun games.  Then home – long day.

7.      Sunday the pianist didn’t show so we did some scrambling on music and it worked.  Church was so small again.  Elder Parkinson taught Gospel Doctrine and the Aaronic Priesthood.  I did sharing time and music time with one little girl.  We had one lesson that afternoon; I am not sure how that went as we are still trying to get them married.  We tried to hand out more flyer but not many around.  The group that we teach to on Sunday night had a family member have a baby 7 weeks early and it was not doing well, so they didn’t come.  It felt like a rather flat ending.

By the time it was over, I would just say it was a very long week.  Our new Elder was telling me about all the people they had coming so make plenty of programs.  None of them showed up and well as our family that had committed to baptism.  I wonder if he was as discouraged as I felt.  We were told we cannot get discouraged.  Sorry, I will repent.  The work it true, and it is good and that alone is enough reason to keep going.

The Church is True,

      Harvest time is the best time,

                  Our love to you,

                              Elder and Sister Parkinson

Elder Schreeve is in front and Elder Evans in back with

the good ol' Elder Parkinson in the mud.

In for another trip.  Notice the pretty flower!

Our 2 angels working on the mural.

I am positive that Navajo's are born artist.
What a talented culture.

My favorite is the Ark but you can hardly see it here.

And here you have our first term of Seminary in art form.