Parkinson's at Navajo Nation: Best of the Rez Week 58

Best of the Rez Week 58 February 13^th to February 19^th

Greetings to you all. Week 58 is big because 18 month missionaries serve 78 weeks—so that means we are down to 20 weeks to go. Everyone is talking about all the things left to do, and yes we have many, but we are praying more for hanging on. So many things are so very fragile that we pray they are solid enough to last.

1) Today we decided to have a little fun with the young elders. After some very fast haircuts all six missionaries headed to Canyon De Chelly. Two are brand new to the area so we all went and hiked White House. It was so cold and windy I was not sure I was in for it, but the canyon protects you so it was rather nice.

Then we headed to Rock Point to teach piano and stopped at Yazzie’s for a lesson as well. Home, eat, prepare and rest.

2) Seminary this morning was rather unusual – we held a baptism. For some reason the 2 Draper boys (19-20) wanted to be baptized on the 14^th. They couldn’t do it in the evening so they opted for 7 AM. We made it work. After the baptism we all came for hot chocolate and homemade toast.
Then more Seminary -- it was our monthly meeting in Ganado. We picked up Roberts and away we went. Other than the room was freezing the meeting was great. We made it home just in time to teach piano. Kaylana was back tonight so I was very happy.

It was RS work meeting and we made Valentine cookies. We had 8 women show up with about 8 children as well. Sister Davis had made so much cookie dough that people were taking home dozens of cookies. We all had a good time cutting out cookies and frosting them.

We also had ARP which was very good and then ran for a lesson after all this was over. It was a big day.

3) Wednesday was too calm after the hustle of yesterday. After seminary we prepared, did a little exercise, and cleaned the church, taught piano and one missionary lesson but the other people went to the game. They had canceled YM-YW because of ball games so even the night was slow.

4) Seminary, Sister Tsosie in Chinle, groceries, lunch and home. The little Tsosie girls called and wanted a lesson so we went out and picked them up. EP taught a literacy lesson while I taught piano. Fun!

Then Yoe’s were coming and they have Timitrius again. We are so happy to have him back. We had Chow Mein together and then I taught Selena piano while the missionaries taught Timitrius. We are going to baptize him next Friday. Love that kid. He walked into the house before the others, held out his arms, and said, “Did you miss me?”

5) This was cute. Kayla called and said that she couldn’t make it to Seminary because she had to be at school early for student government. We said we could meet early so she could come. We decided on 6:45. They showed up at 6:30 with me washing my hair. It was really fun and we got great at the numbers of the scripture mastery.

Then it was more work on the church and 6 piano lessons. I was feeling all bad because no one was showing up and then they all came at once. Still missed 4 lessons though.

New investigators: we have been trying to get a lady since the first week we were here. She came to RS to make cookies and we set up an appointment. It was great. We went to just talk and get-to-know but they wanted the first lesson as well. Love the kids!

6) So much for planning. I had 6 lessons coming in the morning and 4 in the afternoon. All 9 showed up at the same time. I was running those 3 pianos and EP was doing basketball with the rest. That was intense.

Then Sister Benally cut my hair and we headed to Chinle to eat with the Roberts. So good and so fun. Then home to get ready for Sunday.

7) Yes-sir-ee! We had 88 at church and still had 2 families (14) home sick. The first piano player was late but the others did new, harder songs and did great. McKay Curley played “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief’ while I read the words to all 7 verses. I think it went rather well. The primary was all prepared so I was thrilled. The youth SS class had 20. It was a good day. After church we gave Sister Logan a blessing. She is really sick with a viral infection.
I had a crock pot dinner and then we collapsed but the phone started to ring. Sister Curley needed Miracle Whip.
Sister Martinez and her daughter showed up for a blessing. That was a very neat experience and I do so hope and pray some good will come out of it. That family has really been suffering.
Next we headed to Chinle to High Priest meeting. I taught a piano lesson to a Chinle girl during the meeting and also baked a cake for YW. Then we headed home to a lesson. The girl that we expected to teach did not meet with us, but her mother talked with us. We haven’t seen her for a month and so it relieved us greatly to talk with her. She hasn’t been to church in 6 weeks, but said she just does not have the energy. She has lost her balance, her appetite, sometimes drools and has no energy. She has been to Phoenix twice and is headed back. I hope someone can help her. She said she wanted to go to church but just couldn’t get ready that early. I told her to just come to RS but she said she wanted the bread and water. That really pleased us. EP is going to ask the bishop if he can give her the sacrament at her home.

Then back to the YW new beginners. 15^th ward would have died. It was just a meeting with the YW President and Bishop speaking. However, they had a wonderful dinner afterwards. It was rather a pleasant experience for us. When we came there were the 2 Curley girls and the 2 Benally girls in YW. Tonight there were Tinisha and Kaylana (their brother [care taker] was our first baptism), Selena and her mother (our second baptism), Nicole and her mother (her brother was our 10^th baptism), and Keshawa and her friend (our 16^th baptism). That was fun to see.
Our evening class didn’t show so our tired little bodies could just come home to recover.

So ends week 58 – another landmark event. All in all, it was a very good week. And thank you for a day off tomorrow so we can recover from it.

The Church is True,

Love one Another,

With all our love,

Elder and Sister Parkinson