Parkinson's at Navajo Nation: Best of the Rez Week 69

Best of the Rez Week 69 April 30^th to May 6^th

We shall call this the week of travel. Travel is something we are becoming familiar with since we have now put 36,000 miles on our ride. Still, we seem to enjoy getting around and especially on asphalt. Speaking of:

#9 – Asphalt—driving on paved roads. Turning off a highway onto another paved road. Turning off a road into a cement driveway. Oh, for smooth travel. We just can’t wait to travel and especially in our very green and lush area. We do believe in the beauty of all environments but let’s face it; our little area of the world is WONDERFUL.
GREEN--everywhere we will be driving will be filled with the color green. I want to see beautiful manicured yards with lots of colorful flowers; fields full of crops from the rich dark soil. I want to take the soil in my hands and smell life--the giving providing soil of Idaho. What a thrill it will be!

1) Monday was a Monday. Seminary was fun – then the young elders did their internet thing while I cut their hair and we traded GPS numbers. We cleaned up and got cleaned up and headed to Sam’s where EP taught Roxanna a literacy lesson. It was nice. Then to Rock Point for piano; they were very excited because they got their recital pieces. One learned her’s on the spot and one I fear is way too hard. We headed back to temple prep but we only had one sister show up. Still, she is so excited. That feels very good. Our reading fell through which was sad but okay as we really needed more time with seminary.

2) May Day – but with a non-Rez twist. EP has not been feeling terrific either and this was his turn to go to the Dr. We taught seminary and then got ready and headed out. We did our normal things in town and then spent forever in the Dr’s and labs getting tests run. We will see how this all pans out later.
I wanted to eat at a nice place so we found a BBQ rib place that was SO good. Then we headed back home and pulled in around 8:30.

3) After seminary we had hoped to go out with Sister Gene and do some more GPSing but she was tending kids so we headed out alone. We went up to Rough Rock and spent forever and found about two. Home to piano lessons and then YM-YW. We were supposed to go over the ward roll with the Bishopric but that got postponed to tomorrow night. Sister Yoe did a wonderful activity for the YW and EP helped the YM with ‘Duty to God.’

4) Another sleep in – the Curley’s went to New Mexico where President Curley’s brother that was killed on the job as a policeman was being honored. We went up to Round Rock to teach Sister Arthur a temple prep lesson. I think that went rather well. She told us of an amazing dream that certainly fit temple work. I had 3 piano lessons show but our little kids that do piano and missionary did not show. Selena came at 7:00 and that was when we were supposed to meet with the ward clerk but the bishop was late and the ward clerk does not know how to run the computer very well. It was an interesting night. They decided to call the stake man for help. So far in our searching we have found 15 that have moved, 5 dead and 5 that have joined another church—one is even the Lutheran minister.

5) Back to seminary and then E/S Vogel came and we headed to Round Rock to teach a temple prep and genealogy lesson together. The minute we finished Sister Davis was waiting to take us to Zuni. Oh my, what a day. She is a fast driver and the roads are not the best. The views were beautiful and we arrived safely. When we stopped in Gallup to eat we walked in with 2 of the office couples. We all ate together and had so much fun. On to Zuni Land – they do not call it a Rez. The Zuni’s really live different than Navajo; much closer together and everything is brick. They bake all these breads and pies in big brick ovens. We bought some bread and pies but didn’t go shopping. I was a bit sad as Zuni is my favorite jewelry. We found an old 1600 cemetery which I thought was very interesting. Also the Tony Hillerman we are reading now is about Zuni which made things more interesting. The trip was a lot of fun as we sure told the stories and had some good laughs. Then home again.

6) Saturday was a straight piano day making up for Tuesday and Friday. My first 6 were 1 & ½ hours late so that made the day wonderful. After 10 straight lessons we headed to Chinle to plan seminary graduation with the Roberts. Another fun time! Then home to get ready for Sunday. For some reason we were very tired.

7) Another Sunday on the Rez. We had 58 to church so not so great. The Sacrament meeting was very nice but primary was next and only 2 children stayed for primary. Not even the bishop’s children stayed and I had planned a fun activity. Tivona showed up at 11 so that was a bit of lift to my day. After church we had a bite to eat and then tried to nap. Sister Davis called the minute I shut my eyes so my nap was over. I got up and tried to blog since I had not had a minute to do so all week. I guess blogging on Sunday in not right because the computer ate it. We went out visiting but only found one person home and she was busy. Tomorrow is an early morning temple trip so we just came home and got everything ready for that.

Week 69 is now in the past. It was not a highlight of missionary work but we loved the three temple prep lessons we taught and seminary is the best. We are hoping for good results for EP’s medical tests. Zuni was a very fun trip. It was an interesting week and hopefully we did some good as well.

The Church is True,

Hope you see some May flowers,

Our love,

Elder and Sister Parkinson