Best of the Rez Week 74

Best of the Rez     Week 74     June 4^th to June 10^th

Winding down can make a person as dizzy as winding up.  I have also learned that being dizzy all the time can give a person a headache.  Oh, I have not had the bad headaches, but I must say I do feel unbalanced as all this is about to end.

#2 – FRIENDS!  The one thing that we can say about the Rez is that the people are so very likable.  We have made many wonderful friends that will be life-long friends if not eternal friends.  However, to be among all our wonderful friends from home is going to be like heaven.  We can hardly wait.  Perhaps, we will get a comfy lawn chair and sit out front and wave and beckon everyone in for a chat.  It will be wonderful when we can just sit and enjoy and not be so worried about if we can only keep them active.

1)      Monday was our 43^rd Anniversary so we decided to go sightseeing – only we forgot to see the sights.  We drove over to Cortez, Colorado which was a very pretty drive, ate dinner, shopped a bit, and turned around and drove home.  Later we found out that there are the most magnificent ruins there and we missed the whole thing.  Oh well, we had a bit of a break and saw some new country.
We had a scary end to Sunday and it was confirmed today.  We had another crash.  This mission is not ending with wonderful success.  Our investigators kind-of all slid through the cracks and now our second temple prep has left us as well.  SAD!
We did get a visit from Jimmie Tsosie and the girls which was cute but we asked them to come back and see the recital pictures and the elders locked the gate so they couldn’t get in.

2)      Tuesday was a bit of a normal day.  We actually went on a walk in the wind where we visited with Mr. Z and our ARP man.  Buzz came over for piano and then we taught Sister Tso a lesson on President Monson.  That was very fun.
Then it was piano lessons started to come.  I rushed home from that and we fixed a congratulations dinner for our ARP man and his wife.  Afterwards we played toss-up and really had a lot of fun.  The wife warmed up to us and said they would come back.  Great—we leave in 12 days.

3)      Wednesday was a surprise Zone Conference for all the senior and junior elders.  We headed to Chinle at 9 AM.  The meeting was very nice with President and Sister Jones giving some good advice on the transition of mission presidents and just in general how to be good missionaries.  We asked them how long they had served and they said 18 years.  That made our 18 months sound very good.  They seem both excited and a bit sad to return to normal life—which they have probably totally forgotten. 
After the meeting we had some very cold pizza and then we had interviews with President Jones.  I think he feels like we complain a lot but he has been in our ward and knows of our situation.  We came with this big game plan to change the world; things have changed but let us not hold our breath.  Life is fragile on the Rez.
Piano showed up and then EP helped with YM while the YW cut hair.  I got to be the Ginny-pig which is better than my past experiences. 

4)      Now this was a day.  We called for help in GPSing again and they finally called back and said they could help us.  We loaded up and headed over the lake and what an experience we had.  First off, Jimmie really thinks he is funny so there were plenty of laughs.  Then we got on 2 roads you would NEVER believe.  The first was a pure rock hill side but Jimmie kept saying he could vision tire tracks – what a trusty Indian Scout.  Actually we could see the tracks as well, but had no idea why any human being would drive a ride on such a place.  As we got closer, we could see some people watching us.  We got laughing about what they were saying about us.  This is for serious—we traveled all across these rocks and then there was a cattle guard.  We turned into the house and they both came running.  I introduced as LDS missionaries and the man literally turned and ran.  We asked if she was a member and she said yes but…. We talked to her for a while and she drove us out on a better road.  She had been Miss Navajo in 1978-79.  It was a fun trip.  Then we went further up the original road and turned to find another member.  It was a terrible road and all of the sudden we noticed the entire driveway was covered in old levi’s filled with sand.  How creative!
We did a few more homes and then came back and fixed lunch for us all.  That afternoon EP taught literacy and I taught piano.  There was one crisis when we couldn’t find the checkbook but prayer showed us the way.  We noticed Emery and Carolyn walking and invited them in and taught him how to bless his baby.  We drove them home and basically collapsed.

5)      Friday had an old west start.  We awoke to an interesting sound and looked out the window to see a big steer trotting across the church parking lot.  EP told me to grab the camera and he grabbed his lariat and out the door we went.  He made a couple of great attempts but that steer took off and found a way under the fence and was history.  EP laughed afterwards about what he would have done if he would have caught him, but it was a fun experience trying.  The rest of the day was piano and garden day.  I taught 10 piano lessons while EP worked in the garden and washed the ride.  WOW! Is it ever clean!  The last piano lesson left about 7 PM and I was just a bit tired.  We made some calls and just took it easy for the rest of the night.

6)      Saturday we were up early and on our way to the temple.  Our new lady did not materialize, but Sister Yoe wanted to see the Monticello Temple so she went with us for a little temple trip.  All went very well and we had a very nice day.

We took a little nap before I typed out the piano recital program.  Just as I pushed print the computer crashed but after much delay it all happened.  18 out of the 26 that started this semester showed up with bells on.  It was more than obvious that some practiced more than others but everyone did a pretty great job.  It was a very nice experience.  After the recital we had sandwiches and side dishes and there was tons of food.  I did have the energy to make it across the parking lot to my house but there was no sleep in the body.  It was a very long night indeed. 

7)      Once again we come to Sunday.  Sacrament meeting went really well.  Brother Miller from the seminary came from Holbrook to speak.  We had 63 people to church so that was not too bad.  I was alone again in primary but Sister White came in to help me and I asked Kelsey Curley to help me as well.  Wouldn’t you know it—we only have 5 children but everyone stayed to help.  I had lots of things to do so it went really well, especially the last game.
After church we fixed a bit of a sandwich and tried to nap but I got leg cramps again.  We went out visiting that night (we found 4 families home) and read with Dale Mitchell one last time.  That dear sweet man tries so hard – we will miss him.  We came home to talk on the phone most of the night.  Again, we were just too tired to sleep and spent from 3: 00 AM to 5:00 AM up.  Too bad the tennis tournament didn’t start till I fell asleep.

I would imagine this is going to be our last productive week of the mission.  Next week we are taking the new couple around and packing and cleaning.  Sound like fun?  We will call Greg and Nancy when we have the boxes loaded so they can pack the ride.   Meantime, we ask for your help – goodbyes are never that fun.

The Church is True,

            Serve well – till the very last point (day),

                        Love all,

                                    Elder and Sister Parkinson

The road our Indian Scout lead us on.

The cattle guard after the rock road.

An iguana!

The Levi Road.

A very old dwelling.

Just a cute tree.

Can you believe the Many Farms Lake is pink?

Our unwelcomed guest.

 John Wayne's approach.

Scared steer plunges under fence!

Sister Yoe, joins us at the Monticello Temple.

 

A pretty flower to the side of the road.

Coyote Yelling rock at Rock Point.

D J Ahasteen: 'As I Search the Holy Scriptures'

'The Cowboy Blues'

Neil Ahasteen: 'Sweet is the Work'

'The Brand New Day'

Nicole Ahasteen: 'Do What is Right'

'Alouette'

Brandon Ahasteen: "I Know that My Redeemer Lives'

'Fur Elise'

Cooper Scott: 'Jesus, The Very Thought of Thee'

'The Big Parade'

Thelma Scott: 'I am a Child of God'

'Run, Mouse Run'

Kayliyah (Buzz) Logan: 'To Think About Jesus'

'Kindness Begins with Me,' & 'The Bell Song'

Selena Yoe: 'There is a Green Hill Far Away'

'Dream Echoes'

Darren Woody: 'There is a Green Hill Far Away'

'The Rock Group'

Mariah Woody: 'Now Let Us Rejoice'

The Boy and his Echo

Jacob Benally: 'Oh! How Lovely was the Morning'

'Toccatina'

Tyrell Benally: 'Come, Come Ye Saints'

Jessica Benally: 'We Thank Thee Oh God, for a Prophet'

'Look at Me, I'm Dancing'

Tyler Benally: 'Because I Have Been Given Much'

'Moonlight Sonata'

Tivona Begaye (Parkinson): 'Choose the Right'

'Minuet in G Major'

McKay Curley: 'I am a Child of God'

'Ode to Joy'

Kayla Curley: 'Do What is Right' (Green Hymn Book)

'Full Moon Rising'

Kelsey Curley: 'Come Follow Me'

'Think of Me'

The Ahasteen's Great Grandma - Agnus Chee came.

Our replacements - the Roberts came.

A Group Photo -- Marie and her little tribe of Navajo Piano Players.