Navajo Code 2/9

Monday, the last P-day. We got all our stuff done and went up to the church and started playing some b-ball when we got a text from a couple potentials asking if we wanted to play some Ultimate... OF COURSE! So I got to go play Ultimate on my last P-day. Then we went and contacted some referrals. We knocked on this one lady's door, she had to be at least a little crazy. She would randomly start yelling then be quiet, then yell, then quiet. When we asked if she knew where someone lived she bent over laughing!(Ya... that was weird.) Come to find out he was inside her house eating.

Tuesday we got to go do serve of a less active I fixed some flat tires for him. See all those years of fixing flat bike tires was starting to pay off. (Although I fixed his rototiller tires, but hey, they work now :) Then we went and stopped in on an investigator, Felix. We didn't have a lot of time so we talked about the Book of Mormon. Felix then said the thing that all missionaries want to hear. "When I read this book I feel so good. This book is changing my life!" Wow, the Spirit filled my heart and I was over come with gratitude for God! The members of Holbrook are great. We went on splits and need a total of 6 different members during the day.

Wednesday we were up at 5 to exercise and get ready cause we were going on exchanges. We drove to Greesewood where we dropped off Elder Cook. We got directions on how to get to Sanders and Elder Staley and I took off. Ya, we barely had a clue on where we were going. We knew it was a dirt road but that was about it. We got o the road we thought it was and started driving. Up down left right we went for 40 minutes. Well, we get to the top of the hill and we see the road continue on and we go, "Oh o, this can't be it." Right when we were about to turn around Elder Staley saw some houses and we finished the drive to Sanders for the exchanges. The exchanges went well. We got to teach seminary and that is always fun.

Thursday I had my last district meeting. I got to play the piano and say the closing prayer. The training was on following the Spirit. We did an object lesson where one person was blind folded, one was the devil, and one was the Spirit. There were 3 sets of this going on at once. I was one of the people that was blindfolded. I walked in and heard all the different voices. I found out was the Spirit, for me and then I just followed him everywhere. When the devil would try to come and tempt me, I pushed, shoved, and pummeled him away. Every time I got the reward my faith in the Spirit got stronger. That taught me a lot about how we gain faith in following the Spirit and how we should deal with the adversary. :) Then we got to go take Stephan, a less active, to the family history center. We then got to go play the piano before I left. Then I got to go teach Mark on exchanges. He still  is soaking everything up.

Friday we had our weekly planning, yes I participated! Then we taught a few lessons and got some pictures with people.

Saturday we had a really great lesson with a part-member family. We taught the Word of Wisdom and the member committed them to live it without even being asked! Then we got to go have lunch with President Hatch. He's a REALLY  good cook! Then, my final lesson in Holbrook, was with Mark. We had dinner and watched "17 Miracles." They really enjoyed it.

Sunday I gave a talk on the Plan of Salvation in the Painted Desert Ward. I directed more towards my experience with my mom and it went really well. Then we drove up to Farmington and had dinner with the assistants and President and Sister Batt. Then Elder Staley and I went with one assistant and tried a few people. We got in with a family and I started talking to the dad, who had been in the army, about getting the priesthood. It looked like I had really touched him. After the lesson, I talked with him one on on while everyone else was talking. Interesting how God still had one more person for me to touch :)

Monday up at 5:15 to exercise and get ready. Pres. Batt picked me up at 7 and we drove to the airport and I flew home. :)

Thank you all who have supported me on my mission. I testify that this is God's true church. We are led by living prophets and apostles just as in time of old. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. He DID see God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ in the Sacred Grove and they did, in reality, speak to him. The Book of Mormon is true. God loves all his children. That is why Jesus Christ came down and suffered the atonement. So we could repent and return to live with God again. The atonement IS the single greatest showing of God's and Christ's love for us. The atonement, if applied, can bring healing and redemption as well as physical and spiritual strength. I testify that the Plan of salvation is real. The resurrection is real. My mother is not gone! I have felt her spirit time and again while on my mission. She, as well as all of us, will have a glorified resurrected body. I testify that God lives and HE LOVES YOU! He knows you and wants to help you. He wants you to help others. I love God and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I follow them and I serve them! I say these things in His sacred name, even the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Bryson Chipman

Navajo Code 2/2

      Yaa Teeh!

       Monday we drove up to Farmington to go to MLC the next day. We did take a couple of pictures before we left. :)

       Tuesday we had MLC. Always amazing! We discussed how to improve finding and exchanges and taking action as leaders.

       Wednesday... Something I've really learned from Elder Cook and Elder Staley is how much a good companionship takes all the Christ-like attributes and how much open discussion is needed. We have talked a lot about how we as a companionship can be better. This is really a good companionship and we are getting a lot done.

       Thursday we had District Meeting in Winslow. It's weird to think that I might never see some of those missionaries again. Crazy. Then we got to go and teach a man named James. He's an older man that uses oxygen. We taught him and he is super receptive! He agree's with everything that we have, and asks a lot of good questions. The best part about it for me was, at the end of the lesson he need some help with his oxygen tank. I brought back a lot of good memories of helping my mom. Then we got to go out and see Mark. He's on fire! He's just soaking everything in and loving every minute of it!

       Friday we took a member to go see James that they got a long just great! Members are so important and so useful! Holbrook has some really great members! Then we took another member out to go see another James. We got in and started talking to him and set up time to go do service for him this week. The we got to go see man named Abe. He's pretty cool. He has some differences with the church but he loves meeting with us and loves doing service.

       Saturday we were on splits most of the afternoon. A member and I went and taught a less active and then we took another member and drove out to Marks. Well we were driving out there in a mini-van and Marks driveway is SUPER muddy. So we get there and we park and walk the quarter to half mile to his house. Oh, I almost forgot the best part. One of the members just had sugery on his foot so he can't were real shoes but he can walk. So he walked to Marks in slippers. The guy is awesome. He totally loved walking in his slippers. :) After the lesson Mark gave us a ride back to the van. :)

       Sunday after church we were able to teach mission prep. Those kids are going to be some amazing missionaries! They really do know there stuff!

       Thanks everyone for the great support you've given me! Until next time, Hagoonee'!

Elder Chipman

Bryson's Coming Home!!! ****update****

Bryson is almost done! He will get home on February 9. We are asking that day be left for his family. He should be available most of the rest of the week. 

He will be speaking in church on February 22 at 1:00. The address of the church is 1375 West 6785 South West Jordan, UT. After sacrament meeting, we will be meeting at his sister's house for potluck lunch (1428 w 6850 s). 

We are excited to have our missionary back!

Navajo Code 1/26

       Yaa Teeh!

       Monday we just played some b-ball for P-day.

       Tuesday we had a really good day. We went and contacted a referral and he let us right in and was super receptive. He wanted to read the Book of Mormon. He told that his only vice was chewing tobacco. So at the end of the lesson I asked if we could take the can of tobacco. He agreed and we walked out of the house with it. Well, I couldn't find a trash can to throw it away in and we were walking on the main street in Holbrook. To add to it, we saw some one and we went and talked to him. So we were talking to this guy, in front of a bar who was also smoking, and here I was holding a can on tobacco. That had to look different. :) Right after we were done talking to him I found a trash can and ran, literally RAN over and threw it away. It was great! :)

       Wednesday we went on exchanges. We brought the Dilkon Elders down into Holbrook and double worked the area. We went tracting. We got a couple of return appointments, however, I have never had so many people open the door and say, "I have my own religion" and then close the door. But it was still a good exchange.

       Thursday we had our Zone Training. It went really well. We trained on working with priesthood leaders, personal revelation, unity through humility, and the power of fasting and prayer. I trained on unity through humility. I thought it went really well, almost all of the missionaries participated which always makes things go better. Later that night we helped with the stakes indexing party because they had met their indexing goal for 2014. Fun night.

       Friday we went on splits the entire afternoon. Elder Cook and Staley went down to Woodruff and I went with a ward missionary, Bro. Frost. I love Bro. Frost! He's awesome. He reminds me a lot of my dad. So dad, lets just safe to say, when we come back you'll get to meet him. :D

       Saturday was good too. Ok, lets face it, this week was really nice!!! We helped out with a stake primary activity and then we went and taught some less actives. They are getting ready to go to Phoenix to have surgery. Well they hadn't been reading and they weren't planning on coming to church. First I told them that I loved them and cared about them, then I told them that not reading and not going to church, thus forgetting God, was the worst thing they could be doing before this major surgery. It was really intense and really bold. I almost made the man cry. That night we got to go out and see Mark. I love Mark! We watched a lot of Mormon Messages and discussed them. He also gave me another coin.

       Sunday was a lot of fun. Each of us gave a talk in the Petrified Forest Ward and the Little Colorado Ward. So in PF I talked about the Book of Mormon. I made the joke of, "If everyone would read and apply the Book of Mormon we could steal the saying from Disneyland and actually be 'The Happiest Place on Earth". No one laughed, Elder Staley quietly snickered behind me. It was really quite interesting. In the LC ward I talked about the enabling power of the Atonement. It went well. I also got asked to speak in the Painted Desert Ward on the 8th of Feb. 

       Things are going great down yonder! We are traveling up to Farmington today for MLC tomorrow. Always excited for MLC! Until next time, Hagoonee'!

Elder Chipman

Navajo Code 1/19

       Yaa Teeh!!!

       Monday... So the reason the email was a little short last week, and nobody got any letters is because we started emailing and right after we started I got sick. After email we went home and I was either in the bathroom or my bed from 1 pm to 6 30 am on tuesday.... But, I'm feeling a lot better so it's all good!

       Tuesday we picked up Elder Staley. Stud! I love our companionship!!! Elder Staley is from Montana and is also a soccer player, so all 3 of us play soccer. Then we got to go teach Pete, one of our Recent Converts. He wanted to watch the Restoration so we did. He really liked it. It was a really neat experience for me because during the movie I got a really strong spiritual witness that it was true! I know Joseph Smith is a prophet of God!!!

       Wednesday.... I got a letter.... From the church.... Telling me when my flight home is.... For those of you that don't know I have to come home early because of my military contract. I will be coming home on February 9th. We went walking for part of the day and it went well. We got to talk to a few people and get some new potential investigators to try. Then we got to go teach a couple lessons.

       Thursday we drove up to Indian Wells and had distrcit meeting up there and then went on exchanges. We brought one of them with us and left Elder Staley in Indian Wells. That night we went on splits. Elder Cook and the other missionary went with a ward missionary and I went with the Ward Mission Leader. We went and saw Leatrice and her family. Well she wasn't feeling very good, and we hadn't really talked to her husband in a while so I decided to talk to him. It was a really neat experience because I had no idea what I was supposed to teach so I just had to trust the spirit for the whole thing. Let me tell ya', God will never let you down if you rely on him! We talked about the Atonement, Prayer and serving others. He really enjoyed it! I love being a missionary.

       Friday we 2 of our recent converts and watched movies with both of them. The worst is when you go in to watch a movie and the heater is cranked up and you are wearing a suit coat. It's quite the battle to stay awake. :) 

       Saturday we went out to Sun Valley to teach some potentials that have been coming to church for a while. So we get there and find out that he wanted us to do some service for him. Well he had another person coming over from the ward with a hydraulic wood splitter and we split a 20 foot trailer. It took about 2 or 3 hours. About half way through there came a guy that was just standing in the middle of the road looking at us. I just thought it was one of the neighbors. Well it turns out that he was Korean and had gotten is car stuck and needed some help getting it out. So we go over and look at it and it's just half way off the road. It's not high centered, nothing. So the ward member moves a little dirt just to make it look like it was stuck in the beginning and then drove it right back onto the road. :D It was awesome!!!!

       Sunday we were at church from 7 to 4. Lots of meetings. Then we had dinner and they invited some non members over for us to teach. That is awesome! Holbrook is awesome!!!

       Well thanks for all of the support!!! Until next time, Hagoonee'!!!

Elder Chipman

Navajo Code 1/12

       Yaa Teeh!

       Monday was a fun P-day, we got together with some other elders and played some football then we were able to go and see Mark. He is doing great!

       Tuesday we had Zone Conference so we drove up to Tuba City. We took 2nd in the vehicle inspection. It was weird cause it was my last zone conference, which meant that I gave my departing testimony. Then we drove home. 

       Wednesday we did a lot of walking. Then we had a member text us and ask if he could out with us sometime that day. That was cool, having a member ask if they could come out with us instead of us asking them if they can come out with us. The lesson that the member came with us to went really well. So, again, members are amazing!!! 

       Thursday we did some family history, that's way fun! I love doing family history. I never said that I was good at it, I just enjoy it. :) Then we got to go on splits. It was a really good day even though all 6 of our appointments fell through.

       Friday we had an apartment inspection. Then we found we had a lot of mold growing around the windows and under Elder Cook's dresser. So we spent a lot of time cleaning all the Mold. Then we had some good lessons that night.

       Saturday it rained... and we went walking. Landon, one of the member that we go with a lot, got his mission call to the California Riverside mission. We also got transfer news. I'm staying in Holbrook with Elder Cook and we are getting Elder Staley. Good stuff.

      Sunday was good. Had church then got to go see Mark. 

      Hope you all have a good week. Until next time, Hagoonee'! 

Elder Chipman

Navajo Code 1/5

Yaa Teeh!

        This week was great! Monday we travelled up to Farmington with a member. Lot's of fun.

        Tuesday we had MLC which is always amazing. It's so nice to be able to meet with President and Sister Batt. Then we came home to get to an appointment. We were got dropped off and started running down to our appointment. Got there, said a quick panting prayer, knocked on the door.... "Oh, they're not here." LOL! Of course. Good stuff. :)

       Wednesday we went on exchanges with the Leupp Elders. I went out to Leupp and walked around in a snow storm all day but it was a really good day!

       Thursday, New Years! (And I wasn't even at my own apartment. :) Then we had the interviews for Leatrice and Mark. Both passed with flying colors. Then we went out to Mark's. He's really excited for everything.

       Friday we were walking around some drunks called us over. Well we started talking to one of them and his phone started going off and he was trying to find it. Next thing I know he is undoing his pants to try and get to it... great. Then I notice he's wearing some sweats under his pants, THANK GOODNESS!!! Then we gave them some extra clothes that we had gotten for Christmas. They were really happy. I think that is the first time I have been hugged by a drunk like that.

       Saturday we had the baptisms for Leatrice and Mark. They both went really well!! They both asked me to baptize them. We were at the church almost all day getting the font and everything taken care of.

       Sunday was the best fast sunday of my mission. We had both confirmations and the testimonies were amazing. Then in one of the Gospel Principle classes our recent convert Mark was answering questions for another investigator. It was awesome!!!

       So this week is the week we find out transfer news so please don't send me any mail this week. Thanks. Hope you all have a good week!

Until next time Hagoonee'!

Elder Chipman