Mesa Verde
Elder Chipman and Elder Edwards
Monday, April 29, 2013
Navajo Code 4/29
Yaa Teeh!
Wow what a week! I LOVE this place! Good ol' B-Town!
So on Monday we went down to the Cajone ruins and got to look around there it was pretty sweet! It was even better because one of our investigators took us there. After that we came back and played CURSES!!! I LOVE THAT GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After we played that we went to a members house and Elder Amott had his suit burning ceremony. Then Elder Edwards and I took off down to White Mesa. So we were planning on showing the restoration video. So we were teaching at the church and we had to find a TV. Well we found and oh man! It was OLD SCHOOL! HAHAHA! Like it had knobs and everything man! It was great!
On Tuesday we found a new investigator, N, and taught him the first lesson and it went pretty well. Then we meet with H, T, D, N, and D and taught them some basic commandment like follow the prophet and read the scriptures. Man, I love those kids. Every time we go over there they just make me smile, they are so up beat and funny! After that lesson we found out who Elder Sobczech's new companion is. And the winner is... Elder.... Barns! From Layton Utah. Which is really funny cause Elder Amott who was his old companion is from Syracuse Utah. :) Then we got to meet with J. That dude is straight up awesome! He's funny and he is committed to reading the BOM! He has the desire to come to church and all that good stuff! And he always has the best stories! Oh ya, we found an ostrich in Blanding.... legit man, legit. :D
Wednesday we got to visit L. He is a blind man who is really smart! Then we got to have dinner with a less active member, B. We had these HUGELY MASSIVE steaks and they were SOOOOO GOOD!!!!!! And it was cool cause we also had artichokes and zucchini and peppers and squash with it. Now if you know me you know I don't particularly care for any of those things. So when I saw him bring them out I said a quick prayer and, oh man were those things good! It also helps that he added vinegar to them. :) After dinner we had M & P the same people who took us to the ruins on Monday. We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We brought a member with us who is really good friends with them. He can explain the gospel so simply! For example, he explained the spirit like a lamp in the corner of the room. The light benefits all of us but as we draw closer to it, it benefits us more. Wow he is good. Then we got to meet with B & S. They are on fire with reading the BOM!! I love it!
On Thursday we had District Meeting and we talked about having good planning sessions. Then we got to go down and fill in a hole, a BIG hole for M & P. This whole was about 4 feet deep and 6 feet wide and long. And we did it with shovels. Good times, good times! :) Then we meet with the G's. So we talked with them for a while and as we were talking I was petting one of their cats. Well this cat eventually jumped up on the couch crawled onto me and laid down from my shoulder to my hip! Oh that was good stuff except for all the extra cat hair that I obtained from it. :D Then we had another awesome dinner appointment. We had dinner with the I's, he is the new Elders Quorum President. We had Pork, and home made bread sticks and salad. GOOD STUFF! Then after dinner we went outside and played tornado with him and his sons. That was crazy fun! Then we meet with an old 80 year old dude, J, and read in the BOM with him.
Friday we had weekly planning, so at noon we took off with the other elders to go get lunch. Well we were driving and we were listening to this nice Hawaiian music, Yes we are aloud to listen to it because it is conducive to the spirit so nobody freak out on me now :), and Elder Barns asked, "Is this Navajo music?" We all died laughing. When I could breathe again I turned to him, smiled and said, "No elder this is Hawaiian music." He had the "Ohh" face on and then he smiled and laughed along with us, that totally made me day. After planning we went and learned more Navajo! :D Then we meet with M and watch "How rare a possession, the Book of Mormon" then we watched it again with J. For dinner we had one of our investigators feed us. We had this cool kinda Mexican food. It was good! Then before we left she asked for a blessing. I think being able to give blessing and feel the spirit working through me is one of my favorite parts of my mission. Then we meet with the B's and read the BOM with them.
Saturday! We got to do service for the first half of the day! We helped put in a retaining wall in. It was hard but fun at the same time. :) Then we went down to M & P and filled another BIG hole bigger than the one we filled before. Then we got to meet with M who is new investigator. He seems really excited to have us come over cause after we finished with the lesson we asked when we could come back and he said tomorrow. Then we went down to White Mesa. We meet with T & D and taught the Plan of Salvation. And we set up a baptism date with D!!! Oh how I love my mission! Then we meet with a lady and talked with her for a little while and gave her a blessing and set up a time we could come back. :)
Sunday was stake conference. It was really good. They talked about obedience and perseverance. We were at the over flow building and so when the closing prayer came she started praying and half way through the audio cut out. It was really kinda funny. The video was still going so we all waited till everyone stared opening their eyes and moving and said amen and laughed out loud. Then we meet with M again. This guy is great! He read what we asked him to and he remembered what we talked about! So we taught him the Plan of Salvation and read the BOM with him. We also got to meet with E and we taught him the Plan of Salvation also. Then we had yet another AWESOME dinner appointment with an investigator! We had Prime Rib from their pigs, and this was no small Prime Rib, it was big! Oh man was it good! And the gave us some to take home! After dinner we met with H, T, D, N, and D and taught them the 10 commandments. Then we got to meet with B & S. They are just so enthusiastic about reading the BOM! IT'S GREAT!
Well that's all for my week! Could someone do me a favor and send me the address for Elder Durtschi and Elder Scott. I would ask for Elder Provards but I think I got that one. ;) Thanks for everything!
Hagonet!
Elder Chipman!
Wow what a week! I LOVE this place! Good ol' B-Town!
So on Monday we went down to the Cajone ruins and got to look around there it was pretty sweet! It was even better because one of our investigators took us there. After that we came back and played CURSES!!! I LOVE THAT GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After we played that we went to a members house and Elder Amott had his suit burning ceremony. Then Elder Edwards and I took off down to White Mesa. So we were planning on showing the restoration video. So we were teaching at the church and we had to find a TV. Well we found and oh man! It was OLD SCHOOL! HAHAHA! Like it had knobs and everything man! It was great!
On Tuesday we found a new investigator, N, and taught him the first lesson and it went pretty well. Then we meet with H, T, D, N, and D and taught them some basic commandment like follow the prophet and read the scriptures. Man, I love those kids. Every time we go over there they just make me smile, they are so up beat and funny! After that lesson we found out who Elder Sobczech's new companion is. And the winner is... Elder.... Barns! From Layton Utah. Which is really funny cause Elder Amott who was his old companion is from Syracuse Utah. :) Then we got to meet with J. That dude is straight up awesome! He's funny and he is committed to reading the BOM! He has the desire to come to church and all that good stuff! And he always has the best stories! Oh ya, we found an ostrich in Blanding.... legit man, legit. :D
Wednesday we got to visit L. He is a blind man who is really smart! Then we got to have dinner with a less active member, B. We had these HUGELY MASSIVE steaks and they were SOOOOO GOOD!!!!!! And it was cool cause we also had artichokes and zucchini and peppers and squash with it. Now if you know me you know I don't particularly care for any of those things. So when I saw him bring them out I said a quick prayer and, oh man were those things good! It also helps that he added vinegar to them. :) After dinner we had M & P the same people who took us to the ruins on Monday. We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We brought a member with us who is really good friends with them. He can explain the gospel so simply! For example, he explained the spirit like a lamp in the corner of the room. The light benefits all of us but as we draw closer to it, it benefits us more. Wow he is good. Then we got to meet with B & S. They are on fire with reading the BOM!! I love it!
On Thursday we had District Meeting and we talked about having good planning sessions. Then we got to go down and fill in a hole, a BIG hole for M & P. This whole was about 4 feet deep and 6 feet wide and long. And we did it with shovels. Good times, good times! :) Then we meet with the G's. So we talked with them for a while and as we were talking I was petting one of their cats. Well this cat eventually jumped up on the couch crawled onto me and laid down from my shoulder to my hip! Oh that was good stuff except for all the extra cat hair that I obtained from it. :D Then we had another awesome dinner appointment. We had dinner with the I's, he is the new Elders Quorum President. We had Pork, and home made bread sticks and salad. GOOD STUFF! Then after dinner we went outside and played tornado with him and his sons. That was crazy fun! Then we meet with an old 80 year old dude, J, and read in the BOM with him.
Friday we had weekly planning, so at noon we took off with the other elders to go get lunch. Well we were driving and we were listening to this nice Hawaiian music, Yes we are aloud to listen to it because it is conducive to the spirit so nobody freak out on me now :), and Elder Barns asked, "Is this Navajo music?" We all died laughing. When I could breathe again I turned to him, smiled and said, "No elder this is Hawaiian music." He had the "Ohh" face on and then he smiled and laughed along with us, that totally made me day. After planning we went and learned more Navajo! :D Then we meet with M and watch "How rare a possession, the Book of Mormon" then we watched it again with J. For dinner we had one of our investigators feed us. We had this cool kinda Mexican food. It was good! Then before we left she asked for a blessing. I think being able to give blessing and feel the spirit working through me is one of my favorite parts of my mission. Then we meet with the B's and read the BOM with them.
Saturday! We got to do service for the first half of the day! We helped put in a retaining wall in. It was hard but fun at the same time. :) Then we went down to M & P and filled another BIG hole bigger than the one we filled before. Then we got to meet with M who is new investigator. He seems really excited to have us come over cause after we finished with the lesson we asked when we could come back and he said tomorrow. Then we went down to White Mesa. We meet with T & D and taught the Plan of Salvation. And we set up a baptism date with D!!! Oh how I love my mission! Then we meet with a lady and talked with her for a little while and gave her a blessing and set up a time we could come back. :)
Sunday was stake conference. It was really good. They talked about obedience and perseverance. We were at the over flow building and so when the closing prayer came she started praying and half way through the audio cut out. It was really kinda funny. The video was still going so we all waited till everyone stared opening their eyes and moving and said amen and laughed out loud. Then we meet with M again. This guy is great! He read what we asked him to and he remembered what we talked about! So we taught him the Plan of Salvation and read the BOM with him. We also got to meet with E and we taught him the Plan of Salvation also. Then we had yet another AWESOME dinner appointment with an investigator! We had Prime Rib from their pigs, and this was no small Prime Rib, it was big! Oh man was it good! And the gave us some to take home! After dinner we met with H, T, D, N, and D and taught them the 10 commandments. Then we got to meet with B & S. They are just so enthusiastic about reading the BOM! IT'S GREAT!
Well that's all for my week! Could someone do me a favor and send me the address for Elder Durtschi and Elder Scott. I would ask for Elder Provards but I think I got that one. ;) Thanks for everything!
Hagonet!
Elder Chipman!
Monday, April 22, 2013
Navajo Code 4/22
Yaa Teeh!
OH MY BUBBLES! I LOVE MY MISSION!!!!!!!! :D
So... Monday, for P-day we went to a canyon behind one of our investigators house and hiked around looking at some ruins and cliffs and stuff, oh ya... and throwing rocks of the cliff. Hehehehe :) Elder Amott was my companion because we were on splits so he was my companion Monday and Tuesday, that Elder is just straight up awesomeness. He understands how to talk to people and relate with them without attacking them. He can always bring the spirit into the lessons he is present for. After P-day we went to his area, North part of Blanding, tracked and had a family home evening with a native family there, we watched; "On the Lord's Errand". Oh how I love that movie, if any of you haven't seen it... YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT!!!!
On Tuesday Elder Amott and I were in my area. I took him to see E, the 90 year old man who is crazy strong, like stronger than me in an arm wrestle. Crazy I know. Then we got to teach H - 6, T - 7, D - 9, N - 10, and D - 11 the Plan of Salvation. That was a great lesson. At dinner I found one of my knew favorite meals. :) You get pancakes and put peanut butter on in then syrup.... OH MAN WAS IT GOOD!!!! :) Elder Amott and I made card board cut outs of each step of the Plan of Salvation and it worked really well! Later that night we went on splits with the 8th ward, Elder Amott went with the ward mission leader to D and talked about the Word of Wisdom while I went down to L's and talked with her and set up a time to come and read the Book of Mormon with her. She is the one with sons in the military, her whole family has been military. She has a military wall! IT'S LEGIT!!!!! I was obsessed with it for like the first 10 minutes we were there. I'll attach a picture of it at the bottom. :D
Wednesday we visited with B and started reading the Book of Mormon with him. He was already a good ways into it. We also met with M and read a little in the Book of Mormon with her. We also got the chance to meet with J, this guy is so funny and positive. And he was excited to meet with us because he had read the Book of Mormon EVERY DAY!!!! Oh man I love this guy! Then he tells us he is moving just out of our boundry... sad day. All well, I guess other people need awesome people like him to improve their day, but I'm sure going to miss him. After that we went on splits, I went and taught B the Plan of Salvation and... got a soft baptism commitment!!! He will probably get baptized at the end of May or beginning of June! :D After we were done with that lesson we meet back up with Elder Edwards and he had the biggest grin ever on his face. He had made solid baptism dates with M & P for May 11!!!! AWESOME NIGHT!!!! :D
Thursday we had district meeting in Monticello. I again played the piano for that. :) We only had one appointment that day and it wasn't the greatest appointment ever. So Thursday wasn't the greatest day, but you have to have those for the greater days to be even greater. :D
Friday, we met with two less active families for the first time and set up times where we could come and read the Book of Mormon. Then we meet with the 5 kids again, H T D N D, and committed them to baptism too on May 11! OH MAN GOOD STUFF!!!
Saturday we met with A & T and found that they are progressing slowly but surely! They are praying as a family now. Then we got to particate in 3 service projects! After that we went down to White Mesa and met with Z and then watched the Restoration with T & C and gave their sister, I think, a blessing.
Sunday I gave a talk in the 8th ward about, "Listening to the Prophet and applying it to Missionary Work". "Well now we know why we can't use matches. ;) After sacrement meeting the 8th ward, myself included, took a Membership Experience Survey. That was really interesting, I didn't even know they had those. After church we meet with our investigator E and showed him the Restoration. Halfway through the movie he was asleep, ya that was a little awkward... but he woke up just after the movie ended and we read the Book of Mormon. We also got to meet with B & S. They are doing great in their reading!
So today for our work out we ran about six miles and did 500 crunches. Oh good stuff.
So I'm short on time but thanks for everything! Hagonet!
Elder Chipman
OH MY BUBBLES! I LOVE MY MISSION!!!!!!!! :D
So... Monday, for P-day we went to a canyon behind one of our investigators house and hiked around looking at some ruins and cliffs and stuff, oh ya... and throwing rocks of the cliff. Hehehehe :) Elder Amott was my companion because we were on splits so he was my companion Monday and Tuesday, that Elder is just straight up awesomeness. He understands how to talk to people and relate with them without attacking them. He can always bring the spirit into the lessons he is present for. After P-day we went to his area, North part of Blanding, tracked and had a family home evening with a native family there, we watched; "On the Lord's Errand". Oh how I love that movie, if any of you haven't seen it... YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT!!!!
On Tuesday Elder Amott and I were in my area. I took him to see E, the 90 year old man who is crazy strong, like stronger than me in an arm wrestle. Crazy I know. Then we got to teach H - 6, T - 7, D - 9, N - 10, and D - 11 the Plan of Salvation. That was a great lesson. At dinner I found one of my knew favorite meals. :) You get pancakes and put peanut butter on in then syrup.... OH MAN WAS IT GOOD!!!! :) Elder Amott and I made card board cut outs of each step of the Plan of Salvation and it worked really well! Later that night we went on splits with the 8th ward, Elder Amott went with the ward mission leader to D and talked about the Word of Wisdom while I went down to L's and talked with her and set up a time to come and read the Book of Mormon with her. She is the one with sons in the military, her whole family has been military. She has a military wall! IT'S LEGIT!!!!! I was obsessed with it for like the first 10 minutes we were there. I'll attach a picture of it at the bottom. :D
Wednesday we visited with B and started reading the Book of Mormon with him. He was already a good ways into it. We also met with M and read a little in the Book of Mormon with her. We also got the chance to meet with J, this guy is so funny and positive. And he was excited to meet with us because he had read the Book of Mormon EVERY DAY!!!! Oh man I love this guy! Then he tells us he is moving just out of our boundry... sad day. All well, I guess other people need awesome people like him to improve their day, but I'm sure going to miss him. After that we went on splits, I went and taught B the Plan of Salvation and... got a soft baptism commitment!!! He will probably get baptized at the end of May or beginning of June! :D After we were done with that lesson we meet back up with Elder Edwards and he had the biggest grin ever on his face. He had made solid baptism dates with M & P for May 11!!!! AWESOME NIGHT!!!! :D
Thursday we had district meeting in Monticello. I again played the piano for that. :) We only had one appointment that day and it wasn't the greatest appointment ever. So Thursday wasn't the greatest day, but you have to have those for the greater days to be even greater. :D
Friday, we met with two less active families for the first time and set up times where we could come and read the Book of Mormon. Then we meet with the 5 kids again, H T D N D, and committed them to baptism too on May 11! OH MAN GOOD STUFF!!!
Saturday we met with A & T and found that they are progressing slowly but surely! They are praying as a family now. Then we got to particate in 3 service projects! After that we went down to White Mesa and met with Z and then watched the Restoration with T & C and gave their sister, I think, a blessing.
Sunday I gave a talk in the 8th ward about, "Listening to the Prophet and applying it to Missionary Work". "Well now we know why we can't use matches. ;) After sacrement meeting the 8th ward, myself included, took a Membership Experience Survey. That was really interesting, I didn't even know they had those. After church we meet with our investigator E and showed him the Restoration. Halfway through the movie he was asleep, ya that was a little awkward... but he woke up just after the movie ended and we read the Book of Mormon. We also got to meet with B & S. They are doing great in their reading!
So today for our work out we ran about six miles and did 500 crunches. Oh good stuff.
So I'm short on time but thanks for everything! Hagonet!
Elder Chipman
Monday, April 15, 2013
Navajo Code 4/15
Yaa Teeh!
Let me just say that I LOVE my mission! What a fantastic week! Let me tell you about it.....
Monday, we went to Cortez for a Zone P-day. On our way over there we went into a pretty sweet hail storm. It was legit, but it's been a while since I've seen a true Utah hail storm so it was nice. When we got there each District did a skit for the rest of the zone, oh and President and Sister Batt were there too. :D In our skit we tried to get a referral from a member using a part of our personal background and we all got rejected except for the last elder. So for example, Elder Edwards is from Texas so he used Texas slang, one of the sisters is a Cheerleader and she acted like one. You can probably guess what I did... Yep I did mine like a Marine Corps Drill Instructor. Oh there is one more thing you should probably know, the "member" we were trying to get referrals from was President Batt. So yes, I got to yell at my mission president and I didn't get in trouble. :D (Talk about a unique experience! :D ) After the skits we went out and played kickball. Then we came back and played dodgeball with nylon things that had flour in them. It was interesting stuff, if i can get the picture of the after math I'll send it home.
Tuesday we met with C & T and got to read the BOM with them. We also got to meet and talk with this really cool guy, J. He's a less active member and is absolutely hysterical! So he lives on some farm land and he was telling us that he would open up his back sliding glass door bring out his rifle and shooting stand and shoot at the prairie dogs that were digging holes in his field. He said he was going to show us the next time we came over! I'm so excited for that! We got to meet with another Less Active, B, who recently got engaged and is doing really well in work. He served his mission in Australia and has some cool souvenirs from his mission too!
On Wednesday I went on exchange with Elder Jones down to Bluff. We spent the day near White Rock. We actually tracked about a third of the houses there and I saw my first real hogon! We then spent the rest of the day driving around the Reservation, aka the Res, trying to contact people with no success. While we were driving around we listened to the song of "As I went Down in the River to Pray", oh man did that song remind me of Joel Hanson! It made me laugh cause Joel is freaking hilarious! It also reminded me of him helping me with that song for my solo and ensemble piece for my senior year in choir. I need some help from the people that read the blog, I want to talk to some people because I didn't get all the opportunities to do so before I left. If you know any of these people please ask them to write me because I would really like to talk to them; Justin Cook and or Maddie Cavonas (If I spelled that wrong I'm really sorry) and Thomas Dissel. Also could some one write and tell me who Elder Durtschi's MTC teachers were. Thanks! :D
Thursday we had District Meeting and I got to play the piano for that, wow do I miss playing the piano. Niki, could you send me copies of Cristifori's Dream, Go the Distance, and Journey West. Also send me my Hymn book thanks. :D We got to go and talk with G & F which went well. We are slowing getting to talk about gospel topics with them! :D We then went on splits cause we had set overlapping appointments but it worked out. I took the ward mission leader, WML, and went and saw B. He's a native that has a slight learning disorder but he is a great kid and really started to understand what we were teaching. We got to meet with B & S after and read the BOM. Wow have they progressed. They brought in their nieces and nephews in to read with us and one of them read half the chapter... FREAKING AWESOME!!!!!
Friday we had weekly planning so that took up most of the day. But we got to go down and visit M and set up a service project to help him dig some holes for his deck around his house. That night we had dinner with the Braford family and the father is an FBI agent which is funny cause that morning I read Dustin's letter that he sent me about the FBI agent. BTW Dustin, great letter and thanks for the two articles. Oh and no need to cut me any slack we got a picture of the spider, I'll attach it at the bottom if I can or I'll send it in another e-mail. It's not the greatest picture but it's still a picture. :) Then we went and meet with N and T, a 10 year old and a 7 almost 8 year old, he turns 8 on the 23 of April I think my dad would agree with me that that is a good day. :D Wow were those kids smart!!!! The lesson plan was to go in and teach 3 points of the first lesson. We got through those three point in about 2 minutes... ya they are brilliant kids. So we ended up teaching the whole first lesson. :) Our next lesson cancelled so we went out and tried to get some TTI's. We saw some people out on their front porch then they walked into their house. So we went up and knocked on their door. After a while a guy came to the door drew the cloth back that was covering the window saw us and freaked out and walk away. It was one of the funniest things ever. We then went and read the BOM with the D family. After we got finished reading we talked with them for a little bit and J really opened up to us! He brought out his arrow head collection and I asked if he could make me a leather scripture case cause he makes sattles for a living. He said he could!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TALK ABOUT EXCITEMENT!!!!!
On Saturday we had 2 service projects!!!! We went and moved sprinklers for A & T and then dug some holes for M. After we dug the holes we had a lesson on the Word of Wisdom. We had dinner at Bro. Fords house, the MMA fighter we work out within the morning. He made us Thai food which was actually pretty good, but something that is interesting the engagement pictures of him and his wife are taken at the Jordan River Parkway at the bottom of Whinchester. I Freaked out when I saw that picture. :D "I KNOW WHERE THAT IS!!!!! IT'S LIKE 2 MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE!!!!" Haha. After dinner we went down to White Mesa to start tracking it out. The first door we knocked on, the FIRST door we knocked on the invited us we set up a time to meet with them and then one of them asked for a blessing. That was a really neat spiritual experience for me. On our way back to B-town, Blanding :), someone called us and asked if we could come give their baby a blessing because he was having a hard time breathing. So I got to bless that time since I anointed down in White Mesa (and Jessica if you are wondering yes White Mesa is South of Blanding so it is DOWN there. :D ) Two blessing in one day, wow good stuff.
Sunday I got to go to PEC with the first ward until I went with the 8th ward WML down to White Mesa for sacrament meeting. It was great. One of the people that bore their testimonies mentioned Elder Edwards and I that we came and visited her yesterday when she was having a bad day. I also saw a women there who we invited to church and didn't think would come. Good stuff! After church we went and stopped by E to see if he was home, he was so we taught him about the restoration. It was one of the most powerful lessons I've ever experienced. Not only did he feel the spirit he was able to identify and recognize it. WOW! We also got to meet with B & S again. They are absolutly fantastic!
So that was my totally amazing week! What is something you have read from the scriptures that has improved your life? I'd like to hear what everyone says. I personally like 1 Nephi 3: 7. Anything that is placed before me I can overcome with the help of my father in heaven. I know this church is true and I am having the time of my life here on my mission! Hagonet!
Elder Chipman
Let me just say that I LOVE my mission! What a fantastic week! Let me tell you about it.....
Monday, we went to Cortez for a Zone P-day. On our way over there we went into a pretty sweet hail storm. It was legit, but it's been a while since I've seen a true Utah hail storm so it was nice. When we got there each District did a skit for the rest of the zone, oh and President and Sister Batt were there too. :D In our skit we tried to get a referral from a member using a part of our personal background and we all got rejected except for the last elder. So for example, Elder Edwards is from Texas so he used Texas slang, one of the sisters is a Cheerleader and she acted like one. You can probably guess what I did... Yep I did mine like a Marine Corps Drill Instructor. Oh there is one more thing you should probably know, the "member" we were trying to get referrals from was President Batt. So yes, I got to yell at my mission president and I didn't get in trouble. :D (Talk about a unique experience! :D ) After the skits we went out and played kickball. Then we came back and played dodgeball with nylon things that had flour in them. It was interesting stuff, if i can get the picture of the after math I'll send it home.
Tuesday we met with C & T and got to read the BOM with them. We also got to meet and talk with this really cool guy, J. He's a less active member and is absolutely hysterical! So he lives on some farm land and he was telling us that he would open up his back sliding glass door bring out his rifle and shooting stand and shoot at the prairie dogs that were digging holes in his field. He said he was going to show us the next time we came over! I'm so excited for that! We got to meet with another Less Active, B, who recently got engaged and is doing really well in work. He served his mission in Australia and has some cool souvenirs from his mission too!
On Wednesday I went on exchange with Elder Jones down to Bluff. We spent the day near White Rock. We actually tracked about a third of the houses there and I saw my first real hogon! We then spent the rest of the day driving around the Reservation, aka the Res, trying to contact people with no success. While we were driving around we listened to the song of "As I went Down in the River to Pray", oh man did that song remind me of Joel Hanson! It made me laugh cause Joel is freaking hilarious! It also reminded me of him helping me with that song for my solo and ensemble piece for my senior year in choir. I need some help from the people that read the blog, I want to talk to some people because I didn't get all the opportunities to do so before I left. If you know any of these people please ask them to write me because I would really like to talk to them; Justin Cook and or Maddie Cavonas (If I spelled that wrong I'm really sorry) and Thomas Dissel. Also could some one write and tell me who Elder Durtschi's MTC teachers were. Thanks! :D
Thursday we had District Meeting and I got to play the piano for that, wow do I miss playing the piano. Niki, could you send me copies of Cristifori's Dream, Go the Distance, and Journey West. Also send me my Hymn book thanks. :D We got to go and talk with G & F which went well. We are slowing getting to talk about gospel topics with them! :D We then went on splits cause we had set overlapping appointments but it worked out. I took the ward mission leader, WML, and went and saw B. He's a native that has a slight learning disorder but he is a great kid and really started to understand what we were teaching. We got to meet with B & S after and read the BOM. Wow have they progressed. They brought in their nieces and nephews in to read with us and one of them read half the chapter... FREAKING AWESOME!!!!!
Friday we had weekly planning so that took up most of the day. But we got to go down and visit M and set up a service project to help him dig some holes for his deck around his house. That night we had dinner with the Braford family and the father is an FBI agent which is funny cause that morning I read Dustin's letter that he sent me about the FBI agent. BTW Dustin, great letter and thanks for the two articles. Oh and no need to cut me any slack we got a picture of the spider, I'll attach it at the bottom if I can or I'll send it in another e-mail. It's not the greatest picture but it's still a picture. :) Then we went and meet with N and T, a 10 year old and a 7 almost 8 year old, he turns 8 on the 23 of April I think my dad would agree with me that that is a good day. :D Wow were those kids smart!!!! The lesson plan was to go in and teach 3 points of the first lesson. We got through those three point in about 2 minutes... ya they are brilliant kids. So we ended up teaching the whole first lesson. :) Our next lesson cancelled so we went out and tried to get some TTI's. We saw some people out on their front porch then they walked into their house. So we went up and knocked on their door. After a while a guy came to the door drew the cloth back that was covering the window saw us and freaked out and walk away. It was one of the funniest things ever. We then went and read the BOM with the D family. After we got finished reading we talked with them for a little bit and J really opened up to us! He brought out his arrow head collection and I asked if he could make me a leather scripture case cause he makes sattles for a living. He said he could!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TALK ABOUT EXCITEMENT!!!!!
On Saturday we had 2 service projects!!!! We went and moved sprinklers for A & T and then dug some holes for M. After we dug the holes we had a lesson on the Word of Wisdom. We had dinner at Bro. Fords house, the MMA fighter we work out within the morning. He made us Thai food which was actually pretty good, but something that is interesting the engagement pictures of him and his wife are taken at the Jordan River Parkway at the bottom of Whinchester. I Freaked out when I saw that picture. :D "I KNOW WHERE THAT IS!!!!! IT'S LIKE 2 MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE!!!!" Haha. After dinner we went down to White Mesa to start tracking it out. The first door we knocked on, the FIRST door we knocked on the invited us we set up a time to meet with them and then one of them asked for a blessing. That was a really neat spiritual experience for me. On our way back to B-town, Blanding :), someone called us and asked if we could come give their baby a blessing because he was having a hard time breathing. So I got to bless that time since I anointed down in White Mesa (and Jessica if you are wondering yes White Mesa is South of Blanding so it is DOWN there. :D ) Two blessing in one day, wow good stuff.
Sunday I got to go to PEC with the first ward until I went with the 8th ward WML down to White Mesa for sacrament meeting. It was great. One of the people that bore their testimonies mentioned Elder Edwards and I that we came and visited her yesterday when she was having a bad day. I also saw a women there who we invited to church and didn't think would come. Good stuff! After church we went and stopped by E to see if he was home, he was so we taught him about the restoration. It was one of the most powerful lessons I've ever experienced. Not only did he feel the spirit he was able to identify and recognize it. WOW! We also got to meet with B & S again. They are absolutly fantastic!
So that was my totally amazing week! What is something you have read from the scriptures that has improved your life? I'd like to hear what everyone says. I personally like 1 Nephi 3: 7. Anything that is placed before me I can overcome with the help of my father in heaven. I know this church is true and I am having the time of my life here on my mission! Hagonet!
Elder Chipman
Monday, April 8, 2013
Navajo Code 4/8
YAH TEEH!!!
What a great conference!!!!! I loved Pres. Monson's talk during Priesthood and his talk during Sunday Morning. :D I also really enjoyed Sister Dalton's talk, I think it's interesting how there is a scripture under the carpet at the podium. What was everyone's favorite talk? What talk did you feel was least directed toward you and how could you apply it more to your life? For me it was the talk given by Elder Clayton on Marriage cause it's still 2+ years away at least, but I can take the principles and start applying them now.
So on Monday we went to Mesa Verde next to Cortez Colorado. It's just a Native American ruins and petroglyphs. It was interesting. Afterwards we played some sports and then drove down to Farmington.
Tuesday we in Farmington for Zone Conference. It was fantastic we learned lots of stuff, one thing I learned that I could do better on is listening to my investigator and companion better, and learning that silence can, actually believe it or not, be a good thing. For dinner that night we went to... Niki this is for you... Costa Vida. :) And yes, it was good.
Wednesday, the Zone Leaders came on splits with us and the other Elders in Blanding. Those guys are great! They're funny and know who to talk with the spirit. After lunch we went and tried to visit all the people we are meeting with and we finally got a hold of M. He was out away from the town building his home, he's a really nice guy and we were able to schedule an appointment with him. We then meet with T, and it was amazing how the spirit taught her what she could be doing better. How she was treating people and how see wanted to be treated. We also got to meet with M for the first time. We went over the Tree of Life with her and her youngest son. We had dinner with the C's. A loved telling us stories and they were really quite interesting. We also had REAL Navajo Taco's not like the ones they give you at the high school, but to be fair they are actually pretty close. Then I went on an exchange to Monticello!!! We drove part way and Elder Martin and I switched companions. So I went back to Monticello with Elder Jamison. Elder Jamison is an outstanding missionary, he's been a former Zone Leader and really has some great things that I would like to learn how to do, such as be able to invite the spirit in like he does. He is 26 and is from the back country of Missouri.
Thursday we got up and did a 2 mile run with little exercises every half mile, had studies and then set out for the day. We were on bikes during the day and when it got dark we took the truck. We meet with an older gal who was having some back problems and talked with her for a little while. We then rode around the town trying to contact everyone we could. I got a picture of the Monticello temple too! Toward the later end of the day we meet with and older Less Active gentleman and we had a good discussion and found that he would be interested in watching some of the old conference talks online, especially the ones done by Elder Holland. The last place we went before we went back to our old companions is to one of the ward mission leaders houses. It was crazy, his wife looked like Jenny Bastidas only older and with glasses, it was really kinda weird but cool at the same time.
Friday we did our weekly planning and contacted people most of the day. But we did get the coolest TTI EVER!!!!! We were coming back from a house to our truck, climbed in the truck and started talking when another vehicle came up and rolled down the window and the dude said, "Do you guys talk to people?" After saying yes we were out of the truck setting up an appointment faster than fast. :) It was even better because we had been praying for unplanned opportunities to share the gospel. Well Heavenly Father answers prayers! :D We did have one appointment with D at the end of the day. We brought a really enthusiastic member with us and he did most of the teaching! It was fantastic!
Saturday we watched conference, wow was it great. In between the first to sessions we went back to the house for something and found that we each had a package and then I also got three letter, the package and two of the three letter were from girls which makes it all the better. :D We also had an appointment with the dude that we meet on Friday. He seems ready to change but he's still got a long way to go just by the things we saw on his wall and under his couch. After the other two sessions we meet with a really cool guy, B, and had a good conversation on the satisfaction of helping people. He wasn't interested in the gospel but he was a really nice guy.
Sunday we watched conference and then went around for the hour we had before dinner meeting with everyone we could and seeing how they liked conference. After dinner we meet with B & S. Wow are they Great. They are reading the scriptures on their own and have good thoughtful questions and are finding ways to apply what they are reading to their own lives. It's fantastic!!!
Today we got an email from Pres. Batt. The Flagstaff Zone is going to be going to the Phoenix Arizona mission pretty soon along with some missionaries. So there is a possibility that I could be switching missions but don't think that it will.
I love being out here and am learning so much each day. The letter are great and really appreciated! Write me and tell me what you thought of conference and what you could apply from your favorite talk and your least favorite talk. Until next time, Hogonet!
Elder Chipman
What a great conference!!!!! I loved Pres. Monson's talk during Priesthood and his talk during Sunday Morning. :D I also really enjoyed Sister Dalton's talk, I think it's interesting how there is a scripture under the carpet at the podium. What was everyone's favorite talk? What talk did you feel was least directed toward you and how could you apply it more to your life? For me it was the talk given by Elder Clayton on Marriage cause it's still 2+ years away at least, but I can take the principles and start applying them now.
So on Monday we went to Mesa Verde next to Cortez Colorado. It's just a Native American ruins and petroglyphs. It was interesting. Afterwards we played some sports and then drove down to Farmington.
Tuesday we in Farmington for Zone Conference. It was fantastic we learned lots of stuff, one thing I learned that I could do better on is listening to my investigator and companion better, and learning that silence can, actually believe it or not, be a good thing. For dinner that night we went to... Niki this is for you... Costa Vida. :) And yes, it was good.
Wednesday, the Zone Leaders came on splits with us and the other Elders in Blanding. Those guys are great! They're funny and know who to talk with the spirit. After lunch we went and tried to visit all the people we are meeting with and we finally got a hold of M. He was out away from the town building his home, he's a really nice guy and we were able to schedule an appointment with him. We then meet with T, and it was amazing how the spirit taught her what she could be doing better. How she was treating people and how see wanted to be treated. We also got to meet with M for the first time. We went over the Tree of Life with her and her youngest son. We had dinner with the C's. A loved telling us stories and they were really quite interesting. We also had REAL Navajo Taco's not like the ones they give you at the high school, but to be fair they are actually pretty close. Then I went on an exchange to Monticello!!! We drove part way and Elder Martin and I switched companions. So I went back to Monticello with Elder Jamison. Elder Jamison is an outstanding missionary, he's been a former Zone Leader and really has some great things that I would like to learn how to do, such as be able to invite the spirit in like he does. He is 26 and is from the back country of Missouri.
Thursday we got up and did a 2 mile run with little exercises every half mile, had studies and then set out for the day. We were on bikes during the day and when it got dark we took the truck. We meet with an older gal who was having some back problems and talked with her for a little while. We then rode around the town trying to contact everyone we could. I got a picture of the Monticello temple too! Toward the later end of the day we meet with and older Less Active gentleman and we had a good discussion and found that he would be interested in watching some of the old conference talks online, especially the ones done by Elder Holland. The last place we went before we went back to our old companions is to one of the ward mission leaders houses. It was crazy, his wife looked like Jenny Bastidas only older and with glasses, it was really kinda weird but cool at the same time.
Friday we did our weekly planning and contacted people most of the day. But we did get the coolest TTI EVER!!!!! We were coming back from a house to our truck, climbed in the truck and started talking when another vehicle came up and rolled down the window and the dude said, "Do you guys talk to people?" After saying yes we were out of the truck setting up an appointment faster than fast. :) It was even better because we had been praying for unplanned opportunities to share the gospel. Well Heavenly Father answers prayers! :D We did have one appointment with D at the end of the day. We brought a really enthusiastic member with us and he did most of the teaching! It was fantastic!
Saturday we watched conference, wow was it great. In between the first to sessions we went back to the house for something and found that we each had a package and then I also got three letter, the package and two of the three letter were from girls which makes it all the better. :D We also had an appointment with the dude that we meet on Friday. He seems ready to change but he's still got a long way to go just by the things we saw on his wall and under his couch. After the other two sessions we meet with a really cool guy, B, and had a good conversation on the satisfaction of helping people. He wasn't interested in the gospel but he was a really nice guy.
Sunday we watched conference and then went around for the hour we had before dinner meeting with everyone we could and seeing how they liked conference. After dinner we meet with B & S. Wow are they Great. They are reading the scriptures on their own and have good thoughtful questions and are finding ways to apply what they are reading to their own lives. It's fantastic!!!
Today we got an email from Pres. Batt. The Flagstaff Zone is going to be going to the Phoenix Arizona mission pretty soon along with some missionaries. So there is a possibility that I could be switching missions but don't think that it will.
I love being out here and am learning so much each day. The letter are great and really appreciated! Write me and tell me what you thought of conference and what you could apply from your favorite talk and your least favorite talk. Until next time, Hogonet!
Elder Chipman
Monday, April 1, 2013
Navajo Code 4/1
Ya Teeh!
So really
quick we've been asked as a mission not to use people's names so I will
just be using the first letter of their name. :) So this week the bugs
of Blanding showed themselves. We had a Brown Recluse Spider in our home
and we are discovering lots of cockroaches. It's been pretty
interesting ever since we found that Brown Recluse... :)
Sunday was interesting. The stake president has asked all
the sets of missionaries to be at all the meeting for all their wards
or branches. So Elder Edwards went down to White Mesa and I stayed in
Blanding. It was really weird but I'd better get used to it because
we'll be doing it a lot more. :D After church we were eating and we
watched "On the Lords Errand; the life of Thomas S. Monson" I learned
some really cool stuff about him. :D We had dinner with the A's, they
feed us every Sunday, and then we had an appointment with B & S
again. Can I just say I love meeting with B & S. They are such great
people and have really come a long way even since I've been here. They
have such a great spirit about them. After that we had to go home so
Elder Edwards could call the District and get numbers so Elder Amott and
I got to talk. I freaking LOVE Elder Amott. I look up to him as an
older brother. He has such good advise for me and he's super funny. He's
made me cry by laughing so hard SEVERAL times since I've been here.
I'm Curious to know what everyone's favorite Hymn is. Write me and tell me what it is and why it is your favorite.
I freaking love being on my mission and I'm learning so much! Until next time, Hagonet!
Elder Chipman
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