Navajo Code 6/24

Yaa Teeh!

       Yet another fantastic week!

       So on Monday we had a zone activity where we played volleyball basketball and all brought stuff to make burrito's. It was some good stuff! Then I came home and some mail waiting for me. My oldest brother, Dustin, had sent me a letter that really stuck out to me. It said something like, focus on your mission, everything else can wait and there will be enough time to think about stuff when you get home. Nothing is more important than the work you are doing right now. That really stuck out to me. Then we got to go down to White Mesa and visit A and give some service to her weeding her front yard. What was funny is we did it in our proselyting clothes and it was about 95 degrees. So later that day the police officer came up to us and talked to us about it. We had a good laugh. We also got to visit the L family and learn about Joseph Smith.

       Tuesday I had a chance to play the piano a little so I finally decided to try some music that my sister, Niki, had sent me. It was the Jon Schmidt Hymns. Wow that are some crazy fun and crazy hard pieces! Then we also got to visit with a new family the L's. They have been less active for several years and once we got inside the mom just opened up to us. It's weird how people will do that to us missionaries, but it's kinda cool and sacred at the same time.

       Wednesday we had apartment checks. We cleaned it up that morning and the senior couple that came to look at it were very impressed. Then we also got to meet with M & P and learn about Joseph Smith. We also took our ward mission leader down to see the B's and they welcomed him better than we thought possible so a very productive day!

       On Thursday we got to pick up an old investigator again, E. He asked if we could stop back by so we did. We also found out that he had gone to church about 3 weeks ago. Wow, cool stuff! We also had to go down to White Mesa to get a signature on a baptismal form. So we talked with the dad, wow that guy is super nice. He respects the church and hopes that his kids get involved even though he himself is very traditional.

       On Friday we got blessed to meet with someone who is normally really busy and doesn't really have time to meet with us but still wants to learn. She is a fantastic lady and is trying hard to make the best life for her family. We also got to learn some more Navajo with Bro. Glover.

       Saturday we had a FANTASTIC baptism! It was the first baptism in White Mesa in about a year! Oh man was D, the person getting baptized, prepared! He is so full of charity and love! He is going to be a great tool in the lord. I also got to baptize him. So funny story, I got to baptize him and after we got out of the font we went to the changing room and he was just standing there shivering and saying it's cold. So I asked him where his clothes were and he said back in the other room with his family. :) So I quickly stuck my head out and asked his sister for the clothes. Then we got give some service before we headed down to White Mesa. There we got to play some basketball with our newest recent convert. Oh good times!

       Sunday we had D's confirmation and that was the largest I have ever seen the White Mesa building be filled. It had over 50 people! And I don't think any were there because of the confirmation! Normally we are happy if we get 15 people, so we were thrilled when we had a full room! Then that night was the missionary broadcast. WOW......................... Missionary work is REALLY going to change. For those of you who weren't able to attend this is some of the things that will be happening in the next few months. Missionaries will get Facebook profiles and will be confirming appointments online and the churches will be left unlocked so people can come in and get church tours whenever they want. People will be there when the building is unlocked so it won't always be unlocked but still. The main thing is missionary work is really going digital. This is really an exciting time to be a missionary and I feel so humbled and blessed to be apart of it.

       Thanks for everything, Hagonet!

Elder Bryson Chipman

 Cool Photo from zone activity

D's Baptism

Navajo Code 6/17

Yaa Teeh! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUSTIN!

       Pretty fun week, let me tell you about it!

       On Monday we just stayed in for P-day cause the other Elders had a lesson in the middle of the day. That night we went down to White Mesa and had a Really great lesson with the L family! It was really spiritual, we taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It actually brought one of them to tears a couple times.

       Tuesday during my studies I read about the tree of life along with Adam and Eve. Question for everyone, when did the Tree of Life come into the Garden of Eden? Then we had a fun day visiting a lot of Less Actives and spreading the word. That night we had a ward member come over and help us fix our swamp cooler cause it wasn't working and is was really hot inside the house.

       Wednesday was a very eventful day. So during our studies the same ward member came over and finished the swamp cooler and once he left, ONCE HE LEFT! the actual repair guy came and had to do it all over again, lol, it always works like that. Then we went on exchanges, I took E. Hooton down to Bluff so he could be with E. Royce and I brought back E. Jones. We were on bikes almost all day, E. Jones (a bit heavier than most) wasn't exactly happy to here that.... :). We did contact lots of referrals and got a new investigator, C, who we also set a baptism date with! Then we went home and found the mail had come. I had gotten a letter from the mission office. I was like, "Ok, what is this?" So I opened it and found that it was a returned letter from like 2 weeks ago! And the best part is, that the first thing said in that letter is, "I'm not ignoring you." Ya I wasn't exactly happy about that but we both had a good laugh about it. :D That night we came home and we found a toad in the front yard. So of course E. Barnes come out and catches it. We all passed it around and took pictures with it. It was my first time holding a toad or frog so it was reallllllllllllllly interesting. It did this weird vibrating thing off and on.

       Thursday all of our appointments cancelled so we got to knock doors all day. We found 3 potential investigators!!!!

       Friday almost all of our appointments cancelled so we got to knock doors again! But I had a really neat experience with one of them. So we were talking to this lady and she said she was Catholic and wasn't interested. I was praying really hard inside that she would be willing to receive the gospel. So I had the prompting to ask a couple questions and she opened up to us! We talked for a little longer and then set up a return appointment! WOW! We were also on bikes that day and the wind was blowing pretty good. So I was riding down a hill into the wind. Wind + Tie = chocking. IT WAS AWESOME!!!!

       Saturday was an AWESOME service day. So we got to go help one of our ward missionaries, Bro. Glover, fix his swamp cooler. We also got to help him DESTROY a tree house. That was CRAZY FUN! Other than the fact that I stepped on two nails, but it's no fun if you don't get any battle scares right?! :D ;) We had a blast with the small sledge hammer and took the tree house down!

       On Sunday we were able to visit with bro. R. a less active member. He's going up to SLC for surgery this week for cancer. He's such a cool guy and makes the BEST burrito's!

       So some of you are wondering about my mission splitting. Well it's splitting on July 1 which is in this transfer and the Flagstaff Zone will be leaving us. I don't need to worry about it unless I get Emergency Transferred into that zone which isn't very likely.

      Well thanks for all you guys do! Until next week, Hagonet!

Elder Chipman

 

The toad and I

Navajo Code 6/10

What a fun transfer week!

       On Monday we had lunch with N then got to go hiking.We went down into this canyon then spent about 20 minutes to find a way back up, haha. :) Then I took Elder Edwards down to his new area, Bluff, picked up Elder Ward and took him to Farmington because he was going home and that is where I would be picking up my new companion. We stayed the night at the AP's house.

       Tuesday I spent the day proselyting in Farmington. Then around 7 my new companion showed up. My new companion is...... Elder (If any of you thought it was a sister, that would be just sad...) ...... Hooton! He's from Billings Montana and has been out a transfer longer than me. So due to the number of trucks available we had to leave the truck their and get a ride home with the Montezuma Creek Elders. So we played tetris with our luggage in the truck. :D We had to fit 12 suitcases, 2 bikes, four backpacks, and four people in our truck. That was freaking fun! We eventually :) did it. Then we started back to Blanding. We only made it to Montezuma Creek before we had to stop because of our curfew. So because they only have a travel trailer to stay in we slept in the church in the chapel because that was the coolest place in the building. Talk about an interesting experience.

       Wednesday we played some basketball while the new District Leaders and Zone Leaders got to know each other. Then we got back to Blanding. We were able to teach J. He's an older gentleman with a really kind heart but doesn't fully understand the gospel.

       On Thursday at our dinner appointment I learned that they, the Shumway's, lived in West Jordan about 10 years ago across Redwood Road. I'm telling ya, ALL roads lead to Blanding. G & G Lynn, I'm am getting everything you are sending me. Thank you So much! You guys are Great!

       Friday we were able to meet with L. He's our blind less active that has just given up chew. He asked for a blessing of comfort and I was able to give that to him. That was a really special experience for me because he is really turning his life around. Also in my studies I try to improve on at least 1 Christlike Attribute a week. This week's was Patience, and I found a scripture for why we need patience. Mosiah 23: 21. When I read that I thought of another scripture in D & C 121: 7-9. That was some cool stuff.

       Saturday was an interesting day for sure! So I found a scripture that relates to my mission again, Alma 9: 17. I love finding those scriptures! Then for a finding activity we went to the park where there are always yard sales going on and set up a little table of pamphlets and pass along cards and then went around talking to everyone. That was actually really fun and effective. We got 2 potential investigators. For dinner that night I tried something I've never tried before, Liver. It was... Interesting. Dry but not to bad. Then we had an appointment with a potential. She is really excited to learn about the gospel. We are so excited for her. Then we went down to White Mesa. While we were down there we tried to set up as many appointments as we could. Well we were driving down the road and saw some people outside and so we decided to stop and TTI them. Well come to find out that they were both drunk. Then someone else came out of the house, who was even more drunk, and started yelling at up to give him a blessing. So we said ok, and asked to find a chair or something. So he found some where to sit then when he started to sit down he face-planted it into the ground. Ya that's got to be one of the most awkward/ weird blessings I have ever given.

       On Sunday I went down to White Mesa for church. Total we had 2 investigators come to church, one with a baptism date for the 22 of June and the other was the new investigator from Saturday. Then we got to go visit the D's. We found out that he smokes which is why he hasn't been coming to church. Then when we were driving back to the house we saw J, one of my favorite people to teach, and saw him smoking. Double whammy, all well we are here to help them in any way that we can and that's what we are going to do! Also we met with B & S and they expressed interest in getting a Preach My Gospel so after the lesson we went to the bishops house and got one and took it them. They were like, "That was fast."

       Good stuff is happening here in B-town. I love it here and am having a great time. Thanks for all the support. Until next week, Hagonet!

     Elder Chipman'






This week's pictures:

This picture was taken while going about 30 MPH

 Elder Hooton and I

 Inside the truck

The Tetris truck

Navajo Code 6/3

Yaa Teeh!
   
       This week has officially been named... Nature Week!

       So on Monday we decided to go on a "hike". :D On this hike we went COMPLETELY off the beaten path, yes I was leading it. Hehehe. So we are going on this hike and Elder Edwards and I are ahead of everyone else so we stop and wait. Well I decide to scout out a little more ahead so I tell Elder Edwards. So I was standing next the the cliff wall on my left and there was a low hanging tree on my right. Once I got under the tree I had to jump about 3 feet down to a flat part to keep going. So I jump and right when I hit the ground there is this death curtailing high pitched SCREAM that comes from behind me. I freak out and look behind me to see two sets of wings flying out of the tree and fly across the canyon. There were 2 owls in that tree that I had just climbed under. So I called Elder Edwards over and told him about it and showed him the tree where the owls had been. He was looking at the tree and right before he looked away he noticed to BIG eyes staring back at him. There was an owl 5 feet away from us... WOW! The pictures are really how close that thing was to us! So we called everyone else over quietly and we all took pictures of it. Then I showed them were the other two owls were. One of the owls was on the cliff face then it flew down to the canyon flour. Apparently it landed near a couple of Hawks nests because out of no where two hawks came screaming at the owl. It was beawesome to watch but at the same time kinda freaky! After P-day ended we went down to White Mesa and got to teach a new investigator! V. Cool little 9 year old kid. So after we came back from White Mesa we did our nightly stuff and right at 10 30, our bed time, one of our old investigators called us. He was in tears. He had gotten in a fight with his family, we think it was about the gospel. It's incredible how much faith he has to call us and tell us what was going on. We were able to talk to him for a little while then we said a prayer with him over the phone and then he asked us what scriptures he could read that night. Wow was that an amazing experience!

       Tuesday was our last chance to meet with D & D, the foreign exchange students. Those guys are so cool, I'm going to miss meeting with them. We also met with our friend L. We listened to Glenn Beck's conversion story. Right after we finished he decided to quite coffee right then and there. So he gave us all the coffee he had so we could throw it away for him. That has got to be one of the coolest feelings ever, walking out of some one's house with a bunch of stuff like that!

       Good ol' Wednesday! So we went around trying to meet with people and we came home to get a drink. Next thing I know Elder Edwards had caught a live finch! We brought it inside and held it and took a video of it flying into the wall.... :D that was kinda funny. Then we had a really spiritual and faith building experience. We were going around contacting people for the bishop. So we decided we should go knock on a less actives door. Come to find out that his mother in law had passed away that morning. Wow, what a neat experience to be able to meet with him. After that and we were done for the day we walked into the house. One of our investigators, J, texted us and asked us to come give her a blessing. You should have seen how awesome that was. We bolted out of the house and sprinted to her house, it was legit. We were able to give her house a blessing and her a blessing. :D

       Thursday we had District Meeting and Elder Edwards had everyone teach for about 5 to 10 minutes. I got to teach on Knowledge. That was a fun experience. Then I went on exchanges with Elder Ward, one of the Zone Leaders. We had a fun day contacting people and teaching people how to fellowship other people.

       On Friday we had to drop one of our investigators because she wasn't ready for us. That was really hard because of how close I've grown to her. We are still going to come over and give service for her but we aren't going to teach her any more.

       Saturday was an amazing day! So we had a baptism for B! And I was the one that got to baptize her. I will always remember that once I pulled her out of the water she looked at me and just said, "Thank You". Wow was that powerful. That night at dinner one of their kids was in some pain and we were able to give her a blessing. Then when we left and got in the truck to leave one of their neighbors came up to the truck window and while holding back tears asked for a blessing. So I was able to give her a blessing of comfort. It's amazing what the Lord will do with his servants when they are obedient. Saturday night we got transfer news. Elder Edwards became the new Zone Leader so my new companion is... Elder Hooton! I get to go pick him up tomorrow! I'm so excited!

       Sunday was a fun day. So we had B's confirmation. The man who confirmed her, Brother G speaks Navajo so he gave her her blessing in Navajo. I bet the people in the congregation were REALLY confused. :D Then we got to go teach N. A really humble man that REALLY knows the Bible. I'm excited to get to keep teaching him. That night we put on a Fireside for the whole stake! We, the full time missionaries, talked about ways for members to introduce the gospel to their friends and family. Then we went to Bro. K house and got to put on the Puffy Coat. That thing is MASSIVE!!!!!
      I am having the time of my life here and I am loving it every minute. Thank you all for your love and support! Until next time, Hagonet!

Elder Chipman

Me and B

 Me and the bird

 Find the owl ;)

 "Hiking"

(L-R) Jermaine, Me, Bro. Ford

 The Owl

 The Puffy Coat