Navajo Code 7/29

  Yaa Teeh!

 

       What a great week in Flora Vista, New Mexico! Here we go!!! :)

 

       On Monday we just sat around the house and I took a much needed nap. Then we went out and we got my first ever referral from a non member, and it was a good referral too! Check that out! We met with a young family for the first time and got to know them. It was pretty cool. They seem pretty excited to here about the gospel!

 

       On Tuesday I found one of the coolest things ever in the Book of Mormon! The United States Marine Corps birthday! Look in Alma 49: 1. Just goes to show that the Marine are freaking awesome! We had a really good teaching day, we got 5 lessons. The last one was the most interesting. We went to visit a non active member and right when we showed up one of his friends showed up with his 18 month old daughter that has the exact same name and spelling as my oldest niece! Ya that was really pretty cool. We talked to him for a while and we learned a lot and hopefully taught him something too.

 

       So on Wednesday right before we left the house I opened a box of wheat thins and had a few then put them away when we left. We taught the Plan of Salvation quite a bit that day. During one of the latter appointments I noticet that Elder Deakin was kind of copying my teaching style. That was a real wake up call. I love Elder Deakin and I want him to be the best missionary he can be so I want to make sure I doing everything I can to be obedient and teaching like Christ would so he can see that and take that from me. Then we came back to the house and I was so excited to eat my Wheat Thins and I opened the box and I looked down and there were ant EVERYWHERE in my Wheat Thins. Needless to say I was not extremely happy. But life goes on. :) Especially since I have another box. :)

 

       Thursday, If you want to see how obedient a missionary is give him a package at the beginning of the day because we aren't supposed to open letters or packages until after the day is over. It was torture!!!!! We then went and found a potential investigator and we went and talked to him for about an hour. It was really pretty interesting. Then we taught a couple more lessons came home and did a good fast planning session. Then I got to open a really awesome package! :)

 

       On Friday we got to go to a less actives house. We knocked, he opened, we sat down. His dog walked in the room. It was a good size Akida. He said, "I hope you don't mind dogs." I said I didn't. He got up and left the room. The dog came over. The next thing I remember is 5 more Akida's coming towards me! They went haywire! It ... was... AWESOME!!!!! Then we went and visited a less active who is really sick and getting ready to die. It was weird cause here body looked exactly like mom's did. It was a little weird but we had a good lesson with her Nurse who is interested in learning more. Then for the last lesson that night we were showing a video to a recent convert lady and her daughter. So for mission rules we need another priesthood male. So we contacted them and he came with his wife. So we were watching the movie in the church and about 10 minutes into the movie he got a phone call and step out side of the room. No problem as long as he comes back in about 2 or 3 minutes later. So 10 minutes go by so I tap Elder Deakin and we step out side and try and find him. He was in the clerks office doing work for the bishop. So we stayed there until we had to go in and end the lesson. It was really funny.

 

       Saturday we didn't have any appointments so we decided to stay at the house a little longer than normal and organize the area book. But before we did that we had lunch. I made......... Potato Soup! Oh is that stuff good! Then we organized the area book. We didn't leave the house till after 5 PM. But before we organized everything we had 31 potential investigators. After we left we had over 100 and had them almost all mapped out. Fyi, the streets make no sence here. lol. There is no grid system and nothing makes sence. It drives me nuts. Haha. :)

 

       On Sunday we had Ward Coucil. While we were waiting for it to start I heard this joke about rain in Flora Vista, "Remember in the Bible when it rained for 40 days and 40 nights? We got an inch and a half." LOL oh good stuff. Then we spent the after noon going over the area with the ward mission leader. We also taught 2 lessons bringing our total lesson count for the week up to 22. The area record was 21. :D :D :D

 

       The work is marching on and I am so excited to be apart of it! I love this mission and this people. Thank you for all your support! Until next time, Hagonet!

 

Elder Bryson Chipman

Navajo Code 7/22

This week is titled .... HUG WEEK! Let me explain. :)

       On Monday I finished getting packed and loaded my stuff into the truck to head down to Farmington. Right when I decide to start putting my stuff in the truck it decides to rain... no no no scratch that, pour.... not quite. Um.... Let's just say it was a Monsoon. Ya that sounds about right. It was cool, I pulled the truck under that garage and loaded my stuff and covered it with a tarp. Then I went and watching the water fall from the sky along with close to golf ball size hail. I watched it for about 5 or 10 minutes. Then the sun peaked out for a second. That was when I had a spiritual confirmation that my father in heaven was pleased with the work I had done there. Blanding has had a promise that as missionary work increases they will have the rain to support themselves. They didn't have any rain in June. And the day I left, along with another Elder it was flooding the streets. I was sufficiently humbled. 

       On Tuesday I went into the Training meeting and I met Elder Deakin! This guy is awesome. He was in the Utah State Drum Line before he left on his mission. He played 4th bass. Ya we get along just fine. :) So after we get out of the training meeting we go home and I start unpacking. Then we head out to and appointment. On the way back we realized we are having car trouble and call the Vehicle coordinator. He tells to bring it in. The problem is that it jumps pretty hard when changing from 1st gear to 2nd. So it's a transmission problem. He told we should be ok but that we would probably be getting a new truck pretty soon.

       So on Wednesday we went and gave service to one of our less actives. He was having us weed. He gave us a hoe and some other tool that I've never seen before. So I let Elder Deakin use the hoe and I tried to figure out the other thing. Well apparently the man did think Elder Deakin was doing a good enough job so he said, "Give it to the Marine!" It was kinda funny. Especially with his heavy Hispanic accent. Then we got to go met M. He's a 40 year old man that smokes and wears oxygen. We met with him and found out that he was a combat photographer for the Navy for a couple year. That was pretty cool. He expressed his desire to join the church but how he couldn't get past the get past the last five cigarettes. I felt prompted to show him the John Tanner Story and then after we watched it we were able to give him a blessing. That is a really great man. I'm so excited to keep working with him! Later that night we went tracking. We walked up to this house. I told Elder Deakin that he could take this one. So he walked ahead of me and then the next thing I hear is, "OH MY! Oh I can't talk to you boys! I'm a Christian! I can't meet with you boys! I respect you boys but I can't meet with you! I'm an 87 year old girl! I can't meet with you boys!" It's a good thing that the door was blocking me from her view. I was dying from silent laughter! It was one of the funniest things ever! I don't know how Elder Deakin kept a straight face. Oh that was absolutely hilarious! 

       Thursday we had district meeting and we car pool with the Zone Leaders. We got talking and getting to know them, one of them I already knew he used to be in my district, but the other got talking with me and I found out he is from Kaysville Utah. And he know Mariah McKinnon. His name is Elder Knighton. That was a fun conversation. I also got the play the piano for District Meeting! Later that night we went and visited an investigator. We knocked on the door and his dog came charging out at us. But it turns out it was a really nice dog.

       On Friday I noticed a sign that we pass everyday for another church and it had this quote on it, "When Satan comes knocking, have Jesus answer the door." BRILLIANT! We then got to go visit a less active family and when we got there they had this dog lying on the lawn. I go up and pet it and start to walk away. The dog gets up and follows me. I stop again and the dog jumps up and puts its paws around my legs and gave me a sort of dog hug it was pretty cool. Then we got talking and found out that the husband hates snakes. So we keep talking we share a spiritual thought and right as we are getting ready to leave across their big pond swims a little ol' water snake. Next thing I know he is walking back towards us with a pistol. He said that we should probably cover our ears. He fired 2 shots. Then he laughed at it and showed us what he was shooting. They were basically shotgun rounds for a pistol. It ... was... cool! Then we got to met with a person we had tracked into the other day. We gave him the whole first lesson and then asked if he would be baptized. "Oh I've already been baptized in your church." UH! That's always a little frustrating but Reactivation is good to. :) We had dinner that night with a family that had to small girls. Through out dinner the youngest would come up to me and say "roar" and I would reply "eek". She would giggle and then walk away. Then after we said the closing prayer her and her sister scream, "HUG TIME!" And the next thing I know I've been tackled on the couch by these two girls giving me a hug. Just so everyone knows the girls were like 6 and 9. I don't want any confusion here. :) The whole time that was happening I was thinking to myself, "Well it is awkward but cool at the same time." :) Then we got to go visit our only recent convert. We talked with her and her daughter about temples. At the end the daughter gave the prayer. She had been saying this the whole time but I really noticed it during the prayer. She referred to us as, "The boys". Haha. Good stuff.

       So on Saturday we went and gave the first lesson to someone we had tracked into a couple days earlier. We talked about the Book of Mormon and when we gave the wife one she was engulfed in it. She wouldn't stop looking at it for the rest of the time we were there. It was such a spiritual lesson, come to find out they dropped us the next day. Sad day. Then we went to a grocery store so E. Deakin could use the restroom. We walked to the back and he tried the door. It was locked. Then we waited for about 5 minutes and then I noticed the light turn off. He then tried it again and found that the door was just stiff. Haha. Good stuff. Then we went up to a less actives house and we walk in and I go to give him a high five. He proceeds to jump off the couch give me a good hug and then jump back on the couch. Then we shared a spiritual thought and then as we got up to leave he gave me another hug. This time around my leg. We had dinner that night with the H family. The wife is not a member but has a baptism date. She is an amazing person. She is a volunteer fire fighter, she has police training and is way fun to talk to. I could really feel the spirit strongly as we talked with her.

       On Sunday I got to give a talk in church about the Book of Mormon. Before church started I was waiting in the hall and a kid walks up to me and asks if I'm the new missionary. I say yes. He say, "cool" and walks up and gives me a side hug around the waist.

     I love Flora Vista! These people are great! I love Elder Deakin and I love my mission! Until next time, Hagonet!

Elder Bryson Chipman  

Navajo Code 7/15

Yaa Teeh!

       Really a milestone week!

       Monday we had P day. Then we went down to White Mesa and got to teach 3 lessons and also found a few potential investigators by playing softball for about 45 minutes. I was reminded why I never really got into baseball or softball. Haha. :)

       Tuesday we got to teach one of our recent converts, B, and then we got to teach our Ward Mission Leaders 10 year old adopted daughter. She is freaking SMART!!!!! Like, she really doesn't even need us to teach her cause she already knows everything. Then we got to go help Bro. Ford rip out some carpet in his gym and then start taking the glue from off the flour.

       Wednesday, we got to workout with Bro. Ford and we really focused on upper body. Lets just say I could barely take off my shirt when I was done because my arms were so sore! So near the end of last week I was talking to Elder Hooton about a poem I really liked. It was a poem about a man walking in sand and he could see two sets of footprints then in the hardest part of his life he looked back and only saw one set. He asked the Lord why he had left him in the hardest part of his life. The Lord replied that those were the times when he had carried him. So I was talking to Elder Hooton about it and wishing that I could get that poem. Note, I never asked anyone for it. So on Wednesday I got a letter from Jessica and inclosed was that poem. WOW!  It's amazing how the Lords works and how he can prompted people to help others. So we had dinner with a family in 8th ward and we had gotten a call from them that they were leaving and would be back in a couple minutes and said we could go head and go in and relax, and I could play the piano. :) So we got there and they were gone so we went in and I sat down and started playing the piano. I had not been playing for 30 seconds when up there drive way come the FedEx man. I see him and go, "Oh crap, Elder the FedEx guy is here!" So we go hide in the front room behind the stair case the only problem is that if he walked around the house to the side there was a window he could see us from. The dude was there for like 5 minutes! It was FOREVER! So eventually I dove behind a couch to see if he was still there. Eventually he left and the family came home and we had a good laugh about it. Then I got to continue working on my Family History with one of our less active family. I now have about 30 pages of family history! IT'S GREAT! Then we got to go have a spiritual experience with M & P talking about the Book of Mormon and Patriarchal Blessings.

       On Thursday we had district meeting and all of the Elders, except Elder Hooton did the Quad challenge. Which is 4 hamburger paties and the fixing and you had to eat it while you are in the store. IT... WAS... MASSIVE! But yes, I did finish it. :) Then we got rain that night! AND A RAINBOW!!! I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE OF THOSE IN FOREVER!!!

       Friday we had a lesson with the four kids who are our recent converts as well, but while we were waiting for them I was swinging and I was getting pretty high, high enough to see the rough and the had there little 5 pound dog running around. So while I was swinging forward it almost walked infront of me but it backed away right before I hit it. So on my back swing I came down and my foot hit something. The dog had gone and sat down right in the middle of my path, and I made SOLID contact. I felt so bad. It took us like ten minutes to find the dog. Thankfully it wasn't mad at me. That night we a really cool lightning storm. And the best part is, I found out how I could pictures of it and I did! :D

       Saturday I read Alma 42: 31 in my studies and it was a really cool verse to me about sharing the gospel. Then we went out and started our day and then came back for lunch and got a call from President Batt. He asked me if I would be willing to step train Elder Deacon in Flora Vista, New Mexico. I said I would. So that is where I'm being transferred to, Flora Vista, New Mexico. I really don't want to leave Blanding but I will go where the Lord wants me to go. So we spent a good part of the day taking pictures with people.

       Sunday we gave a talk in White Mesa about the Plan of Salvation. It went well. Then we took pictures with people and had a 2 lessons. The last lesson was really neat. It was with a lady that I've been teaching for 4 months and she opened up to me and now lets just say I have 4 older sisters. :)

       So it's been a good week. I'm excited to serve the Lord in Flora Vista and to be worthy to be step training. I love this gospel and I know it's true with all my heart.

      Thanks for everything. Until next time, Hagonet!

       Elder Bryson Chipman

That's the same dog as before, the one I was holding. :)

Navajo Code 7/8

Yaa Teeh!

       Monday we had a little bit of rain! First time in a month then for P-day we took the truck and bikes up this mile and a half long hill and rode them down. We found a way to gauge how fast we were going and I got over 40 MPH. Oh ya.... It was fun! Then we headed down to White Mesa and I had one of the most amazing appointments ever. So we were meeting with the T family and the mom is just getting over cancer. She shared with us her experiences she has had with her kids on them not having to worry about her but they still do. So I was able to talk to her about my mom and what I did. Since my mom has passed away I have never felt her spirit so strong. It was increadable!

       Tuesday we picked up a New Investigator, an adapted daughter of our Ward Mission Leader. We were having dinner with them and we were talking about a street in Blanding named "Around the World". So this 10 year old girl says to me, "Have you really been around the world 50 times?!" It made me laugh as well as everyone else in the room. We also got to meet a man who is not a member but makes these really cool consecrated oil containers. Figure that one out. :)

       On Wednesday we came home for something and found that there was a realty sign infront of our house. That was an interesting sight to see because our landlord hasn't told us anything about it yet. Then for a lesson with one of our less actives we brought them to the church and had them help us with our family history. I LOVE FAMILY HISTORY!!!! I've already found some places where when I get off my mission I can do the work then go to the temple, I"M SO EXCITED!

       Thursday as you all know was the 4th, and a lot of you were probably wondering what I was doing all day, to be honest so was I. That was a really interesting day because we didn't have anything planned. So in Blanding they have a parade and the missionaries are invited to be in it. So I got to drive the truck down the street and yell and lose my voice while doing so. Haha. 3 things infront of us was the Marching Band. Oh man did that remind me of home. So after the parade I tracked down a trumpet player and played the trumpet for a minute or so. Oh good stuff. Then as we were walking around we saw one of our less active's dog walking around. We texted him asked if his dog was supposed to be out and she wasn't. So we put her back in here kennal and found where she had gotten out from, a hole in the front gate that the owner had tried to use a chain to block off. So I tried to do a better job of using the chain and we also put a cinder block infront of the door. So we left and about an hour and a half later in the other direction we see this dog walking the streets. WOW. So we do the same thing again but this time we put 4 cinder blocks infront of the door because the dog had pushed the one away while she was getting out.

       Friday we didn't have any appointment either so we went around and tried to contact some people. We were able to meet with one of our investigators, E. He shared with us some of his recent problems and we did the best we could to help him and we invited him to church so the bishop could help him out too. AND HE CAME!!!

       Saturday we helped an older couple who is not in the best shape weed their garden. That was good we got to talk with them and learned more about gardening. Then we found our bike tire was flat again, the 3rd time in the past week. Ya its getting old. We still don't know the cause of it but my guess would be that the spokes from the rim are digging into the tube. Then we went out to White Mesa and I went on a split with the Branch President and we had some really good visits with the L family and with L. M.. We talked about church with both of them and the importance of church attendance. I thought it went really well.

       So on Sunday after church we were going around to some members houses to see if people they fellowshipped had come to church. Well we stopped at the P home and found out that someone we had talked to was a federal fugitive. That was really funny when we found that out. He had actually talked to me personally, just a funny experience. Then we had another good lesson with the D family. They should be getting sealed within a year. I'M SO EXCITED FOR THEM!!!!!!!

       So that was my week. It's good stuff, I love being in Blanding! Until next time, Hagonet!

    Elder Bryson Chipman

Navajo Code 7/1

Yaa Teeh!

       So maybe I shouldn't read all of my other emails before this one. One of my best friends is having some medical issues and is coming home from his mission. I love him so much I hope he gets better and can get back to his mission ASAP!

       So on Monday I got some cool pictures from Jessica of the Salt Lake Temple. Then we headed down to White Mesa and taught S, D, and the L family. It was a pretty good day.

       On Tuesday we met with B, our recent convert, and discussed going to the temple. I love the Temple and I hope B gets the same joy out of it as I do! Then I had lunch. What did I have for lunch? Good old Potato's! IT WAS SOOOOO GOOD! I had bought 2 bags of them on Monday so I could make them when I wanted to. Oh man it was good stuff! Then we met with E and taught the WoW. I had a really neat experience answering his questions with the scriptures. I've never really been able to do that before. Then we met with the L family, J, and L. L has a son in the Navy and he should be coming to Blanding this week so I'm excited to meet him!

       Wednesday we got to met with J who is starting to want the gospel. It's so cool to see the change in people as they start to live and understand the gospel. :D Then we met with the B family. Come to find out one of their son's walked in who was a Marine who has worked with the same LAV unit I did before it came down to Camp Williams. Then we met with the other B family and got to talk about Family History. They are going to start helping us with our family history! I'm so excited! Then we got to meet with M & P. After we had finished the lesson we helped them get their new swamp cooler on the roof. So I climbed to the roof with a rope and another person from the ward pushed the swamp cooler up the ladder while I pulled it up. That was a lot of fun!

       Thursday I got some new sheet music from Natalie and I got a really cool sketch from Jessica. All the sketches I've gotten have been awesome! All our appointments cancelled that day so we got to learn some more Navajo. I'm starting to learn how to bare my testimony in Navajo! :D We also had a big stake potluck and church tour to find new people to teach. It went really well! We had to set up some extra tables to fit everyone!

       Friday we had Zone Conference in Cortez. So we had to get up at 5 30 and be on the road by 6 to get there on time. We really need to be early because.... I was playing the piano for it!!! Oh I did pretty good. I'm so glad that I got to have the opportunity to play for President and Sister Batt and all the other missionaries including Elder Provard! At Zone Conference I got my new name tag! :D

       Saturday we helped install the swamp cooler for M & P. That was some pretty interesting stuff. It's a lot of technical cutting and other stuff like that. Then we went down to White Mesa and taught S. Then we came back because the sisters need us to give a house blessing, they didn't know that they could do it themselves. So we went down and did that then talked to them about it. Before we finished talking to them a truck rolled up that had a USMC sticker on it. So I started talking to the people and found out who the Marine was and then set up a return appointment!

       Sunday I had one of the most sacred/ special experiences of my mission thus far. After church and lunch we went to the D family. The dad smokes. So we had a testimony meeting of why we wanted him to stop. The spirit was so strong. I love this family so much! Oh and I made taco soup! :D

       Until next week, Hagonet!

Elder Bryson Chipman