Navajo Code 8/26

Yaa Teeh!

 

       So I'm not really sure what to call this week, but I guess will go with.... CRAZY AWESOME, STUFF HAPPENING, OBJECT LESSONS, SINGING week. .... Ya, that about covers it. :)

 

       So Monday we didn't really do much, we cleaned and went shopping and had a couple lessons.

 

       On Tuesday I finally got to try out of my object lessons that I've been wanting to try for a while. So it's about the atonement. You get a jar of water, only a little water, and you explain that the water is like us when we are born. All clean and pure. Then you add food coloring to symbolize sin. You mix it up and it so dark that you can't see through it. Then you poor in a little bleach, symbolizing the atonement. It gets a little clearer. The more bleach you put in the clearer it gets. (You mix it in.) So the more we use the atonement the more full our lives are, the water level is higher, and the more pure we are thus equalling true happiness! :D Oh it was AWESOME!!!!!!! I love object lessons.

 

       Wednesday we met 2 people who have been really prepared to recieve the gospel. It was insane how well the first lesson went with the restoration because the ladies father had been a deacon in another church but when we explained apostacy see didn't have any questions or objections. Oh and I used an object lesson for that one too! :) You get six cups. You write things on the cups that a church needs to be a true church aka, scriptures, authority, teachings, temples, leadership, ordinaces. So you stack the cups into a pyramid in no particular order except for authority which is in the bottom center. So when you take it out the whole thing falls down! And explain it from there. It works really well. That was such a great lesson! Then we met with our recent convert and talked with her about CPR (Church Pray Read). And yes, I have an object lesson for that too. But for this one I'm going to let you guys do it and figure it out. You need 3 cups/mugs that are the same size and 3 butter knives. You place the cups upside down and space them out in a triangle one butter knife away from each of the other two cups. Rules, cups can't move, knives can't touch the ground, you have to use all 6 items to support the scriptures, and the scriptures can't touch the cup. Goal, support the scriptures. I'm interested to see who can get this, and yes it's possible. Then as we were traveling home for the night it was raining, and the nice thing about New Mexico is anytime there is rain or dark low clouds, there is lightning!!!!! :)

 

       Thursday, oh Thursday. We did our studies and went out to try and contact some people. We knocked on this door and we got a phone call from President Batt. So Elder Deakin answered the phone while I talked to the man who had just come to the door. Right after Elder Deakin answered the phone he said, "It's for you." Oh boy..... So I answered it and we said hello to each other. Then President Batt asked me if I would accept a calling from the Lord of being a District Leader. Oh boy oh boy. I said yes and the we said good bye. All the while Elder Deakin was talking to this guy, come to find out he's a high priest that wants to come back to church. So ya, my mind was kinda in shock for the rest of the day. But with the last 2 appointments we did we shared 2 object lessons, one being the atonement the other on faith. You get a waterballoon and fill it a little full of water then blow it up all the way so there is only a little puddle of water at the bottom. You explain what faith is then you go over to someone and hold the balloon over their head and ask, "Do you have faith?" Then you take a lighter :) and light it under the water. It won't pop. You repeat with everyone. Then after everyone has had a turn you explain a little more about faith and light the side of the balloon and POP!!! Oh it's fun stuff!

 

       Friday wasn't very eventful but we did find another less active member who just wanted to know when and where church was. So that was fun.

 

       Saturday was increadable! So we had a half mission zone conference at the mission office because Elder Paul V. Piper of the first quorum of the seventy came down to tour the mission. I learned so much from him! He's amazing! And an added bonus I got to see and sit with Elder Provard!!! So we had know about this for a few weeks and Sister Batt had called me and asked if I would sing in a quartet for this. AWESOMENESS! We sang, "Our Savior's Love" It was awesome. That was such a blessing to be able to sing for Elder Piper and his wife. Then at the end of the conference President Batt said that a few missionaries would have the opportunity to be interviewed by Elder Piper! Half way down the list he called my name. Oh man, what a blessing! We talked about my family and my mission and plans for after my mission. When we were finished told me to tell my Dad thanks for raising such a great son. So THANKS DAD!!!! Then we had dinner with a part member family at a restaurant and our waitress looked like Amber Folkerson, only a few years older! CRAZY!

 

       Sunday the ward choir was singing in sacrament meeting and Elder Deakin and I were a part of it. We were singing, "A Poor Wayfarring Man of Grief" We sang a duet for the 3rd verse. He sang melody and I sang bass. IT WAS AWESOME!!! Then I had one of the most special experiences of my mission. I was talking to an 8 year old girl who we visit her and her family quite often. So I squat down to talk to her and we talk for a couple of minutes and when we finish I stand up and she reach over her walker, She got trampled by a horse a couple of weeks ago that completely crushed her leg so she is in a full leg cast and can't put any weight on it. She leaned over her walker and gave me a hug. Oh man, I have a new little sister! She may not know that yet but she will!

 

       Well I got to go. It's been a great week! Thanks for everything. Until next week, Hagonet!

 

Elder Bryson Chipman

Navajo Code 8/19

Yaa Teeh!

 

       Crazy fun week this week with some cool experiences! Here we go!

 

       Monday we got to play ULTIMATE!!!!!! Oh was that fun! Although we did play at 3 in the afternoon..... on a turf field. LOL so it was a little warm. :) But it was so much fun. The people we played with really knew how to play so it was a lot of fun. I also set a personal record for distance with a disc, I did have a little wind to help but I threw a disc 70 yards! Ya, it was awesome! Then we had an exchange so I got to go down to Escrito! It's a Navajo Reservation that the work is really progressing.

 

       Tuesday the guy who the Elders there live with makes jewelry and he gave me a lot of cool stuff; 2 rings, a sand painting, and a bowlo tie. All of which he made! Oh ya, this guy is 94. Just to show how cool this guy is, when he was 84 he went water skiing!!!!! AWESOME!!!!! We finished the exchange then headed back to Flora Vista. We were trying to find a potential investigator so we stopped and got out of the truck and this high school kid came out and talked to us and agreed, along with his younger brother, to take the lessons! Oh that was such a cool experience!

 

       Soooo, on Wednesday we met one of the most interesting families.... EVER! We met a Medinite family! :) We started talking to the mom and we brought up that we believe families can be together forever. She said she didn't believe that, and it kinda sound like she didn't want to believe it. Oh and there were, no joke, like 10 or 12 kids around her when she said that. I DON'T GET IT!!!! FAMILIES ARE AMAZING!!!!!!! WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO LIVE WITH YOUR FAMILY FOREVER!!!!!!! Ya I thought about that one a lot for the rest of the day. Then later that day we were up on crouch mesa, a big spread out trailer park, and in the middle of a hill, with houses surrounding it for MILES, was a mountian lion. Just waltzing around and not having a care in the world. It was probably 100 to 150 yards away from us. It was awesome! I would have gotten a picture but we were in the middle of a lesson. Oh I haven't been sending pictures cause the computers I'm on are dumb. Then we met with a part member family that is awesome! I did some short little object lessons that really fascinated them. It was cool. Good Day!

 

       Thursday I got a package from my dad with my Orders from the Marine Corps. Then we went to contact some people and had some pretty interesting/ funny experiences. So the first one we were walking up to this house and there was a car parked outside. I'm in front of Elder Deakin and in a high pitched voice is calling back to him to do some stuff. I was just in a good/ hyper mood. Then I look in the car..... Yep. There was someone inside. *face palm* lol........... Ya when we were finished there we left quite quickly. :) Then later we were knocking on some doors and we knock this one and I start talking to this lady and I put out my hand for a hand shake ... and she completely ignores it. Then in an interesting way told us to leave and never come back. :) Oh some people make me laugh. :) We got to go on splits that night and I got to go with a college student that was home for the week. He was lots of fun. During the lesson he was kind of zoning out and the lady said, "Sorry, I have a messy house." Quickly he repied, "No, I was just admiring your clock." It was just laying on the ground next to the wall. She then said, "Oh really?! You can have it I was just going to throw it away." After a few, no it's fine's and no please take it, he got a free clock. Haha :D After the lesson he talked to me and said he was probably just going to donate it to some charity. HAHAHAHA :)

 

       On Friday we met with the lady that reminds me of mom. WOW she is DEDICATED to going to the temple! It's amazing how much she actually wants it! It was a really neat experience. Then we had a good teaching day and we really started applying what we've been learning and it worked! Imagine that... :)

 

       Saturday was way cool! So we had some appointments cancel so we were going around sharing a scripture and inviting people to church. Well one of the houses we knocked on the lady answered and it was really starting to rain. So we started talking and then she handed us an umbrella and we finished sharing our scripture and gave her the umbrella back and ran back to our vehicle. Oh that was awesome! Then we met with an inactive member who really openned up about his mission and how he talked to people. It really interesting how he did thing and I learned lots of interesting methods from him. The biggest thing I have been noticing lately is... I need to read the Bible again. haha.

 

       Sunday brought some new experiences. Such as, during the closing prayer of sacrament meeting, the lady read a scripture. During the prayer. That was a little odd. :) Then when we got to Elders Quorum I sat down and the 1st counselor came up to me and asked if I could teach. I said I could and would do my best. That was a really interesting lesson. It started out kinda rough but then we got some class participation and the spirit took over and it went really well!

 

       It has been a great week. Thanks for all you guys are doing for me! Until next week, Hagonet!

 

Elder Chipman

Navajo Code 8/12

Yaa Teeh!

       I would almost call this week Marine Week. :D Let me explain. :)

       Monday we had to go into Farminton to get our truck fixed and get haircuts. Then we had lunch. Niki this is for you. So Elder Deakin really REALLY likes Cafe Rio. I told him we were going to go to Costa Vida for lunch. I told him that it would be his new favorite reaustrant. He didn't believe me. So we went in and ate there. Costa Vida is now the new favorite reaustrant of Elder Deakin. :D Hehehe.

       Tuesday, WE FINALLY GOT RAIN!!!!!!! (As a matter of fact, we got rain pretty close to every day this week, IT WAS BE-AWESOME!) We had a great day teaching on Tuesday. We had members come with us to all our appointments. I really enjoy going to the W family house. They have a 12 year old boy, 9 year old girl and 6 year old boy. I love those kids! Then we had a really spiritual lesson with M & J. We had a member there that had gone through the same problem for 40+ years, Alcholism. He bore his testimony on the healing power of the atonement, the spirit was so strong! I'm so excited for M and how much better his life is going to become! Elder Deakin did a really good job at teaching that lesson. He really loves these people. :)

       So on Wednesday we had District Meeting because we had Zone Training and Interviews on Friday. Then we came back and had a dinner appointment with a family of a recently returned missionary who gave us some new teaching idea's, mainly object lessons. THEY ARE SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've used them a few times and the people remember what we taught a lot better. Object lessons are great! Then we met with a part member family and was able to talk to them about the Book of Mormon. We talked with the father and explained how we would get an answer if it was true or not. I love being able to come out of a lesson and realize how much the spirit was working through me to reach out to someone else. I loving being a missionary!

       Thursday we were able to give service painting the house of a non active member. Then we talked with him and his wife for a little bit. They have this really cool small dog, it's really energetic and only has one eye. When you stand up it barks until you sit down but it doesn't bit. Well....... Ok so we were talking with them then we had a door to door salesman come in and talk to them about getting their carpets cleaned for free. So they said ok and we went outside to finish our conversation. So another guy came and said that they needed to be inside to watch the cleaning. Well when he came to the back door and started to come out this small dog started to growl and then charged the dude. LOL! He got inside fast enough but it was so funny. Note to self, never be a door to door salesman. Dogs don't like you. :)

       Friday was an amazing day. We had Zone Training and Interviews. So I got asked to play the piano on Tuesday. I also got asked to play two songs I had never played before, ON TUESDAY!!!! I talked to my Zone Leades and we got one song changed so I could at least attempt the thing. I only got like 2 hours of practice and did pretty good. Talk about a Faith building experience. :) Then President Batt talked about being willing to recieve revelation during the training. Oh man did I ever recieve revelation! I love that we can recieve guidence from our Heavenly Father if we are willing and worthy! What a great training! Then we got to meet with 2 older women who both, one more than the other, remind me of my mom. I love these daughters of God so much. I'm so happy to be able visit them and feel the Saviours love for them!

       So Saturday it rained pretty good, so what do we do as missionaries do? GO TRACKING!!!!! Talk about a fun experience, it was awsome we had so much fun! We even got some potential investigators! Then we went around and tried some former investigators. We got to talk to somebody that was walking while we were in the truck and asked if they wanted to meet with us. That was interesting. :)

       Sunday I was in class getting ready to help teach it when I hear, "That's the Jarhead." :) I turn around and get introduced to another Marine. He is also a reservist and wanted to know how to serve a mission. I got to talk to him for a little while about it. That was a really fun conversation. Then we got to meet with a new investigator, A, and we taught her the first discussion. It went well. I'm excited for her.

       So I want to try something new, If you, whoever is reading this, could send me riddles WITH THE ANSWERS it would be greatly appriciated! I'll tell you why later. :)

       Well here goes another fantastic week. I wish you all the best. Until next week, Hagonet!

Elder Bryson Chipman

Navajo Code 8/5

Yaa Teeh!

 

       So I don't have a lot of time today so I'm going to get right into it. On Monday for P day we played a really cool board game called....... AXIS AND ALLIES! Oh how I love that game. And my record is still perfect. Then we had dinner with a family and they asked if we could use a suit. I said sure why not. It's a cool gray suit. Then we took that family and brought them to the stake center in Bloomfield and all the other missionaries in the zone were there. The Zone Leaders had planned an activity for the families to give us feedback on our teaching. So each set of missionaries brought a family from their ward. Each family was give a room, a lesson to be taught and a rough outline on how they were supposed to act. They would be taught two lessons. One 15 minute and one 30 minute. We were assigned to teach... the Law of Chastity first. :) The lesson went really well. It's amazing to see what the spirit can do through you if you live worthy of it. And testimonies have a really big impact on people. In the feed back session the lady talked about how I sold her on marriage. Ya it was a little awkward when she said that but it was also nice to here that I had done a good job. Then we got to teach the Restoration. Elder Deakin then bore a really powerful testimony. It was a really great night and we got a lot of good feedback.

       On Tuesday the Primary had asked us to teach a couple lessons to the kids of the ward. There was a total of 54 kids there! IT ... WAS... AWESOME!!!!! The brought them out in 3 different groups and then from their we split them in half and taught the 10 commandments and the Law of Chastity because those are the two that we use  object lessons for. :) Then we had a really productive day with 6 total lessons.

       On Wednesday we had an interesting day. We were supposed to go into Farmington and turn in our truck for a Jeep Compass. It was sad. I want a truck! Oh, and the sisters drive the Jeep Compass's. So we got there and the vehicle coordinator, Elder Shrum, comes up to us and says, "I've been thinking about you and your needs for a vehicle and I think a Toyota Tacoma would be a better vehicle for you." YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh we were sooooooooooooo happy. And it's a 2013 Tacoma. I love that truck. But doing all that fun stuff took basically all day.

       Thursday at District Meeting our District Leader had us teach the Law of Chastity to the District because of the great comments we had gotten on Monday. Ya we taught a lot of Law of Chastity lessons this week. :) Then we had a ward party that night and I got to play ULTIMATE!!!!! The only down side was is that I still had to be in prosolighting clothes. Ya that made it really interesting. And the people we played with were actually really good. I'm excited to get to play with them again!

       Friday we had a weird scheduled day, we had a meeting with our ward mission leader at 8 then service at 11 and we still had to do studies for 3 hours and then do our weekly planning. So we did that and a member told us that they would bring dinner to our house because they were leaving to go else where that night. So I been inside all day and they sent the food with a just returned home sister missionary. She handed me the box and said that her mom wanted the box back. I said ok. Then I guess I just spaced out. The next thing I remember is her asking me to go empty the box. Ya I later learned that she had asked me to do that earlier but since I was spacing out I didn't hear it. Ya... that was probably really awkward for her. My bad. Then we had a really amazing lesson with our recent convert. We finished watching the Mountain of the Lord. The member we brought with us then got up and bore his testimony about temple. It was a really neat experience. We committed her to go to the Temple in early Nov to get her temple work done. I'm sooooo excited for her!

       Saturday, I have never been around so many dogs in my life in a single day. WOW! But it was cool all the dogs were really nice and friendly but they were probably really confused at how many other dogs they smelled on me. :) Then we got to go tracking that night. We knocked on one door and we hear, "Who is it?" I grin at Elder Deakin and yell back, "The LDS Missionaries". We stood there for probably close to a minute and ....... nothing. Wow, lol. Ya we hot a good laugh out of that one.

       So on Sunday we had to make some copies for the presentation we were giving to the ward during the third hour. Well that printer didn't really like me. It Jammed on me like 6 times!!!! Then when I finally got it to work it wouldn't count how many copies it had already made. So instead of getting 25 copies we got around 50. Oh funny stuff. We gave our presentation on a new ward mission plan, the L. Tom Perry plan actually. We shared a lot of video's from Hastening the Work of Salvation website. I love that website, it's so nice! The presentation went really well and the ward is excited about missionary work. :)

       It's been a fantastic week! Thanks for all the support! Until next time, Hagonet!

Elder Bryson Chipman