Navajo Code 9/23

       Yaa Teeh!

 

       What a great week for the Elders of the Flora Vista area of the Farmington, New Mexico Mission!

 

       So on Monday I got to go on an Exchange with Elder Manumaleuna (Elder Manu for short) who is from Hawaii, around North Shore I think. Is that where you went Dad? The crazy thing is that we went to one of our less actives and his MTC companion was from the same area and Elder Manu knew him. It's a small world after all. :)

 

       Tuesday we taught 8 lessons tracted a little then we had dinner. So the family we ate with has a daughter that plays Alto Sax in the Marching Band. All through dinner I kept saying "Should've been a Trumpet, Should've been a Trumpet." Oh man You could feel the fire coming out of her eyes, WOW! :) Haha.

 

       Wednesday we went and tried a former investigator and found him home. We made a little small talk then he said that we could read the Bible with him but not the Book of Mormon. So we sat down and started reading the Bible. He started reading and the message was the same but the words were different. I then realized that he was using a different version of the Bible. Ya, that was interesting. Then we went up to Crouch Mesa and found a new investigator. She is cool but man oh man can she talk, WOW. We were there for probably an hour to an hour and a half and said maybe 50 words total. She talked about interesting stuff but if she finds a tangent, there she goes. :)

 

       Thursday we met with one of our families that is on their way to being reactivated. The two boys got some paper and started doing some origami. It was pretty cool. Then we got started into riddles. Thank you Jessica and Chris! That was fun I stumped them a couple of times before we had to leave.

 

       Friday we got to talk with a family that has an inactive son about how they could better feel the spirit with him. I showed them the section on listening in Preach My Gospel. That was a really neat experience. Then we had a successful appointment with someone we found tracking. (That almost never happens.) It was a little rushed and crazy first lesson, but still very effective. The man is really into history, including history of the church. So he is willing to learn more about it. :) Then we had an appointment for the lady we have on date to be baptized this Saturday! She is ready to go! I'm so excited for her and her son, who is also being baptized. Then we had an appointment with an investigator who is starting to overcome heavy drinking. He has been off alcohol for 10 days now!!! It's wonderful!

 

       Saturday we decided to do a little bit of tracking. So we walk up to this house, the dog is out side. It's a small dog but still a dog. So we walk up and knock on the door with no problems. Then we start walking back. Well the dog is sitting at the edge of the driveway connects to the walk to the door. It's about 10 feet from us. Well when we turn around from the door and start to walk towards to leave it got a little angry. It barked and kinda showed it's teeth and Elder Deakin took off. Of course the dog chased him. Almost got him too. I looked back at the dog, ready to kick it all the way to WJ if it came at me. So that was an interesting experience. Then we got to go help our recent converts build a fence. That is a fun thing to do. Especially trying to get the wire across the stream/ small river in their back yard. Good stuff. :)

 

       Sunday we had church and a storm rolled in. So during Elders Quorum the lights in the church flickered. :) Then one of the boys that was making some origami stuff for me on Thursday walked up and gave me this huge paper star thing. Pictures coming when available. Then we had a lesson with our recent converts and when we were driving up a horse was trotting by going the other way. "That was interesting" I said. Then I see two of the kids we were going to see run after it. So we kinda got to help catch a horse. Kinda because when we parked the truck and walked up to the horse it had gotten calmed down so one of the kids put a rope around it's neck and took it back inside the fence. Oh fun stuff. :)

 

       Well, it's been a good week! We had a total of 27 lesson this week, tieing the area record. Well I better get going. Thanks for all the support. Until next time, Hagonet!

 

Elder Bryson Chipman

Navajo Code 9/16

  Yaa Teeh!

 

       So this week is going to be called darkness and light.

 

       So on Monday we had to go get some signatures for the baptisms that we had coming up on Saturday. Then we went to the store and we started talking to this OLD guy. In the middle of talking to me he asked Elder Deakin, "Who are you? His dad?" Oh man..... I had to really try hard to NOT laugh. So I look older and I am older than Elder Deakin but the guy still asked. LOL. :) Then we went and played basketball for a little while up at the church. Then we had to go get a haircut. So we go in and I say I want a 4 on top and a 2 on the side. So I sit down and she starts cutting my hair. She cuts and cuts, oh and I'm not facing the mirror so I can't see anything. I say to myself, "This feels a little short. Well when it was finished and I got to look in the mirror I had a 2 on top and a 1 on the side. So the problem was that I had already asked my mission president if I could cut my hair shorter because I like is short. He had told me no and I was ok with it, except I was going to see him on Tuesday. Ya..... I was a little freaked out. Haha. :) Then we had a first lesson with an older lady, she's an interesting individual. :) In a good way. :) Then we got to visit one of our investigators who we haven't been able to meet with in a long while. I got to show him the CPR cups and then the LDS gospel library on his phone. Good stuff!

      

       Tuesday we got to meet with a Less Active member who we met when he came to church. I wish we could meet all people at church, that would make our job SOOOOO much easier. :) But all well. So this guy has overcome smoking on his own and we got to hear some stories of his life. This guy is an Army Vet. So I got along with him pretty good. (It would've been better if he had been a Marine. ;) ) Then that night we had the baptism interviews for the family we've been teaching. So it's a part-member family, the people getting interviewed was the mom, who had been investigating for almost 5 years, a 9 year old son, a 9 year old daughter, and an 8 year old daughter. So the mission president had to come and interview the mother. So that interview started like 5 to 10 minutes before the others. Can I just say the waiting for baptism interviews is really REALLY stressful!!! They all passed!!! :D

 

       So on Wednesday I went on my first exchange as a District Leader. I went the the other Elders area. We did a lot of tracking. But crazy enough we talked to a guy who had been in the USMC attached to 4th LAR Charlie Company! (The same unit I was in before my mission!) CRAZY SAUCE!!!!! So we talked to him for a little while about the Corps and who was still in. Good stuff.

 

       On Thursday I got to teach District Meeting. So I had District Meeting planned and I started in on my lesson and I had some prompting to add some things and to do somethings a little different. If anyone has a doubt about following the spirit, JUST DO IT!!!!!! IT'LL BE BE-AMAZING!!!!!!!!! That was such a good District Meeting. So we'd been getting some pretty good rain all week. Well Thursday we got the BIG storm. Big enough that our house started to flood. My "Box of Sunshine" (where I keep all my letters) was right were the water was and I caught it just before it got completely soaked. Only the bottom got wet, thankfully. I have pictures and video's but my computer won't let me send them this week. :(

 

       Friday. Friday could probably be the hardest day of my mission. The day started out good. We had a lesson with an investigator that pointed some stuff out in D & C 89 with tobacco. We worked it out but it was a good experience. The we met with our 1 remaining recent convert. When we went over she was smoking, she was drunk, and she was high. None of which we have seen her doing before. I can't really talk about the rest of the lesson because there is some legal stuff involved. Later that night she texted us and asked us never to come back. :( Then right I after I got that text I got to call my dad for his wedding. :) Well I call and my brother picks up and tells me that my dad wasn't there, he was in the ER. Ya, not cool. But after like 2 more calls to them and my mission president I got to talk to him so that was good. In my journal that night I wrote, "The darkest night always comes before brightest day." What a true statement!

 

       "Saturday is a special day"! So true. We had the baptism for the family and it went awesome!!!! Mean while I knew that my dad was getting married!!!! Let's just say I'm not going to forget this family that was baptized because every time I see the date of my dad's marriage I'm going to think of this family! I love this Family!!!

 

       Sunday we had the families confirmation. They walked into Sacrament like 5 minutes before they were confirmed. Ya, my heart is still pumping, that for sure. :) Then we had two great lesson that night about baptism with another investigator and then about the Law of Chastity with another family. We brought a member to the LOC lesson and it was AMAZING! What a great lesson!

 

       So that was my week. Thanks for all the support! Until next time, Hagonet!

 

Elder Bryson Chipman

Navajo Code 9/9

Yaa Teeh!

       What a great Week in Flora Vista!!!!

       So on Tuesday we met with one of our investigators and discussed church for the most part. She didn't really like relief society so we talked about it and it all worked out. :) Then we got to go meet with our family who is getting baptized this week! The mom of the family has been meeting with missionaries for over 3 years. I feel so blessed to be one of the missionaries who get to see her be baptized. She and her daughter, my new little sister :) will be baptized on saturday at 11:30. Then the other two kids in the family will be baptized at 1. There are two seperate baptisms because of some family stuff.

       On Wednesday we met with one of our investigators who has been trying to quit smoking. Well when we walked in we found out he was drunk, but we still had a good lesson with him. We also taught a lot of lessons that day.

       Thursday, Thursday Thursday Thursday. I got to teach my first Distric Meeting. I did a get to know you game and then taught about the importance of Prayer. I love Prayer, it is such a gift to be able to communicate with our Father in Heaven whenever we desire. We just need to take the time to do it, and believe me it is WELL worth it. Then we taught a few lesson then had dinner with a family in the ward. During that dinner was the first time I had heard about what's happening in Syria.... Oh boy. Just let everything happen but no boots on the ground for another 18 months, please. :)

       Friday we meet with a new investigator. When we walked in he was drunk. Then he started going off about the Book of Mormon. He said it didn't make sense and the Bible did. It was really kind of interesting. Then towards the end he got up and sat down next to Elder Deakin. Fyi, Elder Deakin has a minor speech impediment. He put his had behind Elder Deakin's head and said he was transporting something into him, that Elder Deaking couldn't stop. Let's just say this guy is lucky that he didn't touch Elder Deakin. :) Then when we got up to leave he gave Elder Deakin a "Brain Rock". A rock that was in a dried up river bed. Ya, that guy was really interesting. Then we went over to the guy we say on wednesday and helped him put a boat cover on his boat. It was nice cause he wasn't drunk. I love it when people live the gospel. Then we got to see the family that being baptized this weekend. I love that family!!!

       Saturday we got to help the ward do some service putting up some knew raingutters. It was nice to be able to do some physical labor. Then we had lunch with our recent convert. Halfway through lunch a car rolled up and out got 3 gangsters. Ya that was interesting. The showed our recent convert all of their guns. Exchanged hugs and stuff. Ya that was REALLY weird! Then we got to go do service for the family that is getting baptized! I have now offically helped build a fence. I used the post hole diggers for the most part. I told Elder Deakin I was going to be mad if I wasn't sore the next day. lol. So after we put 3 posts in we found out that they need to be moved. HAHA. Oh good stuff. I was really glad to do some hard labor. :)

       Sunday before church I went up and played the piano for a little bit. Yep I was sore! Oh it made me laugh. After church we got to meet with our new ward mission leader and explain some stuff. Then we got to go have dinner with the family that is getting ready to be baptized. I really do love this family.

       So that was my totally awesome week. Thanks for all the support!

      Elder Bryson Chipman

 

The Barn- where we live

 

What I do when I'm bored

 

Elder Deakin and I

 

Last transfer's district

 

This ring makes my finger turn green

 

She reminds me of my mom

 

Purple wrists after service

 

The Tacoma  :)

 

What I do with my boredom cups :)

Navajo Code 9/3

  Yaa Teeh!

 

       So I don't have long today so I will cover as much as I can.

 

       Last Monday for P-day we went up to the church and played basketball and then played the piano. Then we had an awesome 1st lesson with a new 14 year old investigator. We invited to be baptized then his dad came out and kicked us out. NOT COOL!!!! This kid is soooooo prepared. For later missionaries. :) Then some less actives took us out to dinner and then we came back and I showed them the CPR with the cups. Oh they also had a quote on their wall that said, "A friend will bail you out of jail, a best friend will be sitting in jail with you saying 'that was fun' ". So I told them I had an add on to that quote, "A best friend forever will bail you out of jail saying 'I told you I could run faster' ". So the guy goes and gets a sharpie and writes at the bottom and then my name. That was cool, not going to lie.

 

       So on Tuesday we got to help some ward members weed. It's been raining for the past 7 days for about 30 minutes each day. So the first we go to cut down is about 7 feet tall and the truck was as big as a 50 cent coin. I'm SO glad I had my leatherman! Then we met with one of our investigators who has been meeting with missionaries for quite some time and we were able to commit him to baptism!!!! This area is really starting to pick up!!!

 

       Wednesday we got to go out tracking and I saw the coolest thing! An Osprey!!!!! (If you don't know what it is ask Dustin, he should know. :) ) I was on a military rant to Elder Deakin for like 20 minutes after that. lol. Then we got to go up and help out with scouts at the church. When we got there the person we were supposed to be helping called us and cancelled. So we stayed and I got to play the piano for the opening hymn in 2 wards! I didn't even do that when I was supposed to be going to mutual. :) Then we helped out with the deacons. They were talking about the swimming merit badge. Then they challenged us to a basketball game. That was lots of fun! That night I got my first call as a district leader. Elder Tingey, serving in Escrito had a question about a baptism date rule. It's crazy how much the spirit tells you what you need to know.

 

       Thursday we had Zone Training. For lunch myself and 5 other Elders played basketball, including the former Assistant to the President. That was crazy fun!!! Then after that I had my first ever DLC (District Leader Consel). I'm so blessed to have 2 fantastic zone leaders and a former Assistant serving with me. So I heard this week that New Mexico has a thunderstorm season. IT'S TRUE!!! So dad, when I'm back we gotta come back down here around this time and we'll go nuts taking lightning photo's! :)

 

       Friday we taught a less active CPR with the cups, he then took out some coins and showed us some tricks. Oh, so cool! If you guys know any let me know! They are so much fun!!! Then we met with an investigator, when we walked in you could tell that the spirit wasn't there. It was weird! We started talking and found out that he had started heavily drinking again. We started talking to him and then he asked for a blessing. Elder Deakin gave that. Then all he could say was, "It's so Clear! It's so Clear!" I then had several idea's come to my mind from my Father in Heaven of ways that they could keep the spirit in the home. When we left the spirit was in the home. Amazing. Then we got into our truck to head home, cause it was time for us to go home and we got a text from a member that wanted to see us. So we went over there and listened to her and calmed her down and read her a scripture. It was a testimony builder that Heavenly Father does send his spirit to his missionaries!

 

       Saturday we went on an exchange with the Zone Leaders. I went with Elder Tolman. He's a great guy who is really nice and has lots of great idea's. That night we met with the family that is closest to baptism, 9/14/13, and had dinner with them. Before we ate we were outside and I scared the 2nd oldest daughter because she was turned around getting the ball and I came running up, jumped, and yelled. HAHA. Oh that was good stuff. :)

 

       So on Sunday we met with the investigator we met with on Friday that had been drinking. He had come to church and was happy as can be. We even extended a baptism date for 11/2/13! That incredible for what had happened on Friday!!! That night I took numbers for the district for the first time. Lots of time on the phone. lol. :)

 

       Monday we, E. Deakin, Jacobson, Vance, Jamison, Tolman and I) got together and played Ultimate then Seach and Destroy. Search and Destroy is played on a playground. It's basically tag except the person who is it is blind folded. Everyone is on the play ground and can't touch the ground or go where the person who is it can't go. IE monkey bars. Lots of fun. Then we had a lesson that night were I saw the biggest moth I have ever seen!!!! It was about as big as a half dollar bill. Not cool. lol.

 

       Well that's all for now, thanks for all the support. Until next time, Hagonet!

 

Elder Bryson Chipman