Navajo code 10/28

       Yaa Teeh!

 

       This week is going to be titled, be careful what you PRAY for. :) (by the way the I'm emailing in the Aztec library and their is a guy right next to me who is listening to music who must be almost deaf because I can hear every word. He's listening to "That's What You Get" by Paramore, one of the bands I listened to back home. LOL :D )

 

       Monday we got to go play some basketball up at the church. So other than that, for about a week now I have been praying for.... greater patience. Well, Elder Reeder finally opened up this week and hasn't every stopped talking since. :) So I have learned to be a little more patience, although I might need to learn to talk again because I haven't been doing much of that lately. haha. :P

 

       So on Tuesday we had been asked by the bishop to go visit one of the less active members we had dropped about a month ago. This is the less active that has 6 Akita's. So we walked in and got swarmed. That.... was.... AWESOME!!!!!!! Although several of the dogs went on a licking spree, so my head got a bath/ shower... thing. :) It was fun. :)

 

       Wednesday we got to go teach a lesson to a less active who has a problem about Christ. He doesn't understand how one person could take upon himself all of the sins of the whole world. We watch "Finding Faith in Christ" and he then understood it. He then just was wondering if it was true because it had happened a long time ago. So we shared some experience we'd had and about modern day prophets. Then we got to go out and take down some Russian Olive tree's, mostly by hand. When we almost done they brought out the hand saws. (*FACE PALM!!!*) Then we got to go do some clean up work with another less active and then we got to have a discussion about faith with him. That was an interesting lesson. I don't really know how to explain it. He hates the word faith. He feels it's a two edged sword. And E. Reeder and I have completely different thinking on how we should go about it.

 

       Thursday we got to have zone training. E. Tolman, who was doing the training, did the whole thing on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Talk about a powerful experience! The Atonement has really grown in meaning to me since missionary. Then we got to go visit a less active family. We just asked the question, "What is your relationship with God?" And because I asked the question I answered first and we went around the circle. The last person was the father of the family. He is a returned missionary and bore a really strong testimony that the gospel is true and that we need to watch ourselves when we get off our missions.

 

       Friday was really rough. We went back to the less active who hates the word faith. E. Reeder just tried to tell him everything that he needed to do to get a testimony, even after the man had already he'd tried it for the past 11 years. E. Reeder just wouldn't stop. That was really frustrating and we had a little argument after that discussion.

 

       Saturday was a day of learning and counsel. So we had a lesson with another less active and E. Reeder was dead set on giving her a blessing to heal her completely. I suggested that a blessing of comfort would be better but he said no and proceeded with the blessing. After the lesson I called the Zone Leaders and went over to their house and sent E Reeder with another missionary to our other appointments. I talked to the Zone Leaders about what was going on and that really helped. They gave me some idea's on what I could do to better myself and the companionship. We also scheduled an appointment where I could go talk to President Batt. (That's happening in about 3 hours from now.)

 

       Sunday was really cool. Both of our recent converts got to talk about how they were converted. I really love these people. I'm so grateful that the Lord sent me here to them. Their is now where else I would rather be.

 

       Thanks for all your support. Prayers would be greatly appreciated. Until next time, Hagonet!

 

Elder Bryson Chipman

Navajo Code 10/21

Yaa Teeh!

 

       What a fun week of exchanges!

 

       Monday we had a zone activity where we played Ultimate Frisbee! OH I LOVE THAT GAME!!!!!! So after that we got ready for zone conference the next day.

 

       Tuesday, Zone Conference. Always a big plus. After that we went on an exchange with Escrito. I brought Elder Manu up to Flora Vista and Elder Reeder went down to Escrito with Elder Tingey. We got to visit with a Less active family. They made us dinner and had us play, pin the tail on the donkey. Oh and the rigged it for Elder Manu. They moved the board. HAHA! :)

 

       Wednesday we had a lot of appointments cancel but it was still a really good day. We got to see some of our people on date and they are progressing really well, except they missed church on Sunday so the are not on date any more. We got to play some tether ball with Elder Reeder in the dark. Ya, I kinda hit him in the face with the ball about 4 times. That was interesting. I'm such a nice companion. But we get along really well together. That night I went on an exchange with Elder Moser. So Elder Reeder didn't spend the night in Flora Vista for 2 nights. The life as a District Leaders companion.

 

       Thursday I spent all day with Elder Moser. It's so weird to be training someone done on an exchange that has been out twice as long you have. I love Elder Moser. We showed each other some object lessons. He showed me one about prayer. You get a cord and you hold the ends in your hands. You can't let go and you can't shift you hands. The goal is to tie a knot in the center. The way you do it is by crossing your arms, like your praying, and then grab the string and pull you arms apart. It's really cool. So our dinner appointment has a daughter that just came home and she was showing me all of her object lessons. Well that is one of the ones she showed me. It was good fun.

 

       Friday we got to teach seminary at the high school so the teacher could go to the temple with the Stake. We had a lot of fun. I blew their minds when I showed them 2 Nephi 12: 2 and how it is talking about Utah and it spells out Utah vertically. :) Then we had an appointment with a potential investigator. We went over there and started talking to her. She was really nice but she said that she wasn't really looking to change religions at all. I asked if we could still teach her about what we believe. She agreed. We started by talking a little about a picture of Christ found on the cover of the Restoration Pamphlet. She was already in tears before we got into the main part of the lesson. At the end we commited her to be baptized and she accepted! Oh good day!

 

       Saturday was a day of first for me. We got to help our Elders Q. pres. move. While we were waiting for him we cleaned their chicken coup, with a pitch fork. I have now, officially, used a pitch fork. MWHAHAHAHA. :) Also this one chicken escaped the fence like 3 times so I got to chase a chicken for the first time. After dinner he showed us his mugs that his mother had gotten him from Germany. One of which had a piece of the Berlin Wall on it. I have now officially touch the Berlin Wall on my mission, in New Mexico. What now?! Haha! :D

 

       Sunday was the Primary Program. It was awesome. Then we got to go in and help teach primary about being missionaries and how we decided to become missionaries. I love talking and teaching kids, they have so much energy.... LIKE ME!!!!!

 

       Well that's all for this week. Until next time, Hagonet!

 

Elder Bryson Chipman

Navajo Code 10/14

Yaa Teeh!

 

       So on Monday I finally filled up my camera memory card!!! We also got to see one of our investigators who are preparing for baptism with. It was also the last night that I was with Elder Deakin.

 

       Tuesday I got to pick up my new companion, Elder Reeder, 22 from Morgan UT. He's been out for 3 months and we are having a great time. That day we got a voice mail that was just a phone ringing. That was really interesting. We also had a really spiritual lesson on repentance with a less active who is trying to get off alcohol. It's so amazing when you get to talk about the atonement! We also got a call from someone we had dropped about 2 weeks ago and we went and saw him and he committed to be baptized!

 

       Wednesday we got to go tracking. E. Reeder is really good around dogs, me... not so much. :) He did say something that really hit me though. If you are feeling fear, you can't feel faith. That was powerful! Later that day we had a lesson with us, an investigator, and 4 members. That's the biggest member preseant lesson EVER!!! I also got to hold my very first baptismal interview that night. It is so cool to see and feel the spirit work through you and tell you if they are ready to be baptized!

 

       Thursday we went out with a member and we went and saw one of his old friends. The member we went with was/is the Air Force, the person we went and saw was in the UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS!!!!!!! Ya we got along pretty well. :) Although we didn't get to talk very much because they hadn't seen each other in a very long time.

 

       Friday during studies we got a call from President Batt... Oh boy. He talked to me and told me that my Endorsment for BYU was in. (Chris, I'm still working on the essay's. Essay's and I don't get along really well.) Then we got to go out tracking and we ran into someone that moved from Mt. Pleasent 10 years ago. This lady, L.D., new Amber B! Crazy stuff! She worked at the schools there! Later that day we went and taught one of our recent converts. The 9 year old gave the prayer during which he said, "Thank you for the new Chipman". Apperently he had been calling the missionaries Chipman. :) LOL. Then after the lesson we played tag with him. I totally slipped and have a big mud stain on my pants now because of it. :) But it was totally worth it. I still got away. :)

 

       Saturday we went tracking and a guy came up to us and tried to sell us a 60 dollar water bottle. He had me do this flexability test with out holding the bottle and then with holding it. He said I went farther the second time because the bottle had "energy".... In reality I didn't go farther... at all. :)

 

       So on Sunday I got to sing in an actual choir again! The Bloomfield Stake is hosting a community envolved, Handel's "Messiah". That is some hardish but fun music! I love singing in choirs!

 

       I got to run. Thanks for all the support! Until next time, Hagonet!

Elder Bryson Chipman

Navajo Code 10/7

Yaa Teeh!

 

       Oh how I love conference! It is such a great thing!

 

       Tuesday I had a cool experience. I ran completely out of water and we went to an investigators house and she right away saw me and gave me a gallon of water. What a neat experience. We spent the day emailing and shopping. That night I went on an exchange to Escrito with Elder Tingey!

 

       Wednesday I got to make some stuff for some fellow missionary friends. It was pretty cool. I put stones into some name tag clips so they look a little cooler. :) Then we taught some lessons. We then went out and started to try and contact some people, we went to a house and saw it had a no trespassing sign so we couldn't knock on it. When we climbed back in the truck I saw some one waving us down from another house so we got out and went and talked to them. The guy we talked to was drunk, it was pretty interesting. He laid out his whole life story basically.

 

       Thursday we had District Meeting and after that we went back and help set up for a tri ward Raingutter Ragata! I was setting up tables and chairs and I just lean the chairs up against the table so that when I'm done with that I can just go around and set them up really quickly. Well this guy came out and started talking to me in a frustarted voice about not setting them up right then. I told him it was faster to do it this way but if he wanted to he could start setting them up. So I kept going and finally we had all the chairs ready to set up so I go around and start setting them up and I was going at least 4 times faster than the other guy. He looked at me, stunned, and asked "What did you do for a career back home?!" I turned to him while moving on to the next task and simply said, "United States Marine Corps." :) Then we went and taught a lesson and then returned to the Ragata because they were having a chili cook off and that was our dinner. A police officer from our ward came and I got started talking to him about being an officer. That's always fun. Then we went up and had a really productive lesson with another one of our investigators who looks really prepared. The only down fall is he just got a job in the oil fields so he will be gone for the next two weeks. But we did get to watch a session of conference with him!

 

       On Friday we did our weekly planning and then went up to the church. I spent 2 1/2 + hours on making a General Conference Bingo board for kids who we were going to be watching conference with. They look really good and they worked!

 

       Saturday we watched conference with two of our investigators then we went to the Priesthood session. Oh I was so excited to hear that Mr. Dehaan was conducting the music! During the middle break song where we can see his face it felt so nice to be able to be lead by him again. It was really nice because he was a good leader and I had been lead by him before. Then a thought came to my mind, what is it going to feel like when we are personally lead by the savior again. WOW!!! That will be one of the greatest feelings ever! After Priesthood session we got transfer news.... I am staying in Flora Vista. Elder Deakin is being transfered to Kirtland. So my new companion is going to be Elder Reeder. I'm so excited to meet him!

 

       Sunday we watched General Conference with one recent convert and with an investigator. Then we went around getting pictures for Elder Deakin. So not much happened that day.

 

       Well it has been a great week! Thanks for all the support! Until next time, Hagonet!

 

Elder Bryson Chipman

Navajo Code 10/1

        Yaa Teeh!

       What a wonderful week in Flora Vista!

 

       Monday we had everyone in the District come and we played some football. That was lots of fun! Then we got to have some baptism interviews with some of our investigators, they both passed! While we were waiting for them we were playing with the 9 yr old boy and we went out to our truck to grab a soccer ball. Well we came back into the gym and we couldn't see him. Then he came under the curtain and yelled to try and scare us. I had previously put my suit coat down on the stage so I could play some sports. Well he slipped on my coat and fell head first onto the gym floor. Ya, that wasn't the greatest feeling ever. Then the kid popped right back up with no sign of any injury. I will say that it looked really cool! While we were playing with him I was really sore for playing football that afternoon. lol. :)

 

       Tuesday I saw the biggest Dictionary I have ever seen! This thing is massive! Then we went to a house and visited a man. He has a black lab named, Blacky. I would pet it and play around with it. When I stopped periodically it would paw me to start again. This went on for about 10 minutes. AWESOME!

 

       Wednesday I went on an exchange with Elder Vance. We had some good times talking about what we liked to do and the friends we had. Then we got to go visit one of our recent converts. As we were there the recent convert drove in and got her Brand New car stuck in a ditch. She wasn't very happy. We worked for probably half an hour to get the car out. We did so with no damage. Good stuff!

 

       On Thursday I found out that we have an amazing hearing pianist in Elder Manu from Hawaii! This Elder is good! We had a pretty slow day after that though.

 

       Friday We got to give some service to an older lady who is investigating. We took a sowing table from her van into her house, then covered her chimney and swamp coolers on the roof. That was so nice to be able to give service like that. I love service! Then we got to talk to her about General Conference. I'm excited for Conference because it's awesome, I'm not excited for Conference because that means we have to wear suits 24/7. Well it's gotta happen some time! :)

 

       Saturday we had probably the most interesting baptism of my mission. We baptized the mom her son. I got to baptize the son. Well after we baptized him and all got changed the kid had vanished! It took us like 5 or 10 minutes to find the kid. LOL! :) Then we got to go visit another investigator. This dude was H-I-G-H WOW!!!!!!! I asked if we could have an opening prayer and he went off on they were in his other pair of pants, his good ones. Then later we asked if we could come back and he asked if my kids were coming. Um..... he then told me he needed to know this because he might have to get the high chair for them. That was only part of the conversation! ..... :)

 

       Sunday we got to church and went through the ward business and then the bishop announced the Sacrament. I looked at Elder Deakin and raised my hand and pointed at our recent converts. The bishop then remembered.That was fun. :) We also got to meet our other recent converts first missionary. We took some pictures and stuff and talked about the mission.

 

       Monday, yesterday we went up to Monticello to go to the Temple. I love the Temple! It is such a wonderful place. The feelings there are just so amazing! If you haven't gone recently, GO!!!!!! That took all day so that's why I didn't write yesterday. The temple trip only happens once per year.

 

       Thanks for all the support! Until next time, Hagonet!

 

       Elder Chipman