Navajo Code 12/15

Yaa Teeh!

       This week was a lot of fun. Before I forget, again. Happy Birthday to Tristin and and Bri!!! Sorry I forgot!!!

       Monday we had a crazy busy P-day just getting random stuff done. Then we got to go teach an active member family to improve our teaching skills and seek referrals.

       Tuesday we went out to Adamana to visit with Mark who is on date to be baptised on January 3rd. Well before he got married he lived in his "Man Cave" and we got to see it. Now it's his work shop for making all his bracelets and stuff. So it's pretty cool. I love that guy! He is so much fun to be around. He has been through a lot but is still very spiritual.

       Tuesday we drove up to Tuba City for a Tri-zone Christmas party. After we had an hour devotional from President and Sister Batt, so good, we split up into two groups to play some games. The Page Zone Leaders took half and then Elder Cook and I took the other half. We played a Rock-paper-scissors race game, I really have no idea what you call it. lol. :) Then we played this really confussing fun game of tag. I'll just have to show everyone one these games later. They were super fun. After a while we switched groups and did it all over again. Lots of fun.

       Thursday we went to Winslow for a district meeting. Then in the evening we had a meeting with the stake president. Good stuff.

       Friday we had weekly planning. We did have one of our less actives call and ask for a blessing. That was neat to see him exercise his faith in doing that. He went to the ER on Saturday but he went to all 3 hours on Sunday so that was really neat!

       Saturday I got a letter from the Harringtons!!! Super awesome! Then we spent a good portion of the day tracting. So things are going pretty good.

       Sunday we had church. I then got to interview one of the sister's investigators for baptism. She is super solid. She's been through a lot but is staying true to the faith! It's some good stuff!

       So people are starting to ask me what I want for Christmas... I really don't want or need anything. The thing is if I get anything I have to pack it around with me where ever I go, so ya. :)

       Thanks for all the support! Until next time, Hagoonee'!

Elder Chipman

Navajo Code 12/8

Yaa Teeh!

       Monday I still wasn't feeling really great. So we didn't do much.

       Tuesday I picked up Elder Cook. Aw snap! This is gonna be a sweet transfer! Elder Cook is from Sandy, he's a soccer player, super chill, good humor, and is a FANTASTIC missionary! I'm super blessed to be companions with him. Well after I pick him up we went out and tried some potentials. We were going to someone's house when we saw a couple people standing around, so we talked to them and actually got invited in to teach one of them. SWEET!!! The lesson went pretty well. Less active wanting to get back into things. We read the first few verses of 3 Nephi 11.

       Wednesday we went tracking. Elder Cook likes tracting and it's productive to pass out the He is the Gift cards.

       Thursday I finally got over the bug that has been making me sick. So I feel great now. We had district meeting with a district leader that just moved in. It was a really good meeting. He trained on obedience. Then we went and saw Micheal, a less active and watched the first half of "On the Lord's Errand". He really enjoyed it. Then he asked us to give him a blessing. It always amazes me to see how the spirit can change people. It does gradually but it definitely happens! Then we went out and saw Mark. I love Mark! He is super fun to talk to. He's a Marine and he makes those para-cord bracelets. Well we wanted to get him started on reading the Book of Mormon so we read Alma 43 with him. Oh, he loved it! We said we needed to leave and he replied, "You know I have to read the next chapter right?!" That was great. He has really gotten into the Book of Mormon since then.

       Friday we got to go try a potential family. We took a member with us and when we got there only the wife was home, but since we had the member with us we could go in. The lady opened up to us and the member really did a great job and answering her questions and making her feel good. Member missionaries are the greatest!

       Saturday we got to go see Mark again. He had read the next chapter and he spent some time talking about it. We then taught him about the Plan of Salvation up to, "Our life on earth". Then we got on the topic of Zion's Camp.

       Sunday we get to church and Mark comes up and starts talking to us about Zion's Camp. He had research it and really enjoyed learning about it. We told him to look up the Mormon Battalion. He and I get along so well! He's excited to get baptized on January 3rd! Then we got to watch the First Presidencies Christmas Devotional. Always good. :)

       Thanks for all the support! Until next time, hagoonee'!

Elder Chipman

(Bryson also wanted me to mention happy birthday to Bri and Tristin. He thought about you during the week but spaced putting it in his email.)

Navajo Code 12/1

       Yaa Teeh!

       Monday we just had P-day. Happy Birthday Deklan! 

       Tuesday we went out and tried to find some new people to teach. Well, we knocked on this one man's, Stephon, door. He came to the door and invited us in. (We were going through the ward list so the guy was Less Active.) Well we came in and sat down and started talking. He really likes music and plays the piano except his eye sight is going bad. Well he played us some songs and then I played him "River Flows in You" that I had gotten in Flora Vista from the Harrington's. Thank you Harrington's! That song really touched him and he invited us back the next day.

       Wednesday we went back to Stephon's house and I played him "River Flows in You" as well as "Cristifori's Dream". We brought a member with us who said he'd be willing to come get Stephon for church. We then talked about the Book of Mormon only to find that Stephon has a strong testimony on it. That's fine with me! :) Then we got to meet with Mark and investigator and had a really powerful lesson on the atonement. We watched a few Mormon Messages about the Atonement and shared some personal stories with one another. 

        Thursday was Thanksgiving. We had district meeting then we did our studies and had dinner with some members and did our weekly planning that night because we had to go to Gallup in the morning.

       Friday we drove into Gallup to trade out the jeep so it could get fixed. So we are now driving a Nissan Frontier until the jeep gets fixed. I was told that I'm going to loss my driving privileges. Then we had a really neat lesson with a less active named ryan. So on Thursday we knocked on his door to set up an appointment and he said something like, I don't know if I can go to a church that doesn't let me drink beer. Jesus drank wine so why can't I have beer. I'll give you guys one chance to tell me why. So we went over and we talked about Joseph Smith being a prophet and we can know that by reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. He said he'd keep reading and praying. :)

       Saturday.... Right when you think you get out of the fire you get tossed right back in. President Batt called me and asked if I would accept a calling from the Lord to serve as a Zone Leader in Holbrook. I will also be training a new Zone Leader. My new companion will be Elder Cook. I'm excited to be with him. Then we got to go visit Mark and we put him on date for the 3rd of January. (It's so crazy to be setting dates for 2015!!!)  Then we got to go see Jimmy for the last time before he moves to go to school. Good stuff.

       Sunday. Woke up at 1am and puked. repeated almost every hour until about 1 pm. Then wasn't feeling great the rest of the day. Did go to a meeting with the stake president. Feeling a little better today but not a 100%.

       Well thanks for all the support. If you are waiting for a letter from me I promise I haven't forgotten about you things just get crazy on P-days. I will write you back. Hope you have a great week! Until next time, Hagoonee'!

Elder Chipman

Navajo Code 11/24

       Yaa Teeh!

       Monday we spent the day with Landon. He took us to Walmart in Winslow, we also got to watch him make a long board. Pretty cool. :) Then we had a really great lesson with Jimmy. The members play such a vital role there. We wouldn't have even been able to get close to where he is now without the members!

       Tuesday Elder Jensen hurt his back a little so we stayed in most of the day. I was able to go on splits and go to a few appointments. 

       Wednesday we went on exchanges with the Dilkon Elders. I brought one of the Dilkon Elders to Holbrook and sent Elder Jensen to have his first Rez experience. :) We had an interesting day. All our appointments cancelled. So for the most productive use of time was to make a list of people to go see. Well we were at the church next to one of the glass doors that lead outside waiting for an investigator that didn't show up. Well the sisters drove by and spotted us. While they were turning around we got up and ran into a room. After a while we continued working. Soon I needed more light to keep writing so we moved into the room. Then we heard this snicker and the classroom next to us the door slammed shut so we got up. We realized it was the sisters trying to scare us so we went and grabbed a couch and set it in front of the door. They were kinda surprised that there was a couch there. :) 

       Thursday we had district meeting and then we did some family history. Then we went down to Woodruff to see Marvin. He's doing good. He's getting close to set a date for baptism. :)

       Friday we did a lot of contacting because we only had 2 set appointments, one of which was with the Stake Patriarch to seek some referrals. :) (But that went went really well. :) ) 

       Saturday we got to meet with Mark, he gave me another challenge coin. He has a few of them, they are so cool! We started teaching him the restoration but we didn't get very far cause we need to get back to Holbrook. Then we had another great lesson with Jimmy about Faith. That also went really well thanks to the members!

       Sunday we were at the church by 6:30 for a PEC meeting. Everything went well. We left around 2 to go and get our studies done. The Stake President here is amazing! We get to meet with him every Sunday nightand see how the work is going. He gives such great advise!

       I love being a missionary and I LOVE Holbrook! The work is moving forward in leaps and bounds here. It is such a wonderful thing to be a part of. :) Thanks for all the support. Until next time, hagoonee'!

Elder Chipman

Navajo Code 11/17

       Yaa Teeh!

       Monday was a lot of fun. For P-day we went up to the church and threw a frisbee around. Then we had family home evening with a member family and one of our less actives. Then we had an appointment with some new investigators. Well when we got there, there wasn't another male in the house so we called and got there across the street neighbor to come with us. They are a great family. We got 3 new investigators!

       Tuesday........     ...........     ...............     HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIKI!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D For me, Tuesday was spent in Winslow on exchanges. They went well. :)

       Wednesday we went with Landon (a ward missionary who's 19) and did some service for James, a Less Active. We helped him with his green house and we moved some brick for him. Then we went to Landon's house and helped him split some wood. I love splitting wood! Then we had a lesson with some less actives when there non member grandson's were there. The oldest, Daymion, was asking a lot of questions about baptism. He really wants to get baptized. He's a really smart kid. :) Then we went with some other members to Kyle and Jordan's. The members here are great! They teach and testify so powerfully. We taught them the Plan of Salvation. Then we got talking about temples. I love the temple! We committed them to get married in the temple at the one year mark of them both being members. :)

      Thursday I got do some more work in Family History. I love doing Family History but I'm still a little confused how to do it. All well, something to learn a little later. :) Then we had a really great lesson with Jimmy. He's a returning less active. Again, the members make all the difference here! They answer all his questions and support and encourage him.

       Friday we got to meet with a man named Bob. He's a really cool guy. He wants us to come and read the Book of Mormon with him! Sounds good to me! :D

       Saturday we had a lesson with some investigators and picked up our 8th new investigator. (That ties the most new investigators I've found in a week before.) We taught them the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At the end of the lesson they shared this experience. "2 Sunday's ago I didn't want to go to church. During the week we had to go to Snowflake for something and grandpa drove us to the temple. It was just so peaceful there. When we left I kept telling him to turn around and go back because I want to be there! I'm willing to do whatever it takes to go to the temple!" What a true example of wanting to go to the temple, the House of the Lord! It truly is filled with peace. Then we got to watch the cultural celebration for the Phoenix AZ temple.

       Sunday we got to go to all 3 sessions of the dedication of the Phoenix AZ temple. I love the temple and I can't wait to go again!

       Well I hope you are all doing well and staying warm! It got to 14 degrees last night here in Holbrook. :) Fun stuff! Until next time, Hagoonee'!

Elder Chipman

Navajo Code 11/10 (My 239 birthday!!!) :D

Yaa Teeh!

        So this week has been really interesting. Let's just say I've had better weeks.

       Monday.... I drove the car into the fence. Yep, what a way to start off the week lol. I still haven't heard if I am going to lose my driving privileges, it wouldn't surprise me if I did.

       Tuesday we got to go out and give some service to an inactive member. This guy had the biggest tomato plants I've ever seen. They were well over 8 feet long!!! It's increadable!!!

       Wednesday I got called upon to go play at a funeral. It's nice to be able to be trusted to go and play the piano right on the spot. I'm extremely fortunate to have the talents that I have! Then later in the day we were walking down the street and a lady pulled over and asked us if we gave service. We said that we did. Then she started talking about what she needed. She mentioned family history so we talked about coming up to the church and doing family history work with us some time. She loved the idea! Then she started talking about the last time she was in an LDS church building. She had definitely felt the spirit! She was so excited to come and do some family history work with us!

       Thursday we had zone training. Then we got to go with a member down to Woodruff and watch "Joseph Smith: the Prophet of the Restoration". He absolutely loved it! Then we went with some other members to see a less active in Perkins Valley. Member are so great! They are a friend to the people that will be a long term friendship unlike the missionaries who will be leaving eventually.

       Friday. Weekly planning took a long time... after we got done with weekly planning at 7 PM. We went walking around Holbrook trying to find some new people to teach. Well I started singing hymns in Cadence. (e.x. - left right left right.... but the pitch of the song was a hymn) Elder Jensen would try to guess the song. It was pretty fun.

       Saturday we got to teach one of our less active's and his non member wife. She is super interested! We also got to teach one of our investigators who we haven't seen in about a month. We took some members with us and they were great! We even set a date with them for the 27th of December!

       Sunday was a day full of ... you guessed it! Church. It's good to be able to really focus on church and the importance of it.

       I love Holbrook and I love being a missionary! Hope you all have a good week! Until next time, Hagoonee'!

Elder Chipman

Navajo Code 11/3

  Yaa Teeh!

       Monday I got all caught up on my letters then we got to go teach a couple of new investigators.  They are native's. I love teaching the native people! They just have this spirit about them and they have been prophesied about a lot!

       Tuesday we had a lot of cancelled appointments but we did get to teach Mark. I LOVE MARK!!! He is a non-member, Marine, and he just got married to a member. We are teaching him at the 1st counselor of the mission presidency's house. So we have really good member support. He and I have really bonded. He has given me a couple of para cord bracelets and now he's given me a challenge coin for the Marines! His lesson went really well. We got to teach another lesson with some members to a member that is coming back into church activity. I love it when the members can answer all the questions and we are there just to get the conversation started. :)

       Wednesday we got to go on splits I got to go with a young man, Landon, from the Painted Desert ward. Fun guy. I also got a package that day with some interesting stuff in it that I had no idea what I was going to do with it all. Then I had a light bulb moment. Elder Jensen and I can decorate the sisters car. (Does this sound familiar to anyone? :D ) See pictures below. :)

       Thursday we got started on being trained on family history. I got to do a little bit of indexing. That is a lot more fun that it looks! It just has this really neat spirit about it. Huh, imagine that... The Prophet's and Apostles have said that like a million time. Go figure. :D

       Friday we got to go to seminary to learn and to get to know the kids a little bit better. Then we had interviews with President Batt! I respect that man so much! He told me I am doing an amazing job down here in Holbrook. I really love being in Holbrook. Then after the interviews we got to have President Batt come out and work with us for about an hour. Our appointment fell through as well as all our back ups. lol. That's mission life some time.

       Saturday was crazy. President Hatch had asked all the full time missionaries to sing in the evening session of stake conference. The only problem is we are all so spread out so we couldn't practice until the day of... Oh and he wanted a missionary melody like the one in general conference. Well thankfully we have a sister missionary that can improvise really well on the piano. So we sang "I Hope They Call Me On a Mission", "Called to Serve", and "Bring the World His Truth". I was the chorister. The choir did super well!!!! I had also been asked by President Hatch to give a 3 minute talk in stake conference about the stake central message. That went really well to. I got several compliments the next few days.

        Sunday we had a Stake Conference Broadcast from SLC. Elder Foster, Sister McConkie, Elder Christofferson, and President Uchtdorf spoke. It was absolutely increadable!

       I love being a missionary and I am seeing so many miracles in my life as well as, and more so in other peoples lives. Until next time, Hagoonee'!

Elder Chipman