Navajo code 11/25

       Yaa Teeh!

 

       It's been a great week but I don't have a long time so here we go!

 

       Monday after P-day we went over and visited one of our less actives. It's really interesting to try and teach drunk people. They are all happy one moment, then not so happy the next. And when you come back you don't know if they remember anything.

 

       Tuesday was transfers. I got to be with Elder Deakin for a day while his new companion came up on the transfer van. Transfers are 6 weeks long btw. Then after we dropped Elder Deakin off at 6 we went and had dinner with a less active family. I love giving them brain games. They are obsessed with them and they are so much fun to watch! Then we went and taught a lesson on the plan of salvation. When we went home I tossed the keys to Elder Krstyen so he could go unlock the door. When he got their he said, "This is why I don't want to go to the Telestial Kingdom, it's to dark." Haha. :D

 

       Wednesday we went up to Crouch Mesa and taught a family. I had the impression to talk about temples and family history work but sadly I discounted it because she is really busy and wouldn't have time to do family history. Well we started talking and the subject turned to temples. Spiritual... Slap... in... the... face.................. But we all need to learn some how! :D They were absolutely obsessed with going to them temple! It was great!

 

       Thursday I taught my first District Meeting with Sisters present. That was different. So Aztec 2 was elders but at transfers it got switched to a sisters area. I did the lesson on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The best part of the whole thing is when I got to show the DVD Grandma and Grandpa Lynn sent me. That was so spiritually powerful for me. Then we decided to hike a canyon to save some miles. That was such a nice break for us. It was really relaxing to be out in the canyon. Then we came back and went down to a four way stop. Mind you it's dark now. Well there is a dirt patch where we normally wait for people. Well a Sheriff was just sitting there. Now me, in all my brilliance drove into the dirt patch and behind the Sheriff. Well about 15 seconds later he moved his truck and positioned himself right behind us with his lights on. After about 5 very awkward minutes he finally took off. After that we had a really powerful lesson on coming closer to Christ through small and simple means with an investigator that is really having a hard time with the Word of Wisdom.

 

       Friday we FINALLY got a new investigator! Thank you so much for the prayers! It was raining that day and we still decided to go tracking. No luck but because we decided to sing hymns as we went tracking has never felt so good!

 

       Saturday we had Interview with President Batt. He said that I'm doing a really good job. Then we taught a lesson to one of our recent converts. Elder Krstyen wasn't feeling really good so we went home. We went out to one more appointment about 4 hours later but came home and cancelled our last appointment because he really wasn't feeling well. That was a good catch up on sleep day for both of us.

 

       Sunday we woke up to snow on the ground... yeah.... But it had been "snowing" for the past 2 days. I really don't think it's going to stay for very long. YEAH!!! :D Then after church and a couple lessons we went to rehearsals for the Messiah. I have so much fun with Elder Chadwich, maybe to much fun... :D We just talk back and forth but we also sing too so no worries. Then I called around for numbers for the week. Come to find out that our mail was still going to Aztec 2nd's instead of Aztec 1st like it was supposed to. So the sisters had my mail and were tormenting me about it because I had gotten mail from girls. lol. I got my mail... this morning. But none of it was opened.

 

      Good stuff! Thanks for all the support! Until next week, Hagonet!

 

Elder Bryson Chipman

Navajo Code 11/18

       Yaa Teeh!

 

       What a great week in Flora Vista. Lots happened including transfers. :)

 

       Monday we did all of our P day stuff and then had a lesson with a less active family. It was cool cause we got to watch, "Come Join with Us" by Elder Uchtdorf. I absolutely love that talk! Then we went down to one of our recent converts and we got started talking about Trek! I WANT TO GO ON TREK! I loved trek. When we got home I asked Elder Krstyen for a blessing because my knuckles have been really dry for the past few weeks. They are still dry but they don't really hurt at all any more. :)

 

       Tuesday we started the day off tracking. We were about to head home for lunch when Elder Krstyen said that we should go knock on one more house. Yep... that was the house that we found a potential investigator at. LOL. Always knock the extra house. Then we saw an old lady trying to rack up her yard. So we asked if we could help. She said yes so we started racking up her leaves. We did this for 45 minutes, our lunch time, and all I kept thinking is, "The Lord will provide." Right before we finished she asked us if she could make us a sandwich. The Lord takes care of his missionaries!

 

       Wednesday we walked a lot of places because we were trying to save on miles. We looked down and saw that we had 8 sets of our footprints on the dirt road when we were heading back to our truck. Then we had a lesson with one of our investigators where the topic also went to trek. So we decided to watch 17 Miracles. They absolutely loved it! It went so well!

 

       Thursday for District Meeting I had everyone prepare a 5 to 10 minute talk on one of the Christlike attributes. That is probably one of the best district meetings I've ever had! The spirit was so strong! Then we all went out to eat as a district. We went to a place called Panda Garden. They have a buffet of Chinese food for breakfast and lunch for like 8 dollars. IT WAS SOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!! We actually went back later that week for dinner. They didn't have the buffet but they had a dinner plate that was also pretty cheap and was really good! After District Meeting we went up to one of our investigators houses. He is doing so well! He has developed a plan with his doctor to FINALLY stop smoking. Needless to say we're pretty happy about that. :) Then at dinner I had one of the boys (14) challenge me to a chess match. I haven't played that game in FOREVER!!!  But I still was able to pull it off. It felt good to play again.

 

       Friday was a really spiritually building day for me. We've been seeing this investigator for some time. She thinks that all religions are true. I've never borne such a powerful and bold testimony before. I love having the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. It's wonderful! If any of you have done something to draw yourself away from the Holy Ghost do EVERYTHING you can to get it back. It's well worth whatever you have to do!

 

       So on Saturday we went to another set of missionaries baptism. They did the confirmation there to because it was stake conference weekend. So the person doing the confirmation was calling people up. He said, "The missionaries, ... and the other missionaries too!" It felt really good to feel so loved by someone who I didn't even know. Then we had Stake Conference for the Adults that night. It was focused on... Hastening the Work of Salvation. I feel so blessed to be on my mission as the Lord is truly hastening his work. We also got transfer new. I will be serving the next 6 weeks in... .... .... (Pause for effect) ... ... ... Flora Vista! YEAH!!! I'M SO EXCITED!!! :D

 

       Sunday after Stake conference we went to our other recent converts house and had lunch and watched only a stonecutter per request. It was really good. Near the end the oldest daughter brought out her guitar and started playing some songs so we were all singing as we left. Then I got to try out for a solo in the communities Handles Messiah. I did ok. I really didn't practice much. If I get it, cool. If not, all well. I sat by Elder West and Elder Chadwick during practice. Man we had lots of fun together!

 

       We've really been struggling to find a new investigator and to get people to sacrament meeting. Any and all prayers would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for all the support! Until next time, Hagonet!

 

Elder Bryson Chipman

Navajo Code 11/11

       Yaa Teeh!

 

       It has been a good week down in Flora Vista New Mexico!

 

       Monday we had a lesson with an investigator where we talked about gratitude. It's amazing how when you are grateful you are happy. It any of you out there are un-happy try giving just a prayer of gratitude. It works, I promise! :)

 

       Tuesday I went on an exchange with Elder Vance. We stayed in Flora Vista. One of the appointments we went to was to a less active and we watched "On the Lord's Errand". Oh that movie is great! It really helped him see that miracles and prophets are real in this day and age. We also walked to go contact some referrals. We almost got attacked by some dogs. I'm getting better on how to defend against dogs. That really comes in to play tomorrow, Wednesday. We also went to the house that has 6 Akita's... I was wearing a black suit when I went in. I came out with a light grey suit. :D

 

       On Wednesday we went and taught the some less active the we watch "On the Lord's Errand" with but we watch a movie on the Atonement, actually the one that Grandma and Grandpa Lynn sent me. (That thing is AMAZING!!!) Then he expressed an interest in repenting but he didn't really know how. So we pulled out a pamphlet and started talking about it. It was really neat to see the spirit work through Elder Krstyen and I. Elder Krstyen has such a powerful testimony. And he is really humble. He is such a great companion. Then we got to go tracking. We went up to this house with a small chain link fence around it. I kick it to see if any dogs came out. None. So we walked in and knocked. I thought I heard a back door open then the next thing I see is 3 dogs come running around the side of the house. Aw crap... So the biggest one, funny enough, comes right up to us and starts rubbing us and lets us pet it. The other two are growling and barking. So I turn around when we are walking back to the gate and we made it out of the yard with out a scratch. I love being obedient, it brings so many blessing. :) And the prayers of everyone else is really helpful to. :D Then I remembered that we need a movie that I had lent out for a lesson that night. So we decided to walk about 3 miles one way and grab it and walk back. We had about an hour and fifteen minutes. Well we got it and we were heading back and we were late for our next appointment and then we see a truck pulled over on the road and this guy moving stuff around. He asked us if we needed a ride and so we climbed in and got to our appointment only about 5 minutes late instead of like 30. The cool part about this though is 2 other people had pulled over and asked if we needed rides but they were both females so we couldn't. The Lord really does bless the obedient.

 

       Thursday, for every appointment but one we watched a movie. I'm good with it. It helped the people we were teaching and I like movies! But Elder Krstyen is even better than I am at watching movies. He has watched "On the Lord's Errand" about 20 times in the past 2 weeks and he is still going strong. He's great! That night we went up to the basketball night and had some fun. We are going to try it for a little while longer but I'm not sure if it is going to be productive or not, we'll see.

 

       Friday we did service for most of the day for our Elders Quorum President. We helped him install a mail box. Built some chairs and helped him move some machinery. Good stuff. He also showed me a sling that he used in the Army for throwingGrenades! He said he is going to make me one. SCORE!!!

 

       Saturday we had a lesson with one of our investigators and we watch the movie on the Atonement. He really enjoyed it. Then after the lesson his wife and I had a discussion on the lights in the kitchen. Like where they should go and what the should be. That was funny. We also got to visit with one of the youth in the ward about his beliefs about the church. He is a really smart kid and I'm excited to start teaching him!

 

       Sunday we had church and then a lesson with another youth in the ward. We talked about the 10 commandments and why they are important. Then we tried to see how long we could keep 3 balloons in the air both by ourselves and with a partner. That was a lot of fun!

 

       Well I'm loving my mission! Thanks for all the support! Until next time, Hagonet!

 

Elder Bryson Chipman

Navajo Code11/4

       Yaa Teeh!

 

       This week has really been an interesting week, I'm going to call this week, the week of patience. :)

 

       So on Monday after we got finished with E-mails we needed to go to Farmington to have some interviews with President Batt. We did those and then did our grocery shopping at wal mart around 5. Well we were in the check out line and E. Reeder said something was wrong with his heart. We called Sister Batt and a Doctor and we were instructed to go to the Urgent Care right next door. So we did. They took him back and I stayed up front and filled out the paper work. Funny enough while I was waiting, without a companoin, for them to come get me the person that was their was a member from Farmington that was either an Elder or High Priest. Then he left and right then a couple came up and sat down and started talking to me. They were members and he had served a mission. So I was still with a make shift companion almost the entire time. Finally they came and got me and took me back. They were going to take E. Reeder to the Hospital in an ambulance. So I took his clothes and climbed in the truck and waited for the ambulance. I was hoping for a big escort to the hospital with lights and all. Nope. Just regular traffic rules. It was REALLY  weird to be in the truck alone. REALLY WEIRD!!!!! So I got to the hospital and waited to be shown where E Reeder was. Finally I got back their. We were then informed that President Batt was on his was down. So he got there and we just sat and waited, doctors and nurses came and went doing different things. But the entire time E. Reeder was talking even though both Pres. Batt and I were asking him to be quite so his heart rate would go down. That was the issue. His heart rate was at 147 while he was laying down. 3 hours past in the hospital, so it was around 10 and we had the Zone Leaders come and one of them went with me. (They were in a trio.) So I had E. Jamison and E. Tolman and E. Krstyen were together. So we finally drove home and didn't get to bed until 11ish.

 

       Tuesday we got a call early in the morning to get ready and go to the hospital and do our studies their. So we did. While we were their a hospital clergy walked in. E. Reeder almost flipped out. It was rather interesting. I think the only reason he didn't is because we were there but also Sister Batt was their. Around 11 President Batt came. He told us we could go and do some prosolighting and that he had talked to Salt Lake and E. Reeder was going home. They don't mess with heart issues. They had also found out what was wrong. It was an atreal flutter, an electrical problem with the heart. So we left and did a few hours of prosolighting and then we got a call from President to come and get E. Reeder. So we did. President Batt also gave us some instructions for the next few days. Mainly no seeing people, and that their had to be 2 missionaries with E. Reeder at all times. So E. Jamison and I stayed together with E. Reeder.

 

       Wednesday was an extended P-day by Presidents orders. He also told us to go to the Aztec Ruins. So we did, it wasn't really that good, the only realy cool part was the great Kiva in the middle. The whole thing took about 20 minutes to see. It would've costed 5 dollars per person except I had my Military ID so I got us all in for free. :D Then we went up to the church and I started learning a new song on the piano that someone had given me, "River Flows in You". That song is SOOOOOO cool but pretty hard at the same time. Then we went back to the house and heard non-stop talking from E. Reeder. That night I was in charge of Mutual. We played a donut on a string game. Where they had to eat the donut that was tied on a string without using their hands. We also had some other games, I had a good time.

 

       Thursday we had District Meeting. I love being able to be lead by the spirit while I am teaching. It makes things go soooo much better. I gave my lesson on how to change people, how President Monson had said to do it. Then we went into Farmington and had E. Reeder do some stuff before he went home. He got his flight info and we learned who would be taking him to the airport. We didn't have a meet up place or time yet. Then we spent the rest of the night at home with just the 3 of us. I also learned that my new companion would be E. Krstyen, E. Jamison's companion in Aztec 1st ward. So that is how I spent my Halloween. :) Later that night we got a call and were told where we were to meet up with the person who would be taking E Reeder to the airport. We were to meet him in a grocery store parking lot at 5 30 in the morning. This is sounding way to much like the Marine Corps sleeping schedule here. :) haha.

 

       Friday we got up at 4 45 and got E. Reeder all ready to go. Then we made the switch and we went over and crashed at Aztec 1st until 6 30. Then we had studies and I took E. Krstyen to Flora Vista. He is awesome! I really enjoy being his companion. He is from a town close to Holliday Utah and he played soccer in high school. :D Ya, this is going to be good! :D :D We did a lot of planning that day so nothing else really happened.

 

       Saturday we had a lesson with a guy who was really aggressive with us. Eventually I said, "If you want to know for yourself if our religion is true, read and pray about the Book of Mormon." That was an interesting lesson. We also had a really great lesson with our recent convert family. We watched the movie on President Monson's life.

 

       Sunday we had testimony meeting. The father of our recent convert family got up and started talking about how when he heard we were coming over he was disappointed that he couldn't watch his own movies. Then he said that he had really been inspired by the movie on President Monson. It's cool to see how the spirit works in people. :D Then E. Krstyen, when we were home asked me to give him a blessing. I'm so glad to be worthy to do that!

 

      Well I gtg. Until Next time, thanks for all the support, Hagonet!

 

Elder Bryson Chipman

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