Robert vs. Gardening

Heewahnahtahmo!!!!

Another week with the Hopi come and gone.  I feel like this will be my last week here in Hopiland which is a lot more sad then happy.  Most likely I will be moved back to the Navajo Reservation.  One thing I am looking forward to come August is the mission is opening up Monument Valley for missionaries to be stationed there.  Wouldn't that be awesome!!! To be a missionary where all the of those John Wayne movies and hundreds of others have been made....that would be sweeeeet!!!  We will see what happens!  It was an interesting week to say the least and were put in some sticky situations a few times, no need for details on that stuff....but as long as we aren't doing anything that we know we shouldn't we will be just fine around here.  Gotta be careful though especially dealing with drunk people everyday.  We are helping a lot with the gardening program out here and spend most of the day in my t shirts and jeans getting dirty, I love it.  There are these really huge weird white ant/beetle bugs that pop out of the gardens all the time and I don't know what to call other then in Hopi...Kaletatus...big heads.  Kinda funny when the only way you know how to describe something is in a dying Indian language.  There was a massive random blizzard that came through 2 days ago and caught a lot of people off guard and killed a lot of they're plants.  

              

On some good news yes everything is good to go for the baptism of Ralph and Flo Choyou.  They of course are related to like 500 people out here and Ralph used to be a "mongwi" or Kiva Boss.  Pretty high up their in the Hopi religion.  They will be baptized this saturday at 10 am in Tuba city because our font here doesn't work.  Little do they know that they are being prepared for a great calling in the future.  I am so honored to live among the Hopi.  Another exciting thing is Chris wanted me to be there for his patriarchal blessing this sunday!! I woke up one morning a few weeks ago and was overwhelmed by the thought that...these people don't even know who they are!!!!  For the last few weeks I have been asking all the members that we see and less active members...everyone....if they have a patriarchal blessing.  Many have not and we are teaching a lot of people about them.  I know its not recorded for the numbers for missionary work but I don't care about numbers at all.  These people need to know who they are and they're divine heritage and royal birthrights.  If I can help them in that way then I will be happy.  Baptism is definitely the most difficult thing to get people to commit to out here...they hear that word and BOOM..conversation over.  We just teach about the Book of Mormon and other gospel principles and then they decide for themselves for the most part.  Oh ya, there have been people dying left and right here like crazy just within the village I live in.  Weird.  There was like 5 or 6 funerals last week.  I'm starting to see a "slight off colored brown" thats my version of green down here and I love it!!  Its like I am a child all over again learning my colors.  I ate some Niqwovi last night which is mutton stew.  Funny how your palate adapts to flavors and tastes so fast...I hated that stuff in Shiprock and other times I've had it but now I love it!  Thats all she wrote folks!  I will tell more adventures next week.

Love Elder Christensen

Robert vs. Angry Goats

Heewahnahtahmo!!!

This week we only had 3 days for Elder Johnson and I to work in our area.  We went to Tuba city 3 times in one week for District meeting and Stake Conference it was ridiculous, plus exchanges and I went to the Echo Cliffs!  The little branch there is called Bitter Springs.  I went there about 4 months ago but it was way better this time because I am really good friends with our district leader.  Its basically the northern tip of the Grand canyon and so pretty much the whole area you are in between 2 huge walls of rock and people either live on top of the rock or at the base.  It was weird to be surrounded by Navajos again, but once they said I was from Hopi they all wanted to know as much Hopi as I could teach them....a lot of the Hopi people also can speak Navajo.  I gathered eggs, fed sheep, horses, and I got chased around by some angry goats.  I  haven't been in area with more then 200 people in any direction you look at in 7 months now....I'm honestly kinda scared to drive in big city roads again.  

Stake conference was really good except none of our investigators showed up.  Chris came with us though and I was able to introduce him to President Batt so that was a good thing.  We will for sure be having at least 2 baptisms on May 3rd.  The other 3 are still in the air...so at least 2.  Which will be a miracle and a half.  I am pretty sure I will be transferred this time, we find out on may 4th.  Other then that stuff,  Easter was good!  Why the heck is Easter changed to April 20th???  Thats like having New Years Eve on January 20th.....stupid.  It doesn't change the fact that Christ was born on April 6th people.....  Just realized that I have less then 9 months now....crazy.  Another week come and gone.  

Basneewa!!! 

Love Elder Christensen

Robert vs. Flooding with the Book of Mormon

Loloma!!!

Well this week was pretty boring to be honest but some good things happened.  There were 3 people that died this past week in the village closest to us so everyone was doing funeral ceremonies.  We don't attend funerals here unless they are in the church, due to ceremony stuff and once you show up you are pretty much stuck there for most of the day.  Plus Saturday and Sunday they had a ceremony called "racer kachinas" I don't really wanna explain everything about that right now...it would take a while.  I will tell you stuff when I get back in like 9  months now.  Our mission has decided to flood the reservations with the Book of Mormon.  We were givin 10 extra copies last Thursday....we have 3 left out 13 total.  Apparently the mission won't give us more until later....so much for flooding.  So Dad if its possible you can hook us up and send us a case or 2 that would be awesome.  The branch doesn't really have the resources to order some because pretty much the only functioning position in our branch is Branch President and RF Prez.  All the money goes to buying wood and propane and food for people.  Crazy.  

There was only 1 investigator that came to church this week so that means all of our others we had to drop basically.  Flippin frustrating.  I swear this has to be the one of the most challenging areas to serve in the world.  It's worth it though, and I am hoping I can squeeze out 6 more weeks here but I doubt it.  I ate a lot of traditional food this week.  I have gotten so used to food that really doesn't have much flavor and looks questionable in the first place that I have forgotten what spices are.  The main spice here is salt....that's it!  You don't need anything else!  Ever!  Good stuff.  The A1 sauce you sent me is the only thing that's keeping me sane.  

Handing out Books of Mormon is pretty fun though.  Basically you got about 15 seconds before they get defensive here and don't want to talk to you anymore.  "Its a gift"  Name that movie.....  Oh ya for the funny moment of the week.  Elder Johnson and I are basically the same person just different skin color so we think a lot alike and we are extremely sarcastic with each other.  Which is fun because its the only entertainment we have is each other so you better like your companion on the Rez or else its a loooong 6 weeks or more.   Anyways Elder Johnson and I will fake Bible bash or act like atheists and try to argue different things and sometimes we get so into it that we don't realize that we are yelling at each other and our little RV has 0 sound proofing.  Then Elder Kamka thinks that we are actually yelling at each other and  the other day he kinda burst into our RV and threatened us that we needed to resolve some problems out and he even told us that we needed to have an Emergency transfer.  I spoke up and told him we are just messing around and stuff.  I dont think he really believed me.  He thought that Elder Johnson was like verbally abusing me all the time cause he said that I always look angry or not happy recently.  I just laughed...why has that been a problem my whole life!? All through high school and whatnot everyone thinks that I'm mad or sad or anything but happy. I am a happy person!  That whole situation was just funny and we laughed pretty good after he left the RV.  Needless to say, we watch more carefully what we say how we act around the Kamkas now.  Good times.  I'm having a good time with the Hopi still and nobody wants me to leave so I am Happy.  

Love Elder Christensen

Robert vs. Buddy Holly

Loloma!!!

Life in a dinky little RV sure puts things into perspective on what you do and don't need in a home.  One of the fun things about being in an RV on a reservation is that there is no such thing as "Hot" water for showers.  If I stood in the tub then my head would hit the ceiling, so my morning shower consists of me putting some soap in my hair and watering my face with ice water and if I am feeling brave I will jump in for like 30 seconds and just take it.  Things have been going up and down this week and I was sure in need of general conference for some time to just relax for a minute and listen.  All the speakers were great and I love how bold they are now.  Also I am pretty convinced that by their testimonies and the look in the eyes of the 12 apostles....they have seen Christ.  My favorites of course was Elder Holland and surprisingly President Eyring and Elder Scott.  Elder Packer sounded like he was giving his last testimony type of talk.  He for sure will be warmly welcomed on the other side of the veil whenever he goes.  We had 3 investigators watch conference with us and they seemed to really enjoy it.  3 of our 5 baptism dates are doing fine.  The Silas family...not so much....so frustrating to be working with these people since October and they just cant seem to kick the bottle no matter how much we talk to them.  They know its wrong and evil but they cant stop.  Plus we just got a call last night that 2 of their grandkids (clan relation wise) died last night....they were my age...guess what killed them....that stupid satanic drink.  I hate it.  I don't need to give you details on that but it sounds like we will be spending a lot of time today helping with that and getting wood for funeral stuff.  We need to step up our game out here.  These people need help.

I cant remember if I have already said this or not...but the "honoqoyas" or drunk people and those don't like us have given Elder Johnson and I a nickname.  I am Buddy Holly and Elder J is Jimi Hendrix.  Also people call us cornboys because when people pick corn they put on white shirts...funny stuff.  We are getting 11 copies of the Book of Mormon giving to us this Thursday so hopefully we can do some damage out here.  We need to find some New Investigators.  Im loving it with Elder Johnson we are great friends.  I am sorry that I don't answer questions very good..sometimes I am to lazy to go back and look what the questions were that you asked again.  I love this place and I never want to leave no matter how much junk goes on.  Every time I think I am ready to leave then I get this feeling like...I cant.  It will come though probably this May.  Hope everything goes well with Britt's delivery.  I guess this family does need another girl somewhere.  She will love baseball and guns though.  

Love Elder Christensen 

Robert vs. Alcohol

Loloma!!!

I am happy to be here on Hopi until the Beginning of May.  Elder Johnson is the driver now so I believe that is my warning for I am being transferred this next one.  I will be sad to leave but nobody will ever be able to say that they loved the Hopi more then me.  We have 3 on baptism date for April 19th so hopefully those work out.  We had to reschedule the other 2 dates for May 3rd to give them some more time to overcome their alcohol addiction.  I have come to the final realization that....I hate alcohol.  Every single day I talk to multiple drunk people and I see how it destroys lives and families..but they don't stop.  I would love to take the CEO's of all alcohol companies and bring them out here and make them stay and interact with the people even just for 1 week...to see the destruction and evil that they bring upon this humble people.  It sickens me.

This was probably one of the most exciting weeks so far since I've been here because there was a group of 50 LDS kids from Salt Lake area that are part of a rotary club group and did some service down here.  We helped them a lot with wood and things and ah man it was fun to see a lot of white people again.  We are like celebrities out here it is so funny.  Everyone wants to take pictures with us and things...we even got some people to marry their sisters that are almost done with their missions.  Funny stuff.  We cleaned up the church grounds with them and had a huge tumbleweed bonfire.  Its so funny though, deep Utah mormons have this funny perception of missionaries like they can't touch us or talk to us very much.  It was good times and they put on an Easter egg hunt for kids here so we invited all of our 6 investigators and they brought their kids but one of them was wasted out if his mind and we didn't want him to bother other people so we went into the Relief Society room and just talked to him for like 3 hours....it was ridiculous.  Crazy but fun week!  Elder Johnosn and I are doing great, I would go nuts without him. 

Love Elder Christensen

Robert vs. 5 Baptisms

Loloma!!!

I am staying here on Hopi with Elder Johnson for another transfer!  Good news.  The bad news is we got moved into the an RV trailer that I can touch both walls with my arms stretched out.  It is a little bigger then I thought it would be so it's all good.  We spoke in church yesterday and that went well.  Had a few interesting experiences with people coming into the church wanting to cause arguments but got that taken care of.  I can't really send pictures right now because we are using our senior couples computer and it is really slow so it would take forever.  No idea when I will be able to send some.  We are getting ready for 3 baptisms on April 12th and they are doing solid. Just trying to stay away from the alcohol and verbal abuse of everyone in the village.  They are strong though.  Found out that there are 2 others that are ready for baptism in so we are looking forward to 5 baptisms in April.  Well we aren't going anywhere for transfers so I am not able to go anywhere to get a suit.  Nowhere in my zone is there a suit store.  I asked my district leader when he goes to Farmington on Tuesday to look for a cheap suit coat and pants at goodwill or something and I will pay him back.  I will get one eventually don't worry.  In fact nobosy in my district is moving except one and there is a greenie coming in with our district leader.  Everyone in our district has been out over 1 year so I assume this new elder will be kinda scared.  Especially since his first area will be in the middle of nowhere literally.  We decided to have some fun and on distrcit meeting we are going to just talk in different accents so he thinks we are from all over and just mess around a bit to put him at ease.  Don't worry we will play nice with the new guy.  Everyone goes through it.  Especially Rez missionaries cause we are stranded and have nothing else entertaining to do. Fun times!  GO BRONCOS

Love Elder Christensen

Robert vs. Two Elephants...and an RV Camper

Loloma!!!

    

Well we will see how much info I am able to bust out this week with the time I got.  We have to use a different method of emaling now because of some rule changes so this will be very interesting and frustrating.  But hey, when you live in the middle of the desert and not a single person that you know has internet and anyone over 35 has never used a computer before...things can be interesting.  Don't need to get into details.  The stress is piling up for sure over here and this is definitely the hardest thing I will ever do in my life.  When an entire nation of people that have many centuries of time to work on superstitious traditions and alcohol and or drugs is in 99% of all of the houses that you walk into....the pressure mounts up pretty fast.  I feel like I have 2 elephants on each shoulder right now, but for some weird reason I love it here and I never want to leave.  I have a good feeling like I can squeak out 6 more weeks here but we will find out this Saturday.  

Found out that we are being kicked out of our trailer this Wednesday and getting an RV camper.  I ain't talking about the camper that you get to hitch up to your huge truck and drag around.  I'm talking about the camper that goes ON the truck....ya....those super small I can touch both walls with my elbows ones.  Plus, for the past week there have been like 50 mph winds all day so bring it on!   It will be fun.  Look at me trying to be optimistic! 

We have had some good lessons this week though and have actually had a lot more success with the few white people recently then the Hopi.  We gave a Book of Mormon to the family from Arkansas and sparked some interest I feel.  We will see what happens.  There was only about 20 people at church this week...no idea what's going on out here.  Really frustrating and stressful.  Found out the branch president here was asked to go to spring training when he was younger with the Yankees and the Dodgers but he never got the chance to go and the scouts said he would have been an All Star.  I have had a few good conversations with him on baseball and all that did was make me baseball sick.  For some reason I am not surprised that the senators get to go to Omaha this year.  I always knew one day that the group that are now seniors, Coach Mac had a soft spot for them.  

There was 2 investigators that came to church this week though and we have set a baptism date for April 12th for 3 people so hopefully that happens.  Well I apologize that I am not able to tell you more but the term Pday out here where I am at there is no such thing.  We chop wood and coal all day and do whatever else we can to help people that can't help themselves.  Pretty tiring but at least you feel good about it even right when you sit down to take a break and someone else calls.  Welcome to the rez!  I love the Hopi though and wouldn't want to be anywhere else.  No missionary ever will be able to enjoy being here as much as I do.  Ever.  Well I go to go to a lesson!  See ya next week and hopefully I can fill you in on some more details.

   

Love Elder Christensen