November 28, 2011 (email)
Dad,
Dang, I'm a bad letter writer! You might want to put your questions and my answers on the blog for everyone else too. Okay, here goes...
Dad,
Dang, I'm a bad letter writer! You might want to put your questions and my answers on the blog for everyone else too. Okay, here goes...
1) Dad: We loved the details in your last letter. Could we get more of this? For example, you happened to mention that the dogs come back to the trailer to get food (so we know you live in a trailer, not a house or apartment) but you never describe it.
Sister Wilkins: We have a trailer. We call it The Ark because its the biggest one on the reservation and it has a giant ramp leading up to it. It is stationed perpendicular to the Seminary building/trailer across from the high school. It opens into a LARGE living room. There is a hall down the right with 2 rooms. One for study, and the other for all kinds of junk that has been left over the years. Next to the living room is a kitchen, LARGE thing. Then a short hallway to the left with washer and dyer, and a bathroom about the size of Della's bedroom. Our room is big, and we each have queen sized beds! The Elders are really jealous.
Sister Wilkins: We have a trailer. We call it The Ark because its the biggest one on the reservation and it has a giant ramp leading up to it. It is stationed perpendicular to the Seminary building/trailer across from the high school. It opens into a LARGE living room. There is a hall down the right with 2 rooms. One for study, and the other for all kinds of junk that has been left over the years. Next to the living room is a kitchen, LARGE thing. Then a short hallway to the left with washer and dyer, and a bathroom about the size of Della's bedroom. Our room is big, and we each have queen sized beds! The Elders are really jealous.
2) Dad: What is a typical day like?
Sister Wilkins: Our day starts at 6:30. We get up at 6:15, get dressed, and walk across the 2 lane highway to walk the track at the high school. From 7-8 we get ready. 8-9 is personal study. 9-11 is companion study. Then proselyting. Wednesday night is Young Women's and a Relief Society book club for the New Daughters in Our Kingdom book. Thursday night is Young Single Adults, which we are in charge of, and we play basketball or volleyball at the church.
Sister Wilkins: Our day starts at 6:30. We get up at 6:15, get dressed, and walk across the 2 lane highway to walk the track at the high school. From 7-8 we get ready. 8-9 is personal study. 9-11 is companion study. Then proselyting. Wednesday night is Young Women's and a Relief Society book club for the New Daughters in Our Kingdom book. Thursday night is Young Single Adults, which we are in charge of, and we play basketball or volleyball at the church.
3) Dad: How many people do you usually teach? What are their names? Could we pray for them by name?
Sister Wilkins: We teach mostly less active families that want to get involved again, and they always have children that are overage that they want to get baptized. We haven't been tracting this entire transfer because we've been busy. I could tell you their names. For now, here's one: Jasper (Jay) Deale. He lives an hour away from the church and doesn't have a car. He's a less-active man who was baptized as a kid with his mom but she stopped coming immediately. He is a long lost friend of mine from the pre-mortal life. I know it. I was sent to Shiprock for him. Please pray that he will find joy in the scriptures, that he will understand their teachings, and that he will be able to make it in for church.
Sister Wilkins: We teach mostly less active families that want to get involved again, and they always have children that are overage that they want to get baptized. We haven't been tracting this entire transfer because we've been busy. I could tell you their names. For now, here's one: Jasper (Jay) Deale. He lives an hour away from the church and doesn't have a car. He's a less-active man who was baptized as a kid with his mom but she stopped coming immediately. He is a long lost friend of mine from the pre-mortal life. I know it. I was sent to Shiprock for him. Please pray that he will find joy in the scriptures, that he will understand their teachings, and that he will be able to make it in for church.
4) Dad: How often do you chop wood? Is it scheduled or do you just ask an investigator/member if you can do service for them and you go out and chop wood in your dress? Do you have gloves?
Sister Wilkins: We chop wood for members a lot. We usually do it 2-3 times a month. I have gloves, because I was getting calluses. I'm a good little chopper. Elder Buynak and I have a pioneer work ethic and we chop and chop while our companions sort of stand around. We bring jeans and sneakers almost everywhere just in case someone needs help. I always change, but I wouldn't put it past me to chop in a skirt, it can TOTALLY be done. Actually, people are always surprised when they see me chopping wood. I'm little, but I'm a tough little bugger, and I don't give up on a piece easily.
Sister Wilkins: We chop wood for members a lot. We usually do it 2-3 times a month. I have gloves, because I was getting calluses. I'm a good little chopper. Elder Buynak and I have a pioneer work ethic and we chop and chop while our companions sort of stand around. We bring jeans and sneakers almost everywhere just in case someone needs help. I always change, but I wouldn't put it past me to chop in a skirt, it can TOTALLY be done. Actually, people are always surprised when they see me chopping wood. I'm little, but I'm a tough little bugger, and I don't give up on a piece easily.
5) Dad: How is it that you got to go to Four Corners? Isn't that out of your area. Or is your Shiprock area so large that it includes Four Corners?
Sister Wilkins: Shiprock District is HUGE! It covers Shiprock, TeesNosPos, and Toadalina. Four Corners is in Tees' area, like, 5 minutes from their trailer.
Sister Wilkins: Shiprock District is HUGE! It covers Shiprock, TeesNosPos, and Toadalina. Four Corners is in Tees' area, like, 5 minutes from their trailer.
6) Dad: Your truck was low on allowable mileage so you had to walk home from the store in the rain. Do you get extra mileage because the reservation is so large? How do you get to go off-roading using 4-wheel drive, doesn't that use up your mileage?
Sister Wilkins: We have 1300 miles a month. Which is about 33 miles a day and we are really proud of ourselves when we do a 20 mile day, but every Wednesday when we drive to Red Valley, we easily do 90 miles. If we are smart with our miles, we have left over at the end of the month, and if we don't use them, our allotment will shrink, so we go exploring...
Sister Wilkins: We have 1300 miles a month. Which is about 33 miles a day and we are really proud of ourselves when we do a 20 mile day, but every Wednesday when we drive to Red Valley, we easily do 90 miles. If we are smart with our miles, we have left over at the end of the month, and if we don't use them, our allotment will shrink, so we go exploring...
7) Dad: Does Shiprock have a regular sized chapel, or is a phase one building like Grandpa and Grandma had in San Carlos? Do you have a baptismal font or do you have to go somewhere else to find one?
Sister Wilkins: Shiprock has a good sized chapel, it is a normal little thing. One of the kind where everything is placed on a diagonal. The rooms are wonky shaped because the rectangle of the building is at 45 degrees to the rectangle of the chapel and gym. The building in Tees is tiny. Much smaller than the San Carlos building. We have a font, but Tees and Toad have to come in and use ours.
Sister Wilkins: Shiprock has a good sized chapel, it is a normal little thing. One of the kind where everything is placed on a diagonal. The rooms are wonky shaped because the rectangle of the building is at 45 degrees to the rectangle of the chapel and gym. The building in Tees is tiny. Much smaller than the San Carlos building. We have a font, but Tees and Toad have to come in and use ours.
8) Dad: You've mentioned that there are also Elders in Shiprock. Is the area divided geographically, or do you dived it by the type of investigator you are teaching? Do the members give you referrals, or do you do a lot of tracting?
Sister Wilkins: The Elders are in charge of the North and East sides of Shiprock and we cover far West and deep South. We have the fun stuff.
Sister Wilkins: The Elders are in charge of the North and East sides of Shiprock and we cover far West and deep South. We have the fun stuff.
As for Christmas...They ask us not to give out our PO box address, but they don't do anything to us if we do. If the package is sent Priority they can forward it to us in Shiprock. If not, we have to wait until we go into town, which is once or twice a month. They probably want them in early so that they can forward them before transfers, because the week before they start holding them until they know where everyone is going. Send it to the mission office, and it will get to me before transfers, and if it doesn't, I'll have to go to Farmington for transfers anyways.
Sister Melinda Wilkins
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