Monday, February 27, 2012 (email)
Hello Everyone! Can you imagine me running around and skipping and proclaiming that? because I was!
We had a miraculous experience this week! We had our temple trip fall through again and we were getting extremely discouraged. Nothing seemed to work. (Which meant Satan was doing all he could to keep us from going.) But then, we ran into a member on Friday morning and she
just randomly asked if we were allowed to go to the temple and if we wanted to join her the next morning!?!?! We were stunned but tried to hide it (she told us later that we didn't do a very good job of it.) We made some calls to leadership and got the ok! SWEET! There was nothing that could mess up our plans that bad in 24 hours.
WRONG. We were out and about in the truck searching for a less active member. We took a road we thought would get us there. We could see the tracks of other vehicles, so we figured it was safe to take it. Well, we started sliding on the ice and were so excited to get to the dirt. It wasn't dirt. The ice had melted and turned the dirt into MUD. Slimy mud. We started sliding pretty darn good. I got it to stop, put it in 4 high...nothing. We just slid down the embankment a little, and closer the the fence...the barbed wire fence. Ok, 4 low....we kept sliding towards the fence. I stopped. We parked and got out.
I knew I didn't have the driving knowledge to get us out of the situation without getting us into major trouble first. I called Sister Kesler who has lots of mud experience, and she nearly peed her pants laughing at me. She insisted I call the vehicle coordinator. Dang.
I called and he insisted on a tow. UGH.
Called the tow guy, got all the details to him, and he said it would take him at least an hour to get to us. Double ugh! Because the sun was going down and we were sinking in the mud a couple inches up our boots. He said if he couldn't get the truck out, he would have to come in the morning when the ground was frozen and get it. NO GOOD. We wanted to go to the temple at first light.
Sister Patrick started freaking out and getting really upset. I didn't want to focus on the negative, so to her frustration, I started singing Primary songs. Poor thing, Sister Patrick, she was going to get the spirit into her whether she liked it or not.
A couple minutes into singing a farmer drove up on his 4 wheeler, and told us to cancel the tow. He instructed me what to do and pushed us out when needed. It was AWESOME!!! We got onto the road, thanked him, gave a prayer of thanks, and went on our merry way.
PRAYER WORKS. PRAYER WORKS. PRAYER WORKS.
Well, that was my story! Have a great week!
Sister Melinda Wilkins
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
I Don't Have Anything Clever To Put Here
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 (email)
Hi. Still no way to attach photos, but I'm working on it.
I feel lame, because I don't have anything REALLY interesting or funny to tell you...
We were thrilled this week to get 2 new investigators. One for each ward! That's exciting because one ward has all the work, and the other ward is usually asleep. The first one is Aubani... she was a former investigator who felt pressured into baptism, so she backed off. She and her less-active husband recently had a new baby, and they realize that they want to be an eternal family. She knows deep down that she wants to be baptized, but she wants to do it at her own pace. We will gladly agree to that.
The other investigator is Linda. She recently married an extremely less-active man and he talked to her a bit about his beliefs, and then we got a not connected referral to go see her. She was raised Baptist and is very strong in that religion. Sister Patrick was practically asleep and totally at a loss of what to say to this woman. I felt just as confused and couldn't think of what to do, but I had to fake confidence so the whole appointment didn't fall through. All I could think of was to ask her to explain her beliefs so I could compare our religions for her. She told me, and me still being dumb drew a blank...."How in the world am I going to tell her what we believe and not forget any important parts?" Wow. I'm dumb. Thank heavens the Holy Ghost has his head on straight and can help dodo's like me. "GET OUT YOUR ARTICLES OF FAITH!!!!" he yelled at me. "Oh, that could work..." So I started going through each one, and eventually it led to questions she had about Joseph Smith, priesthood authority, and the Book of Mormon! It led into the message of the Restoration PERFECTLY!! When we presented the Book of Mormon to her, and asked her to pray about it, she said, "Well of course. I was already planning on it! Should we do it right now?" We tried to hide our shock and surprise, but gladly placed our hands in hers as she prayed with us right then and there. WHOA!! Thank heavens the Spirit was there to help a dummy like me.
On Saturday we attended the baptisms of Morgan and Troy. Morgan was afraid of the water, but he had a change of heart the night before the baptism and was a completely different boy. He was courageous and excited and couldn't stop smiling. I cried as he stepped into the font with his shoulders squared and a confident smile on his face. Hooray!!
We were going to attend the temple today, but our ride fell through. Satan is doing all he can to keep us from going. We will try again next week.
I love you all very much. Have a fantastic week!
Sister Melinda Wilkins
Hi. Still no way to attach photos, but I'm working on it.
I feel lame, because I don't have anything REALLY interesting or funny to tell you...
We were thrilled this week to get 2 new investigators. One for each ward! That's exciting because one ward has all the work, and the other ward is usually asleep. The first one is Aubani... she was a former investigator who felt pressured into baptism, so she backed off. She and her less-active husband recently had a new baby, and they realize that they want to be an eternal family. She knows deep down that she wants to be baptized, but she wants to do it at her own pace. We will gladly agree to that.
The other investigator is Linda. She recently married an extremely less-active man and he talked to her a bit about his beliefs, and then we got a not connected referral to go see her. She was raised Baptist and is very strong in that religion. Sister Patrick was practically asleep and totally at a loss of what to say to this woman. I felt just as confused and couldn't think of what to do, but I had to fake confidence so the whole appointment didn't fall through. All I could think of was to ask her to explain her beliefs so I could compare our religions for her. She told me, and me still being dumb drew a blank...."How in the world am I going to tell her what we believe and not forget any important parts?" Wow. I'm dumb. Thank heavens the Holy Ghost has his head on straight and can help dodo's like me. "GET OUT YOUR ARTICLES OF FAITH!!!!" he yelled at me. "Oh, that could work..." So I started going through each one, and eventually it led to questions she had about Joseph Smith, priesthood authority, and the Book of Mormon! It led into the message of the Restoration PERFECTLY!! When we presented the Book of Mormon to her, and asked her to pray about it, she said, "Well of course. I was already planning on it! Should we do it right now?" We tried to hide our shock and surprise, but gladly placed our hands in hers as she prayed with us right then and there. WHOA!! Thank heavens the Spirit was there to help a dummy like me.
On Saturday we attended the baptisms of Morgan and Troy. Morgan was afraid of the water, but he had a change of heart the night before the baptism and was a completely different boy. He was courageous and excited and couldn't stop smiling. I cried as he stepped into the font with his shoulders squared and a confident smile on his face. Hooray!!
We were going to attend the temple today, but our ride fell through. Satan is doing all he can to keep us from going. We will try again next week.
I love you all very much. Have a fantastic week!
Sister Melinda Wilkins
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Happy Valentines Day!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 (email)
Happy day of love everyone!
Why am I writing on Tuesday? Long story. Last week our district decided to go to the temple today. We had to sell an arm and a leg to get someone to take us there, but we were willing to do it because its the temple. We switched p-day from monday to tuesday, and worked all day yesterday....But then a nasty storm hit last night and the district leader canceled the trip...so we had a wonky p-day, and no temple. Oh well. We will try again. I'm just stoked that the temple is
an option!
I bought an uploader to send photos, but the computers at this library won't recognize anything. UGH!!!! I'm kinda peeved. But its not the end of the world. I guess I will just have to make a CD of photos at Walmart and send it to mom and dad for them to put on the blog.
Last Tuesday we had Zone Conference in Bloomfield!!! That's a 2 hour drive and 2 zones away. We spent all day driving, and I was totally asleep before my head even hit the pillow.
But there isn't much to talk about this week. Things are still rough. There isn't much work to do. We spend all day looking up less active families and no one is home. We visit referrals and get all no's. We tract cold, windy, country roads for hours on end, and get....nothing. I'm surprised at how positive I have been. I'm serious, but somehow Heavenly Father always helps me keep a smile on. I think that is my role in life: be the smile that helps the really important people stay
focused and energized. There isn't really a great work for me, I'm just the helper of the greats. I can handle that. I'm good at smiling.
The best thing and worst thing of the week are the 2 baptisms this weekend. They are great because they are BAPTISMS!!! Its not so great because we just found out that they don't count for our numbers. We were under the impression that they counted, but things got clarified
and they don't. Oh well. Not the end of the world. At least we get to keep that warm fuzzy feeling of being helpful for Morgan and Troy. They are truly terrific little boys. I love being around them. They make it all worth it.
Oh, and we stopped by that less active family's home who were about to kick us off the porch, but then let us in. He answered the door, but he was beaming!! and so happy to see us! WOAH! MIRACLE! She wasn't home, but we are going to stop by tomorrow.
Well, I have to go! love you lots!
Love,
Sister Wilkins
Happy day of love everyone!
Why am I writing on Tuesday? Long story. Last week our district decided to go to the temple today. We had to sell an arm and a leg to get someone to take us there, but we were willing to do it because its the temple. We switched p-day from monday to tuesday, and worked all day yesterday....But then a nasty storm hit last night and the district leader canceled the trip...so we had a wonky p-day, and no temple. Oh well. We will try again. I'm just stoked that the temple is
an option!
I bought an uploader to send photos, but the computers at this library won't recognize anything. UGH!!!! I'm kinda peeved. But its not the end of the world. I guess I will just have to make a CD of photos at Walmart and send it to mom and dad for them to put on the blog.
Last Tuesday we had Zone Conference in Bloomfield!!! That's a 2 hour drive and 2 zones away. We spent all day driving, and I was totally asleep before my head even hit the pillow.
But there isn't much to talk about this week. Things are still rough. There isn't much work to do. We spend all day looking up less active families and no one is home. We visit referrals and get all no's. We tract cold, windy, country roads for hours on end, and get....nothing. I'm surprised at how positive I have been. I'm serious, but somehow Heavenly Father always helps me keep a smile on. I think that is my role in life: be the smile that helps the really important people stay
focused and energized. There isn't really a great work for me, I'm just the helper of the greats. I can handle that. I'm good at smiling.
The best thing and worst thing of the week are the 2 baptisms this weekend. They are great because they are BAPTISMS!!! Its not so great because we just found out that they don't count for our numbers. We were under the impression that they counted, but things got clarified
and they don't. Oh well. Not the end of the world. At least we get to keep that warm fuzzy feeling of being helpful for Morgan and Troy. They are truly terrific little boys. I love being around them. They make it all worth it.
Oh, and we stopped by that less active family's home who were about to kick us off the porch, but then let us in. He answered the door, but he was beaming!! and so happy to see us! WOAH! MIRACLE! She wasn't home, but we are going to stop by tomorrow.
Well, I have to go! love you lots!
Love,
Sister Wilkins
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Guess What....I can drive in snow now!!!!
Monday, February 6, 2012 (email)
Sorry, no photos yet, still need to buy an uploader. And today is a really big/important day, but I'm not going to tell you why. You will just have to figure it out...if you can :)
Well, this week was night and day compared to last week! We had things to do, and people to see, and bonding time, and giggles, and lots of yummy food! I'm so glad that I'm a happy camper now.
On Monday we went to a member's home to quilt. She is a national award winning quilter, and she was helping the previous sisters make quilts. She has 2 quilting machines in her front room!!!! Dang. I am finishing a quilt for the sister that just left, and we will send it to her eventually. The next project is a purse...I think it sounds a lot harder than a quilt, but I'm ready to learn.
On Tuesday we volunteered at a Methodist Thrift Store. It was a neat experience. I guess we do it every Tuesday. We also went to have dinner with the Thomasons: The mom, Deana, is a relatively recent convert, and her 8 year old son troy is getting baptized next week. It was his birthday dinner, and we had SO MUCH FUN! We went over again on Wednesday night because they had signed up on the ward calendar. This is where things got really fun...Sister Patrick is lactose intolerant...so when they gave her a piece of ice cream cake, I knew my duty...I had to eat mine quickly, and then be really sneaky as the two of us switched bowls without anyone watching, and eat her piece too. It was really kind of fun, and the cake was extremely good! :)
On Wednesday I thought I ran over a dog....and I wanted to die. We live with the Mikkleson Family, in their garage apartment. They have 2 dogs: Roxy, a boxer, and Daisy, a wiener. Roxy and Daisy are kamikaze dogs...they fun around in front of the truck and play and jump around
us as we try to drive away...So I was going REALLY SLOW and then Daisy started to yelp like crazy. We jumped out of the car and Roxy was jumping on top of her. We couldn't tell if Roxy was playing or being protective. Daisy just screamed and screamed and wouldn't get up. We had to call the family and tell them what happened and get the dog in the house. I thought I had run over her foot, because she wouldn't move it. .... We found out later that Roxy was jumping on Daisy and cut her belly all the way to the muscle right near the foot, so Daisy was protecting it. THANK HEAVENS!!!!! Whew.
We also ran into the MEANEST lady I have ever met. We knocked on her door, and she slipped out onto the front porch. We said, "Hi, we are miss..." "I don't care who you are or what you have to say! Now be polite and walk away!" "Ok, you have a nice day" "Yes, it was nice of you to bother me today!" ....Oh she was a grump. Poor thing. I just laughed after we walked away because it was so surreal. We felt bad that she had so much pain in her life that she would act that way towards total strangers.
On Thursdays we participate in the Addiction Recovery Program, and I LOVE IT!!!! The members who run it call it "The Atonement for Dummies" and they are totally right! It is amazing. I am changing the way I see the world and myself by participating in it.
Sister Patrick and I have had some really good bonding experiences this week. REALLY GOOD. and I am so thankful for them. Heavenly Father has put me with her so I can learn a ton. I'm looking forward to the progress. While we have been talking, she has told me about her
relationship with music and what it is like to compose...she said one of the most beautiful things ever. "[Composing] is like receiving revelation from the tongue of angels." WOAH! So cool!
On Saturday we had a really cool tracting experience. An older gentleman answered the door, and he tried to tell us our message would be better if given to someone else and to go away. He tried to back up and close the door, but he tripped over his wife. She pushed him out of the way and stepped onto the porch. "Are you LDS?" Uh, oh. I hope this doesnt' go badly, she might be about to yell at us. "Yes we are-" "-Oh, I was LDS! We used to have Family Home Evening EVERY week, even when my kids didn't stick with the church, it was a requirement in our
family!" She proceeded to go on about her experience, but said we could never get her back to church. We were about to leave and Sister Patrick asked if we could say a prayer with her. She invited us in, we said it....and then didn't leave for an hour!! We started talking about where we were from (the husband was missing) and Sister Patrick and Kathy had connections to Minnesota. Then I said I was from San Diego. "Oh my daughter lives down there, in um...Encinitas." GASP and hand flying to chest. "I'M FROM ENCINITAS!!!!!" Then the husband showed up! We got Mr. Grumpy Gills to come in and at least be around during our conversation all because I was from Encinitas! WOOT!!!!!! We talked for a long time about her family and we got her to agree to read from the Book of Mormon (actually she promised us rather enthusiastically) and she begged us to come back and visit her. ...Not get her to come back to church, MY FOOT! Watch me!
Love you lots! Have a fantastic week!
Love Sister Melinda Wilkins
Sorry, no photos yet, still need to buy an uploader. And today is a really big/important day, but I'm not going to tell you why. You will just have to figure it out...if you can :)
Well, this week was night and day compared to last week! We had things to do, and people to see, and bonding time, and giggles, and lots of yummy food! I'm so glad that I'm a happy camper now.
On Monday we went to a member's home to quilt. She is a national award winning quilter, and she was helping the previous sisters make quilts. She has 2 quilting machines in her front room!!!! Dang. I am finishing a quilt for the sister that just left, and we will send it to her eventually. The next project is a purse...I think it sounds a lot harder than a quilt, but I'm ready to learn.
On Tuesday we volunteered at a Methodist Thrift Store. It was a neat experience. I guess we do it every Tuesday. We also went to have dinner with the Thomasons: The mom, Deana, is a relatively recent convert, and her 8 year old son troy is getting baptized next week. It was his birthday dinner, and we had SO MUCH FUN! We went over again on Wednesday night because they had signed up on the ward calendar. This is where things got really fun...Sister Patrick is lactose intolerant...so when they gave her a piece of ice cream cake, I knew my duty...I had to eat mine quickly, and then be really sneaky as the two of us switched bowls without anyone watching, and eat her piece too. It was really kind of fun, and the cake was extremely good! :)
On Wednesday I thought I ran over a dog....and I wanted to die. We live with the Mikkleson Family, in their garage apartment. They have 2 dogs: Roxy, a boxer, and Daisy, a wiener. Roxy and Daisy are kamikaze dogs...they fun around in front of the truck and play and jump around
us as we try to drive away...So I was going REALLY SLOW and then Daisy started to yelp like crazy. We jumped out of the car and Roxy was jumping on top of her. We couldn't tell if Roxy was playing or being protective. Daisy just screamed and screamed and wouldn't get up. We had to call the family and tell them what happened and get the dog in the house. I thought I had run over her foot, because she wouldn't move it. .... We found out later that Roxy was jumping on Daisy and cut her belly all the way to the muscle right near the foot, so Daisy was protecting it. THANK HEAVENS!!!!! Whew.
We also ran into the MEANEST lady I have ever met. We knocked on her door, and she slipped out onto the front porch. We said, "Hi, we are miss..." "I don't care who you are or what you have to say! Now be polite and walk away!" "Ok, you have a nice day" "Yes, it was nice of you to bother me today!" ....Oh she was a grump. Poor thing. I just laughed after we walked away because it was so surreal. We felt bad that she had so much pain in her life that she would act that way towards total strangers.
On Thursdays we participate in the Addiction Recovery Program, and I LOVE IT!!!! The members who run it call it "The Atonement for Dummies" and they are totally right! It is amazing. I am changing the way I see the world and myself by participating in it.
Sister Patrick and I have had some really good bonding experiences this week. REALLY GOOD. and I am so thankful for them. Heavenly Father has put me with her so I can learn a ton. I'm looking forward to the progress. While we have been talking, she has told me about her
relationship with music and what it is like to compose...she said one of the most beautiful things ever. "[Composing] is like receiving revelation from the tongue of angels." WOAH! So cool!
On Saturday we had a really cool tracting experience. An older gentleman answered the door, and he tried to tell us our message would be better if given to someone else and to go away. He tried to back up and close the door, but he tripped over his wife. She pushed him out of the way and stepped onto the porch. "Are you LDS?" Uh, oh. I hope this doesnt' go badly, she might be about to yell at us. "Yes we are-" "-Oh, I was LDS! We used to have Family Home Evening EVERY week, even when my kids didn't stick with the church, it was a requirement in our
family!" She proceeded to go on about her experience, but said we could never get her back to church. We were about to leave and Sister Patrick asked if we could say a prayer with her. She invited us in, we said it....and then didn't leave for an hour!! We started talking about where we were from (the husband was missing) and Sister Patrick and Kathy had connections to Minnesota. Then I said I was from San Diego. "Oh my daughter lives down there, in um...Encinitas." GASP and hand flying to chest. "I'M FROM ENCINITAS!!!!!" Then the husband showed up! We got Mr. Grumpy Gills to come in and at least be around during our conversation all because I was from Encinitas! WOOT!!!!!! We talked for a long time about her family and we got her to agree to read from the Book of Mormon (actually she promised us rather enthusiastically) and she begged us to come back and visit her. ...Not get her to come back to church, MY FOOT! Watch me!
Love you lots! Have a fantastic week!
Love Sister Melinda Wilkins
Monday, January 30, 2012
Is it possible to be refined in a really hot fire when everything around you is frozen?
January 30, 2012 (email)
Hiya! Or maybe I should say howdy because of the cowboy/farmer life I've been thrown into. But certainly not Ya' Teh...because they don't particularly care for Navajos....
To be completely honest, this has been the absolute hardest and most miserable week of my mission. I'm trying to stay positive and play the glad game....I'm not winning the game. :)
Its always hard to leave your first area, but this is particularly nasty. I was in love with Shiprock, the scenery, and the people...But here, everyone keeps saying, "Oh you came from Shiprock, you must be so happy to leave" or "You are so lucky to be here" or "Isn't this place just prettier and better?" ....Ummmm....NNOOOOO!!!!! You booger faces! That is where my heart is! That is were the people I love are! That is were I was accepted and there wasn't blatant prejudice against my skin! It has been really hard to hear them be so derogatory about somewhere I adore so much. That is where there is actually a lot of work to do, and paradise for missionaries.
Can you tell it has been a rough transition? But here is the glad game stuff: It IS really beautiful here. And there ARE nice people here. and the wards are EXTREMELY supportive and organized. and I AM lucky to be here, because this is where the Lord trusts me to be and where he wants me to learn more lessons. Yes its pretty, yes you are awesome, and yes I'm lucky, but please stop putting down Shiprock.
My companion is Sister Rachel Patrick. Ready for the Small Mormon World Connection: she is a cousin of Sister Katherine Cottam!!!!! WHAT!!!!!!?????!!!!!!?????? It took us 3 days to figure it out. I put up my photo wall and there were photos of me and Katherine and she said "That's my cousin!! how do you know her?" Oh, I only lived with her for 3 years and went to her house all the time, and had her little brother as a valentine and went to the temple when she was endowed! no big deal. Cool connection huh?
Sister Patrick is from Minneapolis, Minnesota. And not just a town nearby, but the actual city itself. She went to BYU-I and is a Music Major. She plays Oboe (not the bassoon...they are different...I learned that really quickly...the oboe is like a clarinet) and is phenomenal at it. She is in practically EVERY performance group at BYU-I. She is ridiculousness smart, and the poor thing has to put up with my blond moments, afternoons, days, or weeks. She has been out for 3 months and has been here the entire time. To be honest, she is really burned out on Cortez, because she has only seen discouragement and things falling apart. They have had the WORST opposition I have ever heard of. It involves investigators, murders, suicide, and police...I don't care to go into more detail.
The roads here are ridiculous. They are kind of on a grid system, but because of the mountains and lakes there are jogs in the roads. The North/South roads are USUALLY a letter and the East/West are USUALLY a number, but then there are the little branch offs that are decimals, or where the road doesn't connect all the way through because of a ravine or other crazy mess. For example, we live on the road 29.75...kinda like platform 9 3/4.
We live in the garage loft apartment at a member's home, way out in the boonies. It is tiny compared to Shiprock's giant ark of a trailer...but I got all my stuff to fit, so I'm ok. The bed is like sleeping on clouds...hooray. Finally. But when I got there she said the shower drain didn't work and we should take quick showers because it gets backed up so bad. Well...I know it is impossible for me to take a quick shower...so I became determined to fix it. I started to do my thing, and got up to ask Sister Patrick if anyone had used a drain snake to clean a clog before. "No, because we can't get the plug thing off. Even the family who owns the place doesn't know how to get it off." I smiled and giggled. "Well, I don't think that will be a problem, because I just got it off, cleaned the upper clog, and used a wire hanger to unclog the pipe." Smirk. :) Look at me go. Not even a full day in Cortez and I fix something that has eluded grown men. Yes, I am that awesome.
Well, there is much to talk about, but I don't have the time to mention it all. And I'm sorry I don't have pictures to include, because I don't have an uploader for my card with me....next week. If you have any questions about Cortez, please let me know, and hopefully I can address them next week.
Love you lots!
Sister Melinda Wilkins
Hiya! Or maybe I should say howdy because of the cowboy/farmer life I've been thrown into. But certainly not Ya' Teh...because they don't particularly care for Navajos....
To be completely honest, this has been the absolute hardest and most miserable week of my mission. I'm trying to stay positive and play the glad game....I'm not winning the game. :)
Its always hard to leave your first area, but this is particularly nasty. I was in love with Shiprock, the scenery, and the people...But here, everyone keeps saying, "Oh you came from Shiprock, you must be so happy to leave" or "You are so lucky to be here" or "Isn't this place just prettier and better?" ....Ummmm....NNOOOOO!!!!! You booger faces! That is where my heart is! That is were the people I love are! That is were I was accepted and there wasn't blatant prejudice against my skin! It has been really hard to hear them be so derogatory about somewhere I adore so much. That is where there is actually a lot of work to do, and paradise for missionaries.
Can you tell it has been a rough transition? But here is the glad game stuff: It IS really beautiful here. And there ARE nice people here. and the wards are EXTREMELY supportive and organized. and I AM lucky to be here, because this is where the Lord trusts me to be and where he wants me to learn more lessons. Yes its pretty, yes you are awesome, and yes I'm lucky, but please stop putting down Shiprock.
My companion is Sister Rachel Patrick. Ready for the Small Mormon World Connection: she is a cousin of Sister Katherine Cottam!!!!! WHAT!!!!!!?????!!!!!!?????? It took us 3 days to figure it out. I put up my photo wall and there were photos of me and Katherine and she said "That's my cousin!! how do you know her?" Oh, I only lived with her for 3 years and went to her house all the time, and had her little brother as a valentine and went to the temple when she was endowed! no big deal. Cool connection huh?
Sister Patrick is from Minneapolis, Minnesota. And not just a town nearby, but the actual city itself. She went to BYU-I and is a Music Major. She plays Oboe (not the bassoon...they are different...I learned that really quickly...the oboe is like a clarinet) and is phenomenal at it. She is in practically EVERY performance group at BYU-I. She is ridiculousness smart, and the poor thing has to put up with my blond moments, afternoons, days, or weeks. She has been out for 3 months and has been here the entire time. To be honest, she is really burned out on Cortez, because she has only seen discouragement and things falling apart. They have had the WORST opposition I have ever heard of. It involves investigators, murders, suicide, and police...I don't care to go into more detail.
The roads here are ridiculous. They are kind of on a grid system, but because of the mountains and lakes there are jogs in the roads. The North/South roads are USUALLY a letter and the East/West are USUALLY a number, but then there are the little branch offs that are decimals, or where the road doesn't connect all the way through because of a ravine or other crazy mess. For example, we live on the road 29.75...kinda like platform 9 3/4.
We live in the garage loft apartment at a member's home, way out in the boonies. It is tiny compared to Shiprock's giant ark of a trailer...but I got all my stuff to fit, so I'm ok. The bed is like sleeping on clouds...hooray. Finally. But when I got there she said the shower drain didn't work and we should take quick showers because it gets backed up so bad. Well...I know it is impossible for me to take a quick shower...so I became determined to fix it. I started to do my thing, and got up to ask Sister Patrick if anyone had used a drain snake to clean a clog before. "No, because we can't get the plug thing off. Even the family who owns the place doesn't know how to get it off." I smiled and giggled. "Well, I don't think that will be a problem, because I just got it off, cleaned the upper clog, and used a wire hanger to unclog the pipe." Smirk. :) Look at me go. Not even a full day in Cortez and I fix something that has eluded grown men. Yes, I am that awesome.
Well, there is much to talk about, but I don't have the time to mention it all. And I'm sorry I don't have pictures to include, because I don't have an uploader for my card with me....next week. If you have any questions about Cortez, please let me know, and hopefully I can address them next week.
Love you lots!
Sister Melinda Wilkins
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
New Beginnings
January 23, 2012 (email)
This week we had the Baptism for Angelia (Angie Garcia). I included LOTS of photos of her baptism. She is a stud. She is amazing. She was planning on her whole family coming, but then at the last minute they were all "too busy" and NO ONE came! It was her, us, the Elders, and the ward members we had presiding and helping out. She was changing after being wet, and her mom and brother walked into the church and asked for her. Angie's mom walked in the bathroom, and told her it was time to go. They had some family activity out and about, and they were her ride there, and they didn't want to wait anymore. I was shocked. Angie came over and asked me if we had to finish the rest of the program. I didn't know what to do, but the Elders and the Ward Mission Leader decided we could have a closing song and prayer and call it good. Wow.
Love, Sister Wilkins
Well....Goodbye Shiprock. We got transfer news....I'm going to Cortez, CO....its just north of Shiprock. Actually, it is the ward that touches Shiprock, but it is a completely different Stake. I'm kinda bummed, but at the same time I am at peace. I was indifferent to staying or leaving. I knew I would be happy either way. And I actually felt like I might go to Cortez if I was transferred. (There is a lady in the Cortez ward who we run into a lot here, and she really likes me and said she would pray really hard that I come up her way soon...she must have been given the gift of prayer.)
Elder Buynak is going to Tohatchi, NM, which is north of Gallup. Sister Kesler is going to be "step-training" meaning her companion came out one transfer back. Elder Wise is getting an Elder who knows EVERYTHING about Disney (probably more than dad) and I'm pretty sure if I stayed he would get on my nerves because he knows more than me :)
Well, Mom said way back in a letter not to tell her the scary things about my mission until I came home safe and sound....Well since I'm leaving Shiprock tomorrow, I thought I could send a picture of what part of our area looks like...so here is the burnt out house. There are 2 entire neighborhoods that have NICE houses like this one, but the gangs didn't like something about the whole situation, so they burned them all out and destroyed them. Most of the homes have extreme profanity on them, so I didn't send any of my other photos. I was pretty shocked when Sister Tsosie drove me through the area my first day, but now it doesn't even phase me. I was always really curious about the layout of the houses, so one day Sister Kesler and I explored one...it was pretty spooky....but now I'm moving to Ute country...so I shouldn't have to worry about the Navajo gangs much. :) Have I got you nervous yet? Here are 2 more "scary" details.... 1) I was given pepper spray and I carry it everywhere....among other things.... 2) the Elders in Toadalina had their trailer and vehicle attacked by a drunk man this week. He broke all the windows on everything. They called the police and then President Jones. Our President is a cowboy, and he suggested that the Elders rope him and sit on him until the cops come :) They would have done it too if they had any rope.
This week we had the Baptism for Angelia (Angie Garcia). I included LOTS of photos of her baptism. She is a stud. She is amazing. She was planning on her whole family coming, but then at the last minute they were all "too busy" and NO ONE came! It was her, us, the Elders, and the ward members we had presiding and helping out. She was changing after being wet, and her mom and brother walked into the church and asked for her. Angie's mom walked in the bathroom, and told her it was time to go. They had some family activity out and about, and they were her ride there, and they didn't want to wait anymore. I was shocked. Angie came over and asked me if we had to finish the rest of the program. I didn't know what to do, but the Elders and the Ward Mission Leader decided we could have a closing song and prayer and call it good. Wow.
Yesterday I bawled and bawled at church. I did pretty good until I had to say goodbye to April Yazzie and her girls. She and I are truly sisters. She says I am a Beligana version of her. (A beligana is a "white person" in Navajo.) Church time wasn't enough, so we went back over last night to say good bye. We cried and cried again. I love that photo of me and all her girls.
The last picture is me burning a jacket....IT wasn't mine....The tradition for elders is to burn a tie, a shirt, slacks, and an entire suit, every 6 months. Well, for sisters there isn't a set thing, at least that we know of...but I didn't want to burn anything of mine! I like it all too much. So I found a REALLY UGLY jacket that a sister of long ago left in the closet and we burned it this morning. It had crazy chemicals and dye in it, and the smoke is NASTY! It was on my clothing, so I changed my clothes. IT was on my hands, so I scrubbed them forever in the shower. Then I thought it was gone, but I kept smelling it in the trailer. I realized it was my hair! I washed it and everything and it still stinks 4 hours later!
I love you lots! I'll let you know how Cortez is!!
Love, Sister Wilkins
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Winter in Shiprock...Ha! Funny joke! We skipped winter here
January 17, 2012 (email)
Hello friends and family!
We have decided that Satan has moved to Shiprock. Everyone and their 15 rez dogs has felt miserable. Its like he is trying to ruin everyone's life here. We ran into so many broken hearts and families this week, and I think I cried very day. (I'm usually pretty tough, but this week the tears were flowing. Thank heavens Sister Kesler is kind and willing to let me cry in her lap.)
On Wednesday night we got a call from another recent convert, Lisa Begay. She is 9 months pregnant, and was at the hospital. We didn't understand why she would want us instead of the Elders for a blessing. When we walked in and her husband was sitting next to her, we were REALLY confused....Her husband was there, but he wasn't really there. He was totally exhausted from watching their twins and working 2 jobs with crazy hours, and sitting in one place for that long made him conk out. She was pretty much alone, and was kind of scared. Her twins were delivered by C-Section, and they wanted her to try this one on her own. She didn't know what to think, hadn't planned for that, and didn't know what to do. She said her water had broken, and they put her on medication to start the contractions. She wanted someone who could cheer her up, and let her know what was going on....So she called us. Obviously we are rather cheerful, but I found it really funny that little me, who has never given birth, could give her all sorts of info on what to expect and what her body had to do and how it had to change to get this sweet baby here. We stayed with her until they kicked us out so she could sleep. Then we went back in the morning, and there was still no baby. After 24 hours, with really no change in anything, the doctors figured out her water had ruptured but not broken. She was bummed, and was kind of silly as she complained about going home again to wait out the next couple of weeks. Oh I hope we are here for the delivery of this baby! I have been waiting since my first day in Shiprock when she announced she was pregnant!!
We had stake Conference on Sunday, and our Beloved Angie Garcia drove the hour to the stake center, and then got situated between a bunch of our ward members, who took her up to meet the mission president, temple president, and the visiting member of the 70!!! Oh they are studs. She is a stud. We have the most amazing and golden investigator I have ever met! I'm so excited for her baptism this weekend. Please pray that she stays strong and can fight off the adversary this week.
We went hiking to a waterfall for P-Day. I thought it would be boring the 2nd time around, but not this time! IT had frozen over completely, and was one of the most incredible and beautiful things I have ever seen. oh, and we took Sister Kesler to 4 Corners because she had never seen it before. That was DEFINITELY NOT exciting the 2nd time. We were in and out in 10 min...and it would have been 5 min if the wind hadn't been blowing so bad.
The biggest thing of the week was a growing experience I had. I won't go into detail, because it was really intense for me...But I was thinking about humility and wondering how to become more humble. It was in my prayers, which is a dangerous thing to mention in prayers. :) But I had an experience where Heavenly Father let me experience what it is like to not have his light around. My eyes were opened. Being humble is knowing how much you need God in your life. Well, from that experience, I realized how critical it is to have him nearby. Without his light, I can't be myself. My bubbly, happy personality comes from the light he gives me. Without him I am nothing. I am not me. I need him just to be myself. It was amazing to figure it all out. I get it. 
I love you all. I hope you have fantastic weeks. Transfer news comes this Saturday. I'm trying not to think about it!
Sister Wilkins
Hello friends and family!
This week was all over the place. It felt like a long, miserable week, but we were finally able to meet some of our big goals, and I feel rather accomplished. Finally!
We have decided that Satan has moved to Shiprock. Everyone and their 15 rez dogs has felt miserable. Its like he is trying to ruin everyone's life here. We ran into so many broken hearts and families this week, and I think I cried very day. (I'm usually pretty tough, but this week the tears were flowing. Thank heavens Sister Kesler is kind and willing to let me cry in her lap.)
We went to visit a family of recent converts, the Smiths. Mom and daughters are members, dad is not. He's drunk all the time, and it is completely destroying their family. Sister Kesler has had lots of experience with alcoholics, and she took the reins dealing with him. She was so bold, and I just tried not to shake in my boots. She knew exactly what to say, and totally channeled the wrath and strength of heaven down. The women of the family came to understand how much we care for them and how much Heavenly Father cares. I think they were given the boost to keep going, and keep pushing to conquer this challenge in life.
On Wednesday night we got a call from another recent convert, Lisa Begay. She is 9 months pregnant, and was at the hospital. We didn't understand why she would want us instead of the Elders for a blessing. When we walked in and her husband was sitting next to her, we were REALLY confused....Her husband was there, but he wasn't really there. He was totally exhausted from watching their twins and working 2 jobs with crazy hours, and sitting in one place for that long made him conk out. She was pretty much alone, and was kind of scared. Her twins were delivered by C-Section, and they wanted her to try this one on her own. She didn't know what to think, hadn't planned for that, and didn't know what to do. She said her water had broken, and they put her on medication to start the contractions. She wanted someone who could cheer her up, and let her know what was going on....So she called us. Obviously we are rather cheerful, but I found it really funny that little me, who has never given birth, could give her all sorts of info on what to expect and what her body had to do and how it had to change to get this sweet baby here. We stayed with her until they kicked us out so she could sleep. Then we went back in the morning, and there was still no baby. After 24 hours, with really no change in anything, the doctors figured out her water had ruptured but not broken. She was bummed, and was kind of silly as she complained about going home again to wait out the next couple of weeks. Oh I hope we are here for the delivery of this baby! I have been waiting since my first day in Shiprock when she announced she was pregnant!!
We had stake Conference on Sunday, and our Beloved Angie Garcia drove the hour to the stake center, and then got situated between a bunch of our ward members, who took her up to meet the mission president, temple president, and the visiting member of the 70!!! Oh they are studs. She is a stud. We have the most amazing and golden investigator I have ever met! I'm so excited for her baptism this weekend. Please pray that she stays strong and can fight off the adversary this week.
We went hiking to a waterfall for P-Day. I thought it would be boring the 2nd time around, but not this time! IT had frozen over completely, and was one of the most incredible and beautiful things I have ever seen. oh, and we took Sister Kesler to 4 Corners because she had never seen it before. That was DEFINITELY NOT exciting the 2nd time. We were in and out in 10 min...and it would have been 5 min if the wind hadn't been blowing so bad.
The biggest thing of the week was a growing experience I had. I won't go into detail, because it was really intense for me...But I was thinking about humility and wondering how to become more humble. It was in my prayers, which is a dangerous thing to mention in prayers. :) But I had an experience where Heavenly Father let me experience what it is like to not have his light around. My eyes were opened. Being humble is knowing how much you need God in your life. Well, from that experience, I realized how critical it is to have him nearby. Without his light, I can't be myself. My bubbly, happy personality comes from the light he gives me. Without him I am nothing. I am not me. I need him just to be myself. It was amazing to figure it all out. I get it.
I am going to attach lots of photos this week. Things that I wanted to include from long ago without a camera, and things from this week.
I love you all. I hope you have fantastic weeks. Transfer news comes this Saturday. I'm trying not to think about it!
Sister Wilkins
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