Window Rock..............we have arrived!!!! We went to the other couple that are serving here - Elder and Sister Parke from near Sun Valley, Idaho......They were great to us.....they gave us the key to the "Little Blue House" and we both just knew right away that would be where we wanted to stay......we just had a good feeling about it..........so we began our move in! Looks really tiny, but it is really quite accomodating........it has 3 BR, den, kitchen, LR, tiny bath, lots of storage, no dishwasher, BUT a washer and dryer......hooray! Our first night here we were invited to a native family home for dinner and we had delicious Navajo tacos..........with frybread!! Yummy...........probably one of the biggest homes in Window Rock...........Great people. There daughter and her two children live with them.........the daughter is an attorney with the Navajo Nation and the granddaughter is probably about 14 or so - her name is Shaunibah (which means warrior of light - isn't that beautiful?
Church Sunday was great.............they gave the mothers either a long stemmed red rose or a red rose corsage. Must have been about 150 or so there and everything was fun........we LOVE the people and they are being so kind and accepting of us..........Our Mission President and his wife were visiting our church on Sunday from Phoenix........so we had good visits with them and our first interview! Had dinner with the Parkes and later went over to their trailer for the institute class for a BBQ............(picture)
This is like a third world country and poverty is prevalent.........On Monday we began our training for the office............we simply put are the office managers of the employment office and I am thankful for my office training and Dad as well.............We left at 10:30 to to go Polanca where we had a zone meeting with all the missionaries isn this area........Great drive - we had a pot luck lunch there. They had a speaker - Brother Wally Brown - who gave a marvelous talk on the Navajo culture........fascinating to us! We drove out after the meetings to see First Mesa.....a little village up on top of a high plateau.............old and incredible! (President & Sister Beck brought us a fun "welcome" basket filled with goodies, so we have enjoyed that.)
We have been going for walks in the evenings BEFORE dark!!!! Go about 2 miles or so, but lots of hills, so it is a good workout...........Tuesday we trained a little more in the office.....President Boone (Navajo) is our boss here in the office and is great. We also work with a wonderful single Mom - Wena (picture) that we just fell in love with immediately - she is so great! What a help everyone is to us..........There is ALOT to learn and we are again in high gear trying to get it all learned............we cover a big area. President Boone took us all out to lunch in Gallup today in honor of the Parke's leaving........that was fun........Then we toured Gallup a little, so we'd know where to go for things..........The office supply store that we get everything from is there - the Water Store (where we get the big water bottles) and they give water to missionaries free......To "Wallmart" of course that will be our mainstay here - prices are high in St. Michaels and Window Rock..........went to a gift store with all the tribes things (it is run by a Muslim couple - Johnnie and Nellie............isn't that something!!!) they give a big discount to missionaries.
On one walk we were followed by a dog............this is open range here - as you can see by the sign on the church fence by our office..........pretty funny - they can wander around all the time. Our office has been super busy with people coming in - most of them are not members of our church, but we help them with finding employment, furthering their education, writing resumes, filling out applications........we have two computers for them to use...........we do career workshops....anyway, it is BUSY and exciting to help.
I haven't started piano until next week..............Elder Hafen had a new job this week too.....our Bishop is a horse man.......he and his wife went to SLC this week and had Elder Hafen do his chores............so see the (pictures)........one little colt the mother died, so it has to be fed with special mix for awhile......he's loving it! We also have a LITTLE garden spot in the back with one row of peas planted (if we are lucky we may each get 3-4 pods)
I did see one job posting on our board today...........if any of you want to move on down............you have to be able to drive and lift 50 pounds...............(it's going around picking up dead people to take them to the morgue)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you believe it???????
Love to all of you............we send our love and prayers to you......
Elder & Sister Hafen
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