Death by Pizza

November 10, 2014

Polacca, Arizona

The first thing I have to say this week is never ever get the Little Caesar's Pretzel Pizza. It is disgusting. We got one last week and both got sick from it. It doesn't even have pizza sauce on it but cheese sauce instead. Just thinking about it makes us sick.

Well this week was really slow for us. We were hardly able to get any lessons. One day we had 8 set appointments and we ended the day with 0, they all fell through. It is really hard on the Rez, since a lot of natives just go with the flow and don't plan for things. Our senior couple is great but they don't know their place yet. There is a culture barrier between the US and the Rez and then one between Canada and the US so they are still trying to figure things out. They also don't keep appointments. We were supposed to go to a lesson with them and they weren't there to pick us up. We talked to them later that night and found out that they were in Winslow. We can only hope that they can figure this out with time.

We gave a blessing this week to a 15 year old girl whose family we are really close to, just before she got life-flighted to Flagstaff. Her Pancreas, Liver and Kidneys had shut down. She got to flag (Flagstaff, AZ) and all that they had to do was remove her gall bladder and then 2 kidney stones. Thank goodness, it was very scary for a time.

Well this week I broke a promise that I made to myself over the summer. I swore never to paint again. But this week I painted 2 houses. I guess that it is a talent or something that I must share with the rest of the world. A professional painter who we were doing this with actually commented on how good I was at painting and said if I ever need a job that he'll hire me on the spot. So yeah...

We have gotten our cold nights figured out. We have insulated the trailer better and have even more ideas on what to continue to do to make it winter proof, so no need to worry about that anymore. 

Now the funny story. Elder Barrett asked a brother for his last name. This brother then looked at him and said, "Wow that's the exact same thing that my ex-wife asked me. We all lost it. Boy oh boy the people out here have quite a sense of humor.

Well that's it for this week Love you all.

Love,

Elder Warnick

Canadians and drunks (not realated)

November 3, 2014

Polaaco, Arizona

Well they are here! The Barretts our new senior couple! They are from Alberta Canada and are awesome. They are very missionary minded and ready to go out with us and to help us wherever we need it. They got here on Friday and have already fed us 3 times. We are in store for some full days ahead. However is is scary to drive with him I glanced over at the speedometer and he was going 120 miles per hour! I thought we were going to die. Then I realized that his truck is in Kilometers per hour and that he was only going 70 the speed limit. Thank goodness. It is still kind of unnerving though.

The winter months have started and It is getting cold here in Polacca. When we woke up this morning it was 43 degrees... In our trailer. Outside it was 26 degrees. We are trying to figure out how to better stay warm and we have some ideas. It doesn't help that they disconnected our heat though so all we have is a space heater. But We'll make due.

As some of you already know I met a kind of relative this week. He is my mom's cousin's husband's dad. We came over to talk to us about our area just because we were missionaries and then we got talking and I realized that I knew the people he was talking about. It really is a small small world. (I hope you all sing that song to yourselves now)

We were shopping and on the way out of Bashas this week we saw a drunk getting arrested (alcohol is illegal on the reservation). He tried to struggle and when we were about 5 feet away (no joke) the officer swiped his feet out from under him and slammed him on the ground. It was quite a thump. And the guy just laid there after that, he couldn't  move.

We also had stake conference this week and it was awesome. Our broadcast from Salt Lake included Elder Cristofferson and President Uchtdorf (who used to live in Arizona). It turns out that there are 96 stakes in Arizona. We are in a blessed area. The church is also now starting a self reliance program in Tuba City. The first in North America.

We have found quite a few new great investigators this past week. So many that we had President Batt call us and congratulate us on it. Well thanks for all of your prayers. I love you all.

Love, Elder Warnick

Miracles, Pocahontas, and Hairy Pigs

Well our investigators who were all having a hard time are back. they are no longer drinking and the other is our of Jail. We are trying to see them more and more but the adversary is working hard and trying to make them doubt.

This week we were in a gas station when the cashier asked us if we have any pamphlets that we give out. Naturally we said yes and that we would be right back. She in turn left the register followed us out to our truck and then we gave her a restoration and a Plan of Salvation pamphlet as well as a Book of Mormon. She seemed really excited and we can't wait to see her again. Little miracles from working like the Lord wants and talking to everyone that we see.

October 27, 2014 

Polacca, Arizona 

Here is a funny thing when we teach about the restoration we have a lot of  natives forget Joseph Smith's name and they all call him John Smith. No this isn't a big difference but it always makes me thing about Pocahontas. I shouldn't laugh but I do.

We went to the Hopi High football game on Friday. Let's just say that they could use some coaching and some work in the weight room. They lost 0-56 and didn't hold Red Mesa to 4 downs ever. Every possession Red Mesa scored. It was painful to watch.

We ate a pig this week. Bro. Crowfoot had a freshly butchered pig (there was still some hair on it) from his inlaws when we went over to eat on Wednesday. The pig's name was Kevin (like Kevin Bacon) and was the best pig I've ever tasted. Food is interesting on a mission you think you won't eat well but everytime you go to someones house for a meal they say "I bet you never get to eat steak' or "ribs". Let's just say I've had ribs 5 times in the past 2 weeks. I never thought that I would be tired of them.

Here is this week's miracle. We got tied up in K-town because it took us an hour to get out the door of one guys house because he likes to talk (really he does we didn't get a word in for an hour). Well because of this we were an hour late to an appointment and missed the man we were going to go see, but because we were late we got to talk to the baby sitter. The same girl who we taught a couple of weeks ago and didn't get her name or address. Now we were able to find her, teach her again, and set up another appointment to go to her house. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

Oh I'm also serving with and Elder Christensen in my district now. He is from Boise and graduated from Borah. He also knows the Hainsworths really well., It was fun to talk about home with someone.

Well that's it from Hopi this week. I love you all!

Elder Warnick

White trash whiteboard in our trailer

Dance

Millennium Falcon Kite!

Partly cleaned off chimney sweep

Sick new tie and dog fight weapon

I'm a MONKEY / Week 7 in Hopi

October 20, 2013

Polacco, Arizona

 

Well everyone I'm a monkey. A district leader monkey... We got a call Friday night and knew something was up because it was President Batt. He gave us some news. Both Elder Hooton and I are staying in Polacca! And then he called Elder Hooton as District Leader, and because of that I have my title (the companion of the DL is called the District Leader Monkey).

Well this week has been a lot better than last. We hardly had any lessons, but we have been able to get back in contact with most of those investigators who we lost. And good news our other investigator gets out of Jail today! Hopefully he will have been humbled by this experience and will be willing to commit to baptism.

I was supposed to speak in church again yesterday but it didn't happen. We had the whole Stake Presidency there and they released our Branch President, President Funk. Now the President is President Wallace, he is a white guy who is a Judge for the Tribe. It will be different because he doesn't really know the people or the culture as well as Funk (who has lived here for 35 years). It will be good though. There is a different level of organization, he really wants to get people to the temple, he has hope the the Hopi people will come to see the light, and he is really excited to use us and to work with us as much as he can.

I saw my first real road runner this week. They are quick little buggers. This week I also saw some Kachinas (well the Navajo ones I don't know what they call them). We were eating at Pizza Edge in Tuba City when there was a knock on the window and there were 5 kachinas. They opened the door and then the workers there gave them a sack of flour. The Navajo fair was going on so that explains their presence. All of the kids in the restaurant were terrified though, they thought they were the Yetis (the discipline kachinas), and if the kids were misbehaving they could have been spanked by them.

We did a lot of service this week. We chopped woods (as the natives would say), we dug a 40 foot trench for a propane line in super hard Arizona soil. And we helped put in a stove (everyone uses wood burning stoves for heat). When we put in the stove I finally got be a chimney sweep. Ever since the first time that I watched Mary Poppins I've wanted to do it. Well let's just say that movie makes it look way more fun. But the blackness of the face it completely true. (I'll send pictures next week, my camera is dead so I can't hook it up to the computer).

This week has been really fun and I can't wait to spend more time here in Hopi.

Love,

Elder Warnick

-

Cops and a High Girl

October 13, 2014 

Polacca, AZ


Well everyone this has been a much better week in HopiLand. It is getting cold, and am am thankful for suit season (we have to wear suits or sweater from conference to conference unless it is above 70 degrees). I have a cold because of how chilly and windy it gets during the day.

Well this week I got to on exchanges in Tuba City again, this time with Elder Lake. We had an awesome time. Going to Tuba is nice because it is a city, but I was reminded of how "Rezzy" it was when we saw 3 horses running down the sidewalk of the main street being chased by a 12 year old native in her Pj's. 

While in Tuba City we knocked into a guy who was very rude. He said "I don't associate with the LDS, respect my religion." and he slammed the door. We then knocked on the door again to give him a card with our number on it. He then said "you are disrespecting my religion" we asked what religion he was and he said "none and I am calling the Cops" This is where my fiery attitude got us in trouble, Elder Lake and I can both get a bit hot headed... So we told him to call the cops. (they can't do anything to us because we're white) Well he slammed the door again after throwing something at me, we stuck the card in his door and walked away. He came our and ripped up the card threw it across his yard and got on the phone. We continued to knock at other people's doors for a good 45 minutes in the same cul-du-sac and the cops never showed up. It was a funny, freaky experience. and now I know I have diplomatic immunity. And I remembered that Navajo cops never come to anything... I also need to keep my emotions in check...

I have a couple of sweet pictures to send out but I forgot my camera... I have a sick new tie and a dog fighting weapon.

So Elder Hooton and I went to teach a Less Active, when we got there the door was answered by a babysitter. She let us in and then the Less Actives 30 year old daughter came out, she was high. She was so high that her dad got a babysitter for her kids while she was there. We sat down and began to Teach the babysitter who seemed interested, and then the high girl came into play. She has never listened to us except for once when the Tree of Life caught her eye. She began to teach the  other girl about the tree of life and to cuss her out at the same time. She then told the babysitter (who is about her age) to leave and so she went into the other room (we're trying to find where she lives). Well anyway the high girl continues to teach us about our doctrine and then told us that we should teach the people in the jail. We tried to tell her that we are trying to get it worked out so that we can but she stopped us and told us that we don;'t try we do, that Jesus didn't try that he did. She told us that Jesus sacrificed and asked if we are, we said yes implying the 2 years, but she then asked us "do you have nails in your hands, no. Are you on a cross, no." Later she taught us about how we worshiped ALLAH and then gave us a $200 Kachina Drawing, that we are returning to her father because he seemed mad when it happened. We can't wait to go back and see how she acts when she down to earth.

We have some awesome new investigators who live in K-Town and they are super interested. We started to have a lesson with a guy who was burning outside, and then his girlfriend came out and told us to come inside. We then had a lesson with Him the girlfriend and the girlfriend's less-active Grandmother, who has a solid testimony.

Now here's sacrament meeting. Basically I'm the only person who sings, because no one else knows the songs or even how to sing. But we were sitting next to a blind lady one day and at the end of the meeting she turns to Elder Hooton and says "you have a beautiful voice" he replied that it was actually me and that he was just mouthing the words. She then shook he head and said 'I heard his voice and trust me it wasn't good"...wow that was funny. Cyrus a 3 year old boy bore his testimony, let me start by telling you that he is a goofball and when he went up we didn't know what to expect. This is what he said in his deepest voice "hello everybody, this is me Cyrus and that's my mom. I just want to talk to you all today and say I'm grateful for the Elders and that my new name is Elder Dukepoo." he said lots of other stuff but it was great.

Well today I leave you all with this:

SEE MEET THE MORMONS!!!

We got to see this movie a couple of days before it came our and it is amazing the movie will change your life. It is awesome!!! Bring friends to see it as well, it is funny as well as heart touching and really lets people know that Mormons aren't as stereotypical at they think. Also see it in these first 2 weeks because the more it is seen in these first 2 weeks the more theaters it gets seen in around the world. It is a great tool to open people's hearts to talking about what you believe.

Also a side note this coming week is transfers and I won't know what's happening until Saturday night. Since mail takes 5-6 days to get here please don't send my anything until I can let you know if I'm going or staying. Just so that missionaries don't have to worry about forwarding things. Thanks.

Love you all,

Elder Warnick

180 Flip

October 6, 2014 

Polacca, AZ

Well this week was awesome until Thursday. This week I got to go on exchanges with my district leader Elder Riley. We had an awesome time and some really great spiritual encounters.

Elder Hooton and I have been working hard and we are teaching a lady, Madeline, who is loving the Book of Mormon. She's kind of embarrassed that she is reading so much, but it's awesome! We went to her house Sunday between sessions and she had BYUtv on. She was watching conference.

Now the 180 flip is where our entire area turned around in a couple of days. We were doing hot some really good investigators and a couple of baptism dates for this month. Now we don't have any dates. One of our investigators who had a date is in Phoenix in the hospital. The other one was absolutely wasted when we went to visit him. We dropped by again yesterday and he was on the couch with a pillow over his head. He looked at us when we knocked and then covered his head back up. Our other good investigator is in jail. Hopefully he just beat someone up and it wasn't drugs of alcohol, because those would get him another year minimum. It was a disheartening week, but thank goodness for the atonement.

Well other things are going well. I'm leaning more and more Hopi. And this week is Zone conference. Well learn more about i-Pads and get to watch Meet the Mormons.

Conference was amazing! We have lots to share with the investigators that we have left. And the treats were awesome, thanks mom. the Dukepoo kids liked them too. (They are about the only kids who attend our branch).

Fun fact... we have a full size gym in our church. But we only have 4 classrooms, and our chapel has only 5 rows in it.

I am feeling great but October is getting cold. Our RV doesn't hold heat very well and we don't have the heat functioning in the RV, this is because of the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning scare where a couple of Elders got really sick a few months before I came. Never fear we check our detectors each week. Well anyways we have 2 space heaters which we crank up to 80 and when we wake up it is somewhere between 60 and 65 in our RV.

The new senior couple is coming at the end of this month.They are currently serving in Canada but have to move while their home gets worked on. Some reason they are coming here but hopefully they'll be awesome!

Well that's it from me in Hopi this week.

Love,

Elder Warnick

Stormy Weather

September 29, 2014

Polacca, Arizona

This week has been great. Leroy came to church again and he is also working on his word of wisdom problems. I have no doubt that he will make his October 25 baptismal date. We went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders and we blitzed our area. Elder Hooton and Elder Nishimoto knocked all day in K-town and Elder Scoffield and I went to a couple of lessons and knocked in Polacca and Kemes. We had a lesson with Leroy and President Povatah (member of the stake presidency in our ward) came with us. They have a very similar background and he was able to share some personal insights. Another awesome part of that lesson was when I asked President how the Book of Mormon has blessed his life he started to talk, it went on for 15 minutes but the best part was that half of it was in Hopi! We couldn't understand it except for a few words I know but the spirit was there so strongly in the room. We also taught some other good lessons and found lots of potentials.

So there were some HUGE storms out here this week. Saturday was the biggest though, we easily got 2.5 inches of rain in 3 hours. The wind was so bad that it ripped a metal shutter on our trailer off after it was mangled in the storm. The lightning was so close that it lit up all of our windows at once and the thunder was shaking our trailer.

Now that wasn't the only stormy thing that happened out here. We got a call in the middle of the week saying that we can't move into the single wide because there is a new senior couple coming down for a few months from Canada while their house gets worked on. We were distraught, but after a talk on the phone with President Batt we cleared some stuff up, there is a possibility of them coming. They have a choice between Polacca, Tuba City and another area, and they may not even come down at all. So we have a glimpse of hope (and while no one is living there we have a shower that we can stand up in, water pressure too).

We have Zone Conference on the 8th of October and we get a special treat. We get to see Meet the Mormons before it is released. I am so excited for that. Even better news we also got an e-mail from President telling us that we will have our i-Pads before the end of the year, the specific date will be told to us soon. This is really nice because he is against it, if it was up to him I honestly don't think that he would let us have them at all and I would have to wait until June when we get a new Mission President. But luckily it seems that Salt Lake has Forced it upon him.

Well that's all for this week in Hopi, we'll see how the housing situation pans out.

Love,

Elder Warnick