Shades

FLOWER OF THE WEEK

The most common bush here other than sage brush is this colorful Turpentine bush. If you take some of the flowers and rub them between your fingers they become sticky.  There are very red ants here and apparently they like to bite and it hurts. If this sticky juice is rubbed on the bite it quits hurting. Another effective traditional Navajo cure.

This bug was crawling on our sidewalk.It looked rather big and scary so we took its picture. Is a blister beetle so called because if it gets on you it will sting and leave large blisters. If a horse or cow eat two of them in the hay it can be fatal. Locally they call them cow killers.

                                                                     SHADES

Traditionally the Hogans were lived in during the winter but in the heat of summer they used shades. The tow top pictures are some old shades that are no longer used. They would have planted gourds around them so the foliage covered the poles.  Now they use poles with whatever is handy covering them for shade. Some have beds in them to sleep in when the weather is hot.  Bottom right is a more modern way, a nice patio in front of the Hogan.

This is our new missionary, Elder Amott, with a new type of tie clip. These horny lizards are rather cute in their own way.

Elder Lybbert couldn't be out done so he has a baby one for pocket decor.

The highlight of the week was getting our van back Thursday evening and hopefully the poor old thing will keep running. Another highlight was going to Zone Conference on Friday in Gallop. The meeting was excellent and visiting with the other senior missionaries is always a good time.
Like last week, our main teaching this week was to those who were dealing with grief or struggles in life.  Elder Lybbert was asked to officiate at a graveside funeral on Monday morning so last night we went to meet the family. As we were sitting there in a room full of older Navajo ladies dressed in their native way and listening to them talk in their native language I felt like we really were in a foreign country. Its always a little uncomfortable at first but we are always given respect and gratitude for what we do and leave feeling like we have made more friends.  We teach about Jesus Christ and his atonement whenever possible which is often. Serving a mission here you really learn to depend on the guidance from our Father in Heaven.

Love to all,
Elder and Sister Lybbert