More Big News

Hi Family!

So life is good in Kansas! If you remember, our transfers out here are a week later than Willie's. We just get our call on a Tuesday, and then our moved on Thursday, so that is a little different. So anyway, our calls come tomorrow night. But I don't have to wait for the calls to know some of the big news.

I'm training again.

Yep, I'm training again! I'm so excited! Training was the hardest best thing I've ever done, and I get to do it again! I just feel so honored that the Lord and my mission president trust me enough to train again so quickly. Of the first 7 transfers in my mission, I am going to be in the training program for 6 of them. I just had one transfer (6 week) break, and I'm back to training. I'm so excited! I'm just going to love her to pieces. Both of the sisters who are coming out are from Utah, so that's about all I know about her. And she is a full proselyting sister, so she wasn't called the Visitors' Centers. Which is extra cool that they are trusting me to train someone full-pros when I have been full-pros for only 6 weeks!

When someone trains, they have a meeting for them the Saturday before transfers to train them on training. So we went to that on Saturday (and Sister Hinckley got to come along as my companion). At the meeting they told us the process by which they picked trainers. Well, first of all, they have a transfers board that has the pictures of all 200 missionaries. Then they pick out the missionaries that are eligible to be trainers, and would probably make good trainers. They pick about twice as many as they actually need. Then the mission president and the Assistants pick out the missionaries that they would want to train their little brother or little sister. And that is how they pick trainers. President Keyes told us, "So know that we prayed you here. We chose you because we could trust you with our younger brother or sister." I feel the weight of the responsibility, because a trainer impacts the rest of their mission. But I'm so excited. :)

There are some things I wish I had done differently with Sister Lewis, but I was a younger missionary then. I can do things better this time. I get a second chance! I plan on just loving this new sister to death. I love her already. I'm just so excited! I have always felt, from the very beginning of my mission that part of my mission calling was to be a trainer. I have felt very strongly about that. And then Sister Lewis came along. And now my new sister this week. It is coming true. I am so happy. :) It's a challenge to be a better and better missionary. :)

Anyway, enough about that. This week wasn't very eventful. Jasmine is still on track to be baptized this Saturday. She's excited, and so is her mom. Her mom has been very supportive, and even drove all of us to Liberty Jail in her Lexus. It was a good experience.

Side Note: and I saw the Whitney's! Random! I was walking up to Liberty Jail and I heard someone yell, "April!" I halfway turned my head, but then though, "no, that's not my name. It must be for someone else," and kept walking. But then Sister Whitney yelled, "Sister Atkin!" so I turned around. There they were, filming me! It was crazy to run into someone from our neighborhood again! They took pictures, too, so you'll have to see those. I love them. :)

Anyway, so life is good. Jasmine and her mom both loved the devotional of new convert's testimonies at the Liberty Jail. They do that every month at the Jail and the VC, and it is such a good idea. We hope that her mom will want to learn from us soon. She is coming to the baptism, so we'll see!

Bikes are going well, too. I'm getting brown and buff. I haven't been in this good of shape for a long time, and it feels really good. We played Ultimate with the elders today, and they wore out before I did (not to brag. :) ). So I'm doing very well. I'm learning to really love the bikes because we get to talk to people on the streets, and I feel good.

Sister Hinckley is going home this week, which is really hard. She really doesn't want to go. Suddenly, everything that anyone talks about that is for a day after she is gone has become very painful for her. I feel bad. I know that I will feel the same way when I get there, but I don't want to think about it. I'm staying in Kansas forever. :) I'm trying to help her stay cheerful for her last week. Hopefully we can make it an extra good one. She's missing Jasmine's baptism, which is hard, but we really wanted Jasmine's family to come, so that comes first. I'll send her pictures.

So I have a lot of things to look forward to this week. Tomorrow there is a meeting in Independence for all of the VC sisters to train us on how to use the centers better. President Keyes will be there, as well as some people from Salt Lake. I'm excited to see all of the sisters and to be trained. :) Then on Thursday is transfers, so I will get my new sister. I'm excited to meet her! Then on Saturday is Jasmine's baptism. Too many things to look forward to! I might explode with happiness!
So that is life.

Love,
Sister April Atkin