Another Week in Independence

Dearest Family,

I guess you didn't get the memo, but my Preparation Day is now on Thursdays. We'll usually email before noon. I'm sorry no pictures made it to you last time. I sent them, and right before we left the library I realized that none of my emails had made it to you because they were too big. I will try to send pictures today. I'm just glad I got my email to you last week!

So last Friday we got to go on a history trip. Around general conference time, they take all of the sisters who haven't been before, and show us Liberty Jail, Far West, and Adam-Ondi-Ohman. It was really cool. I am going to be sending a lot of pictures today. There is this cute little bed and breakfast in the middle of nowhere near Adam-Ondi-Ohman that feed the sisters lunch every time we go. It was wonderful and so homey. I don't know how expensive it is, but maybe we will spend a night there someday. Adorable.

General Conference was so good this week. I agree with everything Willie said about conference. Jefery R. Holland's talks are always my favorites. His talk actually was really similar to my Good Friday Sermon I gave. Do you remember that? That was a while ago, but really, I loved his talk. Uchtdorf's was good, too.

About the announcement of age changes, man we were shocked. We were watching at the VC when it was announced, and all of the sisters were like, "WHAT?!!" We were trying to be quiet, but we were really shocked. I will have to reread that session of conference because it was hard to listen after that.

My first reaction was, "Should I feel jipped?" And I thought about it, and I don't regret a thing. I know that if I could have, I would have gone at 19, but the Lord had a plan for me waiting a few more years, or it would have been announced sooner. I needed those experiences I had, so I don't regret it. Still crazy. I agree with all of Willie's conclusions. There are going to be a ton more sister missionaries serving in general. I could train a 19 year-old sister before I go home! Crazy.

Sunday was a long day. General Conference was really good. As a mission we were fasting out of gratitude for the success of the mission. I was glad to do it. The problem is, we had to run from conference to a meeting with our bishop and straight to being on shift at the VC. We were hoping to get dinner then, but the center was very busy because there was a President's Devotional that I was in charge of planning going on. So I was taking a presentation, worrying about how our devotional was going, and starving at the same time. But it all worked out. After accidentally fasting for 26 hours, we got to eat at 8pm. We didn't die. It worked out. We are never doing that again.

Oh, on Saturday, we had dinner with some members. It turns out (and I had found this out at church) that the wife is Claire's sister-in-law (you know, my roommate and best friend Claire?). Her mother had been at church my first Sunday when I bore my testimony, and had recognized me as one of the bridesmaids at her son's wedding. In fact, do you remember how the groom's mother tried to set me up with her nephew? Yep, same person. (we did go on a few dates, but clearly, I am on a mission now). So it was fun to talk about people we knew in common, and she even called Claire right after I left. She ran after the car (still on the phone) to tell me that Claire loved me and had made my pumpkin bread recently. I could hear Claire talking. It was crazy! It is a small world. It was fun to talk to them and see Claire's wedding announcement pinned in a collage on her wall. By the way, Claire is going to have her baby soon. How fun!

This week hasn't been that exciting. We have been able to slowly meet all of the people that the elders and bishop recommended for us to visit. Some of them are really pleased by the idea that we are sisters, so that is good. None of them have really progressed yet, and there are so many names that I will talk more about them as I get to know them better.

Working as a Sister Trainer in the VC has been fun, challenging, and hard. We still haven't found the magic Sunday Schedule that seems to be alluding us (there is no solution that we can find), and I am hearing about some of the things that most sisters had no idea happen in the center. We find out the problems and try to figure it out before anyone else has to know about it. A few the sisters have been very difficult to work with, but we are praying for them. I have found myself praying for all 15 other sisters individually every day, and it has really helped ease my burden and helped me love them even more. I feel like this is great training for the rest of my life serving in the church.

This weekend Gladys Knight and her choir, Saints United Voices, are coming to Independence. The tickets are long gone, and we don't have any real investigators to take, so we probably won't be able to go. It still will help missionary work in the area whether or not I get to hear the beautiful soul music and be in the same room as a famous person. I'm still glad to be here. :)

My life has settled down and is less exciting. I hope all is well at home and I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

I love you!

Love,

Sister Atkin