Cliffhanger...........

Dearest Family,

What a week I have had. A good week.

Last Monday we played volleyball all day with the elders, and it was fun. The members were dumb and made us mad, so we played a missionary only game, which was awesome. We have some good elders.

That night we went to contact a less active. Our bishop gave us her record because it just showed up in the ward un-asked for. That happens sometimes. He didn't know where it came from or who she was. So he sent the missionaries. We like that.

So we knocked on her door. When she opened the door she looked so shocked. "How did you find me??!" she asked. She didn't look mad, just shocked, so we kept talking. Turns out, she's a convert of a lot of years. Her whole family joined except her husband, and she filled a lot of big callings. But she was offended, and she went inactive in1990. Since then she has moved 3 or 4 times as an inactive. So how her records made it here is a mystery. But she was happy to see us, and it turns out that her inactive daughter also lives nearby (she was there. We met her, too) and they had been talking recently about going back to church. So we gave them the address and time, and phone numbers for the bishop and relief society president. She was grateful and just still in shock that we found her. It was pretty cool.

Megan is getting her patriarchal blessing this week. That's exciting. :)

On Tuesday we did exchanges with Lawrence. Sister Lewis is there training a new sister. So Sister Hodson and Sister Lewis, my two daughters, got to spend the day together in Overland Park. I got to go with Sister Crick, my grand daughter, in Lawrence. She is a good missionary, and they are doing well there. It was a good day. The best part of doing exchanges with a new missionary is that all you have to do is be a good cheerleader all day. They just need the experience of taking over for a day, drowning a little, and coming off victorious. So all I did was back her up and tell her she was doing great all day. It was fun. I like that.

One miracle from that day: We were out tracting, and met this guy that was not interested. He was rough, had a beard, was bony and old looking, like a life long smoker and hard laborer. We introduced ourselves and he immediately informed us that he wasn't interested and wasn't religious for that matter because he hadn't been brought up that way. I offered to just leave him with a pamphlet, and he said no very rudely and said it would be a waste of paper. I was ready to go when Sister Crick asked "And what is your name again?", which felt very awkward to me after the rejection. He rudely responded, "I didn't give it." and so we left and knocked a few other random doors in the neighborhood that we felt good about (I rarely/never go door to door. I just pick random ones).

When we returned to our car we sat there for a second figuring out where we were going next. The same man walked out of his house and walked towards us. I was worried. I didn't know what he was going to do to us. He looked nervous, though. We greeted him and rolled down the window.

"I just had to come and say I didn't mean to be rude to you ladies. My name is Mark. I know I didn't need to be all rough. I didn't mean it. I'll take a pamphlet." We were surprised, and very happy to give him one. "but I have been watching you and you went to that house, that house, and that house." he gestured to the houses we had knocked. "You weren't going door to door. What made you choose those houses? Why did you pick my house?" His face showed that he just couldn't figure us out, and he was sure that someone had told us to go to those specific houses. He looked very suspicious.
I leaned over Sister Crick to talk through her window and said, "The spirit. We just knock doors we feel good about." in a very matter-of-fact way.

He looked totally stunned (in a manly, hiding his surprise in his beard kind of way). "So you have some sort of intuition?" he grumbled under his breath and halfway turned back to his house. "I guess you all have to do a year mission trip or something..." he mumbled, trying to make an excuse for nice ladies like us knocking on our door (someone made us do it).


I leaned back over. "No, we chose to do this. All of my friends are at home and married." again, very matter of factly.
He kind of humphed, still looking surprised and walked away, holding his pamphlet. We yelled good bye and that we would come back later. He didn't respond.

The spirit had totally worked on him. It reminded me of that one ensign story. I hope something happens with him. It was awesome.

We saw Flower on Wednesday. It was the best lesson we have ever had with her. She found a Book of Mormon app and downloaded it onto her phone, so she listens to the Book of Mormon every day. She loves it and it speeding through the Book of Mormon. Her countenance had totally changed, and she is praying about a baptism date now. Our church is her favorite, and more than anything, she wants her family to come with her.

Dave, the personal trainer is doing great. We can't teach him fast enough. He loved church this Sunday. :)
I ate eel and real sushi (raw tuna) this week with wasabi. It was pretty good. I don't know if I will eat it again soon, though. Sister Hodson didn't like it so much.

So Wednesday was an amazing day. Sister Hodson and I were both so happy. I love her so much! We are like best friends. Thursday was great, too, but more stressful. That night there was a conference call for all of the sisters in the mission. There are 10 new sisters coming out this transfer, which is crazy. The MTC pulled some in early, so we aren't ready for them, and the sisters they are replacing aren't going home yet. There are only 21 sister companionships now, and 7 are already in the training program. So President Keyes either has open areas for only one transfer, or make a buch of trios. He's making a bunch of trios. The call was basically to tell us how great we are and that we need "all hands on deck".

The problem with that call was that the Assistants texted me the wrong phone number so we, and all of the other sisters I am sister leader for, joined late. It announces your name when you join. Then our phone freaked out and we were kicked off. Log back on. Then we lost reception and were kicked off. Log back on a third time. I was stressed and embarrassed to the max, and then it turns out that some of my sisters never made it on the call, and it is kind of my fault. Then I found out that it announces your name when you log off, too, so everyone heard us join and leave three times--late. I was humiliated. The worst part was knowing sisters missed it.

I went to bed stressed which is a bad idea. I had a nightmare about coming home from my mission and being bad at everything I used to be good at and having no friends. Then I woke up more stressed. I was worn out. I felt like I had reached my max, and I had nothing left to give. I had put my whole heart into my mission, area, and companion, and it wasn't enough. I was logically okay, but mentally a wreck.

Then, that afternoon, I got a phone call that I would be training. I knew I wasn't staying here in Overland Park, so I am getting double transferred somewhere and training. And maybe still acting as Sister Leader. I tried, but I couldn't really be excited yet. I have given Sister Hodson all the love I have and this area my whole heart. I didn't feel like I had more to give.

So I have prayed a lot. And I was in the shower (a great place for revelation), and had a thought. In the scriptures, a lot of good people are pushed to the brink--as far as they could go. And then miracles happen. Moses was squished between the red sea and an army before he could split it. Daniel had to be thrown in with lions before he could see the miracle of taming them. Alma and Amulek were in prison before the walls could fall. Other missionaries were in a fiery furnace before they were safe. So if I am at my max and still have faith, the Lord will provide. This stressful place I am at is where miracles happen. I have poured all of my love and heart into Sister Hodson and Overland Park, and somehow the Lord will give me more love and more heart to give to my new area and new companion. He will provide. And I was comforted. (see Alma 17:1-13)

Life is good. I am happy and hopeful. I am empty, but I know I will be filled.

So don't worry about me, but this week I am getting transferred. Just send my mail to the mission office and they will forward it to wherever I am. At our meeting on Saturday, President Keyes took me aside to tell me about the unique situation of my area, so I already know what is going to happen, but I can't tell you until next week. I am glad to know so that I have time to be ready.

I hope this doesn't stress you, because I really am doing well. I am happy and healthy, and I am not that stressed anymore. I am now excited to train and for my new area, but I'm not thinking about it too much before Thursday so that I can just be here.

So there you go. I love you! I am happy! Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Atkin