Dearest Family,
I am so happy today. :)
So the reason that I am
emailing so late is because we had our first snow storm of the season
last night! It started out as rain, but when we woke up, it was a
blustery storm outside! It snowed 1-3 inches, depending on where you
are, but it basically shut down our mission. We weren't allowed to
drive. So we finally got permission to drive just to the VC to email,
and that is probably the extent of our day. We did laundry in our
complex, which was super expensive, but whatever. The snow is fun. :)
Actually, it was a big deal because today is transfer day, and they had
to delay transfers because no one can drive, including the transfer bus!
So everyone will stay where they are for at least one day. The new
missionaries get to hang out at the mission home for a day, waiting.
That sounds exciting. Poor President Keyes.
Well, I don't have too much news, but life is good around these parts.
Transfers were this week and Sister Harding and I are staying together. I
am so glad. I feel like I am not finished training her. We will use the
next 6 weeks to finish everything up. We also are staying on Thursday
P-Day, so look for my email next Thursday. Sister Hansen, my co-Sister
Trainer was transferred to the Liberty Jail (we knew it was coming) so,
the new Sister Trainer is Sister Sant. I was so nervous about who it
would be, but the Lord always comes through. I am so grateful. She is so
great! I don't have to worry about fighting her about everything! She
is humble and learns fast, so we will work well together. We already
basically finished the schedule for next transfer. yay. :)
The other news is that Sister Hodson is training! So I now have 3
daughters and 2 grand-daughters. I am just so proud I could burst. I
love Sister Hodson so much. She wrote me and is a little nervous, but
she is excited. She will do great. I am just so proud of how far she has
come from the awkward and quiet sister she was when she came out.
She'll be great. I met my grand daughter last night, and she seems
really sweet.
Last Saturday was the Ward Christmas Party, which was a hit. So many
people came! The food was great (they had ham catered, and the whole
ward signed up to bring a million different kinds of mac and cheese.
What a cool idea. And salads, rolls, and desserts. What else do you
need?) The Primary did a huge nativity with everyone involved. There
were about 15 shepherds, 20 angels, 1 Mary, 1 Joseph, 7 wise men, and 1
cow. It was awesome. There were kids who listened and did what they were
told, but there were kids who were dancing in the middle of the stage.
Best Christmas Party Ever. :)
This week the VC got three brand new 2013 Chevy Cruz's (I think that is
how you spell it. I dunno). They are awesome. I love them so much! Man,
if only I could buy this nice of a car after my mission. They drive like
a dream.
Okay, I have some bad news. On Friday last week I was flossing. I was
trying really hard to do a good job. But the floss got stuck, and I
pulled...and my bottom retainer popped right off. oops. I was upset
about it, but then looking closer, I am worried that I might have gotten
a cavity under my retainer because it has been sitting there for 7
years. So I set up a dentist appointment for next week to get it checked
out. I don't know what else to do. Our home insurance will have to pay
for it. I'm sorry. I'll see if he is willing to glue my retainer back on
(it is all in one piece and not bent and I kept it) or I might have to
go see an orthodontist here. I just hope my teeth don't move first.
Last Friday we saw Kris again and taught him the Restoration officially,
even though he already knew it. It went great. Every lesson with him is
the best lesson ever. We used a 19 year old boy in the ward as a team
up, and he was great. They hit it off right away.
But then, on Sunday, we called Josh (the team up) to double check that
he was giving Kris a ride to church. Turned out that Kris had told him
that he wasn't coming because of his work, but neither of them thought
to tell us. We were upset. It was no fun to sit alone at church. Kris
worked 15 hours at his job Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, so he was
too tired to come to church. I guess I kind of understand, but I was
really sad. Then he didn't respond to anything for 3 days, which is
eternity in missionary world. But now we have an appointment for
tomorrow like nothing happened. Man, I don't think he realizes how much
we care. We might have to move back his baptism date so that he has time
to learn everything. And I would prefer for him to come to church more
than twice. So we'll see.
On Tuesday I did an exchange with a new missionary. Going in she said,
"Maybe you can help us crack these investigators. We've been seeing them
forever, and they aren't really progressing." The first one we taught
the Law of Chastity (which he previously had a ton of questions about)
and the Plan of Salvation. It went great and he really loved it. All of
his questions were answered, and he got really excited about the
Celestial Kingdom. It was awesome.
Side note: recently I have tried a new way of teaching the Plan of
Salvation. I explain it differently and more simply and draw the diagram
--in color-- we have all seen before with a few of my own adaptations
as we teach it. Then when we leave, I leave them with my drawing as a
gift for them to study along with the pamphlet. Every time we do that,
the lesson goes great and they really understand. Everyone has been
excited to keep my drawing. We taught it to Sandy, our recent convert,
yesterday, and she loved it. She said, "I vaguely remember the elders
teaching me this, but it made no sense. This was SO much better." :)
Anyway, then we went to see their eternigator. As soon as we said the
prayer he asked, "So, who is going to baptize me?" We explained who
could, confused because baptism was a touchy subject. "I want the Bishop
to baptize me. I want to be baptized before the beginning of the year
as a new start. I am doing this for Jesus. He has done so much for me,
so I am doing this for him." He had tears in his eyes. It was a
miracle!!! We hadn't even started to teach him anything! Then he asked
what the requirements were for him to be baptized. He had forgotten
about the Word of Wisdom, but just hadn't felt like drinking coffee for
the last 5 days, so he can still be baptized on the 29th before the end
of the year even though it is less than 2 weeks away! Miracle!
Anyway, it has been a good week. I love you! Talk to you on Tuesday!
Love,
Sister Atkin
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