Dear Family,
I have had a wonderful week! Something clicked this week that I have been working so hard for, and I finally feel comfortable and confident in this area. I am very happy. :) Confidence is everything as a missionary, because if we lack it, missionary work is so hard, and we are tired all of the time. But when we have it, we are alert, happy, successful, motivated, and able. I guess it really is faith. I struggled with my faith in myself for a little while there, but it is back! I can talk to anyone!
Anyway, it has been a good week.
So last Monday night, a series of strange events happened. We were feeling a little discouraged, and it was about time to go home. But we wanted to talk to one more person, and there was a woman on the street watering her lawn. We went over and talked to her, and she was very nice. It turned out that she had a chinese Book of Mormon (she's chinese), and had been to the Visitors' Center several times. Crazy! We talked to her about the Book of Mormon, and we set up a return appointment. She said she wasn't interesting in changing religions, but she would hear more from us. New investigator! Sweet! But later in the week, she called us to cancel her appointment because she really didn't see the point (asian culture is wonderful because it requires people to cancel instead of just avoiding us). The weird thing was that her name came up when she called--she was already in the phone from past missionaries. hm. That's weird. So we looked in the area book through all of the records of former investigators and potential investigators, and we couldn't find her anywhere. strange. I said, "there is no way she would be in here..." and started to flip through the ward list. There she was! A Do Not Contact on the ward list! She was already a member! Then I said again, "I have an idea, but there is no way it would be here..." and there in the back of the area book was her teaching record and baptismal record!! Weird. She was taught and baptized five years ago and got antied. So anyway, no new investigator there. How strange. I think the Lord wants her to come back. We are erasing the Do Not Contact next to her name. :) We're sisters now, after all. :)
Then on Tuesday we got a third companion! The Liberty Stake are doing these cool things called mini-missions. I think I already told you about that. Well, Sister Riddle arrived on Tuesday morning, bright eyed and 16! I thought they would be older, but she was only 16 and going to live with the missionaries for three days! Crazy. I don't think I would have done it at her age. She did well. She was a little shy, which was expected, I guess, but she was up for anything. We walked a lot those few days because we had a no car day. She brought the wrong shoes and got blisters, but at least it was only short term. It was great because we had standing next to us all day the motivation to do everything perfectly and boldly. We wanted her to have a good experience, so we gave everything 190%. It was exhausting, but we taught so many lessons this week. My goal is to teach 20 lessons in a week someday. We taught 17. So close! We are going to get another mini-missionary this week, and we already have ideas to make it a better experience for her. We are going to give her a Book of Mormon the first day and tell her that she has three days to give it to someone. Sister Hodson has her half empty MTC planner, so we are going to give her a planner to use for the three days, and then she can tear out the pages when she leaves and put them in her journal.Then she can actually plan with us and be involved in everything we do. We're excited--the second of three.
This week we discovered a miracle--there are two tiny ghetto streets in all of Overland Park and we found them. It was awesome. I didn't realize how much I missed the ghettos until we found those two streets of duplexes. It was amazing. I was in my happy place. It was healing. That is where I regained my confidence. We taught four lessons there. We are going back. :) People smoke there, people have imperfect yards, houses, cars, they work at McDonalds, and they talk to strangers. All in all, a missionary's happy place. Sister Hodson has never seen that before, and she just laughed at how excited I was getting.
Also, we got a full time car this week! It arrived on Wednesday. It is dirty, but when we wash it and love it, it will be wonderful. The elders brought us our new car and a new phone, and it was like Christmas came early. I was so happy. :) We are combining phones so that we don't have separate phones for the two areas. I'm glad. That will be nice. And this one is a touch screen. Nice.
One sad thing that happened this week is we visited a less active old woman in the Red Bridge Ward. I love her. I love visiting her. But this time, she was discouraged. She feels like she has nothing left to look forward to, and she is a little mad at God. Everything is going down hill, and she knows it won't get better for her or her husband here-on out. I am glad she doesn't see well because I cried the whole time we were there. I have never seen such lack of hope. We talked about eternity and the Plan of Salvation. We encouraged her to pray. I was a soggy wreck when we left, but the gospel does give us hope! We know that what is now is not what forever will be! There isalways something to look forward to. This sadness is so short in comparison with the happiness that is ahead of us if we endure.
We got a phone call this morning from President Keyes. I have been called to be a Sister Trainer. All that means is that I do exchanges to train the sisters nearby. Our mission is so spread out that I just have two other sets of sisters to look out for, so I just have to do two exchanges a transfer. No big deal. But I'm excited because Sister Lewis, who I trained originally is in my area, Sister Van Camp, who I came out with, Sister Thorne who is my best mission friend, and Sister Sant, who is amazing, are all in my area. It's going to be fun to do exchanges. :) I hope I get to stay and do it for two transfers. I feel like my whole mission has been grooming me to be a Sister Trainer at one of the Visitors' Centers. We'll see.
Also, Selene, the first woman I taught isn't doing well. She's great in that she is active and has been called as the Relief Society Secaretary (which is wonderful for her), but she is going through a very very hard time. Pray for her.
Well, I better go, but I love you all. It's going to be a great week!
Love,
Sister Atkin
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Moved, but not Transferred
Dearest Family,
That's right, we moved, but we weren't transferred. I'm still in Overland Park with Sister Hodson, and I am glad. I like her a lot. I hope I get to stay here a little while longer, but we'll see. Actually, our whole district stayed the same, which was nice.
But we did move! I think I told you before that we live with members out here. It's really nice. Well, we lived with the Andersons (the stake Patriarch), but their 22 year old son is moving home this week, so out the sister missionaries go. Actually, the stake out here likes the missionaries to move every four months anyway. I think to make it less overwhelming to agree to house the missionaries, and also to spread around the blessings. So on Saturday we moved to the Gassin's. They are a cute young family. They have 3 kids ages 7, 5, and 2, and he is an anesthesiologist. They are very kind and generous, and their house is HUGE. It is very nice. We live in the basement, where we have our own room, walk in closet, bathroom, kitchenette with fridge and microwave, and a fireplace open area (it isn't furnished yet) with our folding chairs and card table in it. We feel totally spoiled. I'll send you a picture of their house. It is really nice. I haven't played on their Steinway baby grand yet, but I'm planning on it.
Sister Gassin is so nice and completely cute. The parents both look younger than they are. Their kids are fun and well behaved (well, Jake is a two year old. So still a little crazy, but cute.) I can't even count how many times they have urged us to ask for anything we need. She's willing to do our laundry (I think we will still do our own) and feed us whenever. She's a stay at home mom. I really do like them. They are such kind, fun, people, and she is crafty and cute (and can afford it. :) ).
Last week was a good one. We really have hit it off with a less active couple, especially the wife (I think I told you that last week), and we saw her a lot this week while she was on "vacation". She fed us dinner and gave us banana bread and gave us rides. It was wonderful. I think I will write her. I really do like her. She and her husband were sweethearts in high school, but the school was so big (1000 people in her class!) that they went separate ways and got married and had lives and things. He joined the church. Then they met up again in their fifties, both divorced, and got back together. Then she joined the church. They are married and they are so cute. She showed us her yearbook. I think it is adorable.
The Fourth of July was actually a pretty rough day. Well, it was a roller coaster, really. We found out Tuesday night that I was staying in the area (yay! I like Sister Hodson, and I don't feel done here! We texted Megan, our investigator, right away, and she was super excited, too). Then Wednesday morning we got the car back, which was a relief. We could drive! We then got a phone call from the Zone Leaders (we have a strange friendship with them. I don't know if they think I'm annoying or really like us. But whatever) saying that we are going to get a full time car. They are the types to pull jokes on us, so he had to tell me five times before I actually believed them. Yay! We are going to have a car!!! I was so glad. We're still waiting for it to arrive from Independence, but it is coming. We will have to be careful because we have a small miles allotment, but it will be great.
Then we had a ward breakfast, which was good, and then a ward lunch, which was also good (two wards=two meals). None of the people we invited came. :( And I thought we were going to get pulled over, which would mean that we would have no car for a month, which sent me into a state of high stress. but we didn't, and I slowly recovered.
We tried to talk to people that day, but I wasn't feeling well, it was over a hundred degrees, and no one was home or wanting anyone to knock on their door. It was a rough day. We didn't get permission to go to fireworks to meet Megan's mom, and I was glad. I was pretty worn out. Dinner was BBQ at a member's home, but some of the people there were comparing home locations and prices as compared to social status, which is lame. Most people aren't like that out here.
Anyway, the rest of the week was pretty good. It was really slow as far as lessons and new investigators go. We worked hard, but life happened.
Saturday we moved. Man, it wore us out. It was hot.
On Sunday I gave a youth talk in church. I was proud of the fact that I stayed within my 5-7 minute time limit. It was on 'the Essential Role of Member Missionary Work' by M. Russell Ballard. I feel like it went well. I used Alma 20 and about how people have to meet the church in the right way and right time in order for conversion to happen, so we have to pray and rely on the spirit, and God will help us. I think it went well.
We had dinner with a family that adopted 3 kids from Russia (well, Kazakhstan). They have 6 kids now, ages 12 to 6. Crazy. So much fun, though. :)
Then last night we taught Megan again. We keep feeling that there is something missing for her. She is so really to go that nothing has been difficult for her. And usually conversion comes when we have to exercise our faith. Well, we talked about faith last night. She told us that she prayed about it and picked July 28th as her baptismal date. We were so glad because that was the day we picked, too! We all felt really good about it. She just had to run it past her less active mom. Well, she did. And her mom said yes to baptism, and no to the day. Megan was crushed. This is probably the trial of her faith. Please pray that her mom's heart will be softened! Megan is ready!
So that was my week. Nothing too exciting. Sister Hodson and I are working together better and better. We still run into dead ends sometimes, but we work through it, and no disagreement or hard feelings last more than a few minutes. I can honestly say we haven't gone to bed with hard feelings. She forgives me so easily, because I really think that it's usually my fault for pushing her too hard. I really like her. We are getting along well, and I feel like I'm learning so much from her. I just hope she learns things from me!
Yesterday there was finally a break in the weather. It is a little nicer today (probably only in the 90s! It was over 100 all last week!). So life is good.
Oh, one other story. We got pulled over. We were driving and I was going the speed limit and everything. I saw a cop on a side road, and I smiled because I knew I was doing everything right. But I still got the distinct impression to be very careful and exact in my driving. A few turns later I looked in my rear view and there was the cop. She turned on her lights and pulled me over. She came and asked for my license and registration and all of that. She told us that the reason we were pulled over was because the tags on the car were expired. Our Zone Leaders keep forgetting to give the stickers to us, but it is up to date online, so she was able to look it up and see that we were legal. Anyway, so we were good to go. I just know that if I hadn't been careful, she would have found something to give me a ticket for anyway. But I was exactly obedient, and we were okay. And we get to keep our car. She heard we were missionaries and started asking a lot of questions about what we were doing and where we were going, and then informed us that soliciting is illegal in Leawood (one of our little cities), and unless we wanted the cops called on us, we couldn't go door to door. We were headed to an appointment, so it was all good. She was nice, but I know she wasn't super happy about us being missionaries, and if we hadn't been kind and good, she would have found something to give us a ticket for. The cops in this area get bored sometimes. Can you find out for me if we are technically soliciting? I don't think we are, but you should find out for me. I don't want the cops called on us, but we probably will have to knock a couple of doors there at some point...
Anyway, answers: I'm happy, staying cool, we don't have problems with dogs (everyone has them, but they are usually well trained), we do go right up and knock on doors, and our wards are nice and helpful, but need some missionary nudging.
I love all of you. :) Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Sister April Atkin
That's right, we moved, but we weren't transferred. I'm still in Overland Park with Sister Hodson, and I am glad. I like her a lot. I hope I get to stay here a little while longer, but we'll see. Actually, our whole district stayed the same, which was nice.
But we did move! I think I told you before that we live with members out here. It's really nice. Well, we lived with the Andersons (the stake Patriarch), but their 22 year old son is moving home this week, so out the sister missionaries go. Actually, the stake out here likes the missionaries to move every four months anyway. I think to make it less overwhelming to agree to house the missionaries, and also to spread around the blessings. So on Saturday we moved to the Gassin's. They are a cute young family. They have 3 kids ages 7, 5, and 2, and he is an anesthesiologist. They are very kind and generous, and their house is HUGE. It is very nice. We live in the basement, where we have our own room, walk in closet, bathroom, kitchenette with fridge and microwave, and a fireplace open area (it isn't furnished yet) with our folding chairs and card table in it. We feel totally spoiled. I'll send you a picture of their house. It is really nice. I haven't played on their Steinway baby grand yet, but I'm planning on it.
Sister Gassin is so nice and completely cute. The parents both look younger than they are. Their kids are fun and well behaved (well, Jake is a two year old. So still a little crazy, but cute.) I can't even count how many times they have urged us to ask for anything we need. She's willing to do our laundry (I think we will still do our own) and feed us whenever. She's a stay at home mom. I really do like them. They are such kind, fun, people, and she is crafty and cute (and can afford it. :) ).
Last week was a good one. We really have hit it off with a less active couple, especially the wife (I think I told you that last week), and we saw her a lot this week while she was on "vacation". She fed us dinner and gave us banana bread and gave us rides. It was wonderful. I think I will write her. I really do like her. She and her husband were sweethearts in high school, but the school was so big (1000 people in her class!) that they went separate ways and got married and had lives and things. He joined the church. Then they met up again in their fifties, both divorced, and got back together. Then she joined the church. They are married and they are so cute. She showed us her yearbook. I think it is adorable.
The Fourth of July was actually a pretty rough day. Well, it was a roller coaster, really. We found out Tuesday night that I was staying in the area (yay! I like Sister Hodson, and I don't feel done here! We texted Megan, our investigator, right away, and she was super excited, too). Then Wednesday morning we got the car back, which was a relief. We could drive! We then got a phone call from the Zone Leaders (we have a strange friendship with them. I don't know if they think I'm annoying or really like us. But whatever) saying that we are going to get a full time car. They are the types to pull jokes on us, so he had to tell me five times before I actually believed them. Yay! We are going to have a car!!! I was so glad. We're still waiting for it to arrive from Independence, but it is coming. We will have to be careful because we have a small miles allotment, but it will be great.
Then we had a ward breakfast, which was good, and then a ward lunch, which was also good (two wards=two meals). None of the people we invited came. :( And I thought we were going to get pulled over, which would mean that we would have no car for a month, which sent me into a state of high stress. but we didn't, and I slowly recovered.
We tried to talk to people that day, but I wasn't feeling well, it was over a hundred degrees, and no one was home or wanting anyone to knock on their door. It was a rough day. We didn't get permission to go to fireworks to meet Megan's mom, and I was glad. I was pretty worn out. Dinner was BBQ at a member's home, but some of the people there were comparing home locations and prices as compared to social status, which is lame. Most people aren't like that out here.
Anyway, the rest of the week was pretty good. It was really slow as far as lessons and new investigators go. We worked hard, but life happened.
Saturday we moved. Man, it wore us out. It was hot.
On Sunday I gave a youth talk in church. I was proud of the fact that I stayed within my 5-7 minute time limit. It was on 'the Essential Role of Member Missionary Work' by M. Russell Ballard. I feel like it went well. I used Alma 20 and about how people have to meet the church in the right way and right time in order for conversion to happen, so we have to pray and rely on the spirit, and God will help us. I think it went well.
We had dinner with a family that adopted 3 kids from Russia (well, Kazakhstan). They have 6 kids now, ages 12 to 6. Crazy. So much fun, though. :)
Then last night we taught Megan again. We keep feeling that there is something missing for her. She is so really to go that nothing has been difficult for her. And usually conversion comes when we have to exercise our faith. Well, we talked about faith last night. She told us that she prayed about it and picked July 28th as her baptismal date. We were so glad because that was the day we picked, too! We all felt really good about it. She just had to run it past her less active mom. Well, she did. And her mom said yes to baptism, and no to the day. Megan was crushed. This is probably the trial of her faith. Please pray that her mom's heart will be softened! Megan is ready!
So that was my week. Nothing too exciting. Sister Hodson and I are working together better and better. We still run into dead ends sometimes, but we work through it, and no disagreement or hard feelings last more than a few minutes. I can honestly say we haven't gone to bed with hard feelings. She forgives me so easily, because I really think that it's usually my fault for pushing her too hard. I really like her. We are getting along well, and I feel like I'm learning so much from her. I just hope she learns things from me!
Yesterday there was finally a break in the weather. It is a little nicer today (probably only in the 90s! It was over 100 all last week!). So life is good.
Oh, one other story. We got pulled over. We were driving and I was going the speed limit and everything. I saw a cop on a side road, and I smiled because I knew I was doing everything right. But I still got the distinct impression to be very careful and exact in my driving. A few turns later I looked in my rear view and there was the cop. She turned on her lights and pulled me over. She came and asked for my license and registration and all of that. She told us that the reason we were pulled over was because the tags on the car were expired. Our Zone Leaders keep forgetting to give the stickers to us, but it is up to date online, so she was able to look it up and see that we were legal. Anyway, so we were good to go. I just know that if I hadn't been careful, she would have found something to give me a ticket for anyway. But I was exactly obedient, and we were okay. And we get to keep our car. She heard we were missionaries and started asking a lot of questions about what we were doing and where we were going, and then informed us that soliciting is illegal in Leawood (one of our little cities), and unless we wanted the cops called on us, we couldn't go door to door. We were headed to an appointment, so it was all good. She was nice, but I know she wasn't super happy about us being missionaries, and if we hadn't been kind and good, she would have found something to give us a ticket for. The cops in this area get bored sometimes. Can you find out for me if we are technically soliciting? I don't think we are, but you should find out for me. I don't want the cops called on us, but we probably will have to knock a couple of doors there at some point...
Anyway, answers: I'm happy, staying cool, we don't have problems with dogs (everyone has them, but they are usually well trained), we do go right up and knock on doors, and our wards are nice and helpful, but need some missionary nudging.
I love all of you. :) Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Sister April Atkin
Monday, July 2, 2012
HOT
Dearest Family,
I love all of you sooo much. I just have to thank you for how supportive you are of me. I just feel so blessed today.
It's been a good week! We were on bikes, and it was over 100 for most of the week, but it was actually an amazing week. I've been pretty discouraged about the bikes recently, but God just showed me this week that I don't have to be. :)
First of all, last monday we started teaching another teenager. He's a foster son of a family in one of the wards (actually, his foster brother was my Zone Leader in the MTC. Small world). For having been in foster care basically his whole life, he is an optimistic, happy kid. I really do think he will choose to be baptized. So now our two most solid investigators are teenagers. :)
Then on Tuesday were exchanges. For sisters, exchanges are a much bigger deal because we are so spread out. We do exchanges with the sisters in Lawrence, Kansas (where KU is), which is about an hour away. I went up to Lawrence for the day, and Sister Hodson got to take over the area. It was a day of miracles. It was fun to see the progress of someone else's investigators and celebrate with them. I was with Sister Van Camp, who was the only other sister to come out with me. She is a full pros sister (not VC--it's in our calls, so our missions are different), so I didn't know her well in the MTC, but she is very nice. We were both a little nervous that we hadn't learned as much as the other sister, but it was fun to see her again and see how much we have grown in the last nine months. I've been out nine months! Aaaahhh!
Then on Wednesday was District Meeting, which was fine, except that it means that we give up the car. I was feeling pretty discouraged about it. I wasn't feeling super great in the first place, and then it was 105 on the heat index. HOT. Honestly, I wasn't in the best mood about it. We had no appointments until late in the evening, and no dinner appointment. It was a day of what looked like really horribly miserable tracting. But then we just went off of faith, and headed out into the heat anyway.
We decided it would be unhealthy and unsafe to bike in the heat, so we started walking. We got maybe a half a mile away when a van honked at us, and then slowed to a stop. It was a member. She was driving her son to the orthodontist basically in the same direction as the place we were walking to (2 miles away). So she gave us a ride. Then, when she dropped us off we stood on the corner for a second while Sister Hodson was on the phone, and a member walked out of one of the houses--I had no idea she lived there. She told us that when we were done in the neighborhood, she could give us a ride home and to just knock on her door. Sweet! Our day looked suddenly very much brighter.
We ended up walking around and tracting for an hour, which was long enough to make me more sweaty than I have ever been in my life, but we had water, and we were in good moods. I think people felt bad for us, so they weren't as mean. Then we were able to see an investigator that we hadn't seen for a long time and teach her! She let us in her air conditioned home and gave us ice water. It was a total miracle. We felt so blessed!! So it ended up being the highlight of our week. We know God is aware of us, and even cares about us getting discouraged in the heat. What a wonderful day. :)
On Thursday, a member and her nonmember boyfriend drove us around all day. He was visiting from Alabama, and she didn't have any exciting plans for him, so they drove around the missionaries. It was an interesting day. I hope we gave him a good impression. Her parents were really excited about it. He's a hard core Episcopalian, so he probably won't join, but he's reading the Book of Mormon for her, and it was an interesting day for everyone involved. We taught him the full plan of salvation in the car.
Friday we also got rides. There is sister that just moved in the ward that is 7 months pregnant and bored, so she volunteered to drive us all day. We had another good day. We actually were in a car or in an appointment all day. It was awesome. It was a little weird because the sister that drove us around is actually younger than me (old maid alert!) and is pregnant, but no big deal. I'm glad to be here.
There is a less active in the ward that Sister Hodson and I have hit it off with recently. Her husband has health problems, so it is hard for her to get him up to go to church, so she hasn't gone for a while. But since we started dropping in on her, she's started showing up to church. Every week. We didn't even say anything about church because it didn't feel right. She LOVES us. Actually, I really love her, too. I feel like I'm cheating whenever I visit her because we all love it so much, but there is a definite correlation between our visits and her attending church. I think we are her favorites. :) She's having us over for dinner tonight. She's taken some vacation time this week and she has said several times, "If you need a ride or anything, Call me. I'm on vacation." Most people don't have that feeling about the missionaries talking to them while they are on vacation, but I think we are the highlight of her vacation. :)
We also really really love the Christenson family. I know I've told you about them before, but they had us over for Sunday dinner and to teach Megan. Again, I feel like I'm cheating to have so much fun on my mission sometimes, but it is good to be happy. They are bugging us to try to get special permission to stay out late and watch fireworks with them on Wednesday. I think we really will, but not because we want to stay out late (=tired), but because Megan's mom and two nonmembers they want us to meet will be there. It will be a great finding opportunity, and Megan's mom really is the only missing piece to get her all ready for baptism. Megan really wants it and her mom will let her, but her mom isn't really supportive, and Megan is hanging back until her mom softens. We hope this could be a chance to soften her mother's heart towards us and the church.
Today we have rides again, so we didn't have to bike to the library, which is a huge blessing. I just feel so blessed!!
Transfers are this thursday, but I really don't think I will be moved. We'll find out tomorrow. Sister Hodson is in training, so I think I will stay. I haven't been here very long either. Either way, we are moving on Saturday to a young family's home in the Stanley ward (we live in the Red Bridge Ward currently). We're excited. They are a wonderful family. They also live in a very very wealthy neighborhood, which will be interesting. Nice in that we will get the basement of their house with its kitchenette to ourselves. They have kids ages 6, 4, and 2, so that will be fun.
Also coming up this month is that we are getting some sisters on mini-missions! Nineteen year old girls from nearby get to come stay with us and be missionaries for 3 days. I'm so excited. It will be a lot of fun. They sleep in our room and everything. We are getting three of these girls in July.
I really do feel like I belong here, now. After all I heard before I got here about how this is a "hard" area, it isn't true, and I'm learning to really love it. We taught 15 lessons this week which is a new record for me! Next up, we are going to teach 20 lessons a week! Yes! (that includes lessons to investigators with and without members there, and also lessons to less actives, but that's it).
Anyway, I love you all! Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Sister April Atkin
P.S. I guess the funny story of the week is that girl that we are teaching that was raised by lesbians. We taught her repentance and basically laid it all out on the line for her. I was pretty bold, but I felt strongly about it. We felt like we should drop her, probably, but we couldn't figure out how. Then she texted us that night and dropped us saying that she didn't want to meet with us anymore. It was late, so we laughed and went to bed without responding. In the morning, she called us. She does a lot of things for attention, so I think our lack of response to her dramatic dropping us killed her. So she called us and didn't let us drop her. Now she wants to get her Young Women's medallion. Go figure. Anyway, now we will help her get that. Just a funny turn of events.
I love all of you sooo much. I just have to thank you for how supportive you are of me. I just feel so blessed today.
It's been a good week! We were on bikes, and it was over 100 for most of the week, but it was actually an amazing week. I've been pretty discouraged about the bikes recently, but God just showed me this week that I don't have to be. :)
First of all, last monday we started teaching another teenager. He's a foster son of a family in one of the wards (actually, his foster brother was my Zone Leader in the MTC. Small world). For having been in foster care basically his whole life, he is an optimistic, happy kid. I really do think he will choose to be baptized. So now our two most solid investigators are teenagers. :)
Then on Tuesday were exchanges. For sisters, exchanges are a much bigger deal because we are so spread out. We do exchanges with the sisters in Lawrence, Kansas (where KU is), which is about an hour away. I went up to Lawrence for the day, and Sister Hodson got to take over the area. It was a day of miracles. It was fun to see the progress of someone else's investigators and celebrate with them. I was with Sister Van Camp, who was the only other sister to come out with me. She is a full pros sister (not VC--it's in our calls, so our missions are different), so I didn't know her well in the MTC, but she is very nice. We were both a little nervous that we hadn't learned as much as the other sister, but it was fun to see her again and see how much we have grown in the last nine months. I've been out nine months! Aaaahhh!
Then on Wednesday was District Meeting, which was fine, except that it means that we give up the car. I was feeling pretty discouraged about it. I wasn't feeling super great in the first place, and then it was 105 on the heat index. HOT. Honestly, I wasn't in the best mood about it. We had no appointments until late in the evening, and no dinner appointment. It was a day of what looked like really horribly miserable tracting. But then we just went off of faith, and headed out into the heat anyway.
We decided it would be unhealthy and unsafe to bike in the heat, so we started walking. We got maybe a half a mile away when a van honked at us, and then slowed to a stop. It was a member. She was driving her son to the orthodontist basically in the same direction as the place we were walking to (2 miles away). So she gave us a ride. Then, when she dropped us off we stood on the corner for a second while Sister Hodson was on the phone, and a member walked out of one of the houses--I had no idea she lived there. She told us that when we were done in the neighborhood, she could give us a ride home and to just knock on her door. Sweet! Our day looked suddenly very much brighter.
We ended up walking around and tracting for an hour, which was long enough to make me more sweaty than I have ever been in my life, but we had water, and we were in good moods. I think people felt bad for us, so they weren't as mean. Then we were able to see an investigator that we hadn't seen for a long time and teach her! She let us in her air conditioned home and gave us ice water. It was a total miracle. We felt so blessed!! So it ended up being the highlight of our week. We know God is aware of us, and even cares about us getting discouraged in the heat. What a wonderful day. :)
On Thursday, a member and her nonmember boyfriend drove us around all day. He was visiting from Alabama, and she didn't have any exciting plans for him, so they drove around the missionaries. It was an interesting day. I hope we gave him a good impression. Her parents were really excited about it. He's a hard core Episcopalian, so he probably won't join, but he's reading the Book of Mormon for her, and it was an interesting day for everyone involved. We taught him the full plan of salvation in the car.
Friday we also got rides. There is sister that just moved in the ward that is 7 months pregnant and bored, so she volunteered to drive us all day. We had another good day. We actually were in a car or in an appointment all day. It was awesome. It was a little weird because the sister that drove us around is actually younger than me (old maid alert!) and is pregnant, but no big deal. I'm glad to be here.
There is a less active in the ward that Sister Hodson and I have hit it off with recently. Her husband has health problems, so it is hard for her to get him up to go to church, so she hasn't gone for a while. But since we started dropping in on her, she's started showing up to church. Every week. We didn't even say anything about church because it didn't feel right. She LOVES us. Actually, I really love her, too. I feel like I'm cheating whenever I visit her because we all love it so much, but there is a definite correlation between our visits and her attending church. I think we are her favorites. :) She's having us over for dinner tonight. She's taken some vacation time this week and she has said several times, "If you need a ride or anything, Call me. I'm on vacation." Most people don't have that feeling about the missionaries talking to them while they are on vacation, but I think we are the highlight of her vacation. :)
We also really really love the Christenson family. I know I've told you about them before, but they had us over for Sunday dinner and to teach Megan. Again, I feel like I'm cheating to have so much fun on my mission sometimes, but it is good to be happy. They are bugging us to try to get special permission to stay out late and watch fireworks with them on Wednesday. I think we really will, but not because we want to stay out late (=tired), but because Megan's mom and two nonmembers they want us to meet will be there. It will be a great finding opportunity, and Megan's mom really is the only missing piece to get her all ready for baptism. Megan really wants it and her mom will let her, but her mom isn't really supportive, and Megan is hanging back until her mom softens. We hope this could be a chance to soften her mother's heart towards us and the church.
Today we have rides again, so we didn't have to bike to the library, which is a huge blessing. I just feel so blessed!!
Transfers are this thursday, but I really don't think I will be moved. We'll find out tomorrow. Sister Hodson is in training, so I think I will stay. I haven't been here very long either. Either way, we are moving on Saturday to a young family's home in the Stanley ward (we live in the Red Bridge Ward currently). We're excited. They are a wonderful family. They also live in a very very wealthy neighborhood, which will be interesting. Nice in that we will get the basement of their house with its kitchenette to ourselves. They have kids ages 6, 4, and 2, so that will be fun.
Also coming up this month is that we are getting some sisters on mini-missions! Nineteen year old girls from nearby get to come stay with us and be missionaries for 3 days. I'm so excited. It will be a lot of fun. They sleep in our room and everything. We are getting three of these girls in July.
I really do feel like I belong here, now. After all I heard before I got here about how this is a "hard" area, it isn't true, and I'm learning to really love it. We taught 15 lessons this week which is a new record for me! Next up, we are going to teach 20 lessons a week! Yes! (that includes lessons to investigators with and without members there, and also lessons to less actives, but that's it).
Anyway, I love you all! Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Sister April Atkin
P.S. I guess the funny story of the week is that girl that we are teaching that was raised by lesbians. We taught her repentance and basically laid it all out on the line for her. I was pretty bold, but I felt strongly about it. We felt like we should drop her, probably, but we couldn't figure out how. Then she texted us that night and dropped us saying that she didn't want to meet with us anymore. It was late, so we laughed and went to bed without responding. In the morning, she called us. She does a lot of things for attention, so I think our lack of response to her dramatic dropping us killed her. So she called us and didn't let us drop her. Now she wants to get her Young Women's medallion. Go figure. Anyway, now we will help her get that. Just a funny turn of events.
Humidity
Dearest Family,
It has been a great week. :)
First, to respond to your emails. That is exciting about the Napolis! I am so excited for them. They really have been prepared for the gospel, in my opinion. You are being wonderful member missionaries. I am so proud of you! Now you understand the stresses of a missionary when the members at church don't pay careful attention to what they say over the pulpit or what they teach in classes or even what songs they sing! They don't even think about there being people in the room that haven't been through the temple, let alone that aren't members! We are lucky enough to have a Gospel Principles class so that we can control what sunday school experience they have. I bet if you talked to the bishop about starting a class, he would be up for it. Having a Gospel Principles class is really good for nonmembers, new members, less actives, or those who are struggling with their testimonies. It is a good resource for any ward to be able to strengthen the people who come at their level. Just a thought.
Thank you so much for telling me that Grandma and Grandpa are helping pay for my mission! I will write them another letter. I enjoy writing them. :)
Well, the week started off a little rough. You know that I am really struggling with being on bikes. It kills me, kind of. I get discouraged because we can't go where I think we need to go, and we are stuck talking to people that aren't the people I think we need to see. But the Lord knows. That's what I have to remind myself. The Lord knows! He knows that not having a car is hard! He knows I am trying my best!
The reason I started that way is that the elders asked for an extra car day this week. More like they assumed they would have it an extra day, then asked permission last minute. I thought about it, and I couldn't tell them no. I could think of all of the things I could say to make them feel guilty or all of the logical reasons that it was rude of them to expect to have the car an extra day, but I couldn't say those things to them, and I knew that I needed to let them have the car. So we did. And I cried. We actually had a pretty rough day on foot. Oh, well. Life moves forward.
Then we got the car, and things started happening. We went to very few houses where someone wasn't home or wasn't interested. It was a great week! The best part was that we found new investigators! I think I told you this, but last weekend we had a mission wide fast to find investigators every week this summer. And it has already started. :)
The best one was that we showed up to a potential's house, and she was in the open garage. At first when she saw us, it was clear she was having a bad day, and she did NOT want us to add to her bad day. But we talked and we listened and were loving and friendly. She told us about her bad day. Then she opened up more and more and told us her life's story. She is Mong and from Loas. She lived through the Vietnam war as a kid. We heard about her arranged marriage at 13, and about her now very blessed life. She have PTSD (surprise), but she is now happily married (her second marriage) with three beautiful, happy kids. Her husband makes a living from a hot dog stand, but it is heaven to her. Living in America and having a happy family means that all of her dreams have come true.
She wants to start taking her kids to church. Her husband was raised Baptist, but he stopped going when his mom moved out of town. His mom wants them to just go toany church. They are looking for a church. She has know members since she was a kid, and loves the church. She's all on board for joining, but says we need to convince her husband, because she follows his lead.So we may have found a whole family! A missionary's dream! And I love her so much already. We laughed and cried together, and she hugged us before we left. She seemed excited for us to come back and talk to her husband.
Another cool thing that happened this week was that Megan, our 17 year old investigator, went to girl's camp. She missed the first half, but she loved it. Out here, they have stake camp every year because some wards aren't strong enough to do it on their own. Also, camping is a completely different experience in the midwest. Now I understand the connection between drunk hicks and camping, because no one else out here in their right mind would really want to do it. Ticks (hundreds of them), fleas, and chiggers are normal and a natural part of camping. It is hot and humid and doesn't cool down at night. Things mold. There are a ton of little critters everywhere all of the time -- mice. It is unsanitary to the extreme, and in general a bad experience.
Anyway, they still have girls' camp. And Megan still loved it. You know how they have the parents write their kids letters to get at camp? Well, Megan's mom, of course, didn't write a letter. Instead, she got a letter from her aunt, uncle, and cousins, and then was the only girl in the camp to get two letters because she got one from the sister missionaries, too. :) She's amazing.
I've told you this before, but her aunt and uncle's family have kind of adopted us. He's a top notch attorney, and she's a real estate agent (a good one). Anyway, but the dad thinks a lot like I do. He's very clever, and very funny. I may have told you this before, but they have a 19 year old daughter that in some ways is a lot like me. She is very logical and very intelligent. Probably too much for her own good. Her parents are starting to really worry about her because she is so logical that her testimony is getting a little shaken. They don't know how to reach her.
But the minute I met her, we connected. I get her. Our brains work the same way (well, except that she is probably smarter than me, and I have a bit more of the emotional/creative side). And I know that the spirit has spoken through me to her already. She loves coming out with us, and she loves talking to me. I part way think I was sent out here for her, even though she is an active member. Her parents are super excited that we get along and really really want her to continue to connect with me. Her boyfriend is coming to town from Arkansas this week, and her dad could barely contain his excitement of having the boyfriend meet me this week. He wants them both to come to appointments with us sometime this week, and the daughter seems okay with it. So we'll see how that goes...
This week I have been mostly studying Moroni 7. I read it over and over because I keep feeling drawn to it. I think there is something I am supposed to learn in that chapter. It has so many good ideas in it, and I think I just need to completely understand the connecting factor. I'll let you know how that goes, too.
Well, I'm out of time, but I love you loads. This week, I just ask for your prayers as we go on bikes in 100 degree weather. Pray for me to have a good attitude. Also, Sister Hodson's grandmother passed away last week, so pray for her, too. She is doing really well, but I still worry.
I love you!
Love,
Sister April Atkin
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Happy Father's Day!
Hello Family,
whew. this week. where to start.
Well, first of all, Dad, I hope you had a great Father's Day! I thought of you! Several people asked if we got to call you, too, but we don't. I'm sorry it's not very fair. I do love you, though, and I hope that you got my card and letter. You are the best. I hope you enjoyed your strawberry pie. I actually had some lemon meringue pie last night, which I don't like nearly as much, but it was still pie so I thought of you.
Well, family, I hate to disappoint, but I don't really have much to talk about this week. It was kind of a rough week. I am feeling pretty upbeat, so don't worry about me. It just was a rough week. We were on bikes for most of it, and most of our investigators don't want to see us very often, forgot, or are out of town or something. We also had a member ride forget us, leaving us sitting at the stake center for an hour, missing an appointment. *shrug* life happens. Wednesday I was feeling pretty stressed, but we pray and we move forward. Most of the stress came from worrying about other people, really. An elder from my MTC district wrote me, and it sounds like he might go home. He's discouraged and disobedient (they usually go together). So I was worrying about him. Then another elder in our zone talked to Sister Hodson and I about his personal struggles (similar, but less extreme situation), and then I'm a trainer so I was worrying about Sister Hodson having the experience she needs to be the kind of missionary she can be. So, yeah. I guess I'm related to you, mom, after all. :)
So to be honest, we spent most of the last week riding our bikes around, getting really sweaty and not accomplishing very much. We did have a few small miracles. One day all of our lessons fell through, but somehow my stubborn fire came out, and we taught 3 member present lessons anyway. That was a good day.
One of our investigators won't set appointments, but is always happy when we drop by. The hard thing is bringing in the gospel to his scattered conversation as he paces and tinkers with stuff in his garage. Sister Hodson surprised me by, with no introduction, jumping in and teaching him the plan of salvation because she wanted to. I was super impressed. :) He was, too. His favorite part was the spirit world. It made sense to him. So we're making slow progress. Maybe someday we'll pin down this self employed man for an appointment. We have what he needs!
Flower did come to church, which was great. One of the speakers was weird, but she didn't seem bothered by it. Or by the fact that we sang about heavenly mother in the song "O My Father". I'm grateful that the Lord is in control of this work, because there are some things that are definitely out of our control. haha. :) She asks great questions like, "So why do we have to eat Christ's body and drink His blood? I get that it is just symbolic, but isn't that a little morbid?" So I answer her questions the best I can. How would you answer that? I turned to what I learned in Jesus the Christ and said that I always think about how when you eat something, it becomes a part of you. I want Christ to be a part of who I am. I'm taking His name upon me, right?
We also spent some time calling a ton of numbers in the Area Book one of the bike days. It actually was a really good thing. One of them came to church and is excited to meet with us again. She's a former investigator. She knows a family in the ward very well, so they will help us. We hope that goes somewhere. She was adopted from Korea by a lesbian couple, which is interesting, but she really loves this somewhat perfect family in our ward.
In answer to your question mom, we haven't talked to that mean guy. We won't. In my weekly letter to the mission president I told him about it, and he wrote me back to say that this man was not ready for the gospel, and to not try to see him again. He pointed me to a verse in Alma about softening our hearts and how the hard hearted can't learn. I'm so glad that we didn't go see him, either.
Good luck with the Napolis! I'm so excited to hear how that goes. They are really the perfect kind of investigator. As a missionary, I would dream of teaching them, especially with the wonderful neighbors who befriended them in on the lesson. You should read the lessons in Preach My Gospel to help you prepare for the right moment to share the gospel with them.
Actually, I'm sure you already know this story, but one of the Book of Mormon stories that Sister Hodson and I looked at this week is the one of Ammon and the father of King Lamoni. It applies to this situation. Let's start where Lamoni invites Ammon to go with him to meet his father. Then the Lord tells Ammon to not go, because the father of King Lamoni would kill Ammon, and besides, his brethren were in prison and needed Ammon's help to get out. King Lamoni is like, "great! I'll come along. I know you got this, because with the Lord's help you can do anything, but I can help and make it easier because I know that king." So they start traveling to go get his brethren out of prison. And guess who they run into. King Lamoni's father. The one who was going to kill Ammon.
So they start talking, and king Lamoni's father is mad at Lamoni for not coming to his feast, so he goes to kill him. Ammon stops him, so the father says, "that's right! You are the real problem! You prevented him from coming! I will kill you instead!" So they have a little fight, and Ammon wins. All Ammon demands in exchange for the king's life is that his brethren will be set free, and that he will not be mad at Lamoni and will give Lamoni the right to rule his kingdom on his own. King Lamoni's father is so impressed that he gives the demands, and also wants to meet with missionaries.
So the thing about this story is that it was in the Lord's will all along that King Lamoni's father run into Ammon and hear about the gospel. It just had to happen in the right way or it would be a bad experience for everyone. So Ammon listened to the spirit, and the missionary moment came in the right way (even if that was a little scary at first with the swords and stuff, it was the right way).
So what I am saying is that you should just pray for the spirit to guide you to know the right opportunity to introduce the Napolis to the gospel, and how you can help them have all of the many blessings you have. Sorry that was a long story.
Anyway, I love you all! Have an amazing week! I will, too, so my email will be more exciting next week. :)
Love,
Sister April Atkin
whew. this week. where to start.
Well, first of all, Dad, I hope you had a great Father's Day! I thought of you! Several people asked if we got to call you, too, but we don't. I'm sorry it's not very fair. I do love you, though, and I hope that you got my card and letter. You are the best. I hope you enjoyed your strawberry pie. I actually had some lemon meringue pie last night, which I don't like nearly as much, but it was still pie so I thought of you.
Well, family, I hate to disappoint, but I don't really have much to talk about this week. It was kind of a rough week. I am feeling pretty upbeat, so don't worry about me. It just was a rough week. We were on bikes for most of it, and most of our investigators don't want to see us very often, forgot, or are out of town or something. We also had a member ride forget us, leaving us sitting at the stake center for an hour, missing an appointment. *shrug* life happens. Wednesday I was feeling pretty stressed, but we pray and we move forward. Most of the stress came from worrying about other people, really. An elder from my MTC district wrote me, and it sounds like he might go home. He's discouraged and disobedient (they usually go together). So I was worrying about him. Then another elder in our zone talked to Sister Hodson and I about his personal struggles (similar, but less extreme situation), and then I'm a trainer so I was worrying about Sister Hodson having the experience she needs to be the kind of missionary she can be. So, yeah. I guess I'm related to you, mom, after all. :)
So to be honest, we spent most of the last week riding our bikes around, getting really sweaty and not accomplishing very much. We did have a few small miracles. One day all of our lessons fell through, but somehow my stubborn fire came out, and we taught 3 member present lessons anyway. That was a good day.
One of our investigators won't set appointments, but is always happy when we drop by. The hard thing is bringing in the gospel to his scattered conversation as he paces and tinkers with stuff in his garage. Sister Hodson surprised me by, with no introduction, jumping in and teaching him the plan of salvation because she wanted to. I was super impressed. :) He was, too. His favorite part was the spirit world. It made sense to him. So we're making slow progress. Maybe someday we'll pin down this self employed man for an appointment. We have what he needs!
Flower did come to church, which was great. One of the speakers was weird, but she didn't seem bothered by it. Or by the fact that we sang about heavenly mother in the song "O My Father". I'm grateful that the Lord is in control of this work, because there are some things that are definitely out of our control. haha. :) She asks great questions like, "So why do we have to eat Christ's body and drink His blood? I get that it is just symbolic, but isn't that a little morbid?" So I answer her questions the best I can. How would you answer that? I turned to what I learned in Jesus the Christ and said that I always think about how when you eat something, it becomes a part of you. I want Christ to be a part of who I am. I'm taking His name upon me, right?
We also spent some time calling a ton of numbers in the Area Book one of the bike days. It actually was a really good thing. One of them came to church and is excited to meet with us again. She's a former investigator. She knows a family in the ward very well, so they will help us. We hope that goes somewhere. She was adopted from Korea by a lesbian couple, which is interesting, but she really loves this somewhat perfect family in our ward.
In answer to your question mom, we haven't talked to that mean guy. We won't. In my weekly letter to the mission president I told him about it, and he wrote me back to say that this man was not ready for the gospel, and to not try to see him again. He pointed me to a verse in Alma about softening our hearts and how the hard hearted can't learn. I'm so glad that we didn't go see him, either.
Good luck with the Napolis! I'm so excited to hear how that goes. They are really the perfect kind of investigator. As a missionary, I would dream of teaching them, especially with the wonderful neighbors who befriended them in on the lesson. You should read the lessons in Preach My Gospel to help you prepare for the right moment to share the gospel with them.
Actually, I'm sure you already know this story, but one of the Book of Mormon stories that Sister Hodson and I looked at this week is the one of Ammon and the father of King Lamoni. It applies to this situation. Let's start where Lamoni invites Ammon to go with him to meet his father. Then the Lord tells Ammon to not go, because the father of King Lamoni would kill Ammon, and besides, his brethren were in prison and needed Ammon's help to get out. King Lamoni is like, "great! I'll come along. I know you got this, because with the Lord's help you can do anything, but I can help and make it easier because I know that king." So they start traveling to go get his brethren out of prison. And guess who they run into. King Lamoni's father. The one who was going to kill Ammon.
So they start talking, and king Lamoni's father is mad at Lamoni for not coming to his feast, so he goes to kill him. Ammon stops him, so the father says, "that's right! You are the real problem! You prevented him from coming! I will kill you instead!" So they have a little fight, and Ammon wins. All Ammon demands in exchange for the king's life is that his brethren will be set free, and that he will not be mad at Lamoni and will give Lamoni the right to rule his kingdom on his own. King Lamoni's father is so impressed that he gives the demands, and also wants to meet with missionaries.
So the thing about this story is that it was in the Lord's will all along that King Lamoni's father run into Ammon and hear about the gospel. It just had to happen in the right way or it would be a bad experience for everyone. So Ammon listened to the spirit, and the missionary moment came in the right way (even if that was a little scary at first with the swords and stuff, it was the right way).
So what I am saying is that you should just pray for the spirit to guide you to know the right opportunity to introduce the Napolis to the gospel, and how you can help them have all of the many blessings you have. Sorry that was a long story.
Anyway, I love you all! Have an amazing week! I will, too, so my email will be more exciting next week. :)
Love,
Sister April Atkin
Monday, June 11, 2012
Life never is normal, is it?
Dearest Family,
I love you so much!! This week has been another crazy one. We'll see what I can fit into this email. I think going chronologically will work for the most part for this email. I hope I don't forget something.
First of all, last Monday some members in the Stanley ward invited us over for their FHE. They know that Sister Hodson is new, and they really love and have adopted both of us. They are my favorites. I feel like I can be myself in their home. Anyway, they invited us over so that Sister Hodson could practice teaching on them. The grandparents, parents, and four children were there. Eight people. She taught them the first lesson, and it was nothing like an investigator lesson, but it was exactly what she needed. It wasn't perfect, but it was a learning experience for everyone. She has blossomed since then. They gave some amazing feedback, and we were all very happy. The father calls us his adopted daughters ("hey, where did my two other daughters go?" he said). He reminds me of dad in some ways. They are struggling a little with their intellectual daughter, and I totally understand her and suddenly she looks up to us. So I think we will be able to help them, too. We are teaching their niece right now.
Then we had some normal missionary days (tracting, street contacting, talking to random people, dinners with members that are great or not, and so on). Then one night when I was not feeling well, we decided to visit a former investigator. She met with missionaries last December, but then she was out of the country for a few months visiting her family in China. They haven't been able to reconnect since then. We rung her door bell, and when she answered she said, "Oh hi! Yes! I wanted to go to church this Sunday. What time is it at?" Bingo! We were so happy. So we answered her questions and set up a return appointment. She did come to church. :) Also that night we started texting another former investigator that has avoided missionaries for two months (since I got here). She quit her second job, so she has more free time and wants "to be very involved in the church". Both in one day! We were very very happy.
On Saturday we had a less happy experience. Really, it started on Thursday, but I'm going to tell it all in one piece. We got a referral from temple square, and it said to call first. We figure now that this man must have called one of the 1-800 numbers the church has and talked to a sister there. Well, I called. He answered and expressed that he had some questions about how a person could progress after they died. He listed a bunch of beliefs he has in common with us, but immediately expressed that he "didn't buy this 'I think, I feel' junk". He doesn't believe the spirit speaks to us today. He said if I could prove our doctrine to him out of the scriptures, he would change. He asked that I would do the same. I very simply stated that I do believe in the Holy Ghost, and I will always rely on it to teach me truth. He didn't go anywhere against that, but he did tell me I was unteachable.
He did have some questions, so we got him to agree to allow us to come over to answer his questions in person rather than over the phone. We were late to an appointment, so we had to go. We set up a time. He was very rude through the whole conversation. Later when we were thinking and praying about it, we felt very strongly that we should bring a member with us to back us up and protect us. A person came strongly to mind, but when we called him, he wasn't available at the time we set up. So we decided to move the appointment to another day so that he could come.
We called this man back to reschedule the appointment. When we requested to move it, he immediately got irritated and angry. He said that we had lied to him and we hadn't kept our commitment, and that we lied because we now wanted to bring someone with us. He would not allow us to reschedule, apologize, or answer his questions. We had blown it, in his mind. He went into a rage. He told me that I had sinned before God and that I needed to go to him to ask for forgiveness. It sounds silly when I type it like this, but when a man is yelling in a deep voice at you over the phone, quoting bible verses and calling you to repentance, it doesn't feel silly. I apologized again, but he would not have it. I hate to admit it, but he got to me, a little bit. I just asked him to show a little charity, and follow the second great commandment and forgive me. Clearly a BAD IDEA. He blew up even more. I had given the church a bad image, he informed me. He asked if we had someone that supervised us as missionaries. He wanted to give them a call and let them know how badly we had behaved. Sister Hodson unwisely told him we were responsible to ourselves. He just kept yelling and ranting, so we eventually had to talk loudly over him (because he would interrupt us) to say, "This conversation isn't going anywhere. If you have any questions let us know. Have a great day." and hang up.
A few minutes later he called us from a different number to tell us he had someone on a mormon.org line who had informed him that we had a mission president. He told us he was the wrong person to have made angry, and that he would call up the line until someone listened to him about how bad we were. I hate to admit it, but I got a little sassy (which equals failure as a missionary) I told him to tell President Keyes hi for us.
Anyway, so that was my bad experience of the week. I have been anti-ed so many times on my mission that I would have thought that I could handle this guy. But I failed. I was not Christlike, and I did not show or feel love towards him. I didn't represent the Lord well. I cried. It kinda threw me off for the rest of the day. But, the best thing in the whole church is the sacrament. I just have to let you know that I have a huge testimony of the sacrament now. I need it. It recharges me spiritually when I am drained every week. I needed it very badly this week. I love it. I know that the ordinance performed in the sacrament is of God. It is done by His authority according to his will and his pattern. It's not just something we do. The promises in it are real.
The other thing is that they asked me to give a talk in church on Loving your Fellow Men. It was funny after the experience we had had the day before. I really felt the Lord speaking through me in that talk. Moroni 7 is it. We must pray for this love--Charity. It is the only way we will be perfect, pure, and be like Christ when he comes. It is in all of our covenants. I am going to keep praying.
Yesterday we met with one of our investigators, the niece of the family, and she moved back her baptism date. I was sad about it, but she will be baptized. Just not yet.
As far as my studies go, this week they were awesome. I read Alma 8-15 (I think?) about Alma and Amulek. I love their companionship. They are the perfect examples. I read it in the light of Alma being the senior companion, the trainer. He does so well! It changed my whole perspective. I really want to be more like Alma.
Well, I'm out of time. But I love you!
I love you all!
~Sister April Atkin
I love you so much!! This week has been another crazy one. We'll see what I can fit into this email. I think going chronologically will work for the most part for this email. I hope I don't forget something.
First of all, last Monday some members in the Stanley ward invited us over for their FHE. They know that Sister Hodson is new, and they really love and have adopted both of us. They are my favorites. I feel like I can be myself in their home. Anyway, they invited us over so that Sister Hodson could practice teaching on them. The grandparents, parents, and four children were there. Eight people. She taught them the first lesson, and it was nothing like an investigator lesson, but it was exactly what she needed. It wasn't perfect, but it was a learning experience for everyone. She has blossomed since then. They gave some amazing feedback, and we were all very happy. The father calls us his adopted daughters ("hey, where did my two other daughters go?" he said). He reminds me of dad in some ways. They are struggling a little with their intellectual daughter, and I totally understand her and suddenly she looks up to us. So I think we will be able to help them, too. We are teaching their niece right now.
Then we had some normal missionary days (tracting, street contacting, talking to random people, dinners with members that are great or not, and so on). Then one night when I was not feeling well, we decided to visit a former investigator. She met with missionaries last December, but then she was out of the country for a few months visiting her family in China. They haven't been able to reconnect since then. We rung her door bell, and when she answered she said, "Oh hi! Yes! I wanted to go to church this Sunday. What time is it at?" Bingo! We were so happy. So we answered her questions and set up a return appointment. She did come to church. :) Also that night we started texting another former investigator that has avoided missionaries for two months (since I got here). She quit her second job, so she has more free time and wants "to be very involved in the church". Both in one day! We were very very happy.
On Saturday we had a less happy experience. Really, it started on Thursday, but I'm going to tell it all in one piece. We got a referral from temple square, and it said to call first. We figure now that this man must have called one of the 1-800 numbers the church has and talked to a sister there. Well, I called. He answered and expressed that he had some questions about how a person could progress after they died. He listed a bunch of beliefs he has in common with us, but immediately expressed that he "didn't buy this 'I think, I feel' junk". He doesn't believe the spirit speaks to us today. He said if I could prove our doctrine to him out of the scriptures, he would change. He asked that I would do the same. I very simply stated that I do believe in the Holy Ghost, and I will always rely on it to teach me truth. He didn't go anywhere against that, but he did tell me I was unteachable.
He did have some questions, so we got him to agree to allow us to come over to answer his questions in person rather than over the phone. We were late to an appointment, so we had to go. We set up a time. He was very rude through the whole conversation. Later when we were thinking and praying about it, we felt very strongly that we should bring a member with us to back us up and protect us. A person came strongly to mind, but when we called him, he wasn't available at the time we set up. So we decided to move the appointment to another day so that he could come.
We called this man back to reschedule the appointment. When we requested to move it, he immediately got irritated and angry. He said that we had lied to him and we hadn't kept our commitment, and that we lied because we now wanted to bring someone with us. He would not allow us to reschedule, apologize, or answer his questions. We had blown it, in his mind. He went into a rage. He told me that I had sinned before God and that I needed to go to him to ask for forgiveness. It sounds silly when I type it like this, but when a man is yelling in a deep voice at you over the phone, quoting bible verses and calling you to repentance, it doesn't feel silly. I apologized again, but he would not have it. I hate to admit it, but he got to me, a little bit. I just asked him to show a little charity, and follow the second great commandment and forgive me. Clearly a BAD IDEA. He blew up even more. I had given the church a bad image, he informed me. He asked if we had someone that supervised us as missionaries. He wanted to give them a call and let them know how badly we had behaved. Sister Hodson unwisely told him we were responsible to ourselves. He just kept yelling and ranting, so we eventually had to talk loudly over him (because he would interrupt us) to say, "This conversation isn't going anywhere. If you have any questions let us know. Have a great day." and hang up.
A few minutes later he called us from a different number to tell us he had someone on a mormon.org line who had informed him that we had a mission president. He told us he was the wrong person to have made angry, and that he would call up the line until someone listened to him about how bad we were. I hate to admit it, but I got a little sassy (which equals failure as a missionary) I told him to tell President Keyes hi for us.
Anyway, so that was my bad experience of the week. I have been anti-ed so many times on my mission that I would have thought that I could handle this guy. But I failed. I was not Christlike, and I did not show or feel love towards him. I didn't represent the Lord well. I cried. It kinda threw me off for the rest of the day. But, the best thing in the whole church is the sacrament. I just have to let you know that I have a huge testimony of the sacrament now. I need it. It recharges me spiritually when I am drained every week. I needed it very badly this week. I love it. I know that the ordinance performed in the sacrament is of God. It is done by His authority according to his will and his pattern. It's not just something we do. The promises in it are real.
The other thing is that they asked me to give a talk in church on Loving your Fellow Men. It was funny after the experience we had had the day before. I really felt the Lord speaking through me in that talk. Moroni 7 is it. We must pray for this love--Charity. It is the only way we will be perfect, pure, and be like Christ when he comes. It is in all of our covenants. I am going to keep praying.
Yesterday we met with one of our investigators, the niece of the family, and she moved back her baptism date. I was sad about it, but she will be baptized. Just not yet.
As far as my studies go, this week they were awesome. I read Alma 8-15 (I think?) about Alma and Amulek. I love their companionship. They are the perfect examples. I read it in the light of Alma being the senior companion, the trainer. He does so well! It changed my whole perspective. I really want to be more like Alma.
Well, I'm out of time. But I love you!
I love you all!
~Sister April Atkin
Monday, June 4, 2012
Biking in Kansas
Dear Family,
The Lord really does look out for His missionaries. This week we were mostly on bikes, which was really hard. It was probably the longest bike week of my whole mission (and it isn't over yet). My arms are getting brown. Poor Sister Hodson. Every night when we get home we plan (which feels like the hardest thing in the world to do, but we do it anyway), and then crash into our beds as soon as possible, still encrusted with salt from the sweaty day. I will wash my sheets more often these days. But the blessing is, every day since we gave up the car on Wednesday has been unusually cool. We still get hot and sweaty, but the sun has been hiding behind clouds and there has been a cool breeze basically since last Wednesday almost exactly. What a huge blessing.
Yesterday at church, I was extra emotional because I was so tired. You know how I am--I don't deal with being tired very well. So everything was extra happy or sad or whatever yesterday. It's a good thing that Sister Hodson is so chill. We get along very well. She helped me stay stable yesterday on the brink of exhaustion until today when we get to slow down for a few hours. And I'm training her! She really is great.
So a little more about Sister Hodson (in response to Mom and Rachel). She is from Pleasant Grove Utah and went to BYU-I for two years. She is just barely 21. She is the 2nd oldest of 7 kids. She wants to do something in the medical field, maybe a nurse. She was a CNA at an assisted living place before her mission. She was a swimmer in high school. I really like her. Like I said, she is really chill, which I like. She works hard, and is willing to try anything. She is quiet, but she isn't not confident. She just doesn't have a lot of experience teaching (well, except swim lessons) but that will come. She will do very well as a missionary.
It's been fun to try out different ways of teaching her. I've gotten to try out different teaching methods on her to help her learn, and it is helping me learn how to be a teacher, if that makes sense. There are some approaches, like just talking at her about how to be a good teacher that just don't work. Usually asking probing, thought provoking questions, or asking her to summarize or put things in her own words works best. Which is exactly what works with investigators and in my future classroom! This is cool.
We are teaching a sweet girl that is 17. Her goal is to be baptized before she is 18 in three months. This week we got to hear her life's story, which was one of the craziest, most heart-breaking stories I have ever heard. It's not really my place to retell it, but basically, she should be scarred for life.
But somehow, she is this beautiful, kind, loving, happy, optimistic, pure girl. I just don't get it. It's like her whole house got hit by a bomb, and there standing in the midst of the rubble is a beautiful porcelain doll. Untouched. The Lord must have put a force field around her. By all means she should be bitter and broken. But she is giving and wonderful. I feel so lucky to teach her. The Lord preserved and prepared her for the gospel. I'm sure she has a great future ahead of her. She is definitely one of the noble and great ones.
If you remember the Mendez family (the Part member family, where the dad decided to come back to church after 20 years) we aren't teaching them anymore. They are still golden, but we handed them over to the Spanish Elders. They feel guilty taking them, but really it will meet their needs better than we ever could. We are all on the same team. We invited them to go out to church yesterday, and we really didn't think they would go. We had invited them to go to the Spanish branch just for a Sunday, and we wouldn't even be there to talk to them. But they went! All on their own! And stayed all three hours!! They met the elders there, and the rest is history. When we talked to the elders about it, and decided that it would be best if they took them, I felt the hugest sense of peace. I just felt so happy. We had done something good in helping them reconnect with the church and go out to church, and now our piece is over. I just know that the right thing and the best thing happened. We did all of the right things. :)
We also street contacted a guy that looked like he would never be interested in the gospel--he had a mohawk (a legit one) and was covered in scars. He had led a rough life. Turns out, his dad went to BYU (we don't know if he was a member at the time, but he isn't anymore). We talked to him about the church, and he has some strange ideas about God, but he was excited to read the Book of Mormon. He was stunned that I would just give him one. So hopefully that goes somewhere. He looked scarier than he actually was.
Last Monday we went to a member's big surprise Birthday Party for our dinner. We accidentally ended up sitting with all of their nonmember neighbors. It was awesome! They said we could stop by. The Lord is so kind. :)
Oh, and Wednesday was Zone Conference. I love those. It was so good. I got to see Sister Thorne again. I think we will be roommates when we get home. :) I lover her SO much. I played the piano on no notice, and, you know, I think I play better than I ever have in my entire life. My mission is blessing my singing and playing abilities.
Sorry, this is a short email, but I think I have run out of things to say. I am just so tired that I can't even think straight to tell you more interesting things. I think I'm going to take a nap today.
I love you all and I pray for you. You are amazing. :) I'm glad the trip to NC went so well. I miss those boys! And Annie and Neal of course! And Amy and Marc and their boys! And Rachel! and of course you, MOM and DAD! I miss you, but I am happy.
Love,
Sister April Atkin
The Lord really does look out for His missionaries. This week we were mostly on bikes, which was really hard. It was probably the longest bike week of my whole mission (and it isn't over yet). My arms are getting brown. Poor Sister Hodson. Every night when we get home we plan (which feels like the hardest thing in the world to do, but we do it anyway), and then crash into our beds as soon as possible, still encrusted with salt from the sweaty day. I will wash my sheets more often these days. But the blessing is, every day since we gave up the car on Wednesday has been unusually cool. We still get hot and sweaty, but the sun has been hiding behind clouds and there has been a cool breeze basically since last Wednesday almost exactly. What a huge blessing.
Yesterday at church, I was extra emotional because I was so tired. You know how I am--I don't deal with being tired very well. So everything was extra happy or sad or whatever yesterday. It's a good thing that Sister Hodson is so chill. We get along very well. She helped me stay stable yesterday on the brink of exhaustion until today when we get to slow down for a few hours. And I'm training her! She really is great.
So a little more about Sister Hodson (in response to Mom and Rachel). She is from Pleasant Grove Utah and went to BYU-I for two years. She is just barely 21. She is the 2nd oldest of 7 kids. She wants to do something in the medical field, maybe a nurse. She was a CNA at an assisted living place before her mission. She was a swimmer in high school. I really like her. Like I said, she is really chill, which I like. She works hard, and is willing to try anything. She is quiet, but she isn't not confident. She just doesn't have a lot of experience teaching (well, except swim lessons) but that will come. She will do very well as a missionary.
It's been fun to try out different ways of teaching her. I've gotten to try out different teaching methods on her to help her learn, and it is helping me learn how to be a teacher, if that makes sense. There are some approaches, like just talking at her about how to be a good teacher that just don't work. Usually asking probing, thought provoking questions, or asking her to summarize or put things in her own words works best. Which is exactly what works with investigators and in my future classroom! This is cool.
We are teaching a sweet girl that is 17. Her goal is to be baptized before she is 18 in three months. This week we got to hear her life's story, which was one of the craziest, most heart-breaking stories I have ever heard. It's not really my place to retell it, but basically, she should be scarred for life.
But somehow, she is this beautiful, kind, loving, happy, optimistic, pure girl. I just don't get it. It's like her whole house got hit by a bomb, and there standing in the midst of the rubble is a beautiful porcelain doll. Untouched. The Lord must have put a force field around her. By all means she should be bitter and broken. But she is giving and wonderful. I feel so lucky to teach her. The Lord preserved and prepared her for the gospel. I'm sure she has a great future ahead of her. She is definitely one of the noble and great ones.
If you remember the Mendez family (the Part member family, where the dad decided to come back to church after 20 years) we aren't teaching them anymore. They are still golden, but we handed them over to the Spanish Elders. They feel guilty taking them, but really it will meet their needs better than we ever could. We are all on the same team. We invited them to go out to church yesterday, and we really didn't think they would go. We had invited them to go to the Spanish branch just for a Sunday, and we wouldn't even be there to talk to them. But they went! All on their own! And stayed all three hours!! They met the elders there, and the rest is history. When we talked to the elders about it, and decided that it would be best if they took them, I felt the hugest sense of peace. I just felt so happy. We had done something good in helping them reconnect with the church and go out to church, and now our piece is over. I just know that the right thing and the best thing happened. We did all of the right things. :)
We also street contacted a guy that looked like he would never be interested in the gospel--he had a mohawk (a legit one) and was covered in scars. He had led a rough life. Turns out, his dad went to BYU (we don't know if he was a member at the time, but he isn't anymore). We talked to him about the church, and he has some strange ideas about God, but he was excited to read the Book of Mormon. He was stunned that I would just give him one. So hopefully that goes somewhere. He looked scarier than he actually was.
Last Monday we went to a member's big surprise Birthday Party for our dinner. We accidentally ended up sitting with all of their nonmember neighbors. It was awesome! They said we could stop by. The Lord is so kind. :)
Oh, and Wednesday was Zone Conference. I love those. It was so good. I got to see Sister Thorne again. I think we will be roommates when we get home. :) I lover her SO much. I played the piano on no notice, and, you know, I think I play better than I ever have in my entire life. My mission is blessing my singing and playing abilities.
Sorry, this is a short email, but I think I have run out of things to say. I am just so tired that I can't even think straight to tell you more interesting things. I think I'm going to take a nap today.
I love you all and I pray for you. You are amazing. :) I'm glad the trip to NC went so well. I miss those boys! And Annie and Neal of course! And Amy and Marc and their boys! And Rachel! and of course you, MOM and DAD! I miss you, but I am happy.
Love,
Sister April Atkin
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