Dearest Family,
What a week I have had. A good week.
Last Monday we played volleyball all day with the elders, and it was fun. The members were dumb and made us mad, so we played a missionary only game, which was awesome. We have some good elders.
That night we went to contact a less active. Our bishop gave us her record because it just showed up in the ward un-asked for. That happens sometimes. He didn't know where it came from or who she was. So he sent the missionaries. We like that.
So we knocked on her door. When she opened the door she looked so shocked. "How did you find me??!" she asked. She didn't look mad, just shocked, so we kept talking. Turns out, she's a convert of a lot of years. Her whole family joined except her husband, and she filled a lot of big callings. But she was offended, and she went inactive in1990. Since then she has moved 3 or 4 times as an inactive. So how her records made it here is a mystery. But she was happy to see us, and it turns out that her inactive daughter also lives nearby (she was there. We met her, too) and they had been talking recently about going back to church. So we gave them the address and time, and phone numbers for the bishop and relief society president. She was grateful and just still in shock that we found her. It was pretty cool.
Megan is getting her patriarchal blessing this week. That's exciting. :)
On Tuesday we did exchanges with Lawrence. Sister Lewis is there training a new sister. So Sister Hodson and Sister Lewis, my two daughters, got to spend the day together in Overland Park. I got to go with Sister Crick, my grand daughter, in Lawrence. She is a good missionary, and they are doing well there. It was a good day. The best part of doing exchanges with a new missionary is that all you have to do is be a good cheerleader all day. They just need the experience of taking over for a day, drowning a little, and coming off victorious. So all I did was back her up and tell her she was doing great all day. It was fun. I like that.
One miracle from that day: We were out tracting, and met this guy that was not interested. He was rough, had a beard, was bony and old looking, like a life long smoker and hard laborer. We introduced ourselves and he immediately informed us that he wasn't interested and wasn't religious for that matter because he hadn't been brought up that way. I offered to just leave him with a pamphlet, and he said no very rudely and said it would be a waste of paper. I was ready to go when Sister Crick asked "And what is your name again?", which felt very awkward to me after the rejection. He rudely responded, "I didn't give it." and so we left and knocked a few other random doors in the neighborhood that we felt good about (I rarely/never go door to door. I just pick random ones).
When we returned to our car we sat there for a second figuring out where we were going next. The same man walked out of his house and walked towards us. I was worried. I didn't know what he was going to do to us. He looked nervous, though. We greeted him and rolled down the window.
"I just had to come and say I didn't mean to be rude to you ladies. My name is Mark. I know I didn't need to be all rough. I didn't mean it. I'll take a pamphlet." We were surprised, and very happy to give him one. "but I have been watching you and you went to that house, that house, and that house." he gestured to the houses we had knocked. "You weren't going door to door. What made you choose those houses? Why did you pick my house?" His face showed that he just couldn't figure us out, and he was sure that someone had told us to go to those specific houses. He looked very suspicious.
I leaned over Sister Crick to talk through her window and said, "The spirit. We just knock doors we feel good about." in a very matter-of-fact way.
He looked totally stunned (in a manly, hiding his surprise in his beard kind of way). "So you have some sort of intuition?" he grumbled under his breath and halfway turned back to his house. "I guess you all have to do a year mission trip or something..." he mumbled, trying to make an excuse for nice ladies like us knocking on our door (someone made us do it).
I leaned back over. "No, we chose to do this. All of my friends are at home and married." again, very matter of factly.
He kind of humphed, still looking surprised and walked away, holding his pamphlet. We yelled good bye and that we would come back later. He didn't respond.
The spirit had totally worked on him. It reminded me of that one ensign story. I hope something happens with him. It was awesome.
We saw Flower on Wednesday. It was the best lesson we have ever had with her. She found a Book of Mormon app and downloaded it onto her phone, so she listens to the Book of Mormon every day. She loves it and it speeding through the Book of Mormon. Her countenance had totally changed, and she is praying about a baptism date now. Our church is her favorite, and more than anything, she wants her family to come with her.
Dave, the personal trainer is doing great. We can't teach him fast enough. He loved church this Sunday. :)
I ate eel and real sushi (raw tuna) this week with wasabi. It was pretty good. I don't know if I will eat it again soon, though. Sister Hodson didn't like it so much.
So Wednesday was an amazing day. Sister Hodson and I were both so happy. I love her so much! We are like best friends. Thursday was great, too, but more stressful. That night there was a conference call for all of the sisters in the mission. There are 10 new sisters coming out this transfer, which is crazy. The MTC pulled some in early, so we aren't ready for them, and the sisters they are replacing aren't going home yet. There are only 21 sister companionships now, and 7 are already in the training program. So President Keyes either has open areas for only one transfer, or make a buch of trios. He's making a bunch of trios. The call was basically to tell us how great we are and that we need "all hands on deck".
The problem with that call was that the Assistants texted me the wrong phone number so we, and all of the other sisters I am sister leader for, joined late. It announces your name when you join. Then our phone freaked out and we were kicked off. Log back on. Then we lost reception and were kicked off. Log back on a third time. I was stressed and embarrassed to the max, and then it turns out that some of my sisters never made it on the call, and it is kind of my fault. Then I found out that it announces your name when you log off, too, so everyone heard us join and leave three times--late. I was humiliated. The worst part was knowing sisters missed it.
I went to bed stressed which is a bad idea. I had a nightmare about coming home from my mission and being bad at everything I used to be good at and having no friends. Then I woke up more stressed. I was worn out. I felt like I had reached my max, and I had nothing left to give. I had put my whole heart into my mission, area, and companion, and it wasn't enough. I was logically okay, but mentally a wreck.
Then, that afternoon, I got a phone call that I would be training. I knew I wasn't staying here in Overland Park, so I am getting double transferred somewhere and training. And maybe still acting as Sister Leader. I tried, but I couldn't really be excited yet. I have given Sister Hodson all the love I have and this area my whole heart. I didn't feel like I had more to give.
So I have prayed a lot. And I was in the shower (a great place for revelation), and had a thought. In the scriptures, a lot of good people are pushed to the brink--as far as they could go. And then miracles happen. Moses was squished between the red sea and an army before he could split it. Daniel had to be thrown in with lions before he could see the miracle of taming them. Alma and Amulek were in prison before the walls could fall. Other missionaries were in a fiery furnace before they were safe. So if I am at my max and still have faith, the Lord will provide. This stressful place I am at is where miracles happen. I have poured all of my love and heart into Sister Hodson and Overland Park, and somehow the Lord will give me more love and more heart to give to my new area and new companion. He will provide. And I was comforted. (see Alma 17:1-13)
Life is good. I am happy and hopeful. I am empty, but I know I will be filled.
So don't worry about me, but this week I am getting transferred. Just send my mail to the mission office and they will forward it to wherever I am. At our meeting on Saturday, President Keyes took me aside to tell me about the unique situation of my area, so I already know what is going to happen, but I can't tell you until next week. I am glad to know so that I have time to be ready.
I hope this doesn't stress you, because I really am doing well. I am happy and healthy, and I am not that stressed anymore. I am now excited to train and for my new area, but I'm not thinking about it too much before Thursday so that I can just be here.
So there you go. I love you! I am happy! Have a great week!
Love,
Sister Atkin
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Happiness
Dearest Family,
I have had another great week. :) I do really love being out here. This is the greatest (hardest, but greatest) thing I have ever done.
Last Monday, after I emailed, we painted for half of the day. It was wonderful and relaxing. I loved it. The Elders have been begging us to come play sports for weeks, so we finally are going today. Hopefully they will play ultimate, and hopefully it will be fun.
But anyway, while we were painting, we got a phone call from one of our members. She sounded nervous, but she gave us a referral of one of our friends. She gave us his phone number and said he was expecting us to call and set up a time to meet with him. We did, and we ended up seeing him the next day. He works as a personal trainer, so he is this big built guy, but he is very religious, and really loves God. We set up to meet him during his break at the gym he works at with the member that referred him to us.
Next door to the gym is a little pottery/coffee shop. So we went in to meet there. The minute we walked in, the owner of the pottery place looked a little surprised, and then was trying to not sob as she tried to pull together a protein shake for our investigator. I wasn't paying attention, but then suddenly something caught my attention in her direction (the spirit). I could see her crying, and I just knew it had something to do with us (again, the spirit), but I didn't know why. So we went over to talk to her, and she just broke down. She is a recent convert, and the elders now live with her and her husband in a nearby ward. Her father is having some real health problems, and the elders have been a great help and given him (a nonmember) a blessing. But she had just received some bad news and the elders weren't home and she didn't know what to do or who to turn to. Then into her shop walked two sister missionaries, wearing a name tag that spoke comfort to her. So we ignored our investigator and member for a moment, held hands with this woman across the counter by the register, and prayed with her, for her, and for her father. It was amazing. I know that the Lord was looking out for her. She knows it, too. Sometimes it's crazy because I know we don't hold the priesthood, but there is still power in our calling. I don't know how it works, but sometimes when we pray for people I can feel the Lord blessing them somehow. This woman couldn't get a priesthood blessing when she needed comfort--no one was there--but sister missionaries could pray for her, and it helped. I love being a missionary.
Then we taught a lesson in her shop. Our new investigator, Dave, is wonderful. We met with him twice last week, and after the first lesson he said, "Is that it? Don't you have more for me?" He feels like we are slowing him down. He reads the Book of Mormon for an hour every night. He's marking it up and taking notes. Awesome! I'm excited for him to hear the plan of salvation tomorrow. :)
This week we had a Zone Meeting, which is really fun. We have those once a month instead of District Meeting. I always learn a lot (and I always play the piano. But that's fine). Anyway, it was great. At the end we were having a zone discussion about our zone goals. We were all kindly voicing our opinions. I thought about it, and voiced my opinion, even though it was a little different from other opinions, but I said it in a nice way. Some people agreed with me. Then one of the elders stepped up and rebuked the opinion that happened to be mostly mine for five minutes. He said I didn't have faith and that I needed to get on my knees and pray and ask the Lord this and this and this and change my heart (well, he didn't say me specifically, but that was pretty clear). Needless to say, I was a little bit mad. And got madder the longer he talked. I almost interrupted him, but I held my tongue and never responded. The Zone Leaders finally pulled it back together and ended the meeting. I was fuming inside, but throwing water on the flames because I knew I wouldn't bring the spirit back if I said anything. And just as much as it wasn't the place of this elder to rebuke me, it wasn't my place to correct him. That is the Zone Leaders' job. And then I got over it. Mom, aren't you proud of me?
haha, anyway, the Zone Leaders apologized later and said they would talk to him later about it, because he shouldn't have said that. That was a nice gesture of them.
The reason I tell you this story, is that sometimes it is really obvious that I am changing. We all know one of my weaknesses is voicing my opinions too quickly, and having a little bit of fire inside when I do, but I am learning to just control it and get over it. I was even able to shake this elder's hand and tell him to have a great day--with good feelings. Life is good. (By the way, that doesn't mean that I am not opinionated anymore. I still like a good discussion. :) but with good feelings. )
The other miracle of the week is that we received some inspiration for some of our investigators. It is a part member family where the parents aren't married. They are wonderful people with good intentions, but a very busy schedule. The dad is the only member. The mom prefers Spanish (but does speak English) so we gave them to the Spanish elders for a while, but that didn't work (for scheduling reasons) so they are our investigators again. We were trying to figure out what to do for them, when we had the thought that even though the parents are too busy to go to church, the kids aren't. So with the mom's permission (and approval--she's excited about it) we got two of their three boys to church this last Sunday. They really liked it. The parents almost came because they felt so guilty, but they had lost the address, so maybe next week. This was the best idea we had. We are going to focus for a bit on getting the oldest son baptized, and work on the mom later. She is open, but I think watching it work for her son will make a big difference. I feel so good about it. I'm excited. :)
Last night we had two dinners back to back. That was the first time that I thought that I actually might throw up in a dinner appointment. It got to the point that I knew that if I ate another bite, it wouldn't stay down. So I didn't. I hope they weren't offended. Sister Hodson hit the same point. I never want to do that again, but we have another double dinner on Saturday. Blech. The people we don't want to offend are the first dinner this time, which is better. Mom, I never want to eat dessert again in my whole life. And I want to go on a healthy diet when I get home. PLEASE. I hope I don't die before then (we still don't feel like eating).
Well, I love you all. Have a great day. :)
Love,
Sister Atkin
P.P.S. What I learned this week was about the Law of Sacrifice and the Sacrament. Still studying, but I quickly wrote this down during the sacrament yesterday:
The Law of Sacrifice:
sacrifice of animals was replaced by the sacrament (see BD sacrifices)
so originally the priest offered up burnt offerings to cleanse the people of their sins.
Now the priests (same title!) offer up our sacraments on His holy Day (D&C 59:9) to cleanse the people--in remembrance of the ultimate sacrifice.
It is still the same law of sacrifice.
So to live the law of sacrifice, I need to worthily and meaningfully take the sacrament weekly. (that is how I offer my broken heart and contrite spirit or my whole soul as an offering, which other scriptures reference as our sacrifice.)
It's comforting to know that I know understand how to live that law.
I have had another great week. :) I do really love being out here. This is the greatest (hardest, but greatest) thing I have ever done.
Last Monday, after I emailed, we painted for half of the day. It was wonderful and relaxing. I loved it. The Elders have been begging us to come play sports for weeks, so we finally are going today. Hopefully they will play ultimate, and hopefully it will be fun.
But anyway, while we were painting, we got a phone call from one of our members. She sounded nervous, but she gave us a referral of one of our friends. She gave us his phone number and said he was expecting us to call and set up a time to meet with him. We did, and we ended up seeing him the next day. He works as a personal trainer, so he is this big built guy, but he is very religious, and really loves God. We set up to meet him during his break at the gym he works at with the member that referred him to us.
Next door to the gym is a little pottery/coffee shop. So we went in to meet there. The minute we walked in, the owner of the pottery place looked a little surprised, and then was trying to not sob as she tried to pull together a protein shake for our investigator. I wasn't paying attention, but then suddenly something caught my attention in her direction (the spirit). I could see her crying, and I just knew it had something to do with us (again, the spirit), but I didn't know why. So we went over to talk to her, and she just broke down. She is a recent convert, and the elders now live with her and her husband in a nearby ward. Her father is having some real health problems, and the elders have been a great help and given him (a nonmember) a blessing. But she had just received some bad news and the elders weren't home and she didn't know what to do or who to turn to. Then into her shop walked two sister missionaries, wearing a name tag that spoke comfort to her. So we ignored our investigator and member for a moment, held hands with this woman across the counter by the register, and prayed with her, for her, and for her father. It was amazing. I know that the Lord was looking out for her. She knows it, too. Sometimes it's crazy because I know we don't hold the priesthood, but there is still power in our calling. I don't know how it works, but sometimes when we pray for people I can feel the Lord blessing them somehow. This woman couldn't get a priesthood blessing when she needed comfort--no one was there--but sister missionaries could pray for her, and it helped. I love being a missionary.
Then we taught a lesson in her shop. Our new investigator, Dave, is wonderful. We met with him twice last week, and after the first lesson he said, "Is that it? Don't you have more for me?" He feels like we are slowing him down. He reads the Book of Mormon for an hour every night. He's marking it up and taking notes. Awesome! I'm excited for him to hear the plan of salvation tomorrow. :)
This week we had a Zone Meeting, which is really fun. We have those once a month instead of District Meeting. I always learn a lot (and I always play the piano. But that's fine). Anyway, it was great. At the end we were having a zone discussion about our zone goals. We were all kindly voicing our opinions. I thought about it, and voiced my opinion, even though it was a little different from other opinions, but I said it in a nice way. Some people agreed with me. Then one of the elders stepped up and rebuked the opinion that happened to be mostly mine for five minutes. He said I didn't have faith and that I needed to get on my knees and pray and ask the Lord this and this and this and change my heart (well, he didn't say me specifically, but that was pretty clear). Needless to say, I was a little bit mad. And got madder the longer he talked. I almost interrupted him, but I held my tongue and never responded. The Zone Leaders finally pulled it back together and ended the meeting. I was fuming inside, but throwing water on the flames because I knew I wouldn't bring the spirit back if I said anything. And just as much as it wasn't the place of this elder to rebuke me, it wasn't my place to correct him. That is the Zone Leaders' job. And then I got over it. Mom, aren't you proud of me?
haha, anyway, the Zone Leaders apologized later and said they would talk to him later about it, because he shouldn't have said that. That was a nice gesture of them.
The reason I tell you this story, is that sometimes it is really obvious that I am changing. We all know one of my weaknesses is voicing my opinions too quickly, and having a little bit of fire inside when I do, but I am learning to just control it and get over it. I was even able to shake this elder's hand and tell him to have a great day--with good feelings. Life is good. (By the way, that doesn't mean that I am not opinionated anymore. I still like a good discussion. :) but with good feelings. )
The other miracle of the week is that we received some inspiration for some of our investigators. It is a part member family where the parents aren't married. They are wonderful people with good intentions, but a very busy schedule. The dad is the only member. The mom prefers Spanish (but does speak English) so we gave them to the Spanish elders for a while, but that didn't work (for scheduling reasons) so they are our investigators again. We were trying to figure out what to do for them, when we had the thought that even though the parents are too busy to go to church, the kids aren't. So with the mom's permission (and approval--she's excited about it) we got two of their three boys to church this last Sunday. They really liked it. The parents almost came because they felt so guilty, but they had lost the address, so maybe next week. This was the best idea we had. We are going to focus for a bit on getting the oldest son baptized, and work on the mom later. She is open, but I think watching it work for her son will make a big difference. I feel so good about it. I'm excited. :)
Last night we had two dinners back to back. That was the first time that I thought that I actually might throw up in a dinner appointment. It got to the point that I knew that if I ate another bite, it wouldn't stay down. So I didn't. I hope they weren't offended. Sister Hodson hit the same point. I never want to do that again, but we have another double dinner on Saturday. Blech. The people we don't want to offend are the first dinner this time, which is better. Mom, I never want to eat dessert again in my whole life. And I want to go on a healthy diet when I get home. PLEASE. I hope I don't die before then (we still don't feel like eating).
Well, I love you all. Have a great day. :)
Love,
Sister Atkin
P.P.S. What I learned this week was about the Law of Sacrifice and the Sacrament. Still studying, but I quickly wrote this down during the sacrament yesterday:
The Law of Sacrifice:
sacrifice of animals was replaced by the sacrament (see BD sacrifices)
so originally the priest offered up burnt offerings to cleanse the people of their sins.
Now the priests (same title!) offer up our sacraments on His holy Day (D&C 59:9) to cleanse the people--in remembrance of the ultimate sacrifice.
It is still the same law of sacrifice.
So to live the law of sacrifice, I need to worthily and meaningfully take the sacrament weekly. (that is how I offer my broken heart and contrite spirit or my whole soul as an offering, which other scriptures reference as our sacrifice.)
It's comforting to know that I know understand how to live that law.
A Surprise That Starts With I
Dear family,
I have so much to tell you about this week!!!
First of all, I have to tell you that I have refound myself this week. It is a cycle every missionary goes through (and every person). It's just part of life. But I am very very happy. Mom, we do keep learning. Can a person who has been alive as long as you still learn new things? (that isn't an age joke) But really, I don't think I'll ever finish learning. I'll tell you some things I learned in with my stories of the week. :)
Okay, I can't wait. The big surprise of the week is that I went to Iola. :)
This has been in the works for a while now, but I didn't want to tell you until after it happened. A few weeks ago, we were in the home of the Stake Relief Society President. She mentioned that she was going out to visit Iola that week (Iola Ward is in our stake, the Olathe Stake). I got excited and told her and her husband that Iola is a very special place. They looked surprised, because it really is a little town. I told them the story. They got excited and said, "Well, we have to get you down there!"
I knew that it wasn't likely to happen, because it is about 2 hours away from where we live. It would be difficult to get permission from President Keyes to go, and I didn't really want to ask him for it. Last transfer, the elders there were disobedient and emergency transferred out. When I heard that there was no missionaries there anymore, I told President Keyes that I would love to serve there and told him the story. It didn't happen. He said my story was nice and moved on.
So I didn't really have hope of going there. But then the Crumrines got excited, and decided they could do something about it. So they called the bishop of the Iola ward and told him my story. He got excited and agreed that they had to get me down there somehow. He said it would be great if I would come speak in Sacrament Meeting there. When they told me that, I had no hope. I would have to miss our own church, which missionaries DON'T DO.
But it turns out that President Keyes owed the Iola bishop a favor. The bishop called President Keyes and specifically requested that I come down and speak in their ward. Then I recieved a phone call from President Keyes.
"Sister Atkin, I hear that you have been invited to speak in the Iola ward."
"Yes, President"
"Well that is so nice. I give you my full permission to go. You can tell them the story of your grandmother. Just don't make a day of it."
"Okay, President. Thank you!"
I can't believe he would let me go!
So they scheduled for me to speak in their ward (which I am sure they were grateful for anyway. Their ward is very small, so I am sure they hear from each other a lot) and asked Sister Crumrine to speak with me, which she was not excited about. So on Sunday, we left bright and early and it was a beautiful day. It took us about an hour and a half (he is a little bit of a scary driver). They have their own building out there, just for their little ward. Some people drive an hour to go to church. Everyone was so kind and welcoming and right away saw the new faces. The ward was made up of a lot of old, single women, some older couples, and two young families. And that was it.
I sat on the stand and just was so happy to look out over the faces of the small, close knit congregation. To imagine that there used to be no members here at all. It was a beautiful sight.
Here is a rough outline of my talk (obviously I filled it in more and added details and thoughts):
Introduced myself
The reason I am here today started about a hundred years ago when my ancestors moved to the area of Iola Kansas
But the real story begins in 1937 when my great grandfather (Leo Moss Renner) was on a business trip and had a stop in SLC. He toured temple square and received a Book of Mormon.
Ten years later, two elders topped on a street corner to pray to be led where to go
Next house--our house. She told them to come back that evening.
On May 23, 1948 Seven of the family were baptized, including my grandmother, who was 10.
(show picture) elder steed
They were the only members in Iola, so they moved to SLC
Sealed Oct 24, 1949
Lessons to be learned:
Know where you come from. The Lord did all of this for you!
Sometimes it takes time--10 years! It is in the Lord's time.
But the main lesson to be learned is the Ripple effect. Elder Steed--His only baptisms on his mission. One Family.
Family reunion about 10 years ago we met him. He was the happiest old man I have ever seen. From the one family of his whole mission he baptized, over 30 missionaries have gone out. The ripple effect continues. D&C 18:15-16
Missionary work is worth it!
It reminds me of the story of Abinadi and Alma, his one convert. But that grew. Mosiah 18:30 How beautiful Iola is to me!
The actions of one person is the difference
In 1820, there was a young boy... (I told the first vision story slowly and with detail and recited the first vision.)
What happened here in Iola changed my family. It has changed my life.
A while ago there was a poster in the ensign with a picture of the sacred grove. The caption read, "What happened here changed the world. Let it change your life." Let the ripple effect continue and change you.
Testimony
(Sorry that is so rough. That is basically word for word my notes). I looked out and everyone was looking at me and listening. Many people were crying. It was so powerful. I was filled with such clarity. It was amazing.
Afterwards most of the ward approached me to thank me. Many people shared their stories with me. One woman was balling saying that her story was almost the same--except they stayed. Her father was a post man in Iola, just like my great grandfather, but in the 1950's. She was so touched that she got my address so that we could stay in touch. I gave her both my mission and home addresses, so you might hear from her. I don't even remember her name, but she was so sweet.
Annie told me that she had found out their address of where they lived in Iola. 201 Elm Street. I don't know if it is true, and there is a N Elm St, S Elm St. and E Elm St., but we decided to try to find it. It wasn't on N Elm St., so we tried S Elm Street. And there it was. I don't know if it was the right house, but it looked old enough when we looked at the foundation (it has had siding put on it, though). So I got a picture with it (no one was home). It could be a random house, or it could be the right one. You'll have to ask grandma
.
We ate lunch, and headed home. It was a beautiful day. I was so grateful to get to go. It was neat because I felt so much peace about the whole thing. I got to go there. I feel like I fulfilled something that needed to happen. But going there, I also knew that it wasn't my calling to serve in that area. My mission is elsewhere. But now I will not have any regrets--I've seen it, and I know that I did all that I needed to.
Last week as I was preparing my talk, I was having a rough day. Sister Hodson and I weren't getting along. I had been fighting the lingering feeling that I wasn't doing enough and that God was disappointed with me. I felt like I wasn't living up to the potential that I had, and it was eating me up. So I prayed. And the first thing that came to my mind was our family story (which I had just been studying). It was almost as if God was telling me, "If I didn't love you, I wouldn't have done all of this for you to receive the gospel. I did all of this for you. For all of your family, but for you." I felt such peace. He knows where I am, He knows I am not perfect, and he still loves me. Ever since then, this week has been wonderful. :)
The other big news is that President Keyes has decided to split our area. The work has grown enough recently that he has decided to put a set of missionaries in each ward so we won't be double covering anymore. He called on Friday to tell me the news, and asked me which ward we had more connections with. My mind raced through all of the good and bad things about each ward. I told him we were more connected to the Stanley Ward. Just like that, he said, "Okay, that is where you will stay. I will put the new set of missionaries in the Red Bridge Ward." After he hung up, my mind raced through all of the factors and I kept second guessing my decision. I hadn't even asked Sister Hodson! Honestly, the Red Bridge Ward is the easier ward. Tracting actually works there. Stanley ward is the wealthy one. We talked it through, and I feel like I made the right decision. I am excited for both wards to have missionaries. Red Bridge Ward has so much potential that we haven't been able to tap yet. Elders would be able to tract hard there, and do a lot of good work. I think the ward is ready for elders again, too.
Stanley Ward requested sisters for years. They need more relationship building and referrals from members. The members love us, and everyone is missionary minded. They will help the missionaries more.
I am happy that the work has grown to the point where this can happen. I've done something good here! President Keyes at first implied that he wanted me to stay for another transfer (4 transfers with Sister Hodson!), but then he heard how long I've been here. I probably am getting moved next transfer. All of the changes will happen then.
Side note, Gladys Knight is doing a missionary devotional in Independence that surrounding missionaries get to invite investigators to. She's bringing her choir with her. I hope that I am transferred close enough to get to go!
Last Wednesday, I was driving, and sitting at the front of a left turn lane of a big intersection. Right in front of me, a teenage girl turned left into another car, causing an accident. Everyone was fine, but we stuck around to be witnesses. We got to talk to some people about what missionaries do while we were waiting.
On Saturday, we dropped by an teenage investigator's house in the hopes of getting to teach him. He saw us, and we all sat down in the living room. It turned out that we taught his pastor dad, who only speaks Spanish. The kids were translating for him. It was clear that he was a very intelligent man. He was very nice to us, and we had a good discussion. He said he would read the Book of Mormon. It was pretty intense. We'll see how that goes when we see them next. He gave us tickets to a huge celebration of the Independence day of Mexico in downtown Kansas City. The flyer was all in Spanish and had some hard core looking rappers on the front. I don't think we're allowed to go. But, he said someone from our church should go and hand out flyers. That is what his church is doing. So maybe we'll send someone.
A funny story of the week: We were tracting, which honestly is always awkward at first. We were trying to build a conversation with this 50ish year old man who was Lutheran. I felt that I had some spider web on me, so I looked down and brushed it off and said, "Sorry, I just have spider web on me..." so that I didn't look silly waving at the air.
Then Sister Hodson looked down (while my back was turned). Suddenly I heard, "Get it off of me! Sister Atkin, there is a spider on me! Do you see it? Do you see it? Get it!!!!" Panicked, she was hugging herself and staring down with wide eyes at the spider hanging from her clothes. It actually was pretty big--light brown with red stripes.
I picked up the man's newspaper (he was still looking on) and waved it around to get the spider on the ground and then madly hit at it with his newspaper, thoroughly killing it. I gently set the newspaper down, stepped on the spider for good measure, and the looked up at the man who had been silently watching.
"Um...Do you like geneology?" I asked. I quickly explained the Family History Card I pulled out of my bag and we left. When we walked away and his door closed, I just laughed and laughed. Sister Hodson was still hyperventilating. It was soooo awkward and sooooo funny.
On a different note, this week I have been studying the Law of Sacrifice. My perspective of is has entirely changed recently. Reading in the Bible Dictionary about Sacrifices and then reading Oak's talk from last conference helped. I am learning what it actually means. I find it very interesting.
Mom, I love your question. About 6 months ago in the VC I asked the very same question. What does the doctrine of the priesthood mean? I came to the conclusion that it is the knowledge of how to use and magnify that power in more and more righteous ways. When a man has virtuous thoughts, he will be more able to see ways he can use his priesthood to bless others. I know that it also works for women, and we can see more ways that the priesthood can bless us and how we can work under the direction and order of the priesthood (like in Relief Society) to bless others. The temple does help understanding. What do you think?
I do need more medicine (honestly I only have enough to last through tomorrow).
I am running out of time, but I love you all! I'm excited for this next week!
Also, I love Sister Hodson. We are great friends. You will have to meet her someday. :)
Love,
Sister Atkin
I have so much to tell you about this week!!!
First of all, I have to tell you that I have refound myself this week. It is a cycle every missionary goes through (and every person). It's just part of life. But I am very very happy. Mom, we do keep learning. Can a person who has been alive as long as you still learn new things? (that isn't an age joke) But really, I don't think I'll ever finish learning. I'll tell you some things I learned in with my stories of the week. :)
Okay, I can't wait. The big surprise of the week is that I went to Iola. :)
This has been in the works for a while now, but I didn't want to tell you until after it happened. A few weeks ago, we were in the home of the Stake Relief Society President. She mentioned that she was going out to visit Iola that week (Iola Ward is in our stake, the Olathe Stake). I got excited and told her and her husband that Iola is a very special place. They looked surprised, because it really is a little town. I told them the story. They got excited and said, "Well, we have to get you down there!"
I knew that it wasn't likely to happen, because it is about 2 hours away from where we live. It would be difficult to get permission from President Keyes to go, and I didn't really want to ask him for it. Last transfer, the elders there were disobedient and emergency transferred out. When I heard that there was no missionaries there anymore, I told President Keyes that I would love to serve there and told him the story. It didn't happen. He said my story was nice and moved on.
So I didn't really have hope of going there. But then the Crumrines got excited, and decided they could do something about it. So they called the bishop of the Iola ward and told him my story. He got excited and agreed that they had to get me down there somehow. He said it would be great if I would come speak in Sacrament Meeting there. When they told me that, I had no hope. I would have to miss our own church, which missionaries DON'T DO.
But it turns out that President Keyes owed the Iola bishop a favor. The bishop called President Keyes and specifically requested that I come down and speak in their ward. Then I recieved a phone call from President Keyes.
"Sister Atkin, I hear that you have been invited to speak in the Iola ward."
"Yes, President"
"Well that is so nice. I give you my full permission to go. You can tell them the story of your grandmother. Just don't make a day of it."
"Okay, President. Thank you!"
I can't believe he would let me go!
So they scheduled for me to speak in their ward (which I am sure they were grateful for anyway. Their ward is very small, so I am sure they hear from each other a lot) and asked Sister Crumrine to speak with me, which she was not excited about. So on Sunday, we left bright and early and it was a beautiful day. It took us about an hour and a half (he is a little bit of a scary driver). They have their own building out there, just for their little ward. Some people drive an hour to go to church. Everyone was so kind and welcoming and right away saw the new faces. The ward was made up of a lot of old, single women, some older couples, and two young families. And that was it.
I sat on the stand and just was so happy to look out over the faces of the small, close knit congregation. To imagine that there used to be no members here at all. It was a beautiful sight.
Here is a rough outline of my talk (obviously I filled it in more and added details and thoughts):
Introduced myself
The reason I am here today started about a hundred years ago when my ancestors moved to the area of Iola Kansas
But the real story begins in 1937 when my great grandfather (Leo Moss Renner) was on a business trip and had a stop in SLC. He toured temple square and received a Book of Mormon.
Ten years later, two elders topped on a street corner to pray to be led where to go
Next house--our house. She told them to come back that evening.
On May 23, 1948 Seven of the family were baptized, including my grandmother, who was 10.
(show picture) elder steed
They were the only members in Iola, so they moved to SLC
Sealed Oct 24, 1949
Lessons to be learned:
Know where you come from. The Lord did all of this for you!
Sometimes it takes time--10 years! It is in the Lord's time.
But the main lesson to be learned is the Ripple effect. Elder Steed--His only baptisms on his mission. One Family.
Family reunion about 10 years ago we met him. He was the happiest old man I have ever seen. From the one family of his whole mission he baptized, over 30 missionaries have gone out. The ripple effect continues. D&C 18:15-16
Missionary work is worth it!
It reminds me of the story of Abinadi and Alma, his one convert. But that grew. Mosiah 18:30 How beautiful Iola is to me!
The actions of one person is the difference
In 1820, there was a young boy... (I told the first vision story slowly and with detail and recited the first vision.)
What happened here in Iola changed my family. It has changed my life.
A while ago there was a poster in the ensign with a picture of the sacred grove. The caption read, "What happened here changed the world. Let it change your life." Let the ripple effect continue and change you.
Testimony
(Sorry that is so rough. That is basically word for word my notes). I looked out and everyone was looking at me and listening. Many people were crying. It was so powerful. I was filled with such clarity. It was amazing.
Afterwards most of the ward approached me to thank me. Many people shared their stories with me. One woman was balling saying that her story was almost the same--except they stayed. Her father was a post man in Iola, just like my great grandfather, but in the 1950's. She was so touched that she got my address so that we could stay in touch. I gave her both my mission and home addresses, so you might hear from her. I don't even remember her name, but she was so sweet.
Annie told me that she had found out their address of where they lived in Iola. 201 Elm Street. I don't know if it is true, and there is a N Elm St, S Elm St. and E Elm St., but we decided to try to find it. It wasn't on N Elm St., so we tried S Elm Street. And there it was. I don't know if it was the right house, but it looked old enough when we looked at the foundation (it has had siding put on it, though). So I got a picture with it (no one was home). It could be a random house, or it could be the right one. You'll have to ask grandma
.
We ate lunch, and headed home. It was a beautiful day. I was so grateful to get to go. It was neat because I felt so much peace about the whole thing. I got to go there. I feel like I fulfilled something that needed to happen. But going there, I also knew that it wasn't my calling to serve in that area. My mission is elsewhere. But now I will not have any regrets--I've seen it, and I know that I did all that I needed to.
Last week as I was preparing my talk, I was having a rough day. Sister Hodson and I weren't getting along. I had been fighting the lingering feeling that I wasn't doing enough and that God was disappointed with me. I felt like I wasn't living up to the potential that I had, and it was eating me up. So I prayed. And the first thing that came to my mind was our family story (which I had just been studying). It was almost as if God was telling me, "If I didn't love you, I wouldn't have done all of this for you to receive the gospel. I did all of this for you. For all of your family, but for you." I felt such peace. He knows where I am, He knows I am not perfect, and he still loves me. Ever since then, this week has been wonderful. :)
The other big news is that President Keyes has decided to split our area. The work has grown enough recently that he has decided to put a set of missionaries in each ward so we won't be double covering anymore. He called on Friday to tell me the news, and asked me which ward we had more connections with. My mind raced through all of the good and bad things about each ward. I told him we were more connected to the Stanley Ward. Just like that, he said, "Okay, that is where you will stay. I will put the new set of missionaries in the Red Bridge Ward." After he hung up, my mind raced through all of the factors and I kept second guessing my decision. I hadn't even asked Sister Hodson! Honestly, the Red Bridge Ward is the easier ward. Tracting actually works there. Stanley ward is the wealthy one. We talked it through, and I feel like I made the right decision. I am excited for both wards to have missionaries. Red Bridge Ward has so much potential that we haven't been able to tap yet. Elders would be able to tract hard there, and do a lot of good work. I think the ward is ready for elders again, too.
Stanley Ward requested sisters for years. They need more relationship building and referrals from members. The members love us, and everyone is missionary minded. They will help the missionaries more.
I am happy that the work has grown to the point where this can happen. I've done something good here! President Keyes at first implied that he wanted me to stay for another transfer (4 transfers with Sister Hodson!), but then he heard how long I've been here. I probably am getting moved next transfer. All of the changes will happen then.
Side note, Gladys Knight is doing a missionary devotional in Independence that surrounding missionaries get to invite investigators to. She's bringing her choir with her. I hope that I am transferred close enough to get to go!
Last Wednesday, I was driving, and sitting at the front of a left turn lane of a big intersection. Right in front of me, a teenage girl turned left into another car, causing an accident. Everyone was fine, but we stuck around to be witnesses. We got to talk to some people about what missionaries do while we were waiting.
On Saturday, we dropped by an teenage investigator's house in the hopes of getting to teach him. He saw us, and we all sat down in the living room. It turned out that we taught his pastor dad, who only speaks Spanish. The kids were translating for him. It was clear that he was a very intelligent man. He was very nice to us, and we had a good discussion. He said he would read the Book of Mormon. It was pretty intense. We'll see how that goes when we see them next. He gave us tickets to a huge celebration of the Independence day of Mexico in downtown Kansas City. The flyer was all in Spanish and had some hard core looking rappers on the front. I don't think we're allowed to go. But, he said someone from our church should go and hand out flyers. That is what his church is doing. So maybe we'll send someone.
A funny story of the week: We were tracting, which honestly is always awkward at first. We were trying to build a conversation with this 50ish year old man who was Lutheran. I felt that I had some spider web on me, so I looked down and brushed it off and said, "Sorry, I just have spider web on me..." so that I didn't look silly waving at the air.
Then Sister Hodson looked down (while my back was turned). Suddenly I heard, "Get it off of me! Sister Atkin, there is a spider on me! Do you see it? Do you see it? Get it!!!!" Panicked, she was hugging herself and staring down with wide eyes at the spider hanging from her clothes. It actually was pretty big--light brown with red stripes.
I picked up the man's newspaper (he was still looking on) and waved it around to get the spider on the ground and then madly hit at it with his newspaper, thoroughly killing it. I gently set the newspaper down, stepped on the spider for good measure, and the looked up at the man who had been silently watching.
"Um...Do you like geneology?" I asked. I quickly explained the Family History Card I pulled out of my bag and we left. When we walked away and his door closed, I just laughed and laughed. Sister Hodson was still hyperventilating. It was soooo awkward and sooooo funny.
On a different note, this week I have been studying the Law of Sacrifice. My perspective of is has entirely changed recently. Reading in the Bible Dictionary about Sacrifices and then reading Oak's talk from last conference helped. I am learning what it actually means. I find it very interesting.
Mom, I love your question. About 6 months ago in the VC I asked the very same question. What does the doctrine of the priesthood mean? I came to the conclusion that it is the knowledge of how to use and magnify that power in more and more righteous ways. When a man has virtuous thoughts, he will be more able to see ways he can use his priesthood to bless others. I know that it also works for women, and we can see more ways that the priesthood can bless us and how we can work under the direction and order of the priesthood (like in Relief Society) to bless others. The temple does help understanding. What do you think?
I do need more medicine (honestly I only have enough to last through tomorrow).
I am running out of time, but I love you all! I'm excited for this next week!
Also, I love Sister Hodson. We are great friends. You will have to meet her someday. :)
Love,
Sister Atkin
Uplifting Week
Dear Family,
This has been a wonderful week. I don't have very much time to type today, but I thought I would drop a line and give you a few updates (two days late).
We ended up only having one person at church. Everyone bailed. By Sunday morning we had in narrowed down to three, and then two didn't show. Yay for Jesse, who is brought by his active member foster parents. He doesn't have a choice but to come to church.
We got to go to the temple this last week with Megan to do baptisms. It was a wonderful day. The Kansas City temple is beautiful. She loved it. Then we stayed to do a session with our favorite members. I loved it. I felt like I was going through for the first time again. I felt so much peace and I felt more relaxed than I have in weeks.
Last Wednesday was our day of miracles. We taught 6 lessons in one day, which is unheard of in this area. We had a guy we met on the street call us to tell us he had been reading the Book of Mormon, and could we come over tonight to answer some of his questions? Why yes, we can. We ended up teaching his parents, too (he was 20), and it was wonderful.
We had Zone Conference this last week, too, and it went wonderfully. Halfway to Topeka we realized that there were sisters in Lawrence (which is half way to Topeka) that we could car pool with. So I ended up driving only 2 hours that day instead of 4 (and we had left over miles at the end of the month!)
It rained and rained on Friday, which was wonderful and very needed. I love the rain.
We went to Independence this last Sunday. It was great. We heard the testimony of a man who had been a drug dealer and was in and out of prison for years before he turned his life around. A lot of miracles happened while he was still in prison to help him know that this was the true church. He felt the spirit testify to him just from looking at the church's name on a pass along Bible (no footnotes or index) and he knew it was the right church. Crazy! He was baptized and is married to a member. They are going to be sealed next year. Turns out his experience in selling drugs actually has made him a great salesman and business man ("I had skills, they just weren't right."). The Atonement can reach anyone.
Yesterday I did an exchange to the Kaw River Ward, which is downtown KC, KS. It was an amazing day. Neither of us spoke Spanish (which is a problem), but we went to the black areas and made it work. We got a flat tire, so I got filthy laying on the ground to find a place to jack up the car. It turned out to be a miracle because we were right next to a less active's house that is good at that kind of thing, and happened to be sister to a lady we were trying to contact. It was a great day. They have cockroaches in their apartment, and it was SO HOT. But it was a great day. :) People actually talked to us! We saw miracles!
So anyway, I love you all, family. Sorry that this isn't longer. Next week's email will be much longer. We have some plans in the works that are going to be good. ;)
Love,
Sister Atkin
P.S. President Keyes is thinking about giving each ward their own missionaries. Wouldn't that be crazy?
This has been a wonderful week. I don't have very much time to type today, but I thought I would drop a line and give you a few updates (two days late).
We ended up only having one person at church. Everyone bailed. By Sunday morning we had in narrowed down to three, and then two didn't show. Yay for Jesse, who is brought by his active member foster parents. He doesn't have a choice but to come to church.
We got to go to the temple this last week with Megan to do baptisms. It was a wonderful day. The Kansas City temple is beautiful. She loved it. Then we stayed to do a session with our favorite members. I loved it. I felt like I was going through for the first time again. I felt so much peace and I felt more relaxed than I have in weeks.
Last Wednesday was our day of miracles. We taught 6 lessons in one day, which is unheard of in this area. We had a guy we met on the street call us to tell us he had been reading the Book of Mormon, and could we come over tonight to answer some of his questions? Why yes, we can. We ended up teaching his parents, too (he was 20), and it was wonderful.
We had Zone Conference this last week, too, and it went wonderfully. Halfway to Topeka we realized that there were sisters in Lawrence (which is half way to Topeka) that we could car pool with. So I ended up driving only 2 hours that day instead of 4 (and we had left over miles at the end of the month!)
It rained and rained on Friday, which was wonderful and very needed. I love the rain.
We went to Independence this last Sunday. It was great. We heard the testimony of a man who had been a drug dealer and was in and out of prison for years before he turned his life around. A lot of miracles happened while he was still in prison to help him know that this was the true church. He felt the spirit testify to him just from looking at the church's name on a pass along Bible (no footnotes or index) and he knew it was the right church. Crazy! He was baptized and is married to a member. They are going to be sealed next year. Turns out his experience in selling drugs actually has made him a great salesman and business man ("I had skills, they just weren't right."). The Atonement can reach anyone.
Yesterday I did an exchange to the Kaw River Ward, which is downtown KC, KS. It was an amazing day. Neither of us spoke Spanish (which is a problem), but we went to the black areas and made it work. We got a flat tire, so I got filthy laying on the ground to find a place to jack up the car. It turned out to be a miracle because we were right next to a less active's house that is good at that kind of thing, and happened to be sister to a lady we were trying to contact. It was a great day. They have cockroaches in their apartment, and it was SO HOT. But it was a great day. :) People actually talked to us! We saw miracles!
So anyway, I love you all, family. Sorry that this isn't longer. Next week's email will be much longer. We have some plans in the works that are going to be good. ;)
Love,
Sister Atkin
P.S. President Keyes is thinking about giving each ward their own missionaries. Wouldn't that be crazy?
Put Your Hands Up and Enjoy the Roller Coaster
Dearest Family,
What a week. We had some awesome days, and we had some really discouraging days. We just have to keep it all in perspective.
Last Tuesday was an awesome day. We met some amazing people. There is one part of our area that has a lot of potential. Tracting actually works there. The thing is, it is the absolute farthest away possible part of our area from where we live, so we don't have the miles to go there every day. Sadly. But we found some really cool people there that we are excited to teach. One is a friend of a young man in our ward, so he's been to church before and he already has a Book of Mormon. His dad is a Pastor, so I don't know how far this will go, but he's excited to learn more about our faith (out of curiosity I think) and his parents are up for it, so we're excited. We also met a man who apparently met with missionaries before. He loves the church and the missionaries. He had never been to church, though, and it sounds like they never really got into teaching him, so we are excited to go back this week. He was really nice. He's excited to come to church. We should have a bajillion people at church next week because of how many people said they couldn't until September 2nd. We should have 8 individuals (not families) coming that Sunday. We'll see what happens (not that many will come, but hope for the best).
We also met some crazy people this week, including a guy that is an alien conspiracy theorist. He thinks there are pyramids on the dark side of the moon, and that God is just our description of a higher intelligence that is flying around somewhere in a UFO. Towards the end of our conversation he starting bouncing up and down and pacing. Finally he walked off saying he had to go have a smoke. Sad life.
I think I told you last week about the atheist we tracted into last week. Well, he had a lot of questions that we couldn't answer via text, so we met with him again this week. I felt like we were being interviewed. He had a pad of paper and a pen and everything, and he used to have a radio show. Anyway, we were able to explain doctrine clearly and bear testimony powerfully. The spirit was definitely there. Our team up was perfect, too. We were lovingly bold. He isn't searching right now, so it isn't going anywhere for now, but I told him that when he comes to a point in his life when he is searching again to remember that prayer is the way that he will know. It was good.
Church was good yesterday. We don't really have a chance to eat before dinner on Sundays, so I started to feel really strange in church. I made it through on mints and granola bars, but we might have to figure out a different solution when we are at church from 7 until 4. It's rough. We have also been having some drama with one of our Ward Mission Leaders (he seems to have a personal problem with me), but we are going to make him cookies today. Hopefully things will improve one way or another (him getting released, or him forgiving us, or just me eventually getting transferred). The problem is that I have a lot of new ideas and I change things around when people are comfortable. I can see that that would be annoying, but I know it was necessary in this case.
We met an awesome Part Member Family yesterday that we are really excited about. They are such nice people! He's been taught before, but the missionaries from then left a note that we should keep trying and gain his trust. We hope to see them again soon. He was so nice. It's cool because at church there were two part member families (including the nonmember spouse) and a youth brought a friend. Now we just need to tap into that!
So life is good as a missionary. Sister Hodson and I are really good friends. I really love her. Some days we don't get along at all, but most of the time, we're best friends.
This week we are having Zone Conference in Topeka, so I get to drive for two hours there, and two hours back. It will be a crazy day, leaving at 5:30 in the morning. Hopefully we can track down some general conference CDs to listen to in the car.
Besides all of that, we have a great week planned. life is good. :)
Family, have a wonderful week! I love you!
Love,
Sister Atkin
What a week. We had some awesome days, and we had some really discouraging days. We just have to keep it all in perspective.
Last Tuesday was an awesome day. We met some amazing people. There is one part of our area that has a lot of potential. Tracting actually works there. The thing is, it is the absolute farthest away possible part of our area from where we live, so we don't have the miles to go there every day. Sadly. But we found some really cool people there that we are excited to teach. One is a friend of a young man in our ward, so he's been to church before and he already has a Book of Mormon. His dad is a Pastor, so I don't know how far this will go, but he's excited to learn more about our faith (out of curiosity I think) and his parents are up for it, so we're excited. We also met a man who apparently met with missionaries before. He loves the church and the missionaries. He had never been to church, though, and it sounds like they never really got into teaching him, so we are excited to go back this week. He was really nice. He's excited to come to church. We should have a bajillion people at church next week because of how many people said they couldn't until September 2nd. We should have 8 individuals (not families) coming that Sunday. We'll see what happens (not that many will come, but hope for the best).
We also met some crazy people this week, including a guy that is an alien conspiracy theorist. He thinks there are pyramids on the dark side of the moon, and that God is just our description of a higher intelligence that is flying around somewhere in a UFO. Towards the end of our conversation he starting bouncing up and down and pacing. Finally he walked off saying he had to go have a smoke. Sad life.
I think I told you last week about the atheist we tracted into last week. Well, he had a lot of questions that we couldn't answer via text, so we met with him again this week. I felt like we were being interviewed. He had a pad of paper and a pen and everything, and he used to have a radio show. Anyway, we were able to explain doctrine clearly and bear testimony powerfully. The spirit was definitely there. Our team up was perfect, too. We were lovingly bold. He isn't searching right now, so it isn't going anywhere for now, but I told him that when he comes to a point in his life when he is searching again to remember that prayer is the way that he will know. It was good.
Church was good yesterday. We don't really have a chance to eat before dinner on Sundays, so I started to feel really strange in church. I made it through on mints and granola bars, but we might have to figure out a different solution when we are at church from 7 until 4. It's rough. We have also been having some drama with one of our Ward Mission Leaders (he seems to have a personal problem with me), but we are going to make him cookies today. Hopefully things will improve one way or another (him getting released, or him forgiving us, or just me eventually getting transferred). The problem is that I have a lot of new ideas and I change things around when people are comfortable. I can see that that would be annoying, but I know it was necessary in this case.
We met an awesome Part Member Family yesterday that we are really excited about. They are such nice people! He's been taught before, but the missionaries from then left a note that we should keep trying and gain his trust. We hope to see them again soon. He was so nice. It's cool because at church there were two part member families (including the nonmember spouse) and a youth brought a friend. Now we just need to tap into that!
So life is good as a missionary. Sister Hodson and I are really good friends. I really love her. Some days we don't get along at all, but most of the time, we're best friends.
This week we are having Zone Conference in Topeka, so I get to drive for two hours there, and two hours back. It will be a crazy day, leaving at 5:30 in the morning. Hopefully we can track down some general conference CDs to listen to in the car.
Besides all of that, we have a great week planned. life is good. :)
Family, have a wonderful week! I love you!
Love,
Sister Atkin
Still in Kansas
Dear Family,
It has been another good week. As you probably gathered from the subject of my email, I am still in the same place! Still in Overland Park for another 6 weeks! I'm glad. I really thought and prayed about it, and I decided that I wanted to stay. And then it happened. Sister Hodson and I aren't done here. There is still things for us to do together. There are still somethings that I want to help her with, and we have some investigators I'm glad to still be here for. It was fun to see how many people celebrated that I stayed. It is nice to be loved. :)
Jesse is for sure being baptized on September 28th. We are very happy he set a solid baptism date that his foster parents would agree to. That is my one year mark, and two days after I probably will really be transferred. If I am sent back to one of the visitors' centers (which is 99% likely) I will be close enough to get a ride to come back for the baptism, so we are planning on that. His foster family will more than likely be willing to come get me (considering that I have the feeling that they want me as a future daughter-in-law intended for their son who was my Zone Leader in the MTC. Maybe we are imagining things, but it sure looks that way....) They are also trying to rig a way for me to go to Iola, but I don't think it will work out. It is close to 2 hours away from here. I don't think President Keyes would give permission.
Megan is doing great. We saw her this week, and she is still glowing. I sure do love her. She wrote me the sweetest letter. We are really really hoping to go to the temple with her soon. I miss the temple so much! It will be great.
Last P-Day we went with her and her cousin to Deanna Rose, the Children's Farmstead (petting zoo) that we volunteer at every week. We hadn't seen the whole thing, so we decided it would be fun. We can go to zoos, so we did. We bottle fed the goats. Sister Hodson got little hoof prints all over her skirt, and some milk slobber. It was hilarious.
We did have a bad night on Wednesday this week. We dropped by an investigator's house to see if we could teach her. Her mom answered the door (as always) so we ended up talking to her instead. It was dark out, and someone upstairs was loudly watching a murder horror movie. You know how I am with scary/intense movies. I can't do it! So I sat there, dying just from hearing it. I mentally shut down, and started humming Joseph's First Prayer and rhythmically petting the cat. Sister Hodson stepped up (not seeming to understand me elbowing her), and calmly, slowly taught a lesson. When we left, I burst into tears. She had no idea what for until I explained it to her. She hadn't even noticed! Anyway, it wasn't fun. I slept badly, and then I was stressed-sick and a little crazy in the morning. A nap at lunch time helped me shake it off, so I was okay. But I don't really look forward to seeing movies at all after my mission. I wasn't even good at it then...now I'll be even worse...
Sister Hodson and I had a few rough patches this week, but I am glad they happened, because we learned from them and will be better missionaries and companions now. I really do love her, and I'm glad I stayed. We work well together and we will be friends when we get home (we joke that we would be better friends than companions).
We tracted into this cool guy named Andrew. First thing, he warned us that he was a hard core atheist. He used to be Baptist, but then he studied about the origins of the Bible and Judaism and now can't believe any of it is true. He was very nice and conversational. he was educated, thought out, and willing to listen. It was nice. It was interesting because we've run into people who do believe in the Bible strictly because of evidence, and he was unconvinced because of evidence. Both groups are basing their faith (or lack of faith) on evidence. They came to opposite conclusions. To me, it just shows that you can't base faith on evidence. People can always find evidence to support what they already believe (we do it too!). That is why real intent is important (a willingness to be wrong in pursuit of the right or true answer). And most of all, that is why we need to ask God what is true. The Holy Ghost is real.
Andrew texted us two days later thanking us for coming over, and mentioned that he had read the three chapters I had recommended! That never happens! So we are staying in texting contact with him, and maybe someday his heart will soften. :)
We had some changes in our Zone. It was a good thing. I really like the new elders that came in. I think it will help our district and zone stay more focused. Good elders make a huge difference.
On Saturday, we had a dinner problem. It was hilarious. We had scheduled two dinners for ourselves--knowingly. They were both Part Member Families, so it was worth the sacrifice of feeling really sick. One of them cancelled that afternoon, which we were disappointed because we really wanted to see them (but she had a migraine). Not 3 minutes after she cancelled, we got a call from a less active that we had scheduled dinner with a month ago--she was expecting to feed us that night! At the very time that the other dinner fell through at! Well, we had just made an opening for her, so it fell into place. When I hung up the phone after saying, "Of course! Yes! It is in our plans to come over tonight!" we laughed and laughed. It was just too perfect. God protected us from having three dinners.
They rescheduled to have us for dinner the next day (so we were going to have two dinners two days in a row), but she still wasn't feeling up to it. But we survived! We practiced portion control, and didn't get sick. I didn't eat very much the next day, but we're doing good. :)
Well, this is taking too long. Life is good. :)
Have a great week! We will, too!
Love,
Sister Atkin
It has been another good week. As you probably gathered from the subject of my email, I am still in the same place! Still in Overland Park for another 6 weeks! I'm glad. I really thought and prayed about it, and I decided that I wanted to stay. And then it happened. Sister Hodson and I aren't done here. There is still things for us to do together. There are still somethings that I want to help her with, and we have some investigators I'm glad to still be here for. It was fun to see how many people celebrated that I stayed. It is nice to be loved. :)
Jesse is for sure being baptized on September 28th. We are very happy he set a solid baptism date that his foster parents would agree to. That is my one year mark, and two days after I probably will really be transferred. If I am sent back to one of the visitors' centers (which is 99% likely) I will be close enough to get a ride to come back for the baptism, so we are planning on that. His foster family will more than likely be willing to come get me (considering that I have the feeling that they want me as a future daughter-in-law intended for their son who was my Zone Leader in the MTC. Maybe we are imagining things, but it sure looks that way....) They are also trying to rig a way for me to go to Iola, but I don't think it will work out. It is close to 2 hours away from here. I don't think President Keyes would give permission.
Megan is doing great. We saw her this week, and she is still glowing. I sure do love her. She wrote me the sweetest letter. We are really really hoping to go to the temple with her soon. I miss the temple so much! It will be great.
Last P-Day we went with her and her cousin to Deanna Rose, the Children's Farmstead (petting zoo) that we volunteer at every week. We hadn't seen the whole thing, so we decided it would be fun. We can go to zoos, so we did. We bottle fed the goats. Sister Hodson got little hoof prints all over her skirt, and some milk slobber. It was hilarious.
We did have a bad night on Wednesday this week. We dropped by an investigator's house to see if we could teach her. Her mom answered the door (as always) so we ended up talking to her instead. It was dark out, and someone upstairs was loudly watching a murder horror movie. You know how I am with scary/intense movies. I can't do it! So I sat there, dying just from hearing it. I mentally shut down, and started humming Joseph's First Prayer and rhythmically petting the cat. Sister Hodson stepped up (not seeming to understand me elbowing her), and calmly, slowly taught a lesson. When we left, I burst into tears. She had no idea what for until I explained it to her. She hadn't even noticed! Anyway, it wasn't fun. I slept badly, and then I was stressed-sick and a little crazy in the morning. A nap at lunch time helped me shake it off, so I was okay. But I don't really look forward to seeing movies at all after my mission. I wasn't even good at it then...now I'll be even worse...
Sister Hodson and I had a few rough patches this week, but I am glad they happened, because we learned from them and will be better missionaries and companions now. I really do love her, and I'm glad I stayed. We work well together and we will be friends when we get home (we joke that we would be better friends than companions).
We tracted into this cool guy named Andrew. First thing, he warned us that he was a hard core atheist. He used to be Baptist, but then he studied about the origins of the Bible and Judaism and now can't believe any of it is true. He was very nice and conversational. he was educated, thought out, and willing to listen. It was nice. It was interesting because we've run into people who do believe in the Bible strictly because of evidence, and he was unconvinced because of evidence. Both groups are basing their faith (or lack of faith) on evidence. They came to opposite conclusions. To me, it just shows that you can't base faith on evidence. People can always find evidence to support what they already believe (we do it too!). That is why real intent is important (a willingness to be wrong in pursuit of the right or true answer). And most of all, that is why we need to ask God what is true. The Holy Ghost is real.
Andrew texted us two days later thanking us for coming over, and mentioned that he had read the three chapters I had recommended! That never happens! So we are staying in texting contact with him, and maybe someday his heart will soften. :)
We had some changes in our Zone. It was a good thing. I really like the new elders that came in. I think it will help our district and zone stay more focused. Good elders make a huge difference.
On Saturday, we had a dinner problem. It was hilarious. We had scheduled two dinners for ourselves--knowingly. They were both Part Member Families, so it was worth the sacrifice of feeling really sick. One of them cancelled that afternoon, which we were disappointed because we really wanted to see them (but she had a migraine). Not 3 minutes after she cancelled, we got a call from a less active that we had scheduled dinner with a month ago--she was expecting to feed us that night! At the very time that the other dinner fell through at! Well, we had just made an opening for her, so it fell into place. When I hung up the phone after saying, "Of course! Yes! It is in our plans to come over tonight!" we laughed and laughed. It was just too perfect. God protected us from having three dinners.
They rescheduled to have us for dinner the next day (so we were going to have two dinners two days in a row), but she still wasn't feeling up to it. But we survived! We practiced portion control, and didn't get sick. I didn't eat very much the next day, but we're doing good. :)
Well, this is taking too long. Life is good. :)
Have a great week! We will, too!
Love,
Sister Atkin
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
I'm a Grandma!
Dearest Family,
What a great week. I am just super happy to be a missionary. We had some fun adventures this week.
First of all, thank you for sending me that medicine. :) I see a difference already.
Last Monday was a fun P-Day. We spent part of it with Megan and Carmen, which was fun. The Christensons (the family I hit it off with), sent Carmen with money to take us out to lunch to their favorite restaurant. I thought, no big deal, but it turned out to be to the nicest restaurant I have ever been to. They specialize in fish from around the world. It was a really pricey, really nice, really yummy lunch. It kind of blew my mind. But then I realized that it was their way of showing Sister Hodson and I that they loved us. I'm beginning to understand wealth in a way I hadn't ever before. I still don't understand showing someone love by spending lots of money on them, but I'm beginning to. I tried to be really overly thankful. What nice people. They said we "deserved it".
This week was the Johnson County Fair. We had a booth, which was really fun. The missionaries that live in the county took shifts manning the booth. We had a ton of materials, a TV playing mormon messages, and handed out free popcorn. We didn't get any referrals when we were on shift (but we were on in the morning when it was slow), but we did plant some seeds. The building our booth was in was right next to the shed with all of the sheep. It brought back some good memories. It was just like home.
We tried to see Ed, the man who we had the miracle lesson with last week, but we haven't been able to get a hold of him. We are sad about it, but we will keep trying. We have hope.
On Wednesday night there was a short crazy storm. We were in a lesson during most of it (the window was behind us, which was very distracting to our teachee), so we weren't out in it. When we went to leave the lesson, we found that one of the streets in the apartment complex was entirely blocked by a huge branch that had been ripped off by the wind (it was partially rotted, which you wouldn't know until it fell). We got some help and moved it and made it home on time.
The next morning we got a phone call from a random number. It was a woman with a thick accent telling us that her mother, who is elderly, had a branch down in her yard, and that she gave her this number to call for someone to help move it. We don't know how she had our number, but we agreed to help. That afternoon we tried to get someone to come with us to help (someone with tools), but everyone was at work, so we decided to put on our jeans and drive over there to see if we could just handle it ourselves. After all, we had just conquered that huge branch the night before.
We got to the house, and the woman there was very happy to see us. It was an elderly Iranian woman. She kept hugging and kissing us and saying, "I love you. I love you." She had us sit down. She LOVED Sister Hodson because she looked just like her grand daughter. She brought out a picture, and you know, if Sister Hodson had black hair and black eyebrows, she really did look just like her!
Anyway, after force feeding us banana bread, she showed us the branch in her back yard.
It was HUGE.
like, GINORMOUS.
She had a very large tree that grew through a cut out hole in her deck. A branch the size of a large three had broken off about 25 feet off the ground, but it still hung there. The rest of the branch had crashed down, breaking parts of the deck (does that give you the image of how large it was?). Here we were, two sister missionaries in jeans with no tools, by ourselves. There was NO WAY we could help. So we went inside and she asked how soon we could get people from our church to come help with tools (she knew all along we couldn't really handle it). I thought about how convenient it would be to have Jessica and her chain saw with us right then.
She then showed us a stack of cards. She had at least three or four pass along cards with Elders' names on them from years ago. There hasn't been elders here for at least two years. They were old cards, but our phone number is the same. It sounds like she was very impressed by them, and she remember that if she needed help, she could call them. So moral of the story, you never know how long your impact will stick around.
We made some phone calls and set up for some of the elders quorum to come help the next day. She was very grateful ("I love you, I love you.") We left, laughing at ourselves that we had thought we could do that by ourselves. It ended up not happening because this woman's daughter was very suspicious of us, and found someone else to do it. Oh, well.
The next day we went on exchanges. I went to Lawrence, Kansas (where KU is. Everyone around here is a Jay Hawk fan.) and spent the day with Sister Lewis. It was so fun to be back together! We teach so well together. We really enjoyed being companions again for the day and catching up. She is really an amazing missionary. I learned a lot from her that day. We saw some miracles, and she rebuilt some of my faith in tracting (which has been totally demolished in Overland Park. I have to admit that knocking on a multi-million dollar home is kind of intimidating. They don't expect people to bother them).
While we were together, she got a phone call from the Assistants. She was called to be a trainer! I was so glad to be there, her mother, for that moment. She will be a great trainer. I'm so proud of her. I'm going to be a grandmother. :) The Elders told me that in the Trainers' meeting, President Keyes said, "Do you know why you are here?" and pointing at Sister Lewis "Because you had a great trainer." I really don't think I did that much for Sister Lewis, but I'm glad that President Keyes trusts me. I do want to train again, but I don't think it will be for a little while. Sister Hodson said he talked me up a lot when she came. It sounds like bragging, but really it is just nice to know I am doing something right sometimes.
Megan's baptism was the highlight of this week. :) We saw her almost every day. It was really exciting. Everything went great, and it was a beautiful day. Her whole family came, including her inactive mom and dad, and her nonmember step dad and siblings. They all came. Megan glowed. Her mom cried. Megan's grandpa (who is the one who baptized her older brothers before they went inactive) was supposed to come, but he isn't in great health, and he fell that morning. It was really sad, but Megan said when she saw him, he was just most happy because she got baptized. He didn't make it to the confirmation, either, which he was supposed to be the one to perform. But Megan took it well and was more worried about him than she was disappointed. They asked her to bear her testimony in Sacrament Meeting, and she made us all cry. It was a beautiful day. I am just so happy for her. This will change the course of her whole life. The Young Women have really accepted her, and the whole ward has been welcoming. I love baptisms. :) She did have to get dunked twice because her knee came up, and Collin (her cousin who baptized her) forgot extra underwear, but it is all good. We are all very happy. :)
I think those are the main highlights of the week. Life is good. :)
Love,
Sister Atkin
What a great week. I am just super happy to be a missionary. We had some fun adventures this week.
First of all, thank you for sending me that medicine. :) I see a difference already.
Last Monday was a fun P-Day. We spent part of it with Megan and Carmen, which was fun. The Christensons (the family I hit it off with), sent Carmen with money to take us out to lunch to their favorite restaurant. I thought, no big deal, but it turned out to be to the nicest restaurant I have ever been to. They specialize in fish from around the world. It was a really pricey, really nice, really yummy lunch. It kind of blew my mind. But then I realized that it was their way of showing Sister Hodson and I that they loved us. I'm beginning to understand wealth in a way I hadn't ever before. I still don't understand showing someone love by spending lots of money on them, but I'm beginning to. I tried to be really overly thankful. What nice people. They said we "deserved it".
This week was the Johnson County Fair. We had a booth, which was really fun. The missionaries that live in the county took shifts manning the booth. We had a ton of materials, a TV playing mormon messages, and handed out free popcorn. We didn't get any referrals when we were on shift (but we were on in the morning when it was slow), but we did plant some seeds. The building our booth was in was right next to the shed with all of the sheep. It brought back some good memories. It was just like home.
We tried to see Ed, the man who we had the miracle lesson with last week, but we haven't been able to get a hold of him. We are sad about it, but we will keep trying. We have hope.
On Wednesday night there was a short crazy storm. We were in a lesson during most of it (the window was behind us, which was very distracting to our teachee), so we weren't out in it. When we went to leave the lesson, we found that one of the streets in the apartment complex was entirely blocked by a huge branch that had been ripped off by the wind (it was partially rotted, which you wouldn't know until it fell). We got some help and moved it and made it home on time.
The next morning we got a phone call from a random number. It was a woman with a thick accent telling us that her mother, who is elderly, had a branch down in her yard, and that she gave her this number to call for someone to help move it. We don't know how she had our number, but we agreed to help. That afternoon we tried to get someone to come with us to help (someone with tools), but everyone was at work, so we decided to put on our jeans and drive over there to see if we could just handle it ourselves. After all, we had just conquered that huge branch the night before.
We got to the house, and the woman there was very happy to see us. It was an elderly Iranian woman. She kept hugging and kissing us and saying, "I love you. I love you." She had us sit down. She LOVED Sister Hodson because she looked just like her grand daughter. She brought out a picture, and you know, if Sister Hodson had black hair and black eyebrows, she really did look just like her!
Anyway, after force feeding us banana bread, she showed us the branch in her back yard.
It was HUGE.
like, GINORMOUS.
She had a very large tree that grew through a cut out hole in her deck. A branch the size of a large three had broken off about 25 feet off the ground, but it still hung there. The rest of the branch had crashed down, breaking parts of the deck (does that give you the image of how large it was?). Here we were, two sister missionaries in jeans with no tools, by ourselves. There was NO WAY we could help. So we went inside and she asked how soon we could get people from our church to come help with tools (she knew all along we couldn't really handle it). I thought about how convenient it would be to have Jessica and her chain saw with us right then.
She then showed us a stack of cards. She had at least three or four pass along cards with Elders' names on them from years ago. There hasn't been elders here for at least two years. They were old cards, but our phone number is the same. It sounds like she was very impressed by them, and she remember that if she needed help, she could call them. So moral of the story, you never know how long your impact will stick around.
We made some phone calls and set up for some of the elders quorum to come help the next day. She was very grateful ("I love you, I love you.") We left, laughing at ourselves that we had thought we could do that by ourselves. It ended up not happening because this woman's daughter was very suspicious of us, and found someone else to do it. Oh, well.
The next day we went on exchanges. I went to Lawrence, Kansas (where KU is. Everyone around here is a Jay Hawk fan.) and spent the day with Sister Lewis. It was so fun to be back together! We teach so well together. We really enjoyed being companions again for the day and catching up. She is really an amazing missionary. I learned a lot from her that day. We saw some miracles, and she rebuilt some of my faith in tracting (which has been totally demolished in Overland Park. I have to admit that knocking on a multi-million dollar home is kind of intimidating. They don't expect people to bother them).
While we were together, she got a phone call from the Assistants. She was called to be a trainer! I was so glad to be there, her mother, for that moment. She will be a great trainer. I'm so proud of her. I'm going to be a grandmother. :) The Elders told me that in the Trainers' meeting, President Keyes said, "Do you know why you are here?" and pointing at Sister Lewis "Because you had a great trainer." I really don't think I did that much for Sister Lewis, but I'm glad that President Keyes trusts me. I do want to train again, but I don't think it will be for a little while. Sister Hodson said he talked me up a lot when she came. It sounds like bragging, but really it is just nice to know I am doing something right sometimes.
Megan's baptism was the highlight of this week. :) We saw her almost every day. It was really exciting. Everything went great, and it was a beautiful day. Her whole family came, including her inactive mom and dad, and her nonmember step dad and siblings. They all came. Megan glowed. Her mom cried. Megan's grandpa (who is the one who baptized her older brothers before they went inactive) was supposed to come, but he isn't in great health, and he fell that morning. It was really sad, but Megan said when she saw him, he was just most happy because she got baptized. He didn't make it to the confirmation, either, which he was supposed to be the one to perform. But Megan took it well and was more worried about him than she was disappointed. They asked her to bear her testimony in Sacrament Meeting, and she made us all cry. It was a beautiful day. I am just so happy for her. This will change the course of her whole life. The Young Women have really accepted her, and the whole ward has been welcoming. I love baptisms. :) She did have to get dunked twice because her knee came up, and Collin (her cousin who baptized her) forgot extra underwear, but it is all good. We are all very happy. :)
I think those are the main highlights of the week. Life is good. :)
Love,
Sister Atkin
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