Hi guys, I still have no pictures but Brittany is going to help me this week so if all goes well you can see what she did while in Provo at the MTC and then if she sends more next week, we will be up to date! Thanks for your support of her. Dawn
hello all!
Today the sun is shining and is just one of those days you can't
help but smile!
A big shout out to those who have written me letters and who
commented on the ol' blog posts. Thanks! (my mom even forwarded me the zorz from
Colton. Scotts-love you and hope you're doing well! Sar-love you! Write me!)
Taylor is your competition this week? Good luck! Kel-heard you asked mom what to
send me, haha--Gum! We chew it during our studies. Thanks so much! Love and miss
you all!
I forgot my journal at home, so lets see what I can remember from
this week!
-yes mom, our apartment is furnished. and yes we get fed almost
every night :) we pass around that meal calendar at church until it's full,
haha. We get a lot of pizza and soups and spaghetti from the young singles and
lots of creative dishes from the young marrieds. We even have gotten swiped into
the cafeteria at the dorms :) Sis. Barney is a health nut and she is keeping me
healthy. Except she never eats the candy we get....aka more for me. haha, just
kidding--we give candy to everyone! we leave it on doorsteps, give it to
investigators, hand it out on campus, etc. Candy is the way to people's hearts.
Also, Sis. Barney let me graduate to running out in the real world. The
(c)ankles are really holding up, haha and I actually enjoy running now.
(#miracleshappen. oh and yes, I still make my bed every morning :D ) We see so
many homeless people. This one homeless guy we run past every morning, we
need to be friends because we see him every day. It is hilarious to watch
people's reactions as two tall white girls run past them at 6:30 in the morning
and quite cheerfully say hello or good morning. People think that people in L.A.
are mean, but really they just are too passionate with the car horn. People are
generally really nice to us. One woman in the laundromat this morning randomly
told me I had beautiful complexion, haha...and I have rosatia!
-we had
another young woman serve as a mini missionary this weekend! She may or may not have taught some false
doctrine in one of our lessons, haha, but it was so fun to have her!
-we
spoke in church yesterday, haha. missionary work was the topic. obviously. I
talked about how "every member a missionary" really means every member is a
disciple of Christ. Part of our covenant or promise we make at baptism is to
stand as a witness of God at all times, in all things, and in all places. I
might have Christ's name literally written on the bottom of my name badge but when we are
baptized we all promise to write His name on our hearts. We are disciples or
learners of Him. We are all learning and trying to become like Him and to say,
do, invite, serve and testify as He would.
I feel like I haven't really told
you much about Sister Barney. We get along so well. We love working and we love
people and we love teaching and we love laughing and we love the LDS singer, Alex Boye. "This
companionship really is a trio--me, you, and Al." Remember how I found that 90s
pop cd of Alex Boye doing hymn covers like he was a Backstreet Boy? All day.
Everyday.
Yesterday in the UCLA ward council, it was so fulfilling to see
their surprised faces by how much work we are doing. I love working on campus.
-Ashley is doing well! We met with her a couple of times anddddd she came to
church! My favorite lesson we had this week with her was when we addressed her
concerns about baptism and watched lots of Mormon Messages videos and talked a lot
about faith. I love that girl so much. She is telling her Mom tonight about
being baptized on March 9 or 10 so keep her (and her Mom) in your prayers!
-Allan. Oh Allan. I get so passionate about the gospel in our lessons with
him. Sister Barney said after one of our lessons with him this week that all of
my experiences in life help me with teach him and explain things to him. (shout
out to growing up in the Bible Belt ;) ) We talked about the Book of Mormon a
lot in our two lessons this week. We talked about the Book of Mormon logically
(using that "essay assignment" thing Dad did once? It was in a book Mom gave me.
It basically talks about how it's impossible that it was made up by Joseph
Smith) and then how we have to understand it spiritually and watched the
Restoration dvd. I basically tell him in every lesson that I refuse to give up
on him, haha. He asks deep questions and I love studying in the mornings so I
can be super prepared for our lessons with him.
-Kent! Kent is a new
investigator who is from Salt Lake (go figure), but he never took the lessons
from the missionaries. He has Aspergers (sp?) and is super smart and super
sweet. He is really dedicated to school and struggles making time, but he has
felt the Spirit and keeps saying "it all makes sense". Love him.
-Kelly. Have
I told you about her before? She is a sweetheart whose best friend is Mormon.
She comes to church almost every week and basically lives a Mormon life, but
doesn't want to be baptized because she thinks that confirmation will come
naturally rather then really working for it. She's a tough one. :)
Is that
too much information about some of our investigators? I hope that isn't too
much. We talk about having that desire to know all the time. Lots of the time
people don't know what they are missing.
We are struggling finding people to
teach in the Young Single Adult Ward. Some of our UCLA students can go to the YSA ward instead.
It's hard to place people. We are doing lots and lots of work with less actives
in the YSA ward which I definitely love, but we are praying that we can finally
contact one of our several referrals for that ward (nobody picks up the phone
and nobody is ever home. we even leave sweet notes and chocolate. :) )
-this
week was the first time I have knocked on the door and knew the person saw us
and hid in the back so she didn't have to answer, hahaha. Oh mercy.
-oh oh
oh 58 new missions world wide?! HOW EXCITING.
-I love working hard and I'm
determined to make better use of all of our time. The days when we are so tired we crawl into
bed are my favorite. The other days where we have to sit in meetings and only
can have a couple of appointments I get anxious.
-I'm particularly grateful
for the Priesthood this week. And the Gospel Principles book explains things so
well
-I didn't see any celebrities from the Oscars, haha We stayed away from
that part of town yesterday.
I'm just so happy and grateful today! I love you
all so much! Remember to smile and to pray :)
Thanks for everything!
Make it a great week!
Love,
Sister Atkinson :)
p.s. lots of
pictures will be sent home on my card next week. stay tuned :) Mom did you ever
figure out how to post them? I left instructions on that page... Oh and tell
Ashley thanks so much for her package!!!!!!!!!
Monday, February 25, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
'O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever."
Sorry guys, I have not yet been taught how to post her pictures. Hopefully I will learn soon. Dawn
HELLO ALL!!!!!
Time flew this week.
The scripture in my subject line is one of my new favorites (2 Nephi 4:34) and it goes along with Isaiah 26:4 and Proverbs 3:4-6. New life motto. Trust in the Lord. It will all work out. :)
Sorry if I came off preachy last week, I'll be much more reserved this week, haha.
-Picture of Dad walking across Summers Street in the rain in newspaper was hilarious.
-The other day I was standing on the street waiting to get in the car and this giant white van speedily drove past us. The sliding door was open and this girl was hanging out of the door and called to us , "we ain't on crack." when she saw my surprised expression, she gave out the funniest cackle I have ever heard. "HEH. HEH. HEH." At that moment, I thought, "this is real life. this is not a youtube video. this is my life. ohhh mercy, my life stinkin rocks." yeah. never a dull moment in L.A. :)
-Eclipse gum car cup? Helped Sister Barney and I survive our studies and plannings the past two weeks. (we only chew gum in our apartment).
-This is way late, but can anyone tell me how Taylor's recital went?! I'm sure you did great Tay!
-Thanks Zack Long for commenting on the ol' blog! Mom forwarded it to me. Can't wait to hear from ya :)
-Loved the WVU Mountaineer on top of Seneca during fall picture you sent me Mom. go 'eers. And loved the Elder Holland quote from October 2012 General Conference typed all artsy. During that talk is when I got my 100% going on a mission prompting. I've been able to read it or watch it and the announcement about lower missionary age a few times since I've been out. I haven't cried much at all since I've been out, but I always tear up when I hear/read those two things. Changed my life!
-Okie dokie, Mom you won't get new pictures until you post the old ones and send me the card back, haha..Then I'll send this card home.
-Julianne Hough (famous dancer/actress in the new Footloose? less active Mormon?) ON MY CHURCH YSA WARD LIST. I freaked out when I saw it. No address or number listed, so I can't go knocking on her door. But I did find her childhood email address on an older list, hahaha. Dr. 90210? some plastic surgery reality show? He was in Sister Barney's old ward (Beverly Hills). Maybe I'll get to meet him. Almost everyone we meet has a close connection to a Mormon. It's surprising. We ran into a Korean guy yesterday who went to BYU for 6 months and some of his dad's friends translated the Book of Mormon into Korean. The Church is growing and the knowledge of it is rolling forth to all the world! Speaking of, mormon.org rocks. It's our favorite pass along card. It even has fancy QR code so we're tyring to get people to pull out their iphones and watch a video with us right there on the street or on campus.
-Sister Barney gave me a calendar my first day in the field and we write down a tender mercy or how we have seen the hand of the Lord that day. I have started to write down something I can improve or change for the next day. It really has helped me grow. I recognize how much I rely on the Lord, how much I need to stay humble, and to improve each day through the strength of the Lord.
-Mom asked about Allan. He's still meeting with us. This week we are going to have a lesson with him on feeling and recognizing the Spirit. Hopefully that will help.
-Ashley is doing well. Her friend at BYU is coming home the second week in March so we are really hoping that she'll keep her baptismal date of March 10. She has the faith and the testimony, but a few things are scaring her (family opposition and perfect knowledge and some other things). She is like a younger sister to me. She has progressed so much, and I just know that she'll continue to do so. I have decided that a reason my sister Brittany and I served on campuses/ young adult wards is because we have a Mom who joined the church at that age. We know what effect it can have on a person's life to join the church in the young adult years. I have found myself sharing Mom's story time and time again. Because my mom made that decision, she has an eternal marriage and family. I wouldn't be on a mission right now if my mom didn't have the courage to act on promptings. from the Lord. I love working with people this age!
Valentine's day was one of my favorites yet on my mission. This might sound super cheesy, but I recognized that I feel God's love for people that day. I meet people from all over the world, from all walks of life. Within a few hours the other day, I met an Italian, a Korean, a Lithuanian, a Iranian, etc. I met a homeless man and a professional ghost writer for how-to books. I met a Jewish person, a Muslim, a Southern Baptist who lived in Utah for a long time and was worried about converting us to her beliefs (hahaha, we killed her with kindness and we at least got her to giggle), an Agnostic, and an Atheist. I mean, literally everyone. But every time I meet someone I feel this overwhelming love for them. I have the desire to sit down for hours with them and hear their story and where they came from. I have this overwhelming desire to share what I know to be true with them. That God loves them. That God is their literal Father in Heaven. That He will answer our prayers if we ask. How do I care so much for people that I've known 2 1/2 weeks, 2 days, or 2 minutes? When they tell me a tragedy from their lives, I feel so much sorrow and pain for them. I could type for hours about the individuals I have met and how their trials and stories have effected me. The other night we had a lesson with someone who has been struggling. It broke my heart to hear about her trials in life, but I was overwhelmed when she shared a very sacred and personal experience she had with her Savior. I could feel God's love for her. God loved her so much that he sent His only Begotten Son to this earth. For her. And for me. And for you.
I love working with less actives. People who think this work is all about baptism are a little confused. It's about bringing others, all others, to come closer to Christ. Whether that's my companion, the man I talk to on the street for 25 seconds, to an investigator (someone taking the lessons), the ward I'm working in, and members who are struggling. Don't get me wrong I love extending the baptismal invitation and teaching the Restoration and I cannot wait to see Ashley baptized, but helping people set their sights on the temple? So rewarding as well. Baptism is a hugeeee first step, but eternal life is the end goal. If we can help anyone and everyone get closer to that end goal, that goal of eternal perfection and happiness with God and with our families? happy happy, joy joy. That's not just the purpose of missionaries, that's the purpose for each of us!
I truly love you all so much. Thanks for reading. Thanks for the prayers and support.
Make it a great week,
Sister Atkinson :)
p.s. check out some of the mormon messages and mormon.org videos. love them. share them.
p.p.s.- if anyone wants to email my mom and attach a document with his/her testimony of the Book of Mormon, I would love you forever. Do it landscape so you can fit two on a page. I'll make copies and slip them in the Book of Mormons we give out. Makes a great family home evening activity ;)
HELLO ALL!!!!!
Time flew this week.
The scripture in my subject line is one of my new favorites (2 Nephi 4:34) and it goes along with Isaiah 26:4 and Proverbs 3:4-6. New life motto. Trust in the Lord. It will all work out. :)
Sorry if I came off preachy last week, I'll be much more reserved this week, haha.
-Picture of Dad walking across Summers Street in the rain in newspaper was hilarious.
-The other day I was standing on the street waiting to get in the car and this giant white van speedily drove past us. The sliding door was open and this girl was hanging out of the door and called to us , "we ain't on crack." when she saw my surprised expression, she gave out the funniest cackle I have ever heard. "HEH. HEH. HEH." At that moment, I thought, "this is real life. this is not a youtube video. this is my life. ohhh mercy, my life stinkin rocks." yeah. never a dull moment in L.A. :)
-Eclipse gum car cup? Helped Sister Barney and I survive our studies and plannings the past two weeks. (we only chew gum in our apartment).
-This is way late, but can anyone tell me how Taylor's recital went?! I'm sure you did great Tay!
-Thanks Zack Long for commenting on the ol' blog! Mom forwarded it to me. Can't wait to hear from ya :)
-Loved the WVU Mountaineer on top of Seneca during fall picture you sent me Mom. go 'eers. And loved the Elder Holland quote from October 2012 General Conference typed all artsy. During that talk is when I got my 100% going on a mission prompting. I've been able to read it or watch it and the announcement about lower missionary age a few times since I've been out. I haven't cried much at all since I've been out, but I always tear up when I hear/read those two things. Changed my life!
-Okie dokie, Mom you won't get new pictures until you post the old ones and send me the card back, haha..Then I'll send this card home.
-Julianne Hough (famous dancer/actress in the new Footloose? less active Mormon?) ON MY CHURCH YSA WARD LIST. I freaked out when I saw it. No address or number listed, so I can't go knocking on her door. But I did find her childhood email address on an older list, hahaha. Dr. 90210? some plastic surgery reality show? He was in Sister Barney's old ward (Beverly Hills). Maybe I'll get to meet him. Almost everyone we meet has a close connection to a Mormon. It's surprising. We ran into a Korean guy yesterday who went to BYU for 6 months and some of his dad's friends translated the Book of Mormon into Korean. The Church is growing and the knowledge of it is rolling forth to all the world! Speaking of, mormon.org rocks. It's our favorite pass along card. It even has fancy QR code so we're tyring to get people to pull out their iphones and watch a video with us right there on the street or on campus.
-Sister Barney gave me a calendar my first day in the field and we write down a tender mercy or how we have seen the hand of the Lord that day. I have started to write down something I can improve or change for the next day. It really has helped me grow. I recognize how much I rely on the Lord, how much I need to stay humble, and to improve each day through the strength of the Lord.
-Mom asked about Allan. He's still meeting with us. This week we are going to have a lesson with him on feeling and recognizing the Spirit. Hopefully that will help.
-Ashley is doing well. Her friend at BYU is coming home the second week in March so we are really hoping that she'll keep her baptismal date of March 10. She has the faith and the testimony, but a few things are scaring her (family opposition and perfect knowledge and some other things). She is like a younger sister to me. She has progressed so much, and I just know that she'll continue to do so. I have decided that a reason my sister Brittany and I served on campuses/ young adult wards is because we have a Mom who joined the church at that age. We know what effect it can have on a person's life to join the church in the young adult years. I have found myself sharing Mom's story time and time again. Because my mom made that decision, she has an eternal marriage and family. I wouldn't be on a mission right now if my mom didn't have the courage to act on promptings. from the Lord. I love working with people this age!
Valentine's day was one of my favorites yet on my mission. This might sound super cheesy, but I recognized that I feel God's love for people that day. I meet people from all over the world, from all walks of life. Within a few hours the other day, I met an Italian, a Korean, a Lithuanian, a Iranian, etc. I met a homeless man and a professional ghost writer for how-to books. I met a Jewish person, a Muslim, a Southern Baptist who lived in Utah for a long time and was worried about converting us to her beliefs (hahaha, we killed her with kindness and we at least got her to giggle), an Agnostic, and an Atheist. I mean, literally everyone. But every time I meet someone I feel this overwhelming love for them. I have the desire to sit down for hours with them and hear their story and where they came from. I have this overwhelming desire to share what I know to be true with them. That God loves them. That God is their literal Father in Heaven. That He will answer our prayers if we ask. How do I care so much for people that I've known 2 1/2 weeks, 2 days, or 2 minutes? When they tell me a tragedy from their lives, I feel so much sorrow and pain for them. I could type for hours about the individuals I have met and how their trials and stories have effected me. The other night we had a lesson with someone who has been struggling. It broke my heart to hear about her trials in life, but I was overwhelmed when she shared a very sacred and personal experience she had with her Savior. I could feel God's love for her. God loved her so much that he sent His only Begotten Son to this earth. For her. And for me. And for you.
I love working with less actives. People who think this work is all about baptism are a little confused. It's about bringing others, all others, to come closer to Christ. Whether that's my companion, the man I talk to on the street for 25 seconds, to an investigator (someone taking the lessons), the ward I'm working in, and members who are struggling. Don't get me wrong I love extending the baptismal invitation and teaching the Restoration and I cannot wait to see Ashley baptized, but helping people set their sights on the temple? So rewarding as well. Baptism is a hugeeee first step, but eternal life is the end goal. If we can help anyone and everyone get closer to that end goal, that goal of eternal perfection and happiness with God and with our families? happy happy, joy joy. That's not just the purpose of missionaries, that's the purpose for each of us!
I truly love you all so much. Thanks for reading. Thanks for the prayers and support.
Make it a great week,
Sister Atkinson :)
p.s. check out some of the mormon messages and mormon.org videos. love them. share them.
p.p.s.- if anyone wants to email my mom and attach a document with his/her testimony of the Book of Mormon, I would love you forever. Do it landscape so you can fit two on a page. I'll make copies and slip them in the Book of Mormons we give out. Makes a great family home evening activity ;)
Monday, February 11, 2013
lead me, guide me, walk beside me
Hi all, Here is her latest post. She seems a little fired up this week! Dawn
February 11, 2013
Hello Hello!
Where to begin? Sister
Barney and I have been working so hard. We have met with so many members this
week and have been doing a 20 minute referral activity with them and are
leaving simple assignments for them. "An invitation makes a successful
member missionary." All we can do is invite and testify. If we open our
mouths, the spirit will fill it. I have such a strong belief that is no
accident where we are at specific times in our lives. Heavenly Father is in the
details. The people we associate with, we associate with for a reason. We must
open our mouths!
Oh, Oh, Oh! CONGRATS CAROLINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND SKYE!!! Engaged!!!!! My mom saw it on facebook I guess. Someone please tell that girl to
write me a letter with details, in all of her free time (which is none, I'm
sure, haha). I can't wait to hear all about it!
The Satre family, who used to be in our Chas 1st Ward
at church and are now in the Clarksburg Stake? One of their sons is in my zone.
John-Mark knows him from WVU. Haha, small world!
I loved in my Valentine's package from mom (thanks again
mom--you're the best!) the stuff she sent about putting on the armor of God. Thanks
for the Joan of Arc pic, Dad and for the Captain Moroni picture, mom. I just
read about Captain Moroni a couple of weeks ago. I started the Book of Mormon
over again a few days into the MTC and am now at the end of 3rd Nephi. It has
been such a power in my life the past month. In the MTC we talked a lot about
revelation through the Book of Mormon. Before I read now, I ask a question
whether it be "how can I become a better missionary?" or something
more specific. I start and end the reading with a prayer. We can't read
scriptures like they are novels. The Book of Mormon, especially, is so much
more than a story. It's the word of God. It was written for our day. It is
another Testament of Jesus Christ. It PROMISES that if we read it and then pray
to know if it's true with an open heart, with faith, with sincerity, with real
intent to follow what the Holy Ghost directs, then WE WILL get a witness that
it is true, that is comes from God. There is nothing more frustrating than
people who won't just TRY IT. You'll never know if it's all true, or all a lie,
until you read and pray about it with that attitude. MERCY PEOPLE. TRY IT. IT
WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. I have received that witness. I cannot deny it. I don't
blindly or naively follow a man, but I have asked God and He has told me in my
mind and in my heart. That's why I'm wearing skirts all day, everyday, walking
around the streets of Los Angeles. Because I cannot deny the truthfulness of
this message. Sorry to preach, but it's so sad that people won't just try it. And
we as members, must not take it for granted. I have learned and grown so much
as I have changed my way of reading the scriptures. :)
I wish I could give you more details of all the work we are trying
to do! I have 6 mInutes left, so let’s see what I can come up with, haha.
-street contacting is harder for me than I
thought it would be. Sister Barney is very bold and I admire the way she talks
to anybody and everybody on the street or in the store. I'm praying for
confidence on that one. One thing I love that we have been doing on campus (to
people sitting down outside eating lunch so they can't run away, haha) is we
say "Hey do you have 2 minutes to take a survey for some candy?" What
college kid doesn't want to eat candy? The questions are about their views on
family, God, scriptures, prophets, prayer, where did we come from, what's our
purpose, where are we going, stuff like that. UCLA students are so open with
their opinions, so it's really fun to listen to people. It's effective because
it at least gets their thoughts turned toward God and we gain a better
understanding of what their needs are and how we can effectively give a 1
minute spiritual thought.
-we had a young woman come to serve a ‘mini-mission’
with us last weekend. She is 16 and painfully shy, but I think she loved it and
learned a lot. Sis. Barney and I are a bit nuts and outgoing. Oh, and Sis.
Barney is 5' 9". Hallelujah! She spent Friday night-Sunday afternoon with
us. Bless her heart. It was a crazy day Saturday. I wish I could give you more
details but I will say we started out the day by teaching a Jamaican who is
trying to make it in LA doing Rastafarian music. I meet the coolest people in LA and it's so
nice to actually sit down with the people you meet on the street and hear their
stories.
-Ashley (I talked about her last week) is
progressing well! We are teaching her about the atonement this week hoping she
will gain confidence and get rid of her need for perfection. Allan is a new
investigator we met on campus when we were at a booth with some members. He was
at the Christian booth next to ours. A member started talking to him and by the
time we showed up he had a Book of Mormon in his hands! He converted to Christianity
when he came to school. He is very nice and very open. We're worried he won't
actually read and pray about it. Hopefully he'll rely on God's witness, not man’s.
He wouldn't come to church with us this weekend and went to his. That's okay. Baby
steps, haha.
Welp, time's up! All is well!!! Thanks for all the love and
prayers! Ask me questions and I can maybe answer more effectively! Love to all, Sister Atkinson
Monday, February 4, 2013
"Hopped off the plane at LAX with my dream and my cardigan..."
Hello All!
I'M IN L.A.!!!!!!!!!!!!
First of all, BEAUTIFUL WEATHER. 70S AND SUNNY ALL DAY, EVERYDAY.
So much to say! I can't believe I've only been here a few days! Thanks to everyone who leaves comments on my blog/facebook! My mom forwards them along to me. I get mail once a week (Thursday) from the mission home but not allowed to read it until p-days, which is on Mondays, so sorry if it takes a while for me to respond to letters and such. Thanks so much for all the mail and love! Love you all!
Got the package Mom! YOU'RE THE BEST! It was full of green stuff because I'm a "greenie" (what we call new missionaries in the mission field :) ). Luckily my companion's mom is a super missionary mom like you, so she understood. LOVE IT! THANKS!
Where do I even start?
My companion/trainer is Sister Barney! Her first name is Jazzy and that perfectly sums up her personality. She is a bubbly and athletic 21 yr old from Cedar City, Utah. She's been out since mid-June. She was called to work in the LA Temple Visitor's Center, but is now working full-field. Which leads me to our area. We are kind of opening an area! We have the LA Singles Ward (18-31yr olds from ALL over LA--so our boundaries are huge) and the UCLA Student Ward (some singles, mostly young marrieds with kids). These two wards had missionaries in them before, but they were Visitors Center sisters who only spend 6 hours a day not at the VC and had one of these wards plus a big family ward. Sister Barney served in the UCLA ward, a family ward, and the VC last transfer. So she knows some people in UCLA. These two wards have never had full-time sisters and it's a big deal that they do now! We had a meeting with the bishops and the mission president in which he talked about this being a trial run. We are getting SO MANY more missionaries soon and it sounds like he'll be putting them in areas like this if we do well/our wards use us. No pressure. So it's all new to Sis. Barney too, but we are ready to do this! We have spent the last few days working SO HARD organizing and planning so our numbers were low, but we have already seen the blessings and miracles from our hard work. I am here to work so hard on the Lord's time and gratefully, so is Sister Barney. LETS DO THIS!
Our wards are AMAZING. We met with the ward mission leaders on Saturday and then of course we had church yesterday. The bishops announced the change in sacrament meeting, had us stand up, etc. They realize the importance of missionary work and we are so grateful to have them. Bishop Thomas (Young Single Adult ward) even quoted Elder Perry who said "A bishop's top priority is the missionary work in his ward." Can we get any luckier?
It's impossible to effectively tract at UCLA and the YSA ward boundaries cover all of Beverly Hills, LA, West Hollywood, etc. so that is also impossible. We are relying so heavily on members, and we are getting the ball rolling.
The YSA ward is so unique and cool. We have people from all over the world in it and from all walks of life. Students, fashion designers (one of them is a guy and has sold stuff to actual big shots. WHADDUP), teachers, lawyers, you name it. All in that ward. UCLA has such a fancy campus! I guess I'm a Bruin fan now. :)
We got lost the other day in Beverly Hills and oh my lanta, the money there. The man walking down the street just screamed billionaire. I have met a lot of Athiests, Catholics, Jews, and Muslims. Surprisingly, no Protestants. It is so interesting to hear all types of views and find comfort that we rely on the Holy Spirit to testify of truth.
I can't begin to tell you all the miracles I have witnessed this week as we have recognized the hand of the Lord in our lives. Some favorite moments this week: our investigator Ashley (bubbly freshman at UCLA) came to church!, talking to 3 Muslim guys from all over the middle east for 20 minutes on campus, and meeting Kelly and Forough, two women who are so in tune with the Spirit, the VC sisters brought them over to our ward for the last hour of Church. Hopefully we'll meet with them this week :)
Oh, since we in a new area, we have a new car and a super nice apartment (usually mission apartments are rough, haha). I'm so spoiled and so blessed. We live a block from the L.A. temple which is HUGE and beautiful. We meet in the ward building directly behind it and we run there in the parking lot every morning. Seeing the sun rise on the temple is one of my favorite moments of everyday.
Tell Mama Virgo (Heather's Mom) that Sister Baker (mission president' wife) gave me a hug from her and that I greatly appreciate it :)
Sorry if this was so scatterbrained, there is just so much to say. All is well. Sister Barney is great. This is the Lord's work. It's great to be a missionary. I have no dobut that I was called to L.A. at this time for a reason. I get that confirmation each day as I talk to the unique people here and testify of Jesus Christ. I still feel all of your love and prayers. Thank you so much!
Make it a great and happy week!
All my love,
Sister Atkinson
IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEAS ABOUT WORKING IN STUDENT/SINGLE WARDS PLEASE LET ME KNOW!
Brittany, John-Mark, Micah, etc. So excited to be working with this age group! I've always wanted to!
I'M IN L.A.!!!!!!!!!!!!
First of all, BEAUTIFUL WEATHER. 70S AND SUNNY ALL DAY, EVERYDAY.
So much to say! I can't believe I've only been here a few days! Thanks to everyone who leaves comments on my blog/facebook! My mom forwards them along to me. I get mail once a week (Thursday) from the mission home but not allowed to read it until p-days, which is on Mondays, so sorry if it takes a while for me to respond to letters and such. Thanks so much for all the mail and love! Love you all!
Got the package Mom! YOU'RE THE BEST! It was full of green stuff because I'm a "greenie" (what we call new missionaries in the mission field :) ). Luckily my companion's mom is a super missionary mom like you, so she understood. LOVE IT! THANKS!
Where do I even start?
My companion/trainer is Sister Barney! Her first name is Jazzy and that perfectly sums up her personality. She is a bubbly and athletic 21 yr old from Cedar City, Utah. She's been out since mid-June. She was called to work in the LA Temple Visitor's Center, but is now working full-field. Which leads me to our area. We are kind of opening an area! We have the LA Singles Ward (18-31yr olds from ALL over LA--so our boundaries are huge) and the UCLA Student Ward (some singles, mostly young marrieds with kids). These two wards had missionaries in them before, but they were Visitors Center sisters who only spend 6 hours a day not at the VC and had one of these wards plus a big family ward. Sister Barney served in the UCLA ward, a family ward, and the VC last transfer. So she knows some people in UCLA. These two wards have never had full-time sisters and it's a big deal that they do now! We had a meeting with the bishops and the mission president in which he talked about this being a trial run. We are getting SO MANY more missionaries soon and it sounds like he'll be putting them in areas like this if we do well/our wards use us. No pressure. So it's all new to Sis. Barney too, but we are ready to do this! We have spent the last few days working SO HARD organizing and planning so our numbers were low, but we have already seen the blessings and miracles from our hard work. I am here to work so hard on the Lord's time and gratefully, so is Sister Barney. LETS DO THIS!
Our wards are AMAZING. We met with the ward mission leaders on Saturday and then of course we had church yesterday. The bishops announced the change in sacrament meeting, had us stand up, etc. They realize the importance of missionary work and we are so grateful to have them. Bishop Thomas (Young Single Adult ward) even quoted Elder Perry who said "A bishop's top priority is the missionary work in his ward." Can we get any luckier?
It's impossible to effectively tract at UCLA and the YSA ward boundaries cover all of Beverly Hills, LA, West Hollywood, etc. so that is also impossible. We are relying so heavily on members, and we are getting the ball rolling.
The YSA ward is so unique and cool. We have people from all over the world in it and from all walks of life. Students, fashion designers (one of them is a guy and has sold stuff to actual big shots. WHADDUP), teachers, lawyers, you name it. All in that ward. UCLA has such a fancy campus! I guess I'm a Bruin fan now. :)
We got lost the other day in Beverly Hills and oh my lanta, the money there. The man walking down the street just screamed billionaire. I have met a lot of Athiests, Catholics, Jews, and Muslims. Surprisingly, no Protestants. It is so interesting to hear all types of views and find comfort that we rely on the Holy Spirit to testify of truth.
I can't begin to tell you all the miracles I have witnessed this week as we have recognized the hand of the Lord in our lives. Some favorite moments this week: our investigator Ashley (bubbly freshman at UCLA) came to church!, talking to 3 Muslim guys from all over the middle east for 20 minutes on campus, and meeting Kelly and Forough, two women who are so in tune with the Spirit, the VC sisters brought them over to our ward for the last hour of Church. Hopefully we'll meet with them this week :)
Oh, since we in a new area, we have a new car and a super nice apartment (usually mission apartments are rough, haha). I'm so spoiled and so blessed. We live a block from the L.A. temple which is HUGE and beautiful. We meet in the ward building directly behind it and we run there in the parking lot every morning. Seeing the sun rise on the temple is one of my favorite moments of everyday.
Tell Mama Virgo (Heather's Mom) that Sister Baker (mission president' wife) gave me a hug from her and that I greatly appreciate it :)
Sorry if this was so scatterbrained, there is just so much to say. All is well. Sister Barney is great. This is the Lord's work. It's great to be a missionary. I have no dobut that I was called to L.A. at this time for a reason. I get that confirmation each day as I talk to the unique people here and testify of Jesus Christ. I still feel all of your love and prayers. Thank you so much!
Make it a great and happy week!
All my love,
Sister Atkinson
IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEAS ABOUT WORKING IN STUDENT/SINGLE WARDS PLEASE LET ME KNOW!
Brittany, John-Mark, Micah, etc. So excited to be working with this age group! I've always wanted to!
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