Hello all!
There is so much to say. And the public libary I go to now actually times
our hour, so I reallllly will need to be on top of things to get everything in.
Obviously first things first, CONGRATULATIONS JOHN-MARK AND
NATALIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JESSE MARK ATKINSON IS ADORABLE. AUNTIE ALI CANNOT WAIT TO MEET
HIM.
[Note from Dawn: Baby Jesse was born July 12th, weighing 8lbs. 12oz. We are thrilled!]
Be prepared for hilarious emails home. This area is hilarious. I love it.
It was hard to leave my area and come to someone else's area (I forgot it takes
time for people to trust and know you), but it has been a party and a half.
We work in the Huntington Park Young Single Adult Branch. Even though I am
still in YSA, it is SO different than my last area. There are about 50 ysa's
that come every week. But there are about 800 listed in the stake. A lot are
less active of course, but a lot go to their family ward. There may or may not
be some racial and authority issues in the area/stake... But Sister Jones opened
the area two transfers ago and they have worked so hard to get the branch going.
We call it the land of miracles and it really is.
The apartment is nothin like the Taj Mahal of my last apartment, but we got
some ant spray this week and there is no room for complaints. We have the nicest
neighbors. Especially Pascual. He owns an ice cream truck and brought us ice
cream last night. YES. We do live in the ga-hhhhhetto. Aka someone got murdered
in our alley last transfer, hahaha. But I feel 200% safe (DON'T WORRY!) and I
LOVE IT. The stake is a nice mix of Hispanics, Samoans, African-Amerians, and
Caucasions. AKA, the dream. A sister in our mission from Mexico came down here
for exchanges last transfer and said our neighborhood made her feel right at
home. I am surprised when we meet a white person. I have heard more Spanish in
the past week than I have all of my entire life. Guaranteed. But it is an Enlish
assigned area since our branch is in English. And all the YSA's speak English.
Almost everyone lives in an house with their parents (which is the complete
opposite of my last area with locked apt complexes and with people from all over
the world and country), which makes finding and contacting people a whole lot
easier. The branch is seriously awesome. They are a close knit group who fell in
love with the sisters. Some sign up to feed us 2 times a week. They also have
hilarious drama that they naturally tell the sister missionaries all about. It
is like living in a soap opera. Aka, perfect for me. The work is on the brink of
explosion here and I'm grateful to be here. Sister Jones is hands down one of
the best missionaries in the mission. I am so grateful and humble to be her
companion (I always luck out with the best companions. WIN.). She goes home in
November and is a Visitor Center sister who is full-field right now. {note from
Dawn: That means Sister Jones was originally called to work only in the
Visitor's Center but full field means she is proselyting in othe areas of the
mission now.] But she is on fire. And is the master of inviting people on the
street to be baptized, which is good for me. We have a lot of fun together and
other missionaries laugh or say the "dream team" when we tell them we are
together this transfer. So grateful and excited to work. Also, she was looking
through my family pictures and then all of a sudden slams down her hands and
says "Oh my gosh! Your sister can't ride a bike." "Uh...how do you know that?"
"Micah Atkinson! I know her!" HAHAHAHAHA YES. Apparently you two are facebook
friends and went to EFY together in Utah wayyy back in the day. [Note from Dawn:
EFY - Especially For Youth is a series summer camps for LDS Youth, held all over
the country.] But that seems to be the only fact she can remember about you. But
I told her that pretty much sums it up ;) (love you Mick, haha. Do you remember
Kathryn Jones? Facebook creep and let me know).
We have 7 companionships of sister missionaries to watch over for the
transfer and start exchanges this week(3 a week). [Anther note from Dawn:
Exchanges are when she and her companion split up and go with another missionary
for an evening or so.] It should be quite an adventure, and we're excited. Love
the sisters.
I just can't describe to you how much I love this area already.
At a closing prayer this week I asked a less active what she wanted us to
pray for. Sshe said, "The planet earth." Anything else in particular? And
without hesitation, she said "The White House." YES. LIVING THE LIFE.
We had a precious old Hispanic man speak at our ward yesterday for church.
Why do people always feel the need to talk about chastity at a ysa ward no
matter the topic? Anyways, we had a translator, so we got to hear the following
twice (accompanied by his gestures), hahaha. "There are only 4 types of kisses
you can do: 1- the cheek 2- half mouth 3- complete mouth 4- a peck). Yup.
Welcome.
Also, I have a zone leader who is exactly like Elder Vanpelt (I think
that's the name) from the movie "The Best Two Years". Can anyone appreciate that
with me? Thank heavens, Sister Jones can.
I am in Heavenly Father's hands and am so grateful for that comfort. This
path that He has for us is real and brings so much happiness! Love you all! Make
it a great week!
Love, Sister Atkinson
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