Give us a love that is deep...off to the rescue we'll hasten, bringing them back to the fold!

Here is the weekly update.

Hello everyone!! This week was nuts. As always. :)

    Everything is going great! We are working really hard and seeing lots of miracles. We have such an awesome ward. We have lots of members present at our lessons because our members are out of this world. I'm so grateful for them.
    Ted and Brandon should be having a double baptism (they're not even related!) next weekend so pray super hard for them!!!!!! :) 

Some stories/thoughts from the week:

-Our investigator Ted is fascinated with missionary work and numbers (although we constantly tell him it's about people, not numbers). In particular, he is fascinated by street contacts (because he himself was found as a street contact). Anyways, we were walking to the church with him this week and he asked us how many contacts we had had that day. Then he proceeds to move 2 feet away from us to "hide" behind a very small tree. Then he looks at a man 15 ft from us walking towards us and loudly says "I want to see you proselytize that man! You're so good. I want to watch. Yes! Please! Proselytize! You must greet him!" By this point, Sister Rackleff and I are laughing so hard and there was no way we could talk to that man walking towards us because 1) we were laughing so hard 2) Ted was obviously creeping behind a tree 3) pretty sure that man heard Ted say "You must greet him!"

-An investigator told us that every time he sees us he thinks of the 1850s, long dresses, and covered wagons. It was supposed to be a compliment, but it didn't go over too well.

-We ask people to do really hard things. Often, I wish I didn't have to ask them to do some things because it breaks my heart to see these people I love hurt or sacrifice. But then I remember that it's not me that's asking them to, it's God. If I doubt, then that's a sign of weakened faith that God will take care of them. I'm bold because I love them.

-We had a 'year mark' training meeting about goals and such and we got to see everyone from our MTC district (except the one sister who went to Hawaii) and I was so proud that all of us are still out. They're all doing great.

-I realized I don't ever really talk about being a sister training leader much anymore. I love having that calling. We had a lot of meetings this week, but it was really good. We are trying to change the culture of what a STL is, from a sister's personal therapist, to being more focused on helping the work (hallelujah, because focusing on the work always seems to solve everything else. Pres. Hinckley's quote "forget yourself and go to work" is definitely my mission mantra). I just love the sisters of the mission so much. I mean crazy things always happen on exchanges. (miracles too). This week alone we decluttered and cleaned a sisters' apartment and left with 6 bags of trash -_- and got a call from a companionship in tears and we had to ask them to take some personal time and then do companionship inventory. Oh the adventures.

-Sister Rackleff looked at me this week and said about one of our investigators 'Sister Atkinson. I think we told him in the pre-existence that we would come find him.' I know that sound nuts, but when she said it I just felt so happy and peaceful. Agh, I just love being a missionary. even moments like when a sweet woman in our ward who has schizophrenia calls us because she is having terrifying hallucinations of her ex-husband and needed  cheered up and so I read 3 Nephi 17 over the phone with her. Those moments are beyond rewarding. 

-Yesterday was just kind of awful but we both just laughed our way through it. We got in the car and realized we were on empty and, since we can't buy gas on Sunday, that we would have to bike our way through an eventful and busy Sunday. We had a ton of people who were supposed to come to church. We show up and none are there. We take the sacrament and then leave during the talks to go find one of our investigators. I know it's not kosher to do that, but we felt like we needed to. #wedowhateverwewant Sure enough, we found him. And it was so good that we did. I wish I could give you all details about everyone's problems and everything, but I just can't. It was really difficult, but things got a lot better. We had some crazy lessons throughout the day, but I think I can sum the day up in the following three experiences;

-We were outside of an investigator's sketchy apt complex. We were waiting for him to come down and we were so tired, so we sat down on the street and ate a snack. We totes looked homeless because this apt complex is section 8 housing so a lot of homeless people get moved in to it. Sometimes as missionary's we play the game 'if my mom knew where I was right now' and that moment definitely made it in. A member gave us a bunch of cookies that we didn't want (eating healthy is so hard). Sure enough, a homeless man walked passed us and we offered him the cookies. He offered us alcohol from his 711 cup as a kind return. Welcome to my life.

-We were meeting with an investigator on the side of the street at a street bench to just catch up.  Downtown Santa Monica has crazy traffic. Crazy! There is a bus lane just for the crazy city buses to help with it. Anyways. as we were meeting, Sis Rackleff was explaining the Godhead but I was so not listening, because I was watching a homeless woman scoot backwards in her wheelchair in the middle of the bus lane in the dark. Then I see a giant city bus turning left into the lane this woman was creeping down. I scream. Sis Rackleff turns around, jumps up, and waves her arms at the bus. Luckily the bus sees the woman only 10 feet from her and switches lanes. We grab our stuff and our investigator and go to the woman and wheel her out of the middle of the road. We asked her where she is going and she asked where the closest grocery store is and demanded we take her there. We all look at each other and think 'what would Jesus do?' and off we went for a few blocks down to Vons. How can I describe this to you. Her name is Rhonda (yes as in 'help help me Rhonda' as she explained) I saw her bare bum sticking out of the wheelchair. She quoted her original poetry the whole there. She told us to shut up when our investigator asked how old she is. She said beer looks like carbonated urine. She smelled sadly awful. When we asked her what she was buying she said "What do ya think? Vodka!' At that point we gave her our leftovers from dinner and pushed her in Vons. Who knows what everyone thought.

-I woke up in the middle of the night to pounding in my living room. I was seriously paralyzed in fear. What could that possibly be? Then I heard walking and I thought for 5 seconds that there was an intruder. Then in the doorway I see my little companion's figure and a mop. "Sister? What are you doing?!" Then like a mad woman she says "I WOKE UP TO THE SMELL OF POT AND THE TASTE OF POT IN MY MOUTH AND THE ROCK MUSIC IS WAY TOO LOUD.' She was banging on the ceiling with a mop to try to get our neighbor to stop. but it was to no avail. Welcome. 

Okay. I just don't have any more energy to try and convey the life of a missionary. I really am trying to give everything to the Lord and He's always got my back. The word consecration has been on my mind this week and I feel like a little greenie again, losing track of time and only thinking about my investigators. I love the gospel. There are plenty of challenges, but I know it's all true and all worth it. Make it a great week everyone!! Love you! Sister Atkinson

Chasten my soul til I shall be in perfect harmony with thee :)

February 17, 2014

Hi friends!
    You know how some days you just can't stop smiling? Yeah. This week has just been so happy. It might have something to do with the perfect weather we're having, but mostly God is just real and life is great. Random updates:
    - Someone tried to tell me on the street that Christopher Columbus wrote the Bible. -_-
    - Someone we had with us in church yesterday was falling in and out of sleep during Relief Society while the plan of salvation was being taught. She woke up during the part about resurrection and yelled "We're all gonna be zombies?" Yeah. I love my life too much sometimes.
    - We had zone conference this week and we are focusing on becoming better helpers rather than just invite-rs. One thing that has helped us is to ask ourselves before the lesson "Why does this person need the gospel?" Not just in general, but what specifically in the gospel is this person craving? It has caused me to think about what specific aspects of the gospel have led me to gain a testimony of the gospel as a whole. (for some people its family or repentance or freedom or community or revelation, etc.) For me, it has been different things over the years, but I think it always comes back to a sense of identity for me. Just knowing who I am and what in the world I'm doing here has always kept me rooted to the gospel.
    - Sometimes I think I've gotten really mature on my mission and then there are those moments when I realize I am still crazy Ali Atkinson. We've really been working on connecting with our investigators on a deeper level. We could tell one investigator had something in his past we didn't know about. We followed the spirit and he was able to open up about a past addiction. When he said it, the thought immediately came to my mind 'whoop there it is' in fat amy's voice. #notmybest at least I didn't say it out loud until after the lesson to my companion.....sorry mom, I'm working on it.
    - Lost my daily planner (it had my favorite cover I've made so far...). minor panic attack? Yes.
    - Burned an investigator's pornographic pictures that he took down from his walls and we replaced with Jesus. So that was a new experience.
    - We had such a fun Valentine's Day! This sweet woman (who reminds me of the funny one from The Help) in our ward fed us a feast and invited her nonmember neighbor. Then when we were walking back to our car I slapped poor Sister Rackleff's arm because I looked over at this outdoor restaurant and saw a man on one knee and literally heard 'will you be my wife?' So that was fun. Our neighbor gave us two pink balloons which we were going to go give to a less active, but that didn't work out and we ran out of time. So on our way home at a red light, Sister Rackleff dared me to run up to the car in front of us and give it to the people. #icanneversaynotodareslikethat probably wasn't the best way to represent the Lord, but the woman's face when I knocked on her window was PRICELESS and they were a cute couple, so it was totally worth it.
    - You get a lot more service opportunities in a family ward than in a singles ward, and it is so much fun. Seriously, service is so fun.
    - I think my side bag has kind of damaged my back. I wake up in the middle of the night just to crack my back.
    - I have felt the spirit a lot this week, but I had an overwhelming outpouring of the spirit when I opened my package from mom. She sent me a Book of Mormon that she found in my Grandma Gibson's nightstand from 1975 when Mom was meeting with missionaries. Once again that feeling of hope and love and truth washed over me.
    Being a missionary right now is seriously so fun. Everything is just working out and we are working hard. I have a deep love for this work and these people!
    Make it a great week!!

Sister Atkinson

May I hear thee say to me, "Fear not: I will pilot thee."

Hello everyone! Random updates as always--here it goes:

-Once upon a time California was in a bad drought. Mormons across the state joined in a fast last Sunday and it rained that night and lots this week. GOD IS REAL PEOPLE. Here's a cute story from my 6yr old neice up north after the rain ruined one of her fun plans: "This is my fault. After primary last week I came home and went in my room and prayed for rain.  A lot of rain... that it would rain for three days. And now it is going to flood!" 

-One night we were in desperate need of a laugh. Lo and behold on the street corner was a man with a long staff thing swinging around and then beating a stump. He legitimately was training to be a samurai. Miraculously, I made it to the car before I snorted and cried from laughing so hard.

-Sometimes I forget that having giant billboards of movies and worldly things isn't normal while living in WV or Utah. I see all the new stuff driving down Santa Monica Blvd. It makes me even more grateful to be on a mission right now, haha. Also, can anyone say naked billboard? Isn't that illegal? So sad.

-My ghetto lang has greatly increased since being with Sis. Rackleff. The dream. 

-We had a mini missionary this weekend! She was so cute and from the Samoan ward. As always, we heard some of the craziest stories. I was just praying that her mother would forgive me for killing her 17yr old innocence... 

-Everyone is just in desperate need of some TLC. Everyone. Even those people who you think who are perfect or who don't need it. 

-Until yesterday, I had never had a man get on his knees in the middle of the street, clasp his hands as if he is praising me, and say "I am so happy to know that there are still virtuous women in Los Angeles." It was awesome.

-Did some service for some of the precious old women in our ward this week. Who knew walking a woman with serious dementia to the grocery store was what Christ really needed me to do in that moment? Or who knew you could hoard while living at a nursing home? #nothingisimpossible

-I can't believe we have only been teaching Ted for 2 weeks. He's so miraculous. He told us this week that 2 days before we met him he had asked God to lead him to people who would really care about him. And then he said his prayers was answered less than 48 hours.

-A couple weeks ago, I was on exchanges and we had 3 back to back member present lessons set up. #thedream. All 3 fell through for various reasons. Disappointed, we headed out to street contact. Ran into a young woman who said she was supposed to go to our church (near the temple) the Sunday before, couldn't make it, but they wanted to go the coming Sunday. Her boyfriend is a less active member and his brother is on a mission. He came around the corner and we talked for only 8 seconds. We didn't have time to get their information or anything; only time to testify that it wasn't a coincidence we ran in to them. I knew that our 3 lessons fell through so we could meet them at that exact moment. Nothing extraordinary happened, but I thought about that boyfriend's brother and family members who had knelt down and prayed for him for hours before. And I know God used us in response to their prayers as a simple reminder and encouragement to go to church the coming Sunday. So many moments like these are known and unknown in our lives. The Lord's work really in incredible.

-Our other investigators are also doing great!! The work is moving forward here; we still need to balance in finding more. Highlight of the week was our ward dinner on Saturday night. We worked so hard to have everyone come. 3 less actives (one of which hasn't been in a church building for YEARS) and 3 investigators came! And we got a new investigator from it. Plus the elders and ward people got other less actives/nonmembers there. A lot of the encouragement we have been getting from the leaders is to get as many people in our church buildings/give church tours as possible during the week/on Sundays. If you all have any suggestions to how to get more people in let us know!

-Sometimes we think that we are on the defense to all the evil in this world, but I don't believe that anymore. The Lord is on the offense. All of the evil and wickedness in the world is because Satan is trying his hardest to combat all the goodness that is happening. It's his last effort to win. #itain'tgonnahappen

-I've been working hard on taking better care of my body. And then I got force fed like 500000 grams of sugar yesterday. So it's a work in progress.

-Sometimes missions can be hard. We had a lot of disappointing street contacts this week. The church magazine the Ensign's article this month on "moral relativism" answered my prayers. I love the gospel. Also, on missions you have to ask people you love to do hard things. We taught someone we are working with this week to live the word of wisdom. The physical addiction to coffee, he/she said, could be over in a matter of days. But the mental/emotional attachment is very real. This person was homeless/lived in their car for 14 years. The only thing that got them up every morning, was because they knew they needed to go get a cup of coffee. It has helped/helps significantly with overcoming their chronic depression. I could say a lot more, but it broke my heart to hear them speak. Nothing gives me more joy than to see their extreme faith and devotion to the restored gospel and to Jesus Christ than with the resolution to quit. 

Some days I take a step back and realize that this whole thing is not a dream. These are real people. Real children of God, coming unto Christ. I have no idea why God has blessed me to be here. But I am so grateful. I learn so much each day from people on the street, members, my companion, people we're working with, from the Spirit, and from my God. 

Although I love each of you and am grateful for your life updates and such, I have no doubt I am where I need to be at this time.

Hoorah for Israel!

Make it a great week! 

all my love,

Sister Atkinson

An Unseen Power Will Aid You and Me in the Glorious Cause of Truth!

February 3, 2014

    Okay, I have 22 minutes. I can do this.
    Since I know you all saw my nasty/lovely P-day hair and P-day outfit from Micah's facebook last week, let me give my side of the story :)       

[Note from Dawn:  Love the picture! Love my girls! Such a needed tender mercy for me to know they saw each other, totally unplanned! Wish I knew how to post it here for those who haven't seen it - but we all know I am unlearned in technology.]

    I knew Mick [Micah] was in LA for auditions, but I assumed she was in Hollywood or something... It was Sister Rackleff's birthday week, so for the last bit of our Preparation Day time we decided to head to the Promenade to eat a fun lunch. (We never go down there on Pday). Sister Rackleff told me later that she made like 4 wrong turns and missed the usual parking garage we park in and thennnnnnnn .......we are at a red light turning right......I glance at the crosswalk, scream with tears running down my face, and hop out of the car and scream to my sister "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!!!!!!!" She hangs up the phone (she was actually talking with Mom, hahaha!), we hug, and then I call and ask my mission president if she can come to lunch with us. She was there because she had some free time, so her friend that lives in LA told her to go to the tourist spot AKA the Promenade. She really wasn't trying to find me (no offense Mick, but I highly doubt your stalking abilities... :D) so the only explanation is that God loves me. It was a huge tender mercy and blessing. We ate a quick lunch and went our separate ways. :) 

    Sister Rackleff and I are staying in our area for another transfer!! We are still sister training leaders, which makes 6 transfers for me which is super weird, haha. This will be Sister Rackleff's 5th transfer here in this area which can be exhausting, but I know she's here because this transfer will be one of miracles and baptisms.
    Tonight is our last lesson with Chris, because there will be missionaries in Huntington Park YSA area again. But he'll be getting baptized soon enough! So that will be super happy.
    We had 5 investigators at church yesterday (plus a walk-in nonmember)! IT was AWESOME. They are all doing great! We didn't 'find' much this week because we were so busy, which isn't good, so we'll be trying to balance that this week.
    Cool miracle of the walk-in. Her name is Mary. She called Bishop to ask if she could come to our ward (Uhm. Best call ever? Yes.) She is middle-aged. She is devout Christian, but doesn't go to a church. She was flipping channels about a year ago and starting watching the Old Testament discussions on BYUTV, (What?! People, besides Mom, actually watch those?!!?!) then she became hooked on the channel. She was telling us all these things about church history and the Doctrine and Covenants. She is incredible.  MIRACLES ARE EVERYWHERE. She doesn't live in our ward boundaries so we will transfer her to the right missionaries, but I was so grateful God let me see that miracle.  [Note from Dawn: I actually do not watch those scriptures discussions shows very often because they are kind of boring, so it is great that Mary likes them.]    

    Ted. I told you about Ted last week. Homeboy is one of my favorite humans that have existed. We taught him the Restoration, Plan of Salvation, Gospel of Jesus Christ with a church tour, watched the hour long Joseph Smith biography movie at the Visitor's Center, went to the departing missionary fireside, and he came to all 3 hrs of church. This week alone. He randomly flipped open to Ether 12:6 and told us it was one of his favorites (what?!).

[Ether 12:6 says: And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye have no witness until after the trial of your faith.] 

Ted reads every day. I invited him to be baptized on February 29th (who knew that wasn't an actual day ;) #notmybest) aka March 1st, but we might even move it up. I'm so humbled to be apart of his journey right now.
    Ted is quirky for sure, but so am I, so it works. Anyways, he asked if he could give us nicknames. Sister Rackleff he calls Sister Sochi because she looks like his niece. He asked if he could call me Sister Dawn and here's why: (I normally don't tell these types of stories, but I thought you'd enjoy it and I repeat it in the humblest way.) He said that I have so much self-confidence that really strengthens him. It reminds him of a woman that when he first left home went out of his way to befriend him at work and she changed his life whose name was Dawn.  I told him my mother's name is Dawn :)
    Out of time! Lots of funny things as always this week that I'll try to catch up next week!
    Plus SIster Rackleff's birthday was this past week! and our 1 year mark in LA! Party on!
Love you all!

Sister Atkinson