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
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