Note from Dawn: This is late this week because for a couple of reasons. First, her p-day was not until Wednesday. Second Ali alludes to a situation with her Grandma Atkinson who lives in Utah. Grandma's husband has been diagosed with lung cancer and his wish is for her to move back to West Virginia as he will be unable to care for her. She has demetia and also falls alot. So since Tuesday evening I have been busy making arrangements for her to move in with us. I will be in Utah, Sunday evening and flying her back home on Tuesday. Next week's blog post may also be late. I hope to link the youtube video she references and post some pictures as well, soon. Thanks for your support of her, I know it means a lot to her. Dawn
March 13, 2013
Hello hello hello!
Wow! So much to say today!
First off NEW MISSION RULE
WORLDWIDE!
The Church has recently issued the following policy update:
"Missionaries are to write to their families each week and are also
authorized to communicate by email with friends, priesthood leaders, and new
converts. Mission presidents should allow sufficient time on preparation day for
missionaries to write emails and letters. While in the mission field,
missionaries should receive authorization from the mission president before
entering into communication, including via email, with converts and others of
the opposite gender within the mission boundaries (see Missionary Handbook,
36–37)."
This is from my mission president with rules specific to
us:
1) You must follow the policy of obtaining my permission BEFORE writing
to anyone inside the mission of the opposite gender.
2) As a general
guideline, we have encouraged CLAM missionaries to spend no more than an hour
writing emails weekly. This continues to be our guideline. You should be
considerate of your companion and not spend long periods of time emailing as
there are many other things that need to be accomplished on preparation days.
3) It is critical that each companion monitor and CORRECT the behavior of
their companion if they are not following the guidelines in correctly using the
computer.
4) This policy revision does not change the following: a) You
should continue to use only your approved missionary email account for writing
(do not access old personal email accounts). b) You should not enter ANY website
that is not affiliated with the Church (ex: mormon.org, lds.org, etc) without my permission. c)
Please remember to write the mission president each week to report your
stewardship! d) Additional computer time may be used to become familiar with
missionary materials found on mormon.org.
So!
Anyone can email me and I can email anyone. However, I
already have trouble trying to find time to use only an hour to email my family
and my mission president, so there are no guarantees that I will be emailing a
lot to my dear friends that write me :) But! I will print off your emails and
try to respond via letter or email within a few weeks. I especially love
pictures. So if you ever want to email me pictures...just saying. And I still
LOVE letters...just saying. But! Beggars can't be choosers. any questions on
this? ask my mom and I will try to respond. oh wait, you can email me. and i can
try to respond. AH CRAZINESS. alexandra.atkinson7@myldsmail.net
CONGRATULATIONS JESSICA AND BRETT! My mom is a master creeper on facebook
these days and she forwarded me a picture of beautiful Echo. I feel like an
honorary aunt. I am so happy for you!!! She is a beautiful baby!
So is Grandma Atkinson now in West Virginia? I am so sad to hear about Doug.
Please send him my love. He is in my prayers. Grandma is in my prayers. You all
are in my prayers. I know this new transition will not be easy.
We got to go to the temple this morning! Which is why my P-day is on
Wednesday this week. Next week it will be on Monday.
This week I am overwhelmed with gratitude. As I sat in the temple today, I
was overcome with feelings that I have been having all week. I cannot deny that
my Savior lives and love me. I know that He understands exactly how I feel. I
think I always get emotional when I go to the temple because I feel like I am
going home. I don't let myself sit and ponder about home while I'm in missionary
mode. I am here to dedicate all my time and attention to serving the Lord. So
work work work! But as I get the opportunity to sit and reflect in the Lord's
House I ponder how one day I will return home to my Father in Heaven. How badly
I want Him to say "Welcome home, my dear daughter. You have been faithful. Enter
into my Kingdom and my rest." This week we
discovered a newer Mormon Message entitled "Mountains to Climb". Youtube
"mountains to climb eyring mormon message" and it will come up.
Everyone--please please please watch this and focus on how you feel. Give 5
minutes of your time to feel power and love from above. During good times and
bad, our Savior is there. Build a foundation on Him, and you will find hope,
peace, and perspective. This video has changed many people's lives this week.
Let it brighten up your day. :)
Sister Barney's birthday was this past week! You know me. I really get into
birthdays. So I had to get creative with what missionary means I had. aka:
ga-hetto. I will send pictures home soon. Mom, thank you so much for the ankle braces
and the new picture sd cards. I will send more pictures home! If you promise to send them
back :)
Ashley passed her baptismal interview last night and then texted us a few
hours later and said she wasn't being baptized. We have no idea what is going
on. We are very stressed, but felt peace and comfort in the temple today. I will
let you know on Monday if she actually was baptized! Sigh.
This week it felt good to help and serve some members in our wards. A lot of
them are at hard places in their lives, trying to make difficult decisions. They
love going out with us to lessons and always say "it is just what they needed".
So many miracles this week. So many. I'm already at 20 minutes left and have
to email my mission president, so I will only talk about Megan.
One day Sister Barney looked through old records in our area book to find
people we could call up, while I made some phone calls. (so much of missionary
work is phone calls, planning, and paper work.) She found a former investigator
that she felt prompted to call. We called her a few days later and said she
would love to meet with us. WHAT. Unusual. Then she shows up to our lessons. I
have never ever meet anyone more prepared to hear and accept the gospel than
her. We taught her the first two lessons and she came to church. She is one of
the most genuinely kind people I have ever met. She is 30, single, and an
attorney. She met a Mormon friend in college and she has always been impressed
by her "humble confidence" in her faith. She went to Salt Lake a year or so ago
and had a very spiritual experience at Temple Square that has never left her.
She is overcome with the Spirit during our lessons and cries as she feels God's
love for her. She has had a lot of questions about things that she felt her
faith never answered. As we teach her, her eyes widen as she is relieved that
questions that she has had for years about her Savior, the afterlife, the world,
the Fall of Adam, etc. are finally answered!! She takes notes during our lessons
(what?!). She prays. She reads. She told the bishop on Sunday he would be seeing
a lot more of her. WHAT IS HAPPENING!
I feel like I don't deserve the COUNTLESS blessings that I am receiving. I
seriously don't understand why Heavenly Father is pouring out the blessings. I
am trying to humble myself and work harder to try to feel more adequate. I love
this Gospel. I love you all. I am so happy and so blessed. Pray for Ashley.
Email me. ;) Watch that 5 minute video! Thanks for yours prayers!
All my love,
Sister Atkinson
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world..." Doctrine & Covenants 50:41
March 5, 2013
HELLO EVERYONE!
- First off--CONGRATS JOHN-MARK AND NATALIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nephew #4! He is to be born in July! I'm so happy for you two. (Ashley is having nephew #3 in April!)
- I don't know where to begin this week. So much has happened and I had so many mixed emotions this week.
-I survived transfer 1! Mom you should probably explain what that means. Sister Barney and I are staying in our area and we are so relieved! The work is progressing for these two wards and we are so excited to keep it going.
Note from Dawn: Transfers occur periodically,
where Alexandra will be sent to serve in a new area of LA and would serve with
a new companion. She is not moving this transfer period.- First off--CONGRATS JOHN-MARK AND NATALIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nephew #4! He is to be born in July! I'm so happy for you two. (Ashley is having nephew #3 in April!)
- I don't know where to begin this week. So much has happened and I had so many mixed emotions this week.
-I survived transfer 1! Mom you should probably explain what that means. Sister Barney and I are staying in our area and we are so relieved! The work is progressing for these two wards and we are so excited to keep it going.
-I went on exchanges (swap companions and areas) this week for 2 days to Manhattan Beach. One of the days I was reunited with Sister Ostler (my MTC companion) so that was fun! Their area is so different. We mostly met with older less active women who are (to be blunt) miserable. It motivated me to come back to my area and help these young people make the right choices that affect the rest of their lives. What's that President Uchtdorf talk, that talks about when flying a plane if you get one degree off it makes a huge difference over time, to the point of crashing? It is so easy to get that one degree off. We must do the simple things each day--pray, serve, read our scriptures, etc. to stay on track. No one is ever exempt from that, myself 120% included.
Note from Dawn: Elder Deiter Uchtdorf Talk reference – “A Matter of a Few Degrees” delivered at April 2008 General Conference. If interested in reading this it can be found by searching his name & the title.
-Ashley Kwan is going to be baptized on March 16 and I could not be more excited or more proud of her. I wish I had time to give you all the details. "I'm just ready to take that leap of faith."
-Allan dropped us this past week after a really powerful lesson. There is nothing more depressing than to see someone deny what he has felt and walk away from the blessings you know that lies in wait for him. Sister Barney read to me Helaman 10:4-6 to me directly after. Nephi, a prophet and missionary, was comforted by the Lord because he had with "unwearyingness declared the word". I truly felt that we testified to Allan with all the energy of our hearts and I don't have any regrets. But the bittersweet beauty of the Gospel is that we each are given the gift of agency from our Father in Heaven, or that ability to choose for ourselves.
-I have learned that there are no coincidences. Like, it's insane. Heavenly Father has a hilarious sense of humor. Everyday there is something that makes me think "well that is too much of a coincidence to be a coincidence", but I will share three.
-Ashley sent us a text to say she was 100% going to be baptized and I was about to call her when Sister Barney looked up and saw her across campus. We ran to her and shouted for joy! Obviously.
-We knocked on a door of a less active member. His roommate answered the door to say that he has moved out, but he recognized us immediately. His Mom and sister are Mormon. His best friend is on a mission in Mississippi. He invited us in and let us share a message. Usually he would be at class at that time, but he got out early. He was going to stop going to a bible study with his friend that night but decided that he should go. Usually we don't have a 3rd female/member with us, but we came from another appointment so we could come into his apartment (we have to have a 3rd female with us if we are at a single guy's house/apartment). All a coincidence? I think not.
-And my personal favorite: we set up an appointment to go see a less active member in our ward who is the head fashion designer for the pop band LMFAO. We showed up and his cousin said he wasn't home and that he lost his phone in a taxi cab that morning. We left our member's car outside his apartment and gave her a ride to go visit some other people in that area. A few hours later we are driving back to drop off our member by her car, when Sister Barney says "LOOK!" Lo and behold a giant van decorated in zebra print with neon lettering that says "Party Rock Clothing Company". He was pulling in and parking. I jumped out of the car and chased it down as Sister Barney drove behind. 45 seconds, before or after, we would have missed him. It was hilarious. And we had a good 25 minute chat. He's great. And his van? Pics to come. I'm sending my SD card home today hopefully!
Almost out of time :( sorry I can't share more!
Heavenly Father loves you. Your Savior loves you. I love you.
Make it a great week,
Sister Atkinson
This is a picture of her Westwood Zone (missionaries in a certain geographic area). On the top row 3rd from the right is an Elder Ryan Satre who is also from WV. He actually used to live in the Charleston in the 1st Ward when he and Ali were small. They did not remember each other but he most recently was in the Morgantown Student Ward as a freshman last year and knows John-Mark!
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Finally!!! MTC pictures and arrival in LA
MTC Entrance Day
January 9, 2013
A final wave good-bye!
All of her worldly possessions in three purple suitcases!
Sisters in the MTC district
Sister Ostler, MTC Companion,
by the "Biker" statue
MTC District
A visit to the Provo Temple
Sister Ostler and Sister A
in their MTC Dorm Room
The MTC World Map
"California Here I Come!"
All the new arrivals from the Provo MTC to the California Los Angeles Mission
January 30, 2013
President and Sister Baker and Sister A on arrival day
January 30, 2013
Sister A and her trainer, Sister Barney
Monday, February 25, 2013
We Are All Enlisted Til the Conflict Is O'er, Happy Are We! Happy Are We!
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!!!!!!!!!
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 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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