Come help the good work move along; put your shoulder to the wheel!

I am quite late with this one. She wrote it on Wednesday, June 12, 2013. It was the week they get to go to the Los Angeles Temple so their p-day was moved to that day for the week. Dawn

Hello all!

Whew! Extended week because we got to go to the temple this morning!!! So special as always.
caroline! I got your announcement! My companion said that Draper has a really pretty bride's room. I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND DEANNA.

Lets see!
Michael got baptized into our YSA ward this week. Sister Barney and I met him outside the UCLA Institute. [note from Dawn: Institute is a building where the Young Single Adults gather for fun activities and for religious classes] Michael could barely speak English so we referred him to the Chinese speaking Elders and he got baptized sunday! It was cool. Sister Son and I got to do the 'missionary moment' during the service. Which is, basically, while they are changing into dry clothes, we give a spiritual thought and ask for referrals. We talked about how it all started when he heard about Joseph Smith's first prayer. It was really a cool moment for us to testify of the restoration.

Sister Son and I are focusing on finding this transfer. We are getting creative and exploring different parts of our huge area, haha. We have met so many cool people! Everyday we feel like we meet someone that Heavenly Father needs us to. We try to pray with everyone we meet and it's been to cool to see how people can feel the spirit. UCLA's finals are this week and most of our people are leaving for home or internships this summer. :( Some missionaries are about to get some great referrals!! Included are Cosmo (he's from china and believes it's all true!) and Andrew (this new kid we met this week and taught. He's blind and his lesson was sooo cool.) Lots of potentials!! We are teaching so many diverse people. I want to stay in this area forever. Or at least until a few people that I'm particularly close to are baptized. We have helped a lot of our people get to the gate of baptism. but now it's their choice to walk through it. Oh agency---how we have a nice love and hate relationship.

Missions teach you a lot about yourself. Such as I'm more impatient and sassy than I thought I was, hahaha. I feel like I try to change a little bit everyday.

Things are a little crazy because we are about to switch mission presidents!

Sister Son is great! She's just an innocent little lamb and we accidentally drove down West Hollywood during a special event.  I had to tell to shield her eyes like 45 times. Whoops. She says "Oh...wow." or "Culture shock" just about everyday. It's hilarious. Ah, I love serving in Los Angeles.

Hmph, this email is a little lame this week, but my mind is all over the place. It was a great week! I passed my 5 month mark and didn't even notice! HOW IS IT JUNE ALREADY.

Well I love you all! Make it a great week!

 

Sister Atkinson

"Jesus Savior pilot me, Over life's tempestous sea; May I hear thee say to me, "Fear not; I will pilot thee"

Hello dearest family and friends!

I may be miles away focused on other people, but please know I pray for you all every day and you're in my heart! I know that I'm supposed to here at this time, and this week was a definite confirmation of that!
Dad sent me a scripture he not-so-coincidentally read the day after grandma's funeral, "And he said unto another, follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, let the dead bury their dead; but go thou and preach the kingdom of God....No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." And he included this "For the family prayer, Mom's body was placed in the Relief Society room. Your missionary pictures were on the wall, just above Mom, which was very appropriate." Of course I wish I could have been there with everyone, especially to see the crazy extended Atkinson clan together for the first time in years, but I need to be here, plowing away. I never make covers for my missionary planner like everyone else, simply because it takes time and creativity, but I took the picture from grandma's birthday and it's my cover of my planner this transfer. It says "there are missionaries on both sides of the veil."
I had many opportunities to bear my testimony of the plan of salvation this week!! I know I already shared it kind of last week, but I want to say it again. I have had very distinct impressions from the Holy Ghost that after many years grandma and grandpa are reunited on the other side of the veil. I was standing outside the Los Angeles temple with someone we have been working with and I boldly testified that because my grandparents sacrificed much to be sealed together for time and eternity in the temple and lived valiantly to those covenants they are reunited right now, still as companions, as husband and wife. That is true love. There is no doubt in my mind that the priesthood power of Elijah to bind families together (Malachi 4:6) has been restored to the earth! A temple marriage is not some fairy tale that Mormons dream about, it is truly an opportunity we have to have our own happily ever after because of our Savior Jesus Christ. Because of the atonement of Jesus Christ, we not only have the opportunity to overcome this life, but become our potential as children of God. We have the opportunity to be eternal families with Him. If we could understand just a fraction of what that meant, than all we are asked to do in this life is nothing in comparison to what we will receive. Another night we were at the temple visitor's center and someone else we have been working with looked over at the temple and said "that's what it's all about." I could have shouted for joy. In fact, I think I did (we all know I have no problem expressing myself, haha). That's why I'm here. So people can understand what it's all about. That's why Christ did what he did for us. That's why Heavenly Father sent us to this earth. That's why I'm on the streets of Hollywood and on UCLA campus, to tell people what it's all about. That's what grandma and grandpa are doing right now. Telling and teaching those people who didn't get the opportunity to hear it in this life. They are on the other side of the veil telling people what it's all about. I have received SO much strength this week, knowing that we are united in that cause. Can you not feel it in your heart? I know you're just reading it, but if we humble ourselves and ask God if it's true, we can feel Him testify of truth in our hearts. I testify that Jesus Christ lives. That The Bible and the Book of Mormon are true. I want each person I know to have the same peace, assurance, and temple blessings that I know about. Please just try it. Please read the Book of Mormon and ask God if it is true. Please??

Grandpa got a new companion this week and so did I!! Sister Son! She is from Seoul, Korea. She just turned 21 last month! She is so humble and is the definition of quiet dignity. She went to BYU so her English is better than mine, haha. She talks to EVERYONE. She'll roll down the window and hand people mormon.org cards. It's awesome. I'm so grateful for her. She is pushing me. Like crazy. We're working very hard! Sorry this is a novel. I'll tell you about one new investigator: Darrell. Darrell is golden. His sister is a recent convert and he came to church with her last week. He said he felt a special peace there (like Mom's conversion story!!) and wanted to learn more. We taught him twice. Imagine a 6'5" black guy tearing up when you testify about Jesus Christ knowing what you're going through. It was so cool.

Sorry to all those who I pinky promised to write last p-day. That just didn't happen. In my defense I found out my grandma passed away, then Sister Oldham and I had to go buy bikes, and then we locked the keys in the trunk which took 2 1/2 hours away from our p-day. Hot mess. So sorry. I'm so sorry for being so behind on writing everyone back. I should get to write some today and some next Monday. Oh oh, one more tender mercy. Sister Oldham and I had a last lesson with Dennis. It was Tuesday night, so it had been a crazy day for both of us. Dennis is a little slower, but working with him has taught me so much. Anyways, in his prayer, "I want to thank these sisters for all they do. They have been through a lot, but please help them. They do good things." He had no idea what Sister Oldham and I had been through that day. It was the most humble, sincere tender mercy ever.

Thanks for all you do. I'm laughing and smiling lots. The jokes and funny stories from you all really help, haha. So thanks!

The work is moving forward and it is such a privilege to be a part of it. We are working hard!! So excited to see more miracles! Love you all! Make it a great week!

p.s.--Kristi "stinking I love you" Holstein. My mom forwarded me what you posted on Facebook. That was one of the nicest things anyone has ever said. It really made my day. You are such a sweetheart! I hope all is well with you!!

Gird up your loins, fresh courage take ---our God will never us forsake!

Hi all,

This is her regular email she wrote this knowing Grandma Rayma Atkinson was very ill and before learning of her Grandma's death.  Dawn

 

May 28, 2013

HELLO HELLO HELLO!
the hymn come, come ye saints (quoted above) is Sister Oldham and my theme song.
So many emails and letters today! I'm so grateful to have so many important people in my life. Seriously, I love you all. Please keep writing--it really makes a difference! (And I promise I'm writing everyone back today!)

Whew! Where do I even begin!

-CONGRATS DEANNA! YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE A BEAUTIFUL BRIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-So sorry to hear about Grandma Atkinson. Please keep me posted and everyone else keep her and my family in your prayers. I'm so grateful for the knowledge we have of the plan of salvation!!

I have no idea where this transfer went! We know if we are training the week before on Wednesday night (but we don't know where or anything until Monday night). Anyways! Sister Oldham and I BOTH got the call! We just assumed we would be co-training in a trio, but when we went to the training meeting President Baker said that this transfer board looks crazy. Lots and lots of changes. He said they would move names around for a month, before they finally felt the confirmation from the Spirit that it was right. It just proves to me that this is God's work, and not man's. Pres. Baker would not choose to do half of the changes that are going on. It's awesome!! Two visitor center sisters are going full-field speaking Sign Language. (they don't know ASL, haha). So crazy. And and and Sister Oldham? Only being out 6 weeks in an English area and not finishing her own 12 week training program? She is leaving me to whitewash a new Spanish area on bikes!!! WE DIED last night. She is a little overwhelmed, but she is going to be so great! I am so proud of her. The Lord has so much trust in her. I am sad we only got one transfer together though! And we were awful at taking pictures... Ah! So excited. I will be staying!! And training!! So fun!! I knew it wasn't my time to leave yet. These are my people. I predict I'll stay here for another 2, and leave for a bike area in August, haha -_-

This week was great! Right now my mind is overstimulated with lots and lots of information, so I couldn't tell you what happened this week, haha. I remember it was great! Oh wait, I remember something I learned. Follow spiritual promptings. Always.
We were in a lesson this week in which we said we were not going to talk to our investigator about baptism. Because we talked to her about it last time and we didn't want to overwhelm her and such. Anyways, we're in the lesson and I get this very distinct prompting to invite her to be baptized again. I pushed it away and basically was like "no! She'll freak out and Sister Oldham will kill me." It came again. So I said a silent prayer in my head asking "do you really want me to invite her?" And I got that same confirming spiritual feeling that I always get when I know something is right. The same feeling I have in the temple or when I decided to come on a mission. Anyways, "okay okay! Heavenly Father!" I pushed it off for another 5 seconds before it was very distinct that I needed to open my mouth. And of course I did. Sister Oldham said she had had the same prompting 15 minutes before I did, but she had pushed it away as well. We talked a lot about acting on the spirit. Things like this happen all the time when teaching. It's why we have companions, haha. Anyways! Act on thoughts or feelings because they often are short windows of opportunity for Heavenly Father to use us as an instrument in His hands. So cool.

Well! exciting things lay ahead! I have a really good feeling about this new transfer! Fresh courage take! Our God will NEVER us forsake! I love you all. I love this work. I love being a missionary. Wow, I sound like a nerd.

Make it a great week!

all my love,
Sister Atkinson :)

All is well! All is well!

May 28, 2013

Hi all,

Alexandra asked that I post this personal email. Her Grandma Rayma Atkinson passed away yesterday at our home where she had been living for the past 10 weeks. This is what she wrote today upon learning of her death.

Dawn

 

Hey Mom,

President just called me into his office to tell me about Grandma. He gave me time to come back to the computer and email you. I am surprised by how much it hit me. I'm sorry that I won't be able to be there to help you and Dad. How is Dad doing? How are you doing? I wrote you last week about how courageous I thought she was for choosing to stay in this life. President asked me to tell him a little bit about her. And I was surprised by how excited I was to tell him (through my tears of course) that she and grandpa built such a legacy in West Virginia. THEY ARE REUNITED!! HOW JOYOUS!!!! Think about how many lives grandma has saved through genealogy. So many people are so happy to finally hug her and say thanks.

We get to have temple p-day in a couple of weeks, and I am praying now that I will be able to feel their presence. President told me to testify of the plan of salvation as much as possible. Grandma is joining Grandpa in the forces on the other side. She is a missionary now too!!!! I bet she is taking no time to rest and is getting right to work. I need to get right to work, so I can stay focused. You all are in my thoughts and prayers. Please feel free to include this on my blog. Yes, it is harder than I thought right now to be away from family in such a hard time, but I am able to receive so much strength from the atonement right now. And from grandma herself. In my patriarchal blessing it talks about loved ones who have gone before me are very aware of me in this life. I hope I can honor their legacies that they have left me, especially grandma's. I love her. I love you all. SO MUCH. Let me know if I can do anything.

Love,

Alexandra

Hope of Israel, Rise in Might! With the Sword of Truth and Right!

Hello! Hello! Hello!

Man, last p-day feels like a month ago. This week was a rollercoaster to be honest. 

I had my first real mission breakdown, haha. I have to say for a sister missionary, 4 1/2 months without one is pretty good. We got really disappointing news from one of our investigators and I just couldn't hold it in anymore, haha. Poor Sister Oldham just patiently sat with me in the car. (Love her lots). I can't believe I have been in this area almost 4 months. I look back and Satan lets me think, what have I accomplished? Why am I here? What's the point of all this work if these people that I love so much just don't stinking get it? Notice how selfish those sentences are? Get thee hence Satan, haha. (I promise this email will get a lot happier.. I just think these emails should be as genuine as possible. Otherwise, they'd be boring! :) )

 When we focus on our own agendas and our own to-do lists, we get frustrated. When I have patience and remember that this is NOT MY work, but the Lord's then things are much easier. Do I want all of Los Angeles to be baptized? "Welllll...obviously...." But this is the Lord's work and these are His children. I didn't leave normal life for 18 months to accomplish something for myself. I'm here to do whatever the Lord asks of me. Once I get over myself, I can be an instrument in His hands. So we pray hard. Laugh hard. And move forward, with hope, with faith, and with a smile. It is so easier to forget all of the little miracles I witness everyday. There is a reason The Book of Mormon tells us over and over and over again to remember the hand of the Lord in our lives. :)

ELDER COOK. AN APOSTLE AND SPECIAL WITNESS OF JESUS CHRIST, CAME TO OUR MISSION ON SATURDAY. He is so cool. His wife is a boss as well. The whole mission got together at 7am Saturday (luckily we live 1 minute from the building we met in). We all shook their hands. And then they spoke to us. He said he never prepares what he will say to missionaries so that it will be guided by the Spirit. And that he did! He talked about the surge in missionary work of course. He talked about how inspired each mission call is. He talked about being on the board that put together Preach My Gospel. [Note from Dawn: Preach My Gospel is the teaching guidebook used by all missionaries, world wide] (That was super cool). He said to work with our members. He emphasized leaving commitments with everyone we meet. He said to have an increase in faith in the work (Sister Oldham and I always talk about this). And realize that you can't take away people's agency or the ability to choose for themselves (agency and I have a love-hate relationship No invitation=no opportunity to change. And then this was the coolest part---he talked about how Los Angeles is a great place. But also a very worldly difficult place, haha. He said sometimes we will think "What I could be doing at home could be so much more beneficial to the Lord and to friends and family" He then said something to the effect of "I leave you with a blessing with an understanding of what you are doing right now will bless everyone you love (family, friends, future generations, future spouse, etc.) I bless you that you see through the rejection and disappointment to see a vision of what you are doing. No matter if there's a baptism or not, be assured that what you're doing is building the Lord's kingdom. I leave you with the appreciation of the Savior on his behalf." I'M SORRY. BUT CAN ANYONE SAY APOSTLE OF THE LORD?! My whole soul was filled with the love of my Father in Heaven. The Spirit testified to me so strongly that Elder Cook was so inspired to say what he said, that he is called to be a special witness of Jesus Christ. Pray about it. Ask God for yourself. There is a prophet on the earth today. Speaking of, so sad to hear about Sister Monson! [Note from Dawn: Sister Frances Monson, beloved wife of the leader of our Church, passed away at age 86] We've been praying a lot for President Monson. So I got to conduct the music at the devotional with Elder Cook. I stood in front of our whole mission to lead the closing song. Elders in the back started standing up which was a ripple effect. It was so powerful to heard over 200 voices stand and sing "Hope of Israel". We really are Zion's army. 

Anyways! This week was great! It really was. We are working so hard. 

OH OH OH OH MICAH. EVERYONE. We parked last night and were walking back to our apartment. We said hello to the two people on the street corner as usual. And then I did a double take. Me to Sis. Oldham "That is Mrs. Matthews from Boy Meets World...We are turning around" " No we're not." " Oh yes we are" I MET MRS. MATTHEWS FROM BOY MEETS WORLD. YOU BETTER BELIEVE I GOT MY PIC WITH HER. LIFE MADE. STILL STOKED ABOUT IT.

Also, I got a blender this week. I have gotten over my berry hatred since my mission. I still cringe when trying to eat some of them, but I eat them all the time (Californians love feeding us their fruit). Anyways, we make spinach fruit smoothies every morning. Look at me being healthy. And I got a haircuit. Bueno all around. We went to a Spanish neighborhood yesterday and I swear I was not in the United States. It was awesome. 
Also, I very much apologize to everyone who has written me letters. We have been having a lot of zone activities which hasn't left us anytime to write letters. I'll catch up soon! Sorry! LOVE YOU ALL! 
Sister Atkinson

He knows I will follow Him.....give all my life to Him. :)

Hi all, I am late with this post but here it is. Dawn

May 13, 2013

HELLO!
It was so good to see you all yesterday!!! Yay for Skype! (we are allowed to skype home for 40..ish minutes on Mother's day and Christmas) I did such a good job of not crying! I only teared up when Brooklyn said "Wuv you Awi." because she could barely say anything when I left. everyone looks great! especially Ashley and Benjamin! So fun!

This might be a short one. I apologize in advance.

This week was a great one as always. In every lesson or every situation, the topic of faith seemed to come up. I feel like life often pushes us to the brink of what we know, understand, or can handle. And then all we can rely on is faith. I was a little frustrated that Heavenly Father makes us learn my faith this week, haha. But it's the only way we grow. He can't just tell us the answers. Faith helps us figure things out and become more like Him.
The Book of Mormon says faith is not a perfect knowledge, but it is a hope for things which are not seen which are true. When doubts, fears, or trials come we only have faith to rely on. That's why we call it the first principle of the gospel. We must rememberrrrrr the experiences we have had. We must do what we believe is right. Continue in the path we believe in. THEN comes the witness of truth. Does that make sense? The Book of Mormon says the witness comes after the trial of our faith. The Bible says do the will of the Father and thennn you'll understand the doctrine behind it. That's why obedience is really a measure of our faith. We don't know or understand everything. But we trust God and His path. We trust that He knows best and we do what He asks. Then comes the confirmation. I think one of the hardest tests of mortality is learning to walk by faith. But that doesn't mean to be blind. We must stay convicted in the truths we already know.

Sorry, I feel like this is a journal entry that I just didn't have time for this week, haha. Hope that made sense.

We teach people from all backgrounds, but the same truths. It's fascinating to see how the same lesson can relate to all of God's children. We are blessed with people to teach! Dennis and Kent have baptismal dates! yay!! 

I love all of you. So much. Sorry it's so short!! Life is great!! Make good choices! 
Love ,
Sister Atkinson

Be still my soul, the Lord is on my side....

Hey Everybody!

I HAVE A NEW NEPHEW!!!!!!!!! CONGRATS DAN AND ASHLEY!!!!

WELCOME TO THE CRAZY ATKINSON CLAN, BABY BEN!

[note from Dawn: Ashley and Dan welcomed Benjamin James 7 lbs 11 oz. at 1:27 am Tuesday, April 30, 2013 in CA]

Whew! What a crazy week. I swear the most random things happen as a missionary. I lost my watch, broke the other. Water bottle exploded in my backpack and my most prized possession (my lesson plan book) got water damaged. I won't tell you my parallel parking experiences. Crazy people hitting on our investigators that come to church. The power is out at the family history library (only the 2nd time it's rained since I've been here! woot!), so we're at a public library (sorry if this email is all over the place. I keep getting distracted by the unique people in the room). This old Iranian Jewish man gave us candy and told me he'd call me sweetie since I told him my first name is a secret. He keeps grabbing my arm to show me pictures of a wax statue of President Bush. Oh my gosh! he just showed me a cartoon joke that was very inappropriate of a Muslim woman. Is my life hilarious? Why, yes. Yes it is. I hope I don't sound complain-y. Things just happen and then Sister Oldham and I give each other this look, laugh, and move on. Things with us are great! We realized that we are at the point of teasing each other which means we've hit the best friend stage of being companions, haha. She's great and energetic. And doesn't get why everyone just doesn't get the gospel. "Duh! It's so obvious!" is what she always says in our car rants. Hilarious.

Pray for my driving skills. Merciful.

This weekend we were asked to volunteer at an elementary school's carnival. I haven't been around that many kids or that much pop music in a while, haha.

Things are going great in our areas! We are hitting goals more than I ever have on my mission so far, but we still don't have anybody with baptismal dates. But I really should be so, so, so grateful that we have so many people to teach. We fasted to know how to help people accept baptismal dates yesterday and are praying so hard for it. So many of the people we are working with have testimonies of the gospel. They just need to act on it. Fast Sundays are great because I always get so much personal revelation for what we're praying for. My faith is increasing. I heard a quote yesterday I really liked: "where there is no obedience there is no faith".

I read a couple versus in the Book of Mormon yesterday that have become my new favorite missionary scriptures.

Alma 13 : 27-29

27 And now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance;

28 But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;

29 Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest.

I know what I share is true, which is why from the inner most part of my heart, even with anxiety and pain, that I want everyone I know and love to accept it. Even this hilarious man next to me. He's getting a Temple Visitor's Center card in about 30 seconds. :) Ah! Just pray about it people. Love you all so, so, so much! Can't wait to talk to the fambam on the phone on Mother's Day! Have a Happy Mother's Day to all the great women in my life!!
Oh my goodness! He just showed me an awful picture! THIS WORLD IS NUTS. Dying to laugh. Love you all!!!!!!!
Sister Atkinson