"Lord, let us regain thy presence; let thy glory round us shine."

Hi all!

    Another week! I don't have much time today, so this will be a quickie!

-Sister Morgan from Provo, Utah is here!! She is 19 and this is what I wrote the first night we were companions, "Very put together, classy, graceful, angelic, and OCD with colors, haha."  She is seriously fantastic and we are having a lot of fun together.

-We had a breakthrough lesson with Guillaume!!! He read 3 Nephi 12 and felt the Spirit so strongly. We read Alma 32:28 and it was exactly how he felt when he read. HE said it was such a special experience:

 

Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye giveplace, that a seed 

may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be atrue seed, or a good seed, 

if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief,that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, 

behold, it will begin toswell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling

motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs bethat this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it 

beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding,

yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me. Alma 32:28

-Our investigators are slowly coming along, but we are desperately trying to find new investigators who are ready to progress now, so keep that in your prayers for me.

-Sister Morgan got sick for a bit this week, so I caught up on my reading of the book, Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage. I LOVE THAT BOOK so much.

-We were supposed to have a mini-missionary. At the last minute, we rearranged all of our appointments to drive an hour to get her and such, waited for her for an hour, but then she didn't show up. Since Sister Morgan had been sick, she was ecstatic to say the least. It was hilarious. I used a coupon and took her out to dinner at this asian-chipotle to celebrate. (shout out to Sis Burrell for giving it to me).

-We were in downtown Santa Monica and walked up stairs to knock on a door. Across from us was another set of stairs to another door. Sister Morgran just points and says "Sister is that REAL?!" Terrified it was a spider, I look over at the other porch to see a giant GIANT iguana sun bathing. Welcome to Santa Monica.

-I think I have talked to more homeless people, than not, on my mission. #streetcontacting

-Hoarding is just awful. Don't do it.

-Missions teach you so much about yourself. Things I learned about myself this week: I can't ignore problems, I can never work in a corporate office, and I will always own a dishwasher.

    Sorry this is the lamest email ever, but know that I am so happy. This is the Lord's work and I just sit in awe at Him. I've been praying every day that I would get to know my Savior better each day. He is real and loves us. 

Make it a great week! Thanks for the prayers!

Sister Atkinson

So trusting all to thy tender care, And knowing thou lovest me, I'll do thy will with a heart sincere.

Hi everyone!  

    This might be a shorter email, because I need to try to look at classes for this fall. YUCK.

First off, new transfer starts this week! I am staying here in the Santa Monica 1st ward! My good friend Sister Rackleff is leaving me :( but she's going to one of the wards I started in (LA YSA) which is such a good area and she's going to be with my Sister Pillar (we were in a trio for 2 weeks!), so I'm super happy for them. Sister Morgan will be coming here! She's my "granddaughter" in the mission. Sister Son (who I trained) trained her. I know her a little, and I couldn't be more excited to be with her. Our area is no longer a sister training leader area, but after 6 transfers of being an STL I was not surprised. I'm actually really grateful. I will miss going on exchanges and knowing more about  what is going on across the mission, but I really just want to work so hard the last few months of my mission, and I think that is exactly what God wants me to do. So lets do this!

    This week was awesome. Here are some highlights:

-We had a training meeting for the sisters across the mission. It was incredible to be with all of them. my favorite part was reading Psalms 23 and having a testimony meeting. Sis Rackleff and I got to train on 'how to have a successful companionship' and I just wanted to say "Just let God love you enough to give you the easiest companions in the world. That's what he has done for me." But I decided that probably wasn't what President was going for. 

-Fav quote of the week from Elder Neal Maxwell "Consecration is the only surrender that is total victory."

-A man on the street tried to convince me that "Those Mormons are training an army up in that building on overland." (he was referring to the temple.) Heaven help us all. Speaking of the temple, it was closed for cleaning this week and we got to do service. I HAD THE COOLEST JOB EVER. We were in the celestial room/sealing rooms and we literally took every piece off of the chandeliers to clean them. It was incredible and so humbling to be in the Lord's house. Sis Rackleff got super sick while we were there, so I convinced her to lie down for a minute on the couch in the celestial room and take a nap. It might sound inappropriate or something, but it was actually a really special experience. We felt at home and like God was taking care of us. 

-I met one of the rudest street contacts on my mission. Here is how the conversation went:

"Hi! Can we share a card with you?" -Sister Rackleff

*meanest glare in the world* "I am an ordained minister." *turns and starts to walk away - middle aged woman

"Oh that is awesome! What church do you work at?" - me

*turns around* *death stare* "Does that really matter to you?"

"Of course! We love all faiths!" -me

*once again death glare* 'The Lord's church.' *stomps off*

Does it make me a hypocritical Christian if I call her a hypocritical Christian? Probably. Whoops.

-Right after that we were walking down the street and I said an out loud prayer as we were walking "Heavenly Father, please help us to have at least one more quality conversation tonight.' Immediately, home boy walks out of his apt building in front of us. His sister joined the church not too long ago. It was such a good conversation. I love Heavenly Father so much.

-I went on exchanges with the sisters who cover where my recent convert Denis (from a year ago) lives. They said he bore his testimony to them the other day, and my heart melted I was so happy. I love this work. I love these people.

-Some ward members gave another ward member money so he could take us out to eat. This ward member is one of my favorite humans. He joined the church about 10 years ago. Lets just say he used to be one of those schizophrenic homeless men who yell at you in the alley and now he is the one who helps the old ladies in our ward get up to the stand on fast Sundays to bear their testimonies. Anyways. I loved going to dinner with him. While we were at this pizza place they played normal music (remember that I only have listened to churchy Jesusy music for over a  year), and then what comes on? COUNTRY ROADS. I thought I died. I was so happy. THEN? IT PLAYED 4 MORE TIMES ON REPEAT. THAT IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. GOD LOVES ME. 

-I was on exchanges with this awesome Sister from Spain, so I was driving one night in crazy downtown traffic (with spring breaks starting and 80 degree weather, our beach/tourist town has been super busy) when she points to the window beside my head and yells in her cute accent "Sis. Sis! Sis! Spider!!!!!!" Sure enough there is a spider crawling on the inside two inches from face. You can imagine my screams. (I can see dad rolling his eyes at me all the way out here). I tried not to crash while she threw things at it. Luckily at a stop light Ii could smash it like 3 minutes later. And this is why God didn't send me to the Philippines or South America. 

-Ted and Brandon now hold the Priesthood. Every one is doing great! We're still working on finding!

-This morning I woke up to the alarm at 6:20 and did not want to get up. So I was just lying in my bed thinking "ugh". Then God literally told me to get up by sending a crazy EARTHQUAKEEEEEEEEEE. I jumped out of bed, down to where Sister Rackleff was kneeling and praying and shouted "Sister! that's an earthquake!" She didn't seemed alarmed, haha.

-There is this precious man with mental disorders that we always pass on the street. Since january, we have run into him and every time we say hello he says "Happy St. Patrick's Day! Happy Easter!" Well today, God put him in our path! It was awesome. We didn't recognize him from all his St. Patrick's Day get-up. #ilovemylife 

    And something that has been on my mind all week/I've been sharing with people actually comes from an email that my old companion Sister Jones sent me last week. Instead of paraphrasing what she said, I'll just copy and paste. :)

[This is from Sister Jones who is now home]

"I went to go see a movie called "Son of God."  It is a major motion picture about Jesus Christ (from the New Testament).  And, actually, I loved it.  It was amazing.  I mean, there were obviously some parts that did not follow the LDS interpretations of scriptures, but it was very enlightening.  And, at the end, I just felt like I knew my Savior so much better.  It was a great reminder for me of how real everything is....The movie ended with His resurrection, and it was very happy, but I was very sad that so many wouldn't get to hear the whole story....They have NO idea about His ministry in the Americas.  They have NO idea about how He is STILL communicating with prophets today.  They have NO idea that He is coming to return, and that we, if we follow the things He has asked us to do, can become just like Him. I am so grateful for the fullness of the gospel." 

    That's why I am on my mission---people need to hear the whole story. Christ lives, and His work hasn't ended. It continues today. And it has brought me more joy than anything. 

Make it a great week! Love you all!

Sister Atkinson

"I once was lost, but now I am found... was blind, but now I see!"

She had three baptisms this week!

March 10, 2014

Hi everyone!
    This week was so good! Honestly it was just a blur of preparing Brandon and Ted for their baptism and a lot of reflection on how grateful I am.
    So at 6:05pm on Friday we are filling up the baptismal font and we get a call from the members who are supposed to be picking up Ted at 6..."we are at 2222 6th Street, but Ted isn't here." MY HEART DROPPED. What do you mean he's not there? He's always outside waiting 10 minutes early! Sister Rackleff and I start panicking that Ted might have gotten cold feet, etc. etc. when the member says "oh...6th street? We're on 7th street. Our bad." I seriously almost went in to full-fledged panic. But he made it! And Brandon! And Chris! This scripture just was ringing in my ear all week (HOW STINKING GREAT IS MY JOY RIGHT NOW)---"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God...For behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance. And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth! Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people. And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if you joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!"     Seriously, I just don't really know how to convey the joy I felt this week. Some of my happiest moments:
-Realizing Chris, Brandon, and Ted's potential. The moment when they all came out of the water. Their faces beaming after. I also saw Ted and Brandon confirmed on Sunday and their blessings were awesome.
-We helped Ted start his family history. He found his family in the census online and he was SO excited. This spirit seriously enveloped me at that moment. I knew there were many souls on the other side of the veil just present and anticipating all that Ted will do for them.
- Watching this video. http://www.mormonchannel.org/introduction-to-the-church Especially as the Red Cross President was talking about the Church. There is a power and influence in this church that can't be denied. I'm so grateful.
-Talking to a homeless man for a few minutes about his life and realizing that God is no respecter of persons. God just loves each of us more than we could ever comprehend.
-Going back to see my Huntington Park YSA branch at Chris' baptism. Love that place.
-Two ward members who are a big part of why we were even having a baptism on Friday weren't supposed to be able to make it to the baptism. And then I looked up in the opening hymn and watched them walk in. They made some sacrifices and booked it and made it. These Santa Monica ward members are unreal.
-80 degree weather. Here comes the sunnnnnnnnnnn.
-Someone getting some SERIOUS road rage at us (because he tried to switch lanes at an intersection without looking...not his best). Watching him yell and swear at us with all he could muster, but we couldn't hear a word because our Jesus music was playing in the background. Hilarious. Welcome to Los Angeles.
-Losing our phone, praying, looking for 20 minutes, and then a man walked down the street with it in his hands saying he had picked it up off the ground. Then the next day I found a credit card on the ground in the parking garage. I asked everyone we passed if it was theirs, but it was to no avail. I gave up and decided to call and cancel the card for the person, but then I saw a car backing out and felt like I should ask. Sure enough! It was their card!
-Brandon's testimony at his baptism where he said "I met the missionaries on my way home from getting a burrito. I didn't know it would be the burrito that changed my life." And then listening to him testify of Christ's true church, and the Book of Mormon was so powerful. Ted also bore his testimony and said "I know that Jesus Christ is exactly who he said he was and that Joseph Smith is exactly who he said he was."
-Chris looking me in the eye and saying "Thank you thank you thank you" and me looking at him and wanting to say the exact same thing. I didn't do anything for any of these people. Seriously. God just let me part of it.     

    I'm sorry I don't have more details or funny stories this week, but honestly watching these three men I love enter into a covenant with God just overshadowed everything else.
    This is the Lord's work! And it's moving along! Pray for our finding efforts this week :)
    Make it a great week! I love you all!!

Sister Atkinson

Then work and watch and fight and pray with all your might and zeal!

March 3, 2014

 

Hello all!
    This week has been a busy one!
    Just thinking about trying to convey my happiness today is exhausting, haha.
    This coming up weekend will hands down be one of the happiest of my mission.
Why? Becauseeeee Ted, Brandon, and Chris will all be baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is beyond humbling to be a part of their live. I seriously start every prayer with "Dear Heavenly Father, just thank you thank you thank you." I love these three individuals so much. Here are some highlights from my experiences with them this week:
-Ted. After Ted's baptismal interview with a member of the mission presidency, the interview-er brought us in. We walked in to the room and the Spirit was overwhelming. He sat us down and with tears in his eyes said "He is one of the most prepared people I have ever met." He went in to more details, but lets just say it was a sacred experience.
-Brandon. There are about 15 highlights I can share, but last night was probably my favorite. We were in some members' home and we talked about the Priesthood. He just kept saying "wow...wow" He is so excited to serve others and his testimony that this is the Lord's church is strengthened every day (which strengthens mine dramatically).
-Chris. (So Chris is the one we taught for two transfers in my last area. Then they closed my area for a few weeks when I got moved up here, so Sister Rackleff and I continued to teach him because he miraculously worked in our area and then we just referred him back to the sisters in HPYSA because they moved down there). Anyways, we biked past his work this week so we just knew we had to stop and say hi. That's when he told us he for sure was getting baptized this Sunday and that he took his girlfriend (member of the church) to the visitor's center and gave her a tour of it. Especially showing her the "God's Plan for the Family" video. The spirit whispered to me that he really is going to be a faithful father and his number one goal is to have a temple marriage and Christ-centered home. They each read the scriptures and pray every single day and talk about how this weekend is only one of the first steps. They recognize that baptism is just the gate and that their entire lives and futures and so many other lives will be impacted by this decision. Ah, so proud. #lifelongconversion
    It's interesting. Their baptisms literally have nothing to do with me. This is all about these individuals and their relationship with Christ. That being said, I just sit in awe and ask why Heavenly Father lets us help (He doesn't need our help--this is His work and He could do it all Himself if He wanted) and lets us witness it. I think it's because the joy I feel and the change I have seen in myself is unreal. Heavenly Father wants to bless us in the process as well, and I am beyond grateful.
    I love this ward and I love these members. We always leave our members homes and say things like "I want to be exactly like them in a few years." One of our favorite couples just had winning missionary moments this week that I want to share. Our ward is all about creating your family or individual mission plans. This family's goal was to find one person for the missionaries to teach every two months. The mom was telling us the other day (as she was driving us and an investigator to the visitor's center because she is bo$$) that they were worried that they wouldn't find anyone before February ends, even though they had been praying really hard about it. Then she texted us on the 28th to say that she invited her friend and he accepted! She walks her kids home from school every day and always passes this security guard. They always say hello and exchange friendly conversation. then she felt like she should invite him to meet the missionaries and he said of course! What? Then we found out later that her husband after finding out that one of our investigators that he knows is actually getting baptizing and passed his baptismal interview, so naturally he drove over some ties, a white shirt, and cookies. He didn't even tell us about it! What? Who are these people.
    Someone told me I looked like Velma this week. #nailedit
    I got to go on exchanges to my beloved UCLA this week! And do you remember Cosmo? Sister Oldham and I taught him for a few weeks before he went up to San Fransisco for the summer. The sisters started teaching him again when he came back in the fall and I got to teach him. He has progressed so much. I also got to see some others who have just progressed so much in the gospel, plus I just loved teaching my young single adults again. It was a huge tender mercy for me. I love that place.
    It has rained so hard this past week that I thought I was in West Virginia. It was insane. I only got completely drenched when we ran down from UCLA campus. It was awesome. It did make me grateful for the dream weather that I get to serve my mission in. (Also, the rain was an answer to all of our prayers! Yay!)
    We got TWO mini-missionaries this weekend. IT was insane, but so fun. They are sisters from Hollywood. They are in high school, joined the church less than a year ago, and are the only active members in their family. They are incredible and it was so fun to have them testify to strangers on the streets. They were so powerful! (We did splits when we contacted of course. 4 girls coming up to you to talk about Jesus? Yeahhhh). We even ran in to a less active 19 yr old who just moved down here from Washington and wants to come back to church. Amazing.
    I absolutely love street contacting. I always feel like I'm in my element. There is nothing like talking to a young Atheist college student who only knows what he saw in the Book of Mormon Musical (that is playing in Hollywood right now and I love it and despise it all at the same time), listening to our testimonies of joy, the power of the Book of Mormon, and how it is consistent and then him saying "At first I wanted to walk away, but after listening to you I really should check it out." #seedplanted I'll take that any day!!
    We found Ted literally the day after we received a training from the Missionary Department on helping. I truly feel like Sister Rackleff and I have tried so hard to help people to come unto Christ and not just inviting them. It has been life-changing for us. One thing we always ask is "Why does this individual need the gospel at this time in his or her life?" It was concerning at first that we couldn't answer that question for all of the people we were teaching and neither can the missionaries we work with. We have really tried to focus on the needs of investigators that the gospel can fill right now in their lives (need a sense of community, need to feel free of guilt, need to feel important, need to be healed, need a sense of hope and direction, etc.) rather than just the concerns (they are not sure if Joseph Smith was a prophet, not coming to church, etc). And it has also changed our lives. If we do that with everyone around us (whether members of the church or not, complete strangers, or our best friends), then we really can be representatives of Jesus Christ at all times and in all things and in all places.
    We are working hard, laughing lots, and enjoying every minute. This is the Lord's work. I love each of you! Make it a great week!

Sister Atkinson

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