Week 7- All Is Well

My Loves,

 

I honestly don't even know where to start with this weeks email. My mission thus far has been nothing short of wonderful. Thursday, I was in such a funk..all day.  I didn't know why. I just had such a heavy heart for absolutely no reason. It was the very next morning I was called into the Presidents office.  I had no idea why. I knew I hadn't done anything wrong. But still felt sick. When President said he had some bad news, I knew immediately it was Tyler before he said anymore. I don't remember much about that day. I have never felt so sick and hurt and mad and confused and lost and emotionally and physically exhausted in my life. I had so many questions.  So much to say. President Kunz gave me a blessing that I will never forget.  I also had the opportunity to attend the temple. I cannot express the overwhelming amount of love I have felt.  As much as I want to be there with all of you, I KNOW this is where I need to be. Tyler was a HUGE part of my decision to serve a mission.  I know I would not be here if it wasn't for him. He continues to help me and I feel his spirit with me here in the mission field.  I don't know how I would ever be able to handle such an event, without COMPLETELY relying on the savior and his infinite atonement.  I have never felt the comforting and healing power of the atonement more in my life.  My heavy heart has been made light.  I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for Tyler. He always has.  As does he have a plan for all of us. I know Tyler lived life to FULLEST!  and accomplished more than any of us in just his short 25 years here.  I know he lives and I know he is in the spirit world doing what he does best, teaching and learning. I hope we can all continue to learn from Tyler, and commit ourselves to live, love, and learn.  I love you all so much. I have felt your prayers more than you will ever know.  I know that it is through our Heavenly Father and and His Son Jesus Christ that we are made strong.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve and to share my testimony with those who have been prepared to receive the message of the restored gospel. I know I will see Tyler again. The Plan of Salvation is real, and is Gods plan for us. 

 

Mosiah 16:8  But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.

 

I cannot explain what has happened to me this week.  All I know, is that the sting of Tyler's death has without a doubt been swallowed up in Christ.

 

I love you all so much. I hope you know that. Stay strong. I pray for you all. ALWAYS.

 

Sister Atkin

Week 6- farmers tan in my white t shirt

Hello Hello!

Ok!  so..sorry about the delay in emails/letters!!  Its crazy busy here. BUT..I love it.  My p-day switches from Monday to Tuesday every week.  So you won't hear from my until Tuesday next week.  Mom..I love your letters..everyday.  You crack me up.  Yes, things sound like they are going great...but thats because I leave out the serious details.  Everything isn't as wonderful as it seems.  I have a farmers tan from sand bagging...I'm in desperate need of a manicure...and I had to buy cheap shampoo. :(  SERIOUS SACRIFICE!!!!!!  :)  But other than that...things really are SO AMAZING!  We have a Jimmy Johns here??...YEAH..I'm so spoiled .  So I work in the Trail Center about 4 days a week for 6 hours.. and the REST of the time I'm out teaching.  I took my first tour at the TC with non members.. and I CRIED.  It was so amazing and so spiritual.  I love the people here.  Such big hearts and so much love.  I've been in some of the most humble homes I've every seen..and the people are just so grateful for everything.  It's been a really neat experience.  I try to journal these things but I seriously have NO time. Its just gogogo all the time.  Which is what I need.. :) 

Ok.. so my mission mama challenged us to pray EVERY day..for THIRTY minutes..for a MONTH.  She said it changed her life.  Completely.  I took the challenge and I will tell you..straight up.. DO IT.  You will feel so much closer to Savior and feel of Gods love for you in a way you have never felt before.  I hope you will all take the challenge as well...and document the change you feel.  and REMEBER it.  and continue to give thanks and offer heart felt prayers. My testimony of prayer is strengthened everyday.  I rely FULLY on the promptings of the spirit to keep me safe and to use our time to find the people God has prepared to hear the Gospel. ok..I'm done preaching.  But..its kind of my job..so deal with it.  :)   I gotta make cookies for a family we met the other night!  I hope you're all doing well!!  I pray for you. every night.  MUAH!!!!!

xoxo

Sister Atkin

 Sister Larsen.... Me!

 Bad news for more than one reason!

 Elder from space...

Haha.

Week 5

I"M ALIVE!

Ahhhhh i'm in OMAHAAAA!! The Kuns picked us up from the air port..and I LOVE THEM!  They are truly the most inspiring individuals. I'm excited to get to work with them.  soo omaha? i'll admit..i'm pleasantly surprised.  It is SO green and SO beautiful here!!  Its like I'm in Europe..but in stead of everyone having BAD teeth..they have NO teeth. I love it. The weather here is not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be.  I actually don't mind the humidity at all!  My skin is LOVING it!  I need a tan though. so bad. So we pull up to where I'll be living.. and I feel like a princess.  I totally lucked out.  We live in the basement of the Stake Presidents beautiful home.  Of course I have to go through the back yard to get in...and walk by their AMAZING pool. everyday. soo not fair. but i'm over it.  FIRE FLIES!  They're everywhere!!  and they never get old. I love it!  Oh! When we were flying over Omaha..we saw all the flooding. SO sad. It's a hot mess ova heya.  I'm in the Skyline area so I don't see much flooding.  I'm in the wealthiest part.  So the work is mainly through member referrals. ok..so my companion/trainer.. Her name is Ashley Larsen.  and I love her!  Shes so great! Shes from Arizona. Shes 23. She wants to be a school teacher. She loves wearing my clothes. and this is her last transfer.  I'll have to turn over the Skyline area.  and I'm terrified.  So I have a good 5 weeks to get to know EVERYONE in the ward before she leaves.  I love the Ward Mission Leader Brother Davis.  He is hilarious and such a nerd!  His wife is beautiful and so poised.  She has the best posture of anyone I know.  She reminds of those ritzy ladies on the titanic. They have the cutest little kids too.  BYU success story..THE Davis's.  So we had our first baptism on saturday.  It was amazing. It was  young girl named Sara. shes 17. The rest of her family is Catholic.  The have not been supportive AT ALL..but showed up at her baptism.  I didn't know I would be speaking at the baptism until we got there. I may have had a  mini panic attack.  BUT we talked about the restoration of the gospel since her parents were there.  and again..the first vision has moved me.  As I quoted it.. the room which was FILLED with people was absolutely silent.  The spirit was SO strong. I don't think i've EVER felt the spirit that strong in my entire life. I knew Sara's parents felt it too.  When her dad first walked in he was so unfriendly and would not make eye contact with anyone.  By the end of the baptism..he was shaking hands with everyone and stayed for another HOUR and just talked to members.  It was so neat to see his complete countenance change.  He showed up to her confirmation on sunday too. 

Another experience I JUST had... we prayed over a list of individuals who we felt we needed to just "drop in" and see..and both felt like we needed to see this lady Mary.  We planned on going and seeing her at 1:00.  Through a series of events we ended spending longer at our other appointments and in result were an hour late to Mary's.  As soon as we got out of our appointment..Mary had called us..and left a message crying.  She has cancer and we thought she may have gotten some bad news. We told her we were on our way.  When we got there..she was in tears.  Apparently her and her boyfriend had gotten in a HUGE fight.  He ripped her phone of the wall and stole her car. Her mom ran to the neighbors to call the police on him.  Mary ran to another neighbors house and called us to come over.. but we were already planning on that..she just didn't know it. We got there, and she told us what was going on..I was TERRIFIED!  I thought for sure he was going to come back with a gun or something and shoot us!  BUT..then I realized. We were protected. Which is why our plans got messed up and we weren't there for the fight.  We knelt down with mary and her mom and prayed with them.  Then we sang i need thee every hour.  The spirit was so strong and we knew she felt comfort and safety.  She is so sweet and felt told us how that she knew there was a God...and she knew that he sent us to her..  SHE'S SO CUTE! I wish I had time share EVERYTHING with you.  But I'm having so many spiritual experiences.  I am so humbled to see the lives and living conditions of these people.  We are all sooo blessed. You have no idea. 

I love you all so much! 

xoxo

Sister Atkin

 Me. Sara. Katie. Sis Larsen

 Closest I've been to a man in awhile

Me and Sister Larsen (Second Companion)

Week 4

Hello Hello!!

 

sooo this is my P day...for today..weird. i know.. two in a week?  i'm ok with it.

 

Well i'm in week four and I'm so ready to bust out of here! I'm so over it. But, I've learned so much and I've had the most amazing experience this week.

I've really been praying about Joseph Smith and the first vision. And through a series of events, I have felt my prayers being answered LOUDLY. Yesterday, when I was quoting the first vision in our visitor center training, the spirit was so strong and I knew it was true. It was such an amazing experience and such a testimony builder. So if there's anything that you are questioning or are unsure of just ask and listen. And I know you will receive an answer. Okay enough with sappy sap.

VIVI DIED???????????????????????????????????? Saddest thing ever!!! Has anyon talked to Linda? Are you going to the funeral? If you do, please send them my love.

I'm so glad I got all of those things when I did.

How is Daisy? Tell her thanks for the letter. I miss her stupid tongue and crazy ears. and snotty bubbly nose.

Dad, how did things go with uncle Kent? did he give you the gas? and did you love it? I feel like i already know the answer to all of those questions. Baaaaaaaaah I'm so excited to talk to you clowns on tuesday!!!!! and you all have my new addresss, so make sure Kimi gets that.

I still love my companion. Like CRAZY!! Her ginger hair is my favorite ever....plus Kylee's. She is actually typing this for me because I am the worst at typing, and we have like zero time on these computers. and all of the letters are rubbed off on the keys. FML. *LML.

I'll talk to you more on Tuesday. Thank you for your letters. Y'all are amazing. and i keep you in my prayers.

  MUAAAAAAH!!!

 

sister marci atkin