June 11, 2013

Dear Family,

 

Hey sorry I didn't get an email to y'all yesterday. We had zone training meeting and interviews with President Shumway yesterday so we just switched preparation day to Tuesday. Hope this email finds you safe and happy wherever you are in this world.

 

I'm really starting to get tired of all the lasts - last zone conference, last transfer, last companion, last zone meeting, last interviews... Everything is ending!!! The good news is that every last thing I've experiences has been awesome. My interview with President Shumway yesterday was so fulfilling. We mostly talked about Elder Hironymous (in a positive way). I look back and realize that each interview over the course of 2 years has changed slowly from being all about myself to all about others. I'm not saying that to brag, but it just feels good to see how I've changed. I don't worry so much about myself nowadays. My only real care and concern right now is my companion. His happiness and well-being is on my mind 24/7. I want more than anything for him to get a good kick-start to his mission. When he's sad, I'm sad. When he's happy, I'm happy. He's all that matters.

 

Nothing too crazy and interesting happened this week besides some really cool lessons we've had. Claire and Cassandra are our #1 priority right now and we've met with them 4 times in the last week. It's been an absolute blast to teach them! They are young, intelligent, and yet open-minded. They are sincerely searching for truth and they recognize that our ultimate purpose is to help them find their faith in Christ. There's the normal people that we try to keep our lessons under an hour for, and then there's people like Claire and Cassandra that we teach for 2 hours every time - not because we plan on it, but because they want to KNOW. They ask, we tell. Every now and then I'll meet someone that just soaks it up like a sponge and I feel like I shouldn't hold anything back if they really want to know. So that's how it's been going. They completely understand and they even want it to be true. We've helped them recognize the Spirit. The only thing that seems to be holding them back is just how intimidating it all is. Yesterday we got to a point in the lesson where they basically said very seriously, "You know, this is a big deal." Yes, it is a big deal. The whole culture and lifestyle is very overwhelming to them. They both realize that this isn't a "church hopping" type of a change. This is for life. This is a complete 180 change of ... everything.

 

So we've tried to help them feel comfortable. Our exchanges have been great helpers every time. John came with us yesterday and shared his conversion story. He joined the church in 2009. It was so perfect! I know they felt it. Today we're going to be watching the Restoration DVD to recap things so far. Cassandra is going to Mexico for the next month or so (I guess that's another hold-up), so we're trying to send her off with a bang. Elder H and I think it's long enough for us to try and get some missionaries to her down there. She's expressed that it will be a good time for her to really think about it and make a decision. We'll still be able to meet with Claire until July when she leaves for England for a month or so. Here we have 2 investigators that are super golden, yet going on summer trips to far-away places. Tough! But I'm satisfied with the way the lessons have gone so far. We only started teaching them a week-and-a-half ago! We've taught them so much that it will be on their minds for a long time. My hope is that they come back from their trips and get baptized in August or September. They've already accepted the baptismal invitation if they come to know that this is all true. Gosh, I can't talk enough about these 2 wonderful people. They are so prepared! Wish us luck in this one.

 

I'm still trucking along. Everything is getting harder and harder, yet I'm okay. I surprise myself at times with how okay I am, considering. I feel so much pressure from so many different directions, but I guess the Lord is really strengthening me. I'm so tired, and yet I've never felt so alive. Nothing else matters right now. Mom, I think that's the best idea I could give you for your talk on discipleship. There are so many good scriptures that can go along with this subject, but knowing you I think you can find them easily :) For me, discipleship is all about priorities. If you have the priorities of a disciple of Christ, you can trust that God will take care of you no matter what. Discipleship is also about sacrifice. I recently read "Sacrifice" by Elder Oaks, and it reminded me of this importance of sacrificing something good for something better - an act that the Savior was a champion at (yes, I just called Him a champion. I think it's very fitting). Sacrifice is an eternal principle and even more importantly an eternal law. God requires sacrifice. Christ's sacrifice makes our sacrifice acceptable and pleasing unto Heavenly Father. And really all he asks for is a broken heart and contrite spirit. I can promise each one of you reading this that God loves and appreciates every ounce of sacrifice we perform and that blessings flow abundantly from consecrating our all to the Lord.

 

Have fun in Texas, parents! Have fun in Utah and North Carolina, sisters! And here's a shout out to anyone else that might read my emails each week. Have a good one.

 

Love, Elder Atkin