Dear Family,
How's
it going family? I love you and I think about you often! As of today,
it's been 7 months since I've seen you. Holy cow doesn't that seem soooo
long? It's been a great 7 months though. I never would've imagined that
so much could happen in just 7 months, but yet so much has happened.
Was I really in Springdale, Arkansas? Have I really been here in Owasso
for more than 9 weeks? Time flies.
We didn't get our goal of 20 this week :( But that's
okay! We're only doomed according to the Law of Moses :) But I'm no Law
of Moses missionary. It was still a great week in my mind. Zone
conference was this past Friday. It was so good! I just absolutely love
being instructed by President Merkley and the assistants. They have such
good things to say, and I learn so much each time. Certainly that's
what zone conference is about - to teach us how to be better
missionaries and to inspire us to work harder. It works. I always leave
feeling like I could tract my guts out, teach 50 lessons, and baptize
nations. Maybe I'm super gullible? Hmmm... One of the main points of
zone conference is that we should never give up tracting/finding. So
many missionaries out here give up on tracting because of little
success. The assistants talked about how we can be the most effective
"fishers of men" and how to find people most effectively. I've already
got some really good ideas up my sleeve.
So. Not to make up excuses or anything, but Super Bowl
weekend and Zone Conference certainly didn't help when it came to
getting our lessons. It was hilarious - a couple of ward members invited
us to their houses for food yesterday. We both knew that they were
Super Bowl parties, and so we ended up not going. We could've just eaten
the food and not watched the TV, but I know that it would've been too
much of a temptation. I heard the Giants won though. Bro. Standley is a
HUGE fan, so I know he's a happy man right now.
Well, we picked up an investigator this week! Well,
sort of... Her name is Ashley and she's a former investigator. Bro.
Kennedy introduced the missionaries to her last year, but things just
didn't work out and the husband wasn't too interested. But Bro. Kennedy
figured that it was about time for us to try again, and he didn't want
to give up. We set up an appointment with her on Thursday and so we
showed up at 3:00 with Bro. Kennedy. I was expecting just a normal
looking woman (whatever that means haha), but I was completely wrong.
When Ashley opened the door, she had the punk/skater style with baggy
pants and short wild hair. To be quite honest, she looked like a boy!
But the lesson went really well as we reviewed the Restoration with her
and committed her to read/pray about the Book of Mormon. She didn't say
to much, and so I don't know how receptive she was, but I certainly felt
the spirit. Bro. Kennedy shared his conversion story, which was totally
awesome. We're going to see her again this Thursday, so I'll let you
know how that goes. I'm starting to realize that Ashley might be the
investigator that Elder Jensen and I have been praying and fasting for.
Boy, does the Lord surprise me sometimes! It just goes to show that
Heavenly Father's ways and thoughts are above ours. I can't expect a
"golden investigator" to drop into my lap because of diligence, prayer,
and fasting. Though I have to admit that would be nice... Skater/tomboy
Ashley needs the gospel just as much as anybody.
David has now come to
church 3 weeks in a row (fist pump). We've been visiting with him at
least twice a week, inviting him to basketball on Saturday mornings, and
staying in constant contact with him. We can't lose him now! He just
loves the fellowship that he's been receiving, and he knows he'll stay
active for good this time. The last meeting we had with him we talked
about Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life. Elder Jensen had an extra poster
of an artist's really cool rendition of the story and so we gave him
that as a reminder of where he wants to be. It was cool to talk to him
about the fruit and how he's dropped the fruit in the past and looked
towards the Great and Spacious Building. He hung up the poster so he can
always be reminded of his goal of the Melchizedek Priesthood and the
Temple. I love David so much :)
Well, I'm off to do some shopping and stuff. Have a
great week and don't feel too lonely! Thanks for the letter from
November. Haha I finally got it from Springdale this past week. Man, I
don't know why it took so long... Love you bunches!
Love, Elder Atkin
P.S. I'm glad
you liked my pictures. Elder Jensen and I go to that park (Elm Creek
park) often. It's been a really warm winter and a lot of people go there
to exercize and eat lunch and stuff. It's a good way to contact people,
don't you think? We haven't had any success yet, but I think we'll see
more in the future.
P.P.S. I like your "Super Full" idea! So what do you
think? Is it breaking the Sabbath to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday? If
so, I think half the ward here would be guilty :)
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