Monday, June 26, 2017

6/26/17 Last Letter

2John1:12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

The Last Quotes: 

"SISTER ATCHLEY!! Your BLOG got me in TROUBLE with my MOM!" -Elder Gunn

"How do you gain knowledge?" -Sister Mitchell
"By study and by faith." -me 
"Elder Chain, you know everything. How did you gain your knowledge?" -Elder Hampton
"Well I feel like knowledge is the sum total of an accumulation of facts and personal experiences. So primarily by study and also by faith." -Elder Chain

"A lot of us grew up in the church except Sister Atchley and some others." -like 4 people at my departing dinner

"I'm socially a butterfly. I'm social, but I have the brain of a butterfly..." -Elder Chain

"So you're saying your dream girl is average?" -Sister Mitchell
"Yeah!" -Elder Hampton

"Our skins are talking to each other." -Sister Mitchell

"My skin is sad that you're going home." -Sister Mitchell

"Wait! So you're pregnant for 6 transfers!?" -me 

"Sorry I'm in the way." -me 
"You've never been in the way Sister Atchley don't flatter yourself." -Elder Radeke

"I am not in love with him. He's the worst ever!" -me 
"Sister Atchley only has two settings: in love with and worst ever." -Sister Mitchell

"I want to have you! I MEAN HUG YOU!!!" -Sister Loveridge 

"I can't wait until I fit in my pants again." -me 
"STOP SAYING NEGATIVE THINGS!" -Sister Mitchell
"They don't fit!! It's not an opinion it's a FACT!" -me 

"I am a CHANGED WOMAN! I'm going to throw my starfish FAR away!" -Sister Mitchell 

"Oh Sister Atchley why are you still here?" -Elder VanOrden

"I love it!" -Elder Blue
"What do I need to fix?" -Sister Loveridge
"Just a few things" -Elder Blue

"Why are your suitcases so empty?" -Sister Loveridge 
"I'm going to Texas put me in your suitcase!" -Sister Mitchell
"Are you under the weight limit?" -me 
"ummmmm yes! I am under 50 pounds!" -Sister Mitchell

"What the heck!? They have an air conditioner in the bathroom! They're such suits!" -Sister Mitchell

"Ok what makes the bagpipe sound in the men's bathroom?" -Sister Mitchell
"My bagpipes.... ... No just kidding it's the sink" -Elder Nattress
"DANGIT! We tried everything BUT the sink!" - Sister Mitchell
"wait what?" -Elder Nattress

"Why are there potatoes all over our carpet?" -Sister Mitchell

The Last Reading Assignment:

Coming Home to Your Mission

By Wendy Ulrich and Dave Ulrich


Since I've been a member for under 10 years this goes right along with what I need as a recent convert. 

In every ward council I've ever been in people are like "such and such is a convert of 5 and a half years so they're really tender in the gospel still. We need to focus on how we can help them." I'm like yaaas I'm so tendeeeerrrrr. heeeeeelp meeeeeee.... 


 sometimes I think the church is too ridiculous to be true
 President Clark is the tallest missionary and I'm the shortest missionary.
 Elder Radeke said something really nice about me at my departing dinner and it made me cry.

 It's a cactus made out of kisses


 #FlashPhotography
 My MTC Sisters. Now we're all #DEAD!!!!
 That awkward moment when you're a midget
 This was in the church library    (Dad- As a teacher this makes me so stressed,)


This is my spirit animal, Sister Bullard
 Aparently Elder Chain took his birthday picture down and so Sister Nygrene put up 8 more in its place.
 Sister Mitchell is actually an ancient shaman
 This was our spanish exchange
 #JENNIFERNESSA!!!




 This....

Make sure to read all the don't forgets too





"We decided Sister Atchley is on her first girl's camp." -Sister Mitchell
 This took like twenty tries
The best fail
 This.....
#nailedit





Monday, June 19, 2017

6/19/17

Hello friends!

It's my last full p-day! Next Monday is transfer day. It's my last week. I can't even explain how it feels. It still doesn't feel real. I just feel like I'm going to be here on my mission for a long time still. I'm like "oh yeah we just have district meeting every week for the rest of my life. That's just how it is." 

We went to the temple with President and Sister Clark this week and we had our departing interviews. It's so funny when I talk to President and Sister Clark because they act like they genuinely think that I'm so amazing and confident and driven, and that I'm going to be able to accomplish anything I want, and easily receive all the revelation I need to be successful. They're probably right, but it's funny because inside I feel like I'm a little infant with no life skills and I'm going to die when I have to be an adult. It's really motivating to know that my super successful Mission President and his wife have complete confidence in me though. They gave me a lot of dating advice. Then I was pondering for a long time, and asking follow up questions, and it payed off because I received this revelation about dating: 

When I get home I'm going to clean my room, paint a lot of paintings, draw literally everything, learn to play the piano, read the entire standard works, figure out how to eat healthy and work out, get a job, and so forth. Then if somebody feels like dating me while I'm doing those things that will be a great blessing for them because I'm amazing and confident and driven. 

The temple was super amazing, but I cried a lot. Next time I'm in a session and they pray for the success of the missionaries I will just be a normal human. Also President and Sister Clark were the witness couple. It was so sweet to watch them. I could literally watch them interact with each other for a hundred years because they are so amazing and kind to each other. I want to be like that too. I get super sad when I think about not seeing them around all the time when I get home. 

Another thing that happened this week is that I got to go on exchanges twice because I'm the STL!!! Being the STL is different than being the regular missionary. I had a cool miracle though. Actually I had a few cool miracles. 

One of our exchanges was with Hermana Eady. She came to English work for the first time her whole mission. She kept speaking in Spanish and I kept being able to understand what she was saying! I had the gift of interpretation of tongues for a minute. Hermana Eady is so amazing though because she is literally so consecrated. We talked a lot about how the culture of the Spanish Zone is a culture of obedience and that's why they are so successful. We also talked about how there are enough obedient missionaries in English to change the culture of the mission if they would just rise up. It's hard though. I didn't learn that until this transfer. 

Then I went on exchanges with Sister Bullard. Sister Bullard is literally my spirit animal. She is so funny and the best ever. She's super obedient and has the desire to work super hard. Also we're literally the exact same person. So I was super excited to go on exchanges with her and I've been hyping it all transfer literally. Then the exchange was a really cool opportunity to see God's hand in my life. I've only lead out my area one time on my whole mission and it was at the very beginning. Then I've had a lot of companions that have been in the area already for a really long time when I get them. So one thing that I've become on my mission is really submissive and able to follow my companion. Sister Bullard has had a lot of companions who are really old on their missions and don't give her an opportunity to lead out. So she feels like she has all these ideas, but she doesn't know how to execute them because her companions are always leading out. So I came to her area and was perfectly prepared, over an 18 month period of time, to let her lead out her area. Then when she said things that she wanted to do but didn't know how I had personal experiences with those things. It was so amazing because everything that's ever happened to me my whole mission put me in a perfect place to minister to a Sister that I was given stewardship over! 

If you do your best to always follow the spirit Heavenly Father will put you in the exact place he needs you to be to bless someone's life. 

Here are some quotes: 

"Your laundry room smells like kitty litter." -Sister Sanders
"And there's cat hair all over our carpet." - Sister Mitchell
"We're haunted by a phantom cat." -me 

"We missed a call from the zone leaders lets call them back.... hey guys you called?" -us 
"uh.. no you just called us. What can we do for you?" -Zone leaders 
"No we're just calling because you called us." -us 
"what do you guys need?" -Zone leaders 
EVERY SINGLE TIME!!! They think they're SOOOOOOOOOO clever! 


"We need trash bags" -me 
"The mission is trying an experiment where you see how long you can go on one trash bag." -Elder Nattress
"Usually when they change policy they tell the sister training leaders so I think you're lying to us." -me 
"I think you said that wrong. I think you meant to say sister zone lords." -Elder Nattress

"Basically Elder Blue is an interior designer." -Elder Nattress 

"Are you playing bagpipes in the bathroom?" -Sister Mitchell

"Hey have you guys seen my bagpipes?" -Elder Blue

"These are my companions Sister Mockle and Sister LeFridge" -me 

"I have a question... are there giants in the Book of Mormon?" -Jennifer

"Hola, somos las hermanas misionaras de la iglesia de Jesu Cristo de la noche.... wait! no!" -Sister Mitchell
"You just said the church of Jesus Christ of the night!!!" -me 

"This street is called jacket in spanish." -Hermana Eady 

"What the heck this street is called the little tables." -Hermana Eady

"You can experience English work. We eat frozen yogurt and french fries for dinner and do a million stop bys." -Sister Mitchell

"Do you think singing happy birthday to a former member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is the best idea?" -Sister Shelstad 

"I'm like one of those walruses." -Jennifer

"Trying to get this EZ-Up in the case is like trying to get your daughter dressed for church. Come on! Put the dress on! I don't care if you don't like it! Just put your arm in the hole! It's modest you're going to wear it! Come on hurry up! We have to be at church in five minutes!" -Elder Howard 

"I have mixed nuts because I'm nuts. Sister Atchley has bananas because she's bananas. Sister Mitchell has saltines because...." -Sister Loveridge 
"Because she's salty." -me 

"I'm afraid my friends will forget about me." -me 
"What friends?" -Sister Loveridge
"Wow savage." -me 
"I was trying to ask if you meant your home friends or your mission friends!!!" -Sister Loveridge 

Your weekly watching assignment:

On the Lord's Errand

Friday, June 16, 2017

6/12/17

I got to have lunch with a general authority!

Honestly my motivation to email home right now is really low. Last week was really crazy. We had Elder Cordon come which was really amazing, but our p day got scrambled. So we spread it out over Monday and Tuesday. We had food pantry service on Tuesday that we couldn't not go to. Then we had Mission Leadership Conference on Wednesday with Elder Cordon. We went and helped out with a family history booth at Ranchofest Friday and Saturday. Basically it felt like this week was incredibly busy and super fast. Also I'm like so exhausted. I have to constantly remind myself that I have a little more to give. I have to say to myself "you didn't sign up for 12 transfers and 4 weeks. You have to keep working hard."

My ward mission leader found out I go home soon. He was shocked. He was so confused because I don't act like I'm going home. I hope he doesn't tell anyone because I honestly don't think I can handle everyone harassing me about it. I feel sorry for Sister Loveridge because everyone knows how long she has left. 

Last week I learned that Forever 21 is literally an affront to humanity and an enemy to the plan of salvation. I can not feel the spirit in that store. 99.98% of the clothing is inappropriate and the music straight up filthy. It was horrible. I have heard so much worldly music this week. I honestly think that I will never listen to music again for at least a month when I get home because I hate it so much. 

MLC was pretty cool. Elder Cordon talked a lot about a question asked by one of the zones. They asked "How do I balance having fun and being consecrated." I think Elder Cordon was mainly appalled. He talked to us about how if you aren't having fun while doing missionary things then you aren't actually consecrated.  I realized that I am a consecrated missionary and that's why a lot of people give me a hard time. I feel like everyone talks about how the mission is the most spiritual time of your life. It's true that I've developed a closer relationship with Heavenly Father. I've developed better habits for everything and I've learned how to do everything too. When I came on my mission I literally didn't know anything. Now I know a little bit more. On the other hand I've never had to struggle so hard to be consecrated and to live my beliefs. I just think about how I've had to plead with my companion to listen to hymns. I've been called prideful for sharing my spiritual insights and for trying to share best practices. The worst part though is that I've lowered my own standards to try to fit in. I'm sad because some missionaries in this mission don't lower their standards and everyone speaks unkindly of them.  I've been struggling a little bit lately because I spent a lot of my mission not being as good as I could have been.

I do know that once you start doing something with all your heart it's as though you've been doing it the whole time. That's the way the atonement works. So I know that if I understand how to stand up for my consecration now then 18 months were worth it. If I could summarize everything I've learned on my mission into one sentence it would be this: On my mission I have leaned how to take up my cross and follow the Savior.

Jacob1:8 8 Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men not to rebel against God, to provoke him to anger, but that all men would believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world; ...

When I first came on my mission I was really excited to be out here and I was excited to serve the Lord. I thought everyone felt the same way. I found out that it's not true. It took me 18 months to find it out though. I always though that everyone on my mission was so amazing and spiritually strong because they are missionaries. I've always though that I'm a new member so maybe I'm not as enlightened as everyone else. I've always though that the people I serve with are mainly good and in tune with the spirit. Therefore I've always been confused when I've born testimony only to be met with accusations of thinking I know everything. I've been confused when people have told me the doctrine of Christ is not that important, but every time my leaders talk that's ALL they talk about. I've been confused when I've been teased for wanting to read my scriptures. This week I finally realized that I'm not the one that's wrong.  I've just been blessed with the opportunity to experience the atonement. If we believe in Jesus Christ we will have to have opportunities to view his death and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world. We are going to always be called to pass through trials if we are his disciples. 

2Timothy3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

I love what was said to Joseph Smith when he was in Liberty Jail in D&C 122. I read it this week and I thought of all of the things on my mission that have made me sad, or that have brought me to my knees. Then I read verses 7 and 8 "... know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?" That took me to these verses in the Book of Mormon: 

1Nephi19:7 For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at naught and trample under their feet. Yea, even the very God of Israel do men trample under their feet; I say, trample under their feet but I would speak in other words—they set him at naught, and hearken not to the voice of his counsels.

8 And behold he cometh, according to the words of the angel, in six hundred years from the time my father left Jerusalem.

9 And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.

When I was talking to Sister Clark about all of this she said "look at the Savior people didn't treat him very kindly either." Sister Clark told me that she had been crying for two days straight over the culture of this mission. Then she told me that I've been true so I will be alright. 

I love my mission. I love the people that I serve with. I know that Heavenly Father knows exactly what he's doing when he puts us into missions. I know that on my mission I've learned to be bold in standing up for what I KNOW to be true. I don't have to learn about the gospel from imperfect sources I can learn about it directly from my Heavenly Father and when he reveals things to me I don't have to let any person shake my testimony. I have a few days left on my mission and I'm determined to come home with not a drop of energy left over. 
I love this work. 

Here's some quotes: 

"Are you going to read Preach My Gospel before next zone conference?" -me 
"yeah I've got about 40 years until my next zone conference." -Elder Williams

"Ok first we need to introduce ourselves." -Sister Loveridge
"Hi! I'm Sister Nattress I MEAN WAIT DANGIT!!!" -Elder Nattress

"What are some healthy activities you can do on P-Day?" -Elder Cordon
"basketball." - someone
"what else?" -Elder Cordon
"... more basketball." -Elder Chain

"I don't feel qualified to sit at this table."-me 
"You don't have to be able you just have to be available!" -Elder Cordon

"What!? I just need to be a little fatter!" -Elder Chain

"I hate when people judge people." -Elder Chain
"Yeah or make stuff up about people" -Some zone leader
"No making stuff up is ok. I make stuff up all the time about people. Did you know Sister Atchley can ride two horses at once?" -Elder Chain
"It's ok. I tell everyone you're a gentleman." -me 
"oh dang! That IS made up." -Elder Chain

"And what's your name?" -Sister Mitchell
"We call him David." -Lilly

"Did you tell him to come in or did you just tell him old spice?" -Nick

"I can SMELL my way!" -Sister Mitchell

"you should have been here yesterday when all the students were here. It was weird." -Elder VanOrden
"did you look like them?" -me 
"WELL I'M ONLY 19" -Elder VanOrden

"I love potatoes" -Elder VanOrden
"That's because you're from Idaho. Do you farm potatoes?" -me 
"I could if I wanted to! I know how!" -Elder VanOrden
"does your family farm potatoes?" -me 
"They used to until my ancestors lost the farm." -Elder VanOrden

"Elder VanOrden are you going to be an engineer, or a computer programmer?" -me 
"Maybe both." -Elder VanOrden
"Farming simulator?" -me 
"I can't believe you just stereotyped me like that!" -Elder VanOrden
"The worst part is that you're ginger." -me 
"MY WHOLE LIFE IS A STEREOTYPE!!" -Elder VanOrden 

"your daughter acts just like you." -Sister Loveridge
"Oh I feel sorry for her then." -Brother Shields

"Sister Atchley is rich she's got us!" -Elder Blue
"The worst part about going home is that everyone treats me like a sugar mama!" -me

"Imagine if we sang guide us oh you great Jehovah." -Bishop Forrest

"I haven't followed up with my biscuit today." -Sister Mitchell

Here's a reading assignment:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/the-cost-and-blessings-of-discipleship?lang=eng

The Cost—and Blessings—of Discipleship

By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland


This is our weird district picture at tropical smoothie café.
TSC is life
#Rancho

#ThePromisedCompanionship
She's a giraffe mermaid


Elder Anthony called me his homie which is pretty uncharacteristic so we're basically best friends I think

He wears this to everything














Bishop gave a talk about prayer and we were joking about this common phrase
So he brought us breakfast. So he brought us breakfast.