1/16/17

Sister Clark is SO AWESOME! She has really done a lot this week to help me! This week was super weird as far as getting things done, but we've done our best. We also saw a lot of results. 

I've been struggling my whole mission with being able to show love to others. I imagine that it only became clear to me on my mission and I've really been struggling my whole life. This week I upset Sister Call and I got super discouraged. We can't really even remember what we were talking about that caused the problem, but I just felt so awful and like I hurt everyone's feelings. It's true! I just am like a huge feelings hurter! At the beginning of my mission my sister training leader told me that it's fine if you sometimes don't get along with a few of your companions because sometimes people are just different, but if you find that you don't get along with ALL of your companions then you need to turn inward because the problem is you. So I was feeling like I was a super huge problem, and the only thing I could think of was "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." (1Corinthians13:1-2) Sister Clark came over the next day and talked to me, and she just knew exactly what to say. She said that I need to start by just smiling more. I thought it was so interesting because at the beginning of my mission I was well known for smiling a lot, but I guess I just forgot. It's funny how many important things you can forget in life. That's why the word remember is so frequent in the scriptures, my favorite are the words of King Benjamin, "I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God" (Mosiah4:11)

Sister Clark also told us that we have the cleanest apartment in the whole mission. #winning #blessings 

We had a miracle filled week this week. There are two main miracles. 

First off we were able to teach the Jamisons. They've been coming to church every week for almost 6 months I believe. They just have not formally taken lessons until this time. Our amazing ward mission leader was able to set up a discussion at his home. The Spirit was so strong in the lesson. Sister Jamison was open with her concerns and so humble. She said they'be been going to church because they researched all the churches and the LDS church made the most sense from a data standpoint. They shared some interesting facts about the church, for example, this is the only church were spirituality increases as level of education increases. I guess in other faiths when people become more educated they become less religious. Brother Jamison may have some more concerns, but I think they are extremely prepared. They come to all three hours of church. They said they've been coming because they love the people and it's a very practical church, but now they're looking for the spiritual confirmation. So that's why they're meeting with us! Not many people think that going to church for 3 hours and scouts and activities is practical just saying! 

On Sunday our investigators came to church. Literally all of them were there! Kaveh was there and he loved class! This is the first time he's stayed for more than sacrament meeting I think. He is probably the sweetest man I have ever met! He was just waiting for us to ask him when we could meet this week. When we finally thought to ask he was ready with the answer in .5 seconds. He's super eager to learn about the church. This area is so amazing! People are really prepared! 

The next miracle that happened was with some members of the ward. We had dinner with President Nelson and his family last night. The night before I felt prompted to ask Sister Nelson what we could share with their family. We asked and she said something about kindness. Sister Call and I thought super hard about it and when we came to deciding what we should do we had BOTH felt that we needed to invite them to have a family council. We thought that was going to be SO uncomfortable because they're an active family AND President Nelson is in the stake presidency! We didn't want to offend them, but we both felt super prompted. So we started the lesson by singing love one another and then shared a scripture about keeping the commandments. It turned out to have been the scripture they memorized in the car THAT DAY! Then we invited them to have a family council and ask each other for help solving their problems. Sister Nelson said, "You're so right, when people ask for our help we want to serve them." They were all SUPER grateful for the invitation and the message. It was so inspired! The Nelsons are probably one of my favorite families my whole mission. I just have so much love for them that I can't even explain. 

I talked to their daughter for a long time while dinner was being prepared. She's 7 and she's 3 out of 4. She only has brothers. She's been having a tough time. She was telling me about how she gets in fights with her brothers. I was like dude same. She told me that it doesn't make her feel bad when her brothers are mean to her, but she doesn't want to be embarrassed so she doesn't tell them that. Then she said that when they do something that upsets her she is mean back to them because she want's to teach them a lesson, but she feels like that's not the right way. I was like dang friend I didn't figure that out until like last Monday and you are 7. Anyway they're my favorite. 

Also!! We taught the lesson in Young Women's this week! When we planned for the lesson we both got almost the exact same inspiration in our personal studies. The topic was "why is Jesus Christ important in my life?" We decided that instead of teaching them why Jesus Christ is important in their life we would teach them how to study it out themselves. We gave a few minute lesson on how to study from the topical guide and then had them do a practice on their own. They were absolutely absorbed in their scriptures! They were studying super intently and wrote down personal testimonies and experiences. It was awesome! 

I know that the Lord will give us inspiration on how to rescue his children no matter if they're an investigator, a missionary, a stake president, or a young women's class. If Christ were here he would minister to everyone, and we are his representatives so that is our job too! 

Sister Clark one liners:

"You can't tell how hard someone else is trying. You never know!" -Sister Clark

"The beautiful thing about the atonement is we can change into whatever we want to be." -Sister Clark

"Even if you had 5 HOURS you would have enough time!" -Sister Clark

Here's some quotes: 

"Sister Atchley! You're trying as hard as you can not to smile right now. I'll just start telling Elder Boggess's horrible jokes and see how long you can last!" -Sister Clark

"I'm Elder Everett, I've been out a little over a year." -Elder Everett 

"I'm Elder Boggess, I've been out over a month." -Elder Boggess

They've been out 19 months each..... 

"If you could ride anything to battle what would it be?" -Elder Cheever

"Dire wolf!" -Elder Alstrom

"Duck" -me 

"That's actually terrifying...." -Elder Gibb

"Yeah man.." -Elder Mills

"you could ride a sloth." -Elder Gibb

"That would be incredibly safe since you wouldn't get to the battle until it was over." -Elder Mills

"My favorite part of being a missionary is eating In-N-Out" -Elder Rubon

"First of all, Sister Atchley is not a weird loser." -Elder Mills 

"Elder LuRey! Did you get a haircut?" -me 

"Of course!" -Elder LuRey

"You should read the book of Mormon looking for the number 7 you'll have a good time." -Elder Nattress 

"UUUUGGH probably NOT!" -Elder Gibb 

He has issues with numbers that are not multiples of 5. I tried to convince him that multiples of 5 are only special because we operate in a base 10 number system but he wasn't having it. 

"These talks are SO inspired" -Sister Call

"Faith is like toilet paper in that when you're a young you just know it will be in the bathroom when you go in, but when you get older and live on your own you have to work for it, it doesn't just magically appear." -Sister Johnston 

The reading assignment is this: 

Find the Lambs Feed the Sheep by Gordon B Hinckley 

Also this: 

John 14:

 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

This happens right before Christ goes to suffer for our sins. I love how he says "I go to prepare a place for you." He's saying I'm fixing to go do what's necessary in order to allow you to come back and live with me in Heavenly Father's kingdom. They didn't understand what was going on though, or what he was saying. The fact that Christ performed the atonement and completed the work of the Father is the ONLY reason we are able to return to live with him. He is the way. No man cometh unto the Father, but by Him. He's the only way it could have happened. 

Love Y'all!