2/6/17

Good morning loyal followers. 

A straight up tragedy happened this week. I had to give the office staff the information they need in order to BUY MY STUPID AIRPLANE TICKET!!!!! So upsetting. I only cried aggressively about it one time though. So you know... coping pretty well. I officially come home on June 27th in case you wanted to know. I asked Heavenly Father what I could do to not be upset about going home and he said nothing. So basically I guess I need to start being in denial a little harder. It's hard because I'm always serving around people I came out with. They always feel like they need to point out to me how much longer I have left. You know..... just in case I forgot. 

Also it's really hard because the number of weeks I have left is now low enough for my brain to calculate it relatively easily. So sometimes I'll be minding my own business and I'll think to myself oh btw you have only 20 weeks left on you mission. So stressful. 

ALSO President Clark asked me all about if I'm ready to go to college when I get home and what it's like in Odessa. It's ok I still have long enough. President Orgill said that no matter how long you have on your mission you still have long enough to do the will of the Lord. 

Anyway the rest of this week was pretty good. We did a lot of service. 

We visited this lady in our ward who broke her ankle. We helped her clean her backyard. Basically we picked up an entire dumpster worth of sweetgum balls. She was like "my yard is full of spike balls and I can't pick them up!" We were like don't worry neither will your home teachers so that means our service wouldn't replace the service of an auxiliary which means WE CAN DO IT! 

We had to call animal control this week because this grungy huge poodle dog was chained to the fence of this house that had moldy pumpkins in front. Who knows how long the dog has been there. So sad. It was a friendly dog though. Poor buddy. 

Our interviews with President Clark were actually really good. He was behind though so we were in line for a long time. Sister Ward was there though so it was good. 

Man I'm trying to tell y'all about my week but I'm like boring. 

We had not boring exchanges this week. Sister Worthen came to our area and we just had a boss day all day. I learned a lot. We had some boss contacts. We contacted this one lady who was Asian and at first she wasn't interested, but by the end she was asking us for the pamphlet and for the phone number of Chinese missionaries. 

The coolest one though was when we went to stop by this potential who wasn't home. On the way back we talked to his next door neighbor. He just moved here from near Riverside. He said he was looking for a church. His criteria was that the pastor, or preacher, or whoever made sense. Basically his standards are that the church's doctrine makes sense. We were like you're gonna love the Mormons! He said he loves the Bible. We told him that we believe God loves all his children not just the ones in Jerusalem and he was like "yeah so He would inspire all of them right?" #Correct #BookOfMormon He said we can come teach his family Wednesday night. Probably one of the coolest experiences of my mission. 

Also my favorite person Elder Anthony is going to pass a FAMILY OF FIVE to us!! He just finds families of five all the time. He has faith to find hardcore!

ALSO Bishop McPhie became my hero when he got up and the end of fast and testimony meeting and said "We will now sing hymn number 29 A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief...... all verses." I was straight sobbing by the end. The spirit was so strong. 

I also learned that Heavenly Father (and others) don't actually think I'm as prideful and uncharitable as I (and others) think I am. So that was incredibly encouraging. I tried to share how excited I was about it and was informed that I'm prideful for thinking that. 

So the main thing that I learned this week is that you have to be very careful about who you're making personal changes for. You should only do it for Heavenly Father, and be really diligent in doing it for Him. Then he will changes you into who He wants you to be. That's going to be the best version of yourself possible so there's no point in worrying about what others want you to change into. 

So here's some quotes: 

"There's all types at the library." -me 

"It's like Walmart" -Sister Call

"I was going to have my grand kids pick them up and offer them 5 cents a spikeball, but I'm glad I didn't because I would be BANKRUPT!" -Sister Myers 

"My last companion's parents moved to Bakersfiled while she was on her mission." -me 

"Why would you move to Bakersfield on purpose?" -Sister Myers

"All I'm saying is basketball is the Lord's sport." Brother Lamoreaux

"That's why there are basketball courts in the Lord's church buildings." -me 

"DON'T ENCOURAGE HIM!" -Sister Lamoreaux 

"Yeah! You don't see any football fields in the cultural centers!" -Brother Lamoreaux 

"My guy disappeared while I was backing." -Elder Gibb

"Sometimes you just have to stand on the doorstep for 15 minutes." -Elder Cheever 

"Oh yeah everyone who can live in a super nice house probably also has a job." -Sister Call 

"Was waving enough or do I need to come say hi to you?" -Elder Foutz

"I was putting some accounts in order for Wells Fargo..." -President Clark

"I feel like cheating is PART of my diet." -Sister Worthen

"I don't need all these instructions. It's just a lamp! You just screw in the light bulb, plug it in, and turn it on.... why isn't this working?" -Sister Call

"take one of me on the car!" -Sister Ferrel

"Who do you represent at all times!!" -Sister Worthen

Here's a reading assignment: 

Read D&C 100 and think about how Aaron and Moses were there to support each other and also how Jared supports his brother. Everyone, even people who are so super awesome need people to support them! 

Love Y'all!!

Sister Atchley

1/30/17

Good news everyone! The church is a living church which means we're subject to occasional POLICY CHANGE!!! They changed our daily schedule and key indicators. It's actually incredibly exciting! Actually there's be a lot of policy change on my mission. So now everything is like more standard throughout the world. The first one is old it happened last transfer. Now we always have zone introduction / district meeting week one, zone conference week 2, zone training meeting week 3, and district meetings weeks 4 - 6. Then during week 4 and 5 the mission president interviews every missionary in the mission. The new exciting one from this week is the daily schedule and key indicators one. First of all now instead of our schedule being so perfectly outlined we're just required to fit in particular things in specific time frames which can be adjusted by the mission president. Some major universal changes are that planning is in the morning instead of the evening, we have extra time in the morning so that we have plenty of time to exercise for 30 minutes and get everything else done. So like, basically we have to be ready to go out and done planning and personal study at 10:00. Then we get to have companionship study for 30 - 60 minutes any time in the day that it fits well, or during less productive times. Lunch is now only 30 minutes. The best part though is that WE DON'T HAVE TO PLAN AT NIGHT!! So when we get home we can write in our journals from 9:00 to 10:30! So basically I'm sure this is very interesting for you, but it's a roundabout way of explaining how I've been TOTALLY CAUGHT UP IN MY JOURNAL ALL WEEK! #winning 

Also now church wide missions only report 4 key indicators and mission presidents can't change them. They are investigators baptized and confirmed, investigators with a baptismal date, investigators at sacrament meeting, and new investigators. 

We were able to meet with Kaveh and the Jamisons. They both came out with a lot of their concerns.  I made a goal this past week to be more honest and open with people. It was really effective. I've found the longer I've been on my mission and in the church that the two most important things in life are loving others and learning about the savior.  I always relearn that Heavenly Father sent ME here to represent his son, and if anyone could do it he would have sent anyone. He sent me specifically though, because that's who he needs. Therefore the most important thing I can do is be myself. Sometimes I forget and I act like "a missionary" preaching the gospel instead of "Sister Atchley" preaching the gospel. Then I say things that "a missionary" would say and I bear testimony like "a missionary" would instead of sharing my actual personal conviction of the truthfulness of the gospel. When I'm being myself  I am able to testify more boldly and listen to the direction of the spirit more accurately anyway. It can be difficult though, because it leaves you vulnerable to rejection and mocking. That shouldn't stop me though, because look at what the savior had to go through. 

Kaveh is like one of my favorite investigators my entire mission probably. There's also Helen. Basically every person I've ever taught or known from Iran has been the MOST HUMBLE and SO LOVING  people I have every met. We also have this lady, Guiti, who was baptized about a year ago. She's so nice and she's a killer ward missionary. She just fellowships everyone, especially Kaveh. The saddest thing is that so many people from Iran are ready to receive the gospel, but they can't be baptized unless they are willing and able to never go back to their country again. Sad. 

We were taken to In'N'Out twice this week. After having been exposed to it many times on my mission I can say this: I like 5 guys more than In'N'Out. People who think In'N'Out is better are just simply not correct. That's all. 

The weirdest thing that happened this week was when we tried to help this really old Persian man across the street and he KISSED OUR HANDS! Then he asked us for coffee. Except it was like one of the only English words he could say so communicating was difficult. Also that awkward moment when you're a missionary and you're trying to help an exceedingly old Persian man who only speaks Farsi find coffee on a college campus.  That awkward moment when it's difficult to find coffee on a college campus. 

Anyway this was a pretty good week. 

Wish I was better at reporting my life. 

Sorry fam. 

Quotes: 

"Come on guy!" -Elder Gibb at all times

"Sister Call is glaring at me. Sister Call be like why does my companion suck so bad?" -me 

"Instant unified laughter." -Sister Call

"Well I invited myself over to watch Star Wars at his place but I guess he didn't realize it was a date so he sat there grading papers and I sat their knitting while Star Wars was on and that was our first date." -Sister Johnston 

"I should be a lunch lady." -Brother Johnston

"but you're a man." -Sister Johnston

"That would make you a lunch lord." -me 

"We're going to read Revelations." -Sister Call

"The weird part." -me 

"So all of it?" -Sister Johnston

"So basically you can tell who you're friends are because if they give you potatoes without skins on them they're trying to kill you!" -Sister Horton

"This water is good because it's purified... even as He is pure." -Sister Call

"or you could have cheesecake!" -Sister Dester

"Is that a don't offer the sisters my cheesecake face?" -me 

"It's I don't know how old the cheesecake is face." -Brother Dester

"Their burrito folding skills are not that great. I should know I'm really good at folding burritos." -Sister Call 

"could you feel the love?" -Sister Worthen 

"Elder Boggess's heart is full of love." -Elder Everett

"This is what happens when you try to be healthy. Members take you to In'N'Out twice in one week and there's a ward activity involving pie." -Sister Call

"Doesn't derby pie have booze in it? Sounds perfect for a Mormon activity!" -Sister Wingard

"Ask them if they wan't cookies!" -Sister Call 

"Do y'all want cookies?" -me 

"..........come on sisters we just ate two dinners..." -Elder Mills

"We will be combined in the chapel for the 5th hour, sorry no I mean 5th Sunday 3rd hour. We will not be going to the 5th hour today." Brother Lamprecht. 

I don't know if I assigned this reading assignment already: 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/the-resurrection-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng 

Anyway Love Y'all! 

1/26/17

What's up guys? 

This week was awesome! 

We've been fulfilling our purpose all over the place and we've been doing it in the rain! 

It's been raining all week literally. On Friday and Sunday it rained so aggressively that the poor trees that are held captive in the desert of Irvine fell down. They don't have good roots. We were trapped in our apartment complex because of trees in the road. Pretty crazy. Good thing there was a nice man with a saw. He was prepared. 

So on Tuesday we were invited to present a spiritual thought at a stake wide youth activity. The catch was that afterwards we had to judge the cakes that they decorated. So basically they had all these cakes and random ingredients and they were put in teams and assigned a Book of Mormon story to depict on the cake. I have pictures but I don't know if I'll have time to send them. I'm trying to email quickly. Anyway after they were done Sister Call and I had to determine which story each cake was depicting. Whoever got the most right got to pick the winner. It was pretty fun. 

Out of all the missionaries and youth and youth leaders in the entire stake they chose us to give the spiritual thought and judge the competition. 

About 5 minutes after we get there this mom shows up and drops off her daughter and daughter's friend. She was like "blah blah blah make sure these girls don't sit by themselves and look at their phones blah blah anger anger" we were like "uuuuhh.... kk......" So about 5 seconds after the spiritual thought the girls came to us and said they were going to the bathroom. About 15 minutes later we decided nobody goes to the bathroom for that long and went to check on them. They were in there crying and having a really hard time. 

One of the girls is a recent convert. We were able to draw from our wealth of personal experience with how much it sucks to be a 13 year old girl and cheer them up a little. They ended up participating in the activity and having a great time. 

D&C 81: 5 Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.

We had zone conference this week. It was so good. We have an amazing mission presidency. President Gallund taught us that you love what you serve. It's doctrinal. So if you have having trouble loving someone try serving them. Also be careful what you serve. If you serve something that is not of eternal value you will love that thing and you will forget about things that are of eternal value. 

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Mammon means stuff fun fact.  

We met Gary J Coleman. He's an emeritus general authority. He was using the restroom in the church while we were waiting for our appointment. Pretty coooool. #JustMissionaryStuff

Unfortunately Gary J Coleman showed up instead of Kaveh so we didn't get to teach him. Sad. I would rather have met Kaveh. He came to church though. If he has even 15 minutes to spare on Sunday he will come to sacrament meeting. He's so humble. Also I like him because he's always excited to see us. 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2009-02-07-are-we-christians?lang=eng

We taught the Jamisons. They did all their homework and read the pamphlet for the restoration and came with questions. Also they've been trying to have daily family and individual prayer and praying to know. They are better investigators than I. Commitments? #WhatAreThose 

Also they received their own revelation from the scriptures and that made them more confident in the Plan of Salvation lesson. Brother Jamison was super into it this time. We assigned them to read Alma 32 and Brother Jamison was said "You know we said we're trying to get to the believing part before we get baptized. This chapter talked about how belief turns into knowledge, but it seems like there's a step before which is hope. Is that right?" He got that from reading Alma 32:21 "And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." The spirit is so awesome because you can read literally any part of the scriptures and you will just learn what's relevant to your situation. They are the most amazing people in the whole world anyway. I love them. Sister Jamison talked about how her experience in college gave her this skewed perspective of the savior as like a peace activist so she needs to change that. 

It was an amazing lesson. Also Sister Call and I were super unified and we learned doctrine in the very moment that we needed it. 

Here's some Quotes from Sister Clark: 

"Realize who you are and give yourself the credit Heavenly Father does." -Sister Clark

"What you do does not stay in the confines of the California Irvine Mission." -Sister Clark

"Listen I have no priesthood power and I won't get it soon." -Sister Clark

"You have the cleanest apartment and the most thorough inspection sheet of anyone in the entire mission." -Sister Clark

Here's some other quotes: 

"Why is teenager so hard?" -Faith

"Elder Radeke you're in my top 5 zone leaders." -me 

"Wow that's pretty top, you must only have 6 zone leaders." -Elder Radeke

"Or I was just a rebellious punk at the beginning of my mission."-me 

"Or you've been that way your whole life, but so have I. That's probably why we get along so well." -Elder Radeke

"You have little wrists." -me 

"yeah!! Well!! I have little bones ok!?" -Elder Radeke

"Oh look two of my favorite people." -Elder Burk

"Oklahoma is like humble Texas." -Elder Tree 

"Somewhere in 3rd Nephi Christ says Ye all. THAT'S STRAIGHT UP Y'ALL!!" -Elder Tree

"Thank you for testimony! I understand!" -Elder Xu 

"My wife is beautiful ok? This is not like one of those situations where a dad is talking about how beautiful his baby looks, but it looks like a raisin." -President Gallund

"Ironic that all this is happening on the same day Donald Trump is being inaugurated" -Sister Call about all the fallen trees 

"Oh it's pusheen. Me and my friends draw this on everything." -Helena 

"Some girls love diamonds, some girls love cars, I just love to study." -Guiti 

"I mean I have some childlike qualities. I'd like to think. I mean it's not just stomping my feet." -Sister Jamison 

"That bunny is judging us. Get at me hoppers." -me 

*Sister Call Dies of Laughter* 

"The other sisters met you they said you were nice." -me 

"How do they know that I am nice?" -Joel 

Here's a reading assignment: 

The Arts and the Spirit of the Lord

Boyd K. Packer

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/boyd-k-packer_arts-spirit-lord/

A talk where Boyd K Packer is super sassy towards people who are artistic. 

Love Y'all!! 

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! 

1/9/17

This week has been really good! We work hard all week and sometimes don't have many numbers to show for it, but I know that what really counts are the "check marks in heaven" I say this all the time when I'm living the principle in chapter 8 of Preach My Gospel "You will do many things that are not described in the key indicators, such as street contacting or personal and companion study. These important activities contribute to one or more of the key indicators." There are so many things that you can do as a missionary that don't pay off immediately, but are so essential for long term success. There's a talk by President Eyring called "The Law of Increasing Returns" In this talk he teaches about early harvest crops and late harvest crops. He says that we tend to spend all of our time on early crops and forget to work on late crops because they take so long to bear fruit. Something that I know is that visiting a member does not equal reporting a new investigator, but also you can not work with members without developing their trust and building friendships. Weekly planning does not equal reporting member present lessons, but if you weekly plan with a sincere heart and real intent Heavenly Father will give you many ideas of what to do and where to go in the coming week. At the beginning of my mission I wanted to get everything out of the way so I could just go out and work! I hated 12 week, and lunch, and district meeting, and anything else that wasn't being out there tracting and contacting. I've realized over the course of my mission that, when used effectively, these things aren't in the way of missionary work they are the way to do missionary work.

So... nothing is happening in our companionship this transfer. Shocking. They are transferring Elder Bowen (sad) and moving the Assistants to YSA. Actually shocking!  Our new district leader is Elder Cheever. Also the real kicker: ELDER CENTER IS COMING TO THE ZONE!!! I can not escape! This makes 7 transfers in the same zone as Elder Center, 6 of which are in the same ward. I'm confident that if there were Elders in my ward right now he would be in my ward again. It's worse the longer I'm on my mission too because he will straight up harass me about how much time I have left. 

We'll see how this goes. 

This week in ward council we had a really good conversation about how we can help the youth of the church have strong testimonies. The conversation was based on the thoughts expressed in Mosiah26. We were talking about how we could avoid this situation:

 1 Now it came to pass that there were many of the rising generation that could not understand the words of king Benjamin, being little children at the time he spake unto his people; and they did not believe the tradition of their fathers.

 2 They did not believe what had been said concerning the resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe concerning the coming of Christ.

 3 And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened.

 4 And they would not be baptized; neither would they join the church. And they were a separate people as to their faith, and remained so ever after, even in their carnal and sinful state; for they would not call upon the Lord their God.

The whole conversation made me think of how blessed of an opportunity you have if you grow up in the church. A lot of times people are like "how lucky you are to be a convert!" or "converts are so much better and have such stronger testimonies!" I don't like these kinds of thoughts because when I was hanging out outside the church I made a lot of terrible mistakes. Anyone who is doing their BEST to understand and live the gospel of Jesus Christ will not make a terrible mistake. You make plenty of mistakes either way because that's the point of living in this earth life, but you don't need to make or be smothered by mistakes that are huge and seem insurmountable. However, if you don't even know about something you can neither understand nor live it, so there is nothing stopping you from making mistakes. Of course, since our Heavenly Father is " a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also" (Alma42:15) we are judged based on what we did with what we know. The atonement allows that to be possible. I'm just so thankful that the Savior was willing to suffer for everything that I have done that I didn't know I shouldn't do. 

If you were born in the church you are so blessed! You know! Even if you don't actually know or understand any part of Heavenly Father's great plan of salvation and you still make terrible mistakes, you were still taught to pray from the time you were a little kid. I was thinking last night that even when I find myself having a hard or rebellious heart I still know God is there, and I still pray to him. I've been literally FUNDAMENTALLY changed by the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I used to not even know. I didn't even believe that God was real and now I cannot deny it. Even when I'm frustrated or angry I still can not deny that God is real. 

I know that God lives. I know that He is my Heavenly Father, and that I can speak with him whenever I want to. I know that even though He is not literally in the room with me, in fact He is so very physically far away, He hears MY prayers as I'm saying, or thinking, or feeling them in my heart. Then He actually answers them, many times immediately, and always in a time frame that I can actually see and understand if I'm paying attention. I know that He keeps his promises. I don't know about a lot of stuff like I can't understand how the resurrection will work. However, I know that if I'm ever confused or lost I can ask Heavenly Father and He will tell me what is right and what is true. He will help me return to live with Him. 

Here's a reading assignment: 

Read Moses chapter 6 focusing on the doctrine of Christ and the plan of salvation. 

Quotes: 

"How did you make these?" -Elder Bowen

"He blended pork and celery." -Elder Nattress

"I need ramen noodles to function" -Elder Rubon

"You look like you've got a pair of tonsils that have been around awhile.... has there been any talk of getting them removed? No? Well I wouldn't recommend it it's very painful and hard to recover from." -Elder Finlayson literally every time. 

>Elder Finlayson I think someone cut off my leg

>Has anyone ever suggested getting your tonsils removed? I wouldn't recommend it.

"I'll hug you when you give me cookies." -Sister Johnston 

"This is Murphy the smurf." -Sister McAllister

"In the Marshal Islands they eat dog!" -Sister McAllister

"People eat dog, but I don't. That's why I like Murfy." -Elder Rubon

"Is it ok to play footsies with your companion under the table or no?" -Elder Bowen

"Well if there's a table cloth....." -Sister McAllister

Elder Bowen took us to a member's house and she taught us how to have table manners for district meeting.

"Oh! So hard! In China we don't have fork!" -Elder Xu

"So you get called on Friday if you're doubling out?"-me

"Yeah so we'll call you on Friday." -Elder Everett 

"The zone leaders call the district leaders and then Elder Bowen calls you." -Elder Nattress 

"For the rest of your mission. Only Elder Bowen."-Elder Everett 

"So district, make sure you're in by 9:00" -Elder Bowen

"I'll be in my apartment by 9:00 sure. No one will know where they're going..." -Elder Everett

"It hurts so bad when I laugh cause I ate so much chocolate." -Sister Call

"I wish I had lettuce." -me 

"Then you could make lemonade." -Sister Call

"We have to eat these deviled eggs tonight." -Sister Call

"you're not supposed to eat before bed." -me 

"It's like a fruit!" -Sister Call

I saw Sister Baker this week. It was pretty crazy. 

"How long after you got home did you spend being a huge pile?" -me 

"How long have I been home?" -Sister Baker 

Anyway Love Y'all. 

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1/2/17

It's my 13 month mark if y'all wanted to know. 

I know that the memories of me are probably fading and becoming hazy, but hang in there. You have my weekly email to keep you going. 

To Do List: 

Develop the Christlike Attribute of Humility 

Really though, if you try to develop the attribute of humility you will just be super prideful all the time and feel bad a lot. That's my experience anyway. 

We started off this week right by having a rotten egg dropped on our car on the way back to our apartment last Monday. It was awful. I'm sure it was some hooligan youth. I was like "I hope some missionaries find them and teach them the gospel!" but then I remembered that we're the only missionaries in this area. It's up too us. 

"Have you ever done anything in your life that made you feel bad?" 

"One time I threw an egg on someone's car"

"Oh really.............." 

We had to get that taken care of. Good thing Elder Chao is so nice and understanding. 

"We got an egg thrown on our car." -Sister Call

"Sister Atchley! Weren't you the one that got your car written on in Mission Viejo." -Sister Chao

Also! Since apparently I'm like some kind of gremlin for cars, Sister Call's seat belt doesn't work right and the light comes on. When the seat belt light comes on TiWi says check your seat belt. When TiWi says check your seat belt too many times you become a red driver. When you become a red driver too many times you lose driving privileges for the rest of your mission. So basically this is a huge problem. 

We met with our investigator this week. His name is Kevin and/or Kaveh. He is super nice and humble. He came to church too. We asked him if he'd ever felt the spirit before. He said that when he is at church he feels more peace and comfort than anywhere else, but he didn't know if that was the spirit. We were SUPER unified in the lesson. Even the member present was unified. There was just tons of unity. It was probably maybe one of the most unified lessons I've ever taught. At one point I was like "I have to ask Guiti to bear her testimony in Farsi" and then Guiti was like "Is it ok if I say something in Farsi?" It was preeeetty cooool. He said he wants to get baptized when he learns more. Next step: convince him that you don't need a perfect knowledge. 

Our district meeting was awesome. Elder Mills gave a training on the doctrine of Christ. It was so good! I love the doctrine of Christ. His training was on how we need to always be teaching the doctrine of Christ in every single lesson. He talked about how by the time we get to lesson 3 our investigators should be so familiar with the terms that it's just a review. He said he felt like on his mission he's been more of a teacher of information than of doctrine. It's super true! I was taught so well! Like I had really killer missionaries or something. #ShoutOut 

Transfer calls are this week. 

Here's my predictions: Sister Call gets two new companions and I go AP. 

Jk Here's my real predictions: 

Sister Call trains the one new sister and I get transferred within the zone. 

What's probably actually going to happen: 

University Park B - There will be no changes. 

Hey it's 2017! 2016 has come and gone and I've missed all of it! The only things I know about are the mannequin challenge and dabbing. I guess I also know about how Donald Trump is going to be our president. 

Well! Get ready for a new year guys! 

Quotes: 

"I was playing hymns and singing one time and my mom came over and was singing with me cause it was more christmasy stuff. So I played a couple and I was like yeah! So I flipped over to "We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet" and then I was like ahaha! BOOM! "Joseph Smith's first prayer" She was done. She got up and left." -Elder Mills

"Sister Atchley! You never told me from Texas!" -Elder Powell

True buddy... how do you know that then? 

"Anyway then you have to somehow relate the law of chastity to a chinchilla." -Elder Bowen

"I secretly kept track of how many times y'all said words from the doctrine of Christ. Elder Boggess was going strong for a long time. I thought he was going to win until Sister Atchley CRUSHED IT with a total of 10 times!" -Elder Mills

"Is that a 42 points game I see?" -Elder Mills

"He... capitol H." -Elder Bowen

"1.4 The Savior's Earthly Ministry and Atonement." -me 

"Oh what the heck Sister Atchley!" -Elder Everett 

"The Lord doesn't always give you the full answer." -me 

"Like in Super Mario when it tells you how to get to the star, but not where it is." -A kid

"Oh sick" -Elder Xu

He's from mainland China. This is one of his favorite phrases. 

"Can we do anything for you?" -me 

"Have a good night and don't share anymore stupid dinner messages." -Elder Bowen

"I hate cleaning I just like to live in a clean house!" -Sister Call

"Sister Baker!? Now that's a cool Sister!" -Elder LuRey

"You need to step up yo game Sister Atchley" -Elder LuRey

"Squirrel Lives Matter!" -Elder Jeske

"Elder Bowen's older cut him some slack!" -Elder Jeske

"The eyesight isn't so good anymore" -Elder Tree

He's like 24 or 25 

"We have a cat that comes and visits us. It's technically not our pet." -Elder Killpack 

"Children are a byproduct of adults." -Sunday School Teacher

Here's the reading assignment:

The first thing that ever stuck in my head as revelation when I started investigating the church was from this talk: 

The Prophet Joseph Smith by By Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge

Here's the thing: "And yet as anxious as he is, he doesn’t run to a quiet corner and rattle off a hurried prayer. He is only 14, but in his haste to know, he is not hasty. This is not to be just any prayer. He decides where to go and when to make the attempt. He prepares to talk to God."

I always think about this ever since. It's so important to take the time to actually speak to our Heavenly Father. This is how we get answers. We can be so greatly blessed if we take time to deliberately and clearly approach Heavenly Father with our concerns and challenges. 

Love Y'all!!

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13/26/16

How's it going! (I'm just choosing the incorrect punctuation here) 

We've been stopping by a lot of former investigators recently. It hasn't been that successful as far as increasing our key indicators. We had some scheduled appointments this week but they all fell through. Dang it guys! We rescheduled them though and we're hoping to teach our investigator, Kaveh, this week. Kaveh rescheduled his own appointment. What an amazing human being. I love when these things happen. 

We had exchanges this week. I went with Sister Johnson. It was really cool because she's struggling with a lot of the same things that I was struggling with in Mission Viejo. We were able to talk about our purpose and about what a successful missionary is. I love what Preach My Gospel says, "Your success as a missionary is measured primarily by your commitment to find, teach, baptize, and confirm people and to help them become faithful members of the Church who enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost." I love that it says your commitment not your ability. I really love the old testament prophet Ezekiel. My favorite is Ezekiel chapter 3. In this chapter the Lord tells Ezekiel that he needs to go preach the gospel. He tells him that he didn't send him on an easy mission, he sent him to his own people whose hearts are hardened because of various things so they will not hear his words. However, the Lord promises Ezekiel that through his service his testimony will become strong "as an adamant harder than flint" I love that because the same thing is true if we work hard in this mission. Heavenly Father knows it's hard to preach to  people who have everything so he is going to strengthen our testimony so that we can teach with great power and authority if we let him. 

Christmas was so awesome. Sacrament meeting was super spiritual. I love the Sabbath day and I love when the Sabbath day falls on Christmas. It's like double the excuse to be super excited about our savior! I will be excited about the savior any excuse I get. I love the gospel so much. I finished the Book of Mormon!! I've been reading it for the past year super super slowly. When I finished I accepted Moroni's challenge to pray to know. It was so amazing as I was praying I felt so close with our Heavenly Father. I felt like he was showing me how much more I'm able to understand the scriptures than at the beginning of my mission. Heavenly Father has, through the power of the Holy Ghost, taught me so many things on my mission. I'm so amazed and humbled at the knowledge I've been able to gain. I know that, as much as we are open to receive it, Heavenly Father loves to teach us so many things and pour out knowledge upon us all the time.  Also I felt distinctly that Heavenly Father knows me by name and cares about my needs and my desires. I know the same is true for all of his children. I also know that Heavenly Father is happy when we choose to learn of him and his son, and when we choose to obey his commandments. He is truly a father and not mysterious absent father figure.

Anyway the mission is awesome!! I want to send some quotes, but I also want to go home and write letters........ 

"He trained like 8 people" -Elder Mann

"I've trained 4 people." -Elder Tree

"That's like 8 I guess." -me 

"What am I?" -Lucy (age 4) 

"a mermaid?" -me 

"No a mermaid QUEEN" -Lucy

"We've only cleaned the bathtub twice." -me 

"There is no WE!" -sister Call 

"One thing I can tell about you, Sister Atchley, is that you're out here for the right reason. I mean, you are really converted to Christ... I mean am I getting this right?" -President Clark

"oh! Shout wipes! How did you know I'm a HUGE MESS?" -Elder Mills

"Oh! Eraser ends, good for planning with Elder Nattress." -Elder Mills

"Like 20 Egg!" -Elder Xu

>smells tie

>holds tie against face

>listens to tie

>rubs tie on shoe

"It was Elder Xu!" -Elder Boggess 

"Are these your missionaries? They're HOT!" -Everyone ever 

"you don't want missionaries to come to you home and be like oh hey your ketchup has.... marijuana in it or whatever." -Sister Call about how awkward it is to explain that ICE drinks have tea in them 

"you can't just suddenly decide to blow up my peeps behind my back." -me 

The reading assignment is 

John Chapter 21. Now that Christmas is over and we're not being so easily prompted and reminded of our savior we have to choose to continue to focus on him. After Christ was resurrected hevisited his apostles who had forgotten to follow him. This is what he says.
My favorite part is this:

22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

Love Y'all!! 

Sister Atchley

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