Howdy Mom!
I guess I'll start by answering some of your questions. The hood is doin good, I haven't been shot or bitten yet, so I guess that's a good thing. The dogs are mostly a lot of barking, but I already have a little thing of pepper spray just in case they get bold and try to get all up in my grill, lol.
I love the area, and I'm getting to know it a little better. It's funny because in one corner of the area there is a black neighborhood, so we don't go over there too often (cause we are Spanish missionaries). Hmm, getting to know the people in the Ward is going pretty well, but still struggling because of stake conference yesterday. We didn't have normal church, so I didn't get to specifically meet anyone from our Ward. The stake conference was good though, mucho poder en los discursos (much power in the talks). It's funny because this is an English Spanish stake, whereas the last one was pure Spanish, so I understood these speakers without too much difficulty. President Mortensen gave a really good talk about being the people that share the gospel.
Now onto the work for the week. On Wednesday we had a service event as a zone. It was so much fun! We helped older people get around, and then we fed them lunch. It's a blast to do that with the zone, I love missionaries, they are cool. That day I was also on an exchange with a zone leader, it went pretty well, he helped me with a lot of stuff, like teaching, and just some other pointers on planning. That night we saw our part member and another guy we are teaching. The part member is doing great! Although he I didn't come to stake conference (he stayed home to watch the kids). We found this other guy, who looks like he will have a lot of potential. We found him just knocking in a trailer park, and he seemed really open to hearing what we have to
say. Another guy we met this week is really intellectual, he knows his stuff in the Bible and can back up what he believes, whether it be with the bible or science, he can do it. So it's been kinda interesting teaching him.
Well, that's the week folks. Thanks so much for thinking of me mom. I look forward every week to your emails. I have seen Dr Bones (our new Halloween decoration), he's looking a little bony though, haha! I can't think of nay thing that I would want for Christmas, maybe a sweater, not an ugly Christmas one, but a regular one I could wear day by day.
We will be going to the zoo today, so that should be a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to seeing all the animals there, and what they have. It's so funny that you sent me the 29 degrees thing, I don't know what Texas is doing to me, but it was sixty this morning and I thought it felt kinda chilly, I remember when I would have loved that weather.
I love y'all so much!
Elder Atkinson (Nic)
Hey, what's up!?
Things are goin real good in this part of Texas, I've been able to meet some more of the Ward, still it's an ongoing process, but little by little it's getting better. The hard part is that during the week, they are working and are home at night, but we need to be teaching investigators or trying to find at night, so it's goin a little slower
than I would like.
I am still teaching that one member's husband, and he is doing great. Little by little he's understanding the Book of Mormon, which is awesome. Last night he went to the Temple Tours, which was awesome. I love the temple tours, I see so many of my good friends from Waller, and Louetta and whatnot. I miss everyone a lot.
This week, we almost died! Last night the light turned green for about 2 seconds, and I started, then a car zooms by and almost hits us, it was so scary. Also while we were contacting, we walked up to a door and then someone yells, "what do you need!?" It was dark, and so I jumped so far, my heart went racing. Also while we were contacting, on Saturday, we got offered food by 2 families, the Hispanic culture is so strange, oh two random guys, let's invite them for dinner. It's awesome.
That's my week, it has been fun, and today we went to top golf and now are balling it up. I love plays! My comp and I get along well, it's hard sometimes because he's new, and I get a bit frustrated with the newness, but other than that he is awesome. We only have a 2 man apartment, ours would be too small for a four man.
I love y'all!
Elder Atkinson (Nic)
.
What's up?
Conference weekend was bomb as always! Although a little sad to see President Monson like he is, but I know that the Lord will strengthen him as he needs his strength.
I watched all the sessions at church, it was a ton of fun, spending time with the missionaries. I watched it all in English, I feel like I get more during conference in English. I really liked Hollands talk about how similar moms are to Christ. So, thanks for everything mom! Oh, I only have one more conference in the mission.
This week was pretty good, lots of contacting and trying to meet everyone still. While contacting, we ran into a member, which was cool, and it turns out her husband is not a member, so we began teaching him. He has great potential, so I am really excited to see where he ends up going. On Thursday, I had a new leadership training, where I kinda learned a bit better how to be a district leader. It was awesome and I learned a lot from president. Then a little bit after that day, I gave my first interview baptismal. It was a little scary, but I lived and he did well. Well, I love you all so very much and I look forward to all the love and news I get each week!
Elder Atkinson (Nic)
What's up mom?
I have had a good week, but I can tell you that I really miss the country. Here it is really different, there are large dogs everywhere, and most of the time they are barking and wanting to eat me or something like that.
I am really happy that there are a ton more Hispanics here, so I'll get to use my Spanish a bunch! The members I've met so far are all really nice, and cook pretty good, which is a nice plus. In our Ward there are two sets of elders and a set of hermanas (Sisters), so a total of six missionaries here. No I'm not going hipster, you of all people should know that, I just really liked the tie, and elder Alexander gave it to me (in a picture he had a flowery tie I asked about). Who wouldn't like the tie that looks like one of the couches at church?
I did get the package, thank you so much for the snacks, they are quite delicious. And you can just send everything up to the mission office, I'm up there often enough that it works better that way.
So far I like my area, like I've mentioned above, sometimes I'm scared for my life (the dogs), but that could just be me over reacting. As always it's a struggle whitewashing, everything goes a little slower for the first little bit, but hopefully everything will start to pick up this week. My companion is Elder Norton, he's from Logan Utah. He seems to be a good kid, he just finished his training so I am greenie breaking him. The one thing that did surprise me about my area is how undeveloped some places are. For being so close to the city, I expected everything to be concrete basically, but there are some parts that are pretty green, which surprised me.
I just want to wish you a happy early birthday, I won't be able to do it on your birthday, so here it is. Also, happy birthday Kiley! Don't let being 17 go to your head.
I love and miss y'all!
Elder Atkinson (Nic)
