Elder Wilson Atagi: October 2013

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Letter to Dad from Bonifay-October 21, 2013

Hey Dad

That's so sick that they started varsity this week. I knew they would eventually. Noah told me a little bit about it.

Sounds like fall break was a party. Where were y'all going to go on your road trip? I hope SLC was fun! Has it snowed back home? I never hear anything over hear about weather or politics which I guess is a good thing.

1. How is your guitar playing? We will be sending you stuff (cords, etc.. let us know if there is something in particular that you need? The guitar playing is good. I am trying to keep it tuned, but the strings are pretty loose. I don't think I need anything in particular. Maybe Ethan and you could find songs for me to play like the one about Jesus Christ that the polynesian group does.

2. Are you still struggling with sleep? Does it happen even on the days that you ride your bike a lot? I am still struggling with sleep, but it doesn't seem to be affecting me too much. It's really weird. I hardly sleep but at the end of the day I am not tired at all. weird.

3. How are your teaching skills? Do you have the lessons down? I am always going over the lessons and the principle but I have them down pretty good. It's a lot of fun.

4. Do you have a scripture mastery, scriptures that you have to memorize and pass off? We just use scriptures with lessons. I have been working on memorizing where they are at and I have a lot memorized but we don't pass them off.

5. Is it still hot now? Do you know if you guys get any cool weather at all? It has cooled down a ton but sometimes it is still hot because we are in Florida. Elder Frederiksen seems to always be cold but I am always so hot haha.

6. Anything strange happen to you or your companion lately? Nothing too strange lately. We did get called prophets the other day and the same lady said we were still on the milk instead of the meat like the bible scripture says so I was pretty fired up after that.

7. What is something that you have learned thus far on your mission, that you will use the rest of your life? Thus far on my mission I have learned that everything I do and get is directly from Heavenly Father. I used to just think that I was relying a lot on myself and giving myself credit, but really it's Heavenly Father.

8. So is your bike holding up? new tube? or new tire? how are the rims? I have had to get 2 new tubes for the bike and may need new tires soon. I popped 2 spokes on the back rim of my bike and i am trying to fix those.

9. Are you happy? and why? I am happy! Because missionary work may be hard and taxing, but in the end this is the single greatest thing i could be doing right now and i will continue to do with the people I love when i get home. Can i get Jed's Email address?

10. Do you guys play any basketball? on my mission we could only play half court. on p-days. We play basketball in the mornings sometimes. It's pretty chill.

Other than that pretty chill week I sent a different email about all of my stories. Thanks dad for the thought! I can't wait to see what happens at 2 years!

I love you Dad! Have a great week!

Alofa Atu Oi

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter from Bonifay-October 21, 2013

Hey Mom and Dad!

Today we decided to come and email kinda early because we had to make another trip to Walmart. My bike has been giving me some trouble this week. I have to buy another inner tube but its been doing alright. I hope everyone is doing okay!

This week has been pretty interesting and a lot of fun. We found a new investigator last week and from October 14 to the 20th, we had a lesson with her every day. She has already gained a testimony, told her boyfriend they have be separated until they can get married, and quit drinking sweet tea. We haven't even taught her the Word of Wisdom or Law of Chastity yet. Paige is her name. She is so awesome! She told us a story of seeing on the news of a little girl taking her own life because of being bullied, but also having learned about the Plan of Salvation knowing that she would be okay. She told us right then she knew that it was true. I loved that it was so awesome to see that.

There was also a ward party this week at a members home! It was Brother George. He used to be the owner of the bank in Bonifay so he has some money but he is one of the most humble people I have ever met. He has a large house and then another house/barn thing that is entirely just a kitchen and a place to hang out in. They had a hay ride and a ton of food. I baked cookies for it and they were gone in a few second haha. So that was awesome I took some pictures of some little kids we were hanging out with. It was awesome to see how many people came out to it that don't come to church that often. Sister George made this awesome Brunswick Stew. It was so good.

On Sunday, we had a lesson with Paige at the Mork's house. He is an avid FSU fan and he has a jacked up golf cart that is all decked out in FSU stuff and it can get up to 30 mph. It was so crazy. We got to ride in it and everything. So there is a touch of the social aspect of missionary work.

Is everybody doing alright? How was the long weekend? And the last game? I got to go to the beach this week too. We had an exchange with the Zone Leaders in Panama City Beach and that morning for exercise we ran down there for it. That was a lot of fun! Other than that though, not much going on this week.

I love you guys and hope Y'all are having a great week/day.

Love

Elder Wilson Atagi

P.S. new favorite food is boiled peanuts

Pictures from Bonifay-October 14, 2013

James, a man we baptized

I got a guitar!

Letter to Dad from Bonifay-October 14, 2013

Hey Dad,

I will definitely be sending a letter to Grandma. Dang my Saints are stilling winning the Super Bowl and sorry to hear about your Raiders, but they just can't be helped haha. Good to hear they got a win. I heard Noah played a lot. The booth was fun, not a lot of fruits yet, hopefully some come. I missed you guys at the conference too, Bonifay does a Pancake and Sausage supper before which was pretty good.

1. Do you have a guitar yet? I do have a guitar!

2. Do a lot of Elders have ukes there? Saw a Uke in a picture on the Mission blog. Not that I have scene in my Zone so far. I think there are a couple somewhere.

3. Zone conference is every month? Zone Conference is usually every other transfer so every other month or something like that.

4. Does it look like you will be transferred next? I don't think so. We just found that Polynesian family the other week and President seems to think I am the one to teach them. By the way was Grandpa a High chief? and What Island are we from?

5. What is your biggest challenge now almost 3 months into it? The hardest part so far? It's hot and sometimes in a companionship is frustrating, but oh well. That and I just can't sleep lately. It's weird.

6. Have you had an interview with your Mission President lately? How was it? I had an interview this past week which went really well! He seems to really like me. He's an awesome man!

7. How are your work outs? The work outs are good. I'm trying to eat better but the members just feed me some horrible unhealthy food. In Elders Quorum yesterday, they were talking about how people in the West don't cook with grease and oil and they all looked totally mortified. Some were like "I would die without Grease and Oil to cook with." hahaha

8. Is the bike holding up? Still using it a lot? The bike is holding up, but my tires are almost bald and I had to buy an inner tube this week. so that's really the only issue. I still use it a ton.

10. We hope to be sending you a package here soon let us know if there is anything in particular that you need? I could really use some melatonin and guitar chords so I can get to know some more chords to play and then some guitar music. Other than that I think I am doing pretty good. I'm making brownies for a dinner tonight to teach an investigator and this Saturday is the Fall Festival for this ward and it's supposed to be a big deal.

Thanks Dad for the advice and the update! I don't know if you guys got the September Ensign, but the talk I want you to look at is in there called "His Grace is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox

Thanks Dad for always being there!

I love you Dad!

Alofa Atu Oi

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Mom from Bonifay-October 14, 2013

Hi Mom!

The week is pretty good. A little rough on sleep, but it's all good. The mission song was pretty cool. Thanks for the thought Mom! I love you so much!

So story time, This week I got to go on 2 exchanges because Elder Frederiksen is a DL so I went to Chipley, FL and we were riding our bikes and Elder Wilcox and I were headed to an appointment and we both saw a guy farther down the street that was out of our way. We started to turn down the other street and then simultaneously without even thinking about it, we just went towards the guy. We stopped and talked to him and the Spirit was super strong the whole time we were talking then I gave him a Book of Mormon and he was almost crying as I bore my testimony which was awesome. I love the Gift of the Holy Ghost!

My thought for this week is all about a talk in the September Ensign called "His Grace Is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox. Let me know what you think and I'll share more next week.

I love you Mom thanks for everything you do. I hope your eye still gets better. I pray for you constantly!

I love you

Elder Wilson Atagi

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Letter to Mom from Bonifay-October 6, 2013

Hey Mom!

Watching conference was amazing! I learned so much from each talk! I think I had like 15 pages worth of notes, but I write pretty big so probably about 10. The blog looks awesome! I love it! Thanks so much for setting that up. That's exciting to hear Kaden is home! Good to hear about your eye! No worries about the CD's and book! It's not a big deal! Just get better. Thanks for the thought this week! I always love Elder Holland's talks!

Not much to talk about this week. We set a couple baptismal dates! Hopefully they turn out. Bonifay is still going strong and Elder Frederiksen and I seem to be carrying the district. Not bragging I promise. Pretty good week though! Conference was phenomenal. The Spirit was so strong throughout each session! I learned so much of how I can help my investigators and myself come closer to Christ! My message this week is:

Everything that we will earn in Heaven is up to US. In the end there is no one else to put it on. We choose what happens. Everyday is either moving forward or sliding back. Make the chose to apply the Atonement. The God given Agency we have means we can choose to be Happy.

I hope you have a great week this week Mom! Keep Moving Forward! As President Uchtdorf said, "You can do it NOW"

Love

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Dad from Bonifay-October 6, 2013

Hey Dad,

Thanks for checking out Ray Hudson for me. haha He's a pretty cool guy, just kind of different, I think the football got to him. Conference was great this week! I learned a ton. Good to hear about Ethan and Noah I know that they will keep going strong! Missionary work was definitely a big influence in Conference this time huh? Great to see the General authorities trying to get members going!

1. How was General Conference (GC) for you? General Conference was fantastic! I learned so much for myself and my questions, but also a ton of stuff to help out the members, investigators, and Less actives! I had a boat load of notes on the whole thing. Like 15 pages.

2. Where did you watch it? We watched it at the church because we had invited a few investigators there. Otherwise we would have been at a members house with our other investigators there.
3. So do you guys just watch it at 12 , 4, 8 on Saturday and 12 and 4 on Sunday? We just watched it from 11-1 and 3-5 and then 7-9 for priesthood session.
4. So is the storm affecting you? The storm died down a lot and the only effects we are getting is more rain. Which is good, but I keep getting the feeling that sometime during my mission there will be a hurricane over here. Don't tell Mom I said that haha
5. So how have they divided the town with having two sets of missionaries in Bonifay? We haven't divided the town because it is too small to. We just coordinate who we plan to go and see so we don't step on each others toes.
6. You talked about sisters coming to your District are they there now? There are sisters in the district. They are in Chipley.
7. What about pictures? have you been taking any? Do you need to send anything home yet?
I have been taking pictures, but haven't sent any yet because the computers are struggling but I will send them soon.8. Mom has worked hard on your Blog. make sure you thank her and add to it so it can be moved forward. but what do you think? The blog is awesome and I will try to add some when I figure out how to.9. I've see a few of your classmates and they all say to say hi. Colby Bedford, Nihao, Croyle, Zumbo, Bro. Jones, and others. When I see others anything you want me to say? Tell them I said what's up. Not much to say just hello and don't forget about me haha.
10. So is there anything you need? Not anything that I can think of that I need. I may need a SD card for my camera when I send the other one home, but that won't be until next week.

I really appreciate you Dad. Thanks for helping me grow and learn. I hope you have a great week! I love you Dad. Message that I got from conference is this:

"You can do it now"

I love you Dad.

Alofa Atu Oi

Elder Atagi

Letter to Dad from Bonifay-September 30, 2013

Hey Dad!

I 'm doing great! It's been a great week. In my email to mom are all the stories!

I'll keep praying for Mom. And i will work on my letters. I heard Noah was slayin em huh? Hopefully the team can turn it around.

1.Where do the new Elders Live? They live in the apartment across the street

2. Do you guys watch Movies on P-day? We watch like Prophet of the Restoration and The Testaments haha
3.What's the weirdest thing you have eaten so far? Smoked Mullet is probably the weirdest. I pulled it straight out of the scales haha
4. How are your work outs? The work outs are good. I've been doing core a ton too. Did you ever get a description of the exercises though?
5. Do you guys go to any High school Football games? We haven't gone to any yet. The team here is awful. They lose like we did last year.
6. Do you meet with the Ward Missionaries every week? We meet with the Ward Mission leader every Wednesday.
7. What Meetings do you have every week? We have District meeting on Tuesday and then coordination Wednesday and PEC Sunday morning.
8. Have you seen the Gulf yet? I've seen part of the gulf not any beaches though.
9.What stories do you hear about in the Mission that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.? I haven't heard a ton of stories. Elder Frederiksen's last companion drove a mission vehicle into a flooded road and drowned the car. So that is probably the dumbest thing I have heard missionaries do.
10. Are you having fun Yet? Why? I think I have been having fun since day one. I realized that this whole 2 years will be as good as I make it. I just love the people and I know that the Lord is just constantly leading us to people to teach. I love my mission!

Thanks for the quote Dad that means a lot. Even though I am imperfect I can change the world with the Lord's help.

We met a Samoan family straight from the islands. What island did Grandma and Grandpa come from? what does our name mean? I hope I can teach and baptize all of them. I love you Dad. Thanks for always taking care of me and nagging me to do what is right. I don't think I would be out here without you.

Alofa Atu Oi

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Mom from Bonifay-September 30, 2013

Hi Mom!

My week has been just fantastic! I think I may just start writing the story segment to you for now until I get faster at typing. If that's okay with y'all. It's good to hear that you are doing better. Don't get too frustrated with them. Remember you were the one that ran into the pole. ;) haha I can just see little Beckham haha. He probably looks like a lady that we are teaching when she feels the Spirit in our lessons. It is quite the spectacle. I haven't seen anyone speak in tongues yet. I want to though I just want to see what they do.

Riley emailed saying something about Mason, but I guess what happened isn't as bad as what I thought happened. I just need to not think the worst possible thing haha. All Riley said about it was did you hear about mason? and I freaked out for a second. She seriously got called to New Zealand? That's soo lucky, not nearly as good as Tallahassee, but still cool. Thanks for the thought mom! I love you so much! Thanks for getting all the CD's and address book together I can't wait for those! I pray for you everyday! I hope you get better!

Alright story time now. Elder Pino was sooo awesome! He was just super spiritual and the lesson that he taught was so cool and I have a mini back up lesson to it too. He taught about how everything that we do as missionaries should all lead back to our purpose. We exercise in the morning to stay fit to invite people to come unto Christ. We have P day to chill out and let off stress to help us be spiritually ready to invite others to come unto Christ. We can relate this all to our lives as members of the church. We go to work, play football, hang out with friends, go to the doctors, have certain illnesses or injuries to help us come closer to Jesus Christ. Through every trial that Heavenly Father, we either take steps down the strait and narrow or we loosen our grip on the word of God. Everything happens to change us and Jesus Christ's Grace is sufficient to change us. In the September Ensign there is a talk by Brad Wilcox about that. For FHE sometime read about that or try to find it on iTunes. It is very great!

We had a baptism this week! It was super awesome to know that I helped put someone on the path to Eternal Life! I can't wait to see how it all turns out at the end of this. I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost and it was just a great experience! I also baked cookies and of course everyone loved them.

We taught the third hour in church on Sunday and it was of course all about missionary work and there were a ton of spiritual promptings about what I could help teach and talk about. I love having the Gift of the Holy Ghost! this week has been such an awesome testimony builder to me and I just keep getting more and more confirmation that this is truly where I am supposed to be!

Last one! We found a big Samoan family here in Bonifay. They are willing to listen to us! Woohoo! It's so awesome. I need to ask Dad some questions about what island we are from and stuff like that.

Oh and Bonifay is apparently known for the Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo! I bought myself a cowboy hat! haha I really did! I'll send a pic sometime soon.

Thanks Mom! I love you and hope you have a great Week!

Love you so!

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Dad from Bonifay-September 23, 2013

Hey Dad,

It goes great! Elder F and I are still together, but we got some more Elders here in Bonifay! Elder F is the DL of the biggest district in the Zone! The baptism was move back a week because Stake Conference was this past weekend. Elder Pino from the first quorum of the 70 came and spoke and he is talking to us tomorrow at a half mission conference! I'm super excited! It should be awesome. I'm super excited about Matthu! That's way cool. Good to hear Mom is doing better. I keep praying for her. Tell everyone I say hello! Who Dat Nation haha.

1. Did you get a guitar? I haven't gotten a guitar. There aren't any real pawn shops in the area that I've seen.

2. So other Missionaries have instruments like ukes too? Some other missionaries have guitars. I haven't seen anyone else with instruments, but I've only seen the Zone so.
3. How was your Baptism? The baptism was moved back because of Stake Conference, but the gator is on fire. He bought a suit to have for church.
4. Did you speak? No I did not speak, but this Sunday we are teaching the third hour of church. We are having a share the gospel seminar!
5.What has been the hardest part of your mission so far? The hardest part is staying asleep. At least this past week. I don't even know why I can't sleep through the night, but I just toss and turn all night. I'm pretty good other than that though. We have had a pretty steady flow of lessons.
6. Is there anything fun that you do on P-day? We watch DVD's on the DVD player. haha
7. What has been the scariest thing so far on your mission? I haven't a lot of scary things. There was a HUGE spider about the size of Sally's whole hand and there was one my fist size. That was pretty scary. Some of the trailer parks are kind of sketchy.
8. If you could go back and change anything before or during your mission what would you change? I would study PMG a lot more and not taken being with you guys for granted.
9.What one thing have you done to make your companionship better? We've talked things out. Elder Frederiksen stresses out a lot and beats himself up about things. I have been a lot more patient now that I am out here. I don't get mad a ton here maybe once in a while, but I've just realized that if I put in the effort, the Lord will help me out and I can roll with the punches.

Thanks for the thought Dad. I'm trying to do my best to find those things. My thought is in Alma 7: 11-12. Lean on the Lord in times of trouble and all other times as well. He has been through literally everything. He knows. I love you Dad. Thanks for teaching me to be a good kid.

Your son,

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Mom from Bonifay-September 16, 2013

Mom,

Sounds like a rough week. I'm sorry to hear about your eye, but I know that the Lord knows each of us and the struggles we are going through and he will never allow anything that we cannot bear. I'm so excited for Riley and I can't wait to write to him during e-mail times. I will be out in the field for two whole transfers before he even gets out to Honduras. Thanks for having Ethan read it to them. I wish I could be back singing with them, but they did great without me I'm sure.

We get some more Elders in our area this Wednesday which should be fun. I know the eye and shoulder probably hurt a ton, but keep pushing through it. Jesus Christ in the Garden felt every ounce of pain and torment you and I feel everyday of our lives. Heavenly Father gave him and our families for us to lean on and He gave Dad the priesthood to act in his name. Rely on prayer and the priesthood and everything works out. The church is perfectly set up to help us all out. We just need to live up to it. I love you Mom. Keep getting better and keep praying. I'll keep you in my prayers.

Love you so. Your son

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Dad from Bonifay-September 16, 2013

Hey Dad,

Don't worry about the letters. I enjoy the updates from emails too. Sounds like my Saints are letting people know. The team continues to struggle I guess huh? As long as Ethan and Noah can get their grades going, they'll be good. I'll make sure to tell Noah. I'll keep Mom in my prayers more now. I'm excited for Riley though!

1. 650 miles is that to take care of your district? No our area is pretty big geographically so we use it for farther away areas, but we try to conserve as much as possible.

2. Did you have a baptism this past Saturday? If so, who? No baptism. Brenda didn't come to church and we haven't been able to meet with her for a while.

3. We noticed a guitar behind you at Zone Conference. Was that yours? No, not my guitar. I'm going to look for one today so that should be fun.

4. So why did you do the Haka? Did you do it by yourself? I did it by myself. They asked if we wanted to do talents. I was going to sing How Can I Be, but another kid sang a song so they asked if I had anything else. So it was fun.

5. How long do stay with your trainer? Usually for 2 transfers at the least. I didn't get transferred this week so still here in Bonifay.

6. What's your favorite food in the south now? I would have to say cornbread or deer burgers.

7. How are your investigators? The investigators are good. A lot of them were sick this week so we couldn't teach. James is doing awesome and he is getting baptized on the 28th. That's pretty exciting. We met two investigators that are kind of, okay scratch that, they are really crazy so we are trying to decide if we can continue teaching them.

8. Are those bands any good? The bands are great and my arms are starting to get sore haha. I've had two different people tell me I look like I'm slimming down so I was happy to hear that.

9. do you want me to get any more? I don't think I'll need more for awhile.

10. What do you get on p-days for food for the week? Usually just like eggs, milk, bread, cereal, different fruits like last week, I bought a pineapple and like different like Hamburger Helper or mac and cheese. Thanks for the quote dad. I'm working on it. I've been having some great study time. I'm trying to alter my mindset. I'll keep praying for mom and the family in general. I love you Dad and keep being an example because you are a huge reason I am who I am today. I love you Dad.

Alofa Atu Oi

Your Son

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Mom & Dad from Bonifay-September 9, 2013

Hi Mom and Dad!

This week is letter week!

Elder Atagi

Editorial Comment: Rejection!!!

Letter to Dad from Bonifay-September 2, 2013

Hey Dad,

How's it going? Sounds like the party was a lot of fun and that's exciting to hear about the mission call for Zach!

1. How are the work outs in the morning? The workouts are good, but if you could send a description for everything that would be great.

2. Have you gained weight? I think I may have gained a litlte bit, but the biking and the workouts in the morning pretty much counteract it. I sweat sooooooooo much when we go out and bike, my shirt is soaked through. I made a pocket protector out of duct tape so my planner and pass along cards don't get soaked.

3. What is the town of Bonifay known for? The town of Bonifay isn't really known for much, other than a man named Ray Hudson that played for Alabama from 2000-2005. We are actually teaching him tomorrow so that is super cool.

4.Other than shop, wash laundry, letter writing, and email is there anything else you guys do? We usually just chill and get whatever else we need done that day or that week. Sometimes we watch church videos which is awesome.

5. with the music cd's I will send a jump rope, pulley things, is there anything else you need? I don't think there is much of anything I need. I would like some recipes for things like spaghetti sauce and stroganoff and things like that and some lyrics for I stand all amazed in Samoan and Tali Mia

6. So how do guys do mileage and gas on your cars? We do mileage with a mileage sheet that we pull out every night from the car and write down the daily miles that day and then the total for the month so far and there is a gas card inside the glove box that we use.

7. have you guys had a Zone conference yet? Our first zone conference is this Thursday and Elder Raphael Pino is coming to visit us so it should be pretty cool!

8. Have you had any Stake Meetings yet? No stake meetings yet. Stake Conference is on the 22nd.

9. Do you guys ever get to go to the temple in Tampa, or Birmingham? The temple isn't really an option for us. The closest is in Orlando I think.

10. Do you guys have a district training weekly? We have district meeting every Tuesday, unless there is zone stuff that week.

Thanks for letting me know Mom is doing okay. I'm glad the party was fun! The games sound rough, but I think that they will learn quick and once they stop the mistakes then everything will start to workout. Good to hear Noah is doing well. Tell him to keep it up! Thanks for the thought Dad and I am sending mine in a letter this week so be prepared!

I love you dad and I miss you, but I know the Lord is blessing our family because of it.

Alofa Atu Oi Dad

Elder Atagi

Letter to Mom from Bonifay-September 2, 2013

Mom,

You're old. hahahahaha. I love you mom and hope you are healing up great. I'm happy to hear you had a great time at the party yesterday. Thanks for all you've done and continue to do for me! I love you mom. Thanks for praying for the investigators and I can feel it helping me everyday. The party sounds like a lot of fun! Keep it up with the rehab, you always were one tough cookie! The members feed us an assortment of different foods like: Cornbread that they fry themselves not like the cake kind but like corn meal stuff fried. They have peas which are bomb, but they are more like beans. They have real fried chicken which is so good. Ummm and they have potluck Sundays here which are like stupid good because every lady makes like 20 dishes and brings them to eat after church. Why don't we have that in Utah???? But they make like chicken and dumplings and just general South food stuff. Sooooo good. Not anything near as good as your food, but still pretty good.

Can you send the recipe for the chocolate chip cookies within the next hour? i'm trying to make them for zone conference this thursday. and the buttermilk cake recipe, because Elder Frederiksen's birthday is on the 12th.

Anyway I love you mom and the scriptures are coming in the letter i am sending.

I love you so!

Elder Wilson Atagi

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Letter to Mom from Bonifay-August 19, 2013

Hi Mom,

My week has been great! The work is exciting and Bonifay and the ward is amazing! I love it here. The rain is crazy. I filmed part of one and commentated it so I'll send that too.

The apartments are like town homes. Mosiah 4:14-15 is one scripture I wanted for you to read as you are a teacher. So that should help when they do figure out what you're doing.

We committed a lady to be baptized on the 14th of September. It was so great. Pray for her please. Her name is Brenda! that's awesome to hear about Mathu. I hope they can keep teaching him.

I got the package and thanks for the picture. I really needed that and the scriptures helped too. I love you Mom. Here's one more scripture Mosiah 4:27. Slow down life and take it all one step at a time so you don't stress out. I love you Mom!

Love

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Dad from Bonifay-August 19, 2013

Hey Dad,

I'm doing good! Just be chillin hear in Bonifay!

Answers to Questions:

1. So do the members feed you guys? How often? We have a meal coordinator and the calendar is passed around Relief Society every week. The food is really good. Our calendar is full pretty much all week this whole month.

2. Since your comp is the DL do you guys do splits with other missionaries? Do you guys have sisters in your District? We are planning on doing exchanges sometime soon with the ZL's and with the other set of Elders in our District. We are getting two sets of sisters in our district next transfer.

3. How are you with the discussions? I'm pretty good with the discussions. Just basic doctrine and applying the Atonement and the principles to helping the people in their lives.

4. How are your investigators? Our investigators are cool. We have one committed to being baptized named Brenda and she is working on quitting smoking. The other really progressing investigator is a man named Dondre. He reminds me a lot of Kenyatta and is really cool. He takes notes while we are teaching!

5. How is your Ward? Or is it a branch? Are the members cool? The ward is awesome the people are amazing here and I honestly have never seen such a tight knit group of saints.

6. So where do you write emails from? and when you say you have two hours to write emails and letters what is the rest of your p-day like? I email from the family history center in our church building. The rest of P day is laundry which we usually do in the apartment, cleaning and shopping and chilling.

7. So we see that rain has been hitting the south pretty good. is it getting you guys too? The rain is pretty crazy here. Just super sheets but we don't get it too bad here.

They only had a scrimmage huh? That's weird. Is Ethan asking anyone to homecoming? Tell them to keep on laying hat. Is the helmet for Noah expensive? I'll keep praying for mom. I hope Noah and Ena can play hard this Friday. Do they start? I knew my saints would win. Oh and remember how the guy at the mission office said people don't really use rain jackets? Yeah he lied. So I'm wondering if you could send one over here because we can't find any that fit me over here. Remember the one in Smith and Edwards that was like a really weird material and said like frog or toad on the name. That one would be great.

Thanks dad for the advice and the scripture. Here are mine for this week. This is for you. Mosiah 4: 11-12 and this is for the family. Mosiah 18:21

Alofa atu oi

Elder Wilson Atagi

First Letter to Dad from Bonifay-August 11, 2013

Hey Dad,

The first week has been great! The days seem really long but when you're done they seem to blur together.

Answers to Questions

1. What is your address.303 Redbird Rd. #1 Bonifay, FL 32425. I'm in the top part of the Panama city branch.

2. Who is your companion. he is from where? how long has he been out?

My comp is Elder Frederiksen. He is from Boise, Idaho and has been out for 6 months and has been in this area for all 6.

3. How is your bike? The bike is slightly smaller than I think we had expected but it works great. I don't enjoy biking, but my quads are going to be huge when I'm done.

4. is it hot? It is very hot and humid, but the locals say it is pretty cool for August probably because of so much rain.

5. does your bike helmet fit, it looked like it did The helmet fits and it is huge on other people!

6. how is riding a bike all day? I answered with 3.

7. what is your apartment like, is your area in the boonies? I like the apartment. There are a few roaches, but they are pretty small not huge ones. My area has a little bit of the boonies but not really. Just a small town that's super rural and has a lot of dirt roads and those things.

8. do you guys have a teaching list already? We do have a teaching list. I've taught 2 investigators so far. My area isn't super successful right now, but we'll keep working.

9. how was your interview with President Smith? my interview with the President was fairly short. He is an old football coach so we understand each other really well. His first mission Presidency was in Micronesia and he had a lot of Polynesian elders and he said he liked them a lot. He said he can see a lot of potential in me and thinks he can trust me already.

10. So how do you pay your rent, so what did buy for groceries the first P-Day. How long do you get to email? the rent is paid for us when we pay the $400 every month. We are budgeted to about $130 to live off of every month. And we haven't gone shopping yet. I can email and write letters for about 2 hours on P day which is Monday.

11. are you sleeping well? I am sleeping pretty good. The air conditioning works well in the apartment.

12. how is your studying, what is your day like? My studies are good. We wake up and exercise for 30 minutes. I tried to get as many pushups and ab stuff done in that time. Can you set up a work out with Josh I can use?

13. Is there something you need from us? I don't think I need anything from you guys right now.

14. How many are in your district? There are 4 total missionaries in our district and my trainer is the DL.

I miss you dad and it was good to talk to you. I'll let you know more next week because there is a lot on my mind right now. Tell Ena and Noah to kill some people for me this week in the first game and film it okay and send pictures! Can you send a family picture for me to have?

Love you Dad.

One love.

Love Elder Wilson Atagi

First Letter to Mom from Bonifay, FL-August 11, 2013

Hi Mom!

I was so glad to talk to you on Tuesday. I really miss you guys. The traveling wasn't too bad. Our flight from Atlanta to Tallahassee was delayed about a half hour, but I called to let the president know. I really like the president, he coached football for American Fork for a long time so I relate to him pretty well. The bike helmet fits and it really is huge!

The journey wasn't too bad and I kinda stressed for a little bit because my luggage didn't make it either. We got it all though so it's all good.

Sounds like you guys had a great trip in San Diego. Maybe when I get back we can go to that temple! Be more careful in the sun, Mom! The water over there really is soooooo cold. But all the kids on the senior trip were wimps haha. Thanks for that scripture, I'll look it up!

tell Fernando and that family I say hi and tell me how the lessons go! My new address is

303 Redbird Rd. #1

Bonifay, FL 32425

I really like it here. Biking sucks because it is so hot. The rain is ridiculous but I filmed it and commentated on it and you'll get that eventually. The town is really hick-like. haha. I like it though. The ward is amazing and the food isn't too bad either. Can you send me the emails and addresses in that book? I want to talk to some people. and then can you tell me how put together a group email? That would be great.

Anyway, my new companion is Elder Frederiksen. He's really cool. He has been in this area for 6 months and it was the first 6 months of his mission too. I'll tell you more later. I miss you guys and I love you too. Great is the Work! One Love!

Love

Elder Wilson Atagi

Saturday, October 5, 2013

MTC Pictures

Letter from MTC-August 5, 2013

Hey Mom and Dad,

Love you guys so much. I've had such an awesome experience here at the MTC. I sang in the choir on Tuesday and it was super awesome. I saw Nick and Tawny and Becky if you can believe that. I was walking back to the apartment after my TRC which we committed to baptism by the way!!!!!! It was so sick the spirit was super strong and I was feeling it. But anyway I was walking back she was with her cousins and we both kinda freaked out haha. I am going to call for sure tomorrow probably around 5:30ish Utah time so a little earlier for you guys. The temple is closed so we haven't been able to go.. oh well though. I hope Ethan and Noah have fun balling all the kids up and look into a speed revo for Noah. They help with impact a lot. They are a little pricey but what´s money to a safe Noah ya know? I love and miss you but the Lord's work goes on and I'm heading to the forefront to battle. I love you guys

love Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter from MTC-July 29, 2013

Hi Mom,

I love you so much and I miss you a lot over here. I think once I get out to the field I'll get over being homesick. I hope Noah did great on his talk! I'm glad he is reading the scriptures so much!

I love the spirit here at the MTC, my companion's name is Elder Malmberg. He is from Logan, Utah and is a pretty chill guy, we get along really well. The second day was the hardest for me because I finally realized that for two years the only time I get to interact with you is Mothers Day, Christmas, and weekly letters and emails. My P day is Monday so I have to wait a whole week to talk to you guys again other than letters you send. I got the letter in the suitcase and I was so thankful for that.

On Sunday we got to go to church and Sunday truly is a great day for missionaries. I had a long talk with a few elders about our purpose for being sent here. The spirit was strong and showed the great truths to us but I will wait for further confirmation to tell you the rest of that story. I wish my journal just went straight to you guys so you could read all the things so I didn't have to cram so much in such little time.

I love you guys and miss you all so much. I know this mission will help our family out so much. Read D&C 31 and D&C 100 for strength if you miss me too.

I can call and I want to so bad! I bought a call card at the main campus, but I think you should still send one because I am the travel leader of 32 missionaries traveling to Tallahassee on August 6th! We have to wake up and be at the Travel Office at 3:30 in the morning so let me know what time I should call. Our first flight out is at 7 so what time should I call?

Let me know! I love you guys so much and miss you!

Love

Elder Wilson Atagi