Letter to Mom from Bonifay-November 18, 2013

Hey Mom!

Sounds like an awesome week. Good to hear about Zach and G. I am excited for both of them to get to the real world! The banquets sound like a lot of fun! Awesome to hear about Noah and Ethan lettering and making the team. Thanks for sending the package I can't wait to see if I have gotten it. I was wondering if y'all could send the EFY 2013 songs and then the boots that Dad got before I left. That would help out in some service projects.

Let us if there are things that you need. People are asking us about what things they can send to you, clothes, food, treats, scripture stuff or things like that from the distribution center.  Maybe give me some ideas of what you'd like.

If they want to send clothes send some ties, but make sure they are polyester because silk ties ruin easy. If they want to send food, hit me haha. I eat a lot of tuna as of late and ramen and Cream of mushroom. I am trying to cut some weight off. If they want to send treats I welcome anything they want to send. I think I have nearly perfected making Chocolate chip cookies. I would love the missionary library and like a quote book and maybe even like sports motivation quote book and stuff like that. That would be pretty sweet and tell whoever to send pictures of their families and stuff like that so then I know who they are. haha

I pray for you too Mom!

Love you so!

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Dad from Bonifay-November 18, 2013

Hey Dad,

It's going good Dad! It sure is a lot of fun with Elder Mafi.

1. Have you had exchanges with those in your district? Exchanges are this week. I'm excited though they're really fun.

2. What does Elder Mafi say about other Polynesian missionaries? Was there an Elder Unga in the Mission? There aren't a lot of Polynesian missionaries in the mission. Elder Mafi was actually companions with Elder Unga, but he left a year ago.

 

3. Anything crazy happen to you yet? Nothing too crazy yet. We went to a place called Happy Acres where people stick their family members that are not right in the head and there is a member that lives there. Creepiest place ever. We got some sweet Bamboo sticks from this guy that is just a good Christian wanting to protect us from dogs haha. I also accidently left the car key in a member’s car and this morning we had to walk in the pouring rain to go and get it from the member at work. When I say pouring, I mean like 5 minutes in my pants were soaked through haha

4. Anything else other than your bike broke down on you? Nothing has really broken down on me quite yet. I tore 2 pairs of pants along the seams from kneeling wrong haha. I had a member sew them for me though.

5. Have you fallen off of your bike yet? I have eaten it twice on my bike haha. The first was like 2 weeks in. We were going to talk to some members at their cabinet shop and I hit a soft spot of sand and the front tire veered hard right and I was still going straight and my whole body just smashed into the ground haha Elder Frederiksen thought I was going to have to go to the hospital haha. I jumped up and brushed the sand off and walked it off. Then the other was right before the end of last transfer. The chain came off and my bike swerved and I tried to save it but I couldn't so I one pushed off the bike, took one step and combat rolled/jump rolled over a ditch. It was quite epic haha.

Thanks for the message Dad! I was reading in Mormon 8 this past week and I think it is verse 35, but I am not sure. It is Moroni talking to all of us. He says he has seen us. That means the Book of Mormon is written for us right Now. It applies to our lives and will until we have finished the work. I was wondering if y'all could send like a picture book with pictures of the family and stuff like that. And also those work boots that you bought before I left I could use them! 

Thanks Dad Love ya!

Alofa Atu Oi

Elder Wilson Atagi
 

Letter to Dad from Bonifay-November 11, 2013

Hey Dad,

It goes good! Sounds like everyone is doing well! I'm excited for Zach and G, I hope he can get into Brasil! Sorry to hear about your Raiders and some members were watching the game when we went to go and visit so I asked for the score. That's awesome your calling is a lot of fun. I hope you can do a lot of work!

1. Tell me how was your first district mtg? My first district meeting was awesome! I did feel like I talked a lot, but I guess I am the teacher now haha.

2. What did you decide to teach to your District?  And how was it received? I decided based on the numbers we are struggling with and also what the companionships wanted help on. I have felt as I prayed for guidance, it came to me what I needed to do.

3. How is your companionship? It’s good to hear that your comp wants to work hard until the very end!  We work well together because we know how to work around each other with our family experiences. Like we help each other with chores and food and stuff like that.

4. Do you ever have to play the piano for any mtgs? I tried to play piano yesterday, but I still need to practice a little more.

5. How did your fixing your bike wheel go? I guess I'm waiting for your answer on this so I can then help with it. You probably know by now that I talked to Sister Mills in the Office about it but I can do and will do more if I need too. I put my tire into a bike shop this morning and will have someone pick it up in about a week.

6. How are your work outs? The workouts are good. I am working on my jump rope as of right now.

7. So are you guys getting a lot of dinners still? Any good types of food?  The ward still like you guys? We are still getting a lot of dinners and the members love me and Elder Mafi.

8. So do you guys go and do less active member activation? And how does that work? We just try to teach them or have them come to like FHE at some active members home.

Thanks Dad. I am trying to do the best I can. It's been a lot of fun out here so far and it seems to fly by more and more. The message this week is from Alma 34:32-34. I helped Elder Mafi memorize it and it was just cool to think that this is our only chance to earn it.

Alofa Atu Oi,

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Mom from Bonifay-November 11, 2013

Hey Mom!

I told dad in an email just barely if I could get a grayish charcoal Sweater vest that would be awesome. I don't really get cold haha. Thanks for getting all the stuff. If I could get all of the Nashville Tributes, that would be awesome. No worries on everything else haha just whenever y’all have time.

The work is going great and I am having a lot of fun and we are kind of stuck with our 2 most progressive investigators, all they need to get married. We are still getting into the Samoan family. They are wanting us to just drop by most nights to teach them about the church.

I heard Mollie's baptism was awesome! I miss all those little guys tell them all I say hi. Noah is going to do great! He just needs to play hard.

Not much from me this week. We played basketball on some street courts with some kids and dominated them and we got a ton of potential investigators. It is really hard to play in a white shirt and tie. We also got a new investigator named Bridget that was really random. We were going to meet with a less active and she walked up and started asking questions and Elder Mafi sat and taught the LA and I taught Bridget all about the gospel. That was awesome to know that I was able to do that for sure. Like by myself does that make sense?

It was a great week and I wanted to share the message contained in Alma 34:32-34. This life really is our only chance to become like Christ and we need to do all that we can to make it. I love you, Mom.

Love you so!

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Dad from Bonifay-November 4, 2013

Hey Dad

It goes well! Being a DL really isn't that bad. That's so awesome you got a new calling dad! I'm excited for you! We have a high council member in Chipley that is so spiritually in tune it is just ridiculous. I'm really happy for you dad! I can almost dunk a volleyball now from all the biking!

1.  How is your new comp? My new comp is awesome. He is a lot different from Elder Frederiksen, but he has had his experiences.

2. What part of Hawaii is he from? Makakilo Hawaii on the west side of Oahu

3. Is he really leaving for home at the next transfer? How do you like having another Poly as a companion? Has he told you any cool stories about his mission so far. Does he speak Samoan? He leaves December 13th. I really like having a Polynesian. He has told me some pretty sweet stories.

4. What is he like? Is he as big as you? Where did he go to High School? Did he play any sports? He is like a lot of Polynesians, really loud and laughs a lot. He is almost as big as me, skinnier, but he has gained 50 on is mission. He went to high school at Kapolei . And he played football for awhile and then paddling and wrestling.

5. What do you have to do as the new DL?  Have you had to be tough on some of your missionaries yet? I just have to call the district on Sundays and Thursdays and work out different goals for the district like member-present lessons and new investigators. I don't really have to be tough on our district, they are pretty good. I also have to prepare for District meeting on Tuesdays.

6. How did they tell you that you were going to be the DL? They told me an email on a transfer sheet. Not too much direction yet just a good luck and do work haha

7. Do you have any different Missionaries in you District as well? The only new one is Elder Mafi.

8. Did you get the package and are you sleeping better yet? I am worried if you are continually not sleeping!! I got the package and I sleep great now. Thanks Dad for always checking on me, because otherwise I would just push through it!

9. How is your procrastination? What did you learn from Elder Fredrickson that you think will help you the rest of your mission? and as a DL? My procrastination isn't very apparent now. I just start doing things now because then I can just hang out later. I think one thing I learned was to give myself time to unwind. Elder F never left himself anytime to just chill. So I will be doing that pretty consistently.

10. Is your new comp Trunky? You know talking about going home or is he trying to work as hard as he can until he goes home? He isn't trunky too bad. He just keeps freaking out that he is coming home.

Thanks dad. I'm only awesome because you taught me how to be. I'm trying to be confident and humble and the mission has really taught me how to listen to the spirit. Thanks for the message Dad. Mine is from 3 Nephi 11:5.... I think that it is 5. It talks about how the people opened their hearts and their ears to hear the voice. I think that sometimes the only thing that is holding us back is that we aren't open to it yet.

I love you Dad and good luck with the calling!

Alofa Atu Oi

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Mom from Bonifay-November 4, 2013

Hey Mom!

Sounds like y'all's week has been a pretty awesome! The scout fireside thing sounds so sweet. I'm trying to look it up, but I can't find it on the websites! It will probably work out in the end!

 

I think that I miss Jake the most out of everybody. I am hoping to Email him next week.

 

I asked Dad if he could call and order a new tire for my bike. I broke 10 spokes on that sucker and I am becoming the bike mechanic of the district. haha

 

This week i got my new comp Elder Maui Mafi. He is a Tongan-Hawaiian Elder. He is from Makikilo Hawaii on Oahu. He has already taught me a couple different songs on the guitar and other

experienced missionary tricks. We taught Danielle and Paige a few times this week and it has just been awesome. They are both ready for baptism the only thing we are waiting on is for them to get baptized.

We went out with Bro Joey Evans this week. He is like 6' 5" and just massive and me, him and Elder Mafi had to fit into his 2 door truck.

 

Thanks for the package and everything you sent! Sleeping this week has been phenomenal. My message this week is from 3 Nephi 11: 5 I think. Open your heart and ears to the spirit to hear its direction.

I also got pulled over in the mission vehicle this week haha. I was just driving down the road and the cop turned the corner and I pulled into the post office parking lot and he came up to the car and was like why aren't your lights on. They weren't automatic like in the truck haha. No ticket though he understood because this is the first time having me be the designated driver. So that has been my week!

I love you so Momma!

Elder Wilson Atagi

 

Picture from Bonifay-Celebration of Northwest Florida Rodeo Championship

Got permission to wear cowboy hats and go without ties for their family history booth

Letter to Dad from Bonifay-10/28/13

Hey Dad,

I made sure to right it all down in my journal! (about his first baptism) It was an awesome experience! I knew my Saints would win haha and congrats to the Raiders!

My Comp got transferred and I am now the District Leader. Also my new comp is Elder Mafi from Hawaii, but he is Samoan. Transfer day is Wednesday so that is exciting stuff!

I will try to get the recipes for the foods I eat but most of them are just fried stuff haha. The members are still feeding us thankfully haha.

I am getting used to riding a bike but I am thinking about buying a bigger bike seat haha

A new calling?! that's cool let me know! That's exciting about Kaden! Thanks for the advice Dad and don't worry I am not letting it get in the way of my work here.

 

Thanks for the message Dad. Mine is in Mom's email!

I love you Dad.

Alofa Atu Oi

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Mom from Bonifay-10/28/13

Hey Mom!

Sounds like everyone is doing well! I'm excited for Zach and Abbey! Mom, I'm really not that great haha. I'm just out doing what I think is right. I look dang good in that rebel cowboy hat haha. If I really wanted to be a rebel, I would buy a Confederate flag, but I won't because that is really dumb. I have now officially popped 3 spokes on the back rim of my bike and I'm becoming quite the mechanic, but next week I will email you if I need a new one next week.

Okay, so crazy story for this week. I have just today been called as a District Leader in my area. Elder Frederiksen is leaving Bonifay to become a Zone Leader in the Pensacola. I am getting a new comp that will leave for home next transfer named Elder Mafi so we will be the Samoan Companionship. I'm really freaking out right now so I don't really know how much I am going to say in these emails today and I will write home this week. So I am really excited, but also totally terrified. Oh well haha.

The message from me this week is about the stripling warriors in Alma 56 and i can't remember the verses but Helaman says "well my sons, shall we go to battle?" and the message is if God has asked us to go to battle with our scriptures and prayers in mind throughout the day, will we answer the question: I am afraid? or will we say "Behold our God is with us!!"

I love you Mom and thanks for worrying about me and how I am handling my communication. Wish me luck I'm leading a district!

Love your neglected Elder ;)

Elder Wilson Atagi