Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Letter to Mom from Bonifay-January 27, 2014

Hi Mom!

It's really not that cold. As we are biking or walking, I am sweating bullets and I hate the heater in our apartment. Usually at night, I am sitting in a chair outside playing guitar or looking at the stars. That's pretty cool with the 1 word thing. Those with definitely help you out. Try Hope too. Look in PMG about it and read Ether 12:4 and use hope not as a wish, but with assurance like you know it will happen.
1. How's your studying going? Anything great that we need to read? It's going pretty good. I have set a goal of reading the Book of Mormon 3 times this year so I am working on that. I think I might read the Bible all the way through too.

2. Is Elder Misi getting more excited about his mission? I don't know how anybody can be around you and not have fun. Yes he is. We talked a little bit about it last night and he said that with me he has had a lot more fun.
3. Anything favorite happen this week? We played basketball yesterday and got 2 new gators from it. Yesterday we also had stake conference (my second in Bonifay) and it was a broadcast from Orlando and Elder Russell M. Nelson spoke so that was cool.

4. You're keeping a journal aren't you? Yes I am mom.
How is Jed?

I love you Mom!
Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Dad from Bonifay-January 20, 2014

Hey Dad!

I am staying in Bonifay! That sucks that the fridge broke. It's pretty old though isn't it? That sucks that they lost, but sounds like Noah is tearing it up huh? I loved that meal during basketball season!
1. Does it bug you that I ask about your exercise program? Mom thinks I mention it too much. No not really it keeps me trying at it if you mention it in the emails haha.

2. How is your health? Done with the cough? I am done with the cough!
3. Has it been raining a lot? Weather okay? Not too much this past week. The weather is warming up a little bit.

4. How are your investigators? The investigators are doing well! We still need to get back on a better meeting schedule for like 2 or 3 times a week, but that will come.
5. Is it warm enough so you guys can ride your bikes? Yes we are back at the bikes again!

6. How are the missionaries in your district? The missionaries are doing really well! Elder Sorenson is getting transferred and so is one of the Elders from Chipley.
7. How are you helping them improve? Honestly I am just trying to teach them things based off of what our numbers are showing and what they say when they call.

8. Tell me about your ward, I have a new ward assignment and went and did visits with the elders in that ward?  The ward is really awesome. The whole ward is pretty much related. Like all of them almost. They really love everyone that we bring in. They really are some awesome people.
9. Having fun? Why? How? Yes. I just am having a really fun time doin work.

Love you Dad!
Alofa Atu Oi

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Mom-January 13, 2014

Hi Mom!

I am doing great! Yeah they had 2 "cold days" for school! It was probably the dumbest thing I had ever heard of.
That's way cool about the Stake Presidency and the center piece! How many do we have now serving in the stake?

1. Would you like us to send a long-sleeve sweater for times like this? Nah I'm good! One of the members gave me this sweet jacket.
2. What was a great thing that happened this week? We started teaching the wife of the Polynesian and said that she will probably get baptized.

3. So what are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I usually eat like an orange and milk and maybe cottage cheese or eggs for breakfast. Tuna and Saltines for lunch
4. Do you mostly get dinners from members? They do feed us really well for dinner here.

5. Was everybody freaking out about the Auburn/Florida State game? We watched it and it was a great game. They did freak out a lot yes haha.
"God is capable to love you or me as if you or me were the only person in the universe, while he loves everyone else the exact same way. So don't ever feel that he doesn't have time for you."

I love you Mom and take care!
I love you so!

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Dad-January 13, 2014

Hey Dad!

That’s awesome we got a new presidency! I bet President Jardine is getting excited about everything though! That sucks my saints lost, but next year they will.

1. Did the place go crazy over FSU win? They didn't go to crazy but the fans did represent very well.

2. Do you now have FSU gear? No I don't have any gear but I will probably buy some soon.

3. How are you guys handling the cold?  We just go out and put on jackets. Keep on doing what we are doing I guess. we don't bike as much because Elder Misi freezes.

4. Are you over your sickness yet? If not let us know. There have been some crazy flu strains out there and if it does not get better let me know. Yes I think that I am over it now.

5. How goes the work outs? Just be consistent with eating better and cut down the sweets. The work outs are getting better. I couldn't find an exercise ball last week but I am still working out pretty good. Just trying to get better at it and reach Noah status haha.

6. Are your investigators progressing like you want them too? Some of them are but it's just been hard to get up with them since the holidays so we are still working on that and getting back into regular meetings.

7. How is Elder Misi doing? You guys still getting along?  He is doing a lot better. We had interviews with President this past Friday and I think that he is doing better and making a more concerted effort.

8. Crazy thing that happened to you this week? We ate some oysters at a member’s house and also we almost got arrested haha. We were with one of our investigators this week and he told us while he was taking us home that he had been hiding from the law for the past week. Then the cops pulled us over and we thought he was going to get arrested, but I was praying my guts out that we wouldn't have to have that happen and the cops let us go!

9. How was the Chinese food that you had? Any good? It was pretty good nowhere near maple gardens chicken but pretty decent.

10. How are the ward missionaries? Do you guys go to a lot of meetings with your stake or wards? They are pretty good. We have a lot of people that want to come out with us so that is pretty cool. One thing I would encourage for Ethan and Noah and even you Dad is to go out with the missionaries every once in a while and help them out so they don't have to walk or bike. Plus members are awesome at lessons. The only meetings we really have are Ward Council and PEC and Missionary Coordination with the Ward Mission Leader.

Thanks for the thought and the letter Dad I appreciate it!

My thought comes from Priesthood yesterday. Someone said this during the lesson.

"God is capable to love you or me as if you or me were the only person in the universe, while he loves everyone else the exact same way. So don't ever feel that he doesn't have time for you."

He loves us!

Love you DAD

Eldr Wilson Atagi

Elder Atagi Having Fun

(Turn up your volume, it's a little hard to hear)

http://floridatallahasseemissionexperience.blogspot.com/2013/12/bonifay-district-introduction.html



Here's a link to a story in the local newspaper.

http://www.chipleypaper.com/features/extra/mormon-missionaries-serve-far-from-home-1.235335

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Letter to Dad-January 6, 2014

Hey Dad!

It goes on Dad! Sounds like y'all have had quite the eventful week and are getting a lot of stuff done! I will definitely work on sending letters to everyone!

  1. So is really cold there? It has gotten really cold as of the last few days. And I have been feeling it.
  2. How do you deal with the fluctuation in weather? We just throw on a sweater and a jacket and keep on going. I always have a short sleeve on so it helps out a lot.
  3. So have you guys got in trouble with your Nerf guns? No we haven't gotten into any trouble yet haha.
  4. Any new investigators? We got 4 last night so that was pretty sweet. One couple walked into church and the husband (who is Tongan) came up to Elder Misi and me and said, "Hi I am a member, but my wife here isn’t, but she wants to learn about the church when can we have a lesson this week?" So that was pretty sweet. We are teaching them this Wednesday. The other three came from one of the Polynesian family's kids that moved out and they were at his house so that's pretty sweet!
  5. Is there any food that you miss from here? To be honest not a whole lot. I do miss the Chinese food, but it's pretty good here too.
  6. Are you struggling with anything right now? Not really I'm just super sick with a massive cough and a huge headache.
  7. So why did the ward have you sing at the Christmas get together? Did any other missionaries sing? They just had me sing because they weren't really doing anything. No.
  8. So you must be getting pretty good with the guitar now? I am getting pretty good at it so far right now. I just need to work on getting some strum or picking patterns down for the other songs I am working on.

Thanks for the message dad! Did you get a chance to read that story? Let me know what you think!

Alofa Atu Oi

Elder Wilson Atagi

Pictures from Christmas 2013

Facetiming on Christmas
Thank you, Guthrie Family for taking care of our missionary!


Letter to Dad-December 30, 2013


Hey Dad!

Awesome. I found a sweet saints colored tie today as I went through a box of them that was in our apartment. It was great to see y'all on Christmas! I do need to start cutting some weight though so I'm going to be working on that. The Guthries are pretty freaking sweet and Bro Guthrie has been teaching me some sweet songs he wrote. Did you like the pictures?

Tell me about your Christmas. 

Christmas was the bomb.com. We woke up at like 6:20 and started opening presents and then at 7, Bro Evans came and picked us up and we ate at his house. We hung out there and Elder Sorenson talked with his family while we were there. I tried to play a recorder (flute thing.) I got pretty good, but still working on it. Then we went to the Bowens house and ate there. We had nonalcoholic wine that the Elders quorum president had and it was awful haha. We weren't there for too long, but it was still fun to chill. Then we went to the Guthries and we all did our skyping/facetiming. That was fun because we were having a Nerf war the entire time. We then went to the Morks house and had dinner there or supper in the south. That was pretty good. We have been helping them move into their house and the Dad got a sweet smoker/grill, so we will be getting steak soon! Then Elder Misi and I dropped off Elder Sorenson and Elder Smith at the Guthries again and we went and visited some investigators. Will and Paige gave us this sweet sculpture/picture thing of the last supper. Lastly we went to the Guthries and that is when I talked to Mom one last time.

1.      Who did you get packages from and letters?  I got a package from everyone in the whole family. The Nilsons young and old, Y'all and the Hendricksons too. One from Andy. Then a Christmas picture from Andy's family, the spencers, and I think the Nichols. I got a book of Mormon from Misty Anderson and a couple letters from bro Moyle, the Randalls, bishop, and I can't remember who else.

2.      What kinds of foods did you get fed? We got fed hog jowl and grits and biscuits and gravy. That was super good. Then we had Mexican at the Bowens. Then ham, field peas, corn, cornbread stuffing and Hawaiian rolls.

3.      Tell me how your companionship is going? Elder Misi and I get along great. This transfer has just been hard number wise because of holidays and stuff, but it will pick up and get going. We are working on being better missionaries and I am trying to get him to enjoy his time on a mission.
 
       4.      You look happy. Why? I'm happy because there is nothing to not be happy about! I
              am on a mission and the Lord is constantly helping me and guiding me. I see the light of
             Christ light up in someone’s eyes every day and it is fantastic!

5.      What did you put in your stocking for the stocking exchange? I put in a dart gun and some candy and a letter to Elder Hill

6.      What are your thoughts of you for Christmas from home? I am not sure what the question is asking so I am going to go ahead and say Christmas as a missionary is very different because I am more worried about other people than myself so it is just a whole lot different.

7.      What did you miss and what did you love about this Christmas? I missed being with the family and hanging out with everyone and just chilling, but I loved being with the people here too. They are all so awesome and I feel like I have lived here my whole life and I've known these people for a really long time.

8.      How is your district? My District is doing really well. They work hard and are awesome teachers.
 

My message comes from a story called the file room or something like that in a book I got for Christmas. Look it up on Google like "the file story about Jesus" and you should find it but it taught me a lot so! I love ya Dad

Ofa Atu Oi

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Mom-December 23, 2013

Hi Mom!

It’s crazy ain't it? 5 months!

1. Have you received packages from anybody? If so, who? You guys, Andy, the Nilsons? I think it's Josh and Heidi, Maybe Gransie unless y'all sent 2 and I got a Book of Mormon from Misty Anderson. So pretty good Christmas over here haha

2. Hope you've had a good week. We saw your Christmas party online. It looks like you're a great district leader. I loved your song. You're so clever. Remind me the other songs you wanted so you could do the same thing? I was wondering if you could send the entire High School musical things for guitar or piano and then the rest of the Nashville Tribute and Gone Gone Gone by Phillip Phillips.

3. The boys have started their caroling. Everybody misses you and your voice. :) Tell everyone I say hello and I miss them all and let me know what I can do for anyone!

4. So I might be the only one to send an email today because we get to talk to you on Christmas!!!! Please tell me the plans for that. I was wondering if we could Skype or maybe face time? There are some members with iPad and a mac that we could use and if so I'll call y'all before it will probably be around mid-day ish maybe afternoon kinda. I'll call ya and we can figure out if we can face time or if it will be just a call.

Love you so!

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Dad-December 16, 2013

Dad,

Hey dad! It goes well! Sounds like you gave an awesome talk huh? Tell Nate I said hello and tell him that he can keep the Florida weather. Are the Saints still in the playoffs? Sounds like they are both doing good playing ball. Is Ethan doing alright?  I miss you too dad. I've been singing Silent Night in Samoan and people just eat it up haha.

1. How did Elder Mafi’s last days go? He looked good on the Mission Blog. Elder Mafi's last days went pretty well. This past week was kind of slow and we didn't get a whole lot done. I had to fix some stuff on the bike and make sure all the other parts were all good.

2. How does it feel to have just the two of you? The two of us is pretty chill. We are still doing good work. It definitely is a lot quieter.

3. Is Elder Misi doing well? He seems to be doing well. I have just got to get him loving missionary work and then I think it will help him out a lot more.

4. What are you guys plans for Christmas? We have three members’ houses that we plan on going to and then otherwise I think that mostly we will just be chilling with the other Elders house.

5.  How are we communicating with you on Christmas day? Will you please let us know? I am not sure how we will be communicating on Christmas, but I will have that down for sure by next week.

6. Any Baptisms coming up? How are your investigators doing? We have one that is supposed to be coming up but we may have to move it back because hasn't come to church enough times. The investigators are doing really well and they are keeping most of their commitments so pretty good.

7. How are your feet are they okay? Shoes? My feet are great and wart free. My shoes are still going good though I fear I am beginning to outgrow the black ones that are 15

8. Is your apartment clean? Yes my apartment is clean as of today.

9. How are then Missionaries in your District? The missionaries are doing really well. I am actually serving with Sister Krebbs. Ask Bowhuis about a Sister Krebbs I think they know her.

10. What kind of decorations do you have for Christmas? We have a Christmas tree! And ornaments so that is the equivalent of our Christmas decorations.

Merry Christmas Dad! Love ya!

Elder Wilson Atagi

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Letter to Dad-December 9, 2013


Dear Dad,

It's going pretty good! My Saints will make it through haha. I spoke in sacrament this past Sunday! And we sang Silent night I even did it in Samoan. People were crying left and right. I think the blessings of the temple enrich your life by doing work for people who become angels that will bear you up. The more temple work you do, the bigger your team gets. Not that it is a competition, but something that will make you super happy about in Heaven! The temple helps us role-play for the Celestial Kingdom and helps us understand our purpose as Children of God! Sounds like Basketball is going really well for Ethan and Noah!


1.      So what is the news on transfers? Elder Misi and I are staying together. Elder Egbert across the way is becoming the New Zone leader in our Zone so that is pretty sweet!

2.      How has Elder Misi been to work with? Is he getting sent to another area? Or is he going to a stay with you?   He is pretty good to work with. President's email this week told me that I need to be working on him to get him to enjoy the work. Crazy to believe he can trust me that much! He is staying with me.

3.      Did you guys have a Zone Conference?  Have you had an interview with your Mission President? We have had Zone training, but we have a half mission Christmas conference next week so that's pretty exciting and no interviews yet!

4.      How was Elder Mafi's last week? It was pretty good. It will kind of be good to start with Elder Misi though so we can get some of the leaving missionary habits out of our brains.

5.      Did you get a blanket from Walmart? I did and it is working great!

6.      Can you tell me who has sent you letters that are not of the immediate family so when they tell me they sent you a note I am not surprised? Like a lady who lives by President Jardine told me she sent you a card? Misty Anderson sent me one and the only other ones I have really gotten are from Jay Schroeder.

7.      How is the Guitar coming? Still trying to find more time to pick at it, but it will work out.

8.      How are you health-wise? Any issues? Health wise I am doing good. I am working on eating better in the apartment so that I can try and cut some weight off and just be in better shape

9.      How are the investigators? Are any progressing towards baptism? How is your teaching skills? The investigators are doing great. We really are working on getting a couple of them married so that they can because they want to really bad. My teaching skills are pretty good. Sometimes some of Elder Mafi's lessons or thoughts during lessons are really confusing so I have to try and clear those up, but so far pretty good. I am working on asking better questions

10.  How is your district and what did you teach them this week? The district is doing great apparently it was full of leadership this past transfer one of the sisters is going to be a sister training leader! Crazy huh?

 
Pretty good week! We have mostly just been trying to meet with our investigators about 3 time a week and a couple of them fell through, but just because people had work. We had a couple member present lessons that took care of about 3 of our investigators concerns! That was pretty sweet! Thanks for the thought Dad!

I'm gonna miss y'all during this season!

Alofa Atu Oi

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Mom-December 9, 2013


Hey Mom!

The week has been pretty good!

1. Did you buy a blanket? Yes

2. How's your eating? Are you able to afford everything you need with the money that they give you? Are you eating fruits and vegetables? I am eating great. I am working on eating better in the apartment to cut some weight off. I think I am going to start talking to a member about what I can start eating like. Yes I am eating fruits and vegetables

3. What was the most fun you had this past week? The most fun is probably the moments of intense laughter when we are all exhausted at the end of the day.

4. Are you doing ok being away from home? That's probably a hard question to answer because of course, it's hard but are you handling it ok? I am doing fine! I thought it would be a whole lot worse, but I don't really get home sick anymore and I never really did before. I just keep on pushing on and it seems to fly by faster and faster

5. Are your District Leader duties going ok? My DL duties are fine and fun! I love my district.

Sounds like y'all have had an awesome week and the ward party was off the chain! Sounds like Ethan and Noah did an awesome job in the tournament!

What do you want for Christmas? There are some sweet southern stores here in Bonifay and they are pretty cheapish haha. I have Ethan and Noah's presents already but what do you and Dad want? Sorry I am going to cut this letter short, but my head is killing me for no reason and I will send a letter this week with some stories! This week’s message is in the November Ensign about missionary work from Gifford Nielsen.

I love you so!
Elder Wilson Atagi


Elder Atagi in Chipley, FL local newspaper

http://www.chipleypaper.com/features/extra/mormon-missionaries-serve-far-from-home-1.235335