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

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