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

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:

 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.

"You can do it now"

I love you Dad.

Alofa Atu Oi

Elder Atagi