Letter to Dad from Lynn Haven-June 16, 2014

Hey Dad,

No problem! Thanks for always being there for me Dad. I've always been proud to call you Dad! Sounds like everybody had a really busy week liked you planned! I told mom that I had a dream something was going to happen to Ethan. Sounds like Noah is getting good! I'm glad that he and Noah get to play together! They are going to do some sweet stuff!

How is apartment?

The apartment is really nice. We have 2 bathrooms so that is pretty sweet. It's a pretty open and spacey place so I like it a lot.

Any new investigators?

We had a sweet lesson with an investigator we haven't met with in a while on wednesday and he wants to get baptized so pretty stoked about that. I told Mom a little bit more

How are you sleeping?

I'm sleeping pretty good. I roll over a lot, but it's better than it has been.

Are you happy? Why?

Yes because I am working hard and having a little bit of success.

Are things going the way you want them to be going? How is your district?

I think so. The district is awesome and working really hard. It's full of sisters but they are doing a lot of good things.

What’s the difference now being on your mission compared when you were with Elder Misi?

I think I'm more motivated to be obedient and I can feel the Spirit more often when I speak and teach.

So are getting some good work outs in?

I'm trying to! They have been getting better. I'm trying to get President to let us use the gym in our complex

Are you in a car?

Yes a ford fusion 2014

Tell me something that went well this week?

We had that really good lesson and I've been elder Grimaud get better at tracting and oyming. I think he is getting less robotic.

Anything funny?

Not really... Elder Grimaud has been eating as much as I do at dinner appointments and he looked at me yesterday and was like "I haven't eaten this much food in my whole life!" I almost died laughing hahaha

Thanks for the thought Dad I hope that I have been able to do at least part of that.

I love you Dad and thanks for being so awesome!

Alofa Atu Oi

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Mom from Lynn Haven-June 16, 2014

Hey Mom

We had some pretty sweet lessons this week. One was a lot of bashing and the other wants to get baptized! So that was pretty sweet this week. 

It sounds like everyone is doing really well! I had a dream that Ethan got hurt at the camp so I've been praying for him. Hopefully Jesse can help Sam out! Yeah that was pretty sweet Riley and I could do that then. I hope dad can use those slippers. The member that gave them to me said if you break them in they are the best shoes ever. I got some awesome $5 sunglasses from walmart today haha. I will definitely write Noah and Email today and Riley too thanks for reminding me!

How was your zone meeting? Tell me about it.

zone training was really good! our zone is struggling big time with teaching a lot of lessons. We do really good with member presents, but our zone leaders lack the confidence they need to lead us. I'm doing my best as a district leader to all that I can to help my district help the zone.

Any happenings with the contacts that you have made or any new contacts?

We haven't a whole lot of success with people that we've been contacting. Mostly just a lot of "I'm not interested" So that kind of sucks

Tell me something great that happened this week.

We had an awesome lesson on Wednesday with a man named Cullen Wilson. We taught the Plan of Salvation and Elder Grimaud asked him if he wanted to get baptized and he said yes! so we are going to set a date this week for July 19th!

Tell me something that tested your Spirit this week

Getting all the doors slammed in our faces. It is just discouraging. Because we are trying really hard, but no success so we keep on trucking. 

Tell me something that strengthened your Spirit or your testimony this week.

I think something that really has caught me this week is how much Jesus Christ uses our everyday situations to change and also to test us. Everything single moment we have choices to make and it blows me away to think that if I can make the right choices than Heavenly Father can trust me later on.

Well mom I guess my quote is "Patience is not the ability to wait, but to have a good attitude while waiting."

Love you So

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Dad from Lynn Haven-June 9, 2014

Hey Dad

Sounds like y'all are going to be pretty busy! Just remember to use prayer and the scriptures to bring Heavenly Father in to balance everything out.

So what steps are you taking to be a better missionary? I was never worried about you breaking rules, but what did your President see that you needed to change. did he feel you picked up some bad habits from some of you past comps? or from situations with past comps?

I'm just getting into a more excited time of missionary work. I think that I lost a little bit of the motivation to go out and work when I was with Elder Misi. Like when I first got out here I couldn't wait to talk to all kinds of people and be out everyday and now I'm getting back into the groove of things trying to find a balance of chilling and relaxing and missionary work. Just trying to keep sane and not beat the crap out of the next person to slam the door in my face haha.

How are things going now? Is there anything we can help you with?

Everything is going great Dad! We have had a lot of work this week and been working really hard.

Change is difficult is there certain areas you see you need to adjust in?

I think I can get better in finding and mindset/attitude especially about like tracting and stuff like that.

What was a cool experience this week?

We had an awesome church tour with some gators that i told mom all about.

How many investigators do you have right now?

We don't have a ton like 3 or 4 solid ones and we are trying really hard to find more.

What is Lynn haven like? Are you the only pair of missionaries there?

There is us and a trio of sisters and a senior couple. Lynn Haven is a good mix of rural and city. It's pretty nice.

What was something bad that happen to you?

Nothing really just a lot slammed doors and that is pretty freaking stupid

What is your district like?

I have 2 sets of sisters, a senior couple and me and my comp.

Can you believe it’s almost been a year? What has changed in you this past year?

I can't believe it. I think my understanding and testimony of the gospel has gotten stronger, but also I've developed a lot of good habits with a planner and writing in a journal, brushing my teeth, wearing my invisalign and making my bed. So that's a lot of big things. I think that something I learned is my purpose in this life and understanding who I need to become to do everything that the Savior wants me to do.

That's awesome that Tyler is heading out already. I really like that quote dad. Thanks! I'm sending a small package with something for you in it. I hope you like them and can use them. Happy Father's Day Dad! Thanks for always being there for me and showing how to not be stupid haha.

Alofa Atu Oi

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Mom from Lynn Haven-June 9, 2014

Hey Mom!

We had a pretty good week! The new comp is pretty chill really quiet. He gets really nervous when he starts teaching and I am working on getting him out of it haha. We had some awesome lessons this week on the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon! It was really fun!

Sounds just like Dad! haha. It is honestly the scariest thing ever to do. Just roll up there and start playing haha. That's good that he doesn't have to worry about the food thing like I did when I went down there. Noah is crazy! haha He'll do alright though. He'll find a way to get some more from the other kids eventually haha. Dad always has the best excuses for things haha.

So is that going to be your job job? Doing stuff for Gransie and Pappies in their house and company. No more school stuff? That will be nice though because then you can have a little bit more contact with Jed and helping him get back to where he needs to be. I'm going to try to start emailing him and see what I can do.

That's crazy that Ty is leaving so soon! Can you get me his email? That's cool that Mariah is coming out too! Where is she going?

1. Tell me something great that happened this week.

Something great that happened this week would be an awesome church tour we had with a couple David and Peggy! They felt like they were at home in the church and we almost set a baptismal date with them! They felt the spirit really strong and it was awesome to hear them talk about wanting to know that it's true! That was pretty awesome

2. Do you have a district meeting or zone conference coming up? I don’t know how often those things happen.

We have zone training tomorrow. So that will be fun! I'm singing with another elder that is serving in bonifay. District meeting is every Tuesday unless we have some zone stuff.

3. What do you think of your new companion? Is he there to work? Are you still excited and working hard?

The new comp is pretty sweet. He is a hard worker, but loves tracting and it is probably the most ineffective way to do missionary work. I'm going to be counseling with President how I can get him past it. Pray for that haha. 

4. Any good talks with people this week? New investigators?

Probably the best would be with David and Peggy. We did have a good couple talks with a recent convert named Don Polacheck. He is super cool and a lot of fun. He can shred on the guitar so we have had a few jam sessions after/before lessons when I'll strum on the acoustic and he'll wail on the electric to my strums. It was soo cool.

5. Who’s your district leader? Are you liking him?

I am actually the District Leader and I think I'm pretty cool so hahaha :P

6. Tell me about something you’ve been studying about this week.

I have been reading in Jesus the Christ a lot this week. I also read all of Our Search for Happiness. It is interesting to me how secret Christ tried to keep His Ministry. Every miracle He performed He told the people not to say anything to anyone. They didn't get in trouble when they did, but He was very, very humble about all of it and tried to help people understand that His purpose was for something bigger.

Love you Momma! Thanks for the thought! It made me tear up kinda!

Don't worry about the shoes either. They are surviving! And have y'all gotten the names to take to the temple yet? Has the whole family jumped on the site yet? We need to get this stuff done and take it to the temple! 

Love you so Mom! 

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter to Mom from Lynn Haven-June 2, 2014

Hey Mom!

The area is awesome! I love it already.

Is it city or more rural?

It is a mix between both of them. There are a lot of rural areas here in lynn haven, but mostly city like Ft Walton Beach.

Tell me about your companion. Where is he from? What's he like? Are you his trainer or just the senior companion?

It is Elder Grimaud and he is in his 2nd transfer of training right now. He is from Payson Utah. He is really quiet and is kinda like a small puppy dog haha. He is always with me like constantly like sitting right next to me at all times. It's alright though he is a good kid.

What’s your apartment like?

The apartment is probably the biggest since I've been out here. 2 bedroom 2 bath and it's pretty nice. A big main room with plenty of room to do stuff.

How was the transfer? Leaving Elder Kimball, the area, et.

It was all good. We just got back on the van and just moved on to the next area and companion.

Are there other elders and sisters in your area? Bike or car?

Car and there are sisters and a senior couple in our area.

 Anything else cool happen this week?

Not really we didn't get too much done the end of this week just a lot of packing and unpacking.

Sounds like Idaho is pretty bad huh? haha They definitely would not have liked me playing on those courts then. It would have gotten a little rough huh? Sounds like y'all haven't been doing too good on keeping your teeth clean huh? haha come on a mission! You get in to quite a big routine out here. 

I think that I have started getting some things from Gransie and getting rid of a lot of clutter on my desk and really anywhere. I have really changed a lot I've noticed with just cleaning and stuff like that. It's weird haha.

Love you Mom and thanks for getting that stuff for me! I think that I'm going to just send a letter for Father's day. I don't know what to get him out here. So Love you So!

Elder Wilson Atagi

Letter from May 26, 2014

Well my time in Ft Walton Beach is coming to an end and I am headed to Lynn Haven in the Panama City Zone!

My New Address is: 2401 Standford #503

                                Panama City, FL 32405

I'm pretty stoked about it! this week was pretty slow. We were doing service for some old lady. We power washed a drive way. It was like coloring in a poster board with a ball point pen haha. Other than that we were out in the hot sun for a really long time. We had another few lessons with Chyann. She is doing really well. She didn't come to church though I was pretty ticked. Oh well, We were given Agency for a reason I guess.

Love y'all and I will be on for just a little while longer in here so Email back quick!!

Letter to Mom-May 12, 2014

Hey Mom!

It was awesome to talk with y'all too!  Thanks for setting it up with Riley too!

Elder Kimball and I are getting along great. We just have our differences at times and he is a pretty immature kid, but we have a lot of fun together so I enjoy serving with him. 

Keep using prayer and scripture study to do everything in your calling. A planner helps too.... Man I never thought I would say that haha 

I think the Hydration should help out a lot. I've cut out soda so that is helping on the diet and stuff. Mama B is awesome. Don't worry about it mom everything is going great out here and you're in my prayers daily.

Keep on Smiling! BE Bold. Be Happy.

Love you So!

Elder Wilson Atagi