One Week in the Field!

**I'm sorry I am so late in posting this! We have had family in town, so I have been away from my computer. I hope you all enjoy this letter! Thank you for your love and support!**

Hello all those I love so much!!!

I can't believe it has already been one week here! It already feels like I have been here forever (and I don't mean this negatively at all.) Sometimes I feel like I forget about the life I had before this one, or the things I liked to do then.  

I was thinking this morning, that it already feels like so much has happened since I last wrote you!  I was also thinking about what I wanted to tell you, and I just kept thinking that I am so happy. I am happy in a way that I cannot describe, and I feel this excitement all through my body.  It has been hard, and in ways I didn't expect. I do feel like the harder days always come right after P-Day though, and I tend to forget about how hard those days were by the timeMonday comes around again!

So I always say this, but this e-mail will have to be super fast because I only have 10 minutes left to e-mail. Here are the details in really condensed form!

-So it has been super hot and humid here!! Last week, I would have sweat rolling down my face just after walking from my car to the apartment, and I felt wet all the time. I felt so bad talking to people on the streets because I just felt so gross all the time. (I don't know why I chose to include that detail in a really short e-mail, but there ya go!)

-We had a new expectations meeting with all the missionaries who came in with me last Tuesday. It was sooo good seeing all of them, and I realized how much I grew to love my MTC district. I felt so happy, and I realized that I really laughed for the first time in a week, while being with them.  

-We had a lesson with a recent convert this week, and she is from China. Her English is pretty good, but there are still some language barriers. I read Ether 12:27 from here, and she started crying after reading it, because she knows she has so many weaknesses. She was so distraught, and I felt awful! We were trying to focus on how Christ will turn our weaknesses into strengths, but I don't think that got across. I was so afraid that I shook her testimony, but we have seen her a lot since, and she still seems very strong.

-We saw so many miracles, this week and had tremendous experiences with our investigators. Keren, our Jewish Investigator, is really progressing and is genuinely searching for the truth. We went to the visitors center with her on Saturday night, and it was a really powerful experience. I love her so much, and want her to be baptized, and not at all so I can say that I got a baptism. I just truly know that this will make her so happy, and I yearn for her to have the fulness! We also had another powerful lesson with an investigator named Reacha. She is African American and has a lot of sass. I love her so much and she has so much faith in Christ! She just keeps saying that she doesn't want to get baptized until her life gets calmer. We told her that this is actually probably the opposite of what will happen because it is a good thing that is bringing her to Christ, and satan doesn't want that to happen. We are seeing her again tonight, and I'm excited to meet with her again! 

-Last night we kind of had a funny experience with an investigator at a fireside. He is not our investigator, but we just started talking to him during the refreshment time afterwards. He was so insistent on following the example of Jesus Christ and getting baptized outside, just like Christ did. He is upset that we go around spending all our money on building temples, but we won't build baptismal fonts or rivers outside. We tried to speak calmly with him, but he was really contentious, so he would not have any of it. I am a little worried for that man!

-We had a building leaders meeting this week, that a senior couple is teaching. It was incredible!! They talked about how a private victory precedes a public victory, and related it to how Gethsemane preceded Calvary. They also talked about the 7 habits of highly effective missionaries. They changed my whole perspective!!

I was blessed before I came out here that my faith in Jesus Christ would grow while being out here, and I can already feel that happening. I continually have to put all my faith and trust in Him, and He has blessed me abundantly. I love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ with all my heart. I know without a doubt in my mind that they live, and I have come to know this for myself, through the Holy Ghost. I yearn to be with Them, and to bring others unto Them. I am so grateful for the strength I receive daily from the Atonement, for without Him, I have found that I am nothing.

I love you all so much, and I pray for each of you daily!!!

With all my love,

Sister Akin

I have to go but know that I love you all so much!

Chelsea's Mission Home Address

Here is Chelsea's mission home address:

Sister Chelsea Marie Akin
Washington DC South Mission
5242 Lyngate Ct.
Burke, VA 22015 United States

This address is not her personal apartment address, but all letters and packages will still get to her!

More Pictures from the MTC

1st letter from first Area: Crystal City, VA

**I still don't have an address for Chelsea, so I'm sorry for not being able to write that in here yet.  I will update that as soon as I get it!**

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Dearest family and friends!!!

I love you all so much!!! It's hard to even describe how much my love has grown for you all of you while I've been out here. I hope that you are all doing well! I pray for all of you every morning and night and I pray that the Lord will bless through my efforts in the field. Whenever I am tempted to not be exactly obedient, the thought always comes to my head that you, my family, won't get as many blessings if I'm not exactly obedient. That is honestly the greatest motivation for me, so I continually strive to be exactly obedient!

Also, thank you so much for all your e-mails this past week! I love them all so much and I love everything you say and talk about! Ashley, you can keep sending "rambly" e-mails and everything that you're sending-I love it all! I'm bummed because my e-mail today will have to be a little brief, but I feel like I have so much to tell you! It's 11:50 am here and we are supposed to leave for D.C. by 12:30 (we are going for my companion's birthday, which is today!!!). I struggle at times with being with a companion all the time. You know how I like to do things really fast? Well, she is exactly the opposite, and sometimes things take longer than I feel they should. I just keep telling myself that the Lord is teaching me patience, and it's okay to do things a little bit differently. We just do some things unnecessarily slowly, but all is well.

Here are all the dets for this past week...I can't wait to tell you everything!!!!

-The flight and arrival: Wednesday morning started with a 4 a.m. wakeup call, and it was a crazy morning getting ready for the shuttle.  We made it there by 5:30 am though, and actually didn't leave until 6:00 or so. We only had to wait in the airport for a bit, and our flight took off right on time around 10:00 am and I got to talk to Momma in the airport!!! The flight was really chill and it had very little turbulence!  I sat by an elder from my district and another sister who hadn't been in my district.  I took my Dramamine, so I was out almost the whole flight. I'm sure I had the whole head up, mouth open look going on the while time, so at least I'm not looking for a husband here!  It was so exciting to all walk to see President and Sister Riggs when we arrived! There were 30 of us missionaries, 16 sisters and 14 elders. He is like a second dad and he is so great. He makes everyone feel like they are his favorite missionary, and he has so much love for all of his missionaries. I already love them both so much!!

-We were taken to the mission home after we arrived, where we had dinner, a testimony/introduction meeting and interviews with the mission president.  It was such a good night, and it was so nice to just all be there. My interview with the president was really powerful, and he reassured me that I'm where I'm supposed to be.  He then asked me if I loved my mom, and I of course said yes, and started to cry for the first time. He then said that he wanted me to pretend like I was my mom, telling him all the good things about my daughter. I hope I gave him an accurate representation of what you think of me Mom! :)

-We woke up the next morning and went to a stake center for transfer meeting. We had a short in-field orientation, and then we got to meet our new companions!!! My companion is named Sister Orrock!! She is a few inches taller than me with blonde hair, and she is from Orem. She just finished getting trained herself and she has only been out here three months. She is very sweet and has a big heart. We have some differences that we are working through, but it is great overall! Ashley, you talked about how when you got to the field, you found that things were different than the MTC-I have found that same thing and have struggled with that for some reason at times. My companion will correct me for doing things that I was told to do in the MTC at times, which is hard for me to hear. Again, it's okay though! I genuinely do love her!

-I am in Arlington, Virginia, and my area is called Crystal City! It is a pretty small area, and is such a cozy little place! I seriously love it so much here! I love the people here and everything about it! I would come live here again after my mission! I absolutely love the ward and the people here. There is such a good community feel.  I feel like it is a pretty safe area, and I have never felt nervous here.  The other day we were street contacting, and ran into a man that we talked to for a bit. He kept telling us all of the scary things about this place, and how the biggest gang in the U.S. is located here. He told us to carry pepper spray and tasers, and just to be really careful because people are always looking to take your purse or something. He was just very intense, and it wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear the 3rd day being here. :)

-I have had so many incredible experiences here already! The Lord is truly preparing his people for the gospel and for the truth. So many people are searching for it and they need it, and they don't always know it at first. They have a hole in their heart that they don't know how to fill, but as we talk to them about the gospel, you can see that they can feel the Spirit and it honestly gives them hope. Street contacting was honestly terrifying at first! We went contacting the first night at a park nearby, and I don't think I said a single word. I felt like I was being annoying and we got all rejections. It was a very humbling experience!

-We have taught a lesson everyday here, all of which have been incredible. I can feel the Lord blessing us, both as we work to find people and teach them. I have felt the Spirit working in me as I teach, and there are times where I'm like, "I can't believe I just said that," for I promise them things or tell them things that I couldn't think of on my own. It is so amazing, and one of the best feelings in the world! There is no where else I would rather be than on this mission. I cannot wait to wake up every morning to see what will happen, for the Lord leads us to things that we didn't plan on our own, but that are better than what we had planned.  It has been a lot harder than I ever could imagine, but the Lord is strengthening. He is helping me to give it everything, and to be completely here in Northern Virginia--all my heart, might, mind and strength. Here is quick recap of some experiences:

        -We taught a couple named Bobby and Keren the second night I was here. She is from Jerusalem, and is sincerely seeking for the truth. She said she would get baptized if she come to know it's true! I love them both, and we're seeing them again on Friday.

        -We taught a woman named Jan the next night, and she is also incredible! She believes absolutely everything the LDS church does, and she has had so many spiritual experiences in her life. The only thing holding her back is that she and her husband were baptized together in another church, and she felt like God approved of her baptism. She just wants a strong confirmation that Heavenly Father wants her to be baptized again in the LDS faith.

       -We taught a couple named Jody and Cheng last night. They are from China and they're the sweetest couple. The Spirit was so strong in our lesson, and that is when I really felt the Spirit speaking through me. I pray that they read the Book of Mormon and pray on their own, for I feel so much that the Lord is preparing them!

I have to go but I love you all so much! There is so much I didn't get to tell you, but just know that I'm happy and that the Lord is taking care of me. I know that He is doing the same for you.

All my love,

Sister Chelsea Marie Akin

Chelsea's Last Letter from the MTC!

*As of now, Chelsea is now in the DC South Mission Area! We don't know what area she will be serving in first, but it is very exciting that she is has officially started her mission!*

Dear Family,

My e-mail time is almost expired so I'm going to try to make this short, quick and to the point!! I am seriously loving being here so much! I cannot even describe the happiness I feel here! I feel so close to the Lord and I feel my Heavenly Father, watching over and strengthening me. Things are still hard at times, but the good definitely outweighs and overcomes the bad! I have learned so much in these past two weeks, and I hope grown far more than I realize. I already feel my desires changing, and I feel Heavenly Father helping me to become a better person. I never had a desire to do bad things before, but I just feel like I want to do His work always. Things that used to be really important to me, and that I used to waste a lot of time on, are no longer on my mind. This could be because I just don't have access to them anymore, but He is still is helping me not to miss them. I already think it is going to be hard to come home. I know it is a long ways off, but there is nowhere else I'd rather be at this time.  I bet in 18 months, I will be ready to go however. I cannot wait to go to Northern Virginia, and I long to be there. I also feel like I'm being blessed with that. I haven't been homesick at all yet, but I know it will be a joyous reunion when I see you all again!!

During the week, little things happen that I always cannot wait to tell you. It feels like when I start writing though, that my mind draws a blank and I suddenly don't know what to say. I guess this was a particularly exciting week though, because I moved up in the adult world. You are now receiving an e-mail from your not 21, but 22 year old sister!!! I do not feel 22 a lot of the time, but then when I'm with the 18 year old elders, I do :)  I also can't believe that I'll be 23 1/2 when I get home from my mission! I'll start by telling you about my birthday eve, fourth of July, and then move to the big day!! So fourth of July was actually really good here. I did miss home a little more on this day, so I'm glad we were busy. There was an excitement on campus even though, we were all just doing the typical day to day things! That evening, we had a special 4th of July celebration with all the missionaries! I'll be honest, I had a terrible attitude going into this meeting. I thought that we were going to have speakers the whole time, which are great, but I was not feeling it that night. However, it ended up not being too bad. We sang a lot of patriotic hymns, and I even tried my hand at signing the hymns because my companion and I were sitting in the ASL section! We then had ONE speaker, who was actually a really powerful speaker! We then got to watch the movie, 17 Miracles! The excitement of watching an hour and 40 minute movie kind of goes away though, when you just have to sit there, upright in a sturdy chair, in a dress. I also felt really bad for all of the leaders that had to stay there with us, to the point where I couldn't concentrate. I decided to write some letters during it instead to distract myself, because I felt so restless. After the movie, we all ran, yes, literally ran, out to the fence to watch the Stadium of Fire fireworks, so that we wouldn't miss them. It was pretty fun and as many of you know, the fireworks were pretty incredible! They even let us stay up late that night to watch them, which we all talked about was a blessing and curse. It was fun to stay out, but we were also all so tired and tired the next couple of days after. Staying up late has just all of its savor here, and I can't wait to go to bed when the time comes!

So my birthday, I know you were all waiting to hear about it! Also as a sidenote, thank you all so much for the birthday letters, e-mails and packages! It was honestly, probably my favorite birthday I have ever had! First of all, I felt very cute that day, which is just really nice on your birthday (I promise I have not turned into a shallow person-I'm just stating a fact).  Then as soon as we got to breakfast, the district leader gave me two Utah's Best Cookies (that's the brand name) and peanut M&M's and they all said happy birthday. My cereal was exceptionally delicious that day, class was really good and studying was as well. For lunch, I had one of the best salads I have ever had here, then more class, in which they sang happy birthday at the end, and then gym time. My gym time workout was also really good, and I did a circuit/run thing. Then they had a birthday surpise/miracle for dinner- Papa John's Pizza!!! We actually get Papa Johns pizza quite often here, but it just felt right to eat pizza on my birthday! After dinner, the elders gave me a signed picture of the Washington DC Temple during a song practice we had which was really nice. Then, after planning that night we had a little impromptu birthday party in our classroom! We played Mormon Charades, a crowd favorite, and it was so much fun! During the middle of the game, one of the companionships came in, turned off the light, and came in with a brownie tower that had a candle on the top of it. They sang happy birthday, I blew out the candle, we chatted for a bit, and then we had to go back to our residences because it was curfew. It was honestly such a good day, and I was soo happy! Another fun thing, was that the district leader, Elder Richards, and his companions, said happy birthday every time I saw them. They just all really went all out to make it good. Also another sidenote, I am not looking to get married here nor do I try to flirt with the elders or look at them in that way and I am striving to stay focused. However, if I were to marry any of the elders here, it would be Elder Richards. He's a farm boy from a little town by Tooele (Urta or something - he's said it a thousand times but I can't get it stuck in my head). He is 18 however, but the most mature of all the 18 year old elders. He was also the one who gave me the blessing that one night. Again though, I am not flirting with them or pursuing them-that's just an observation!

The rest of the week was full of class, study and overall gospel learning. Oh, I had an experience on Saturday that I wanted to tell you about. We go to this place called the TRC, where we meet with "fake" investigators.  We met with these two investigators who are in Utah on a church trip right now. They belong to a non denominational church in Louisiana, and they were honestly pretty intimidating. They knew their Bible super well, and they came in asking a lot of obscure questions, like what we believe about angels, Kolob, etc. We tried to steer it away from these things, and I actually it ended up going pretty well. I felt like we invited the Spirit and I bore testimony at the end, and the Spirit was so strong.  We were definitely helped through it. They said one thing that really stuck out to me. They asked me how I knew that the Book of Mormon was true. I told them that honestly, the only thing I could tell them was that I received a witness from the Holy Ghost. They went off about it, saying that the Bible has all this evidence that it's true, but that the Book of Mormon didn't. This other girl in there who was LDS and their friend, started saying that the Book of Mormon had Biblical evidence as well, which I don't think was needed at all. This really made me ponder on how I came to know that all of this was true, and it was through the Holy Ghost. It was through experimenting on the word and trying it out for myself, and then feeling that Spiritual confirmation. I know that this gospel is true beyond a doubt, and that is something I can't deny!

I love you all sooooo much!!! I will be flying out tomorrow aroung 9:00 or 10:00 am and we have a direct flight there! I will see you all in less than 18 months now!!!!

Love you all!!!

Sister Chelsea Marie Akin

P.S. I can't get any of my pictures to load, so I'm sorry for the lack of pictural documents!!!

Picture of Chelsea entering the MTC

Its hard to believe that Chelsea has been in the MTC for almost 1 week now! Time sure flies by!

Today was her P-day, so she had the chance to e-mail home. It was so good to hear from her! Here are a few part of her e-mail from today:

-As she was getting ready to enter the MTC, she said she was nervous and excited that she felt like she could puke (TMI?) but as soon as she entered, she felt an overwhelming feeling of peace and knew she was where the Lord wanted her to be.  My mom also commented in a family letter today that my mom felt very peaceful as she was driving Chelsea there as well.  Chelsea is definitely on the Lord's errand!

-Life in the MTC seems to be going well.  There are a few challenges, so Chelsea received a blessing.  She was blessed to know that the Lord was watching over her family so to focus on the work and not on how family is doing.  Chelsea has always been one to be super aware of how everyone is doing and wants there to peace with everyone.  This blessing helped her to know the Lord is in control.

-Chelsea has found another sister in the MTC who loves to run as well, so they have been running together when they can.  If you know how much Chelsea loves to work out, then you know how excited this makes her :)

-Most of the Elders and Sisters in her district are all going to her mission, so she has the chance to get to know a lot of the missionaries she will be serving with before she gets there. What a blessing!

-She is scheduled to leave the MTC next Wednesday and 5:30 am, and then will begin her travels out East!

Please continue to pray for Chelsea!

Thank you for your love and support!