Season 1, Episode 4, The One With the Jalapeno

Hey Folks!

This week has flown by. I think it's because I'm stuck inside pretty much all day. And I'm sure most of you are also stuck inside. So there are almost no excuses for you to not watch General Conference. The world is in lockdown for a reason people. We NEED to watch General Conference. We also can't be casual about it. The prophet has been asking you to learn how to hear the voice of Christ. Why do you think that is? 

This week has been really good! We are actually teaching more people right now than we were before. The miracles don't stop for carona. Both my companion and I are super blessed to be here. We help each other a lot to have fun and keep each other laughing. This past week we both balanced 12 Book of Mormons on our heads, we made a game for some phone calls, and I ate a Jalapeno (It was awful). 

Something that has been a recurring theme for me this week is submitting to the Lords will. It can be very hard to hand over your life to Christ and say "I trust you with all I am and all I have". He knows us perfectly and he knows what is best for us. This week I have been praying everyday to submit to His will for me and my mission. I am so excited for what he has in store for me. Striving to be like Nephi "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded". I absolutly love being a missionary. A good scripture that I found this week: Enos 1:4,8. 

I challenge each of you to intently and purposefully watch General Conference this weekend and email me your thoughts and feelings. 

Shout out to my amazing friends: Grace, Sadie, Katie, and Jenna <3

Love you all!!! 

-Sister Yates :) 

Season 1, Episode 3, The One With the Quarantin

Hey Folks!

First of all I want to say that I am NOW quarantined. Most of you proabably know that... but it's all good. Right now I can go outside for 2 hours to get some fresh air and we can go shopping but other than that, I am on lockdown. I want all of you to know that I am ok. Please put all your prayers towards the missionaries that are being sent home early. I have been praying for my friends that had their mission cut short. They have served with purpose and diligence to move the work forward. Please keep these amazing missionaries in your prayers. 

Quarantine has been a challenge even though this is my 4th day in. We are doing eveything on our phones. The past 3 days we had 34 phone/video lessons. Most of them was with members but still it was a lot. We are trying to get creative and if any of you have ideas for online proselyting PLEASE email me your ideas. :) 

My dudes. God is real. Miracles are real. This virus isn't stopping the work. It may limit it in some areas of the world but the work goes on. I am excited for this new way of missionary work. I know that God has a plan for all of this and that we are being taken care of. Our modern day Prophets and Apostles are working hand in hand with the Lord to take care of everyone. My testimony is growing everyday that I am here. I love this gospel so much. I am so thankful for all the leaders in the church. Please heed their  direction. Today I challenge each of you to listen or read a talk by President Nelson and email me your thoughts about our amazing prophet. I love each of you and I ask that you continue to pray for the missionaries. Especially the ones more effected by this virus. I LOVE Y'ALL!

 

   - Sister Yates

Season 1, Episode 2, The One With the Apocalypse Prepping

Hey folks! 

First of all I want to say that I am not quarantined. I am very fortuante to be able to continue the work everyday that I am here. Crazy stuff has been realesed this week but there is no need to fear or panic. Faith is needed now more than ever. If you haven't yet watched President Nelsons message of peace and hope go watch it now. He is truly called of God and is helping prepare us for the future. 

Not much has happened this week except for the "normal" missionary stuff. I got to have dinner with some amazing members. I got to teach a couple lessons, knock a couple doors, and even bike in some rain. It was awesome. Not a lot of stuff has happened this week but, I am so thankful to be here.

I just want to share my feelings on faith. Faith is huge to me. I have a had a testimony of faith ever since I was about 11 years old. Faith is so plain to me. I know that I have a loving Heavenly Father that loves me so much. And He definitly knows more than I do. I do not know what the future will hold but I have faith that I will be taken care of. A great scripture about faith is Alma 32:21,22. Another great scripture for right now is Alma 58:11. The Book of Mormon is incredible and I want all of you to read those scriptures then tell me about what you learned about faith. I love you all and I hope that we all can come to know that we have no need to fear. We are in good hands. "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." -Isaiah 41:10

           Love, Sister Yates

Season 1, Episode 1: The One With the Dumpster

This week was awesome. I got to do some really cool things. I got to do service at this place called Feed My Starving Children. We got to package meals that they send to other countries to feed children that don't have a lot of food. It really makes you thankful for what you have when others dont have it. They were also playing 80's jams while I was there so I was rockin out. It actually made me so happy to hear those songs that bring me joy. I have been doing so much finding it's crazy. For those of you not familiar with finding/tracting you basically chose a location and walk around talking to EVERYONE and sharing the gospel. I have had a good amount of rejection already but that just makes the ones that accept that much more amazing. 

Now for the dumpster story. I got to go on exchanges on Saturday with my STL Sister Wilcox. (We swapped companions for 24 hours) While tracting with sis Wilcox we were taking someone's trash to the dumpster. As we got closer we heard something big making loud noises in one of the dumpsters. We both got so freaked out and threw the trash in the other dumpster. As we were speed walking away a FULL GROWN DUDE stood up in the dumpster!! I have no idea why he was in there but sis Wilcox and I almost died laughing. Good times lol.

Now for some spirituality. General Conference is coming up people. The Prohpet on the earth today gave us a promise that this one will be unforgettable. But only if we make it unforgettable. We need to put in the work and study to receive the inspiration and direction that we need. Study the first vision, read the Book of Mormon intently, ponder how the Book of Mormon has changed your life, ponder about how you Hear Him, read from Saints, or anything else for your personal preparation. This General Conference will be incredible. But only if you make it incredible. We get to hear from our loving Heavenly Father through our prophets twice a year. Our God is literally speaking to us. And He is going to be speaking to you personally in 4 weeks. Are you going to listen? I am challenging each of you to start your preparation now. And I promise that you will never regret it. I would also love to hear from all of you on how you are going to prepare for this awesome chance we have to Hear Him. I love all of you and I'm so thankful for everybody that has helped me get here. I LOVE YA'LL!!!

                love, Sis Yates

Pilot

Hey folks! I know that I didn't send an email last week and that is becuase I was traveling to Arizona on my Pday. Oh ya IM IN ARIZONA! It's really crazy that I am here. Before I talk about Arizona I want to talke about my time at the MTC. 

I loved the MTC so much. I met my district and they became another family. I met my companions and they became my sisters. I felt the Holy Ghost stronger than I have ever felt it before. I got to hear from Elder Jeffrey R Holland and Tad R Callister. I got to be a part of the amazing MTC choir and sings songs of praise. I got to be a sister training leader, a host for all of the international sisters, and a host for a building. I grew so much in the MTC and I thought that I was somewhat ready for the mission feild. Then I got on a plane.

The first few days here were crazy. I actually went contacting at Arizona State University on my very first day in Arizona. We did have help but I got pushed right in the deep end. I had a lot of training and then time came for me to meet my trainer and truly begin my mission. My trainer is Sister Daines and she is from Washington state. She is so sweet and she helps me a lot. She doesn't throw me under the bus but she does challenge me to grow. I am in the Mesa Zone in a YSA ward. I am living at a home with a cute old lady named Sister Barnes. The weather is very nice right now, not too hot and not too cold. Let me tell ya. Contacting and tracting are harder than you think. Most everyone is nice when they reject you but it still hurts. But, it gets better when you share a small testimony, pray for strength, and even pet a dog. (I have pet so many dogs it's great) 

Some things that I have learned in the past couple of weeks: 

* Prayer. Changes. Everything. -Elder Holland

* I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God

* The Book of Mormon is THE BEST

* I love my family more than anything 

I am definitely still learning and will be learning for a while about how to be a missionary. I am still learning the art of humility, endurance, and faith. I am doing my best to turn my efforts, time, and energy over to Jesus Christ. I am so thankful for this opportunity to grow and to get outside of my comfort zone. Until next week, much love from Arizona!!

                    Love, Sister Yates