Season 5, Episode 3, The One With the Graduation

  Hey Folks!! 

   This week has been crazy awesome. I went accidental door knocking with Hermana Kyler, I got to see my dear friend Sister Shaw at Zone Conference, I graduated ARP and am now able to be an official ARP group leader, we taught a lesson in the back of our car, and I got to hold a snake. So to wrap it up, it was legitness. 

   I would just like to simply invite all of you to pray to know how to improve your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It can look different for every single one of you. I can bear my testimony that as you put in that effort to grow your relationship with your savior, you will find greater joy and peace. I have done it and I continue to do it. I am so thankful for my savior and for all of you. Go make it a great week!! Love y'all!! 

         Love, Sister Yates :)

 

Season 5, Episode 2, The One With One Year Left

 Hey Folks! 

  So time flies. Today marks one year until I go home. Tomorrow will mark my 6 months of being in Arizona on my mission. It does not feel like I have been here this long. And I am SUPER thankful for how my mission has gone so far. My testimony has grown so much in these quick 6 months it's incredible. This week we had a pretty awesome storm that I had to drive in, some very pretty sunsets, and even in person church with the sacrament. It was a very good week. 

   Ok this part of my email goes to those struggling with testimony or just life in general. God loves you and I love you. That is the first thing you need to know. The next thing you need to know is that this is a perfect church filled with imperfect people. God uses the weak and simple to do His work. I know this because I am imperfect, weak, and simple and yet God trusts me to be a missionary. The next thing you need to know is that the blessings and promises in this Gospel are worth more than ANYTHING in this world. I get to be with my family forever. But I need to hold up my end of that promise. I know that this is the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and the only way back to our Heavenly Father. Everything will be ok in the end. And if it's not ok, it's not the end. Hold on to the rod. Stay strong. God will ALWAYS love you. I will ALWAYS love you. Do the small and simple things and move towards God. 

   I love you all and hope y'all have a great week! Also shout out and congrats to Summer Hanks getting married this weekend!! Love that girl. 

     Love, Sister Yates :) 

 

Season 5, Episode 1, The One With the Third Companion

  Hey Folks!! This week has been crazy and awesome. We got our trainee on Wednesday and her name is Sister Packer!!! And she served at the Mormon Battalion Historical Site for 4 months before coming here! So we lucked out. We also have been able to have some amazing lessons with people and even give someone a date for their baptism!! It's crazy how much joy you feel when you help someone move towards baptism. We also had some REALLY good food this week so that's always a plus. 

   Ok so a while ago I challenged myself to read the Book of Mormon in 40 days. On August 15, I completed that challenge. I actually never thought I would be able to do it with how busy my area is and doing ARP(been following the Addiction Recovery Program, through the Church, to better understand it and to help others). But I did it and I absolutely loved it. I learned so much about the Book of Mormon and how I feel when I read it. It is incredible. I was able to see the stories unfold and notice every single time that it talked about Jesus Christ. There have been some scriptures that have really stood out to me this time around. One of them has been 3 Nephi 27:33 that says "And it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these sayings he said unto his disciples: Enter ye in at the strait gate; for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it; but wide is the gate, and broad the way which leads to death, and many there be that travel therein, until the night cometh, wherein no man can work." I have absolutely loved reading the Book of Mormon and finding new verses that I love and help me in my life. The spirit is so strong as you see the stories unfold and the prophets testify of the Savior Jesus Christ. I challenge each of you to read the Book of Mormon in 40 days. It is worth it. 

   I also just want to say a quick thank you to all those that support me emotionally, mentally, and even financially. I love and appreciate you all so much. 

Love you all!! 

           Love, Sister Yates :) 

Season 4, Episode 6, The One Where I am Going to be a Mom!

   Hey folks!! This week has been crazy awesome. Holy moly. This past week I burned my forearm in the oven, my shin got pelted with a soccer ball, I got to see 3 of my favorite people that I have met on my mission: Sister Daines, Hermana Barinotto, and Hermana Ruden, and Sister Anderson and I got asked to be trainers!! We are going to stay in the area and we are going to Trio train together!! I am very excited! In mission terms I am going to have a daughter. It's going to be awesome. 

   Ok now for the important stuff. My parents are amazing. And theg are a huge example to me. We agree that there definitely needs to be more positivity in the world. We need to see the good, be thankful for what we have, and spread the positive attitude with others. We need to see the love and beauty in this world or we will be so stuck and sad about all the bad things that are happening. In the talk Joy and Spiritual Survival by President Russell M Nelson he quoted Presient Monson and stated that "we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy.". Jesus Christ brings us joy. We can feel joy at any moment in our lives. We can choose joy. I challenge each of you to see the good and the positive this week. Focus on the good. Be thankful for what you have. It makes life so much better. 

I love you all!! Have an amazing week!! 

       Love, Sister Yates :) 

Season 4, Episode 5, The One With the Traffic Jam

Hey Folks!! 

  This week has been really good and very long. One of my favorite parts of this week was that we had a storm with dust, rain, rainbows, thunder, and lightning. It was awesome. We even went outside and watched the lightning and got pretty wet because of the rain. Even though Arizona rain is practically a light drizzle. STILL. It was awesome. I also got to play some more gatorball and volleyball today. Did I put another hole in my pants and burn my knee? Yes. What is worth it? Probably not. 

  My companion and I have been asked to be a part of a Hope and Healing Council. Which is another fancy name for a group for the 12 Step Addiction Recovery Program. We are a part of a group of 13 missionaries that are going to go through the program ourselves to learn how to help others. I am so excited to be a part of this. We have already had 2 sessions and I love it so much. We are learning about the effects of addiction and what it means. We are also going through the 12 steps ourselves to gain a testimony of the change that can come from the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I am very excited to be able to learn more about the Atonement and how I can use it in my life. 

  My challenge to each of you this week is to think of one small habit that you could change and allow Jesus Christ to help you through it. It will make it so much easier. I promise. 

  Love you all!!! 

                 Love, Sister Yates :)