Season 6, Episode 5, The One With the Restoration Miracle

 Hey Folks! 

   This week was awesome! I am feeling a lot better and we were able to have so much fun this week. We also had a super cool miracle. We were going to teach the Restoration to one of our friends named John. But because of poor planning we taught the lesson in the back of our car, in a parking lot, running on 6% battery life. All we knew is that if we got through the first vision, we were gonna be ok. So we were teaching simply and powerfully. But we still had time for a bit more. So my comp Sister Packer just bore her testimony about the Book of Mormon and it was awesome. Then I pulled out Moroni 10:2-3 and promised that if he read and prayed, he would know that it's true. So we finished the lesson and he goes to share a comment and then... the phone died. RIGHT AS SOON AS WE ENDED. It was a huge miracle to us. We were also able to have a good amount of lessons this week and see more little miracles. We also got to go to a Relief Society activity and decorate Halloween cookies! I never thought I would miss Relief Society activities this much. Also I got to grab a picture of all my Sisters that I am over before a fiesta and they are all so cute. I am so lucky to be surrounded by such incredible women and missionaries. AND just barely today we ran into our amazing friend Jess!! I missed her a lot and I loved running into her. A tender mercy 💗

   For my little thought I would just like to share my simple testimony of The Book of Mormon. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon. I feel closer to my savior and my Heavenly Fathers love when I read it. I have seen it change lives, including mine. It is truth. It is another testament of Jesus Christ. It is the roadmap of how to find happiness in this life and how to return to our Father in Heaven. I love this book. I would love to challenge all of you to read Alma 32 and 3 Nephi 11 this week. They always help. 

   Love, Sister Yates :) 

Season 6, Episode 4, The One With the 'Rona

 Hey folks!

  Ok, I am going to be honest. This week was pretty hard. And I'm gonna tell you why. So we have been in actual isolated quarantine since Oct 9th. And on the 14th I started to feel sick. And then it kept getting worse. Sister Layton, Hermana Thomas, Hermana Jorgensen, and I all felt like death. So we called our mission nurse and she scheduled a time for all 4 of us to get tested for the 'rona. I really felt awful this week. We also did get the ok to nap from President Goaslind himself, so I did take some naps this past week. Getting tested was awful. We had to go to a drive through window at CVS and all 4 of us had to test ourselves. That was very painful and not pleasant. I took before and after selfies and you can tell that it was not a fun experience. Anyways, I also got my results back and I am... negative! We think that we all just had a bad flu. Some blessings that I saw this week was naps, sweaters, hot chocolate, soup, (yes I know I'm living in AZ) cough drops, Crumble, and my companions. While Sister Layton and I were kinda dying, Sister Packer carried our companionship on her back. So anyways, I am feeling better now, still not 100% but I am better than I was a couple days ago. So no need to worry about me, I am doing good and excited that I don't have the 'Rona. I think...

   For my little thought for y'all, my awesome sister in law Alison suggested that I share my conversion story. I was born and raised in this church so I never had a huge conversion moment or a cool story like I hear from the many converts that I have met. But I do remember those little moments that helped build my testimony. My parents were huge examples to me on how to build my own testimony. I remember from a young age, learning to know that my Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers. I also remember seeing the movie 17 Miracles for the first time and learning what faith can do. I never had any serious doubts about this church or my testimony. But as I saw others struggle and as my testimony got challenged on my mission, I found that it grew stronger. Anyways. I don't have one specific moment or a very fancy conversion story. But I am thankful for my ongoing conversion. The mission has helped my testimony grow so strong and I am thankful that I have more time to deepen my conversion. I would like to challenge each of you to look at the foundation of your testimony and strengthen that part. Then choose something new and work on that. You will find a stronger testimony and a life full of joy and blessings. Love you all!!!

         Love, Sister Yates :) 

Season 6, Episode 3, The One With The Fun Times

 Hey Folks!

   Ok this week was CRAZY. Like for reals. First off, I was exposed to the 'rona at Zone Conference on Tuesday (I got to see some people that I LOVE) and almost my entire mission is in lockdown quarantine until Oct 20th. Second, I got to go outside of my mission twice this week to go to my bishops law office in Phoenix and it was super fancy so we took pictures of course. Third, on last Monday my zone played chair soccer and somehow I made a basket by kicking the ball *swish and everyone flipped out. Fourth, our assistant ward mission leader and some members in our ward took us out to get pedicures one day! Listen. There were ups and downs in this week. But as you can see, I had some pretty awesome moments. Missions are hard but so incredible. I am so thankful to be here. 

   Ok now for my lil spiritual thought for this week. I absolutely loved General Conference. I am now rereading all of the talks and yesterday I read Eyes to See by Michelle D Craig and I love the part that says "As with all gifts the Father so willingly offers, seeing deeply requires us to ask Him—and then act. Ask to see others as He does—as His true sons and daughters with infinite and divine potential. Then act by loving, serving, and affirming their worth and potential as prompted." I love how she invites us to ask to really see people and then act. In order to become more Christlike, we need to do what he did and minister to the one. The one that is alone. The one that is sick. The one that is afflicted in anyway. It is our privilege to have the chance to help those around us. I would like to challenge each of you to ask then act. However that may look for you. Just do something to lift others. You will be blessed. Have an amazing week! Love y'all!

        Love, Sister Yates :) 

Season 6, Episode 2, The One With The 5 Generations

    Hey Folks!! 

   This week was legendary. The two things that I mainly want to talk about is a meeting that I went to and of course General Conference. I went to my first leadership meeting this week. I got to see my dear trainer Sister Daines, and my mission grandma (Sis Beck) and great grandma (Sis Wilcox). So we got to take a generational picture. Then last minute my sweet trainee Sister Packer got to hop in for the 5 generational picture. It was awesome. I love these sisters so much. And the meeting was super powerful and helped me to understand more about obedience and blessings. We also got to have a really cool phone call with a member of our ward that is moving to Lehi Utah!! And he is walking across America to spread peace and good vibes. He was really cool. We also got to drink very fancy Scottish water at a dinner with some members. I know that it definitely looks like alcohol but trust me it's wasn't. No sister missionaries were drunk in the drinking of that product. And it was actually really good water. So fun times all around. 

   Ok General Conference was incredible. I don't know about y'all but I LOVED it. The themes were so needed and so important. I don't know if you caught it but they really called us to repentance to be more Christlike. I definitely need to be more Christlike. General Conference helped me to realize that there are a lot of things that I need to do better. But also that there are things that I have already been working on and improving. I felt the spirit very strongly and knew that some parts of talks were meant for me. I also know that to be true for all . There are things that were said that were meant for you. They said something that Heavenly Father knew YOU needed to hear. I am so excited to go back and study all of the talks. I know that Russell M Nelson is the Prophet of God on the earth today. And I know that all the other Apostles are called of God. They speak the messages that comes from our loving Father in Heaven. I am so thankful for modern day Prophets and Apostles. Whatever happens just listen to and trust the Brethren. My dad has taught me that. I am also very thankful for all you do. Keep striving to be more like our Savior. 

       Love, Sister Yates :)