Season 12, Episode 4, The One Where I Turn 21

 Hey Folks!! 

   First of all I want to thank all of you who wished me a happy birthday. I felt so much love and I appreciate all of you so much. On last Monday night, the FHE activity was  Bob Ross painting. That was a lot of fun. But after the activity I had a bit of a rough night. When we finally got home, my front door was decorated for my birthday and there was some candy, balloons, and a fruit bouquet! It was so sweet and I really needed it. Then on the morning of my birthday, I woke up by my companion and housemates singing happy birthday and bringing me breakfast in bed. It was a great start to a day. Throughout the day I had interviews with President Goaslind, a District Council, I talked with my family, and then went to dinner at Denny's. Having breakfast for dinner was the best. Later in the day it RAINED. So that was awesome. At night we had a movie night where we watched a Book of Mormon video and ate ice cream. So overall it was a weird and good birthday. Then the next day it rained a lot more so that was a miracle. Also the Tempe Zone got invited to sing at a funeral for a past mission nurse. We sang Called to Serve and the spirit was super strong. It was really cool to help with that. Those were pretty much the highlights of my week. 

   So in our Book of Mormon study, we should be through Alma 27. Through these chapters we read the stories of Alma and Amulek teaching in Ammonihah and Ammon teaching king Lamoni. I love these stories about incredible missionaries and their love for the gospel. Their hearts were changed. So their desires had changed. These prophets did amazing things because of their faith in Christ. One verse that I love is the scripture Alma 13:25. It says "And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming; for the time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice." I love this verse and the hope that Alma has in the coming of Christ. He rejoices in the fact that Christ will come. Whether or not it is in his day. I know that Christ is coming soon. I look forward to that day. Whether or not I will be alive for it, I don't know. But I am so grateful for the modern day Prophets that help us to prepare for the coming of Christ. Now is the time to prepare my friends and family. We don't know when exactly he will come, but we need to be ready. Continue to do the small and simple things to Hear Him and let God prevail. You will be blessed. Have a great week, I love y'all! 

                   Love, Sister Yates :) 

Season 12, Episode 3, The One Where I Went Back to the Temple

 Hey Folks! 

   Ok, I am going to be honest with y'all. This week there were some highs and lows. We had Zone Conference in Phoenix and I loved it. One morning I couldn't find my phone and so I actually thought that I lost it. It was causing some serious stress so I prayed a lot and pondered. Then an idea came into my mind and I ended up finding it. I was grateful for that experience where God answered my prayer after a bit of a struggle. Then later in that same day, I got to go do baptisms for the dead at the Gilbert Arizona Temple. As soon as I walked in I felt this actual boost of energy, joy, and I could not stop smiling. I was SO happy to be back in the temple. The spirit was so strong and it was a upliftment that I really needed. Y'all, the temple is amazing. Do all that you can to be in or at or around the temple. It changes things. Anyways, on Friday, I ended up discovering that my bike got stolen along with Sister Anderson's bike. So that's kinda crappy. And then of course, Sunday was Fathers Day. That was a good and busy day. All those events are bigger events and there were smaller ones that played into the highs and lows. So 2 lessons that I learned overall this week was 1. Both highs and lows are needed. 

2. The temple is where I want to be. 

   For our Book of Mormon read, we should be through Alma 12 today. I will just share a short verse with y'all that I love. It is Alma 9:26 and it says "And not many days hence the Son of God shall come in his glory; and his glory shall be the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience, mercy, and long-suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people and to answer their prayers." I have seen this verse in this past week. Heavenly Father heard my cries and answered my prayers. I know that Heavenly Father does hear and answer prayers. We might not always get the answer immediately, but it will come. Keep praying and take some time to go and just sit outside of a temple. Trust me, it's needed. I love you all!! 

                Love, Sister Yates :) 

Season 12, Episode 2, The One With ASU Contacting

 Hey Folks!

   Honestly this week was kinda busy and tiring. Busy is good as a missionary though. This past week we did do some contacting at ASU campus which was scary and awesome at the same time. We were able to talk to some cool people. And give out a couple copies of the Book of Mormon! Contacting is kinda hard for me but Sister Anderson is a legend and she is super good at it. Also Sister Anderson got a package with grandma dresses so we all tried them on so that was fun. 

  So in our Book of Mormon read we should be through Mosiah 27. Ok. I absolutely love the story of Abinidi. It is one of my favorites. His courage and faith is something that I want to have. He was given a super hard task to call a lot of people to repentance. He taught them about the 10 commandments and how the law of Moses is fulfilled through Christ. He knew the message that he was sharing was true and needed to be heard. He didn't care what happened to him. He just knew that he had to deliver the message that he was sent to deliver. After sharing his message he is given the chance to live by denying all that he has said. He wouldn't deny it. He would rather die than deny his words. He would rather die for Christ than live for himself. He knew his Savior and he testified of him. Mosiah 16:9 says "He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death." I don't know if I will ever have the faith that Abinidi had. But I do know that Jesus Christ is the light of the world that can never be darkened. I am grateful for my faith that I am continuing to grow. I hope that each of you continue to grow the faith you do have and know that Christ is the light and life of the world. I love y'all! Have a great week! 

                      Love, Sister Yates 

Season 12, Episode 1, The One With Volleyball, Ultimate, Biking, and Sweat

 Hey Folks!!

   I am back in Tempe and I am loving it! Leaving Casa Grande was sad but I love being back in the Valley. On my first day in Tempe, we played volleyball and ultimate frisbee with some YSA and that was a blast. Then on the next day, we biked to the mission office whilst it was a bit over 100 degrees. Sister Anderson is actually kicking my butt with biking. Seriously she is kicking my trash. We also have gone biking a couple of times around ASU campus and I cannot tell you how much I sweat. We have also had a couple of lessons outside in 104 degrees. You guys. It's only June 7th. Anyways, Sister Anderson is awesome and an incredible missionary. Also this past week I was able to attend a celebration of life for Jess Fullerton. I am so grateful that I was able to go and see some old friends. At the lunch after the service there were pictures on the tables with me and Jess. I even got to keep some of the pictures. Overall it has been a good week and we are working hard. 

   For the Book of Mormon study, we should be through Mosiah 13. I want to share a verse from Mosiah 2. During the beginning part of Mosiah, it is King Benjamin giving his sermon to the people. It is a very powerful section in the Book of Mormon with some amazing verses. One of my favorites is Mosiah 2:21 and it says "I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants." I have seen this verse be something very real to me. Every single day I feel that Heavenly Father lends me breath and gives me support. I am so inadequate and incapable of being a missionary. And yet, I have been able to be doing missionary work for 16 months now. I do my best to serve him and while I do, he blesses me so much. I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father and that he supports me every single day. I will forever be in debt to him. I know that Heavenly Father is supporting each of you. And because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, you have even more strength given to you if you chose to access it. I love you all and hope that y'all have a great week! 

                    Love, Sister Yates :)