'Tis the Christmas Spirit

There is a Mormon Message that I absolutely love during this time of year. It is about what the Christmas season should really be about.

The reason behind Christmas

This is the link of you want to watch it, I highly recommend it!

As we went about our week, the day that stood out to me the most was Wednesday. We had our yearly missionary Christmas Conference! We started it out by listening to fellow missionaries get up and read out of Luke chapter 2 and from other Christmas stories. In between those stories, we sang as a whole, and there were a couple songs that the choir got up and sang! The spirit was so strong! 

After that, we went and had A TON OF FOOD!!! We were blessed to have Trike, Brisket, and Smoked Sausage! Man, I haven't been that full for a while! Actually, more like Thanksgiving! Haha, along with the food, we had an awesome jazz band play for us! 

We were then able to have an awesome talent show! We heard so many different talents ranging from guitar solos, to piano solos, to violin solos, and back to guitar solos! ;) We also had in between those, some stand-up comedians from the crowd! One of those comedians was myself! My jokes weren't very funny, but I got maybe 2 or 3 people laughing, and that made me happy! I was also nervous beyond nervous to be up there telling jokes that I had only heard within the last 6 months. Haha, but it went well.

Something that I have loved this year has been all of the service that we have been able to give to the people in this area. Last night, we gave the best service that I have been able to be a part of. We went and sang at a retirement home and sang the the folks there, and were able to bring the spirit of Christ himself! I love this Gospel. I love the Christmas season. And I especially love the spirit that comes with this season!

- Elder J.T.Yates

That Jazz band that I was talking about.

What the Lexington building looked like during the Christmas conference.

Elder Whetzel and I.

Elder Lofgran, Bovee, and I getting that "pop" on! Haha

Sister Wilkinson and I.

Santa's not-so-little helpers

Man Oh Man! Was this week awesome!!

I am going to try something a little different this week... So here we GO!!

Monday: The usual P-Day, playing scatter-ball (free-for-all dodge-ball), went shopping, and I got a haircut. Then at night we went to a former investigator's home and shared a message with him after he had fed us chicken and dumplings. We will see where this goes.

Tuesday: We went on exchanges with the Spanish Elders today. I went up into their area, and Elder Gillies stayed in our area. The exchange went really good, and we were all able to learn a lot about how to be better missionaries. After the exchange ended, we went Christmas caroling to an old-folks community. That was awesome! There were 9 missionaries there and the older couple that were members that sang with us.

Wednesday: I am still getting used to leading District Council, but it isn't as bad as I originally thought it would be. After all of our studies, we went down to the farthest regions of our area, and tried some referrals and tried to teach them about the Gospel, that didn't end up working out, but we did end our day by finding and teaching one of the daughters of our most progressing investigator!! That was awesome!

Thursday: In the morning, we started by helping out a less-active member with her gutters. they literally had trees growing in them! One of the members that was there took us out to eat at the most ghetto Chinese/Japanese/I have no clue what food it was restaurant. But, was still super good! We ended our night by imputing like a million progress records into our devices so that we can make them digital.

Friday: To start the day, we went down to Texas City and helped out the Salvation Army again. They had over 1300 boxes for families that got displaced in Harvey. We went through and sorted out all the boxes and made sure that every child had a present! It was so awesome to be able to do something like this for people in need. After helping the Salvation Army, we went to League City and helped out at a Methodist church as they were passing out food for the homeless and the less fortunate. Without the missionary force, there would be so much service gone undone.

Saturday: On Saturday, we went back down to Texas City and helped actually pass out all of the clothes/toys/bikes/beds/etc. It was so cool to see the smiles on peoples faces as we would give them their Christmas presents! To end our night, we went to a member's home where their son is going to London, England for his mission, and they had their open-house.

Sunday: To end our week, we had church!! The literal best part of the week! We were able to partake of the sacrament and renew our covenants that we have made with the Lord. We were even able to go help usher at a Methodist Christmas conference! It was called "The Messiah". It was actually super sick, they had a ton of opera singers and a fairly large orchestra.

Now that I have told you all about my week, I am sure that you are just begging for more right?? Right! That's how the Gospel is, when you learn of something, we shouldn't push it away and say that we already know enough, but we should be always searching for more in our lives.

In John 5:39, it says: "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."

How often do we search the scriptures for that eternal life that it is talking about? How often are we pondering on the things that pertain to our salvation? Most importantly, how often are we sharing those most precious truths with those that are around us?

As we are constantly sharing the Gospel, the Lord promises that He will bless us for our efforts! I promise, as a literal representative of Jesus Christ, that as you share the Gospel with friends and family, you will feel the spirit more in your life! I can testify to you that what I say is true, and I promise these blessings in our Lord and Savior's name, even Jesus the Christ. Amen.

 

Elder J.T. Yates 

 Elder Whetzel posing very nicely for the camera!

 

Our exchange selfie (Elder Merrill and me)

 

 Our study table. Can you tell which side is mine? (The right side)

Elder Whetzel and I being Santa's not-so-little helpers!

Small acts, BIG miracles

This week was another one of constant confusion. 2 weeks ago, our mission was one of the first 5 missions in the United States to receive smartphones. Which has really made missionary work easier for us. But, it has been a hard transition from paper copies of everything to digital. It's crazy the amount of trust the Lord has in this generation of missionaries. I feel like I don't live up to His trust, and then he hands me something else.

As we have been going through the past records, there are so many times that I have seen small miracles that have been seen in this part of the Lord's vineyard. It feels like I am not making a difference at times, and I know that I have felt that before in the past, and that some of you feel that way now. But, I can promise you that these feelings in our lives are not true!

In Doctrine & Covenants 18:15 it says:

15 "And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!"

My experience on a mission has only been 8 months, but I know that through these small efforts that I am performing, large miracles are taking place. I have talked to so many converts of the church who through a life lived in the shadows, are brought to the light by our love and devotion to Christ. Performing service truly brings joy unto our hearts.

I love the Savior. I love this Christmas season. This year, join me in continuing to "Light The World" through service. If you haven't already been doing it, join along and share the blessings of this Gospel. If you are already doing this, keep sharing the light of Christ and show Him how much we can do to give back to Him during this season.

- Elder J.T.Yates

Elder Gillies and I built a snowman! In flippin' Texas of all places!

Elder Whetzel and I after some service with the Salvation Army. With some eggs and Elder Ledezma photobombing.

The Salvation Army's setup for their Christmas service.

A Chinese Buffet that we ate at after a different service. With some fresh squid! Tasty!

A couple of cool Texas Elders!

And Thus We See........

This week was probably the weirdest week for me... On Monday, we received our very own smartphones! Tuesday we went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders. On the exchange, we learned how to better use our phones for missionary purposes. Then, on Wednesday we had a zone conference with just Elders... That was the strangest part. We learned how to keep our hearts on our purpose as a missionary. From Thursday up until now we have been visiting with members and less actives trying to find new investigators through them as well as bringing them closer to Christ. 

I know that there are many parts of the scriptures that have affected so many of us. But there is always something that has stuck out to me: "And it came to pass..."

Whenever you read this in the scriptures, this is when Mormon was abridging the plates of Nephi. This always sticks out to me because of how much work Mormon put into abridging the plates! He took the time to make sure that we have the most important messages that we could use in our day.

I know that I am terrible at taking the time to write emails, so just rely on Mormon! Haha, I love you all!

Elder J.T. Yates

On the way to Galveston!

Using the new phone to edit those nice photos! ;)

The pleasure pier off of the Sea Wall.

Just the Elders at Zone Conference

In His hands

There have been so many times on my mission that I have felt like crap after to talking to someone who just rips into you with their beliefs and how mine are "wrong" or "not thought through". I just want to tell them that they don't know what they are talking about and start to Bible-bash. But, by doing that, the Holy Ghost is drawn from us and we are left without His guidance. Every time that I end up feeling like that, there are a lot of ways that I have used to fell better about myself and the work that I am doing, but the one that is most useful is asking myself this question... "Know ye not that are in the hands of God?" This quote comes from a verse in the Book of Mormon. Mormon 5:23. As I was trying to find some good "pump-up" scriptures, this one came across me as the best suited for me. 

Do you know that are in the hands of God? When you feel like quitting, do you remember how much He loves you and wants you to succeed? I can promise you that you will always be watched over and guided as you live His commandments.

My challenge for all of you this week is to think of how the Lord's hand is in your life, and then to write it down! Writing things down make it so much easier to remember them and apply them in our lives. As you write these down, share them with your friends, family, co-workers, etc. That way, y'all can get a little bit of missionary work in your day-to-day lives! ;)

- Elder J.T.Yates

 

 

A home-made blueberry pie from one of our investigators

 

 

My hair looking like Wolverine!

 

 

Elder Gillies and I rocking the solar shades

 

  Super hilarious sign outside of one of the members in the area.

All things are Possible through Him

As I have gone through this week, we have been working towards a very hefty goal... One that President Hall had shared with us a few months ago. While on his mission in Orsono, Chile President Hall and his whole mission during the month of December set a goal to bring the most souls unto Christ in a month than the mission had ever done before! They called it "Más Que Nunca", which translating into English means "More Than Ever". What better month than the month of December? Give a gift to the Lord in His Birthday month! 

So, as the great Texas Houston South Mission we as well have introduced "Más Que Nunca" into our mission! So, Elder Gillies and I have been very prayerful into these last few months as to this initiative. We at this moment are teaching 3 people who we are working towards a baptismal date in December. But, something that I have learned well so far on the mission is that nothing you do is from your own work. It's ALL the Lord's! 

I was reading in the Bible the other day, and came across a passage that I loved! It's Luke 18:27. "And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.". This is the story when the rich young ruler come to Christ and asks what else he can to do enter into the Kingdom of God. When Christ tells him to sell everything that he owns and follow Him, the ruler turns away ashamed that he values his property too much. Afterwards, Christ turns to His Apostles and says that it's easier for a camel to enter in through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God. He follows that statement with that quote that I shared earlier.

As I have gone throughout these past 3 months preparing souls to enter into the waters of baptism, I have learned that through God, ALL things are possible. Christ not only gives us a way to be forgiven, but he literally lights the path so we can know exactly where to go! Think of how easy He has made it for us to return to live with Him! All he asks is what we'd call "The Doctrine of Christ". It is, put simply, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. Five steps, that's all he's given us!

The thing that we all have to remember is that we can all falter on one or more of these at times, and it is important to always be striving to improve! There is always room for becoming better! So, my final thoughts are this from the Face-to-Face last night. "Repentance is possible, and forgiveness is certain" -Elder Dallin H. Oaks. As we use our individual agency, we have a choice to make the decisions that will either require us repenting, or give us more blessings. But, we know that there is always forgiveness available through our Lord and Savior, Jesus The Eternal Christ. As we all will fall, forgiveness is certain, all things are possible, and the light of Jesus Christ will lead and guide us the whole way!

- Elder J.T.Yates

 

 

A super flippin' awesome sunrise after our exercise time on Tuesday morning.

 

 

 One of the greatest "double chins" I have ever done!

 

 Another super flippin' awesome sunrise! Haha, there is no shortage of those!

 Myself, and Elder Fox (the old Distrist Leader)

Apologies.......

I don't have any time this week, mostly because I didn't make any... Oops! 

But, just know that this week for me was definitely a nice challenge. We were trying to figure out ways that we could share the gospel with people that we haven't tried before. We came up with a couple, but not as much as we'd like. So, for all you returned missionaries out there, what are some cool ways that you know or used to find people to teach?? Reply and let me know!

Also, for all of you that saw my Face Book post on Friday, yes that really was me, and yes we really are getting Face Book! This will be one of those ways that we can find people, but it is just another tool. This isn't the end-all of missionary work! The Lord really is hastening His work! 

I love all of you! Keep growing in your testimonies!

- Elder J. T. Yates

 

 1) Super cool texture looking clouds!

2) The best district out there!

3) A map of my area.

How far is Heaven?

This week was pretty good! We were able to get a new car, have zone conference, and we went to FREAKING NASA!!! Man, one thing that I have learned from being out here on a mission is that the only easy part about it is getting in bed to go to sleep! Haha, waking up has been easier these past 2 days from the time change, we are fed pretty well by the members here so that's good, and we have been able to help with a lot of service lately!

As we had gone through the week, there was a poem that kept running through my head as we were working on our individual goals...

How far is heaven?

It's not very far.

When you live close to God,

It's right where you are.

How close am I living? How close are you living? There is always more we can be doing to bring Heaven closer to us as we strive to become His disciples! Discipleship requires discipline. Heaven requires commitment. As we are all striving to become the best representatives that we can be, we need to be focusing our efforts on our efforts towards both our own testimony as well as those around us. Heaven is not far at all as we live His gospel.

-Elder Yates

 Elder Whetzel and I

Astros World Series hat!!!

Dah boizzzz at Nasa!

The Sun's gonna come up!

This week was pretty decent. We had doors slammed in our faces more than I'd like to count and we had people yell at us asking for our "Soliciting Permit". On the good side, we were able to have Elder Russell with us for 3 days! He is one of the APs. He is in is last transfer, and he has been going around to missionaries and seeing how they are progressing. We had a bomb lesson with a couple drunk people who kept prying and trying to ask if we still practice polygamy... Hahaha, funny stuff!

But, I know that through this roller coaster of a life that we live in, there is always something that can brighten our days. That's our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In the book of 3 Nephi and in the 8th chapter, the people are shown the sign of Christ's crucifixion. There is so much darkness that they can't even light candles, torches, or spark can be seen. Can you imagine how scared these people were?? No light for the space of three days! None whatsoever!

As these people were terrified, the voice of Christ came and told them about what had happened. Christ then appeared to the people of the America's. As he appeared the very first thing that he said was... "And behold, I am the light and the life of the world;". To calm their fears, He said that He was the LIGHT and the life of the world! I love this!

As we are going through our life, and it seems to be too dark for us to continue, just remember that Jesus Christ is our light! Just like the Nephites of old, I bear my testimony of the infinitely reaching light of Christ's Atonement. I know that He lives. I know that He is always there for us. And I know that this is the only true church on the Earth.

- Elder J. T. Yates

 So, we went running up Kemah Bridge for our exercise on Thursday morning when we had Elder Russell with us. These are the photos and stages of the sunrise overlooking Galveston Bay...

 1) Elder Newby and I. (My previous Zone Leader)

2&3) Elder Russell in all his 6 foot 8 inch glory!

4) My bed and wall of amazingness

This is gonna be good y'all!

This week was crazy!!! We met this lady at an apartment complex, her name is Suzanne. She is super cool! We taught her the Restoration on her doorstep, because we aren't allowed to be inside without a third male over the age of 16. She invited us back, but said to only come when her husband isn't there, because he is a drunk and almost got in a fist fight with the Jehovah's Witnesses! Hahaha, so we went back a couple days later with a prospective missionary in the ward named Daniel. We made sure that the husband wasn't home, and then proceeded to go inside and started teaching about the Plan of Salvation. She especially loved the Eternal Families part! Just before we could start the ending prayer, we heard her husband's truck pull into the complex!! So, she told us to go hide in the bathroom! This is where I didn't feel safe... As there is now 3 of us in the bathroom the size of a stall at the local Target or Walmart, we made a unanimous vote to crawl out of the 1 story bathroom window! We all weren't about to be pummeled by this guy! After letting the other two go, I was about to squeeze through, when my belt loop got stuck on the window frame! This guy unlocked the door, and came right for me! He started pulling on my leg... JUST LIKE I'M PULLING YOURS!!!

Haha, sorry I had to do it! I heard this from a ward member, and thought y'all would like it! Anyways, not much else happened this week, except for being fed by on of our investigators, like literally last second! They fed us this really good chicken broth soup with a freshly grilled Jalapeno! that was awesome! 

This week, I'd like to talk about the choices we make...

In the League City Stake Conference, there was a quote given by one of the speakers: "When is it that our trials become blessings?" What will your answer be? The remainder to this quote is, "When we choose to see them that way." So, when have we chosen to see our trials as blessings?

Some scriptural pump-up action! 1 Nephi 17:7-10

7 And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.

8 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters.

9 And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?

10 And it came to pass that the Lord told me whither I should go to find ore, that I might make tools.

When Nephi was commanded to build a ship, he didn't respond in a complaining manner, the first question he asks, was about how he should make the tools. This shows me how I need to respond when we have trials in my life. With humility and a determination that I can do anything with the Lord's help! 

I love all of you, and I know that you may not want to respond to my challenges or questions (except for a couple people), but I know that this Gospel can bless you, when you CHOOSE to let it do so.

-Elder Yates

My inner photographer coming out

 Elder Gillies and I drinking Budweiser Water! Haha

The 3 Amigos!

Me with Sister Wilkinson! 

A Brother Eldridge (who served in Chile with my Dad, back in the day!)

Cowboy Commandments

Elder Gillies and I posing in front of Galveston Bay

 A VERY ADORABLE SCHNAUZER PUPPY!!! Who, btw is my new best friend!

Bro. McCutcheon's dog, also named Max. His full name is for real "Maximus"

Sunrise at my apartment complex

Sunset down in the Bacliff area