A bit of a Texas-Monsoon-kind-of-week (apologies from Elder Yates)

As the subject has just stated, this week has been so hectic! On Tuesday, we went swimming on the street. A HUGE rainstorm came through and lasted like literally 10 minutes, but was a monsoon of a rainstorm! The rain knocked down half of the trees on this one street we passed. The craziest thing was that we were biking through the whole thing!! 

A small miracle... We were out biking ALL day on Wednesday, and ran out of water halfway through the day, and almost every other house we knocked at offered us water and to come inside to cool off!

The Lord works in mysterious ways! I just wish he would help with the sweating sometimes! Haha, but I know that the Lord loves us sooo much individually! We are all sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father! 

1) Us having just swam through the air.

Mosiah 28:3 & The Infinite Atonement

"Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble."

Being out here for almost 1 month has been crazy to think! I can't believe how fast it has already gone by! This scripture has really meant something to me this week. Every time that I talk to someone, and they don't want to listen, it makes me want to cry! People don't understand the importance of our message that we share. 

People are so funny here, they automatically believe that they are going to be with their families forever, but they never just sit and think about the wedding vows... "til death do you part". We told that to this guy we met, and he just looked puzzled, and then said that it just meant our physical bodies. Now I really want to cry.

This message is the greatest message on the face of the Earth! This message blesses both your family here, and your posterity to come! We receive soooooo many blessings! All the Lord asks of us in return is to sacrifice something here, give up a habit there, and start living His commandments. 

Our brother and Savior, Jesus Christ, bled from every poor, and died on the cross so that we all could live again! Think about how much He sacrificed, and then think about what we can sacrifice to give even just .000001% back to him. I LOVE THIS GOSPEL, and so should you! Don't be afraid to bear your testimony, don't be afraid to stand up for what you believe in, and don't EVER forget the saving power of Christ's Infinite Atonement.

For everyone reading this; go back through your day, think about how much you have in your life, and just remember that Jesus Christ died so we could LIVE.

This is my testimony of both this work, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I Know that what we are teaching is the greatest message on the earth. And, I KNOW that without Christ, we wouldn't be able to return to live with Him and with our Father in heaven. Don't ever question the Gospel of Jesus Christ or YOUR faith in Him. Don't let your testimony be shaken. Remain as a Disciple of Christ.

1) Teaching Elder Smedley the Rubik's cube

2 & 3) A very small lizard Elder Yates found

4) A Calzone that I ate, FREAKING HUGE! (those are Elder Yates' words)

Skype-ing is FUN!

There's not really a letter to share this time, because we had the awesome pleasure of Skyping Elder Yates on Mother's Day! It was so good to hear his voice and see his face. We are so grateful to Sister Stone in the ward he's in for hosting the call. 

Elder Yates is doing well. He finally got his bike and has been able to ride it around his area with the other elders. The weather is constantly warm and humid (and much warmer weather is to come). We asked about the ward and how it is. He said that there were about 180 people in Sacrament meeting on Sunday and that they don't have a choir. Hopefully, that will change soon. 

We were only available to speak withhim for about 40 minutes (and that time went by really fast), and we know he's blessed for his obedience. When his sister asked what she can do to get more scriptures read, Elder Yates said "get up earlier and read while you are eating breakfast." He made it sound so easy!

More to come in the next letter!

1) A beautiful sunset
 

 2) Biking with Elders McKell and Sa'au

3) Elder Yates' picture of us

Houston, we have a problem....(or many challenges ahead)

So as a district, we are doing a challenge of sorts. It's called the purification challenge. So, definitely a challenge. Haha, it's where you pick 10 things in your day-to-day life that you could take away to improve your missionary service. We take these things and "fast" from them for 40 days. It has been so hard for me! 2 of the things I chose are to "fast" from super-hero talk, and no singing ANY songs that are not approved by my mission president....

I actually promise to send y'all photos this time! I forgot my card reader last week, and then didn't get another chance to get on a computer.

So far, I have made it a personal goal to re-read the entire Book of Mormon and mark every page with detail and thoughts I have, along with other scriptures I can think of. So far, I have only gotten into 1 Nephi 16, and I have sooooo many markings and references that talk about how it applies to my life, and what I have learned from the MTC and the field.

This week has been a lot better than last week in terms of now I know what I am doing! Not even.... Who am I kidding? There is so much to learn! I love it! Keep sending me emails, I love to hear from all of you! 

Also, sorry I wasn't able to email all of you personally, I was a little stressed on time this week, and was trying to catch up on my journal.

 

1) Elder Johnson, Elder Whetzel, and me at the new missionary meeting last week.

2) A ghetto street called Coen St. in Fresno.

3) Last P-Day at the stake center

4) Me with my first Whataburger!

5) A real Mexican grilling competition we have had for the last two weeks.

TEXAS!!! (and Mighty Prayers)

A short email from Elder Yates (no pictures this week):

 

"Well, I made it to Houston! I can't believe this cold weather here! upper 80's! Freezing! Haha, anyways it has definitely been a challenge here. The schedule has been the hardest thing so far for me. The people here are all super nice! Even when they slam doors! Haha, 50% of the people we knock doors for, are Spanish. Luckily, my companion was Spanish speaking his whole mission until now, so he can speak to them.

 

In the past week of being here, I have learned the true way to have "Mighty Prayers". I have said the longest/hardest/thoughtful prayers ever! I have been relying on the Lord for everything in my life. Both at night and in the morning, has been the best prayers of the day. I have also learned that the less repetitive your prayers are, the more meaningful they are. I still need to work on this aspect.

 

Our ward that we are in is super nice! We have been fed twice already, and it was baked chicken and pizza. Not very Texan, but any of you that know me, understands my love for pizza! The ward split less than a month ago, lost half of their members, and still sits just under 100 members. About half of those are converts within the last 5 years. So it's quite the interesting mix of members.

 

I forgot my card reader. Oops. Sorry for the short email, but just remember to keep having those mighty prayers in your life, and you will be blessed!

 

Oh! and if you want to send packages, send them to the mission office. and letters come to my apartment:

 

6303 Sienna Ranch Rd. Apt. 1120

Missouri City, TX 77459-4884

 

(His companion is Elder Smedley who is leaving to go home in 3 months, which should be a FUN 3 months! Haha!)