Which means most to you?

Well, where do I start??

How about at the beginning? Sure? Alright, sounds good!

So, to start off... When we got to the Mission Office on Monday, I was freaking out! Haha, Elder Smedley was leaving, I was getting a greenie, and I didn't feel good enough. But, like my email last week said, I know that any and ALL callings that anyone receives in the church are called by God! So, what do we have to worry about? Absolutely nothing! So, after we go to the Mission Office, we walked around and took pictures with all of our favorite Elders in the area. Man, that was weird seeing everyone again! We were able to see all the fresh new missionaries climb out of the van and run through the huge line of missionaries. After they had all gotten situated, the trainers went inside and met up with them. I was assigned to train Elder Smith! He is from Lancaster California. Man, I was excited to see who I got to train!

Training is one of the most taxing things you can do as a missionary. Not as bad as DL, ZL, or AP. But, it really tests your faith. And it has tested mine. The greatest part about everything that has happened to me in the last 3 almost 4 months, is the relationship I have been able to build with my Savoir. We had an awesome District Council where I was asked a question in our Role-Plays. I was asked what my favorite term for Jesus Christ was. That kind of caught me off guard! But, I thought about it for a second, and decided on Advocate. I love this term because of the thoughts that I have behind the word. Christ is our Advocate to our Heavenly Father. He pleads for us when we do something bad, and celebrates with us when live and honor God's commandments. I love having Him as my representative. Because He lives, I will always have someone I can count on for help, guidance, strength, and support.

So, just like the heading says, which title of Jesus Christ has the most meaning to you? Which one gives you the drive to keep going? Which one helps you know that you are a son/daughter of God and will always have a place in His kingdom? I can't help but say that each and every one of you reading this knows what I am saying. So, that is your homework this week! Go into the Index and look up Jesus Christ. Find a title that you feel has affected you most, and tell me! I love to hear how people are doing with their testimony, and how I can help! I love each and every one of you!

- Elder Yates

1) From Left to Right: Elder Hanchett w/ Elder Whetzel, Elder Yates w/ Elder Smith, Elder Gillies w/ Elder Johnson, and Sister Hererra w/ Sister Bodily. (Everyone from my MTC District was called to be trainers)

4) Domingo after getting ordained to the office of a Priest and receiving the Aaronic Priesthood!!!

The Student Becomes the Teacher

This week was quite the experience! With Elder Smedley leaving, we had packed everything we could into our days. We were also very frustrated with how things went this week... Almost every person we spoke with this week was very receptive! But, ALL of them cancelled our appointments or texted us and said that they really had no intent on finding out more.

 

I realize now how the Lord humbles us. We have such a great week, give thanks for everything we have, and then the next week, we'll just get schwacked by not having any success. I have really learned the importance and how to have a successful "Mighty Prayer".

 

Mighty prayers are something that I actually feel like could help every one who is reading this to become that much closer with our Heavenly Father. I just want to start by saying how easy they really are! It may seem like we don't have time to do that in the morning or at night, but I PROMISE you that, when you find time to do this every day and every night, you will be so much more blessed! So, start and end your day with a mighty prayer! Kneel down and tell Heavenly Father everything you want to accomplish that day, or tell him everything that you were able to get done. Trust me, He listens. And He blesses!!

 

The past couple of days, I have had some of the most mighty and sincere prayers that I could ever conjure up. On Friday, President called and told me that he had felt inspired to call me to be a trainer! I accepted the call, and after I had hung up the phone, realized what had just happened. Elder Smedley is going to be a grandfather! Haha, but seriously... I am still very nervous about exactly what is going to happen.

 

I have become the Teacher! I know that this inspiration came from the Lord through a man called of God. I have faith that everything will be great in the end!!

 

So, the take-away for today, is to get down on your knees every night and offer up your desires to God! Trust me, he helps!

 

P.S. There might not be pictures this week... :(

 

- Elder J. T. Yates

The Good, The Bad, The Baptized

Well, this week was both good and bad.

Toward the beginning, we were trying to get Domingo as prepared for baptism as we could. We taught him 2 twice this week, and both times he expressed to us how cool it has felt to have his baptism coming up. 

On the 4th of July, we showed up to do service for a guy in the other ward, we all got a text 15 minutes we were all supposed to meet, he said he had done everything by himself, so we went to Shipley Do-nuts. After that, we went and played kickball with the ward-members. That night, we had a Root-Beer party at the church, and couldn't actually stay and watch fireworks because they started at 9:15, and our curfew is 9.

On Saturday, DOMINGO GOT BAPTIZED!!! He was telling us that he has never been more happy about anything in his entire life! Neither have I!! I was able to see someone come closer to Christ, let alone being baptized! The spirit was so strong that day!

Finally, on Sunday. Domingo Noriega Jr. was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was given the gift of the Holy Ghost! He said that when we all placed our hands on his head, he felt the spirit go from his throat down to his finger-tips. I have always wanted to know what that feels like! Sometimes, I wish I could be re-baptized... Hahaha

-Elder Yates

Domingo after his baptism.

 Our AC broke, so it was 78 degrees at 10:21 at night.

Elder Smedley and I on his last P-Day

Baptism!

Well, this week was pretty great! We were able to meet with Domingo 4 times before Sunday to prepare him for his baptismal interview. He is so ready to be baptized! 

We were able to find 2 people this week that we are going to start teaching. The first guy is named Lawrence. He is from India. He is so funny! He hates the Catholic church. He says it's just a Bureaucracy.

The other guy is named Cornell. He is from Nigeria! He is apparently royalty in Nigeria! So that was cool to find out! He and his wife were so amazed by our message that we shared with them.

-Elder Yates

1) My new haircut (that I don't like)

2) A flower after a rainstorm at a member's house.

3) Some baby birds outside someone's house when we tried to talk to them.

4) A super cool Texas sunset