Service with a smile :)

This week was really awesome! But, let me first tell you about something the Spirit helped me to learn in the scriptures. I was reading in the Book of Mormon this week, and came across this verse that really stood out to me. It was Moroni 10:21. Placed into the Book of Mormon just before it ends. It says, "And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope."

I have been studying Charity a lot this last week, and found this verse. Charity truly is the pure love of Christ. Without it, we cannot enter the kingdom of God. But, I also love how faith, hope, and charity are so interconnected. Having these 3 Christlike attributes helps us to become the disciple that God, Christ, and we desire to be.

Throughout this week, we have been striving to find as much service as we can. We know that as we serve people, we are really serving God (Mosiah 2:17). We helped somebody move this week, we helped organize folders, and then we went and helped at the Hermann Park Gardens. It was so much fun to be able to go and help make someone's day. Member or non-member alike.

When we were helping the member move, it wasn't far at all, it was in the same building in their complex, we didn't have to go outside, and it was just up one floor. Just as we were about to be done with moving everything, we had to move this absolute unit of a couch. Sadly, it didn't fit in the elevator, so the stairs were our only option. Elder Hanchett and I were brave enough to take on this task alone, and so we did. Let me tell y'all something, all those years of playing video games,mainly tetris, and building good grips because of rock climbing, we successfully made it! It was scary, but rewarding. We got Papa John's afterwards! Plus, on top of that, I got to pet their super nice dog named Coco! She was so cute!

If I did not have faith, hope, and charity while moving that couch, I probably would've dropped it and not cared. But, I love to follow the example of my Savior, and so I did my best to be like Him. :)

I invite each of you this week to go out into the community and do some service for someone. :) This could be a family member, friend, coworker, neighbor, etc. Give someone service, and do it with a smile! I can promise that as you do so, the Spirit of Christ will fill the air, and everyone will be able to feel closer to Him.

I love all y'all, and hope that you have a great week, because I know that I will!

-Elder J.T.Yates

Elder Hanchett and I at the gardens.

Coco

The Maplehood boizzz saucing around

One of our good friends, Bernard. He is from the Virgin Islands, 

and is LOVING the Book of Mormon! :)

Jim Deegan, one of my dear friends from 

MacGregor took us to Five Guys!

Someone else we are teaching has been taking these amazing 

notes on what she has been reading in the Book of Mormon! :) 

The Return to Mac Geezy

Well this is it folks! This is going to be last my area in the mission. It's a very odd feeling. I have only experienced 1 week here, and I already love it! We are teaching so many great people, and they have been being prepared for a long time. 

On Wednesday, we had some service in downtown which was where I used to go work as a missionary. Oh how I missed downtown. While another set of Elders were doing their "shift" with this service, I took Elder Hanchett around downtown and we took a lot of photos!

Coming back to the Houston area and seeing all these familiar places, it brings back so many memories. The cool part about it was thinking about where I was as a missionary with my testimony, knowledge, and desire. I can see so much change in myself, and it is so amazing to see how the Lord will truly bless all of us as we turn ourselves to Him and obey His will.

I challenge each of you to think about one thing that you have improved on within the past 3 months. After you have thought about it, I want you to then pray and thank our loving Heavenly Father for what He and His Son have blessed you with! :) I can promise that as you do this, you will continue to build the relationship that you desire to have with Heavenly Father.

-Elder J.T.Yates

Elder Hanchett and I with our friends from Nigeria.

We went to Ray's BBQ!!!

President Guthrie came out with to teach, and let me tell you...

 That was awesome!!

Our best photo we took while walking around downtown.

Our goofy companionship.

The Trifecta is complete!

Well that's it folks! It's official... I am transferring out of Baybrook. I am actually currently sitting in my new area with my new companion. I have been transferred to the Maplewood 2nd Ward with Elder Hanchett. He came into the mission with Elder Smith and Elder Gillies(My 2nd and 3rd companions). I will be biking around town again! It is really cool to be back in the city, or at least around it. I will really miss the Baybrook Ward.

Alright, so to explain my email title. Out of the 3 Elders that stayed here in Texas from my MTC group(Elder Johnson, Elder Whetzel, and myself), we all trained right out of being in training and here is how it went...

Elder Whetzel -- trained Elder Hanchett

Elder Johnson -- trained Elder Gillies

Elder Yates -- trained Elder Smith

So, I have been companions with Elder Smith and Elder Gillies. Elder Hanchett has been companions with Elder Whetzel and Elder Johnson. That only left Elder Hanchett and I to be companions. And BOOM! Here we are! Again, the Trifecta is complete!

Anyways, let's get down to business. This week was so good! I had the inkling notion that I was leaving for a few weeks, but I wanted to work my hardest in Baybrook. I can say that I didn't work as hard as I had wanted to, but what I can say is that there was a 1% improvement! :)

I was reading in the Book of Mormon this week, and this scripture stuck out to me. It is 2 Nephi 28:30 "For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom..." 

I love this verse and it's simple teachings! As we do things line upon line and precept upon precept, the Lord truly does bless us. This week might have been just one thing that I improved on, but it is an improvement nonetheless! :) 

As we are now starting our 3rd week in January, I invite you to think about what you can do this week to improve. Now after you have thought about it, I invite you to tell someone else to help keep yourself accountable.

Love all y'all! :)

My last District Council in the Alvin Elder's Quorum

 I forgot to send this last week, but this is Elder Bell and I

 chilling in a storm overflow drain.

 Elder Bell and I in our last photos of being the 

original Baybrook Biking Babes

A Happy Reunion

This week was so good! You want to know why? Because I made it that way! Having a smile and a posotive attitude makes the days, weeks, and at times the months totally worth it! :)

There were a few times that it was challenging, and we just pushed through it. The best day this week had to be Thursday. We had a meeting for Elder Bell since he will be finishing up being in training soon. We got the privilage to go to the mission office and see a lot of my other dear friends. Out of that whole visit, being able to see and talk to Elder Heider, Elder Adams, Elder Gilleland, Elder Fisher, and Elder Whetzel was amazing! It is a pretty good chance that I won't see them for the remainder of our missions.

After this meeting, I was thinking about one of my favorite scriptures. Alma 17:2-3. It says...

"2 Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.

3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God."

This is how I felt. Speaking to them and knowing that they have changed, and I have changed brings a great feeling to my soul. I know that it will be the same as I return home and see all of you the same way. 

"The light of Christ burns bright within each of us. The only power to diminish it is our own choosing to do so." -Elder J.T.Yates

I love this Gospel. I love our Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson. He truly is God's chosen servant to lead each of us back to live with God. Brothers and sisters, the world is going farther and farther away from God and His teachings. We cannot do so! Please remember to always say your prayers! Please remember to always read your scriptures! Please remember to always forgive! I love each of you, and cannot wait to return to see each of your smiling faces burning bright with the fire of the Gospel!

-Elder J.T.Yates

God rays. 

Elder Whetzel and I, yet again! :)

Elder Heider. My favorite Vietnamese Elder! 

Elder Fisher and I. I am going to miss this guy.

An upside down crosswalk signal.

Now Entering 2019

I can't believe that Christmas has come and gone... Time has been speeding up so much more lately. I just can't believe it! Before y'all know it, I will be back in Lehi!

This last week was really good! We obviously had Christmas, and that was AMAZING!!! My day went as follows... We woke up at the same time as always, 6:25. Cleaned our apartment, did our laundry, and started emailing home. At lunch time, we went to a member's home and had lunch with them and some of the family who had come from out of town. We then went to the church building, and ate some snacks with the other missionaries in our surrounding area. After eating, we had a white elephant gift exchange, and that was a whole heap of fun!!! After leaving the church building, we went to visit some members, and have some desert with them. They gave us Pumpkin Pie, a garbage ton of candy, and we got to roast marshmellows with them! Let me just say that this Christmas was a lot warmer than any other Christmas I have experienced.

To top off my Christmas, I got to speak with my family. I can't explain how much I love my family. They mean the world to me! Being able to see their faces, hear their voices, and laugh at their somewhat lame jokes, made all the waiting worth it! :) My family is such a strength to me, and hopefully is a strength to everyone reading this. Knowing that I have an eternal family provides so much peace and comfort in my life. Rather than "till death do us part", I get to know that I am eternally, and forever sealed to my family! I love this gospel! 

As I thought about what to say in my email this week, I simply thought of goals. I know that I have talked about them in the past, but they are so important! :) Without goals, we can't really progress. We stay somewhat stagnate, I mean we can't stay exactly stagnate, we either progress or digress 1% everyday. But, I love the principle of goal-setting! As many of you know, I am not a super organized person, but goals really help me achieve what I want in life, and have gained a testimony of them. My wonderful Mission President, President Guthrie, had asked all of us missionaries to answer the questions below, and I feel that all these can totally apply to all y'all! ;) 

1. Ask yourself and record what happened this year that you are grateful for.

2. Recognize and record what hard things you overcame this year.

3. What did you learn in 2018?

4. Who positively impacted your life this year?

5. How are you different from how you were in January of 2018?

6. Who do you want to become in 2019?

7. What do you need to stop doing?

8. What do you need to start doing?

9. What should you keep doing?

My invitation is to answer these questions. take 30-60 minutes of quiet time, and answer these. Write them down in a journal that you have, and if you feel that you need to be accountable to someone, tell them and ask them for help. :)

I love all of you, and hope that your Christmas went amazing! Happy New Years Y'all!!!

-Elder J.T.Yates

Elder Bell and I with our du rags

Elder Bell on a super janky bike. Hahaha

A member's super adorable dog named Bella,

 who fell asleep on my lap while we were eating. 

We placed this post-it not on the sink for others to see. ;)