One More Week Down

Again, I feel like I have no time. As I come closer to the end of my time here in Houston, I feel the Spirit helping me to work hard. I know so many people missionary or not who have somewhat given up towards the end of their goals. Should that be working out, finishing a mission, or just simply working at a job. But, I know that as we make that decision to turn our lives to God, He helps us stay focused and positive.

This last week flew by! For multiple reasons, but the biggest and most influential was hearing a member of the Quorum of the 70 speak to us. We were blessed to hear from Elder Lynn G. Robbins for 3 days. I took many notes and many of his words resonated with me at a spiritual level. But the biggest was how he taught so simply our responsibility to choose to be 100% responsible.

When we are 100% responsible, we show the Lord that we take full responsibility for everything that happens around us. Elder Robbins wrote a talk called "Be 100 Percent Responsible". I have included the link to it below.

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/lynn-g-robbins_be-100-percent-responsible/

Elder Robbins made a list deemed the "Anti-Responsibility List". We as missionaries in the great Texas Houston South Mission read and use this list daily to help us in our missionary efforts. We know that as we stay off this list and be 100% responsible, we are going to be blessed not only spiritually, but in our relationships with others(family, friends, and others), our work life, and our relationship with God. We will no longer be making excuses, hiding from responsibilities, or blaming others.

I have seen this way too much in my own life, and regret not changing how I communicate with people. But, there is always hope and always a way to improve! I challenge all of you to read and/or listen to this talk, and then commit to live a more Christ-centered life by staying as far away from the AR list! And I know how we all work, so your first thought of why you "shouldn't" or "don't want to" participate in this challenge is actually being on the AR list! It's a slippery slope and a loophole that is hard to get out of. But, I promise that the Lord will help you!

One more quote from Elder Robbins this last week, "The moment you remove the Anti-Responsibility List from your life, is the moment you are on your way to becoming a champion."

I just want to express how grateful I am for all of you, and for your examples to me of strength and integrity! I know that this church is true. I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that there is a living Prophet on the Earth today that leads and guides all of us into righteousness. And I know that the only way to return to live with God and Jesus Christ in their presence is through this Gospel.I have come to know all of this by the Spirit and through studying, pondering, and praying.

I love all of you!!

-Elder J.T.Yates

Elder Robbins giving us a sermon of a lifetime! 

The terrible trio! 

This is the last time we will see each other before we go home.

I got permission to visit with one of my relatives who lives in the area, 

and they gave me this plaque. #Blessed

I got to see Domingo again!! I was so blessed to see him

 in person one more time before I go home.

You know you're in the South when...

My first son, Elder Smith. I will miss my boy!

 I was completing some computer work, 

and snapped this beauty of a Elder Bovee

Moving in and moving out

Well folks, it's official! I left the good ol' Maplewood after only being there for 6 weeks. I will honestly miss the people there and the members who have helped me develop a love for this work even more.

It was a surprising call to have recieved from President Guthrie, that's for sure! But I Know that the Lord is in control!

I have made absolutely no time to write, but I want to just share this scripture. John 14:15

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." 

I know that as I have kept the Lord's commandments, I have felt the love of the Savior shine down on me. Not only that, but I have felt an increase of love for Him as well.

My invitation to all of you is to increase your love of the Savior by keeping His commandments. I love you all!!

-Elder J.T.Yates

Last day in Maplewood Bike. 

My beautiful guitar that I gave to another Elder.

Elder Bovee. My new companion! 

The Baptism of Fire

"Mah fellow Brothas and Sistas!" As a black preacher would say...

Haha anyways, how are all y'all doin? Because I'm doing great! If there's one thing I've learned, and I hope I've learned more than one, but I've learned that we should always be doing "great"! That's such a great gift from our Heavenly Father! As part of His Son's restored Gospel, we should always be doing great! :)

This week we had a lot of really cool experiences! We met with some really cool members who have definitely had their fair share of trials, but who are looking them square in the eye and not backing down. (Seeing something like that always strengthens my testimony)

The coolest part of this week was when we got to witness 5 people get baptized this weekend! On Saturday, we first saw 3 very short Burmese people get baptized. Now if you're anything like me, you're wondering where are Burmese people from? Well it used to be called "Burma" but has since changed the name to Myanmar, over in Asia. :) The coolest part of this was it was all translated into the Burmese language!

After their baptism, and I mean like right after, this very sweet older black woman into the waters of baptism. She has gone through so much to get to that point, but she knows as I know that it is worth it!!

Yesterday(Sunday), we saw someone in the Young Single Adults Ward get baptized! That was super sweet because he bore his testimony afterwards and told everyone that where he stands right now is not where he would've ever thought. But, that he is so grateful for this gift and blessing it is to be a part of the Lord's one and only true church!

As I was (trying to) study Come Follow Me this week, I realized that this included one of my favorite stories from the New Testament. Nicodemus and the need for the Spirit.

In this story, a very popular political figure came to Jesus Christ in secret asking Him what His Teachings were all about. Jesus Christ told him a very profound statement. "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus misunderstood and very confused, tried to repeat what he just heard. He didn't do a very good job. But, the Savior being perfect, helped him understand.

He said in response, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Oh how I love this simple teaching! But at the same time, His simple teaching goes much further.

Notice how I've made in bold the parts He has changed? Jesus Christ helps us understand that we can be baptized with just water and without receiving the Holy Ghost and "see" the kingdom of God. But if we want to "enter into", the kingdom of God, we must be baptized by water AND given the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Mah Brothas and Sistas, I invite each of you to reflect back on your baptisms. Think about how that wonderful day. Think about your covenants(promises) you made with God. :) And then think about when you received the gift of the Holy Ghost by someone holding the Priesthood. I know that as you think about how amazing that day was for you, that you will feel a strong desire to continue to learn, grow, and progress in the Gospel! Now what you will do with that feeling is completely up to you. But, I exhort(strongly recommend) all of you take that feeling and go with it! I promise that you will not be lead astray as you stay close to the Gospel of Jesus Christ! :) 

I love each of you so much, and I am so excited to talk to each of you more in the near future!

-Elder J.T.Yates

We biked to the baptism on Saturday in our suits. It was so humid. 

After a service, we got to take a photo next to a Ca$h Cow!

One of our dear friends came to church yesterday! 

She is literally the most proper and polite human 

being I've met while here in Houston.

Elder Loveridge and I got to go on exchanges this week. 

It was so good to work with him again! :)

Sister Guthrie took us out to lunch after our District Council to Chick-fil-A!

 I flippin love the Guthrie's!

Last Monday night I made a massive bowl of chili that lasted me 

almost the whole week. (I think I'm converted to canned foods) ;)

A flippin' schweeeeet sunset. This is a view from our window.

Charity never faileth

Well howdy do! Okay, there are so many things I want to tell y'all about. So I'm going to give it to you in chunks...

On Monday, we were blessed to have dinner with Jim and Sean! They are my 2 favorite people that I've taught in the mission. We went to Sean's house and had some super good Bison Burgers. During the conversation, Jim nonchalantly mentioned that he was going to get baptized this last weekend. The way he presented it, actually said it, and then moved on from it, I didn't really think anything of it. BUT HE GOT BAPTIZED!!! He sent me this photo randomly yesterday night and then called me telling me that he is grateful for my willingness to help him and check up on him. This experience really topped my week and gave me so much joy! 

On Tuesday, we went to the temple! It felt so good to be back in the Lord's house again. We haven't been since October of last year, and I could feel the difference. Being able to feel such a pure connection with the Spirit is a wonderful thing. Oh how grateful I am for modern revelation!

Thursday sucked. We went through the motions from the morning hours into the afternoon. President Guthrie then called us and asked if we wanted to go talk to this African American guy named Keith. From the sounds of it, I'd say he's not really interested in talking with the missionaries, more of being friends with President Guthrie. When we got there, he was very welcoming. As we were talking, these teenagers came in and had an appointment to get their hair cut from him. So we continued the conversation while this kid was in the chair. For the entire conversation, all Keith would talk about is how racist the church is. The worst part was when he was talking about the "white Jesus, with blonde hair and blue eyes". He was telling this black kid in the chair that the slave drivers would force religion upon the slaves to make them obey. And then he said, "so they depicted Jesus as this white dude, and now when you think of Jesus, you think of slavery. And you see..... Boom!" And then the homie flippin' turned the chair and faced this kid right towards me. My face is now what that kid sees when he thinks of racism. It got me so frustrated, but I now understand what it feels like to have racism pointed at you.

Friday was amazing because I got to go on exchanges with one of our Zone Leaders, Elder Clayton. I went with him, but we cover the same Ward, so it wasn't much difference. We had a lot of really good laughs throughout the day, and it was really fun to joke around with him. We took some good videos of us goofing around. We also went to a member's home, and they had 2 Macaws. They said that they don't usually like new people, but they both climbed on my shoulder. Haha

Saturday we had a lesson with this couple from Nigeria. They both have told us that they would be baptized if we didn't believe in Tithing or a Heavenly Mother. These are both topics we tried to research, but the only evidence we could give him was from modern revelation. He wouldn't accept it, and told us it had to be from the New Testament. "If Jesus Christ didn't teach it in the New Testament, it's a sin." That is his belief. We are still working on him.

Sunday was amazing because of that surprise photo and call from Jim. He said that during his baptism, he spoke highly of my attitude towards his baptism. I'm so grateful that I got to get to know Jim for those 3 short months in MacG.

In short Brothers and Sisters, the Christlike attribute of Charity that I had been studying really came into full force this week. There were so many instances where I used it, relied on it, and prayed more fervently for it. I know and have a testimony of Charity. It truly is "the pure love of Christ".

I am so grateful to have this Gospel in my life. I am so grateful to know the truth. And I do know that this is the truth. No one can and never will be able to convince me otherwise. I've felt the Spirit too strongly in my life to go away from this.

I love all of you!

-Elder J.T.Yates

Jim's baptismal photo

The 2 Macaws that look like they are making out

After our dinner appointment with Jim and Sean last Monday

Elder Tai, myself, and Elder Hanchett recently exiting the GQ Magazine

Power and Responsibility

"With great power, comes great responsibility" 

-Uncle Ben

Many of you know who this great man is. How much of an example he gave to others. And how much he truly changed the lives of whole cities. This man is the Uncle and Father figure to Peter Parker. Better known as Spider-Man.

I'd like to rearrange that original statement. 

"The source of great power is found through great responsibility."

-Elder J.T.Yates

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, there is so much access to the powers of heaven. But, we are gifted with power through our righteous actions.

This week we had Zone Conference. The main theme was consecration, or giving all we have to God, and not holding back. As a mission, we are privileged to participate in a 40 day Social Media fast. We have deleted Facebook and Messenger from off of our phones to focus more on the people we are teaching, and how to have the Spirit in our teaching more.

I have already felt my relationship with my Savior grow as I have put more time in the work, and less in the phone.

For all who are reading this, I hope that you can review your week or weeks, and honestly say to yourself if you've spent too much time in your phones rather than spending time in your scriptures.

This is a humbling experience. One that I participated in this last week. I know that as you do this with an open heart and mind, you will feel th Spirit guide you in the direction that you need to be going.

-Elder J.T.Yates

The squad went went up into downtown Houston today. 

I was their tour guide.

This cute little girl went to the length of drawing me this photo. 

Her name is Ezra. :)

 I was wearing my glasses and sneezed. After my sneeze, I kept my face and looked up into our wall mirror. This is the result.

Our favorite Nigerian in our ward. Sanni(pronounced Sunny). 

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. ;)