Sister Mitzi Gates // Week Thirty-One

Another great week!

I love Lebanon, and I love the people here. The work is kind of slow,

but it's amazing! Here is an update on all of our investigators:

Shelby, we gave her a church tour and she really enjoyed that. We took

her around and showed her all the rooms and then all the pictures on

the wall and what they all meant. She had some great questions about

Joseph Smith! Then we sat down and had a lesson. She asked about

Temples, so we explained them and what we do in them. She loved it!!

Being sealed together with her family and knowing the work for the

dead can be done! The spirit was so strong. She also wants to get

baptized in a church, so we explained the priesthood power. She isn't

married but has 2 kids. So her husband Matt could baptize her if they

decide to. We are really praying for them!!

Josh Hodge, we went over and had a great lesson with him. We talked

about prophets! We showed him who President Monson was. He said if he

finds our for himself if this church is true, he will join. I invited

him to take a church tour and he said yes. We are so excited! The

spirit is always a lot stronger in the church! I think he is a little

scared to get his answer, because he wasn't looking to change

religions or anything. So this is going to be a big week for him. We

are praying for him too!!

Tina, Miles and Charles, we went over and had a great lesson with them

too! Sister Keefe is the one who takes us clear out to Hartsville to

visit them. It's one of my favorite drives. It's really close to

Kentucky! Yes they live in a trailer park. But anyways, she's

progressing, but she isn't. I asked her to be baptized and she still

doesn't understand why her other baptisms don't count! We always

explain the priesthood to her. She says she gets it, but if she got it

she would be getting baptized! So it's a little frustrating. But they

come to church each week! So we keep visiting them.

On Saturday the Elders had a baptism, it was great! Her name is

Jesselyn and she just graduated high school, her mom isn't a member

and got up and bore her testimony and pretty much said she is next to

be baptized! Haha I was talking to Jesselyn and she said she wanted to

serve a mission! How cool is that? Some people are just beyond

prepared for this gospel. It gave me and sister Tenney hope to keep

working hard to find those people!

Then on Sunday their was another baptism for an 8 year old boy, Jensen

Hill. Both of his parents served a mission and so she invited non

members to it. We saw who they were and talked to them the whole time!

They asked a lot of great questions. We showed them the chapel and

everything. I hope when I get home I can still continue to be a

missionary just like the Hills.

Oh we also had interviews this week with President! They did it

different this time. It was only President and Sister Andersen who

came, usually the APs come and so trainings. But we got to be

interviewed by both of them! I cannot tell you how much I love them

both. They are amazing!! They really do care about all of us

missionaries. President again shared how tracting 1 hour a day and

reading 30 minutes a day out of the Book of Mormon will increase our

baptisms. So we are working hard on that!

I think if anything my mission is helping me the most. It's amazing

how many opportunities we get to be apart of and help people

understand the restored gospel. But more than anything I am gaining

the most. I cannot tell you how much I love the people here. I could

sit and talk for hours and hear their stories. Everyone in the south

accepts Christ, so it's amazing to see how he has helped and blessed

them. It's even better to tell them that there is more out there!!

Everyday I get a confirmation that this church is true. Every single

day. I love it so much. I never want to stop being a missionary. I

hope you all don't either! I love you all so much:) thanks for all the

love and support! Read the Book of Mormon everyday. It continues to

bless my life and I know it will bless yours! I love you!!

Sister Gates:)




Ps. I am getting eating alive out here! Seriously I have never had so

many mosquito bites in my life. And I still am amazed every time I see

a firefly!






This was for Annii's Birthday! Haha she loves bears, so we got her one. And then they had Root beer Virgil's and cake to celebrate. Cheers!‏


Sister Tenney and I at transfers a few weeks ago, Sister Bickmore just sent me this!‏This is Meranda Leon, she is an amazing daughter in the ward! She graduated and I'm going to miss her! She's going to BYUI, She made these for us!‏




So this is General Hatton's grave... Sister Tenney told me to get a picture by it... I guess he was a general in the confederate war. 




Also we were just checking the baptism font!‏









Happy 7 Month Mark to me!! Haha






This is Sister Gregory and Emma Gregory! Love them. She helps me with my style.‏