Mitzi Gates: Sister Mitzi Gates // Week Forty-Nine

I am loving Nolensville!

Well on Monday we said goodbye to Elder and Sister Johnson! LOVE them. They are seriously my grandparents. Okay so Sydney Yates, her moms dad is twin brothers with Elder Johnson! So it's been fun having them round! They live in northern Utah so we can go visit after:)

We have a couple people getting baptized! The waters family. So the dad converted like a few years ago, and he got a divorce with his wife. Then he got remarried and his new wife wasn't a member, but they started to come to church. Well long story short Candice, is the mom and she is getting baptized in between conference sessions on Saturday! Also her daughter Ashley who is a freshmen is getting baptized as well. She has two other sons who said they wanted to get baptized, we teach them the lessons, we're just not sure they really get it. So we could have four baptisms on Saturday! Wahoo! It's been fun to teach them. First we teach the parents on Tuesday then on Friday we teach the whole family, so the parents can help the kids understand and they can bear testimony. The daughter Ashley got her answer while her mom was talking. How cool is that? Hey are a great family and are excited to be sealed on a year together!

On Wednesday we had the temple!! BEST DAY EVER. It was so fun because I got to go with my old zone from Lebanon. So Sister Svedin was there. It was so peaceful. It was exactly what I needed. President and Sister Andersen are always there in the sessions with us. It's so fun to have them there. I wish we could go more often. While I was in the Celestrial room I was thinking, why wouldn't you want to be here? Why wouldn't you want those blessings that come from the temple? I was thinking about the Waters family and how in a year they can be sealed for time and all eternity. Why wouldn't you want that? Heavenly Father is so excited for them, for anyone who decides to covenant with him. Do you know how many blessings you receive by making those covenants? I can promise those blessings you stand in need of come from the temple. Whatever it is, when you put him first in your life, you will get those blessings. I am so excited for them. I love the temple. I am jealous that you could go everyday if you wanted to! Can't wait to go when I get back.

After the temple we rushed to Green Hills because we had Zone Meeting. I had to give my first training in front of the whole zone! Ah! It was fine. But glad it's over! We had a training from Elder Harris our zone leader, then President showed "Meet the Mormons" it was pretty good! It just leaves your hanging at the end, but pretty good. Also Sister Hargadon, one of my companions is in it! She went to Napal and they interviewed her and showed her! So that was fun!

After Zone Meeting we went on exchanged with the Franklin Sisters. So Sister Tangatalakepa came with me to Nolensville. She is the sweetest! She is from Tonga.... We just call her Sister T! We had a great exchange. As STLs we have the opportunity to serve all the sisters. I love being able to go with all the sisters in the zone. They really look to us for words of advice and help. I can say all I want, but I know the Lord is using me as an instrument for these sisters. I am so grateful. I love my mission so much.

We do a lot of finding work, because we just opened this area. They are building a new stake center here on Nolensville and they want to make Old Hickory ward into two. So we are working hard! We tract all the time. It's really interesting to meet all kinds of people. We had a few that were interested. Other than that they are happy with their little white church down the street!

We are teaching a few other people, but they're more just interested in what we teach than wanting to join. But hey, we gotta start somewhere!

On Saturday we surprised Sister Cotton from the mission office to come and go out with us. Sister Andersen (mission presidents wife) brought her down and we went on exchanges with them. I took Sister Cotton (my trainer, mission mom) and we went and worked! It was weird... A lot has changed in a year! But it was good. We contacted. Few people and were able to teach together. After we met up with Sister Andersen and Cook and went to dinner. It was so fun being with Sister Andersen, it was like being with my sisters and mom before the broadcast! What a great day. We then went to the broadcast. It was great! They seemed to talk about the temple and covenants a lot. After going on Wednesday I wish I could go more often! Loved the broadcast though.

The leaves are changing and I am so dang excited for fall! It is my favorite time of year. There are a couple places where it's just a tunnel of trees when you drive through, it's already starting to change colors, it's beautiful! It's starting to cool down, I'm wearing my cardigans now. Wahoos! Summer wasn't bad at all, they said we had a really mild summer, so this winter will probably be bad again.

I seriously am so blessed. I know Heavenly Father is aware of me and my prayers. Sacrament meeting was just what I needed yesterday. Sister Cook is kind of getting trunky because she has one more transfer left until she goes home. I am so glad I still have time on my mission. It's so weird to think about even going home. I love my mission. I can't believe it has been a year since my bleeding ulcer. I am grateful that dad holds the priesthood and was able to give me a blessing. Heavenly Father has just blessed me so much in my life, I feel unworthy of all the blessings.

I decided to memorize The Living Christ by Christmas. AH! I am so excited. So when I skype home, I'll show you! I loved the women's conference who inspired me to do this. I hope you take this challenge as well!

Thanks for all your love and support! I have the greatest family and friends. Love you!

xoxo, Sister Gates