Sister Mitzi Gates // Week Forty-Six

Another week already?

Well on Monday Merenda Leon took us to Providence/ Mt. Juliet area to

shop. It was fun just to get out of our area and go do something! She

left for college this week. Gonna miss her. But we also went back and

Den made homemade ice cream and invited her non member family. Good

missionary opportunity!

Tuesday we had exchanges with the Goodletsville Sisters. Sister Penrod

came to Lebanon with me. Sister Cotton, my trainer also trained her.

So we felt like we have known each other forever. It's the weirdest

thing! Love her! On the way back Sister Burgess the one who took us

got pulled over. Oh my goodness. She was mad! It really wasn't her

fault. But let me say the power of prayer is real! She got off with a

warning.

We visited some recent converts and old people. Benjji has completely

lost her mind, its the saddest thing ever. It breaks my heart. But we

had an appointment to see a less active and she wasn't home yet, so we

tracted. It was POURING rain. But we had to. So we try a few doors,

then this guy is inside his garage with his son doing I don't know

what. But he let us share the restoration with him. He might of just

felt bad we were in the rain. But it was fine. Not sure he was to

interested. But as soon as we were done the rain stopped a little. It

was pretty cool.

Also that night we visited the Benitez family. We taught them the plan

of salvation. The kids already knew so much, like about the millennium

and all! But we continued to practice on them. We got to the

resurrection and talked about being made perfect. They have a son

Michael who is Autistic and Down Syndrome. So the kids were all

excited that Michael gets to be perfect, very spiritual. After we sang

families can be together forever and Sister Benitez was just bawling.

It was great.

On Wednesday we had Zone Conference in Madison. We had car inspections

so we drove there. It was so fun to see everyone! We met with another

zone so it was great. I always love Zone Conferences! President did a

training on praying and having your prayers answered. It was just what

I needed to hear. We had one on church tours, so we will try and

implement them as well. Elder Johnson also said that salt lake called

and said that our car was okayed to go to the shop. So guess what?

We're on bikes now!! I love it. I really do. It's dang hot and dang

humid. But it makes you feel good! Haha I cannot tell you how funny it

was trying to ride bikes, with skirts, with the wind blowing, and with

my purse. We laugh the whole time we ride bikes! Haha

Thursday was good. Sister Keefe like kidnapped us and took us out to

see Sister Grint who has bad health so she can't come to church. It

was a good visit. Then we rode our bikes and visited more people. I've

never gotten so many weird looks ion my life. Tennessee just doesn't

have sidewalks either. So we try real hard to not get hit by cars.

On Friday sister Keefe kidnapped us again and took us to visit some

less actives and her visiting teachers. One of them needed a

priesthood blessing. So we called her home teacher and he came right

over. He didn't get a hold of anyone else to help. So guess what? He

asked us to participate in it. I laughed at him at first because I

didn't think he was being serious, but he was. So we laid our hands on

top of his and he gave her a blessing. It was kind of weird, not sure

if that was appropriate. But he has been on the high council and stuff

so we all trusted him. Probably the weirdest thing I've done on my

mission. But the spirit was there.

On Saturday we biked a good part of the day. I love biking. It feels

so good. It actually makes my head aches go away. I think I'm just

releasing those endorphins and it's great!! We helped an investigator,

Debbie Seifert clean her apartment she is moving our of. Tracted in

Kon- Tiki and met this guy Zack and taught the restoration to him.

Sunday was very spiritual. We have a lady who is at work in the

Philippines and she had a stroke over there. So we did a ward fast,

her kids and grandkids are pretty less active. But it was just great

to hear all their testimonies. It was amazing to hear how the gospel

blesses everyone so differently. Our ward mission leader is a

mortician, so he randomly has to leave to pick up a body. So we taught

gospel principals today on the priesthood authority, that was

interesting! Haha loved relief society as well. We had an amazing

lesson at the Forsons at dinner, brother keel was there as well. They

all told their conversion story and they all cried and testified. It

was for sure what sister Svedin and I needed. I love the spirit. I

love the priesthood. It's just comforting.

This week was so slow. But I have learned people have agency. Dang

agency! They can choose to listen to our message. They can choose to

learn more. They can choose to follow the commitments we leave. But

they have a choice. I just want to just take their agency away for a

minute, so they have to listen and can reap the rewards from the

gospel.

I have been listening to conference talks when I get ready on my iPad

and I love it. I don't know why, before my mission, I just listened to

general conference once and that was it. I was excited to hear what

they had to say, and they'd give their talk and that was it. This time

I am preparing for general conference. I am listening to the

commitments they left, seeing if I followed them, if not I still have

a month to do them. Sometimes listening to the talks in the morning

are the most spiritual part of my day. I love hearing the words of our

leaders. They're so inspired. I hope you do the same as well. I love

you all and hope you have a great week:)




Sister Gates









Providence with Mereanda!! Fun p day.‏








Sister Penrod and I!! She is my mission sister. We went on exchanges. LOVE HER SO MUCH.‏













Love these sisters. Also elder and sister Johnson go home this month. I bawled my eyes out. Not even joking. I LOVE THEM. So much.‏





Sister Godrey! You know the Godfreys in our old ward? It's the grandma! She always says "this sister use to baby sit my grandkids!" Haha love her too!‏







This happened. Eric church's thingy...... We were going to lunch with Sister Keefe! I love Nashville.‏







Some other gems. Love Lebanon.‏







Dinner at the Forsons with brother keel. Most spiritual experience ever. Also our neighbors were fighting and I was listening. Hahah‏





Sister Svedin was taking a selfie with her package, so I joined.‏








The Madison Zone!