Sister Mitzi Gates // Week Fifty-Seven

Such a great week!

Well I got a new companion! Sister Oldroyd. She is so fun, she is from Farmington, UT. We are actually the same age! So that's a plus. I am excited to work with her!

But Monday before transfers, we had a lesson with Kristin the chiropractor. We also had a member, Sister Payne there, who Kristin works with! It was a pretty good lesson. We read from 3 Nephi 11. It went great for the most part... But sometimes out members like to talk a lot. So that's hard! Kind of throws the spirit off! Don't be that member if you go out with the missionaries. But she really liked sister cook, and isn't very good about change, so I'm nervous to see how she is with the new sister! 

Tuesday Sister Smartt drove us to transfers! It's the weirdest thing knowing your companion you had will be home in 24 hrs. It was crazy! I always love transfers though because I get to see all my missionary friends who are getting transferred! It's always so uplifting as well. Then we went back to our area, with my new companion. We tracted for like ever. Then we saw Atef, our Egyptian friend who works at Publix the grocery store. We always teach him in the ice cream shop next to it. We introduced the BOM and he brought up "you can't add to the bible" also we talked about life after death. He kind of like to just bash with us. It was interesting!

Then Wednesday we switched for exchanges and Sister Laws from Franklin 1st came here with me. We tracted for like 3 hours straight. It actually went by fast! We taught four other lessons as well. 

Then Thursday was Sister Laws 21st birthday. So we drove to Franklin and had studies and cake there with the other sisters! It was so fun. Then I got back with my companion and we had district meeting and they asked tell us one crazy thing about your companion! We both laughed because we had only been together 4 hours before we went on exchanges. So it was good to be back with her! Then we end to dinner with a member. She decided to take us out to this Mexican restraunt. Well the lady that set is at our table came up to us later and was like "hey! I just moved from Utah and I've been here for a week and I'm looking for the same church!" Turns out she is a me,bet and just moved out here. Her boyfriend isn't a member, they came to church on Sunday and we are meeting with them tonight. Also one of her co workers said he wanted a copy of the BOM to read! Wahoo. Miracles by the members. 

Then Friday while we were Tracting we tracted into this family that was beyond nice! Like we thought they were members at first because they were like "Hello! Welcome, come in!" Haha no one ever does that. Then we start talking to them. The dad lived down in Brazil because his parents were missionaries for 32 years there. Then he met his wife and he has two girls now. Well their last name is actually Gates! It was crazy!! We are going to go back, we were just in shock because they were so nice. 

Then we had tracted into this lady a few weeks ago and we were following up! We were able to teach the whole restoration lesson to her and her dad. They are pretty familiar with the church, so that was exciting! 

Our Egyptian investigator Atef isn't progressing much either... We meet in an ice cream shop and there are distractions. He gave his BOM to his daughter, so we will see how she likes it. Atef also brought one of his co workers to our lesson, and he enjoyed it. 

We again followed up with some more people, and we were able to have a solid lesson with Sandra and Sedric. Great couple! Totally hilarious! She took forever to explain things. 

For the most part we don't really have to many people that are really progressing. But we are doing a lot of Tracting, and a lot of following up! The lord has been good to us to be able to share so many lessons this week. For thanksgiving we passed around a list to the Ward to share 15 minute messages about gratitude, 3 people invited us over for dinner! So we are going to be busy. I love being able to spend another holiday on my mission. It's the greatest!! Being apart of everyone else's traditions is the best. I can't believe yesterday was mine and Maceys 13 month mark. Ew. It goes by quick! Thanks for all your love and support! Sure love you all:) 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

Sister Gates

Heather Webb from Lebanon surprised me at church on Sunday! She came and visited me:) so nice of her!‏

Atef our Egyptian investigator brought us a Mango drink from Egypt!!‏

The Jensen ps saw us Monday night, and that was sister cooks last night! So they got us ice cream. Yay!‏

Sister Svedin and I at transfers! As well as my companion who went home... Sister cook!‏

BROTHER SENG! Sure miss this guy from the Lebanon Ward. So fun to see everyone at transfers!! This is also sister Rawlings who served in Lebanon before me.‏

We went to Franklin for sister Laws birthday... Plus I was on exchanges with her!‏

Sister Mitzi Gates // Week Fifty-Six

This was once crazy busy week!

Well Monday, we had a great lesson with Kristin (the chiropractor) also Sister Firzgerald came. We taught the restoration and she had some valid concerns that we were able to address. I'm so grateful for members, because they are able to explain things differently than us. 

Tuesday we had interviews with President Andersen. I cannot tell you how much I love the Andersens. They are the best!! While during interviews the AP's (elders who are assistants to the mission president) came and did trainings. They also gave us this 7 minute work out on our iPads, because they said we can't use any gyms anymore..... Darn. But we did it with Sister Andersen! Haha it was hilarious! Love her. 

We went and visited Brother Cooper who is a less active, I'm not even sure he understands his baptismal covenant that he has made with the Lord. But we are trying to help! So we go over and we have to meet outside with him because he is a single guy. He always brings us a drink or treat out. He brought us Green Tea.. Haha we were like we can't drink this! He got so mad! So I was mad. I kept trying to explain it to him. And he kept saying, I need to talk to the person who ever created this commandment! Then as we leave we said a prayer with him, and he wanted to hold hands. So Sister Cook is cracking up because we have to hold hands and we're made at each other. Then she starts her prayer and I start laughing so hard. He was like what?! Hahah we laughed forever. I was like "oh! Sister Cook is just embarrassed she messed up on her prayer, it's okay! You can do it Sister Cook!" She looked at me like what? Then he was like it's okay! You got this. Then we started to laugh even harder. Any ways, super funny!

Wednesday we had Zone Meeting at the Green Hills building. We had car inspections.... I have learned a lot about cars! But then we gave our trainings. Mine was on "asking inspired questions". I'm just so grateful for the spirit, who is able to guide me as I give these trainings. He is to good to me. I love the Nashville Zone! They are all amazing missionaries. 

Then after I went on exchanges with Sister Thomas to Green Hills. This cute sister is still in training and had no idea what was going on! Haha I didn't either, but some how we made it all work. We used an elementary school bathroom at night, we taught a Chinese women the plan of salvation, and froze to death! Haha every exchange is so different! I always learn so much too. 

Then on Thursday we got a call from this guy that the sisters had met the day before. They went Tracting at Publics, a grocery store, because it was to cold! Haha so this worker called us back and said he wanted to learn more. We taught him at an ice cream store, he is Egyptian. Super cool guy! We taught him the restoration and he wants to learn more. Yay! 

On Friday we had weekly planning, after that we got a call from the Hermanas in Nashville, so we drove up there and went on exchanges for a couple hours. It was amazing! I love missionary work. Its the greatest! I feel like the Spanish population is way more open to hear more. So it was fun, I caught on to a little bit of what they were saying. Then we talked about their companionship, and gave some advice. 

After we drove to the Waters, our recent converts. Ashlee and Nathan have this disease where they are legally blind, but can see shadows and faces up close. But Ashlee woke up the other day and she couldn't hardly see at all. It's really sad. Pray for them. We actually ordered them a Brail BOM, because they go to a blind school, and they are learning Brail for when their vision is completely gone. It's almost there though. The BOM is MASSIVE! It comes in 7 books. 

Then Saturday we had a crazy day. We taught 8 lessons. We started off by surprising Sister Cook at breakfast at the Amish store. So good!! The Jensens helped with that. Then we tracted. Found 3 people and taught them. Had lunch at Olive Garden with some less actives coming back, Gloria and April. Then did more Tracting and following up. The pm dinner at the Gants, they have the quadruplet kids. Love them! Then a lot more crazy busy missionary work. 

On Sunday we had Wanda our crazy investigator came! Hahah we went Saturday night and invited her to church, sister cook asked for a picture because we kind of thought she wouldn't come to church. She like freaked out because she wasn't ready. So she took a picture of us and said she was going to photoshop herself in! Hahah creepiest picture ever. When we were in gospel principles she pocked her head in, with her sweats on, with the pictures printed and herself photoshopped in. So funny! I'll email them. I love her. She's crazy though. But she stayed for relief society too! Yay. 

Then Sunday night we met with Caleb again. But his wife is never home, so Brother Meek always comes with us. But we need another guy or girl to be there too, so he was like I'll just call my friend! We were like okay. He lives in Bellvue and come to find out he is actually meeting with the Sisters in Bellvue right now too! So we had a nice long chat about the BOM and the bible. Again, I am so grateful for members who come with us. It was a great lesson though. Sorry this was so long, it was such an amazing week! Oh! I almost forgot. We got transfer calls. Sister Cook is going home, her mission is over! But I am getting Sister Oldroys, cute sister! I am excited. We are staying STLs. Yay! Then they took the elders out in our Ward and are whitewashing with the APs. (Elders who are assistants to the president) so that will be fun! Haha the new stake center is being built right now in our area, so the new mission office will be there. So the AP's are moving in! 

Also it snowed today and also on Friday. I'm not okay with that. It's freezing. I don't think I'm ready for another winter yet........... 

I love being a missionary. I have never been so truly happy in my life. If you're not happy, ask yourself if you are living the gospel fully. I feel bad for Sister Cook, I still have 6 months left and I cry about going home already! Not like I don't like home, I just really love my mission, talking about the gospel everyday and being surrounded by amazing people. That is true the equivalent of true happiness. 

I love you all!!

Sister Gates

When Brother Cooper gave us green tea...... And we busted up laughing during the prayer! Hahah he ended up saying it.‏

While on exchanges in Green Hills we met with Paige, a LA who her husband does work for Luke Bryan. MY MISSION IS THE COOLEST.‏

While on exchanges in green hills I went to their district meeting, elder Petersen is hilarious!! So fun!‏

Exchanges with Sister Thomas in Green Hills!!

We went to the cool springs mall with the Franklin 1st sisters!! We also met Santa:)

MLC a couple weeks ago, Sister Andersen just put up the pictures! (Sister Boren who I went to school with is next to me!) so fun.‏

ALL MY SISTAS AND ME at Zone Meeting, then Chipotle and Sweet Cece's!! I love my zone:) also sister Ashworth and I because I didn't get a picture on exchanges last week.‏

We went to the Awful Waffle (waffle house) for sister cook, she really wanted to go! Haha these things are everywhere out here!‏

When we had to go to the rescue and do exchanges with the Hermanas in Nahsville. This is Hermana Warner!‏

We kidnapped Ashlee and she came and got gas with us! She is almost all the way blind! She is also our recent convert!‏

The new stake center!! Yay! The baptism font, sacrament meeting room, and the new mission office!‏

Hey Dad in our spare time we went and tarred the new stake center!! Remember when you LET us tar the house over spring break? Hahah‏

We tracted into the grinch. Yes the grinch is taller than Sister Cook!‏

It snowed this morning!! I'm not quite ready for winter!‏

Sister Gant took us to visit brother Gant at work today! He works for Warner // Chappell production music. It was awesome!! Neat experience.‏

The Gants! They are the quadruplets!! She is our RS president. Love this family!!‏

Then we visited Belmont University!! It's adorable. A cute southern bell lady owned that house and it evolved into a university.‏

Suprised Sister Cook with the Jensens and an Amish Breakfast!! Love them!‏