Sister Mitzi Gates // Week Seventy-Five

There is nothing greater than being a missionary. Such an amazing week.

Bella has been living with her roommate, who is a guy. We had been practicing how to tell Bella she can't get baptized until she moves out. I had been including it in all of my prayers I'd been saying. I just didn't want her to get upset and not understand. So we were just talking with Bella, she said she decided to go off of her Bipolar medication. We were like great! This is not going to go to well then!! So I kept praying. Then we started the lesson, and we just read out of the pamphlet a little bit. Then Sister Curtis wasn't going to say it.... So took a deep breath. (Bella gets a little awkward and her eyes get huge) I was like "Bella, if you want to be baptized... You can't live with your roommate, you have to move out!!" She said "Yeah I'm actually moving out next week into my Aunts house with my girls!! We are waiting for the paint to dry and the furniture to come. It should be next week I move in!" WHAT?! I flew my hands in the air, clapped my hands, shouted for joy!! What a true miracle. She was being prepared even before that! Seriously we sat and laughed for a good 5 minutes after that. Also we found out her Aunt is a less active. Another miracle! Then Bella came to church on Sunday and said she felt at home. She kept telling everyone about her baptism!! Yay for April 12th:) 

On Friday we had MLC again. So we woke up at 4am to get there on time. We actually got there an hour early because traffic was great! So we decided to take a short detour to downtown Nashville! Haha we parked on Broadway and I showed them all the little shops there. Nashville seriously feels like home to me. I love it so much. Then we ran up to the Music City Convention Center... It's huge! We ran to the top and took some pictures up there. Then I was like guys if we want to make it on time we have to run back to the car. So us and the Zone Leaders are sprinting through downtown to get to MLC on time!! Hahah Elder Van Valkenberg recorded it, I'll send it home. But we made it! 

MLC was amazing as always. The church is doing another Easter video. It's two minutes long and it's amazing! They gave us certain pass along cards to use to promote it! Also on April 5th the church will be taking over YouTube again. So sweet! President Andersen gave us a talk to read, Jesus of Nazareth by David B. Haight, IT IS SO AMAZING! Perfect for a good Easter read. They also talked about the importance of the BOM & being able to tie it into our Easter message. We have been reading the children's BOM with our investigators. The part of the sign of Christ death and when he visits the people in America. The spirit is so strong. I LOVE Easter & I LOVE being able to testify of my Savior and that he lives again. 

This recent convert, Tarah, and her mom, who isn't a member, made us their famous dinner this week. Cheesy Chicken Casserole. Hahah there was still bones in the chicken. Okay imagine: in an old beat up trailer, sitting on couches that are broken and uneven, door swung wide open, roaches crawling all over, picking bones out of my chicken, and good ole southern friends. I never want to leave Paducah. It strangely has my heart. 

Also Brother Syphus from the ward went down to Vegas for work. But he is originally from St. George so he went and visited. Well I get an email from him and it has a picture of him at Snow Canyon High School with Principal Brooks and Hurt!! Day totally made. Small world! 

Also the University of Kentucky is in the top 4 right now. Everything and everyone is decked out in all their blue and white with UK all over. Yes we have a hard time scheduling appointments when they play. But we are always updated on how they do! 

For the General Women's Broadcast the Relief Society did a little dinner before for some less actives and recent converts. So fun! Then we tried to watch it in the chapel but our sound was all messed up. So we were like we have an idea! We ran into the family history center and turned on a couple of the computers and pulled the broadcast up. Then we pulled the couches in from the halls and watched it!! Haha it was so fun! Also the messages that were shared were amazing. Sure love hearing about the family!! Makes me so grateful for mine. 

I hope you go to General Conference with a question! 

I know it will be answered. So excited for it!! 

Happy Easter!!!

Have a great week:) Love you! 

Sister Gates

Exchanges with Tarah! It's always entertaining. Haha‏

Thanks mom for the Easter package!‏

The famous "Cheesy Chicken Casserole"‏

A nice little stop downtown Nashville before MLC!!‏

AP Elder Ashton who I came out with -- MLC group picture... My last one -- the cutest office staff missionaries

LOVE seeing some of my best friends at MLC

Literally running through down town Nashville!!‏

Amish at Aldis!!‏

President owed all of the MLC group milkshakes because he didn't have his white hand book with him!!‏

This is Bella who is getting baptized on April 12th!! We love her.‏

The cutest little kids we tracted into!!‏

Brother Syphus from Paducah at Snow Canyon High School! Crazy.‏

Going to the Nashville Temple the other week.‏

Mom and tori read this guys conversion story through family search!! It is SO cool! We have the coolest family!‏

Sister Mitzi Gates // Week Seventy-Four

THIS WEEK WENT BY WAY TO FAST!! I loved every minutes of it.

Well I am staying in good ol' Paducah with Sister Curtis!! It will be so fun. I am way excited. 

Bella Kelso, is progressing real well!! We have her on for a baptismal date for April 12. Her boyfriend actually sent her as a referral to us. He said he would baptize her, but he can't do it on April 12, he can on April 18th. He lives in Maryland. Bella said that's to bad he won't be able to make it to her baptism because she knows she is suppose to be baptized on April 12th!! Haha we were dying when she told us that. She comprehends everything, loves the Book of Mormon and love teaching it back to us!! She said we saved her life. Also she has never been happier! Okay that is the greatest thing I have ever heard. She wasn't able to come to church yesterday because her daughter went to the ER. Dang opposition!! We are very excited for Bella.

We prayed specifically to have two baptism dates. We have a lot of potential investigators. And we are still cleaning out the area book. But this week we were able to set two pretty solid baptismal dates!! It was really cool to see how Heavenly Father provides people when you are willing to work hard and know and do his will. He is so aware of us and our area.

 I did exchanges in Mayfield with Sister Peterson. That is one small town there. Seriously that is the complete hicks and sticks. So many humble people. I also did exchanges in Paducah with Sister Hess from the Foxcroft. Both great Sisters. We saw so many miracles!!

We went with Lisa, our recent convert to do some family history on Thursday so she could have some family names for the temple!! Well we had the stake family consultant come help us. Well we go in and Lisa brings all her kids. Well we tried to sign in and but the dang server was down!! The family consultant said that it takes at least 12 hours to get it up and running. We were bummed. But we all got on our knees in a circle and prayed our hearts out!! Well we get up and start talking. So I hurry and hop on my iPad and get onto family search. Well it was up!! So we pulled it up on the computer and it was up! It was so great!! Seriously such a tender mercy from the Lord. Prayers answered in a matter of seconds, through faith.

Lisa's temple trip was a complete success. We woke up and left at 5 in the morning, Saturday. Drove all the way down and did baptisms. THE SPIRIT WAS SO STRONG! The whole time I was just covered in chills. We were able to do baptisms and confirmations as well. Such an amazing experience. It was so cool to have Lisa there with her two girls. They were all just glowing!! They said they never wanted to leave. When I was getting confirmed their was a name, "Anne Marie" I just about fell out of my chair!! (Thats my moms name). Another tender mercy. 

We went to the temple to do a session too with the Paducah Zone, we went to the temple to do a session Friday morning. It was pretty stressful. Our ride canceled on us. We can only ask for a ride to transfers and thats it, because we are 3 hours away from Nashville. So we had to drive and use our miles. Got up early in the morning. I drove again. Cruised through traffic and finally made it. Well they told us our session started at 11 but it really started at 11:30. So we were there early! So they told us to change and to do sealings!! IT WAS SO GREAT!! That was my first time doing sealings. The spirit was so strong. We were with a bunch of missionaries too because they all came early. Then we did a session. I just love President and Sister Andersen. Greatest mission President ever. The spirit was so strong and we were all uplifted and ready to go to work. I cannot tell you how much I love the temple. I just want to stay there forever.

On a side note passed through all 3 states on Friday... Kentucky, Tennessee and

Illinois. So that was cool.

Also I prayed to have my last area be a biking area just to get in shape and stuff.... Well guess what? We totally ran out of miles like completely! So guess who is going to be biking? WE ARE! I am so excited. I love it! Sister Curtis was so mad when I told her I prayed months ago for that. Haha

There is an amazing scripture I was able to discovered this week. It's in D&C 103:36 

 "All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through your diligence, faithfulness, and prayers of faith."

What a great promise. I know that goes for anything. Whether it be school, work, sports, or a mission. 

I love my mission. More than anything. 

I love the people. More than anything. 

I love my Savior. More than anything.

I love you guys. Thanks for all the love and support!

Sister Gates

Exchanges in Mayfield with Sister Peterson!! Haha quite the humble exchange. Smallest town ever.‏

Paducah District!‏

Temple with the Paducah Zone!! Such a great session.‏

Temple with Lisa, Ella and Hannah!! Baptisms for the dead. So amazing!!‏

Exchanges with Donielle, a member in Paducah!‏

Just chilling with Sister Long right now. Lunch and haircuts!!‏

The ZLs pranked us in saying we were getting white washed. It was a joke!! But sister Curtis cried. Before we found out the truth. Hahah we are both staying in Paducah!‏

Temple trip, baptisms for the dead!! Lisa, Hannah and Ella! So fun. Perfect day!‏

Sister Mitzi Gates // Week Seventy-Three

This week was so amazing!! We got 14 member present, did 7 full days of finding, and 6 new investigators!! Gosh my heart is just so full right now. There is nothing greater than missionary work. This is my favorite quote. It gets me pumped every time o read it!! 

 “I have often said one of the greatest secrets of missionary work is work! If a missionary works, he will get the Spirit; if he gets the Spirit, he will teach by the Spirit; and if he teaches by the Spirit, he will touch the hearts of the people and he will be happy. There will be no homesickness, no worrying about families, for all time and talents and interests are centered on the work of the ministry. Work, work, work--there is no satisfactory substitute, especially in missionary work.” –President Ezra Taft Benson

Okay Amy: we were going to drop her because she was a little sketchy and not exactly sure how interest she really is. So we went with a member and we said a prayer to help us know if we should keep her or not! Well we go inside and we go over some of the questions she has. We went over the restoration pamphlet again. We were getting ready to leave and she says "I have to tell you about a dream I had." So background, the first time we went over we did how to begin teaching and we left her with a prayer and we all held hands. Okay so she said "I had a dream we were standing over there, just like the first time you guys did when you came. We were all holding hands again, praying. Except we were all dressed in white. When you guys left, the same spirit of happiness was still there with me. It was very peaceful." AHHH WHAT?! So cool. We testified that that was the spirit and an answer to her prayers. She is awesome. We will keep her:) 

We also had MLC this week on Tuesday. So we got up at 3:55 am to get up and drive down to Nashville with the Zone Leaders. I love these meetings because all the leaders of the mission come and just give their thoughts and opinions. They are always so powerful and uplifting!! They talked about 4 main things. 1. The Atonement of Jesus Christ, and how it's a gift for us to accept. 2. How to use time wisely 3. Faith in finding new people 4. Safeguards for using technology. We also got new iPads. Which is a fun new restart! We then take what we've learned and turn around and train our Zones. 

So Thursday we had Zone meeting. President and Sister Andersen joined us! As well as Sister Andersen's two sisters. Haha I LOVE them all so much. It turned out great. We all took a section to train on. I trained on the Atonement. It was such an amazing study for me. All went well! 

Then I went on exchanges to Fulton, Kentucky. I have never been to a small town like that before. Haha I went with Sister T and Sister Trask, they are in a trio. I love those sisters. In Paducah we live more in the city-ish. But this was just straight up country!! I loved every minute I got to spent with those people. 

I think I mentioned it last week, but we are dropping almost all of our investigators. They aren't coming to church! So we are putting them on the back burner. But we are working hard to get our area book cleaned out.... It is a complete mess.

This week this less active // newly returning couple in our ward, his dad died. So they invited us to go join. WE WERE THE ONLY WHITE PEOPLE THERE!! It was hilarious. They were all singing praises and shouting amen. Okay there was only 6 white people there and we were two of them. There was about 70 black people. I recorded a solo from one of the ladies!! It was pretty intense. Best southern experience ever. 

Also last night we had to call the cops on our neighbor. It was pretty intense. Then two cops showed up and the zone leaders had to come investigate. And it's a story I'll explain more in a couple week:) 

Keep reading the Book of Mormon!! It changes life's. I'm so lucky I get to see that first hand. I love that book and know it's true. 

I sure love you all:) 

Exchanges with Sister T and Sister Trask in Fulton, Kentucky!!‏

Sister Koonce made us gluten free muffins and put them in our car after our women's meeting on Sunday!‏

Some of the cars at Zone Meeting for car inspections!!‏

Kentucky to Nashville in a matter of days. I love it all!!‏

BYOC (bring your own candle) inspired by dad!! Hahah‏

Just hanging out down town today!! So fun. Love Paducah!!‏

At the Golden Carrot getting ear candles!!‏

Down by the Ohio River!!‏