Mitzi Gates: 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:)