First Area, Colton, California

A little advise: Take advantage of EVERY FREE MOMENT.  You'll find if you do the important things first, you'll always have time for fun And write everything down! Make a list of everything you need to do, then put it in order and give yourself time to do each thing. (Remember to schedule RELAXING time.) It's important to seek out the spirit and really listen. It's hard sometimes, and that's something i kinda struggled with this week. But i've found that even though you can't always feel it, or it isn't as strong as you'd like, He's always there, and he always cares. 

I'm in Colton, my companion is great. It's hard to have to get to know a new person so often and have to let go of the others, but my companion has been really great and is training me very well. The schedule is starting to get hard, but she keeps me in line It's been a huge culture shock for me.  Needless to say, I have become very grateful as well as a bit homesick for Driggs.

On a more positive note. There is one couple in the ward that is very nice, and they are amazing missionaries!  I am very thankful for them. Tell dad that there ARE thunderstorms in California. The day i got here it rained and there was thunder It was nice. 

I love you and miss you! Don't forget to pray as a family( other than meals) and really make time for FHE (Family Home Evening). It makes a difference. 

MTC Week 2

I have definitley felt the spirit so much here! It's hard work, but i can't think of a time I've ever been happier. I'm still waking up on time, getting to places on time, and still not having withdrawls from not having my phone! :D (I told you I'd be fine tehe) I'm kinda feeling sad to leave tomorrow, but i'm sure i will learn to love the deathly heat of California just as much as i love it here....eventually

My cold is just finishing up clearing out so hopefully i'll be better this next week:)  

Today has been really good so far! We went to the temple again this morning. It was really nice to be able to walk around out in the sunshine for a little bit:) Other than that, we've been packing and doing laundry and now emails so it's turning out to be a pretty busy day:) Good, but busy.

 

This week has been so good! We started teaching this lady as a TRC Investigator (Ask dad what that is) She believes in God, but has quite a few issues with Mormons. Anyway, she has been here for about a year and a half talking with missionaries and from what we heard she is one of the toughest investigators they have here,  so we were really kinda scared to go in and teach her haha. So we got in there all prepared to teach her about the gospel, and ended up just talking the whole time. We got to know her pretty quickly and she is an amazing woman and knows SO much! Plus, she plays the guitar and has a beautiful voice! Anyway, i don't have time to write all the details, but i will tell you the end of the story:).....So we had been  visiting her for a while and we figured she has been here so long, and she studies different religions, that there wasn't anything we could possibly teach her that she hasn't heard before. SO at every lesson, we ended up just talking, and singing, and talking about scriptures. One lesson however we were talking to her about what her favorite scripture was and while she was talking i was flipping through my scriptures trying to find my favorite scripture to share with her, and i ended up looking at 2 nephi chapt. 4....(it's not my favorite scripture), but i had it marked and so i started reading it. It is such a beautiful chapt! So when it was my turn to share, i shared that scripture with Leah cuz it was such beautiful wording, and i said to her, "Wouldn't this chapter make such a beautiful worship song??" And she agreed! And then....SHE WROTE US A SONG! In one night!

     

The last day we visited with our investigator, she gave us each a bent nail. She told us that when you pound it on the head, you just make it more crooked, but when you pat it on the back, you straighten it. She then thanked us for our friendship and told us how special we were to her even though she doesn't totally agree with everything that we believe. 

     

 The moral of the story....Actions, speak so much louder than words. Remember who you are, and treat everyone as the saviour would treat them. You never know how greatly you can effect a persons life by simply being a friend. I love you all so much!

THE MTC

 The MTC is wonderful so far! I have two companions. They are both really great  We have 7 people in our district, and the Elders we have are really great. they know when to be serious, and when we need a laugh, which is great Everyone in my district is going to Tampa, Florida except for me and Elder B who are both going to Redlands. Elder B is the travel coordinator and said that we meet up with one other spanish speaking sister, and a couple other elders at the airport.  Also, one other thing about my district, the missionaries in our district before us left before we got there, so we didn't really have any trainers except for our teachers, and also we leave before the next group comes in so we won't train anyone either....our branch president said that that's the first time he's seen that happen, but that we are doing amazing as it is

The food here is SSOO Good! And i am loving every second of being here at the MTC. I think the homesickness stage is starting to set in, but other than that i am doing ok. My cold is "changing" (my cough sounds different) so i hope it's  getting better... Also, have ran into both Gabe and Brian multiple times already! It was so nice to see both of them, and it was really hard to remember to call them Elder, and to not give them a hug haha. Gabe left the MTC early this morning, but i ran into him last night and was able to say bye and good luck before he left 

      

I have learned so much already, one of the most important things I have learned this week though, is that it is so important to teach with the spirit. One thing our teacher said was, " You don't have to worry about anything, you are simply the body that carries the message." We just need to remember to do our part, stay worthy, and pay attention to what the spirit is telling you, rather than what you want to tell the investigator. 

    

We've also been learning a lot about the charactor of Christ. There is a lot to be said about it, but one of the biggest things, is that when he hurts he doesn't turn in, he turns out. When we are hurting or feeling bad about ourselves, we need to look at others and focus on what they need, and by doing so, we will fix ourselves.

 

Today is our PDay so we got to go to the temple! IT was so beautiful  Yesterday we got to walk around it for our Sunday walk, and that was REALLY nice after 3 long days of being in a classroom Anyway, i hope everything is going good at home, and that Lucy's baptism goes well. I love you! 

-Sister Bates