Homecoming

She's Home!

18.

Familia,

So I guess this is the part where I tell you everything I have learned and how I have changed during this past year and a half as a missionary....

yeah that's really impossible.

I love love love my mission.  I love my Savior.  I love the Atonement.  Without the Atonement or a slight understanding of it I would be lost.  I would have no purpose and I would have no hope.  I love my Father who has provided a perfect plan for me and everyone to return to His presence if we are faithful and obedient.  I love knowing that Christ's true church has been restored through a prophet of God.  Joseph Smith was called to be an instrument in the Lord's hands.  The Book of Mormon is perfect scripture and it contains the fulness of the gospel.  It truly testifies of Christ and has blessed my life beyond belief.  We are still being guided and directed every day by a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson.  God's work will continue on and I am so grateful for the opportunity that we have to take part in the preparation for the second coming of our Lord and Savior.

I love Guatemala.  I feel so at home here, especially being back in Coban today.  I love the people I have served and served with.  I am so touched by the love from all of the members, investigators, and missionaries here.  Sometimes it breaks my heart thinking about leaving everything here but I find comfort in knowing that this is the Lord's perfect work and it will keep on keepin on!  I love my mission president and his wife.  I am so grateful for my experiences as a missionary.  Now I just need to apply what I have learned, felt, and experienced in my "normal life".

"Ye are eternally indebted to your heavenly Father, to render to him all that you have and are."  Mosiah 2:34.  

I also love my family :)  I guess I will be seeing you all pretty soon here!  I have an interview with president right now so I gotta head!  I love you all!

No Empty Chairs

Hermana Yates

Sharpie that.

Familia,

ELDER YATES!  Poco a poco is the way to do it!  Be super patient, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, they were always the longer, more frustrating days for me.  Spanish is awesome!! wooooooooooo

SOPHIE happy birthday!!!!  freak, grow down!  All the missionaries here saw the picture of all the kids that went to the house to celebrate with you.... they say you're really popular.

BRI I can't wait to meet you!

OLIVER I can't wait to meet you too!

Haha in internet my computer wasn't working so the guy who owns the place let me use his computer.  Everyone keeps coming up to me and asking me stuff and I have to awkwardly tell them that I don't work here....

This week we had some cool meetings!  The doctor for all of the central america missions came to visit every zone in our mission because everyone is so sick here haha... awkward.  I had the chance to meet with him and thank him for taking care of me my whole mission!  I thanked him for you too mom haha :)

We also got to see a conference broadcasted from Guate.  President Nelson from the quorum of the 12 apostles spoke to us with Elder Duncan, our area president.  They were very encouraging and helped us more clearly recognize the importance of our callings and the importance of working hard.  They talked about how we may be the missionaries to find and start teaching someone, we might be the missionaries to keep teaching someone when we get to an area, or we might be the missionaries who get to be there 20 years down the road when they finally decide to be baptized.  We never know how far our efforts will go as disciples of Christ.  We need to do our best in whatever phase we are in so that in the Lord's time, all people will recognize and confess that He is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.

I love Him and I love serving Him.  I love putting on my missionary badge every day because it helps me remember Who's representative I am, and it helps me keep my covenants because it constantly reminds me of Him.  I also love serving Him because this time that I have had to serve has helped me not only wear his name on a black square on my shirt, but as it says in Mosiah 5:12, His name is written in my heart.  I want to always have it there because as it says despues, if His name is written in my heart I will recognize His voice and I will know Him.

The other night I had a dream that Christ came but no one recognized Him.  It scared me because it made me think.. will I know Him when He comes?  What do I need to change and do better to get to know my Savior better?

Is His name written in your hearts?  If so, is it written with pencil or with a permanent marker?  ;)

I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week!  I will talk to you next monday I think!

Saying bye to Hna Gloria Matheu

NEC

Hermana Yates

Pentencito

Familia,

THE RUNDOWN:

-This morning we got up at 4:40 to run to the Island Flores to see the sunrise with 4 other sisters.  SO BEAUTIFUL!!  It was so perfect.

-2 days without water makes for 2 smelly sister missionaries....... awk.

-That awkward moment when I have to buy things for that special time of the month and I have to put everything on the counter at the grocery store... in front of all the elders.  awk x2.

-We ate with some members the other day and their pet parrott casually walked on to my plate and started eating my food with me. And they really didn't seem to care at all. awk.3.

-Today we went to a zoo!  It's really like a huge jungle and you have to walk a few miles to find a cage with an animal.  Haha it was fun!

Well family, today I have to write my goals to send in to President, so I will probably just send a bunch of pictures and start my goals!  But quick cool experience!

We are teaching our neighbors and they are super sweet.  The mom, Olga Marina, can't read and it's kinda hard for her to understand.  The other day we were trying to explain about the Book of Mormon and she wasn't quite getting it.  I decided that she just needed to see what the book is like and hear a story to understand.  We read half of 3 nefi 11 to her and it was an amazing experience!  As we read we helped her understand the story and she started interpreting it before we did!  We felt the Spirit and she was able to understand very well.  I am SO grateful for the Spirit because he helps us learn, understand, remember, and feel.  I was grateful for the inspiration He gave me to help Olga Marina have a spiritual experience.  She and her son came to church with us yesterday for the first time and they enjoyed it!  Her son, Juan Luis, is 20 and we gave him a Book of Mormon the other day and left him the introduction to read... he ended up reading to 2nd nephi!!  PILAS.  We are excited for them!

Also Rosalydia got baptized!!!  She was so cute and it was a great night!

Love you all!

NEC

Hermana Yates

Making tortillas

District Conference

Be strong!

 Familia,

-We played soccer today and we all got FRIED

-I think it is 130 degrees here these days

-well that's probably an exaggeration, but that's how it feels

This sunday we had our district conference here in Peten and it was awesome!  All of the branches of peten came and it was SO FULL of people!!!  I have never said hi to so many people.  (Here in Guatemala it is rude to skip anyone.  When you walk in you have to walk through row by row kissing every woman and shaking every guy's hand, then go to the door to greet everyone else!)  Elder Morales came with President and Hermana Curtiss and they all delivered messages that were very helpful!  We had several investigators there, including Rosalydia who will be baptized this Saturday!  After the meeting Elder Morales and President Curtiss wanted to meet all of the investigators.  They had all of the missionaries with investigators go to a room where he shook all of their hands and encouraged them to keep investigating the church, praying, reading the scriptures, and keeping the commandments.  Then he spoke to the missionaries there present in the room.  He got very emotional and just looked at us for a very long time.  He said that the Lord is very aware of us, our needs, and our efforts.  We are His representatives and we will be blessed for all we do.  He told us to serve with all our hearts and give everything to the Lord.  I know that he is a special representative of Christ and that he has His authority to preach, serve, promise, and love in His name.  To have a testimony of the Restoration of the Priesthood we have to have a spiritual witness that the Lord's servants really have the priesthood.  I have received that time and time again as I have been able to serve with worthy missionaries, work with an amazing mission president, meet, listen to, and learn from members of the 70, receive blessings, and preach of Joseph Smith and a living prophet.

I hope you have a great day tomorrow!   Be strong!  Don't be too sad, I know goodbye's are hard but this is really the best and biggest blessing Porter is about to receive!  How awesome!!!!  I love you all and good luck Elder Yates!

No Empty Chairs

Hermana Yates

Meek

Dear friends and family,

We received Morgan's return itinerary last week!  I'm sure it was a little heart breaking for her when she opened that same email today.  We are so grateful for the opportunity she has had to serve a mission and grateful to each of you for your love and support.  

Morgan returns home on Thursday, September 3 at 7:25pm.  Her homecoming will be on Sunday, September 13 at 9:00am.  I will post more information later:)

We are so excited to see her in just 4 short weeks!!!!!!!

Morgan's Mama

Familia,

-Happy Birthday Isaac!!!!  I hope you enjoyed it and had a great time with the family!

-So Marvin and his family moved to another area.... it is here close by, but it is just sad because the other sisters will be giving them their last few lessons before their baptismal interviews this friday with President Curtiss.  They will be baptized in the other branch nearby.  Please keep praying for them and their preparation!}

-We are teaching another woman who is AMAZING.  We met her this past week and are teaching her in her hair salon in our area.  She also lives in the other branch but technically it will be our baptism.  She is so prepared and ready to be baptized!  She already believes in Joseph Smith, the restoration, the book of mormon, and she just says, "My question is why didn't I learn about all of this sooner??  I have missed out on so many blessings!!"  She is awesome.  Pray for Rosalydia Lima.

Okay family.  I am so proud of my little brother.  I love him so much and I am so excited for him.  As I was reading what you said about his farewell talk and how he is, I was touched that people refer to him as "meek".  It is a perfect word to use.

As I have learned more about the life of Christ I have learned more about who He is and what His attributes are.  Meekness is a divine attribute and gift of our Lord and Savior.  In the Spanish guide in the scriptures is defines meek- temeroso de Dios, recto, humilde, presto para aprender y paciente al sufrir.  Los mansos están dispuestos a seguir las enseñanzas del evangelio.  Or in other words, the meek fear God, are righteous, humble, teachable and patient in suffering.  The meek are willing to follow the teachings of the gospel.  Is this sounding anything like Porter yet?  To me it does.

Porter, you will be able to develop this Christlike attribute in your mission and you will be grateful for this quality as you serve.  Christ is your perfect example and He will teach and guide you.  Matthew 11:28-30 says:
 
 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I love this because our Savior describes Himself as meek, and also invites us to do some things.  Elder Bednar helps us understand a little about His first invitation in his conference talk from last May:

"A yoke is a wooden beam, normally used between a pair of oxen or other animals that enables them to pull together on a load.  A yoke places animals side-by-side so they can move together in order to accomplish a task.

Consider the Lord's uniquely individual invitation to "take my yoke upon you."  Making and keeping sacred covenants yokes us to and with the Lord Jesus Christ.  In essence, the Savior is beckoning us to rely upon and pull together with Him, even though our best efforts are not equal to and cannot be compared with his.  As we trust in and pull our load with Him during the journey of mortality, truly His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

We are not and never need be alone.  We can press forward in our daily lives with heavenly help.  Through the Savior's Atonement we can receive  capacity and strength beyond our own."

Porter you will experience this very personally in your mission.  Your Savior invites you to walk with Him and work according to the Father's will.

The other invitation is to learn of Him and become like Him.  There is no better place to do that than the mission, where you literally take His name upon you on your missionary badge and teach as His representative.

You have taught me so much through your quiet example of love and humility and meekness.  I know this will strengthen you on your mission.  Your meekness will allow you to find those who are prepared by the Lord to receive the restored gospel.  It's cool because those who are prepared also need to be meek and humble in order to change their lives and discover God's plan for them.  Your meek spirit will reach out to theirs and allow the Holy Ghost to testify to them through you and your testimony.  Develop this attribute by being obedient and humble.  Learn of Christ and become like Him.  You will find constant peace and you will fulfill your calling.  You will be a blessing in the lives of those you meet, teach and serve.  D&C 19:23: 
Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.

I am so proud of you Porter.  I hope you keep that letter that I wrote you, it has some good tips ;)  and like I also expressed in my letter, it kills me that I won't see you.  But you will soon find out how much of a blessing the mission is and you will see why I don't want to come home early.  I want to fulfill my duty to the Lord and I want you to do so as well.  It is such a blessing to serve Him and allow Him to teach and perfect us.  I can't wait to hear about your adventures and your special experiences.  Confide in the power of prayer.  Trust God.  Stay positive, dilligent, and obedient.  Be patient when you don't understand spanish, trust me, it will come.  I love you so much little bro.

ánimo!  te quiero mucho mi hermanito!

NEC

Hermana Yates

because i'm happyyyyyy

Familia,

So you are going to hate me again but I don't have much time.

Turns out.... I'm allergic to ibuprofen!  That wasn't a fun thing to figure out.  Hermana Bueso and I are pretty wiped out honestly but we are on the mend.  After spending the day in the Bakes house (the senior missonary couple), listening to the Les Miserables sound track with Hermana Bake, and a few thousand pills later I am feeling much better.

A quote that a good friend of mine shared with me a few years ago has really helped me in my mission, especially this past week when things got a little weird.  "Your day is going to go the way of the corners of your mouth.  So Smile!"  I love that.  I love positivity and optimism.  I think it is a Christlike attribute.  Can you imagine the Savior of the world walking around with His head down, complaining all day about little things that don't really matter?  Haha I sure can't.  So BE HAPPY.  We are here to have JOY and to help others be JOYFUL too.

Marvin and his family will be waiting another week or two to be baptized because President Curtiss has to do their baptismal interviews.. TO BE CONTINUED...

Hey porter, send me a copy of your farewell talk!  SO PROUD OF YOU!!!  LOVE YOU!!!!

IM SORRY I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M YELLING MY WHOLE LETTER TODAY.

Love you all.

NEC

Hermana Yates

watch out for those lizards...

Familia,

THE RUNDOWN:

-so this morning a lizard attacked me right after I woke up

-the other day I was just minding my own business using the restroom and a lizard pooped on me from the ceiling.  nice

-i accidentally stepped on a lizard and killed it.. or so i thought.  It resurrected.

-I WILL NOT MISS THESE LIZARDS.

-I have h pylori or whatever that is.  looks like I'll be spending a bit of pisto on meds today wooooo

-these days the roads are steaming because it rains and doesn't cool off

-hna blanca (the lady that feeds us) says hi

-I had to give the closing prayer in sacrament meeting yesterday.  I was already naseous from my illness and put nerves on top of that I thought I was going to pass out on the way up or something.  But hey everything went great

So sorry I didn't write last week..... I had enough time to read everyone's letters and I was writing mine when the power went out in internet.. again.  But I'm alive!  No worries shannie!  Sounds like you all had a good time at the family parties!

This last week we had interviews with President and Hermana Curtiss and the Assistants.  It was so great to see them!  I was so used to seeing them all the time in Coban so it was a real treat to have them here in Peten for a few days.  President was also able to interview some of our investigators who will be baptized next week because there are some kind of sketchy situations so it was perfect timing.

Marvin, Sheralin, Conner, and Ismenia will be getting baptized next week!  They are a super awesome family and we are excited for them.  Marvin has a hard time concentrating and usually the lessons are 90% story time 10% teaching.... but hey things are coming along slowly but surely.  Haha he has had a crazy life but is super awesome because he is raising his 3 kids alone.  Guys don't do that here in Guatemala.  President was impressed and was already ready to sign his baptismal papers!

Lately I have been reading the first and second books of Nephi and PUCHICA Nephi is my freaking favorite.  I have read those books no se cuantas veces (I don’t know how many times) but this time has been really special for me.  He is an amazing example of obedience, charity, knowledge, service, forgiveness, and has a beautiful, unshaking testimony of Christ.  I love the Book of Mormon and I know it is true scripture.

Les amo mucho.  Ya se que estoy en mi ultimo cambio pero no lo quiero acceptar.  entonces gracias por no recordarme tanto.  Son los mejores.  Yo amo estar aqui, yo amo a estos chapines, y yo se que estas ultimas semanas van a ser muy especiales.  hasta la otra semana!  cuidense mucho!!!

I love you very much.  I already know this is my last change but I don’t want to accept it.  Therefore, thanks for not reminding me so much.  You guys are the best.  I love being here, I love these people, and I know that these last weeks are going to be very special.  Until next week.  Take care of yourself!

NEC

Hermana Yates

I'M OKAY MOM

Familia,
So i am just sending a quick note from hermana Curtiss' phone to say hello and sorry for not writing yesterday! The power went out in internet so after reading your letters i wasnt able to send a letter home. We just had interviews and they were wonderful!  We also had a great week and we have several people preparing for baptism-familia Villanueva, eraldo, and Francisca.  Please keep them in your prayers!  I am so happy and i write more next week! Love you all!

No empty chairs
Hermana yates

No email:(

We did not receive an email from Morgan today, but she did send this picture! She must be alive and well. Perhaps she forgot to push the send button:)

oh say can you seeeeeee

Familia,

I swear I just wrote you guys yesterday...

Today we played volleyball and had a water fight

So I am not sure why everyone keeps telling me that I'm going home.. they must be confusing me with someone else.

Haha so this week the elders had a baptism in the church so they went to fill up the font.. and left for a while.  It overflowed and the whole church flooded!!  We ran to the church to help while everyone was in the baptism.  3 hours later, a few blisters, and covered in sweat, my comp, a member, and I finished mopping everything up.  Happy fourth of July!!!

There is a less active member in our area who was baptized a year ago.  He is 20 and is going through some rough times. I think I told you a little about him two weeks ago?  But we went to visit him and he reminded me so much of when we were helping Gustavo come back to church after his baptism.  He is very humbled and wants to change but doesn't know how.  We had an awesome lesson with him and he is making big improvements!  He even came to church yesterday!!  He was so nervous to go back to church but the members welcomed him with open arms and were so awesome.  I am so grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ and the hope that He continually offers us.

I have seen so many blessings from fasting here in my mission.  This weekend we were fasting and things just started changing left and right!  We went to visit a family that we have been teaching for a while.  The dad sells alcoholic drinks from mexico-tepache, and he hasn't been willing to stop selling that and go to church.  He has been sending two of his kids to church for about 2 months.  He used to go to church when he was little and likes general conference, but just hasn't been ready to change some habits.  When we went to visit them he said that he is starting a new business and will start selling tacos and other food, he and his whole family would go to church the next day, and they are all getting baptized.  Hahaha moments like that make missionaries stop and think, "Am I dreaming?"  The next day they walked in to church together!  And his neighbor and their family showed up too!  And his neighbor leaned over to me in sacrament meeting and asked me when the next baptismal service is because he and his family are getting baptized too.  Hahaha legit it's crazy.  They also announced it in the gospel principles class that we were teaching.  So fasting brings miracles people.  Pray for marvin, sheralin, conner, ismenia, geraldo, and sylvia.

NEC

Hermana Yates

I don't know what to put here

Familia,

THE RUNDOWN:

-I think I have another parasite but I don't want to tell the nurse because I don't want to do any more tests.  after 20 of them it kind of gets old

-my companion thought we had  the priesthood until yesterday.. that was an awkward news break

-the lady we eat with is determined to send me home fat.  Literally.  she told me.  please pray for me....

-the man next to me has chicungunya so if a mosquito bites me within this next half hour I'm toast

Hey, in case you didn't know, I love being a missionary.  Not sure if I've told you before.

Well we came back from Guatemala city and we were super sleep deprived but we made it through the week!

This week we visited Sylvia again and it was so great!  She loves learning about the plan of salvation and she wants to be baptized to be able to live with her family forever.  Next stop: her husband  who doesn't seem to like us very much.....

Sorry I don't have much time but I just love you all.  Keep being amazing, porter congrats for going to the temple you are amazing, soph i always knew you were a mermaid, isaac you can't get married yet, dad have fun in china, mom throw your own party on the 4th of july, barrett erin and sobrinos when are you going back to the states?  lily is so old now!  and luke, are you still alive?

cuidense,

the church is true,

No Empty Chairs

Hermana Yates

Guate

Familia,

Greetings from guatemala city.

THE RUNDOWN:

-so sometimes the new people have to go to guatemala city to sign some papers if they didn't do it in the CCM... we got a call from the office elders 2 nights ago letting us know that we had to go.  Last night we got on a bus at 10 and got here this morning at 6!  Longest night ever.  bright side:  THERE IS A TACO BELL HERE!!!!  We conviced the hermano who came to pick us up to take us there and we paid for his meal so he'd take us.

-i haven't had a voice since i got here. not quite sure what's going on but i sound pretty ridiculous

We are finding some really cool people here in San Benito!  I am always so amazed by these people.  In coban i was always taken back by the immense faith of humble, poor people who believe so much in miracles from a God they have never seen.  Here in Peten it's different because it is a more modernized place.  Here I am also taken back by the faith of the people but now it is because they are willing to humble themselves and trust in God more than themselves or their money.

We have a new recent convert that just moved into our area.  he is 20 and has an interesting story.  he lives alone, he just completed a year in the church, and before he was set on serving a mission until some things happened and he lost himself.  We were able to get to know him this week and it was really special.  he has seen the difference in his life from when he was active and how he is now.  After talking with him for a while I asked him if he was still praying. he answered that he hadn't prayed for months.  He doesn't have words and doesn't feel worthy to pray.  We helped him feel like he could offer a prayer to end the lesson.  He was hesitant but offered the prayer.  It was beautiful to hear one of Heavenly Father's sons talk to Him again after a long time waiting, not knowing what to say.  After the prayer he just sat there with his head down and cried.  he thanked us and told us that he would do his best to figure things out, get help from his leaders, and come back to church.  We helped him get a job with the young single adult leader in the branch on saturday so we hope that things will start heading uphill for Elvis :)

We had another lesson with Sylvia.  she is the BEST.  She is truly seeking guidance and answers from God and wants to forgive Him for taking her son away from her.  We were teaching her about the Plan of Salvation and that her family will always be hers.  We talked about God's plan for her and the things she has to do in this life to be able to have her family forever.  As we were telling her to pray and ask God if what we were teaching is true she stopped us and said "I believe you.  I know what you are saying is true.  These are the answers I have been searching for for so long and I have never found peace until now.  I believe you."  Legit, I just wish you could all just sit in on our lessons with her.  The Spirit is so strong, she is so prepared, and experiences like these are life changing for our investigators and for us.   It reminds me of the scripture in dyc 50:

19 And again, he that receiveth the word of truth, doth he receive it by the Spirit of truth or some other way?

 20 If it be some other way it is not of God.

 21 Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth?

 22 Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.

I love this gospel and I know that this work brings souls unto Christ.  I love Him and I love my mission.

Love you all too I guess :)  cuidense

NEC  Hermana Yates

a whole new wooooorld.......

Familia,

holy. smokes.

THE RUNDOWN:

-so our mission really is split up into 3 missions: coban-check. polochic-check. peten-let's do this

-coban houses=cockroaches. peten houses=lizards

-mom sorry but I laughed when you said that it's hot in utah... I can't even explain how hot it is here

-nos mantenemos mojadas

-my watch broke. again

-there are pigs running around everywhere, we are writing on an island, when it rains the streets steam, and it is HAWT.

So peten is legit.  My companion is Hermana Bueso and she is fresh from Honduras.  Haha it's super funny to be training at the end of my mission because she reminds me of me when I got here.  I cared about my hair, my clothes, my food, and I had no idea what I was doing.  It's cool though because I get to teach her everything and see her grow, learn and improve quickly.  She is awesome and willing to work.

It has been an interesting week (as always) because neither of us know a single person here.  We have been knocking doors and accidentally finding members haha.  The members here are amazing and are helping us find people to teach.

Once again I have seen that the Lord knows what He is doing.  Every person that we contact has been placed in our path for a reason.  I stopped believing in luck and coincidences a few months ago.  We have found people who are searching for guidance and meaning and don't know where to find it.  They are open to learning and their humility will allow them to feel the Spirit and I am SO EXCITED.  We met a young guy who was so interested when we told him that Christ came here to the americas.  We gave him a book of mormon and marked 3 nefi 11 to read.  I have never seen someone so excited to read that story.  

We found another woman named sylvia who just lost her job a few days ago.  If she had been working still we wouldn't have found her in her house or have been able to return yesterday to teach her for the first time.  It was amazing lesson.  She opened up to us and told us about her family problems and that she had lost a baby and was mad at God.  She listened to what we had to share with her about the importance of the family, forgiveness, and patience.  As we read a scripture in the book of mormon with her we could tell she was feeling the spirit.  We testified that the book of mormon would change her life if she was willing to read it, pray about it, and act on the things she would be invited to do.  When we told her that we would give her the book she was holding she started crying and couldn't believe it.  She hugged it and said, "When you read the scripture it scared me!  I thought, could it be that this scripture is for ME?"  Then of course i start tearing up.. she felt the spirit teaching and testifying to her without even realizing it.  "Yes, that scripture was exactly for you because God knows you, loves you, and knows exactly what you need."  We left her a section to read that would help her with her family relationships and she promised to read it and talk to her husband about going to church next week.

I really don't know much.  But I love being able to be an instrument in God's perfect hands and seeing people come to know Him better.  The same thing happens to me every time.

This morning we went to some caves and it was pretty cool!  It also taught me a few things, believe it or not.  There were some parts of the trip where I would get tired of using my flashlight, and decided to turn it off and just follow the rest.  Borrow their light.  But as we went on there were bumps and holes and when we got to some stairs the rest were rising and progressing with ease.  I on the other hand, was tripping and wasn't able to get up the slippery stairs without my own flashlight.  It taught me a lot about our own light, or testimony.  Sometimes we are okay to borrow others' light.  When life is easy and there aren't too many stumbling blocks we can make our way through the dark okay.  But if we want to progress on our own and be able to keep going when things get hard, we need our own light.  Our own testimony is what keeps us strong and faithful until the end.  Sometimes our light is small but a little light can make a big difference in a big, black cave.  If your light is a little too dim, put in some new batteries, recharge, and use it.

I love you all.  If I don't die this week of heat then I will talk to you next week.

NEC

Hermana Yates

Bring It On

Familia,

Killing a comp is sooooooo BAGGY

Tomorrow is change day.  I will FINALLY be headed to Peten!  I will be training and cleaning an area... so looks like that is where I am going to die.  Literally and figuratively hahaha.  I am excited!!!  It will be a little crazy, peten is INSANELY hot and infested with deadly mosquitos, but it will be cool to start fresh in an area.  I have only heard good things about my area so I am happy!  My area is called San Benito, and I will meet my companion tomorrow.

Sorry we are writing super late today because hna hernandez is going home this week so things are a little out of control.. and we have to go do more things right now so I guess I'll talk to you next week!  haha love you all.  Read your scriptures, say your prayers, DON'T FORGET FAMILY NIGHT, and look both ways before you cross the street.

NEC

Hermana Yates

Trio Swag

Familia,

So I got emergency transfered last monday about 3 hours after I wrote home!  I am now with Hermana Hernandez (mi mama) and Herman a Riley (9 months in the mission, from Minnesota, super cool). I will probably be with them until changes next week unless something else crazy happens this week!  Hermana Hernandez is going home next tuesday!!!!  I have to kill my mom!  It's super baggy but asi es la mision de los viejitos.  I'm in the Coban Barrio area, Coban 1b.  I am happy though.  and safe.  Oh p.s. another sister who is going home next week informed me that her cousin was isaac's trainer in the mission.  whaaaat.  Small world.

So besides being in complete depression that I had to leave my last area after 6 months there without getting say goodbye to anyone... it was a good week.  the AP's had an amazing baptism, and surprise... i had to sing.  It was pretty though, I sang the alto part in If You Could Hie To Kolob in a duet with Hermana Riley.  The couple who got baptized is an older, classy couple.  They are very different from pretty much anyone you will meet here where we are teaching.  They are amazing converts and it was a really special baptismal service.  Hermana Curtiss spoke and Elder Zavala (who went home to honduras last change) came back to speak as well!  So crazy!

Anyways, I am doing great!  I hope you all have a great week with all of the craziness alli!!  Porter, congrats on graduating, your seminary graduation talk was amazing, and you all better send me pictures!

NEC

Hermana Yates

 On Mothers Day when we got soaked (Hermana Escobar)

Mothers Day call