August 28, 2019

Hey all! This week was incredible! We got transfer boards Sunday night and I am headed to Greenwood Nova Scotia!!! I am beyond excited and so so humbled. It is so close to some of the areas where my dad served in his mission! I will be an STL still and with Sister Clark. I met her once at MLC and so it's super cool that I get to be her comp now! This was the area that Sister Newman just came from so we are basically switching areas now haha! I am so excited! I know that it is going to be a completely different dynamic. This is a small town and now I am used to the city. That will take some getting used to, but I am up for the challenge! I hope and pray that while I am there in that beautiful part of Canada that I will meet people that may have remembered my dad. There is a power in connectivity. I just can't help but think that there can't be a coincidence that I get to serve in his areas 25 years later. I trust the Lord has a plan and knows what he is doing. I am excited to see this whole thing plays out. We also gave away so many copies of the Book of Mormon this week. I got to tell this girl all about it and she was super interested. I read a verse from it and she said that it sounded familiar to her. People are definitely being prepared to receive the fullness of the gospel. We had some great luck finding! I met this super sweet girl who was happy to talk. We were having a good conversation, but her bus pulled up, so I only had time to give a card. I didn't think much of it, but then she texted us!! That almost never happens! She is just so cute! I hope that she stays interested and they are able to teach her. Sister Newman got talking with this other super cute girl named Gloria. She has SO much potential. She accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon and said that she was super excited to read it. We also had a great couple of lessons with my favorite person, Jen. We had a super spiritual experience with her last night. She asked me to say the closing prayer and she said after that she felt the spirit so strongly. She said that she had never felt anything that strong before. It was so amazing to witness her feeling the spirit testify of God's love for her. It is such a real thing. His love is personal and healing. There are so many soulsick people in the world that need to feel his love. It really does change people and it really does bring lasting joy. I am a witness of that. The church is true because Christ is at the head. I love him. and I love all of you! I hope you all have a great week! Next week I will be in Nova Scotia, and I can't contain my excitement! love, sister Bates