December 24, 2019

Salut mes amis!

Joyeux Noel!!

I am so so excited for Christmas! We did so many fun things this week! We went caroling last night at an old folks' home. There is so much power in music. Especially music about the Savior. I think I understand why people are generally happier at Christmas. Christ is everywhere! And whether people recognize it or not, it is Him they are feeling. Because the holy ghost testifies of truth. And there are a lot of opportunities for him to testify to people's hearts this time of year. Pure and simple. 

Exchanges also happened! This was sister Calls first one! I got to be with sister Christensen. It was lovely. She is a gem! I am very proud of her for training! She is doing so well too! 

We spent the morning volunteering at the Lion's club and it was great! Plus, we got a free breakfast out of it which I always enjoy hehe. This week has been so crazy busy. We have been trying to visit literally everyone before Christmas because afterwards we are going to be in Montreal. There have been so many people give us gifts! I was not expecting it! Nova Scotians are just such a kind and giving people. I love them with all my heart.

Last Sunday was lovely! Brain came to church and LOVED it!! He said that he wants to come back next week. It really seemed to change him dramatically. He called us later the next day to thank us and to ask for a ride for next week. He didn't ever do that before. It is so cool to see how the gospel (when correctly understood) changes people. It changes people's desires and makes them want to be more independent, more anxiously engaged, and more wise. It is such a relief to see honestly. Sometimes as a missionary I feel that I work SO hard trying to convince people to just come and see! Just come and taste of the fruit and then you will understand! It is a lot like pulling teeth... And lots of times, people say no. But we keep trying. And the ones who say yes make all of it worth it. I am willing to labor all of my days even if it means I can only bring one soul unto Christ because everyone needs him. This is a soulsick world, but Christ is the master healer. I have come to know more about my Savior during these past 16 months than I have the whole rest of my life combined. I love my Savior. I have a testimony of his reality and I know that he lives. I know this because of the experiences I have had with him. He is always on my side. I know that he is not just cheering us on from the finish line, he is running with us. I have felt his help in a very real way. I love him. My favorite line from O Little Town of Bethlehem is:

"The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight"

Almost 2020 years ago, God gave us his matchless gift. And because of him, all will be made right and there can be joy in our hearts always.

I hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas and that you all can feel him near you this week and always. He loves us, and nothing will ever change that truth.

Love, sister Bates

December 17, 2019

Hello hello!

Alright everyone, this week was probably the greatest week in the mission because SO many great things happened! First off, we had our Christmas zone conference this week and it was so much fun! WEdrove up with the Yarmouth sisters which was a party. Sister Call is sister Christensen's new trainee and she is just the cutest! I am so lucky to be over such great sisters. We each brought a gift and did a gift exchange. It was wild! There was a talent show and I was so impressed by all of the talent that is in our zone! I love all these missionaries. I never thought I would ever have so many friends haha!
We also had a really great lesson with Silvia! We showed up and she had presents waiting for us under her tree! It was so sweet of her! It said from Silvia and Loner (the cat) hehe! We had a super great lesson with her and showed her the Christ Child video. She LOVED it!
We had supper with a nonmember too! His name is Patrick. We met him a couple weeks ago because elder Hatch told us to go back and visit him so we did! and he invited us over for shrimp and scallops! When we got there, there was another couple from France!! French!! We get so excited when we get the chance to use our French! They said that we sounded fluent like we had been speaking for years. That made me feel so good about myself even though I'm sure she was just being nice haha! We had a really good conversation with them and watched the Christ Child video. (Seriously if you have not seen this video, go watch it right now! It's so powerful!)
We also met a cool guy named Doyle who said we could come back, so that was great!
One of my favorite parts of this week was that we had a super great lesson with Brian in a member's home AND my brother jesse got to call in and help us teach him! I am so glad he did, because when Jesse bore his testimony about fasting, it really clicked with Brian. He explained it exactly the way that Brian needed to hear it to understand it! Oh my goodness I am so so proud of him. He is going to be a stellar missionary!! I am so proud to be the sister of such a good young man. He is going to see miracles and become such a powerful tool in the Lord's hands.

We also got a call this week froma a woman named Darlene. She told us that she had some questions for us and that she was looking to "join the Latter Day Saints" I remember that she had been found several months ago by sister Clark on exchanges but we hadn't been able to get ahold of her so nothing ever really came out of it. But anyways, we went over and it turns out that she is the neighbor of one of the members here! In fact, this member had told us about her neighbor on several occasions. When we saw all of the ways this worked put we knew that this was no coincidence. I don't think I have ever met anyone so truly prepared. We came in there and she told us that she had already decided to stop smoking and drinking coffee and anything else that was required to become a member. She had been talking with her aunt who is a member in New Minas and she really wants to become a part of this church. She has been through some really really hard things and it is so easy to see how the Lord has been preparing her for this moment in her life. She has no idea how much joy and blessings await her. I have so much love for her and I can feel how much the Savior loves her too.

I know that the Lord knows us. He knows our trials he knows our victories, he knows us. he has known us since before this whole thing started and he has everything worked out for us to succeed gloriously. I can't articulate the love he has for us because it's not of this world. But I know how it feels and I never want to leave him. I just really know that he knows what we need and every single thing he does is for us and for our joy. I love my Savior. I know that he lives. I know who I am to him and it makes me want to be better

Love, sister Bates

December 10, 2019

Hello everyone!

Well this week has been pretty crazy! It was really funny, transfers took place last Thursday and sister Livingstone and I thought that we were going to get away with having a normal day, buuut. We got a call at about 8:15 in the evening from the APs telling us that we had to drive to Halifax and stay with the Sackville sisters so that we could drive them to the airport the next morning. We were like... OKay! SO we went home, packed a day bag and drove there. The Sackville sisters were whitewashing out and elders would be coming into the apartment, so we ended up cleaning and clearing the apartment out and helping them finish packing until about 12:30 (That is REALLY late in missionary standards let me tell ya!) And then we got up at 4🙃 It was great though because I got to say goodbye to sister Clark and sister Burton! I love those two ladies! They served such honorable missions and I know that the Lord is so pleased with their efforts. We saw our sweet sister Bromley off to Ottawa to be an STL (woot!) and sister Sanchez off to Montreal to whitewash! I am so proud of them! After that, we made the drive home, and then completely crashed for a very needed 3 hour nap, haha. So that was a very interesting few days! WE had a super fun Relief Society activity on Saturday where sister Butler taught us how to make chocolates! Oh my goodness she has such a talent! They were divine! she gave us so many and they are already gone... But life is meant to be enjoyed! Sunday night we were encouraged to watch the Christmas devotional, which on this side of the coast, started at 9:00 haha! SO we stayed up late many times this week! It was fun though, we were able to watch it at our ward mission leader's house.

There were many times this week that both sister Livingstone and I felt very spirit lead. It was interesting because usually it was just one of us and then the other had the faith to follow. There was a lady that we knocked into this one evening who was not interested at all, but then she just started crying at the door and told us that the first anniversary of her grandson's death was coming up. She told us that she felt like God sent us to her at that moment and I think she was right. We ended up saying a prayer with her right there on her doorstep. It was a very sweet experience. A couple days later after the chocolate making activity, we decided that we should stop by and give her a few. She was happy to see us and she told us that she had been sharing the Christ Child video with everyone she knew! We were so excited about that because we know how strongly it brings the spirit.

Last night, we had a couple of minutes before we had to meet with a member and so we decided to knock this door. The lady was super nice and she told us that many years ago she had actually lived with a member family and was SO close to being baptised. It was just so cool! We hope to start working with her:)

I really know that the Lord is super aware of each of us individually and he has so much in store for each one of us. There is a line in one of my favorite songs, Seeing for the first time, by Britt Nicole where she says 

"How many years did you plan this moment here, to show me that you loved me?"

I know that God loves us. I have felt it and it's real. I know that he has so many plans in the works to show us that He loves us and to bring us unto him. I love him!

I hope you guys have a great week!

Love, sister Bates

December 4, 2019

Salut à tous!

This week has been lovely! We got transfer boards! and guess what?? I'm staying in Nova Scotia with sister Livingstone! Woohoo!! We are both so excited to be staying together for Christmas! I am so so happy. I love sister Livingstone! And I really love this area. I am excited to see what this next transfer holds and what the Lord has in store for me. I have two transfers left and then I'm home...Crazy! 

Oh gosh, we had a super cool thing happen! So on our last exchange, we ran into a super cute Nigerian family. We got their number, but they haven't responded yet. sad. BUT- sister Livingstone posted a bible ad and the first person to request one, was the dad!!! It was incredible! So last night, we went and delivered it to them and offered to come back and talk more about Christ and they said yes! 

Also, our district leader elder Hatch started his mission here in Greenwood, and now that he is going home (like tomorrow) he has been sending us all of these people that he found that we need to go and visit. So we passed by this one guy named Patrick who was SO COOL. He let us right in and talked to us about his travels. He is such a cool dude!! So that was at the beginning of the week. Then just yesterday, we got a call from this guy and he invited us over for dinner, haha! He's gonna make us seafood, I'm so excited!! He also asked us if we could watch the Christ Child video we talked about before. We were like uh- yeah we can! There are so many awesome people here. I am honestly so blessed to be here.

Brian is still doing great. We had a really great lesson with him in the chapel. The spirit was super strong. The members that have met him just love him. He is progressing slowly but surely. We hope to get him to church soon. I really know that God loves his children. I know that he is proud of us and our humble little efforts.

Sorry this email is short. But life is good and I am happy:)

I love you all!

November 26, 2019

Hi everyone!

What a great week we had!

We had THREE back to back exchanges! It was pretty exhausting, but I saw oh so many miracles from all of them! The first one was with sister Watson. We went to pass by this referral from the elders and he wasn't home, so we talked to his neighbors. They were kind folks. We invited them (and many others that day) to a special music night our Branch was putting on called Prelude to Christmas. It was a good exchange. She is such a hard worker! We think that she will probably be leaving us this next transfer. She has been in Yarmouth her whole mission so far and I think she is ready to go and see other places. I love her. Next, I was with sister Bromley. We went to Middelton and were walking around when we found a cute lady named Kayla that had been baptized a year ago. She has been kind of off the radar because she has been going through some things but she was so excited to see us! It's also really cool because my district leader elder Hatch, was the one that taught and baptized her a year ago, so when we told him that we had found her he was super excited! We also ran into the cutest family from Nigeria!! We also had dinner with the Sproules and they had Brian over as well. We taught him the plan of Salvation. He is really progressing and growing in understanding. It is so beautiful to see.

The next day, we had just enough time to do our weekly planning and then we had the Halifax sisters! Okay this one was cool. I was with sister Rhodes and we had SO many miracles that came about because we were in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. Okay so backstory real quick. Several weeks ago, we were doing a booth in the mall with the Yarmouth sisters and this guy comes up and starts talking to us about the unknown secrets of the universe and all this deep stuff that no one really understands. We had like a 45 minute conversation with him about what we believe and about the Book of Mormon. We challenged him to read it and he said that he would do it in 4 days haha. The only thing was that he doesn't have a phone and he didn't want to give out his parent's address. So we had only an email address. He never responded to that so we kind of assumed that he forgot about it all. Then, just last Saturday, sister Rhodes and I were doing our language study in the mall and he comes walking by! He seemed to be in a hurry so we only had a brief conversation. But then like 20 minutes later, he came back and we talked. His demeanor was so different. He said that he had read the book in 6 and a half days. He said it was not at all what he expected, that there were a lot of answers in there and that it was the most interesting book he had ever read. We invited him to pray about it and he said that he would. The Pedersens, some members in our branch came walking by then too. They had a good conversation too. I think of all the people that he could have met at that time, they were the best. Bro. Pedersen thinks like he does. We invited him to come to the Prelude to Christmas and he said that he just might. It felt like exactly what he needed. The Pedersens also mentioned that they were going to a surprise birthday dinner for one of the members. This was a miracle in itself because with all of the craziness these past few days, I had completely forgotten that they had invited us too! So, we went to that right after, and it was no biggie ahah! If they hadn't have come by and mentioned it, I would have forgotten completely! Missionaries are human too! Haha! So everything this week really fell into place and worked out the way it needed to. Sister Rhodes and I had a very good exchange review at the end. I love her a lot. And I really think I needed to get to know her. I learned so much from all of these beautiful sisters! It was kind of sad though because this was sister Burton's last exchange and we had to say goodbye to her. She has been here since the beginning of time! She was my STL in Quebec! My first area!! That's crazy! I am going to miss her so much! 

We had the prelude to Christmas Sunday night and it was a huge hit! Sister Livingstone and I and some other ladies in the branch all sang this beautiful song called come and see. (It's on YouTube. I would recommend giving it a listen:) Lots of people from other congregations came and they all agreed that we should make this an annual thing! We even had an Anglican Padre that we had knocked into came and he loved it! Also, Brian came! This was the biggest miracle of the nightl! That was the first time he had gone to a social event in years, and he LOVED it! Our phone call with him the next night was so tender. He told us that he had never seen so many people with such love. "It really takes the weight off of ya" I love that light the world can mean so many things. It can be seen as a light, something that enlightens. But it can also be something that lightens, like lightening a burden. That is Christ. He lightens, He enlightens, and He is the Light.

This weekend we will get transfer boards so I will find out if I am staying or going! I don't know what's going to happen... I would be happy staying and happy moving on to the next adventure. I'm glad I don't have to make this decision! ahah! The time is running short and I am trying to work hard and make these months to the Lord my best offering. My testimony has grown a lot this week. I know that I succeed when I follow a prompting. It doesn't matter if the person was interested or not, or kind or not. I succeed when I follow a prompting. So I started telling myself that was I walked up to the doors that the spirit told me to knock. "This is me succeeding." I know that God loves his children. I know that he knows each of us perfectly and loves us perfectly. Each one is being prepared in their own way to have the chance to receive the truth one day. God is merciful and he is kind. He is waiting for us to come to him so that he can show us that he has always been there. He has loved us since before we can remember and that has not changed. I know that.

I hope that you all have a great week!

much love, Soeur Bates

November 19, 2019

Hello everybody!!

I don't even know where to start. This weeks had some high highs and some low lows. But everything ended up working out in the best way possible. 

We had zone conference with an area 70, elder Bassett. He and his wife were incredible! Really kind down to earth people. They brought the spirit so strong and opened my eyes a lot. They talked about conversion and how it needs to be with the heart, not just the head. We can't do that kind of converting, only the spirit can.

Yesterday, we went to a funeral for a member in the ward, a lesson fell through, it was raining like mad and on top of it all we got news that a missionary in our mission just lost their dad in a tragic accident...Everything just kind of hit me and I got really sad and sort of broke down on the car ride home. My sweet comp handled it like a pro. She let me cry and then we watched a christ video and ate gummy bears on the couch. Haha I felt a lot better after and we spent the rest of the night working hard and I felt extremely at peace and happy to be here, even though it was still raining and we still had to go out. Haha it was a tender mercy too because we got all bundled up to go out and got our umbrellas and we started walking. Our umbrella started turning inside out because the wind was so strong. Then we had the thought to visit one of our friends named Carol. We met her my first day in Greenwood. I guess we needed to prove to the Lord that we were willing to go out into the storm to declare his message before he would tell us where he actually needed us to go that night. On the way over there, we passed this poor lady pulling suitcases, so we pulled over to help her. By the time we chased her down she was on her front steps, so we knocked a few houses. It's funny because that doesn't sound like it was a success at all, but it was because we felt a prompting and we followed it. There is no better feeling than that. We went to Carol's and had probably the most amazing discussion ever with her. She told us that she wants to be baptized and that she knows she needs to come to church and that she just loves this church with all of her heart. What a tender mercy from the Lord after a very hard day. She brought up all of these things on her own. She has the softest heart I think I have ever seen and I truly love her with all of mine. They are going away to Ontario today, so if we wouldn't have passed by them last night like we did, we would have missed them for several weeks. Ouch! I am so glad we were lead there. This week we have also started calling our friend Brian every night. He reads a few verses in the book of mormon and then we discuss them and answer any questions that he has. it has been so great. I am seeing brighter than ever before how strong his testimony is getting. Every phone call he asks more and more questions and, he unknowingly testifies about the things that he reads. He is being changed. truly changed by the spirit and it is a beautiful thing to see. He is a man with the gift to see miracles. We set up a lesson at a member's house.  He told us that he woke up wishing that he had some better boots so that he could slip them on and off easier for when he goes into their house (it's hard for him to do that because of his arthritis) He said, "if only I had a pair of jet boots, but they don't make em anymore" That same morning, he went walking up the road to get some wood and he saw a bag on the side of the road. He went and looked inside and there was a pair of lightly worn jet boots. They were dry even though it had been raining all night. I know that God knows his children. He knows Brian, he knows me, he knows each of you and he is looking for every opportunity to bless you in the ways that he knows would be meaningful to you. He knows how to bless his children and he knows how to give good gifts! I am a witness of the love of God. I know pain but I also know immense joy. These experiences on my mission have grown my testimony of the Savior's reality. He lives, I just know that he lives.The experiences that I have had with him are more real to me than anything I could ever physically touch. I just love him so very much. He gave his entire life, every day of it for me. I am giving 18 months. It seems so insignificant. But it is the least I can do for the one I love so very much. 

I hope that all of you are happy and healthy and seeing the Lord's hand in your life. If you're not, I promise that he is not the one that left.

I love you all! Thanks for your letters and prayers and love! I really do feel it.

love, sister Bates

November 11, 2019

Salut!

I'm writing this on a Monday since our p day got switched because we have MLC again on Tuesday.

This week was pretty miraculous! Lot's of cool things happened! Especially at the end.

For one thing, we got our first snow last Friday! (it's all gone now..) It's kind of depressing because that means I will pretty much see snow for the rest of my days as a missionary. I am really going to miss the sun. It's hard to stay awake when it is 4:30 and pitch black outside... Oh well, I'll keep taking my vitamin d haha

I was feeling kinda frustrated this week because the people that we have been focusing so much of our time on keep letting us down and smurfing us and just not taking things seriously. It's hard to stay motivated sometimes when we just keep repeating the same vicious cycle. So I was praying really hard about it and asking God to lead us to people that really want to change. We have been realizing that if we want to see change then we need to change what we are doing. So we have been trying extra hard to go out and work hard even when (and especially when) we don't want to. We went knocking in a snowstorm. Even though it's super cold (so cold that my nostrils were freezing together!😨), it's one of my favorite things to do. It feels like an adventure! So yeah we have been working really hard and trying to be efficient and on Sunday, it felt like it started to pay off. Last transfer we had met this Jamacian guy named Greg through a bible ad and when we went to drop it off, we found 10 more guys living there as workers as well. They all wanted copies of the bible and the Book of Mormon but we weren't able to get enough copies of them until recently. Anyways, we brought them over to them last night and taught them about how it came to be and they all thought that it was so cool! All of them committed to read in 3 Nephi! So yeah we picked up 11 new people in one night!!! I think I just hit a new record. It was such a spiritual lesson. It was standing room only in that place so we just all stood in a circle and testified! Man we just left that place on cloud nine... Then we went to do this pass by. She had moved but the lady that lives there now was so sweet. We showed her a video and she just started sobbing! We also found two lost less actives AND we knocked into a guy named Nick who seemed like he wanted to talk but he also didn't seem sure. So we gave him our card and told him to check out the website. And that was it. We kept on knocking. Then like 10 minutes later, we got a text and it was HIM!! He asked us where the church was and also if he could text us with his questions. He also agreed for us to come back and talk more with him. It was so darn cool!! I have a lot of faith in this guy. It felt like he is ready.

I know that we were lead where we needed to be. I am so grateful to be an instrument in the Lord's hands. I love him. I know that this gospel is true and that God loves all of his children and is very aware of each of them.

November 5, 2019

Hello everyone!
This week was a crazy one! We went to Montreal and back for MLC and exchanges. MLC was incredible as always. The testimony meeting at the end was extremely powerful, everyone was sobbing. When disciples of Christ gather, Christ is there too.
We had an extremely great lesson with Brian this week. It is so amazing to see how much he has changed. He opened up about why he hasn't been to church yet. He is starting to see so many miracles that are coming into his life because he is acting in faith. There is so much power in that. Acting in faith allows God to bless us. Faith is the act of lighting the match and starting the woodpile and unleashing all of the power within it. Wood won't give us warmth until we light it! And that is what he is doing. I love him a lot and I am proud of his courage to take these steps of growth.
We also picked up another person this week! Her name is Silvia and she's incredible! She had been taught in the past so she is familiar with missionaries and what we do. She also told us that she would talk to all of her friends and invite them to come and talk with us because "everyone needs to hear this!!" It was pretty amazing! So we are finding some really solid people! I love sister Livingstone seriously with all of my heart. We work SO well together! We laugh all the time but we work hard and get things done. It's awesome! I can tell that there is going to be a lot of growth this transfer. 

Another super cool miracle happened on Sunday too! Our friends from Jamaica came to church and they brought this huge box of apples to share with the branch! Everybody really liked them a lot before but, man, after those apples they kind of became celebrities! Haha!

I have been thinking a lot about the book of mormon this week. There have been a lot of things that I have read that have never stood out to me before. That book is seriously infinite. You could read it a million times and never really get everything. It is such a blessing to me that we have the Book of Momon along with the bible to teach what we need to know about doctrine and truth. It truly does hold the answer to every question. Even if it's not written on the page the answers can come with the spirit that accompanies you when you read it. It is truly my favorite book and I am so grateful for it. To all who have never read it, I invite you to try it out. You won't lose anything by doing so and you will gain much more knowledge about Christ than you ever bargained for! And with it, a new light will come into your life.

I love you!! Have a wonderful week!

Love, sister Bates

October 29, 2019

Salut à tous! This was transfer week and it was really crazy! I got my new companion sister Livingstone and I seriously love her so much! I can tell that this transfer is going to be truly amazing! She is so fun and happy and so hard working. We are going to see miracles:) We have been doing a lot of work with the members. They are all very on board and every one of them knows at least one person who needs to find some peace in their lives. We just invite them to bring them unto Christ in whatever way they feel inspired to. It can be as bold as inviting them to sit down with us, or as simple as praying for them. But we have asked them to do those things consistently and naturally. I know that by doing that, people will come to Christ and his gospel on their own. Just like President Uchtdorf stated. I feel like there are good things coming up for the Greenwood area this next transfer. I want to do my part and try to be the best missionary I can be for the people in this area. I had a very special experience last week that I just wanted to share as well. I had mentioned before that I had met a lady in our ward that had known my dad back when she was living in Halifax. During our last visit, she pulled out this huge binder (one of many) that was just chock full of notes and pictures and letters. She had kept it all these years and during that time missionaries had written in it, including my dad. She found a note that he had written her. It was short and simple, but so priceless to me. I am so grateful that she faithfully kept them all these years. I have a testimony of the importance of keeping record. We all need to be journaling and writing memories and beautiful experiences down. Their worth will only grow with time. And the connections we will make in the future because of them will be of so much worth to us. It's like President Phillips always used to tell me, "there is a power in connectivity." I know that it is not a coincidence that I am here in Greenwood at this time. I know that everything the Lord does, he does for a reason, and if we let him, he can show us what those reasons are, whether in this life or the next. I am so honored and grateful to be a missionary at this time. What an exciting time to spread the gospel! I love the work, I love my Savior, the gospel is true!

October 23, 2019

HELLO! This was quite a week because we found out what is happening with transfers! Sister Clark is headed to Cole Harbour for her last transfer and I am getting sister Livingstone! It was super crazy! We were definitely not expecting a change this transfer. It's kind of sad because i love her a lot and we made a really good team! But I know that the Lord knows best. I am really excited for this next transfer. Only 3 left and then I'm home... I can hardly believe it. This week three of our Jamaician friends came to church! It was so exciting! They really loved it and want to come back next week! We continue to work with the members in the ward. We are visiting each of them and creating individualized family mission plans. They are really running with it! Member missionary work is the best way to go for sure! We also got the opportunity to listen to President Ballard and Elder Christofferson speak to us! They had a special missionary devotional and a special area devotional for Eastern Canada and United States. It was so interesting and so specific! Haha. He told us that we need to pray for our nation and our leaders and invite others to do the same. He also spoke a lot about how we need to be spiritually prepared for the days to come. Remember how they used to council us to have food storage ready? I haven't heard about that in a very long time. That's because it's not merely food that is going to sustain us in the last days, but our testimonies. If we are not spiritually prepared, nothing else will matter. I really have been feeling the urgency of time. The Lord is hastening his work and he's doing it quickly. I have also felt that it's important that we have a testimony of the restoration and of Joseph Smith. I know that he was a prophet called to restore the gospel in its fullness. And because of that, I can enjoy all of the blessings that come with it. I know that this church is true. I know that Jesus Christ lives and leads this church today. I love him so much. He brings peace now and guarantees complete healing in the next life. I have had way too many experiences in my life to ever deny the fact that I know that he lives. I love you all dearly! Keep being amazing! Sister Bates

October 18, 2019

Salut mes chers amis et famille! This week was Thanksgiving week here in Canada! We had a lot of cool experiences:) I posted a bible ad a week or so ago and a guy named Greg asked for one. So we went to deliever it and it turns out that he is from Jamaica! He is working at and apple orchard with along with like 12 other guys who are also from Jamaica! We went in and talked to them and they all asked for bibles and copies of the Book of Mormom AND they said they wanted to come to church this Sunday! That would be so cool! They were all so very kind and friendly. I am so excited to see what comes out of it! They were so open and hungry for truth! It had been hard because there have been a lot fo people that we have been working so hard with but they just aren't progressing or willing to keep commitments. It makes it difficult because I love them. I know that the gospel will bring them joy but I can't force anyone to accept it. Anyways... we have been working really hard to find people that are ready to accept the gospel and we have been finding lots of people! I can see how the Lord blesses us when we are willing to work hard and align our will with his. One of our dear friends named Brian has had a lot of struggles but he has a lot of faith. We committed him to live thr word of wisdom and he was willing to try but he was skeptical. During our last lesson with him, he was so excited to tell us about a cool experience he had. He felt this strong the urge to go get some beers. But then he said that he started thinking about us and our conversations and he said he just felt the urge leave him instantly! He said it literally felt like it jumped out of him! Haha. He thought that was pretty cool! And then what's more, he has been looking for a saw to cut wood for winter. That night he went up to visit a friend, and that friend had a saw that he was willing to sell him for 50$. He had 45$ on him. He wouldn't have had that money if he would have gone out and bought the beers like he wanted to. It was such a cool experience!! It is so exciting to see how he is recognizing God's hand in his life. He keeps telling us that things like that keep happening. He keeps seeing sp many miracles:) It's a beautiful thing. The gospel changes people and makes them better. Something in him changed. I have seen it. These are the fruits of the gospel. This is the joy that I work for:) I hope that you all had a great week as well! Je vous aime beaucoup!! Sister Bates

October 8, 2019

Hello everyone! Wow, this week was a spirit filled one!! I remember when I was a kid and conference seemed to drag on for 5 years and I just wanted it to end... now it goes by in like 3.7 seconds and I never want it to end!! Everything that was said was exactly what I needed. I dont know how the Lord can do that with billions of people in the world, but somehow he caters to the one. It doesn't make sense but it works. I felt that a big theme was trusting in God. I have felt myself doubting a lot lately. Not the gospel or the Lord, but myself. I realized strongly this weekend that my efforts are enough and they are acceptable to the Lord. We always say that the Lord doesn't expect us to be perfect. I think that over the years my mind accepted that but my heart never did, because not measuring up has always hit me really hard. But I have been realizing over these last few months (and it was solidified at conference) that the stakes are never too high. He has set all this up so perfectly so that I can make a billion mistakes and still ALWAYS be good enough. When we look at this life with a correct and eternal perspective, we can see that it's more than okay to make mistakes! In fact, it's good! We should relish in the fact that we will never be mortal again so now is the time to be imperfect. After we get to the next life, the stakes will get a lot higher because then we will be expected to be more perfect, but not now! We are like children in so many ways. I look back sometimes at my defiance and little tantrums and it's almost funny. Heavenly Father is just as kind and patient (and probably amused) as a loving father with his toddler. Even more so! I am grateful that he loves us all so uncondituonally. Simply for being his. I know that he knows us and our hardships and he has given us the Savior to be a mediator and a friend for us. All of the power of Christ is ours if we accept it through faith, repentance and baptism. The way is so clear and so easy if we let it be. We were able to get two people we have been working with to come and watch a session with us. Their names are Carol and Joe and they are the sweetest people under the sun! They really really loved the messages! I think it was really a big step for them. Now maybe they'll have a desire to be taught and not just visit Haha🤣 they are such lovely people. I am so grateful to know them. Thank you all for your prayers and love! I hope all is well and you feel the love of Christ every day! Love, Sister Bates

October 1, 2019

Bonjour tout le monde! This week was a spiritual overload! It really wiped me out haha! I got to go to stake conference, zone conference and the temple all in the same weekend! It was so so special because I haven't been to the temple in over a year. So after such a long time, walking into that building was healing. Literally, the peace was tangible. It was a very sweet and sacred experience. It was great too because all of the missionaries in the zone came together and sang in the missionary choir. We did this beautiful rendition of called to serve. The whole entire theme of stake conference was missionary service! It was so cool!! We had RMs speak, people that were just about to leave on their missions, and people that served missions a long time ago. It was wonderful to hear all of the different points of view. One thing was constant throughout all of the talks. It is the hardest thing I have ever done, but it was the best thing I have ever done. I feel like that's the cliche phrase that everyone uses, but it's true. It amazes me that the numbers of trials and frustrations that come with serving a mission can coexist so perfectly with the mountains of blessings and Joys that come from serving a mission. I am a witness of that. I don't understand how it works, I just know that it does. We went on exchanges this week with the Yarmouth sisters. It was so fun! Sister Stoddard is absolutely amazing! She is also an Aggie so I guess that's why! Just kidding lol. But she is seriously so awesome. I work with such focused and consecrated missionaries. It is a great blessing. I have been thinking a lot this week about what makes a successful missionary. I read the Ricciardi letter (it is SO good. I would totally recommend it to anyone!) and it said that success is measured by our obedience, not by how many people we find or teach. The Lord knows where the elect are. He could lead us straight to them if he wanted to. But why would he deprive us of the experience and the growth and the learning that comes from finding them on our own? He knows the experiences that we need to have to help us become. I am trying to tell myself that. As long as I do, I will never fail. I love being a missionary. Sometimes, it is so hard. But I look back at where I was a year ago and I see why it has to be. As much as it hurts sometimes, I am grateful for the ways the Lord has kindly and lovingly shaped me. I love him so much for that. I know that the church is true. It just makes so much sense! The more I study and teach it, the more I am sure that it is directly from God. I am just so grateful to be a part of this work. I love you all:) Keep being amazing! Love, sister Bates