*professional throat clear*

My dearest family and closest friends,

3 John 1:13-14

with all my love,

Elder Mason Yates

last week in the mission?

can it be?

Well my friends, my next week letter might be a little different so I have decided to take this time and bear to you my testimony.

I, Elder Mason Shane Yates, know that Jesus Christ is my Lord, Savior, and Redeemer. I love Him. He suffered for me. I am nothing without Him in my life. He has built me up and strengthened me and He knows me. I love my Father in Heaven. He is literally my Father. He has heard and He has answered my prayers. He has sent me to difficult areas, with difficult companions, with difficult circumstances becuase He loves me. I am who I am now thanks to Him. I am a better person. I am different. I am repented and changed. And I am happy. I am so grateful to him. He is my song and my salvation.

I know that the church is true. It is the only true church over this earth. Jesus Christ is the head of this church. Everything that happens in this church is under His control. We are members of His church. I know that Thomas S Monson is His living prophet today on the earth. I have no doubt. I have testified of it before and I will testify of it again.

I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and together with the Bible, they have the power to convert us to the truth. I have read them. I have studied them. I know that they are books inspired of God and are here on the earth not to collect dust but to be read, studied, and applied.

I know these things are true. I may not have the most eloquent testimony ever, but of the things I have said, I testify because I know them to be true and I cannot deny the things I have said nor Will I deny them in the future. I have felt the truthfulness of these things in my heart. I invite ever person who is thinking about going on a mission to go. go. go. go. you will NEVER regret it. ever. it is the best decision that you can make right now in your life. serving God with all your heart, might, mind and strength is the only way to be happy on the earth. of this I know to be true, because I am happy. I am truly happy. Pray and ask your Heavenly Father if its what you should do. He will help you make this decision. Trust in Him. He knows better than us. Follow His counsels. Never doubt. Act. I love you all so very much and as I finish this last week of my mission, I will do so with a happy, satisfied heart for the blessings that God has given me that I didn't deserve. I am a happy missionary. I appreciate each one of you for the example you have been in my life. I love you and I pray for you. And more importantly God loves you too. Have a great week and may God bless each one of you reading this.

Elder Mason Shane Yates

downpour rain soccer?

check. :)

So, this week has been great. First, yesterday was Pday. First we had to go to the area office because Elder Coyoy had to do some things with his visa to go to Argentina. It hasn't come yet but it MIGHT be close, or it might not. No se sabe. But after we had planned to go play soccer with the young men of the ward, as a district. We get there and after the first 15 minutes its lightning and thundering. So what do you do when it rains on your Guatemalan-styled soccer game? Why, you play in it of course. So play in it we did. It rained so hard that it got to the point where the court was flooded and when we scored a goal we dove on it like a slip n slide. Don't worry. I have videos. :) But they'll have to wait till I get home, just know that it was the funnest ever and if I get sick, it was totally worth it ;)

 

Also, something tragic happened this week. Child services came and intervened with my children and took one of them away! :( Elder Smith was sent to Escuintla this past Friday because a missionary there waiting for his visa to go to the Dominican Republic left and left a missionary there, well, companionless. Soooo seeing as we are/were in a trio, they sacked Elder Smith and put him in the belovedly hot, and unbearably wet coast. Lucky boy. He is probably suffering right now but little does he know, he's going to love it. But that means that Elder Coyoy and I are flying solos now. It's sad, but its the way God wants it. respect. 

 

To say goodbye to Elder Smith, we ordered pizza. Pizza Hut 3 for 1 baby. 3 pizzas. 120 quetzales. Doesn't get any better.

 

Well are preparing a family right now to get baptized on the the 23rd of this month. The wife is a member but her husband isn't. His name is Rudy and he wants to get married and baptized the soonest possible he said. Soooo we obliged. haha. He came to church last week for the first time so we are preparing his marriage and baptism. Pray for Rudy please! We need your prayers!  #alcancetusmetas

 

We are planning a couple more baptisms  for this next two weeks. I'm going out in style. I just pray that you help me. Pray for me and I'll pray for you. kinda like I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine. Please and thank you. Welp, have a great week. Love you lots and lots. Read your scriptures and say your prayers, and remember that Jesus and Elder Yates love you. Have a great week! 143.

 

Elder Yates

 

3 pizzas...120 quetzels

Elder Yates and Elder Montero 2 year cake

soccer in the rain

 

a week full of fun.

What a great week! Lemme explain why...

Heyyyy! So I'm in a super good mood right now! First off, MARISOL GOT BAPTIZED!!!! Por fin! That was great. We kept talking to her about putting her faith in God and taking the first step in the waters of baptism. and she finally agreed! and she asked ME to baptize her. haha. It didn't take much convincing! That was on Saturday, then on Sunday, she got confirmed and her twin sister got all her mission papers done to go on a mission. Marisol wants to go on a mission too but she has to wait just a short little year. It is going to go by fast!

Also on Sunday, we had a stake baptism! In total, we had 8 baptisms on Sunday and little Marcos was part of it. It was great and so spiritual. His whole family came and now his mother is active in the church again after about 2 and a half years of not going. So that was great too. President Brough came and the mission president of south mission so we got to meet and talk with him a little too. They are getting nimajuyu ready for the big change! (after I leave!) 

Also, on Friday I got word that the elder in Guajitos 2 was going to have emergency changes with an elder in the coast. who was the elder in the coast, none other then ELDER MONTERO! My old companion. He is awesome! so he is in my district and we get to see each other lots and lots. Actually we are going to finish our missions together. So that's why I have the picture with him at Antigua. We went together and it was great. Tons of fun. 

 

Lastly, we got word yesterday from President Brough that we were the most successful district this past week and so we got invited AGAIN to the house of President Brough to have district meeting and eat lunch. It was great. We just got back. AND Hermana Brough even made chocolate chip cookies. aka. heaven. I haven't eaten those since I got to this country. They made me smile and I got to bring the extras home in a bag. Helllooooo dinner :)

 

Welp, that's about it now, only a couple more weeks left! I'm almost there. Have a great week. Laugh lots and lots and read your scriptures everyday! I love you!! 

Elder Yates

 

Elder Yates in Genie Pants

 

Birthday Shanannigans.

I am sure that my family is having. Mother is 1 year older and wiser too (I think she turned 21) and Ry is 19. Write them and tell them Happy Birthday!!

This past week has been great. We are still working hard with Marisol. I just want her to get baptized while I'm here and I will be happy. I feel there are a few people the Lord has prepared for me while I'm here to baptize and she is one of them. Keep praying for her because I think we are close! Just a few more little pushes and she'll be on the right path to our Father in heaven.

 

We are also planning a baptizm this Sunday for a little niño named Marcos. He's pilas. His mother is a member for the past 3 years but hasn't gone to church and this Sunday she came! It was great to see them there. We are planning his baptizm for this Sunday.

 

We have met lots and lots of crazy people this week. It was a week of crazies. I promise. Fat guys that dated the secratary of Ronald Reagan and old ladies that cast out devils. Guatemalas got them all. Poor Elder Smith probably doesn't know what to think but I am just helping him get more accostumed to the lovely people here in Guatemala. I know that he is going to love it just as much as I do. :)

 

The rain is coming in full force everyday now. I bought an umbrella that is keeping me nice and dry and I have started putting 2 pairs of socks on so my toes are nice and warm. Torrents are falling from the sky. ohhhhhhh the rain. Will I miss it? Only time will tell. haha.

 

Welp, that was my week. I guess it doesn't seem as cool as I thought it did. But, it WAS a good week. I promise. I pray that each of you has a great week and starts off great the month of June. It's going to be a great month. :) Bear your testimony on Sunday! As my wise Grandmother always says, you should never pass up a moment to bear your testimony. I know I'll be bearing mine on Sunday! Thanks Grma!! Have a great week and laugh everyday. Angry people die young.

 

Elder Yates

Well, I had twins‏

and I'm pretty sure they are faternal twins. :) hahah

 Well I hope you enjoy the pictures. My comapnions are Elder Smith from Utah and Elder Coyoy from Xela (here in Guatemala) so things are going great. It's weird having two children, especially when one can't speak the English and the other can't speak Spanish. Language barrier and I'm the beloved translator, but it's great. It's going to be such a fun last change.

 

Elder Coyoy is from here, and he is waiting for his visa to go to Argentina but the visas from Argentina are so common so he may be here for a while. :)

 

Today was a special day. We got word from President Brough on Sunday that he had invited our district to go to his house and have district meeting there! It was lots of fun. We just got back. His wife even cooked for us. It was really fun and I enjoyed it lots and lots. Their house is so beautiful haha. I promise. anyway. So that was a fun experience.

Everything is going good here, just enjoying my last couple of weeks as a missionary. It is great. I am now the oldest fart in the mission. There is NO missionary older than me (except Elder Israelsen because he entered the MTC about 45 minutes before I did :P) so that is weird, but its good. It's a well deserved title I feel. I have worked hard to be the oldest missionary in the mission. It's been great.

 

On Friday we had a meeting for the newbies and I showed up with my twins (I'm thinking of buying a two seater stroller and just putting them in there haha) and President Brough asked me how many times I had trained. I slowly stood up and cleared my throat and softly said ''seven times President.'' and thats when the jaws dropped haha. So it was made known to everyone that I am the missionary who has trained the most out of any other missionary in the Guatemala City Central Mission. Soooo that's kind of cool right? He told me that their is no other honor as big as knowing that God trusts in me enough to let me train 7 times. :)

 

Well my friends, until next week. Remember that I love you and pray for you and hope that you always choose the right. Have a great week, pray, listen to the spirit and laugh everyday. And THANK YOU GRANDMA FOR THE DEARELDERS! Whatta trooper. My Grma has got you all beat. 2 years later and the dearelders are still coming through strong, stud status. Give her a wink for me if you see her and tell her she's the best. Because she is. ha! Love you Grma! and love you reader!

 

Elder Yattttes

 

long time no talk!

So I got to talk to my Mother on Sunday and it was glorious. promises. She is the best Mother in the whole world and everyone in the world should tell Happy Mothers day to first their own Mother and second to MY Mother! :D

 

So I have some breaking news. I am training again for my last change. This will make it my sixth time training. BUTTTT I also got word that I might be recieving 2 kids at the same time. TWINS! eeeeekkk! BUT that is just rumor. But I feel like it's a pretty concrete rumor becasue last night at 11 the APs called me and told me to go outside and help them move in another bed to our house and then promptly told me that I am going to be receiving 2 new missionaries. But like I said, it's pure speculation. ;) But pray for me please.

We still haven't been able to baptize Marisol. It was going great with her, but when we go to put a date with her to get bapitzed, she chickens out. Keep praying for her beucase we just love her so much and we want her so badly to be baptized. I know she will but I just hope it's soon.

 

So the weeks are going by so fast. I don't really have any cool or funny stories this week. Well, I have FUNNY stories but they are kinda gross becasue they all deal with drunk ctrazy people. I'll share those a little later on. Just remember kids, don't do drugs haha.

 

We will have to see where my companion gets sent tommorow. I'll let you know.  There are going to be a lot of changes I feel going on in the mission. I should have an interesting email for ya'll next week. So stay tuned for that please! Just know that I love you all and I am praying for you. Keep saying your prayers and enjoy vacations!! :D oh and laugh everyday.

 

Elder Yates

 

The most awesome pic ever??

Zona