I have given birth.....again‏

to little missionary! His name is Elder Finch and he is from Mesa Arizona. He is the best!!

So YES! I'm training! And I have the best son in the whole mission. He contacted the whole bus on the way home from changes! Fijense en eso! The whole bus!! And I contacted my first bus like just a couple months ago. Pilas pues. haha.

So how did you love conference?! I LOVED IT! It was the best! I especially loved the talk from Elder Uchtdorf on Saturday morning. Life is not a race, it's a journey. Live life EVERDAY!! and love it too. His talk was great. I also LOVED the talk from Jeffrey R Holland about being followers of Jesus Christ, what a great conference. I hope that everyone could watch it and enjoy it and could learn something new. A theme of conference was CHANGE. The worlds standards are getting worse and we as members of the church of Jesus Christ must be better than the world! Let me know what your favorite talk was please :)

 

On other good news, our investigator David was able to go to conference and he also loved it. Hooray! And what do you guys think about the age changes? I think its great! We are going to get sooooo many more missionaries now! Especially sister missionaries, and sisters missionaries, are the best. Take my word for it.

 

So thank you parents for the new shoes. Now EVERYONE wants to be my friend. :) I'm sooooo stylish ya know ;)

 

Also, thank you Grandmother for the Halloween stuff. YOU'RE THE BEST: now my desk is super spooky :) thanks Grandma!

As for my friends, well, I am writing letters. They are slow but they are gettin written. (such good english huh? gettin written? ha!) but patience is a virtue. :) I love you and I am so proud of you alllll. BYU is awesome, I love Jimmer, and I'm still a red head, those are just some things that will never change. I love you and challenge you to laugh everyday and always follow that still small voice. Have a great week!

 

Elder Yates

The result at the end of September...

was 314 baptisms!! and as a zone of Villa Hermosa, we had 64 baptisms!! What a blessing!!!

YES! 314 baptisms. Who would have thought it possible? Oh. WE DID of course! haha. What a blessing from God. Really. We have seen and witnessed enough miracles this month to last a lifetime. The mission record BEFORE President Brough got to the mission was 141 baptisms in the month of Feb of 2011. And now that record is 314. haha! How cool is that? Pretty cool huh? Now President Brough is talking about 350 baptisms and says that he wants to put 400 before his mission ends. I don't think I will be in the mission to see that goal realized, but I will help my junior companions NOW so they have the faith when that time comes. The most important is that our Junior comps always be better than us, that way, we CAN have goals like that and they don't seem impossible.

 

So this last weekend Jorge was confirmed and even given the priesthood! So in 2 weeks he is going to bless the sacrament! I love that family so much and I will never be able to forget them. And I will be part of their lives forever and ever as well. What a blessing. Like in D&C "how great shall be your joy if you even bring one soul to repentence." I testify that scripture is true.

 

So right now we are teaching a man named David Lopez. He is a 30 year old single man who loves to work out and used to drink a lot. He even took the discussions many years ago but he drank too much and was never able to get baptized. Well, a couple months ago, he was working out like crazy and drinking a lot and well, almost died. He collapsed and almost didn't wake up. But, he promised God that he would go to church (Catholic church) everyday if he saved him. He was saved and now goes to the catholic church. He LOVES what we are teaching him and has the desire to change. But he is really scared because he believes in the promise that he made to God. So please pray for him. We really want him to go to church on Sunday!

 

This last Pday, we went on a hike as a district! Behind the area of Villa Canales, there is actually a natural park. So we decided to go and it was sooooo much fun! We saw some beautiful things, some gorgeous sites of Guatemala, and had a great time as a district. It was a great time and it was nice to get out in normal clothes and just have some fun. I'll attach fotos for your viewing pleasure.

 

So that was my week. Its been raining quite a bit lately. But I bought a new umbrella and its a beast. I think it's a womans umbrella but who cares if it keeps me dry right? haha. The mission is great and you are great too. Thanks for the support. I love each and everyone of you. Have a great week, watch general conference, and laugh everyday.

Elder Yates

 

Ok yeah no. I think my memory card got a bug. It is not letting me access my pictures. So I am going to try and have a member fix it this week. I still have the extra memory card in the house so I pray that I have good news next week. This may be wrong but please pray that my pictures survive.

 

 

a week of good news!

Hermano Oldrich got his mission call and Jorge got baptized!!

 Soo I know that everyone is dying to know where Hermano Oldrich is going on his mission. Well the secretaries of the mission called me on Tuesday and told me that it had come but that they had given it to the stake president of Villa Nueva. Then the stake president called us a little after and asked if he could open it. Oldrich gave him an excited YES! and he read us the letter. Hermano Oldrich is going to....................Monterray Mexico (west) mission!!!  He leaves on January 9, 2013. He is soooo excited I promise. and I'm excited for him too. He is going to love it. I just know it!

As for other news, Jorge got baptized! It has been such a great experience for him and his family. They are great. He actually wanted to wait a little bit longer but the truth is, he had an interview with President Brough on Saturday and they decided that Sunday would be the best. So Sunday was his baptism. He has been waiting about 8 months to get baptized and finally he could. It's such a blessing for him and for me, the news came at the perfect time. I was so happy for them, I called him and asked who he wanted to baptize him and he just says ''Yates!!" haha. So I had the awesome priveldge of baptizing another child of God.

Those were the biggest events of the week. The rain is slowly diminishing but when it does rain, it still rains HARD, like really hard. But, poco a poco its going away and the cold is coming, especially in the mountain where I am. haha. but really.

So this will be Hermano Oldrich's last week, then he will need to go home and prepare to go off to Mexico. Time is going to fly and he is going to be there in no time at all. He, I feel, has loved his experience here and we have ended up being really great friends. I am glad that my Heavenly Father has allowed us to be comps. I have treasured our time together and have learned a ton. Also, President Brough has already informed me that I will be training....again. haha. But, I'm excited. So next week is cambios (or changes) and I will be recieving a brand new missionary. I'm excited. It's goin to be fun.

Well I love each and every one of you. En serio.you guys are great. Anyway, I'm going to send pics now but know that I love you and miss you. Have a great week. Read the scriptures and follow the spirit, and as my mother also says, don't forget to laugh everyday. :)

 

Elder Yates

 

The computer is being silly and won't let me send pics. Sorry, you'll have to wait till next week :(

 

and the world spins madly on...

a great song and a great phase. It's true. Time has no mercy.

So many of you might have heard that there was a volcano that exploded in Guatemala. Yes it is true. Its called Volcan De Fuego. I could see it, but we were unaffected by it. So no harm, no foul. The explosion though did take place in my mission. I haven't heard anything about the other missionaries if they had to evacuate or anything.

So everything is going great with Hermano Oldrich. We aren't sure if he has gotten his mission call yet because nobody has informed us. But it has been over a month that he sent in his papers so he thinks that its here, plus he had a dream that it came. So we'll have to see. He actually wasn't going to finish out the change with me but I convinced him to stay :) So he will be here until the 3 of October because that is when changes are.  After I will probably get a new comp and teach him the area and then I'm out. Crazy I have about 4 months here already. When I'm done, I'm going to have about 6 months though. haha. The same time that I had in the coast, but I'm happy.

So on to the good news. I think I've mentioned a few times the Familia Argueta. They were all baptized in February excpet for the dad because he had to have an interview with President Brough and then President Brough had to fill out a paper and send it in to the first presidency to see if he could get baptized. We have been waiting for forever for the answer for the first presidency and well, it came! They said YES! So we rushed over to them to tell them the good news and they were so excited, especially because entering the temple as a family is their goal. So we are planning the baptism for Jorge this coming Sunday. Pray for him that everything goes well!

A weird story. So this morning we get on the bus to come down to Villa Canales where we have our district meetings and we sit down and I ask my companion if he's ready to contact the bus. He said no. ''Why not?'' I asked him, and then he points to a lady a few rows in front of us. She was screaming and writhing in pain. Come to find out, she was giving birth......on the bus. Yeah. So the bus driver drove as quickly as humanly possible (and remember that in Guatemala, there are no speed limits) and we got to Villa Canales. She was just in the beginning of labor so she made it to the doctor in time. But hey. Stories for the Grandchildren right? It was almost as bad as the guy a few weeks back who had a seizure on top of me. I ended up holding him in his seat and holding him so he didn't hurt himself until he was done. When he finished, he was all better. The boy scout slogan: Be prepared! hahaha.

 

Well that's about it from Guatemala. I'm doing great. I'm happy. I'm healthy. And I have the gospel in my life. What else could a 20 year old boy ask for? haha. Pray, smile, and listen to the spirit, and as my mother says, don't forget to laugh everyday. I love you alllllllll!!!

Elder Yates

 

In front of Volcano De Pacaya

Doing service

Doing service

With some dogs

Eating breakfast

 

Love is a battlefield‏

and so is the mission. haha. A Hermana in my district told me to write that. Pero ella tiene razon.....

Hey everyone! So everything is going good here. Hermano Oldrich and I are working hard and hopefully getting ready for some baptisms. Until the Lord has prepared them sufficiently to make convenants with him, we are just going to keep trucking along.

 

This Monday was PDAY!! and we had the opporunity to go to Zona 1 in the capital. It was so much fun and the best part was, we got to eat Wendys! Beloved frosties. I promise, they were delicious. and I took some sweet pictures which I have generously attached :) enjoy please

So I really feel like my letters are getting shorter and shorter. Maybe it's because I'm getting less interesting. haha.  The weeks are beginning to blur together and I can't even remeber the days anymore. It rains almost everyday and there is ALWAYS fog. I promise. The area is sweet but it always has its problems. We are trying to work hard and keep contacting. I have Hermano Oldrich contacting buses now. He is so great. haha. I love this kid. He is so humble and I learn so much from him. I pray that we can be together for the rest of the change. I am going to try and start living more exciting so my letters get better haha.

Oh and as for Familia Lopez Catalan, well the hermano was listening to the radio one day and the radio host began talking bad about mormons and spreding lies and whatnot and the poor man believed the radio host. We tried to clear up his doubts and everything but he in the end didn't want anything. We had to leave them as investigators. Satan works hard. But God works harder. For that reason, God put US in his way to help him. But he was to hard that he didn't hear nor feel the words of Christ that we were sharing with him.

But other than that, everything is going. Thank you Grandmother for the constant dearelders. Congrats to Travis for getting his mission call. Thanks to all my friends who still write me. You are the bestest friends a redheaded missionary could ask for. You're awesome and God loves you. Remember that you are important to him. I wrote the golden rule last week: treat others the way you want to be treated. But I am going to better that. Treat others the way GOD wants you to treat them. Follow the spirit and laugh everyday. Life is short, don't be to busy to enjoy it. I love you!

Elder Yates

 

Catholic Church

Guatemalan Palace

Elder Krantz and Elder Yates

Elder Yates and Elder McQueen

Hermano Oldrich and Elder Yates

Hermano Oldrich and Elder Yates

Super foggy morning

Getting our shoes shined

 

My little mini missionary‏

is Hermano Oldrich Diegez! And he's great!

So my new comp is great. He is from Villa Nueva so he is really close to his home. He has about a year and a half of being a member and he has such a strong testimony. I promise. I am learning more from him than he is from me! He is the only member in his family and he has such strong desires to serve the Lord. I love being his companion. He sent in his papers for a mission and now is only waiting for his calling to come. Anyday now!!

 

So this last week has been great. WE had the semana perfecta, or perfect week! Every companionship had to have 10 new investigators, 20 lessons, and at least 25 contacts a day. Even though I had a mid week change of comps, we still did it in Santa Elena! We had 24 lessons, 236 contacts in the week, and 23 new investigators. So it was a great week. I was really stressed about it with the whole change comps in the middle but the Lord certainly blessed me. We found a really great family this last week that seems great. I'll keep you updated on them.

As for Familia Lopez Catalan, the Hermano has come to church twice now and has really liked it. The mother is Evangelica and I think is really scared to change her religion. Even though she told us that she feels somehting different everytime we come over and teach them. But we have our hopes high and I am praying to make serious progress with them this week.

 

Thanks for all your support and prayers. I feel them blessing me and the area every day. Today in district meeting we studied 1 Nephi 17. Everyone should read it and meditate on Nephi's attitude. What a great example Nephi is. If I could be like him.....

I love you all so much and pray for you. Laugh everyday and treat everyone how you want to be treated. It's the golden rule you know :) Stay strong and be pioneers of the truth!

 

Elder Yates

 

 

Elder Pantle and Elder Yates

 

Elder Pantle and Elder Yates

Elder Yates looking at Lake lake Amatitlan

Elder Yates and Hermano Oldrich

 

Mi Hijo.....

Is a little Gringito!! Or a big gringito. Depending on how you look at it ahaha....

Hey ya'll! So my son is gringo! He is from Farmington, Utah. He is 19 and has NEVER studied Spanish in his life! But its great. He is learning a lot and I am learning even more. So, it's a great experience. Unfortunately, it's an experience that is going to have to cut itself short because Elder Pantle will be returning home this week to fix some stuff at home. But he will only be home for a short time and then he will be right back in the mission field. Please pray for him that he has the spirit to be with him and can come back quickly. Because I sure am going to miss him!

Anyway, I should be receiveing my new comp on Thursday. I think he is going to be a brother from the stake that is preparing to serve a mission. So with this hermano, we are going to work super hard so that we complete our goals for Septmeber! We are going to baptize like badgers! haha.

We are teaching a new family right now called the Familia Lopez Catalan. They are great. The mother is another religion but is always open to listen to us and the father doesn't go to any church. This past week, the father came to church and loved it and we are trying to get the mother to come this next week. They need to get married but they are both willing so that will be our next assignment. Please pray for them!!

I am really enjoying being a missionary right now. The people and the culture are amazing and I find myself waking up everyday wanting more. I have learned so much on my mission. The circumstances and baptisms don't make a missionary happy, they help, but it is ultimatley his attitude that makes him happy. I have learned that really, happiness IS a choice. We CAN choose to be happy. And I feel like I really am happy. At this point in my life, there isn't any other place I would rather be. It's incredible to experience this change, but it has been great. I love all of you soooooooo much. You are an inspiration to me and I super appreciate your support. I got dearelders from many of you so thank you! They make me super happy!

Also! I talked to Elder Loayza recently and he said that Luisa from Puerta de Hierro in Escuintla got baptised! cool huh? I'm glad the Lord led me to her so I could have her ready for the next elders that baptised her. The Lord always blesses his missionaries, and your prayers help! Keep them up! I love you all and I will see you soooooooooon!!!!

Love,

Elder Yates

 

 

 

Elder Yates and Elder Pantle