Happy Fathers day to all you fathers!

 

Things are going well out here. I got a little dehydrated the other day. That was no fun!!! It is really hard to drink a lot of water when Arizona water taste so bad, and I just really don't like water anyway. The Mio water flavor things aren't cheap. First world problems I tell you...

 

 

Transfers are next week so no email until Wednesday. I dont think I'll be moving, Sis B and I think we will stay together :) We hope stay together! But just in case send anything to the mission office, not that I get much anymore! I guess that is what happens when you have been gone a year, people forget you! I'm totally just kidding!!! You all have lives, you don't live for letters. I know that I am so bad at writing people who have served because I would get caught up in my own life. So don't worry I know you still love me!

 

Dad- I got your package! Thank you! Mom thank you so much for the card!

 

Random but today is my half birthday. I'm old. Its weird. Honestly, I always thought I'd be married before 21. Now I'm thinking I'll be 23. Weird... that is old. Not really, but it is. Oh well, that is life.

 

I think I will work at Disney when I get home. Maybe on a Disney cruise. I don't really know, but school just seems depressing, and Disney is happiness. I'll just go to Disney university and be a princess forever. Real life seems miserable...

 

People keep giving us updates on the happenings of the world, and oh my goodness, the world is messed up!!! It is actually nice not hearing all the scary stuff that is happening. The mission bubble is kind of nice. Its less scary to go around not knowing about the way the world is going. I guess we all just need to hold to the fact that this is all foretold and part of the plan. Its still scary though!!!

 

What happy news is there? Fun stories? 

 

Drink lots of water. Eat healthy whole foods. Read the Book of Mormon and pray daily!!! Go to the temple to do work for the dead, or just to walk around the grounds. Have family home evening. Be happy:)

 

I love you all!

 

 

Sister Yates 

Wow may fly by!!!! I can't believe that in like 5 weeks I'll hit my year!!!!! Not okay!!!! My mission is going too fast!

 

You might be asking how the work goes when it is so hot out. Well, the answer is it really really really slows down. Everyone is out of town or in the pool. We do get to totally rearrange our schedule though. It's weird. Also the sun is scary here!!! The sun is honestly hotter here. It hurts me. I am so thankful for sunscreen. I think it is working though, because I am still pretty white. I think the weirdest thing is it is hot all day and night. Like at night it only gets to the 80's. it is so weird!!! Thank you Georgia for having good weather! It is also weird that it hasn't rained for several months. My skin is holding up okay, but its still dry! Maybe I'll be tan when I get home though!

 

Sister Training Leader life is fun. My companion hates them. She hates when I leave and she has to stay with another sister. Its hard on her because we are doing at least two a week. I don't like that, but that is how the other Sister Training Leader wants to do it.  I might have to put my foot down though. Our area needs us. My companion needs me!!! Its fun though I like getting to help the other sisters! They are great! Many of them will be life long friends!!!!

 

I really like being a missionary. Yes it is hard work, but it is worth it.

 

 

Sister B and I are singing "The Olive Tree" at zone conference next week and then maybe in sacrament meeting and at transfer meeting. I will try to record it, but no promises! I'm excited though! We sound pretty good together!!! Really I just love being with Sis. B. She is a lot like me! We think a lot a like which is so so fun! We laugh a lot and just make the most of our time!

 

We get to go to the Mesa temple on the 12th!!! I cant wait! I love going to the temple! One of the good things about home is I'll be able to go whenever I want!!!

 

I should be going. I have a package I'll be sending home soon. I don't think it is really anything too exciting, but you can just open it and put it in my room or wherever the rest of my stuff I've sent home is. There is a lot I will just go through when I get home!!! So don't toss stuff.

 

I love you all so much! Be safe and have a great week! Go to the temple and read your scriptures!!!! Those things help!

Love,

Sister Bresia (not tan yet) Yates!

Only a few days left as a teen!!!

Hello Family!

This has been a CRAZY week!!!! I don't remember if I told you last week, but we got stuck in the mud last Sunday. Not only that, but we were in the middle of no where and there were no lights around us. It was like being in a scary movie!!! Really being anywhere in the town of Clay Spring, AZ is like being in a scary movie. No paved roads and no lights, it is so scary!!! At least its mostly Mormons!!! We were stuck for like 30 minutes!!! But some members came and helped us!

Okay, nothing really happened on Monday, but Tuesday we taught a lesson to a 7 year old and her 5 year old sister. Their parents are members and want the 7 year old, Grace, to have the lessons as baptism preparation. So we are ending the lesson of the Restoration and ask if they have any questions (or to ask their parents if anything comes after we leave). The 5 year old, Tatum, asks US (OKAY FIRST their mom is almost 9 months pregnant), "How do babies get out of mommies tummies?" We didn't want to laugh and make her think she didn't have a good question, but it was so funny!!! We thankfully didn't have to answer. We referred that question to mommy, who then referred it to daddy!!! So funny!!!

Wednesday night I had an allergic reaction to something I ate. Nothing serious happened. My tongue got a little swollen and the sides of my tongue hurt really bad. A Dr in one of the wards we are in called in a prescription of some kind of number. Everyone said it would feel like when you go to have a cavity filled, but as some of you know, I have never had a cavity! Therefore, I have never had my moth numbed before. It was so weird!!! No, I have no idea what it was that caused the reaction, everything I ate I had eaten several times before... We are thinking it was something in the pizza I ate, but we don't know. I am fine though!!

Thursday night we got home and there was a super scary dark feeling in our house. We called President Sweeney and through the power of the priesthood he cast out all evil spirits! That was no fun! We slept with all the lights on that night!

There were other crazy things that happened, but those are the big ones!

It snowed again!!! It is so cold up here!!!

We go to the temple on Wednesday!! I am so excited since I haven't been since September!!!

Yesterday we went to church in Cibecue, which is always an adventure. Things were fine through sacrament meeting, until the water came around. Its pretty quiet until this little boy starts gargling the water. It was really hard not to laugh!!! Oh Cibecue!!!

Well, we have two new investigators!!! And they seem like they really are interested in learning. I will let you know how they progress as we teach them more! Pray that they realized the truth!!

 I hope all is well at home! I love you all!!!

Love,
Sister Bree  

Day late due to holiday!

Happy Veterans Day (sorry its a day late). I am emailing today because yesterday the library was closed. Its been a slow week, but that's fine. We got to visit with some great member families. That's really what we do. Our investigators don't really work with us and the only less actives that will meet with us are no longer less active! Its frustrating, but what can you do. We still see miracles! 

We already have like 4 Thanksgiving invites!!! Which is cool, but I'm not eating at all of them!!!

The OB/GYN I've been seeing out here and his staff suck!!! I won't have my next injection until who knows when, and the pain is coming back almost full force!!!! They finally ordered the shot so its on its way. Hopefully it will get here soon.  Oh well, I'll keep you updated. In the mean time, I will use my left over hydro codon to manage the pain because thats the only thing that kind of helps.

I really do love all of you! I hope you know that. I know things back home are rough right now on so many different fronts, but I love my family so much. I love my friends too, but my family is different! I have the most amazing aunts, uncles, and cousins, and words cannot describe my grandparents. My brother, sisters, and their spouses are amaizng! My best memories are of us as kids making my bed into a slide, watching Cats on the super old TV in the basement, and playing Indianans!!!  My parents are the best supporters in the world. I've been thinking back on when I got my tonsils removed, my first surgery! I was so terrified, but mom and dad were right there holding my hands and helping me be brave. I'm sure most of you are not even reading this part, but I hope someone is... I love my family. I love each one of my cousins, aunts, and uncles. My grandparents are the best. My family helped me become who I am today. I would not be on a mission without them. Thank you for all you do and for the examples you have set. You are the memories I cherish most.  Yes the next few months are a little scary, but you have each other and that is what you need! Come together in prayer and scripture reading often! 

I love you all so much! I am so thankful for this time I have to serve!!!

Has it been this long already?

I am almost at 4 months out... weird how time flies.

Thank you so much for the package and letters. I don't know who put what in but  it was all soooo amazing! Best package ever! Y'all are great.

Everyone asks me what happened to my southern accent. I blame it on Grandma that I don't have one so just so everyone knows. 

Also, there are a lot of Yates up here and everyone asks if I'm related to them. I have no clue!!!! I probably am, but I have no clue. Dad, I need to learn about your family. Are you related to an Alma Yates?

Things are going well here, just cold :) but no snow yet!

Can some one tell me the status of Sawyer, Tyler, and MarLiece? I know they were all suppose to go to Brazil, but I haven't heard anything about if they have left or anything.

My Dr appointment was fine. It was just an establishing care visit. We just have to get my records from Provo and order the shot, hopefully that will all be done be the 13 otherwise I'm in trouble. We'll see what happens. Pray it comes, otherwise the pain will more than likely come back and surgery will have been pointless. At least that's what the Dr said...

I'll be driving again on Tuesday and Wednesday :( and not even on the nice small town roads. I'm NOT  looking forward to it! But I have to. We are going on splits. At least Wednesday is Cibecue day so I won't do much driving!

We no longer have any progressing investigators :( Which is a total bummer, but we are hoping to get a few this week. We have some potentials.

I stopped biting my nails and picking at my cuticles, yet my cuticles STILL look TERRIBLE!!!! Its really frustrating!!!! Oh well, I'll try to get them looking nice.

I've been reading the Book of Mormon trying to read it all the way through. Can I just say that those Isaiah Chapters make no sense!!! I need a translator! I have also been trying to memorize the Family Proclamation. That has been awesome! I am learning so much about it, really studying it, and am memorizing it pretty fast. I hope this will help me be able to memorize better for school. I am also reading a chapter of Moses a week. I love Moses! And I've only read the first chapter! He is very powerful!

I am starting to hate animals! I mean I love them, but not as a missionary!!!

I am learning a lot of very important life lessons out here and I am excited to share more of the things I'm learning once I get home. Sorry that is really just for the family. I love you my friends, but some things are just for family. So to all my family, be prepared to hear about my life changing experiences.

I really feel like I am becoming the person Heavenly Father wants me to be. I love being out here and serving my mission. Its so cool and I am meeting the best people.

I hope all is well at home.

Please feel free to write me at anytime.

I love you all!!!!

Love, 

Bresia 

Transfers!

Sorry I forgot to tell you that pday was Wednesday this week. Anytime we have transfers, pday moves to Wednesday so that the new missionaries can go shopping. Next week pday is on Tuesday though, so don't worry if you don't hear from me Monday. Sorry I forgot to tell you. 

Well first off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROOKE, GRANDMA JUDY, POPPY AND CAROL!!!! 

Sorry I missed those. To prevent missed birthdays from happening again can I get one of those Jesus calendars we have in the dining room and can someone fill it out with the family birthdays??? Please! 

Okay so if anyone wants to send me a package I would love one with chocolate covered pomegranate and peanuts in it, and also I would love some Mane and Tail shampoo and conditioner... we only have a Walmart to shop at and they don't carry it there. So my hair would love some of that!!! The stuff I'm using sucks and is changing the way my hair looks(the color) and the way it feels.

Claire, thank you so much for the package! I love the tasty treats!!!! 

Mia Maid class, thank you so much for the treats and letters :) I love you all! 

Fun story, on Monday we had to go get an oil changed, the tires changed, and some car maintenance done. Took forever, but no big deal. We drive home, a 30 min drive, and see that we have a light on on the dashboard. It was an orange light that was an exclamation point with an orange squiggle around it... Well me knowing very little about cars and Sister Jones knowing just as little  had no idea what that meant (oh yeah Sister Jones and I are still together and in the same area, she is Sister Training Lead though). We decided that when we get back in the car, if it is still on we will call our vehicle coordinator and ask about it. When we go back out to the car, the light is on, and now there is a "ssssss" sound coming from the back of the truck... I knew that wasn't good. We find out we had a hole in our tire, and that it was losing air fast!!! We called the car guy of our mission and he tells us to change it and go back to the place we went to for our oil change and get the tire fixed. Well I have never really changed a tire, and Nissan makes it ridiculously hard to do any of it, especially getting the jack out!!!! I am happy to say that I did change it and everything worked out fine. It was crazy though. Makes for a good story, and at least I know I can change tires now! I hope it doesn't happen again though!!!! 

Things are going really good though, for the most part. We got two new sets of sisters in our zone so Sister Jones and I aren't  alone with all the boys. That's nice. We will be going on exchanges more often though, which is okay. 

I am so glad Tess got her visa, and Kevin Mason got his call!!! Congratulations!!! Has Sawyer received his visa yet? What about Tyler? Whats new with everyone in life? I feel out of the loop. Is Stone Mountain shut down as part of the government shut down what about Kennesaw Mountain? Tell me things about the world and family, Georgia and ward. 

I'll be sending pictures soon, probably today. 

I'm doing good and not gaining weight! And I'm working out, I feel really good. I'm still not sleeping well, even when I take melatonin. That's a bummer, but not to bad. 

I am really looking forward to my dr's appointment on the 29th, because I've been having pain again. Not too cool, but nothing I can't handle. I just hope everything is ok! 

Please tell the ward I love them and think and pray for them often! Who are the missionaries there? If you ever meet any from AZ let me know!    

I hope you are all doing well. Would love to hear from more people, but I understand that you are all busy with life. I have the best support group ever! I know Heavenly Father Loves me because He gave me all of you! 

Keep reading and praying. Go to the temple often, do your family history and write down the stories from your life. Future generations will treasure them. Everyone up here has so many stories from their families. I want that too!!! Keep a journal. Find family that need work done for them. 

Help the full time missionaries in your area! WE NEED MEMBER HELP!!!  If you are old enough to go out with the missionaries, youth CAN go out with them at 16. They need you even if they aren't  asking!! 

Go to church and keep the commandments.

I love you all so much! Stay strong and rely on Heavenly Father!

Love, 

Bresia     

Leaving so soon!

Well everyone, yet again I have a change of plans, I leave Monday the 2nd of September. Mom and Dad I will be calling (if time permites) at around 7-8 pm Utah time. Basically keep your phones on you all day!

Things are going well here! I am super anxious to leave, but I know I will miss it here! 

I am so excited that Tyler Molinaro is reassigned to my mission! I think that is just awesome! 

Things are pretty much the same as always. Just classes, eating the tasty food, and loving the spirit! Nothing new, but so great! I really do love this place. 

Ok, cousins and friends, if you are planning/wanting to serve a mission, start preparing NOW!  Ladies get on and study what you can and can't wear! Everyone study Preach my Gospel, the scriptures, and any other books you can. Missions are amazing, and will change you if you let them! I hope all of you will seriously consider serving! This is the best decision I have made thus far in my life! 

I'm glad school is going well for everyone! I am so glad that I don't have to worry about that for a while! I really don't like school! 

How is everyone? I know how Mom, Dad, and Riley are doing, but thats it. I would love to hear from everyone.  I know that friday is the last day I will get dearelders at the MTC, so maybe wait until I get to the field! I hope all is well. I would love some pictures of the family and of my friends. You can email them if you want. I just love seeing the things you are all doing.

I hate emailing home because I feel like I have nothing to say and I have no idea what to say... 

My branch president ( President Robinson) was released last week:( He is on to bigger better things. He is a great guy though, and his wife is an angel here on Earth! They both helped me so much over the past two months. 

I am so thankful for this oppritunity to serve! Its crazy how fast it is going though! I feel like I'll be home in no time! Which is sad, even though I have 16 months left, I have learned so much about how to help others come unto Christ and how to be a better person! I am so excited to learn more and come closer to Christ myself! 

All of us can come closer to Christ, we all need to repent, which means to change, and realign your will with God's will. Strive to do what is right. learn more about Christ and His Atonement. always strive to be a better. You love life and those around you, read your scriptures, and pray all the time! The Book of Mormon can change your life if you let it. read and apply the scriptures to your life. Sorry if this sounds preachy, but my purpose as a missionary is to invite others to come unto Christ and I am pretty sure you are all others... Heavenly Father loves you all, He knows you, and He hears your Prayers. Never forget that. 

AJ and Shauna, I love you and your family so very much! You are the best. I pray for you often and put your families name on the prayer roll every week. You are amazing! please tell the girls I love them so much. 

It amazes me how much Heavenly Father helps me. If I have a difficult comp, He helps me with being patient! He is literally helping me with everything! Big things and little things. It is amazing to see!!! everyone needs to look for the tender mercies! They are real. 

I love Sundays here, because they are so full of the spirit. No one does anything except for attend sunday meetings and study, or build stronger relationships in the districts. We are all focused on having the spirit with us. We watch conference talks or Church movies, it makes such a difference! Sunday is a day of rest, not a day to hang out with friends, watch random pointless tv, clean, work, or anything like that! It is a day to strengthen our families and enjoy the spirit!!! take advantage of that! use Sunday to come closer to Christ and our Father in Heaven. Again I am sorry if that sounds preachy, but keeping the Sabbath day holy is a commandment! and to be Christ like we need to obey ALL  of Gods commandments! If there are things you could change about how you are living your life I invite you to work on them and change them, then feel Heavenly Fathers presence more fully in your life! It is amazing!!! And so worth making the changes. Start small and work up! 

I love you all so much! stay safe, and stay close to the Spirit!

Pray always and read the Book of Mormon! 

Love always,

 Sister Bresia Alysse Yates