Yeah.
I'm moving.
Again.
(I've heard from my sister that apparently I've earned myself some extra popularity in circles within which I already had a large amount of popularity due to a certain run on sentence from the email previous to this one, so I hoped with these last three sentences to have gained even further popularity in circles within which I already had a large amount of popularity with really really short sentences; and possibly some excessive popularity with this nonsensical sentence. And by those circles, I mean Rachel.)
Anyway. Yeah. Here's the craziest part: I felt it coming. It's weird when that happens. But the weirdest part isn't that I'm leaving, it's that Elder Cooper is going out, too. We're whitewashing. Which is actually becoming a fairly popular trend now that President Jergensen usually has Zone Leaders be released and whitewash train their last few transfers.
People are pretty worked up about the whole thing. Either they all assume that we did something wrong or they just don't think about anything besides that they'll miss us. Our main investigator, who is 18, is pretty worked up about it, and she and a few other youth (the children of the seminary teacher, in fact) have pranked us a couple times as the usual teenage way to say goodbye. Nothing says you care like post-it note and saran wrap vandalism. We just retaliated by putting a bunch of balloons and streamers in the Seminary Room to celebrate the 22nd of February. Nothing says vengeance like a party. But honestly it surprises me the number of people that are going to miss me after only knowing me a transfer.
That main investigator is doing great. She's gone leaps and bounds since when I was first here and I can only pray that the next missionaries continue the process. She'll do great as long as she lets herself!
Dena and Cassey are officially gone to Texas. We helped them move on Monday and I said my final goodbyes. I really want to save up money to go visit them post-mission.
So the last few days have been spent getting things wrapped up, saying goodbye, and prepping it for the newbies. You'll know where I'm going soon!
--
"For business reasons I must preserve the outward signs of sanity." -Mark Twain
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Happy V-Day from the Alabama of the Mission (Hannibal's Florida)
Hello Everybody,
Things have warmed up quite a bit this week. Today it's in the fifties. No complaints from me.
Things have been going well. We've been teaching an investigator the stop smoking workshop and meeting with her quite a bit. She's coming along well, and we've been helping her with all of her concerns.
Saturday Dena went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. I wasn't able to make it to that nor was I able to make it to her confirmation, but that's alright. As much as I'd love to, it's probably good to stay in my area as much as possible and not keep feeling like I belong in Hannibal. I visited there this past week on exchanges, and it was great. We taught a lesson/gave a church tour to a lady that they've started teaching since I've left. It went really well, and she kept saying she had no questions, but I could just tell there was something off about her. I love the gift of discernment and the Spirit and all I've been taught and I have learned up to this point, because I was able to tell by the look in her eyes and face and the feeling that while the lesson was going well, there was something she had on her mind. Finally, I stopped the lesson and, despite all of the times she had said she had no questions, said "I can tell you have a question, what is it?" She seemed taken off guard, but she answered my question with her question, and, eventually, through even more searching questions, got her real concern out: polygamy. At that point we were able to give her our heartfelt testimony's and spirit-guided answers and, of course, reverted back to the fact that all of the deeper stuff of the gospel hangs, solely, on gaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon. With that comes so much, as is stated in the introduction to that marvelous book. After having her question answered as fully as is possible, she was very relieved. The next day we met with Dena and helped answer her questions, and also saw the investigator family I worked with there. The father has been doing a lot of reading and visiting everybody was really sweet. I accidentally referred to that family's house as home.... I miss Hannibal. I know I'm supposed to be in Quincy, but I love the people there so much and it's so nice to know that they love me, too. And while I missed Dena going to the temple for the first time, she says I should come down and go with her to do baptisms when she moves to Texas to be with her husband. She moves this next week. She loved the temple so much and said that, despite all of the stresses and things that tried to get in the way of her going and everything, as soon as she stepped through the doors, she was at peace.
Love is the beginning, middle, and end of this work. It's everything. Love is the reason we're here. Without it, there would be no atonement, no mercy, no creation in the first place. There would be no reason to try to serve others, to go on a mission, to even live. As corny as I always have seen love, it's really EVERYTHING. God, our Heavenly Father, loves us so much.
Anyway, I get to be on a soapbox daily, I'll spare you any further soapboxiness.
--
"For business reasons I must preserve the outward signs of sanity." -Mark Twain
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
PS Make Mormon.org accounts. I'll have mine finished soon.
Things have warmed up quite a bit this week. Today it's in the fifties. No complaints from me.
Things have been going well. We've been teaching an investigator the stop smoking workshop and meeting with her quite a bit. She's coming along well, and we've been helping her with all of her concerns.
Saturday Dena went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. I wasn't able to make it to that nor was I able to make it to her confirmation, but that's alright. As much as I'd love to, it's probably good to stay in my area as much as possible and not keep feeling like I belong in Hannibal. I visited there this past week on exchanges, and it was great. We taught a lesson/gave a church tour to a lady that they've started teaching since I've left. It went really well, and she kept saying she had no questions, but I could just tell there was something off about her. I love the gift of discernment and the Spirit and all I've been taught and I have learned up to this point, because I was able to tell by the look in her eyes and face and the feeling that while the lesson was going well, there was something she had on her mind. Finally, I stopped the lesson and, despite all of the times she had said she had no questions, said "I can tell you have a question, what is it?" She seemed taken off guard, but she answered my question with her question, and, eventually, through even more searching questions, got her real concern out: polygamy. At that point we were able to give her our heartfelt testimony's and spirit-guided answers and, of course, reverted back to the fact that all of the deeper stuff of the gospel hangs, solely, on gaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon. With that comes so much, as is stated in the introduction to that marvelous book. After having her question answered as fully as is possible, she was very relieved. The next day we met with Dena and helped answer her questions, and also saw the investigator family I worked with there. The father has been doing a lot of reading and visiting everybody was really sweet. I accidentally referred to that family's house as home.... I miss Hannibal. I know I'm supposed to be in Quincy, but I love the people there so much and it's so nice to know that they love me, too. And while I missed Dena going to the temple for the first time, she says I should come down and go with her to do baptisms when she moves to Texas to be with her husband. She moves this next week. She loved the temple so much and said that, despite all of the stresses and things that tried to get in the way of her going and everything, as soon as she stepped through the doors, she was at peace.
Love is the beginning, middle, and end of this work. It's everything. Love is the reason we're here. Without it, there would be no atonement, no mercy, no creation in the first place. There would be no reason to try to serve others, to go on a mission, to even live. As corny as I always have seen love, it's really EVERYTHING. God, our Heavenly Father, loves us so much.
Anyway, I get to be on a soapbox daily, I'll spare you any further soapboxiness.
--
"For business reasons I must preserve the outward signs of sanity." -Mark Twain
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
PS Make Mormon.org accounts. I'll have mine finished soon.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
I Am Grateful for Baptismal Fonts and Hot Water Heaters
So this week was the week of a major snowstorm. That was fun. I don't know if I've ever been told to stay inside due to weather, besides tornadoes, that is. But this blizzard we were told to, all of tuesday. Yeah, that was boring. I did, however, get stir crazy at one point and we went in t-shirts and shorts (NO WORRIES! I was wearing my wool socks.) to "The Country's Best Yogurt" or "TCBY" which is just down the alleyway from us. It was closed. Jerks. The next few days were spent walking through winter wonderlands (not as romantic as the song makes it sound...especially when I'm stuck with a guy all the time....) and trying to see people or else testing the Corolla's capability on snow. It passed; or, in other words, we're not dead.
But even more important than gaining a few extra feet - in snow, not height - I was privileged to finally baptize Dena this Saturday! We got there a little early to make sure I was ready, which really wasn't the case anyway, since I had forgotten a change of underwear, towel, and white shirt, only really remembering to bring my baptismal clothes and camera. Anyway, when we arrived, we got the fantastic news that she had, in fact, had her car repoed. She just walked out the door to come to the baptism and sure enough, there was no car waiting for her. So she had to get a ride. Just another in Satan's long line of things he's thrown at her trying to keep her from baptism. Thankfully she was able to finally prevail and entered the hot (I'm also full of thanks for that one) waters of baptism. As I said the baptismal prayer, a feeling washed over me that I felt to be a few things: one, the Spirit for how incredible this experience was; two, a feeling of thankfulness for finally reaching this point with Dena; and, of course, nervousness. As this feeling hit, I was forced to pause for a brief second and soke it all in. And keep myself from crying. Then I finished the prayer and completely submerged her, narrowly missing the side of the tank. It could have been worse though: it could have been a hole in the ice.
Well, that's about all I have for you this week. Work with our main investigator is going along alright, but as always, the hardest part of missionary work in my book is seeing those we teach feel the power and enormity of not only our words but the Spirit and yet try to escape it. I'm still learning to rejoice in others' agency.
Love you all.
--
"For business reasons I must preserve the outward signs of sanity." -Mark Twain
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
But even more important than gaining a few extra feet - in snow, not height - I was privileged to finally baptize Dena this Saturday! We got there a little early to make sure I was ready, which really wasn't the case anyway, since I had forgotten a change of underwear, towel, and white shirt, only really remembering to bring my baptismal clothes and camera. Anyway, when we arrived, we got the fantastic news that she had, in fact, had her car repoed. She just walked out the door to come to the baptism and sure enough, there was no car waiting for her. So she had to get a ride. Just another in Satan's long line of things he's thrown at her trying to keep her from baptism. Thankfully she was able to finally prevail and entered the hot (I'm also full of thanks for that one) waters of baptism. As I said the baptismal prayer, a feeling washed over me that I felt to be a few things: one, the Spirit for how incredible this experience was; two, a feeling of thankfulness for finally reaching this point with Dena; and, of course, nervousness. As this feeling hit, I was forced to pause for a brief second and soke it all in. And keep myself from crying. Then I finished the prayer and completely submerged her, narrowly missing the side of the tank. It could have been worse though: it could have been a hole in the ice.
Well, that's about all I have for you this week. Work with our main investigator is going along alright, but as always, the hardest part of missionary work in my book is seeing those we teach feel the power and enormity of not only our words but the Spirit and yet try to escape it. I'm still learning to rejoice in others' agency.
Love you all.
--
"For business reasons I must preserve the outward signs of sanity." -Mark Twain
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Quincy: Forever Indebted to Thee
So we had the incredible opportunity this past week to go with our 18-year-old investigator up to Nauvoo. A priest who went out with us all the time in Hannibal drove us up, which was not only handy but also a great way to make sure that she (our investigator) was able to gain a few new friends, not only from him but from his friend in Nauvoo, too, and her family. Run on sentence? I don't care I don't have time to fix it. But the point is that it ended up helping her a lot.
Here's what we did.
First we went to the Visitor's Center and watched a movie and had a brief tour, which was informative. My favorite part was being able to see the Reflections of Christ photography exhibit, which is incredible. I also began there a day-long study of just how much Quincy has a part in Church History. The little town that it was at that time was extremely gracious to help a group of refugees numbering nearly ten times the amount of citizens in Quincy. It's crazy to think just how generous these people were back then, and it made me all the more excited to serve them.
Second, we went on a carriage-style ride in some woods north of the visitors center. There we learned and saw cool stuff, like one of the landings that unboarded people off of the riverboats, places where they filmed scenes from Legacy and other church movies, Dan Jones Hollow, a well commemorating the well maker who built the well beneath the original temple, etc.
Third, we saw the brickyard, learned how they made bricks, and got a couple souvenir bricks.
Fourth, we went to the blacksmith shop, passing by such places as the Lucy Mack Smith home, the Printshop and Post Office, and learned how wagonwheels, horse shoes, etc were made, and picked up some complimentary tiny horse shoes and prairie diamonds (rings made out of nails).
Fifth we took a little stroll down Parley Street to the Seventies Hall, Nauvoo's MTC. That was cool. In the upstairs they had a library and little pieces of things that had been found while rebuilding the town. This was Emily's favorite part, and it definitely was a pretty spiritual place.
Sixth we went to dinner at a member's home in Nauvoo. They were a great help to our investigator and very encouraging.
Seventh, we went to what is known as the Rendezvous, a little show put on by the Elderly Missionaries in Nauvoo. It really was very sweet, as they did a great job performing but also making me want to be one of them someday. I know I might not be able to remember lines well now, so I'd be terrible then, but it'd be cute to do with my future wife. Just saying.
Anyway, that's the most exciting thing of the week. Next saturday: Dena's baptism (for reals this time, yo!).
Take care!
--
"For business reasons I must preserve the outward signs of sanity." -Mark Twain
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
Here's what we did.
First we went to the Visitor's Center and watched a movie and had a brief tour, which was informative. My favorite part was being able to see the Reflections of Christ photography exhibit, which is incredible. I also began there a day-long study of just how much Quincy has a part in Church History. The little town that it was at that time was extremely gracious to help a group of refugees numbering nearly ten times the amount of citizens in Quincy. It's crazy to think just how generous these people were back then, and it made me all the more excited to serve them.
Second, we went on a carriage-style ride in some woods north of the visitors center. There we learned and saw cool stuff, like one of the landings that unboarded people off of the riverboats, places where they filmed scenes from Legacy and other church movies, Dan Jones Hollow, a well commemorating the well maker who built the well beneath the original temple, etc.
Third, we saw the brickyard, learned how they made bricks, and got a couple souvenir bricks.
Fourth, we went to the blacksmith shop, passing by such places as the Lucy Mack Smith home, the Printshop and Post Office, and learned how wagonwheels, horse shoes, etc were made, and picked up some complimentary tiny horse shoes and prairie diamonds (rings made out of nails).
Fifth we took a little stroll down Parley Street to the Seventies Hall, Nauvoo's MTC. That was cool. In the upstairs they had a library and little pieces of things that had been found while rebuilding the town. This was Emily's favorite part, and it definitely was a pretty spiritual place.
Sixth we went to dinner at a member's home in Nauvoo. They were a great help to our investigator and very encouraging.
Seventh, we went to what is known as the Rendezvous, a little show put on by the Elderly Missionaries in Nauvoo. It really was very sweet, as they did a great job performing but also making me want to be one of them someday. I know I might not be able to remember lines well now, so I'd be terrible then, but it'd be cute to do with my future wife. Just saying.
Anyway, that's the most exciting thing of the week. Next saturday: Dena's baptism (for reals this time, yo!).
Take care!
--
"For business reasons I must preserve the outward signs of sanity." -Mark Twain
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
It's Kind of Like Getting Off of the Teapots Ride and Trying to Run
Yeah, I'm pretty well fully and completely disoriented right now. Quincy Ward is HUGE, on the verge of splitting. As I told Elder Cooper, it's not so much a ward as a full on hospital. It's a good area, but it's currently sort of dead as not much has gone on here for awhile. We have one investigator, who is close to baptism, or so we thought/think/don't have a clue. It's all sorts of confusing. I still feel like I'm just on exchanges, as I've been in Quincy so much in the past. I also know some of the members already, too, from dinner appointments and that. Elder Cooper has also only been here three weeks, too, so he knows very little about the area, and the area book, our main source of information, has not really been updated at all since october or so, so it's all sorts of confusing. But yeah, I'm currently just getting my head on straight. I also rearranged things a little in the apartment. Besides that, Dena's father passed away the same day I was transferred. Dena is handling it like a champ. I'm going to the viewing and that tonight and tomorrow. We're going on exchanges so that way it's legitimate. It's so weird being so close to my last area! But it's nice to have permission from president to go back to Hannibal for when the baptism happens, whenever that is going to be. Our apartment is the upper half of an old house, so it's really cool and big and squeaky and creepy at night. I really have very little to update you on otherwise
"For business reasons I must preserve the outward signs of sanity." -Mark Twain
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
"For business reasons I must preserve the outward signs of sanity." -Mark Twain
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Here I Come, Area #7
So, this email will be short and sweet. Ok, no real sweet, more of a salty, but everybody needs a little salt here and there.
Snow's come, finally. It's nice, sort of. It makes things fun. I have a good video of me rolling down a hill in the snow, you'd be so proud.
You're probably wondering why so short this week, and it's because Dena, who was scheduled for baptism today, probably won't make it today. We got a call this morning and Dena's dad is dying today. We went out and gave him a blessing and was with her for a bit before all the family came and it didn't seem like our place. I've never sat with a dying man before. Nor given one a blessing. So yeah, we just got back from that. I figure now's a good time to write my BYU stuff and forget about telling you about this week. It was all pretty much spent with Dena, helping her be prepped for today. But so much for that.
I'm being transferred. I don't know where this time. President called and informed me that I was being released as District Leader and explained that it is because the District Leader in the district where I am going has only been district leader one transfer and president wants to give him another transfer at least. But I was promised to be put back in at some point, because I did an exemplary job. Not like I care too much, position REALLY doesn't matter to me anymore after seeing the absolute worst of it. So I cheered after that phone call, but when the assistants called with my plans, I was thoroughly confused.
"Well, Elder Gates," Elder Whiting said after the obligatory greeting session one must always go through on phone calls, "On Thursday [transfer day] just leave your stuff in Hannibal and come to the transfer meeting. You're not going far enough away to need to do that."
"Wait, what?"
He then proceeded to answer my "what" as if I hadn't heard him. I had, clearly, but the "what" was more of a "What the heck are you talking about??" than a "WHAT? Sorry my hearing aid's going out."
After he was done with that pointless repetition, I asked, "Am I going to Quincy?" Quincy is the closest area, only half an hour away. Beyond that, it's over an hour to any place in one direction. He answered with some useless beat-around-the-bush, you-know-I-can't-tell-you response. "Shouldn't I at least take my stuff up to Quincy so the member taking me to my new area doesn't have to drive as far?"
Elder Whiting paused. "Is Quincy closer to Iowa City [the place where we all meet for a meeting before being shipped out to our new area by members]?" I responded in the affirmative, which caused another pause. "Um...one second." I heard him turn to the other assistant and say, "Can we just tell him where he's going?" After that I heard nothing but sounds of talking in the background. Now was the time for my "WHAT? Sorry my hearing aid's going out." style of "what," but I didn't bother. After a minute, Elder Whiting got back on and said, "Here's the new plan for you, Elder Gates," as if I had forgotten who I was. "Go up to Quincy on Thursday with your stuff, and stay there."
"Don't go up to the transfer meeting?"
"Don't go up to the transfer meeting." Repetition, again.
So I figure I'm going to Quincy. None of us have heard of being transfered inside of a district, but we guess it's possible. We'll see.
I know by now that wherever I'm going is where I need to go. With as many transfers as I've gone through, I know that. It's sad to go, but it's probably time.
Well, that's the gist of it. I should get one and write my other stuff.
--
"For business reasons I must preserve the outward signs of sanity." -Mark Twain
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
PS The Hannibal public library has these banners with different famous writers' names on them, and Shakespeare is spelled Shakspere. Baha
Snow's come, finally. It's nice, sort of. It makes things fun. I have a good video of me rolling down a hill in the snow, you'd be so proud.
You're probably wondering why so short this week, and it's because Dena, who was scheduled for baptism today, probably won't make it today. We got a call this morning and Dena's dad is dying today. We went out and gave him a blessing and was with her for a bit before all the family came and it didn't seem like our place. I've never sat with a dying man before. Nor given one a blessing. So yeah, we just got back from that. I figure now's a good time to write my BYU stuff and forget about telling you about this week. It was all pretty much spent with Dena, helping her be prepped for today. But so much for that.
I'm being transferred. I don't know where this time. President called and informed me that I was being released as District Leader and explained that it is because the District Leader in the district where I am going has only been district leader one transfer and president wants to give him another transfer at least. But I was promised to be put back in at some point, because I did an exemplary job. Not like I care too much, position REALLY doesn't matter to me anymore after seeing the absolute worst of it. So I cheered after that phone call, but when the assistants called with my plans, I was thoroughly confused.
"Well, Elder Gates," Elder Whiting said after the obligatory greeting session one must always go through on phone calls, "On Thursday [transfer day] just leave your stuff in Hannibal and come to the transfer meeting. You're not going far enough away to need to do that."
"Wait, what?"
He then proceeded to answer my "what" as if I hadn't heard him. I had, clearly, but the "what" was more of a "What the heck are you talking about??" than a "WHAT? Sorry my hearing aid's going out."
After he was done with that pointless repetition, I asked, "Am I going to Quincy?" Quincy is the closest area, only half an hour away. Beyond that, it's over an hour to any place in one direction. He answered with some useless beat-around-the-bush, you-know-I-can't-tell-you response. "Shouldn't I at least take my stuff up to Quincy so the member taking me to my new area doesn't have to drive as far?"
Elder Whiting paused. "Is Quincy closer to Iowa City [the place where we all meet for a meeting before being shipped out to our new area by members]?" I responded in the affirmative, which caused another pause. "Um...one second." I heard him turn to the other assistant and say, "Can we just tell him where he's going?" After that I heard nothing but sounds of talking in the background. Now was the time for my "WHAT? Sorry my hearing aid's going out." style of "what," but I didn't bother. After a minute, Elder Whiting got back on and said, "Here's the new plan for you, Elder Gates," as if I had forgotten who I was. "Go up to Quincy on Thursday with your stuff, and stay there."
"Don't go up to the transfer meeting?"
"Don't go up to the transfer meeting." Repetition, again.
So I figure I'm going to Quincy. None of us have heard of being transfered inside of a district, but we guess it's possible. We'll see.
I know by now that wherever I'm going is where I need to go. With as many transfers as I've gone through, I know that. It's sad to go, but it's probably time.
Well, that's the gist of it. I should get one and write my other stuff.
--
"For business reasons I must preserve the outward signs of sanity." -Mark Twain
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
PS The Hannibal public library has these banners with different famous writers' names on them, and Shakespeare is spelled Shakspere. Baha
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
21 Years of God Saying: "Here Charlie, I Have Some Leftover Craziness, Have At It."
I know my subject is doctrinally incorrect, but oh well.
I loved my birthday package! I have to say it was kind of odd finding so many dog references in there, and the hilarious toys, but whatever, I loved it!
So the baptism still has not gone through, she still has not quit smoking. Casey has moved down to Texas now to start a new job, and hopefully Dena and the kids will be following behind in the next month as he gets the money for it. We're happy he's found a job to support his family. So now we'll need to make sure that we have men with us at all the lessons. But our game plan now is to wait on setting a date till she is quit altogether. It's sad to think I might not be here to baptize her, but I'm trying my best to stay. I know that where I go and who I'm with is where the Lord wants me to go and who the Lord wants me to be with, so I'm down with whatever happens. But I would like to stay. We'll find out Saturday what the turnout is for sure.
So for my birthday I used the money mom sent out for it and took the district out to lunch and got myself a cheesecake. I have to sign out so I'll talk to you next week! Hope you like my new signature, I think it fits me.
--
"For business reasons I must preserve the outward signs of sanity." -Mark Twain
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
I loved my birthday package! I have to say it was kind of odd finding so many dog references in there, and the hilarious toys, but whatever, I loved it!
So the baptism still has not gone through, she still has not quit smoking. Casey has moved down to Texas now to start a new job, and hopefully Dena and the kids will be following behind in the next month as he gets the money for it. We're happy he's found a job to support his family. So now we'll need to make sure that we have men with us at all the lessons. But our game plan now is to wait on setting a date till she is quit altogether. It's sad to think I might not be here to baptize her, but I'm trying my best to stay. I know that where I go and who I'm with is where the Lord wants me to go and who the Lord wants me to be with, so I'm down with whatever happens. But I would like to stay. We'll find out Saturday what the turnout is for sure.
So for my birthday I used the money mom sent out for it and took the district out to lunch and got myself a cheesecake. I have to sign out so I'll talk to you next week! Hope you like my new signature, I think it fits me.
--
"For business reasons I must preserve the outward signs of sanity." -Mark Twain
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
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