Sadly, by the time Autumn comes around, you are triple dead so it doesn't matter.
Welcome, everybody, to the Death by Storm Season of Iowa, a delightful season referred to in many English-speaking parts of the world as "Spring." The birds are back, in all of their chirping glory. The bugs have returned, in all of their...whatever it is, I refuse to call it glory. And yet, for some odd reason that seems to be the case in nearly every instance, the worst of places attracts the best of people. The Palestinian Desert where the Israelites always gathered. The Salt Lake Valley, which the Saints were rightly told not to settle by people who knew not the will God. And the Midwest, which is really just God's Greenhouse and where people only really live because somebody has to tend God's Greenhouse. I don't wish to complain, I just don't know how to convey to those who have never been in the midwest what the midwest is like without a little sarcasm. I love the midwest. I've wanted my whole mission to be in a city; and now that I am in a city, I keep dying to see the countryside. I love being able to see forever and all of the farms as far as the eye can see, which, strangely enough, is also a unit of measure referred to as a "farsee" (after a farsee take a left, and then after about a half-a-farsee take a right. Half as far as I can see?).
Anyway, you want an update I bet. I am now serving with Elder Unsicker from Richfield, UT. His grandparents, however, are from Iowa City, and his uncle used to be in the mission presidency here. Which means....Drum Roll please...that's right, his uncle was President Hartley. Cari's mission companion, Sister Megan Hartley, is his cousin. We're practically related. We expect congratulatory packages. He's really a good kid and I think this will work out great. We get along really well and he's hilarious. I only say that because his sense of humor is much like mine, so of course he's hilarious. While I feel better in some ways, in others I've been far more stressed.
One stressor is that I got a call from our landlord this week saying that she had gotten an email from our downstairs neighbor with a noise complaint. She was very terse no matter how congenial I tried to be (even using the phrase "you people" like one would if rats had somehow started walking on hindlegs and gained nametags), said that the last neighbor downstairs had moved out a year ago because of the noise, and said that if there is no dramatic change in the next three weeks that she would not renew the lease. Scared to death that I had completely, and singlehandedly, ruined our apartment deal, I called President. He told me to talk to the neighbors and get back to him. I did so, and they were very nice, warm, and friendly, understanding that the noise is mostly because it's a new building and just asked us to be quieter when walking up the stairs and in the room above their child's room. Completely different than what I was expecting from the landlord's call. With her curt treatment of me on the phone, I called back President and informed him of our conversation with the neighbors downstairs and related my belief that the problem resided more with the landlord and that I could see her looking for reasons to boot us. He said to talk to her again and let her know we're in contact with our neighbors and doing all we can to be courteous. "Just win her over, Elder Gates," he said. "I know you're good at that." Ah freak, no pressure. Sometimes people who are usually happy get more responsibility. Maybe the real answer lies in being happy but hiding it from those who may come to always expect it out of you. In the meantime, we got in contact with the ward, letting them know of the situation and to see if there are members we could stay with if need be.
That's a lot of information with very little in the way of a missionary update. These last few days haven't really been terribly interesting in the way of missionary work. One of our people that we've committed to baptism (as I think I've mentioned, we've committed four people to baptism, all of whom promptly jumped off of the face of the earth. I really wonder sometimes if the gravitational pull in the Midwest is weaker or something. Or maybe it's just that aliens abduct them all) we've found out is probably going to be held back by his parents. Another is actually wanting to date a member, so maybe she'll drag him into stuff. Not that I condone "flirt to convert," but maybe it will just give him a reason to get more into it? Let's hope so. And then the third and fourth ones are a couple that like to say they'll call but not and don't show up to appointments. That basically describes most of our investigators, actually. Over in Galena, we have an investigator who is praying about baptism but got sick this past week and couldn't make the appointment, one who is a sweet old lady who I could see going somewhere as long as the weather's good, one who is drunk constantly, and one who is the wife of a member who doesn't attend all of the time because of other members. I'm not allowed to invite investigators or anybody from there to Dubuque, I tell them to go to Galena, but I do let them know that they wouldn't be turned away. I just want people going to church at this point. It's going to be an interesting transfer covering both areas. I like Galena, though, it's a nice little town.
We have good plans for this area. Things will go well here. The new district is taking some time getting used to, I miss my support group I had in the last one and it's almost driven me to break my commitment of not writing letters, but I'm holding strong.
I love this work and I love working! I hope you all don't think I hate it or something if I sound dejected about the work. You want updates and I give you updates. It's not my fault it's a depressing report. Things will work out, though, no worries. We'll be working a lot with members, getting referrals. Remember, you all are how we find people to teach. Pray that you will find people for us to teach. That would be an even better support to me than money or candy.
--
Love,
The Transcendentally Beautiful Elder Gates
(Doctrine and Covenants 137:2
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The Sun Never Sets on the Cool
This subject was a quote Elder Noel shared with me just hours before the quote in conference by Neil L. Anderson about the sun never setting on missionaries. There's extremely little to report on this week. Another exchange went on until this morning from Sunday night to ensure no deaths happened in Galena. Galena will actually be closing this next transfer and me and whoever I'm getting will cover it as well as our own area. Here is transfers: The Galena Elders are both leaving, one to go home and Elder Poulson to go somewhere else, one elder is going home from Savanna for severe depression, both of the sisters are whitewashing out, and Elder Noel is going home, of course. So out of our district of 8 missionaries, 6 are leaving, 3 are going home, and 2 are staying. That's a pretty big turn around. Elder Medina, the other elder in Savanna that is staying, is going to be our district leader, which I think will be great. I've been promised a good companion, which is hard for me to grasp. We'll see tomorrow. Going to Galena was good but it was mostly just visiting with people to say goodbye and to show me people I need to see since I'll be covering that area.
Conference was great! But all of you should have seen it anyway. If you haven't, see it! Just like if you haven't set up a Mormon.org account, do it! Anyway, I really felt like what was said was what I needed right now. Except for the marriage talks, but, hey, I can look those up later when I need them. I get the point, though: Don't waste time after the mission, get married! Whatever.
Speaking of which, this less active in Galena who's about 68 said I have reddish hair and that redheads are hot. Then when I was getting a picture with her, she went to put her arm around me, realized my hand was at my side, so she grabbed it, with full-on interdigitation, and then realized that was weird and resorted to putting her harm around me. Flip! What's with old people liking me??? Apparently if I was born 70 years ago I'd have all the looks necessary to have the girls throw themselves at me like some Tag Bodyspray commercial. Ugh....
Anyway.
I'm excited for the mission calls that are coming in! Congratulations to Mike, Jr!!
Love you all! Love this area!
--
Love,
The Transcendentally Beautiful Elder Gates
(Doctrine and Covenants 137:2)
Conference was great! But all of you should have seen it anyway. If you haven't, see it! Just like if you haven't set up a Mormon.org account, do it! Anyway, I really felt like what was said was what I needed right now. Except for the marriage talks, but, hey, I can look those up later when I need them. I get the point, though: Don't waste time after the mission, get married! Whatever.
Speaking of which, this less active in Galena who's about 68 said I have reddish hair and that redheads are hot. Then when I was getting a picture with her, she went to put her arm around me, realized my hand was at my side, so she grabbed it, with full-on interdigitation, and then realized that was weird and resorted to putting her harm around me. Flip! What's with old people liking me??? Apparently if I was born 70 years ago I'd have all the looks necessary to have the girls throw themselves at me like some Tag Bodyspray commercial. Ugh....
Anyway.
I'm excited for the mission calls that are coming in! Congratulations to Mike, Jr!!
Love you all! Love this area!
--
Love,
The Transcendentally Beautiful Elder Gates
(Doctrine and Covenants 137:2)
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
A Mini Emergency Transfer to Galena
This week was mostly spent in Galena. The Elders there are having a hard time getting along, and since President would rather not have to ET anybody, he's allowing for two day mid-week exchanges. So I got to chill with Elder Poulson for a couple days, which was fun. Elder Poulson's the Elder I'm the closest to from my MTC group and we have had pretty much the same mission experience. It was great being able to talk to somebody that could relate to it all. Since the Spirit is not present between him and his companion, who has a history of having a hard time with his companions (what's that word that means "doing the same thing expecting different results?"), Elder Poulson saves their teaching appointments for exchanges. So I got to see a lot of the people they're teaching. We also briefly stopped by this antique store in Galena that has some amazing ties. I picked out a few and walked up to the counter, asking how much they were. "Well," said the man on the other side, "I usually charge 5 bucks a tie." My heart sunk a little, knowing that, no matter how amazing the ties were, I had made a commitment not to waste money and fifteen dollars was more than I was willing to pay. "But are you guys the missionaries from the Latter-Day Saint Church?" We responded in the affirmative. "Did you help my mom clean up dog crap in her yard a little bit ago?" I hesitated, as I had not, but Elder Poulson responded that he had with another companion. "Well, it sounds like you two just earned yourself a couple free ties." At this point, the love of God was made manifest to me and I just stood there, dumbstruck, staring at the saint of a store owner. "Do you mind if I grab a couple of ties, too?" Elder Poulson asked, breaking me out of my trance and allowing me to close my mouth before any drool came out. The store owner graciously and readily acquiesced and Elder Poulson grabbed a couple incredible ties of his own. Having legally robbed the man, we left, spewing out our thanks. Missionary blessings CAN be temporal. Sometimes. It was a good big exchange. It really felt like a really short emergency transfer more than an exchange. We also had interviews with President Jergensen on Friday, which was great. He informed me that I will most likely be staying in Dubuque until I go home! I hope that goes through! It's really a great area. He also thanked me for all I did in Quincy and said that I had done a great job there with paving the way for the next elders. This sort of surprised me, as I had thought I had failed for sure there. But sure enough, Saturday night I got a phone call from the Elders in Quincy informing me that Emily was being baptized the next day!!! I tried to congratulate them on it but Elder Curtis deflected the praise back to myself as Elder Cooper and I were apparently the ones that finally got her to really want to be baptized. So that was way exciting! Anyway, that's about it!
Love,
The Transcendentally Beautiful Elder Gates
(Doctrine & Covenants 137:2)
Love,
The Transcendentally Beautiful Elder Gates
(Doctrine & Covenants 137:2)
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Double the Temples, Double the Fun
Hello there everybody!
So I think I forgot to mention this last week, but I got permission to go to the Nauvoo Temple this last Tuesday! It was, of course, incredible. It's been so long since I last went, I think it was October 2009 or so. So it was no problem getting permission to go. Plus it was great doing a session in such a historic temple. I was reminded of so much and learned so much. I LOVE temples altogether, but Nauvoo, both the town and the temple, will always have a special place in my heart. I remember watching the webcam that used to be set up, showing the building of the Nauvoo Temple, and how excited I would be to check up on the progress. So, yeah. I especially like going to Nauvoo from the south, along the River Road, being able to see the temple perched atop the hill for miles before getting there. It's beautiful. The members that took us were even nice enough to pay for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and even some fudge from the Fudge Factory and small souvenirs. They really didn't have to do all that, and I wasn't expecting them to, but they did. Oh, speaking of small souvenirs, unless you don't have one already, Mom and Dad, one of those Nauvoo Bricks is yours to keep.
Later in the week, however, I got the chance to tour a Masonic Temple. That was fascinating! I had always wanted to see what people had always talked about when they said things about how things in the temple were taken from the Masons. Now that I've been given a tour, and had some things explained to me from the Masonic symbols, I can see how there are a few similarities, but oh, what a difference! Comparing the feeling between the two of them was the biggest testifier. While I could see that there was good in the Masons, and that what they do and all they stand for is interesting, the Spirit wasn't there. Not that the Spirit was absent, it was just no more present than any normal building. At one point, in a large lodge room, I played "Come Thou Fount" on the organ, and immediately there was a difference. While the building had me in awe, I didn't feel the Spirit until I played that song and felt the Spirit come in. Those of you who have been through an LDS Temple know, on the other hand, that in there the Spirit is so very strongly testifying of its truthfulness. Being able to compare and contrast the two locations was a wonderful way to grow my testimony in the Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I also had the fun chance to show our guide, a less active member, how to work the player piano in one of the other lodge rooms. He had never seen it work, and didn't think it could, but after doing some looking around and finding the hidden peddles, I soon had the thing running. I love the little things you learn on your mission, like all that I learned about player pianos from one of my favorite members in Mason City. I was also amazed to hear, as I began pumping the peddles, the hymn "Lead Kindly Light" play back at me, and feel the Spirit once again change the vast building. The Masons generally only require their members to believe in some higher power, and some smaller auxiliaries within the group do get more specific on Christ, and thus there is a slight religious tint to the organization, but is not a church, the Spirit's just not in that building like it is in ours. As missionaries who visit other religions always say, seeing other churches rebuilds your testimony in the Church, the same happened here with temples. Gotta love it!
We also set another baptismal date this week! This one is with a 16-year-old kid named Hunter. He's a good kid who used to be taught but got really busy for awhile but wants to be taught again and still wants to be baptized! He didn't come to church this week, due to work, but he's looking for another job and we're praying for him.
Ok, so for a little extra bit of news, in my efforts to refocus myself and rededicate myself to the work, and allowing the mission to change me, I have felt impressed to, and have decided to, stop writing letters. I'll only write my emails home for family and this blog and my already rare snail mail letters to family. You may all still write me, but I won't reply. Now, in extenuating circumstances, such as a marriage or whatnot, I'll send you something as a congratulatory thing or whatever, but otherwise, I feel that this is what I must do. So, keep updated on my blog here and you'll know everything basically that I would have sent to you otherwise! I hope you all understand! And remember, Mom, Dad, Cari and James, this doesn't include you, you'll still hear from me.
Well, that's about it!
--
"Don't Sell Yourself Short." -President Crabtree
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
So I think I forgot to mention this last week, but I got permission to go to the Nauvoo Temple this last Tuesday! It was, of course, incredible. It's been so long since I last went, I think it was October 2009 or so. So it was no problem getting permission to go. Plus it was great doing a session in such a historic temple. I was reminded of so much and learned so much. I LOVE temples altogether, but Nauvoo, both the town and the temple, will always have a special place in my heart. I remember watching the webcam that used to be set up, showing the building of the Nauvoo Temple, and how excited I would be to check up on the progress. So, yeah. I especially like going to Nauvoo from the south, along the River Road, being able to see the temple perched atop the hill for miles before getting there. It's beautiful. The members that took us were even nice enough to pay for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and even some fudge from the Fudge Factory and small souvenirs. They really didn't have to do all that, and I wasn't expecting them to, but they did. Oh, speaking of small souvenirs, unless you don't have one already, Mom and Dad, one of those Nauvoo Bricks is yours to keep.
Later in the week, however, I got the chance to tour a Masonic Temple. That was fascinating! I had always wanted to see what people had always talked about when they said things about how things in the temple were taken from the Masons. Now that I've been given a tour, and had some things explained to me from the Masonic symbols, I can see how there are a few similarities, but oh, what a difference! Comparing the feeling between the two of them was the biggest testifier. While I could see that there was good in the Masons, and that what they do and all they stand for is interesting, the Spirit wasn't there. Not that the Spirit was absent, it was just no more present than any normal building. At one point, in a large lodge room, I played "Come Thou Fount" on the organ, and immediately there was a difference. While the building had me in awe, I didn't feel the Spirit until I played that song and felt the Spirit come in. Those of you who have been through an LDS Temple know, on the other hand, that in there the Spirit is so very strongly testifying of its truthfulness. Being able to compare and contrast the two locations was a wonderful way to grow my testimony in the Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I also had the fun chance to show our guide, a less active member, how to work the player piano in one of the other lodge rooms. He had never seen it work, and didn't think it could, but after doing some looking around and finding the hidden peddles, I soon had the thing running. I love the little things you learn on your mission, like all that I learned about player pianos from one of my favorite members in Mason City. I was also amazed to hear, as I began pumping the peddles, the hymn "Lead Kindly Light" play back at me, and feel the Spirit once again change the vast building. The Masons generally only require their members to believe in some higher power, and some smaller auxiliaries within the group do get more specific on Christ, and thus there is a slight religious tint to the organization, but is not a church, the Spirit's just not in that building like it is in ours. As missionaries who visit other religions always say, seeing other churches rebuilds your testimony in the Church, the same happened here with temples. Gotta love it!
We also set another baptismal date this week! This one is with a 16-year-old kid named Hunter. He's a good kid who used to be taught but got really busy for awhile but wants to be taught again and still wants to be baptized! He didn't come to church this week, due to work, but he's looking for another job and we're praying for him.
Ok, so for a little extra bit of news, in my efforts to refocus myself and rededicate myself to the work, and allowing the mission to change me, I have felt impressed to, and have decided to, stop writing letters. I'll only write my emails home for family and this blog and my already rare snail mail letters to family. You may all still write me, but I won't reply. Now, in extenuating circumstances, such as a marriage or whatnot, I'll send you something as a congratulatory thing or whatever, but otherwise, I feel that this is what I must do. So, keep updated on my blog here and you'll know everything basically that I would have sent to you otherwise! I hope you all understand! And remember, Mom, Dad, Cari and James, this doesn't include you, you'll still hear from me.
Well, that's about it!
--
"Don't Sell Yourself Short." -President Crabtree
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
Monday, March 14, 2011
"Heroes Get Remembered, But Legends Never Die. Follow Your Heart, Kid, and You'll Never Go Wrong." -Babe Ruth Off of The Sandlot
Hello World,
It's Elder Gates.
As you can tell by my title, I still have the sick talent to remember quotes, even after it being this long.
I hear that apparently I unknowingly made an appearance in my homeward's sacrament meeting. I'm happy to know that I have achieved Nirvana and can now be in more than one place at once. I'm happy I could be of assistance, Lake Holm Ward!
Speaking of home, I met a less active Marshallese guy that actually lived for a time in Auburn, actually just on the wrong side of the road in Algona. It was pretty cool to finally meet somebody that not only knows what Auburn is (and that Worshington is not only a city but a state as well) but that lived there. So that was pretty cool.
This week was mostly spent outside of my area. I went on exchanges with Elder Poulson, a good friend of mine from the MTC, and my current District Leader, over in Galena, IL. Galena is apparently a pretty big tourist town. Why? Nobody really knows. I think it's somewhat like the Field of Dreams, how people just came in the movie to the field without really knowing why. Speaking of the Field of Dreams, guess what's in my area? It's either in it or just on the border, but I'm going to go with it being in my area because I want to go bad. Anyway. Point is that this wee little town has lots of appeal. It's a cute town, but besides Ulysses S. Grant being born there, there's not much historical about it. Their branch building is the back part of an office building, which is still a step up from the storefront on Main Street that Savanna, another area in the district, has for a church building. I never thought I'd see a fishbowl chapel. It was a good time over there, but there are times when visiting other missionary's areas helps you gain a new appreciation for your own. I'm just not used to being in the "whiter field," usually I'm in the area that helps other missionaries appreciate what they have. We then had Zone Conference in Iowa City which took all day. We didn't get back until late that night. Lucky for the Galena Elders, they got to sleep over in Savanna so they wouldn't have to be getting back to Galena so late, but seeing as we were driving the Sisters in our district to their area in Maquoketa, we really couldn't use their apartment as a rest stop. So we got in at 11 at the earliest. It didn't help, either, that Elder Noel got a ticket. He almost had his driving privileges taken away, but as the command for mine to be taken away came from Salt Lake and was not merely a command from President, President Jergensen had to let Elder Noel keep his driving privileges so we wouldn't lose the car. This, of course, as it always does, led to a few minutes of lamentation by President Jergensen as to how he wishes I had not lost my driving privileges and that if there is anybody that should be driving it's me. I've gotten used to this lamentation either by him or by Elder Church, the Senior Couple Elder over the vehicles. I usually then have to inform them of all of the perks of being in the passenger seat, while also thinking about how useless it is to be senior companion without the keys. It's like being captain without the wheel.
"Steer the boat here."
"Um, no, Captain."
"....Ok, whatever."
Luckily I'm in more of a co-senior companionship right now so it doesn't matter too much.
Anyway, point is that Elder Noel now had a hefty ticket to pay and no money in his account to pay it with. He had to call home for the money. President Jergensen gave him authorization to do so, but said that Elder Noel, since he was so close to going home, could not speak with his mother but to have me do the speaking. That was hilarious, his mom cracked me up. While it was slightly awkward passing on her continuous expressions of love to him, it was nice talking to a mom of a missionary, even if it wasn't my mom. President never gave any amount of time to the conversation so I had a good chat with her. Speaking of Elder Noel going home soon, it's really weighing on his mind, and, as he puts it, is driving him crazy. I really don't understand all of the trunkiness he's feeling, especially as I've recommitted myself lately, but I do hope I'm not driven crazy by it when I reach that point in my mission.
We set a baptismal date this week with a Marshallese kid! His name's Eddy and his brother is a member already. I was actually in Galena when they met with him, but he's a great kid that's been coming to church for awhile.
The Zone Conference was really good, too, and I received some strong impressions of how to improve myself as a missionary. I've become recommitted, which is a good thing as last couple transfers reduced that somewhat.... Long story for all those that don't know already, just know that I'm more committed now than ever. I plan on sprinting these last few transfers and being completely consecrated to this work. Not that I haven't been mostly, I've just not been quite as focused as I could have been. This makes me sound so disobedient and unfocused, but believe me I've been really good, and better, now I'm striving for the best I can possibly be, and Zone Conference gave me the ideas of how. So...yeah.
That's about it!
--
"Never Sell Yourself Short." -President Layman
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
PS To explain my new signature, this was advice once given to me by one of my stake presidents. While he said it almost as just a random, it really has been a major quote for my mission.
It's Elder Gates.
As you can tell by my title, I still have the sick talent to remember quotes, even after it being this long.
I hear that apparently I unknowingly made an appearance in my homeward's sacrament meeting. I'm happy to know that I have achieved Nirvana and can now be in more than one place at once. I'm happy I could be of assistance, Lake Holm Ward!
Speaking of home, I met a less active Marshallese guy that actually lived for a time in Auburn, actually just on the wrong side of the road in Algona. It was pretty cool to finally meet somebody that not only knows what Auburn is (and that Worshington is not only a city but a state as well) but that lived there. So that was pretty cool.
This week was mostly spent outside of my area. I went on exchanges with Elder Poulson, a good friend of mine from the MTC, and my current District Leader, over in Galena, IL. Galena is apparently a pretty big tourist town. Why? Nobody really knows. I think it's somewhat like the Field of Dreams, how people just came in the movie to the field without really knowing why. Speaking of the Field of Dreams, guess what's in my area? It's either in it or just on the border, but I'm going to go with it being in my area because I want to go bad. Anyway. Point is that this wee little town has lots of appeal. It's a cute town, but besides Ulysses S. Grant being born there, there's not much historical about it. Their branch building is the back part of an office building, which is still a step up from the storefront on Main Street that Savanna, another area in the district, has for a church building. I never thought I'd see a fishbowl chapel. It was a good time over there, but there are times when visiting other missionary's areas helps you gain a new appreciation for your own. I'm just not used to being in the "whiter field," usually I'm in the area that helps other missionaries appreciate what they have. We then had Zone Conference in Iowa City which took all day. We didn't get back until late that night. Lucky for the Galena Elders, they got to sleep over in Savanna so they wouldn't have to be getting back to Galena so late, but seeing as we were driving the Sisters in our district to their area in Maquoketa, we really couldn't use their apartment as a rest stop. So we got in at 11 at the earliest. It didn't help, either, that Elder Noel got a ticket. He almost had his driving privileges taken away, but as the command for mine to be taken away came from Salt Lake and was not merely a command from President, President Jergensen had to let Elder Noel keep his driving privileges so we wouldn't lose the car. This, of course, as it always does, led to a few minutes of lamentation by President Jergensen as to how he wishes I had not lost my driving privileges and that if there is anybody that should be driving it's me. I've gotten used to this lamentation either by him or by Elder Church, the Senior Couple Elder over the vehicles. I usually then have to inform them of all of the perks of being in the passenger seat, while also thinking about how useless it is to be senior companion without the keys. It's like being captain without the wheel.
"Steer the boat here."
"Um, no, Captain."
"....Ok, whatever."
Luckily I'm in more of a co-senior companionship right now so it doesn't matter too much.
Anyway, point is that Elder Noel now had a hefty ticket to pay and no money in his account to pay it with. He had to call home for the money. President Jergensen gave him authorization to do so, but said that Elder Noel, since he was so close to going home, could not speak with his mother but to have me do the speaking. That was hilarious, his mom cracked me up. While it was slightly awkward passing on her continuous expressions of love to him, it was nice talking to a mom of a missionary, even if it wasn't my mom. President never gave any amount of time to the conversation so I had a good chat with her. Speaking of Elder Noel going home soon, it's really weighing on his mind, and, as he puts it, is driving him crazy. I really don't understand all of the trunkiness he's feeling, especially as I've recommitted myself lately, but I do hope I'm not driven crazy by it when I reach that point in my mission.
We set a baptismal date this week with a Marshallese kid! His name's Eddy and his brother is a member already. I was actually in Galena when they met with him, but he's a great kid that's been coming to church for awhile.
The Zone Conference was really good, too, and I received some strong impressions of how to improve myself as a missionary. I've become recommitted, which is a good thing as last couple transfers reduced that somewhat.... Long story for all those that don't know already, just know that I'm more committed now than ever. I plan on sprinting these last few transfers and being completely consecrated to this work. Not that I haven't been mostly, I've just not been quite as focused as I could have been. This makes me sound so disobedient and unfocused, but believe me I've been really good, and better, now I'm striving for the best I can possibly be, and Zone Conference gave me the ideas of how. So...yeah.
That's about it!
--
"Never Sell Yourself Short." -President Layman
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
PS To explain my new signature, this was advice once given to me by one of my stake presidents. While he said it almost as just a random, it really has been a major quote for my mission.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
How Many Missionaries Does It Take to Change a Lightbulb?
Two and the Holy Ghost, but only if the lightbulb wants to change.
I know, bad change on a classic, but it's true.
So this week has been mostly marked by...you know, stuff. Monday we drove all over looking at different parks and accidentally ended up in Wisconsin. Sort of outside our mission boundaries but I liked to pretend I could say hi briefly to the other Elder Gates over there. Tuesday we finished up some items we couldn't finish monday for Prep Day. That night I didn't feel well and on Wednesday I woke up being dizzy and junk, so we didn't do much. Thursday we had a special district meeting with the whole zone (so I'm assuming it should really have been deamed a Zone Meeting, but not Zone Conference, as that's this week) down in Davenport. That was good, but it took up our whole day. Friday we tried to see some people but most didn't exist. I've come to terms with the fact that the edge of the face of the earth must be located somewhere in the Midwest, as most stories of people, let them be investigators or less actives, end with "and then they fell off the face of the earth." I would not be surprised, as I swear I saw the end of the earth somewhere in South Dakota or Nebraska. Saturday we helped fill the baptismal font for a members' child's baptism. There ended up not being any real room for us in there for the actual baptism so we went to the family history library and learned a little about that for finding efforts. That evening we were invited to a member's Magic Show, which he was able to get us in for free to. Elder Noel loves magic so we went. I'm unsure if it's approved, but I wasn't about to fight the matter. Just label it and file it away in the "Failed Finding Attempts" or "Supporting Members' Occupations" folders. It was really interesting, cool, and entertaining, though. Sunday we had stake conference, but it was a regional broadcast. It was really good and had Bishop H. David Burton, Mary N. Cook, Quentin L. Cook, and Henry B. Eyring. I loved it all, especially that it was tailored to the midwest, but especially appreciated what H. David Burton had to say about this being the Heartland. Luckily it's not the Lungland, as most people here smoke. Later we watched Mountain of the Lord with a really cool recent convert Marshallese teenager. Sadly, however, some of us were more interested in the back of our eyelids at times.... I love that movie, though. Now Elder Noel is having a race through the Book of Mormon with that Recent Convert. I gladly avoid those races and enjoy my time going through it.
I really wish I had more to say, but I don't, really. Take care and more will come next week.
--
"For business reasons I must preserve the outward signs of sanity." -Mark Twain
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
I know, bad change on a classic, but it's true.
So this week has been mostly marked by...you know, stuff. Monday we drove all over looking at different parks and accidentally ended up in Wisconsin. Sort of outside our mission boundaries but I liked to pretend I could say hi briefly to the other Elder Gates over there. Tuesday we finished up some items we couldn't finish monday for Prep Day. That night I didn't feel well and on Wednesday I woke up being dizzy and junk, so we didn't do much. Thursday we had a special district meeting with the whole zone (so I'm assuming it should really have been deamed a Zone Meeting, but not Zone Conference, as that's this week) down in Davenport. That was good, but it took up our whole day. Friday we tried to see some people but most didn't exist. I've come to terms with the fact that the edge of the face of the earth must be located somewhere in the Midwest, as most stories of people, let them be investigators or less actives, end with "and then they fell off the face of the earth." I would not be surprised, as I swear I saw the end of the earth somewhere in South Dakota or Nebraska. Saturday we helped fill the baptismal font for a members' child's baptism. There ended up not being any real room for us in there for the actual baptism so we went to the family history library and learned a little about that for finding efforts. That evening we were invited to a member's Magic Show, which he was able to get us in for free to. Elder Noel loves magic so we went. I'm unsure if it's approved, but I wasn't about to fight the matter. Just label it and file it away in the "Failed Finding Attempts" or "Supporting Members' Occupations" folders. It was really interesting, cool, and entertaining, though. Sunday we had stake conference, but it was a regional broadcast. It was really good and had Bishop H. David Burton, Mary N. Cook, Quentin L. Cook, and Henry B. Eyring. I loved it all, especially that it was tailored to the midwest, but especially appreciated what H. David Burton had to say about this being the Heartland. Luckily it's not the Lungland, as most people here smoke. Later we watched Mountain of the Lord with a really cool recent convert Marshallese teenager. Sadly, however, some of us were more interested in the back of our eyelids at times.... I love that movie, though. Now Elder Noel is having a race through the Book of Mormon with that Recent Convert. I gladly avoid those races and enjoy my time going through it.
I really wish I had more to say, but I don't, really. Take care and more will come next week.
--
"For business reasons I must preserve the outward signs of sanity." -Mark Twain
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The Marshal Islands of the Mississippi
Greetings from Dubuque. It's French, so it's pronounced "Duh Byook," and is french for "Dubbuquay." All of the poor, unused letters in the french language, having to sit there, unnoticed, at the end of the words to which they are attached.
But anyway.
I love it here! It's a city! There's stuff here! And a great ward, and great people. I'm with Elder Noel, who is often quite serious, but is still cool. He also wants to work hard, which makes me even more happy. Things are going great and I'm so happy here. There's a large amount of Marshalese people in the ward, and there are more coming. We are going to teach a new one this week who has been coming for awhile and wants to be baptized, and possibly a friend of his. We have a large teaching pool, too, which is so wonderful. I'm going to love it here, and I hope that the predictions are true and that I die (mission term for go home) here. Speaking of dying, Elder Noel is about to. This is his last transfer, and seeing all of the emotions and things that go along with that are both entertaining and terrifying. It's not to long before I'll need to face my own demise as well. Things are going fast. It won't be long until I'll be telling you all of the stories I have to share in person.
But enough trunky-talk.
The past few days have mostly been service for some less active or part member families, and it's been great. The definite highlight, however, besides church, of course, was the Marshalese Party. You see, when a Marshalese child reaches one year old, it is a GIANT party. Seriously. People drive from all over and even fly in from the Marshal Islands. They all get together and eat and dance and throw money at the child (usually I would use that term metaphorically, but seriously, they really do throw money at the child). They also begin late, so we didn't get to see much of it. We did get to eat some food, which was great. They are very giving people and so they had all of the visitors eat first. As I grabbed my plate, I could not help but wonder what exactly I was looking at in the giant bins of food, some of which was looking back up at me. That's right. Fish heads. A lot of other raw fish as well. When I returned to my seat, I chowed down on my plate full of, you guessed it, rice, ham, noodles, and cole slaw. They catered to us white people as well, which was appreciated. No worries, I got cultural as I did eat some raw fish. Ok, so I use the word "ate" very loosely. It was more of a nibble. I had one of the Marshalese youth provide me some from his plate and he graciously took a picture of me doing it. I, however, ungraciously, and, may I add, involuntarily, gagged. Luckily nobody was watching as I struggled to hold down my lunch. It tasted GREAT, don't get me wrong, just the thought and texture hit me at once as I closed my mouth down on the slab of raw fish with the scales still attached and I realized that there was a divine purpose for me having been called to the midwest and not somewhere foreign. Imagine the hundreds of people I could have brought into the gospel and the thousands I could have offended had I gone foreign. It's not for my sake I'm stateside, it's for theirs. Yet from the whole thing I was able to gain lots of friends in Young Men and talk to the Marshalese young man I mentioned earlier that has been coming for awhile. So all in all it was successful.
I also have obtained a Charlie Blue Tie. For all those that understand what that means....
I guess that's it!
--
"For business reasons I must preserve the outward signs of sanity." -Mark Twain
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
But anyway.
I love it here! It's a city! There's stuff here! And a great ward, and great people. I'm with Elder Noel, who is often quite serious, but is still cool. He also wants to work hard, which makes me even more happy. Things are going great and I'm so happy here. There's a large amount of Marshalese people in the ward, and there are more coming. We are going to teach a new one this week who has been coming for awhile and wants to be baptized, and possibly a friend of his. We have a large teaching pool, too, which is so wonderful. I'm going to love it here, and I hope that the predictions are true and that I die (mission term for go home) here. Speaking of dying, Elder Noel is about to. This is his last transfer, and seeing all of the emotions and things that go along with that are both entertaining and terrifying. It's not to long before I'll need to face my own demise as well. Things are going fast. It won't be long until I'll be telling you all of the stories I have to share in person.
But enough trunky-talk.
The past few days have mostly been service for some less active or part member families, and it's been great. The definite highlight, however, besides church, of course, was the Marshalese Party. You see, when a Marshalese child reaches one year old, it is a GIANT party. Seriously. People drive from all over and even fly in from the Marshal Islands. They all get together and eat and dance and throw money at the child (usually I would use that term metaphorically, but seriously, they really do throw money at the child). They also begin late, so we didn't get to see much of it. We did get to eat some food, which was great. They are very giving people and so they had all of the visitors eat first. As I grabbed my plate, I could not help but wonder what exactly I was looking at in the giant bins of food, some of which was looking back up at me. That's right. Fish heads. A lot of other raw fish as well. When I returned to my seat, I chowed down on my plate full of, you guessed it, rice, ham, noodles, and cole slaw. They catered to us white people as well, which was appreciated. No worries, I got cultural as I did eat some raw fish. Ok, so I use the word "ate" very loosely. It was more of a nibble. I had one of the Marshalese youth provide me some from his plate and he graciously took a picture of me doing it. I, however, ungraciously, and, may I add, involuntarily, gagged. Luckily nobody was watching as I struggled to hold down my lunch. It tasted GREAT, don't get me wrong, just the thought and texture hit me at once as I closed my mouth down on the slab of raw fish with the scales still attached and I realized that there was a divine purpose for me having been called to the midwest and not somewhere foreign. Imagine the hundreds of people I could have brought into the gospel and the thousands I could have offended had I gone foreign. It's not for my sake I'm stateside, it's for theirs. Yet from the whole thing I was able to gain lots of friends in Young Men and talk to the Marshalese young man I mentioned earlier that has been coming for awhile. So all in all it was successful.
I also have obtained a Charlie Blue Tie. For all those that understand what that means....
I guess that's it!
--
"For business reasons I must preserve the outward signs of sanity." -Mark Twain
Love, Elder Charlie Gates
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