Is Anybody Out There???

I've never started a letter with a rebuke, but I would like all of you to read D&C 95:1 and seriously consider emailing a poor missionary who doesn't get very many emails a week....... I love you all.
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Anyway. this last week has been a pretty good/great week. So right after I emailed you last week, we saw our most promising investigator and after a great lesson with him, I asked if he'd like to get baptized and he said yes, he wasn't too sure on a day, but we saw him again yesterday and he said August 20 (Vanesa's B-day!) but he said that that day can easily be moved up if it feels right. So pray your hardest for him!!!!!! We had interviews with President and Sister Greer yesterday, I talked about Arizona with Sister Greer for most of the interview (they're from Gilbert) And President informed me that 36 new missionaries are coming into the mission in the next two transfers, and he asked me if I would feel ready to train a missionary and I said yes. That doesn't guarantee anything, but I thought it was kind of nice to know that he recognizes the work that we are putting in. Other than those two big events, nothing new has really gone on in the last week. We have been enjoying the nice weather, and there is a chance that the missionaries will be movingback to Battle Ground (where I was living before) Which would be optimal. I love the bigger city feel.
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Sadly, I left my camera at my house, but I do have an interesting scripture I stumbled across.
Alma 48:23
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23.Now, they were sorry to take up arms against the Lamanites, because they did not delight in the shedding of blood;
yea, and this was not all 葉 hey were sorry to be the means of sending so many of their brethren out of this world into an
eternal world, unprepared to meet their God.
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I am beginning to feel that sorrow more often now when someone doesn't have an open mind to the gospel for whatever reason. I know that the Gospel has, can, and will continue to bless all of those that follow it. I have grown to appreciate and love the doctrine of Christ more and more; it is amazing how perfect and true it is. It is our DUTY to make sure that our neighbor, friend, coworker etc... has an opportunity to be prepared to meet God. I love it!
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Please write back,
Love Elder Bates

Not Much to Report

It was great talking to you and everyone else on Mother's day, I LOVED it and it made me want to recommit myself to being the best missionary I can be! Not much new here, We had a 5 hour service project pulling weeds at a less actives house yesterday, so I am a little sore, but other than that, everything is going well. it is still rainy, but it is a mist-like rain, so it is very bearable. Sorry this letter is short, but I'll leave a spiritual thought. I love all of you and look forward to hearing from you all! Sorry, I didn't take any pictures this week, but I make it double next week
Love Elder Nick Bates


Spiritual Thought 5/10/2011

We have been challenged to read the Book of Mormon again by our mission president, and this scripture lept off the page at me, I hope you like it
Alma 26:27

27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us,
and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will
give unto you success.

This scripture gave me so much confidence and hope. Thankfully, in the last few months I have been happier than any other time on my mission, but I know, that when something sad does get thrown in my way, I can turn to this scripture. I noticed how the last word isn't Baptisms, a truly successful missionary does desire to have investigators make that essential covenant, but success is far more than that, it is being lost in the work. I know that hard work and planting seeds leads to great things, some of the happiest moments of my mission have be reactivating less actives and doing service for the elderly. I know that Faith+Work=Conversion and Success. Pray like it's all up to God, and work like it's all up to you.

Transfer Week Again

1. This is me and my new (former as well) Zone Leader Elder Olsen back in December at the Portland, Temple

2. A Little Kid in the Maple Grove ward wanted me to wear this, so I put my name tag on it.

Hello everyone. What is up? So, this last week was pretty same old same old, we have been teaching with the spirit, it has been raining a lot, and members are feeding us way too much. So pretty much, This last week has been pretty close to the same as my last four plus months here in Vancouver. Six weeks are up, and we get the transfer notices on Monday, and the actual transfers are on Wednesday, but the good thing is, both of us are staying in the Maple Grove and La Center wards. At the end of this transfer I will have been in MG for nearly 6 months and LC for 3. Time really flies when you love the work, love the people, and love your companion. There is nothing better than enjoying what you do everyday. The west side of the mission (where I've spent my whole mission) is always known as the lesser productive side in terms of baptisms, but when you do get them, the converts are in it to win it! I love it here and would not mind spending my whole mission on this side. So we found out yesterday that the Zone Leaders in our Zone are being doubled out (both leaving) Elder Baker is going home to Orange County, CA and Elder Eli Johnson is spending his last six weeks in Walla Walla, BUT one of the new ZLs is also my first ZL back in my old zone, Elder John Olsen from Woods Cross, UT he is literally the coolest guy ever (besides everyone back home of course), and I jumped for joy when I found out. It is crazy how many relationships you build on your mission.
Last night, the Lusher's invited us to dinner, and a lesson. The dinner was good, and the lesson was even better, He (Dave) is golden, and we just need to keep working with him, and great things will happen for him and his family! I love this work, I love the spirit, I love that Osama is dead, and I love all of you.
Elder Nick Bates

Oh, and to answer your question, we have Sunday meetings from 8 Am to 4 PM, so I'll probably call at about 6 PM ( 7 for you.)

Crazy Cool Week!

Hello there, how in the world is everyone doing? So let me start off by saying, that package got to me safely. Thank you soooo much, I was actually thinking about getting new ties, and I love polyester ties!! You really can never have too many ties in my book, I went to the MTC with 6 and now, after donating some not so great ones to goodwill, I have 35, the most I've seen a missionary have is in the low 60's, but he had been out a long time, so I still can do it haha.

This last week I've had two more "it's a small world after all moments" 1) A lady in the La Center ward was at dinner with us one night, and she was talking about how she lived in Mesa for a while in High School, I asked her where and she said Red Mtn. I asked her if she knew any Bates' and she said she was in a seminary class with Vanesa and thought she might have even been in the same prom group. 2) We were eating a Pre-Easter Dinner at The Brinton family's house in La Center, I told them I was from Mapleton, and she said her cousin Jason Williams and his wife April lives there, and I just about freaked out, It was a neat experience. They are a great family!!

Yesterday was actually one of the best days I've had since I left my first area. The two wards I'm serving in (Maple Grove and La Center) have been pretty cold in the category of converts and retention rate in the last year or longer, but yesterday night, we had a lesson with a part member family (the Lusher's), in which I thought the husband (Dave) was never going to embrace the church. We have been seeing Trisha (wife) on an almost every Monday basis for a while, but a few weeks ago, we asked her to ask her husband to take the lessons, and they both said yes. She has been in-active for 11 years, but feels like now is a great time to change. So we taught about tithing, the Word of Wisdom and Baptism yesterday, and the spirit was just vibrating, I know that they felt it because we asked them and they said it was an overwhelming peace. I couldn't feel my legs or my arms when we walked out, I was (and so was everyone else) on Cloud 9. I love this work and I know that if you prepare, and teach by the spirit, miracles WILL happen. I PROMISE!!
Love Elder Nick Bates

Another Week in Sunny (not kidding) South-West Washington

This picture is an old run down shack in the back woods of La Center, WA (probably used by teenagers to commit sinful acts).

Hello there! How is everything going back home? This week has flown by, much like this whole transfer no less (Not to mention Mother's Day is coming up. A missionary told me on December 26, that the time in between The Christmas call and the Mother's day one is the quickest time of the year, and I believe it 100%) So, we have been focusing on finding people and talking to everyone on the street that we see, and that has provided for some good success! We have found a couple less actives and people that are genuinely interested.

Funny story (sad too)..... So on Friday, we were walking to our next appointment on the other side of the area, when we see an older lady (50's-60's) she was walking kind of funny, and we ask her how she's doing, and the first thing she says is "I'm smoking pot" It was at this time that I notice a brown bag hanging from her pocket, a lighter in her hand, and a makeshift marijuana pipe made out of an old Shasta cola can. We asked her a couple questions and she says God doesn't love her, and it was at this time that I felt a legitimate love and compassion on that lady.... Maybe we'll never see her again, but hopefully she'll come to the truth one day.

We've been teaching by the spirit and I love it! I especially love talking to the sea of Russians on the south-east part of Battle Ground.

Love Elder Nick Bates

Another Week of Hard Work, and an Awesome Pday Activity!

Hello! How is everything going? I am doing fantastic. So, this last week, we drove a lot (we have 1,300 miles/month) and we taught some great lessons! I really feel like I am in my groove. The spirit is strong, and our investigators can tell. A couple days ago, we were getting into our car for dinner, and some random lady came up to us in a bathrobe and started talking to us. She loved the idea of a church that can uplift and edify her, she didn't come on Sunday, but I have high hopes for her. This morning, we drove to the Columbia Gorge, and we hiked Multnomah Falls (look it up!) And I have a few pictures to show all y'all. I hope you all enjoy, sorry I don't have extra time today. I really love all of you, and I appreciate all that everyone does for me! This church is way true, and I don't want to think of where I'd be without it. Read D&C 121:34-46, I LOVE those scriptures.
Love Elder Nick Bates

More Pictures...

Just found these, and I don't think I've published them yet...ENJOY!