It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

HELLOO FAMILY!!

So great to hear from you!! KENN! I love your new haircut! Its sooo cute and totally fits you! Seriously. Jody did a great job. :) I loved the pictures!

The conference with Elder Pieper was amazing! So he was supposed to come with Hermana Gonzalez and I back to Dolores Otero to meet some recent converts but had to leave so it didnt work out... BUT. I got to have an interview with him! President chose 10-15 missionaries to get to know Elder Pieper and I was one of them. Mom, it was the coolest experience ever. He is so down to earth and truly is an inspired servant of God. It was a privilege. I told him about you guys and everything.:) During the conference we talked a lot about how we could help our investigators grow in their own testimonies. He gave really good advice that Im so excited to put to practice. :) One thing that  really stuck out to me this weekend was that we need to be worthy to partake of the sacrament every week. Nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes. Its SO important to repent every single day. Because the promise of the sacrament is to always have His spirit to be with us. During the day, night and week! Its a gift! Please read D & C 20:37. Its the baptism requirments but it totally works with the sacrament. Because when we partake of the sacrament we are renewing ALL of the covenants that we made with our Heavenly Father at baptism and in the temple. Honestly, repentence is a beautiful thing! The atonement is so essential. We have the great opportunity to use the atonement every single day in our lives. :) My thought: Always be worthy to partake of the sacrament. 

YULISSA WAS BAPTIZED THIS WEEK!!! Im so excited!!! We weren´t sure if she was going to be able to have her baptism this week because their were so many activities going on with Elder Pieper and everything but it all worked out! Her baptism was supposed to be a few weeks ago but due to other church events and everything we had to postpone it a few times. But yeah! She finally is a baptized member of the church. :) She was so prepared to make this covenant. When we first met her we could tell that she had a great mission here on earth. She was ready! In her testimony yesterday she said that she is preparing to serve a mission. Hermana Gonzalez and I are so happy for her and the choice that she made. :) Seriously this week was the best week ever. Best week of my mission. So many amazing experiences happened and I couldn´t be more grateful to my Father in Heaven. Im just so happy! Being His servent here in Merida is the most amazing thing. This work is the most important work! 

Im so happy everyone is doing well. I love hearing how everything is going back at home. Thank you for all of the love and support! This Christmas time is such a wonderful time. Everyday try to reach out to help someone in need. A smile goes a long way. please be happy and safe this week! Love you all so much. Have a wonderful week. :)

Love, Hermana Gates

#kickitkdog

1) It was Yulissas 16th birthday this week! 

2) Little kids and the best face paint ever.

3) Our mission leader Manuel! Hes the greatest!