A Whole New World

This photo was sent to me (Mom) on Sunday night by President Frost of the Lilburn, GA Stake.
 
So, here I am in the Georgia Atlanta North Mission. That's awesome. I'm serving in the Mountain Park YSA branch. Even more awesome. This is honestly so cool. I've been meeting a bunch of different people in the branch and we've taught a few investigators. It's hard though because people living together before they're married seems to be a big problem here. So we've had trouble finding ways to commit people to baptism. That, and our investigator pool is drying up a little so we need to find more.

      We spend about 8 hours a week at Georgia Gwinnet College. There is a free speech zone where we sign up twice a week to contact people. We have a few people that are pretty interested. But there are more people who just come up to take a cup of free lemonade and tell us how wrong our church is. Which is fine, they're just really enjoying their stay at the great and spacious. I wish them the best of luck. We try not to Bible bash if we can, so normally we testify and then they leave. Plain and simple. 

      My companion is pretty awesome. His name is Elder Lee, and he's from South Korea. He was a foreign exchange student in Utah before he came on his mission so his English is pretty good. Sometimes I have to explain certain words though. He makes super great Korean food though. Much better food than I'd be able to make myself. My favorite so far has been the egg drop soup. He is also really into working out so if I'm super buff at the end of this companionship he is the reason.

     Georgia is EXTREMELY different from Nevada. The fact that there aren't any mountains is weird but I usually don't notice because there are like 8 zillion trees in any given direction. The culture isn't too different yet, but I'm in a college town so there are people from all over. The roads aren't in any sort of grid or pattern, they're just sort of built as they're needed. And since my companion doesn't have a license, I am officially the youngest driver in the Georgia Atlanta North Mission. I'll talk more about the driving once I actually know what I'm doing. 😅. 

     Well that's all I have for this week. If you guys want to send any mail, this is the address:

1595 Old Norcross Rd Apt #513

Lawrenceville, GA 30046

Until next time

Elder Bates

       

Picture 1: Elder Lee and I

2: Egg drop soup "the right way"

3: a little bit of irony

4: THE BEST RESTURAUNT. You have to go and get a kickin chicken sandwich "extra wet." I was apprehensive at first, but trust me. It will CHANGE YOUR LIFE.