I had such a good birthday!!!! And it was actually a pretty good week! I don't even know where to start lol. Let's see, Tuesday night for dinner we went to the Richey’s home (Jamie Jorgensen's aunt and uncle) but because it literally had been storming for 48 hours their power had gone out. A lot of people in La Center were without power that day for many hours. But yeah so they didn't have power when we came over for dinner so we had dinner (chicken Alfredo #sogood) in the dark. Well not completely, they had a fire going in the fireplace and they had some lanterns on the table.
Sister Richey was amazing and actually made the dinner by taking some hot coals out of the fire and using them to cook the noodles! Brother Richey said she was a "real pioneer woman" haha. Anyway that was an experience to remember. I had such a great time visiting with them in the dark hahah. Brother Richey played some music(some old country stuff that he said was really old lol) and he said I quote, "now can you imagine listening to this music while being cuddled up next to some guy"? Oh my lanta I lost it, I was laughing so hard!!!! He's just the cutest little old man! If I haven't already said it, I love that family! Brother Richey reminds me a lot of pawpaw (I think I said that before) he is so sweet and will actually text us almost everyday just to check in and see how we are doing. #ifeelsoloved haha
Wednesday, my companion was feeling pretty sick so we got to take it easy and take a nap... best feeling ever, oh how I miss napping and the joy it brings lol. Thursday we volunteered at the food bank in battleground. It was great because I got to wear jean…it's the little things in life that really bring happiness lol. But it really was fun, we worked in the back with a bunch of old ladies putting bags of food together to give the people when they came to ring the doorbell. It was so exciting to see these people so excited to get a little food. Also a little sad to think they don't have food to feed their families. WE ARE SO BLESSED! I'm serious. You don't understand how blessed you are until you get to serve those who have nothing. Such a great service opportunity for me. And it was nice to do something different than the same thing everyday. I loved it. #servinghealsthesoul (stole that from Jill Byrne Slaughter lol)
Then that afternoon we had our mission tour, Elder Daniel Johnson from the seventy came to speak to us. (I think they posted some pictures of the Facebook page? Have y'all joined it yet?) Anyway I got to meet him and his wife. Super sweet people. We talked about San Antonio and if I spoke Spanish, he's from Mexico, I wish I knew Spanish so I could have had a conversation with him but oh well. Haha. So he spoke to us along with my mission president and his wife. It was such a good meeting. The spirit was so strong and I just really wanted to be a better person/missionary afterwards. I don't even remember what exactly was said but I just remember feeling awesome.
We did talk about something though that has been on my mind. Member missionaries. Oh man, since being on the mission I have realized how so important members are when it comes to missionary work! Like dang, what a different experience a mission would and could be if the members were able to help out more. I'm calling everyone out! Lol we need you!!!! Missionaries need the help of members. In a perfect world the members would be bringing us all our investigators. The members live in the area where missionaries only spend 6 weeks. Members know the people around the area where missionaries are still trying to learn the members of the Ward. It's hard work but members can help. I encourage everyone to be a better member missionary and try and share the gospel with someone they know. Heck, just invite them to an activity where they can feel the spirit!!! The gospel is so important and true! It's so important that we share it with everyone because it can make everyone so happy. It's made me so amazingly happy I don't even know how to put it into words. So yeah, just please know you don't need a nametag to be a missionary. Us missionaries need the help of the Ward members to gather all of the Lords lost sheep.
On that note, I want to talk about a talk I read this week that I feel like changed me or my thinking at least. Y'all should definitely read it because it's so amazing. It's by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and it's called, "Missionary Work and the Atonement". And it talks about two very important things, can you guess what?;) lol yes, missionary work and the atonement!!! Haha the message that we have to offer people is so vital and can literally change people's lives and save them! Shouldn't we want to share this with everyone?!?! Gosh dang, I don't want to get to the next life and people ask me why I didn't share the gospel with them. So here I am lol. Everyone deserves to hear it because it is so amazing. But here's just a little something from the talk that I LOVED, "I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary.
If you wonder if there isn’t an easier way, you should remember you are not the first one to ask that. Someone a lot greater and a lot grander asked a long time ago if there wasn’t an easier way. When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions. The only way to salvation is through Gethsemane and on to Calvary. The only way to eternity is through Him--the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Now doesn't that give you chills?!?! It does for me. Salvation is not a cheap experience! But it can be a little bit easier if we can walk along the path with our Savior. He totally understands what we are going through and so He knows how to help us if we let Him. I have read this talk over and over again because it has brought me so much comfort. This talk was just perfectly written for me. So yeah, that was my thought this week:)
Anyway onto my birthday!!!!!! Yippee, I'm 20!!!!! I'm no longer a baby/teenager hahah, what a weird thought that I'm this old. Lol. So I woke up and worked out (stretched), ate some cereal, opened my box:) thank you thank you thank you!!! I loved it!
Okay so then we had to get ready and have regular mission life study time! But then my STLs came and brought me a poster and cookies and cd for my bday:) then my companion and I went to get donuts from the donut shop in town, it's this small little shop but the donuts are so good:) then we had some more study time, then for lunch we went out with some senior couples who work in the office, Elder and Sister Lambert, Elder and Sister Funk, and then our zone leaders, Elder Tinker and Elder Stroyen. We went to this little cafe in battleground. It was a lot of fun! They bought me my meal and then they also brought me my shoes thanks mom and dad! Oh and the funks got me a cupcake and Chapstick and the lamberts bought me balloons! Oh it was so much fun spending time with them! Afterwards we went and visited with a few people.
Then the lady we live with gave me a shirt (I think mom would like it...lol) and she gave me a necklace and made me a carrot cake! And then it was time for dinner, which meant it was time to see Jordan, Bri, Liam, and Nixon!!!!!! #BESTPARTOFTHEDAY So we met up at Red Robin and let me tell you, I was just ELATED when I saw them!!!! It didn't feel real to me to see family!!!!! I didn't want time to pass just so I could enjoy that moment!!!!
Nixon was just adorable as always, super skinny compared to the last time I saw him, Liam was same old shy at first, but he warmed up to me haha. Jordan and Bri, it's always so good seeing them, I just loved it!!!!! I can't even say how awesome it was, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING! I know it was crazy for y'all but it meant so much to me and made me so happy! Oh and they gave me a raincoat, a wand for my hair, a watch, and a Betsy Johnson bag so also thank you for that! Man I just was so spoiled that day. It was honestly awesome, a lot better than I thought it was going to be! But honestly I was so happy to be with family, being out here in the mish you really realize how amazing your family is. I totally have. Man I love you guys.
So yeah, that was my crazy week! Lol So how is everyone doing? How's San Antonio? How's the weather? What's new? How was your birthday mom? I hope y'all are having fun at the lake! Oh and tell pawpaw and Gigi I got their card and tell them I say thank you and I love them:)
How is school going for the kids? Tell me about y'all lol. Oh and mom I got yours & eathans hand letter on Thursday and it was so perfect!!!!! I've read it like 20 times since I've opened it lol. I really really really enjoyed it because it came in the middle of the week and I was able to read it right then, I didn't have to wait like I do for my emails, I like getting things in the middle of the week. It's hard only hearing from you once a week so it was great. And eathans letter made me laugh haha.
Well I love y'all so very much and hope y'all have a great thanksgiving, I'll be hoping from member house to member house, that should be interesting, hopefully I won't get too full;)
One last thing, could you look into the book, The Infinite Atonement" by Todd r callister (not sure how to spell that). My stl told me it changed her life that it was so good and I thought it might be worth reading, but maybe just do some research and see it it's worth getting and if it is send it to me:) thanks!
Xoxo
Sister Batey
In her new jacket and rain boots
Is this actually sun??
Her friendly neighbor.
Meeting up with family for her birthday!
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