February 15th, 2016

Hiiii fam bam,

Happy post Valentine's Day!!!

And also I'VE BEEN OUT FOUR MONTHS!!
Hurrah for Israel!!!! Hahah dang, I'm just too pumped I've made it to
four months! It's the strangest thing, I feel like I've been here
forever but I also feel like it's gone so fast! I know I always say
that but it's real. Lol

So this week we had interviews with our substitute mission president,
President Ferrin. He is a really sweet man and it was really nice
getting to meet him and talk with him. We talked about a lot of things
and it was a great conversation, there is just something so comforting
talking to a priesthood holder that always makes me feel so great. I
loved it. Then after our interviews we went to do some service, I love
service but for whatever reason people in this area do not take us up
on our offer so we decided to put pick up trash on the side of the
road. And boy was there a lot of trash! You would think these
Washington's who love to recycle would be clean people but nahhh, there
was so much trash! And actually a lot of other things as well like we
found a bunch of forks and knifes haha. But it was nice to just do
something to help, although we started to get rained on about halfway
through which was not so fun. Lol

Then we had dinner with this one family and the daughter has a
nonmember boyfriend and he was their too and so we have dinner with
them and we show the little 2 minute video on the restoration and then
we left. We were siting in the car trying to decide where we should go
and sister Michaud felt like we should go back and teach the nonmember
boyfriend. And dang that seemed so frightening to go back and ask to
come back in and teach. But We said a prayer and walked back to their
house. We rang the doorbell and they looked at us a little confused
and asked if we left anything and well wouldn't this just be a great
story if we taught the boyfriend and he was interested? Lol it would
be but it didn't happen that way haha. We asked if everyone was still
here and the mom said that they all left so awkwardly sister Michaud
just asked to use their bathroom. Oh man once we got back in the car
we were just laughing so hard! Hahah worth a try!

Well here goes my story of a dead man...
we were tracting all day on I think Thursday and we were walking up to
this house and it had to be like 11am and they had a bunch of cars in
their drive way and we were passing this one car and at the same time
sister Michaud and I look over in the car and we see this dead man!!!
He was just laying in the car eyes closed and not moving. Without
saying anything to each other sister Michaud and I turn around and
book it out of there. And as we were running away we turn around and
see this lady with just a bra on come out and yell something towards
the cars, so my theory is that she killed him. We decided not to stick
around and ask questions so I'm just assuming he was dead. Lol it's
more fun to say we saw a dead man anyway! Lol

So then Friday we had a few lessons and that night I started feeling
really sick but we had an appointment but they didn't answer and
instead of going home I decided to tough it out and knock doors around
because we only needed to talk to 3 more people to make it to our 10
oym's (open your mouth). No big deal I thought, we could talk to 3 people in no
time. WRONG. We knocked and knocked and knocked and no one was
answering! After knocking doors all day the day before and now
knocking more doors we were getting so frustrated and discouraged. So
after about 12 doors someone answered, he wasn't interested though,
and we needed two more, so we prayed to find out where we should go.
We decided to knock one more section of apartments which had 4 doors.
We knock the first two, no one answered. Boy we were getting so upset!
Sister Michaud then tells me that we should be getting a miracle
sometime soon because we have been working so hard. So we walk up
stairs and knock the one on the left and the lady yells through the
door she isn't interested. That was 9/10. Then we turn around to the
last door and before we could knock a man opens the door. He started
asking about prophets and life after death and all different things
about the church. We were able to have a little lesson about prophets
and the priesthood and the Book of Mormon. And then he asked us to
come back the next day! It seriously was a miracle!!!! We were so
happy!!!!!

Then Saturday morning we had a lesson with the lady that cleans Sister
S's house and it was so powerful! We taught her the plan of
salvation and it was so great to see how she felt the spirit and how
she understood the plan of salvation. It was super awesome. Then
Sunday was stake conference and it was broadcasted from salt lake and
it was really good! And our investigator, Sergey, had his baptism
interview and he passed so that means HES GETTING BAPTIZED ON
SATURDAY!!!! We are so excited!!!!! It's gonna be so awesome!!!! :)

After church we went to dinner at the R's and they made us cheese
fondue and we dipped broccoli and breads and cauliflower into the
cheese and it was so good. Then we cooked some chicken in some oil and
then we had a chocolate fountain and some chocolate fondue! It was
delicious!!!! Then they made us a piñata and we hit that around! Haha
then after dinner we went tracting some more and holy heck!!!! It was
the scariest thing. We were sitting in the car looking at our iPads
and it's super dark and we were trying to figure out where to go and I
look up for a second and this scary man wearing raggedy clothes and a
hat and his tongue is hanging out, this man is looking straight at us
in the car and walking toward us. And so I kind of screamed and then
sister Michaud looks up and sees him and so she freaks out and this
man is like super close to us now and so she tries locking the doors
and then she hurries up and speeds off, like she went so fast and the
car made those screechy noises and it was so freaky. We were a
little shaken up so we went home. But oh my lanta, so very creepy!!!!!

So mom, I don't think I'm allowed to call chase bank.....can you not do that????
So Sister S works full time, she leaves at like 7am and then she
gets home late. She's the counselor and also the dance team coach. I
love living with her!

Dad, I'm so jealous that you guys are going deep sea fishing!!! And
taking my boys!!!! Why do y'all wait to do all the fun things till I'm
gone??? You better take me when I get home!!!! And yes please send me
pictures! That would be pretty cool if you caught a shark, those are
my favorite!!!

So today for pday we had lunch from the mission cleaning inspectors
because our rooms were all really clean and now we are in the gym
emailing and the elders are playing ball games. And transfers are
March 2 I believe. I have no idea what will be happening. My companion
thinks we will stay together but idk because I thought I would have
stayed with sister Finn so who knows! I'm not sure when my next
conference is, I think it's every other transfer so maybe next month?
That stinks that the Hunter Hayes concert wasn't very good. I really like him
so I'm sure it would be fun just to have that experience!! At least you
aren't knocking doors all day in the rain! Look at the bright side!
Plus you guys get to be with each other so I don't want to hear any
complaining! Hahah

So what else is new? Y'all sound good, I miss you guys a whole lot!!
And love you guys tons!!!!

Xoxo
Sister Batey

Kenzee and her companion cleaning!!

Kenzee and a pet snake...at least it better be a pet snake...

Have you heard how much she likes the rain?

February 8th, 2016

Hey hey hey,

So how is everyone doing? I miss you guys a hecka lot. I'm getting
another haircut today, more like a trim lol. Today is absolutely
gorgeous, the sun is shinning and it's warmer than it has been. I love
it! This girl needs the sun haha. Yesterday the weather was really
nice too! Oh how I've missed the sun! And yes mom I got my package!
Thank you so much! It was the best!!!! Everything was perfect, except
the jeans haha. But I loved it! Oh and I got your letter and I loved
that:) definitely carry the picture with me always! Lol so cute!! And
I'm glad you didn't send any food snacks because we literally get so
many sweet treats and I can't keep eating them! Hahaha

Alright so this week, hmmmm well Saturday I think was one to remember,
so we are trying to help one of our investigators live the word of
wisdom so he can get baptized on February 20th. So we bought him a
bunch of snacks to help him and wrote scriptures and inspiring
messages on them so he could remember and stay strong so that was fun.
When we gave it to him he was so thankful, he said that none of his
friends would do this for him and how sweet it was. Then we had some
men in our Ward give him a blessing so he could have the strength to
resist temptation, and after the blessing he said he could totally
feel something inside!!! Oh man we were so pumped because that's the
Holy Ghost telling him that he can do it, and that it's what he should
be doing!!!!!

Then that night we went by another less active couple and boy they
were talkers! We didn't have to say anything because they just talked
and talked and talked. And I really didn't know what they were talking
about, something about politics or something, idk. I was distracted by
how much stuff they had in their apartment! They are the definition of
hoarders! I was so grossed out. So while they were going on and on,
sister Michaud was getting pretty frustrated and she finally blurted
out, so why don't y'all come to church? Haha it caught them by
surprise and they took a second and gave us some lame excuse and then
went back to talking about politics or maybe about how much they love
the Pacific Northwest. Then we say we have to go because they would of
kept talking for hours! So we ask if we can say a prayer with them
before they leave and they say how much they love to pray and they
stand up and then I guess they like to hold hands so lucky me, I'm
standing next to the old man and so I "get" to hold this mans hand. So
that was the first hand I've help since being on my mission, hahah yay
me. :/

Then later that night we went to a find a referral and they
live in an apartment complex and after like an hour of walking around
to find them and walking through a few bushes and mud we find them.
They are super nice and we were able to have a lesson with them! The
dad is a member but his wife and 12 year old daughter aren't. So after
our lesson we put his daughter on date to be baptized February 27!
Such a beautiful tender mercy!!! We were so excited because we are
trying to baptize a bunch of people this month for our mission
president while he is in recovery. So we are pretty pumped!!!!!

Then Sunday my companion and I had to give the opening and closing prayers
in sacrament meeting, I said opening, and honestly was pretty nervous!
But I did it. Lol then since the super bowl was on we had to be home
at 7:30 because they didn't want us on the roads in case of drunk
drivers. Which honestly was super nice because we just played skipbo
with Sister S and then I was able to go to bed early which was
the bomb.com:) haha.

Rewind to the rest of the week, we had dinner with this older couple and
the old man was so funny. He gets all serious in the middle of dinner
and looks at us and said, have you girls kissed any one since you've
been on your missions? Oh it was just so funny the way he asked it.
And especially since he was old and a man. Just didn't expect it from him
hahaha.

Wednesday we brought Sister S lunch and ate with her at her school. It was
so fun! Also a little weird to be back in high school, and especially wearing
my missionary tag lol. But it was nice because Sister S forgot
her purse and wasn't going to eat! So it was inspiration for us to
have brought her lunch. Hmmm oh I forgot to tell you, remember Axxx?
Well we could never get ahold of her and we were like what the heck,
and finally she was home when we knocked and she wrote us a letter and
dropped us:( she told us she wants to go to church with her grandkids
so that was kinda sad. She said to try again in 6 months so hopefully
she will be ready then for different missionaries. I think that was my
week. Lol

Mom, I'm so jealous that y'all are seeing Hunter Hayes!!!!! I just
want y'all to know I've NEVER been to the rodeo, so when I get home I
better be invited!!!! LOL make sure to send me videos! Speaking of
videos, I got the same one of you mom like 3 times haha. How did your
dr appt go??
And yes send me the missionary letters of the people my age! Speaking
of you know who I was thinking about, Robert Mott! How is he doing?
Isn't he almost done??
So about the exercises, haha I do the ones I know how, lol I'm not a
fan of wall sits so I don't do those lol. I do go running though, I'm
still not losing weight though. How long do I have to run for if I
want to lose weight?!?
And the cleaning lady, we are meeting with her Saturday so fingers
crossed! She didn't come to church but we will see. Pres. Taylor is
good as far as we know. They haven't told us anything lately.
Sounds fun decorating at Encino Park!!!!

Well anyway I love y'all so much!!!!! And miss you all!!!!!
How are people in the Ward doing? Anything fun or exciting happening??
Oh and I was wondering if y'all could maybe get me a David archuleta
Christian cd? I still didn't find any new music on my iPod dad?


Xoxo
Sister Batey

McKenzee and Sister Machaud

Another one...

McKenzee having a good day!

February 1st, 2016

Sweet family and friends,
Happy February!!! We did it, one month down for 2016, 11 to go! Haha
So this week, honestly I've got nothing to say. Lol I do however, have
some requests:)

So mom, I would love to have a letter from you about your conversion
and your experience with the missionaries. And then dad/everyone else,
I was watching the Christmas in a minute video this week, and I was
thinking how great it was because I felt like I was with y'all, and so
naturally I'm gonna ask for some more videos of you guys and your
pretty faces:) yes the pictures are great so keep them coming, but I
would highly enjoy some videos. Y'all could be talking or dancing or
cleaning(mom) hahah just kidding, but yeah I'd love that. Thanks:)

Oh and mom, my purse I believe is in Kylee's closet on one of the
shelves, or maybe in my old closet in one of the boxes. Also could you
send me my dark blue sweater from old navy. That's my favorite
sweater. Haha and hopefully my ring will be in this box?;) Oh and the
hats mom, I don't need, I already have a good amount thanks though!
And dad, I've gone through my MP3 player a billion times, I don't see
the music at all....do you know which folder it's in? Most of the
music has one song listed like 3 or 4 times...?

Anyway, so congratulations dad for getting your dream calling in the
nursery! Haha I can't believe you got released!!! It's going to be
weird/sad to come back and not have you conducting, although now you
get to sit with the family which is probably really exciting!!!! Dibs
on sitting next to dad AND mom when I come home! Haha so who is in the
new bishopric???? And dad, yes you've told me about your computer
dying in every email, sorry if I forget to acknowledge it, but I've
got other things I'd like to mention in my email lol. But sorry, that
really sucks, I hate when things stop working! I'm glad you got in all
saved though! And your poor tong dad, that honestly looks so
painful!!!! Did you get stitches? Dang, I'm sorry. But hey firehouse
subs is always good! Lol gotta look on the bright side of things!

That sounds like fun with Mike and Michelle! I miss them, I bet y'all
had a really good time. Tell them I say hi! And wait a second, Kazdan and
Tatum got another dog? As in they have 3 now? Or do they keep
upgrading? Haha I'm a wee bit confused. Lol

Sounds like fun at the carnival, how is mr hinds? It's gonna be sad to
have gracee in 6th grade when I come home and I won't Be able to go to
ep anymore, I guess I'll just have to go and see the twins more lol.
Poor Lexi, that sounds awful! Hopefully she is doing better. At church
yesterday I saw a little boy that reminded me of Gavin Salisbury and I
had to do a double take. Haha I miss the Salisbury family, tell them I
say hi too! And Colby, that makes me miss my little baby Colby! All of
my babies are gonna be all big and grown when I get home:( tell the
Jorgensen's I say hi too!

I'm happy for you mom, that you are all clot free! That is such a
blessing!! So what do you do now? What are you doing for your elbow?
Hopefully you can fix that now!

How was your visit with president foote? How is Elena doing on her
mission? And yes I got your email about sister jones knowing sister
michauds brother. Small world for sure! Lol although she's not sure
which brother haha. And mom, the exercise... It's good, I did a few
days and was super sore, then I went running twice this week and got
even more sore! Haha I'm just so tired when I wake up that I have no
energy to work out, although I really need.  Haha I'm jealous that you
guys get to go to the Spurs game!!!!! Luckily, I have seri so I always
ask her how the Spurs are doing! Haha

Okay so this week, Monday when sister Michaud and I were checking out
at Walmart with our groceries a lady came up to us and told us that
she was going to pay for both of our groceries!!! Isn't that the
sweetest thing ever! I was just so grateful! It was such a sweet thing
for a stranger to do. Man, I just couldn't believe it. Then here are
my two miracle stories for this week, one, when we were tracting we
knocked into this family and it turns out they are members who just
moved here from Utah and they are also recent converts. They haven't
been going to church because they didn't know where it was and what
time. It was just really cool for us to have been at the right place
knocking doors. Then they came to church on Sunday!!!!!!! Oh man I was
so very happy:) we actually had 7 less active members at church on
Sunday!!!!! #miracle! Our second miracle story is so great, so on
Friday the lady who cleans our house was over, and sister S gave
her a BOM 2 weeks ago and so Friday she told us she read it and had
some questions, so we decided to sit down with her and have the first
lesson which is the restoration. The spirit was so strong, it was such
a good lesson, lots of tears from both of us lol and it was just so
great. We are pretty excited! She is coming back for another lesson on
Saturday!

Sister S's other friends are doing pretty good too, this
week was busy for them so we have a lesson scheduled with them on
Tuesday or Wednesday, I can't remember, but I'm pretty pumped. Friday
night we went to Iva's house, she is a recent convert and we watched
17 miracles with her. Oh man it's such a great movie!! Makes me want
to be a better person and also makes me grateful for my trials in my
life. We are truly so blessed to be where we are with the things we
have. Sister Michaud and I are still getting along. She is such a hard
worker.  I miss sister Finn a lot, but things are good.

I miss you guys a lot too! I love y'all bunches and hope things are
going well!!!!

Xoxo
Sister Batey