March 28th, 2016

Hiiiii family,

Hope everyone had a very happy Easter! I know for me it was a very
beautifully spiritual day. I just loved it! I'll start with Sunday,
well I got to say the opening prayer in sacrament meeting again. Lol
so I was pretty nervous. But it was good. Oh and it was fast and
testimony meeting since next week is general conference. Anywho, the
choir sang some songs and then the members of the Ward council bore
their testimonies and for the closing song, Sister Richards sang "This
Is the Christ." Oh wow it was just so beautiful and powerful and the
spirit was so strong. It was awesome! She sings so amazing! I'm way
jealous haha. Oh but it was also a good Sunday because we had so many
less actives come and our investigator who usually only stays the
first hour stayed all 3 hours and it was so great! Third hour we went
into young woman's and Sister D gave the lesson and I don't
even have words to describe how great it was. We talked about Jesus
Christ and how His atonement helps each and every single one of us in
all of our trails and challenges. I was really able to think about
this with it being Easter and also how because of Him we can be
resurrected too and live with our families again. This of course made
me think of Grandmother because I just miss her so darn much. But it's
so comforting knowing that Christ took on all of that heartache and
other pains I go through because He loves me. Sister D said
something that I really loved, she said that even if I (or any single
person) were the only one on the Earth, He would still die for me
because of the great amount of love He has for me (and every single
person). Gosh I know I'm not doing justice with explaining how amazing
the atonement really is and what it actually means but it's just the
best feeling ever when you can feel the spirit so strongly. She also
shared an amazing video that I can't seem to find the link to on
LDS.org. It's a little girl singing about Gethsemane and it shows the
life of Christ. It you can find it, go watch it. I was in tears it was
just so beautiful.

Okay now rewind to Monday. For pday last week we went to the soccer
place for a little bit then we went to the mission office to play some
scatter ball which is kind of like dodgeball (or spider ball for
Gracee). Anyway, Sister Richards and I are the only ones playing with
a bunch of elders and well as you can imagine someone got hurt, and it
wasn't me. Poor Sister Richards got hit so so hard in the face. Aw man
I felt so bad for her, and the elder that hit her felt 10 times worse,
lol poor guy was almost in tears because he felt so bad. It was sad
but Sister Richards is tough and walked it off haha. Then that night
we had a lesson with a man named R and at first we thought he
was interested but after he took us on a tour of his wood work shop
gave us some chips, salsa, and root beer, and told us everything about
him he informed us he doesn't want to be baptized but he just wants to
learn about "Mormon theology". Oh my, I was dying in this lesson. He
kept talking about "Mormon theology" and "real Christianity" and
comparing the two. I was going crazy. Let's just say he is definitely
not ready. Oh but it was funny because a few days latter we were on
his street and we saw him driving away smoking a pipe, like one of
those old old ones that you only see in movies. Haha yeah that
was Monday....

Tuesday we had zone conference all day and it was so good! I love zone
conference. We have a bunch of different speakers and there is just so
much to learn!! Oh and at zone conference they have clean inspections
on our cars and so sister Richards and I cleaned our car real good and
plus we have a brand new car so we knew for sure that we would win, oh
and we made cookies and gave them to the judges hahah. Anyway after
they judged the cars we go up to them and ask them what our prize was
because we just knew that we were the winners and well they told us
how great our cookies were and then they told us we were disqualified
because we had a brand new car and it wasn't fair to the other
missionaries who had older cars. Isn't that just the saddest thing
ever? Oh man I was so bummed since we worked so hard cleaning it. Haha
but Elder Funk and Elder Lambert (the ones who inspect the cars) told
us they would take us out to lunch as a prize:) lol what little
sweeties they are, I just love the mission staff! Oh and it was so
good to have president and sister Taylor back, they told us all kinds
of stories about the heart attack and such. It was so good to see
them.

Wednesday Sister Richards and I went on exchanges with the sister
training leaders(STLs). Sister Richards stayed in Hazel Dell and I
went to the other Ward with Sister Arnett. Oh and fun fact about
Sister Arnett, she told me she knows Julie Bezzant!!!! She said that
she is in her home Ward back in Arizona!!! #smallworld!!! Lol anyway,
it was so funny being on exchanges with her! We began by stopping by a
few people and then tracting around them and oh my lanta, the first
person that we knock on, a man answers and we tell him that we are
missionaries for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and
his wife tells him we are Mormons and then he looks at us and says "I
hate Mormons". Sister Arnett and I are both taken back a little and we
ask if he had a bad experience and he said no he just hates Mormons.
Boy oh boy, I was just so annoyed. This man doesn't even know us and
he's telling us how he already hates us. It's just so sad to see
someone so over taken by Satan that he doesn't realize the beautiful
message we have to share. He then goes on to tell us that he doesn't
believe in Jesus Christ either because he can't see Him. Oh my, what a
sad little old grumpy man. Poor him is all I can think to say. After
that we had to go to our dinner appointment and so we go to the house
Sister Arnett thinks it is and we say hello and ask if we can help
with dinner and she tells us just to play with the kids. So we are in
her living room and she comes from our of the kitchen and turns the
light off. About 20 minutes have passed and no talk about dinner and I
begin to realize that we are in the wrong house. But how in the world
am I suppose to tell sister Arnett without being completely rude and
obvious. And also I don't know who these people are because I'm just
here for the day on exchanges. Well my prayer was answered moments
later because she gets up to go turn on the light for her daughter in
another room and I lean over to sister Arnett and tell her I don't
think she plans on feeding us and I believe we are in the wrong place.
Sister Arnett looks at her phone and realizes what I already knew to
be true. We were definitely in the wrong house. Hahahaha oh man I was
dying laughing. We hurry up and explain the situation and the lady
looks relived because I'm sure she was totally confused at our
presence. Haha so then we go to the right dinner....with some Japanese
people... Haha that was funny. Then we go to another lesson and we are
teaching the plan of salvation and we are explaining the 3 kingdoms of
glory to this little 6 year old and we thought we did a really good
job explaining them and especially emphasizing that we want to go to
the celestial kingdom and so we ask her one more time where she wants
to go(in regards to the kingdoms of glory) and she replies
Disneyland!!  oh my lanta we were all just dying!!!! It was the
funniest thing!!! Lol lol. Then we leave our lesson and it's pitch
black dark outside now and we are trying to get in the car and sister
Arnett is looking for the keys and well turns out she left them inside
and we had to go back in and get them hahaha. Oh man it was such a
funny exchange!

Friday, this is where it gets exciting family:) hahah so we went to go
do some service with our district, Elder Munger & Petitta, Sister Finn
& Crawley, and Sister Richards and myself. Our job was to pull weeds
out of this mans front yard. His yard is basically mud and weeds haha.
So we had shovels and basically just dug up the mud and moved it
around. It was the weirdest thing. Anyway, while we are doing this we
are finding lots of worms and other bugs haha. And a few people in my
district don't like bugs and so they throw a few at each other, no big
deal. I don't really have a problem with the bugs. Anyway I found this
really big worm and I told Elder Petitta to open his mouth and I'm
gonna try and throw it in his mouth. He was clear across the yard, I
knew I wasn't going to make it in. And I didn't, but he wanted to try
and so he tried and didn't get it in my mouth. So then we are
continuing weeding and continuing to find worms. But we were getting
hungry and we decided we were going to go eat as a district after we
were done at BWW. And I love that place so I was so excited. But I
don't even know how it came up but elder Petitta told me he would pay
for my lunch if I ate a worm!!!! Hahah and of course I'm thinking free
Buffalo Wild Wings just to eat a worm. DEAL hahahahaha I've eaten
worse things than a worm since being in my mission. And plus I don't
have money so free is good! And well of course sister Finn wants in of
the deal because we don't want to pay!! So yeah, we both end up eating
a worm and we ended up getting free BWW...totally worth it:) lol lol lol

So then after lunch we have a lesson with T, that's the lady in the
blurry picture. She's awesome. And I just love her to pieces. She is
so strong and such an inspiration!

Saturday night was general woman's broadcast. Mom and Kylee, I really
hope you guys watched it! It was AMAZING!!!! It's so funny what I get
excited for being a missionary. But this is definitely something I was
pumped for! Anyway, I was watching it and I just kept thinking that
mom was probably watching this just as I was and for a second I could
feel mom sitting by me. It brought back some good memories of watching
it with mom a few years ago. Anyway I really enjoyed it, and our
investigator came and watched it too and that was so exciting!!! They
talked a lot about service and how when we love others we serve them
and when we love them we make room for them. It was just so beautiful.
I know we talk about service a lot in the church but they way they
said some things just really made sense and I loved it. It's just so
true, we can't love someone without serving them. Another lady spoke
about refugees and other trials people go through and brought up the
question, what if I was in their place? I love that. We should always
think like that so we can better love them and serve them! We are all
children of God and we came to earth to help each other out! We need
to be there for one another! She also said that we should be praying
to know what the Lord would have us do. And I just loved that as well!
We need to always have a prayer in our heart so we can know where the
lord needs us and what he needs us to do. And cute little president
Eyring spoke and just wrapped everything up and did such a great job!
Poor little President Monson looked so frail. Oh it just broke my
heart to see him like that. Prayers definitely go out to him.
So after this broadcast, we went to a less active couple and discussed
the things that sister Richards and I learned from this broadcast. And
we were talking about love and service and the old lady started
talking about how she loves her husband and afterwards found out about
his cute butt.... Hahahahah Sister Richards and I were mortified
hahaha. This couple is so old and they look like little ooopa loompas,
hahaha oh man. People are so weird and have no filter hahaha. So
weird.

Then Sunday was Easter and we made a bunch of Easter goodies and gave
them to less actives and our investigators. It was so much fun!

And yes mom I got the box, thank you thank you! I loved it! The nail
polish was perfect, me and my companion painted our nails right after
I opened the box:) I wore the skirt to church for Easter:) I LOVE MY
PEEPS AND SOCKS:) lol but mom, the black and white shirt? Idk... Lol
but I loved everything else!!! You da bomb.com mom.

So how is it having everyone home? Probably no good since I'm not
there, am I right? Haha but for real, I'm so jealous of y'all
being together!!!:( I miss you all so much!!!! But I also am loving it
out here, not everyday but most days. This is amazing and I love the
people. I love y'all too. Hope you all have a great week!!!!

Xoxo
Sister Batey

McKenzee and Sister Richards with their new Easter socks.

Selfie.

Sister Richards, Kenzee, and Sister Arnett.

Eating worms for Buffalo Wild Wings...

March 21st, 2016

Helloooo fam bam,

This week was a little cray, haha as usual.

But omg, I'm so busy that I completely forgot to mention that Monday
was my 5 month mark!!!!! 5 months people!!!! I made it to a week and 5
months!!! Haha I feel so accomplished!

So anyway, Monday we got our doterra massages, which are oil based and
they are just so awesome and relaxing. I was definitely on an oil high
lol lol. The lady who did them told me it happens a lot actually! Haha
then we just hung out with her and her family. They are just the
cutest, they are in one of the pictures I sent home. Love them, remind
me a lot of our family in different ways. Oh and the two older boys
wanted to play me and Sister Richards in basketball and so we did and
we crushed them! Hahah it was cute, they are like 11 and 13. But no I
was dying hahah, and I hated it because it had just rained so every
time we bounced the ball it just kept getting wet and I hated having
my hands all wet because then they were also cold and the ball just
kept slipping right out of my hands! But anyway, it was still a lot of
fun and reminded me of home.  :)

Tuesday, we had to go to the doctors for sister Richards to get a
referral for her neck/back so she could go to physical therapy. So we
are driving to the dr and at first we didn't know where it was but as
we continued driving and got closer I realized that it was in my old
area in the fairway village Ward! I completely forgot that the mission
doctor was in my old area! Lol it was just so fun to be in my old home
and it was also a tad bit weird haha. But it was awesome but I texted
Sister S and I got to meet up with her after the appointment!  :)  So that
made my day! But oh man, the dr itself was an adventure. Hahaha so we
go and Sister Richards is just like me and she doesn't fill out her
own paper work, she said her mom usually does it which usually happens
with me too haha. So I agreed to help her out and I was filling out
some of her forms haha. Then we go back to the room and they have a
student doctor examine my companion. Hahaha and well he is a big
goober. Lol we were just dying. And the more he examined her the more
it was just so uncomfortable  for the both of us. Haha I don't even
know how to describe it. Just strange and awkward. And so he isn't
a real doctor, he said he also does something with chiropractic's so
he asked if he could "manipulate" her neck and back where it was
hurting and so he had her do all these weird moves and he was popping
her back and it was just so funny, man I wish I could have recorded
it. I guess looking back this isn't funny at all, lol sorry, my guess
it's one of those had to be there moments.... Anyway this appointment
literally took all day, so we got out way passed our lunch so we went
to eat ASAP and that's where we met Sister S! Oh man it was so awesome to
see her again! Hen we went and had dinner and had a few appointments.

Wednesday, we had district meeting and I had to give a training on
revelation through church attendance. I was super nervous especially
since I only had a day to prepare but my companion told me I did a
good job! So did Sister Finn, but I feel like they are obligated to
say that since they are/were my companions. Haha then after that we
went to go to serve for a family in the elders Ward. And what it
consisted of was moving big logs of wood and then using a machete to
chop up blueberry bushes! #igottouseamachete #nbd lol And oh man, dad
I'm sure you had to do that at least once living in Oregon. I guess
it's a pretty common thing for people in the PNW. Haha so we literally
spent the whole entire day doing that. Which really wasn't bad at all
because it was an absolutely GORGEOUS day outside, no coat needed. The
sun the shining and it was actually hot!!! Oh man I was in heaven! It
felt amazing! The only thing that didn't feel amazing was every time
the thorn from the bushes poked you. Which was so often, especially
when you put a bunch of 19-21 year olds to do this. Haha we were not
very good at keeping the horns off one another lol. But the funniest
part was Elder Petitta in my district, the biggest one out of all of
us, is deathly afraid of spiders and it just so happens spiders like
to be in the garden where we were working and we saw so many and
every time he would just about die! Haha it was absolutely hilarious.
We started putting them in jars to watch them fight each other. He was
such a baby though. Haha so then after all of this service we had to
take pictures of course haha. But as we were doing so Elder Petitta
thought it would be funny to throw a caterpillar on sister Finn (and
sister Finn does not like caterpillars) while she was holding the
machete and well as a result she ended up whacking him in the neck
with the machete!!! Everyone of us scream and start freaking out and
he is just holding his neck with his hand and we all just freeze to
afraid to look at his neck! But everything was okay. No blood. He
lived. Haha don't freak out. He just had a little bit of a red mark
and a slash of dirt on his shirt from the machete. Oh my gosh it was
the funniest thing ever. Hahah

So after that we went home to change because it was time for dinner so
we rushed over to the members who were suppose to be feeding us(we
called her the day before to remind her) and we knock and she was so
excited to see us and had us sit down and tells us she was just about
to eat her late lunch... It was 5:30.... But with daylight savings it
was still super bright and looked like it could be noon.... Anyway
long story short we didn't end up having dinner with her because she
forgot I guess. So we are just chilling at the table watching her eat
her lunch at 5:30 and my companion and I are just dying! Lol lol so
funny

Thursday an older lady in our Ward was having a birthday party for
herself and invited us to come. So we go over and it's just a bunch of
older lady's haha. And it was so awkward! Lol like I don't even know
how to explain it, it was just such a weird thing. And so it was lunch
time and so we all sit down for lunch and the old lady's are talking
and well the birthday girl was trying to have everyone listen to a
song for her birthday so she had everyone stop talking and it was so
awkward. Haha then for lunch we had sloppy joes and beans and potato
salad.   My companion and I lean over to each other and we both say
how much we don't like beans or potato salad but we both get some to
be polite and well Sister Richards hurried up and ate the potato salad
to get it over with and the birthday girl thought that meant that she
loved it and made  her get a second helping and I was laughing so hard
because it was not very good. But all the old lady's kept saying how
great it was and got 2,3,4 and some got 5 helpings of it. We were just
in shock because our stomachs were doing back flips because it was
just not liking it. Haha finally after a while we got to leave to go
clean the windows at the soccer place. That was fun. That's when we
got that big group picture. Nothing else really happened that day.

Friday, Sister Richards had a physical therapy appointment so we went
to that and that took a long while and I was just waiting there while
she went back and did her thing. Although the mission nurse came with
us so I was talking to her. That was fun. Then for lunch we went to
the mission office and had a picnic with our district and that was
really fun. That's the other group picture I set home. Then we did a
bunch of weekly planning. Oh and that night we went to a less active
couple to share the new Easter message with them and while we were
leaving my tag accidentally fell off and I didn't know it, so when we
got home the man called us and told me I left my tag and when he
brought it to me the next day it had a bunch of bite marks from their
dogs:( so now it's pretty ruined and looks bad:( #idonotlikedogs

Saturday, was a great day! We started by contacting a bunch of
referrals and we actually ended up having short little lessons with
them! That was super exciting! And one referral was this super old man
and he had a really cool accent and well he was hilarious and creepy
at the same time. He let us come in, we had another sister with us,
and we were talking about religion and we have him the restoration and
he was just funny and kept telling us he wants to move to Utah so he
can have 3 wives and we told him over and over that that's not how it
works haha. Then we just kept talking and he was just very funny,
kinda had to be there again...sorry lol I'm not good at explaining.

Then we had our baptism  :)   D is 10 and just such a little
sweetheart. He lives with his grandma and she got baptized right
before I came into the area so it was exciting for him to finally get
baptized.

Then we had a few lessons, then we went to the D Family for dinner
and a lesson. They are the best, love that family! And it was just so
funny because they told me the Spurs and golden state were playing
while we were eating and of course I'm a spurs fan and they like the
Warriors only because of Steph Curry, but I was so excited because I
just had a good feeling that the Spurs were going to win. Anyway we
stayed there for a lesson while the dad was watching the game and
every so often the little boys would go and check the score for me and
I was just so pumped because they were doing so well! Then they came
and told me they won and I was just freaking out! I was so happy and it
was funny because they were all so sad and sour! Hahah I was loving
it! Then at church on Sunday I wore Spurs colors just to rub it in
because everyone always asks me if I like the Spurs when they find out
I'm from San Antonio and I was just so proud:) hahah #gospursgo

So yeah, that was my week:) the sun was out most of the week which was amazing:)
Well I love y'all to the moon and back and miss you guys tonsssss!!!!
"Don't forget to remember me"
Xoxo
Sister Batey

The woodpile...and machete's.

Kenzee and Sister Richards.

Um...does she actually work??

All the Elders and Sisters in her Zone.

Sister Richard's and McKenzee...with kids in her ward.

March 14th, 2016

Hey, what up, hello fam bam,

So again, I'm really sorry about last weeks letter! It was such a busy
and crazy day and I literally ran out of time! So I hope I can make it
up to y'all this week. Hehe, we will see  :)

So let me rewind to transfers which was Wednesday, March 2nd. Oh boy I
was just so nervous and did not want to leave my fairway village
family. I came to love so many people there and I just hate saying
goodbye. I feel like that is what my life has come to these days. I
come to really care for these people and then I just have to say
goodbye again. I don't know how much my poor little heart can take,
haha. So yeah, that was so very hard. And oh em gee, packing. Gross,
that was another part of leaving I did not want to do. And my sweet
companion, Sister Michaud packed for me!!! Isn't that just the nicest
thing ever?! I was just so overwhelmed and I had so much stuff that I
just kept walking around hoping mom would come do it for me,
especially since I knew you were just down in Sheridan. Hahah but
Sister Michaud came to my rescue and saved me big time!

So we got down to the mission office and it was exciting because a
bunch of missionaries were there and it was so fun to see so many old
familiar faces! I got to see my two homies from the MTC, Sister Nielson
and Sister Mortensen. And that's when I found out that Sister Finn and
I would be in the same district :) Anyway, so I was just hanging out in the
mission office and I got to see President and Sister Taylor which was
great because it was the first time we got to see them both since
before his heart attack. He looks great and it's just such a miracle
that he is already back and working hard again. They both are just
such great strong people and I hope I can be half as great as they
are. Love them!

So then Sister Richards, my new companion showed up and we were
outtie. Haha and fun fact, we have a new car to drive, she's driving,
not me, lol with my luck I'll never drive a day in my mission. So we
have a 2015 Nissan Rogue that we get to cruise around town in haha.
It's great! And we don't have TIWI, which is that box in our car that
the driver has to log into every time we get in and it yells at us if
she speeds and if she pops a curb and if we don't have our seat-belts
on and it tracks us so they know where we are, but yeah since our car
is new we don't have it which is great, especially when we are running
late to a lesson haha which is most of the time lol lol.

So then Sunday, March 6th, it was fast Sunday and our church meets at
11 and the building looks exactly like our old stake center, it's so
trippy haha. But anyway it was fast Sunday and my first Sunday in the
Hazel Dell Ward which means a bunch of new and strange faces and of
course I had to go up and introduce myself and bare my testimony, I
think I told y'all that. Oh dang I was nervous, not so much to bare my
testimony, that part is easy but just because I had no one that I knew
to look at. It was a tough day, I was definitely feeling overwhelmed
meeting all these new people, it's just so hard always being the new
girl. But it's the price I pay to receive the many blessings I get.
So then Sunday night we had a lesson at a members home, we go to
active members and we have them teach us the restoration so they can
feel comfortable when they have family or friends ask about the
gospel. It's really awesome and I've seen lots of good things come
because of it. Family you should try this, talk to your missionaries
about it and then return and report to me:) anyway we were at this
families home and after the lesson I was looking at their family
pictures up on the wall and one of the sons looked really familiar.
Like so familiar that I knew him from somewhere, I couldn't quite put
my finger on it. So I started asking them some questions about him and
it turns out he goes to byui and I actually met him at a party that I
went to my winter semester up at school. It was a rap battle at
mountain lofts and he was one of the guys that was rapping and he
actually won. Anyway it was just so funny to all of us that I knew
their son. #smallworld lol

So Monday, March 7th was so hectic. I promise I didn't do it on
purpose, time literally just slipped away. We went to Buffalo Wild
Wings with the sisters in my zone. As you can tell there are a lot
more sisters in this zone than my last zone, it's crazy to have so
many sisters but it's also nice. So we went to eat together then we
went to go shopping and we didn't plan on taking a long time but we
went to target to look for some skirts and they literally had nothing
so then we went to kohl's which was right across the street and I found
a cute black and blue pencil skirt that wasn't too pencil. Haha anyway
I was happy to find something because I'm literally so sick of all my
clothes!!! Then we had to go to bed bath and beyond to find sister
Richards a pillow because at the beginning of her mission she got in a
car crash and she really messed up her neck and her back so she has a
hard time sleeping because of it so the mission nurse told her to go
get a special pillow and well who knew there were so many pillows to
choose from haha. Then after that we went to a bunch of grocery stores
because they didn't have everything we needed at one store, that took
forever. Then a lady in the Ward needed our help for a relief society
project so we went over to help her. She was making a slideshow of
hands from every lady in the Ward so we told her our hands looked ugly
so she gave us each French manicures! And she is so good at doing it!
It was really exciting. Well little did we know it would take so long
and before we knew it, it was time to eat and get to our appointment
and I didn't write you or president Taylor and I was in a pickle. So
again, sorry. Love y'all!

So now fast forward a little to this week, Tuesday, March 8th. In the
morning we went to stop by a few people and then we had to get gas
because we had like 27 miles until we would run out. So we go to one
gas station and our card didn't work and sister Richards said it would
sometimes work at this one and sometimes it wouldn't so we went to a
different gas station. Well sad story the card didn't work again so we
had to call Elder Funk-the man in charge of our cars and gas cards. So
we call him and tell him our problem, so he tells us to come to the
mission office. #perksofbeingclose haha so it takes like 7 minutes to
get to the office and Elder Funk must think we are dumb because our
card wasn't working. He definitely thought it was user error, BUT that
was not the case. The card was not working because the company shut it
off because I guess the card has a duplicate, I'm not really sure,
it's not important haha. So He gives us his gas card and we go to fill
up at a gas station near by and well I don't know when they decided to
change the pumps but there was this suction cup thing on the pump,
I've never seen it before and neither had sister Richards and we were
struggling big time haha. We couldn't figure out how to work it.
Finally I just pushed really hard and it got pushed in far enough to
start working. Haha weirdest thing. So then we go back to the mission
office and everyone was there because they were having training for
the new missionaries who came in the week before. So it was a party
and it was now lunch time since it took us literally an hour to get
gas! Haha so they were serving lunch at the mission office for the new
missionaries and their trainers and since they had extra food we got
invited to stay and eat! #blessings #freefood and it was so fun
because I got to see sister Finn and Sister Michaud!!!:) oh it was
just so fun to see them again! And it was so fun to hear about fairway
village from sister Michaud oh and about her experience meeting MY
MOM!!!! Lol that was awesome. So I think they posted a few pictures on
the website. It was also fun to be with all the mission couples! They
have become like family to me and I just love them! So after lunch I
was talking with Elder and Sister Lambert about mom and dad coming
into town and I showed them the pictures and they were just so
shocked/surprised/happy for me. Although Elder Lambert was a little
sad that you didn't come to see him mom when you were in the parking
lot! Hahah he told me to tell you that next time you are in town to
come meet him! Hahaha so that was a really exciting day!

After that we went to go stop by a referral we had gotten and it was
really successful which is always exciting! She was home and we got to
get to know her and she told us to come back so we will be going to
teach her this week! I'm so pumped!!!:)

Then that night was the relief society enrichment activity which was
really fun. It helps me get to know the lady's in the Ward and we get
to have fun. They had dinner for us which was my fav, chicken Alfredo.
Then after that we went and visited with the bishop which was nice
because I didn't even know who the bishop was haha.

Wednesday we went to the mission office again and I got a package from
Dana Jorgensen and Amy Salisbury! Please tell them I got it and I love
it so much and I appreciate them thinking of me!!! It was such a great
surprise and made me so happy, thank you thank you:) and oh my gosh,
Rylan and Colby made me little books that they drew and colored and I
just about died! They were so precious!!,#imissthoseboys

Then that night we went to the young woman's new beginnings which was
so fun. Felt like I was back in young woman's again, lol. But the
reason we went was because my companion was singing. She is so awesome
and talented. It was awesome, I wish I was able to sing, thank
goodness they didn't ask me though!

Thursday morning we had zone meeting, that is with all the
missionaries in the picture I send home. So that was really good. Made
me really want to be better. And it also made me realize that I really
love my mission, although I just got transferred and I am still
getting to know people I just really love what I am doing. It's really
awesome the people that I get to meet and help. It's just such an
exciting adventure that I get to be apart of. Heavenly Father trust me
enough to let me do this and it's just so amazing. I love this work
and am so blessed.

Then we went to clean the windows at the soccer place, and the thing I
really enjoy about it is they play normal music! Haha although I don't
recognize any of it it's still fun to just listen to normal music that
I'm sure you guys sing along to. But dang you would think wiping
Windows would be easy, nope, it's actually very tiring and my poor
little arm gets so sore and well with me being so short I can't even
reach to the top of the glass, the elders have to come and reach up
high for me ahaha. It's pretty funny actually.

That night we had a member drive us out to Gresham because we went to
a baptism for someone that sister Richards taught in her last area. It
was really fun! I got to see a bunch of missionaries I knew and that
was exciting. And it was nice to be at a baptism that I wasn't
stressing about, I could just sit back, watch, and enjoy. I loved it!
:) and after the baptism, sister Davenport, the member who drove us
and she painted our nails Monday, took us out for shakes and they were
so good.  :)

Friday was weekly planning so we stayed inside most of the day.
Actually we went and helped a lady in sister Finns Ward move in. So
that was fun for about 3 seconds because it started raining and so we
were getting soaking wet while doing this. Then their was this huge
dresser and they thought it would be a good idea for me and Elder
Munger to carry it up the stairs to the apartment! Like what the heck?
Haha I'm so short and not strong but guess what, I did it. And I
lifted the majority might I add! Lol but my arms have been pretty sore
since we did that! Haha

Then that night David, the little boy who was going to get baptized,
was going to have his baptism interview and so we went over with the
district leader and he was sick! Poor little guy stayed home from
school because he had a fever!:( So sad story,  we had to push the
baptism back until this next Saturday. So fingers crossed it will
happen.

But even sadder story, because we had been teaching him all week to
make sure he was ready to get baptized, we also have gotten sick. We
pretty much stayed home and rested/planned all Saturday because we
woke up with sore throats, headaches, congestion. And today we are
still feeling pretty sick, but it's definitely getting better.

Sunday nothing much, we had Ward council so that was nice to get to
see a bunch of people and put names with faces. Then after church we
were about to go outside but it looked like a Tsunami!!!!! It was
raining so hard so then we thought  we'd wait it out but then it was
HAILING!!!!!! Like what in the heck!!!! Oh man, it was awful!!! Sister
Richards was a doll though and went to get the car and pull it to the
curb for me since I didn't have my raincoat. Hahah

So now today, you'll never believe what just happened! I just got a
massage!!! Haha sister Davenport offered to give us some because
that's what she does and so I literally just finished! It was
AMAZING!!! Oh my lanta, I was on cloud 9. I just love being a
missionary. The Ward is just so nice and loving and yeah, it was just
great. Sister Richards is getting hers now. Lol but yeah, it felt
great:)

Oh and my and Sister Richards are getting along great. Love her and am
so happy to be companions with her. And she's just the sweetest and
let's me barrow her clothes! Haha she knows how much I am sick of mine
and is just so willing to share! But yes, she is so awesome and we are
doing really well!

Okie dokie I really hope this letter is better than the one from last week.

I miss you all tons and love y'all to the moon and back!

Because I have been blessed by thy great love, dear Lord,
I'll share thy love again, according to thy word.
I shall give love to those in need; I'll show that love by word and deed:
Thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.

Xoxo
Sister Batey

McKenzee and her new Companion Sister Richards

McKenzee and the other missionaries in her zone

March 7th, 2016

Hey fam bam!!!!

So this week was so crazy, I got transferred into the Hazel Dell Ward
in the Van West Zone and my new companion is Sister Rebekah Richards.
She is from Holiday, Utah and had been out one month longer than me!
She is 19, went to Utah State for a year, is an artist, and is the
oldest of 5.

Dang I don't even know where to start. I got transferred and that's
basically where I'm at. Haha we live in a members home, in their
basement actually. We have the whole bottom floor to ourselves which
is nice. They are in Hawaii visiting family right now so I haven't
even met them yet. Haha.

Oh and my address is 6822 NE 17th Ave Vancouver, Washington 98665.

Thursday's in this area we do service at an indoor soccer place. We
clean their windows and in return we get to go and have our pdays in
their arena. It's a pretty good deal!

Omg, but my first day here was crazy! We went to this appointment and
they offered us some spaghetti and we thought oh yeah, that's fine,
you can't mess up spaghetti....WRONG! Hahaha they had beans in the
spaghetti!!!!! Omg I was dying, it was so gross! THEN for dinner we
had beans in our salad and also in our soup! Like what the heck!?
#beanoverload!!!!!! Oh boy I was so sick that night, I hate beans so
much!!!!

But this week was just crazy, I have met so many people and I am a
little overwhelmed because I still don't know anyone! Lol and church
was even crazier!!!!

I had to get up and bare my testimony and you would think I would be
use to it by now, but NO! Haha I was so nervous and I probably sounded
like a weirdo! Lol

So I'm really sorry, I know his letter is super short but today has been crazy!
Went to Buffalo Wild Wings and it was the bomb.com! I haven't been
there in like 5 months! Oh man I loved it! Then we went shopping at
target, kohl's, bed bath and beyond, and then we went grocery shopping
and then we had to go to a members home to help her with a project and
she ended up giving us French manicures!!!! Hahah it was pretty funny
but I'm so stressed out because I'm trying to hurry up and write this!

I still just can't get over the fact that mom and dad were in my home
and visited with sister Schott! CRAZY! Lol

Hmmm, oh yeah, so yes sister Finn and I are in the same zone and same
district so I will get to see her every Wednesday at district meeting
and on pday and when we do service at the soccer place. So that will
be super fun! I'm excited!

I love you all so much and I promise next letter will be better!!!!
Miss you guys tons!!!!!

Xoxo
Sister Batey

McKenzee and her new companion.

Everyone at BWW's.

And of course the manicure.