May 30th, 2016

Hey, what up, hello family and friends,

So transfer news: We are both staying.... Don't really know how I feel
about this... It's kinda bittersweet... I really like this area and
the people in it but I'm also kinda worn out here, I'm ready for a new
place but I guess that's not the Lords plan for me... And I was
honestly hoping for a new companion just because of how hard this last
transfer has been with her. But I guess I still have more to learn...
We will see how long I last before I go crazy haha... I am happy that
I will be in this area for the 4th of July though... The D Family
have already invited us over to have games and such, so that should be
fun:) Sister Finn is leaving though, and that is really sad because
she's helped me so much getting through these last 6 weeks. But she's
needed else where... She's going out to St. Helens in Oregon.
Hopefully we will serve around each other again.

So let's see, Monday night was fun because we went over to a family in
our ward to help them make posters for their daughter who got home
from her mission on Wednesday. She served in Jackson Mississippi which
is crazy because of all our family down in the area... She said she
served in west Monroe and I was like wth that's where my mom was
born!!! Lol

Tuesday we decided to make some cookies for our investigators and some
less actives. That was fun to take to them. Then that night we had our
dinner appointment but sister Finn was having dinner with a sister, she was
a recent convert in our last area and so after we finished dinner we
went to say hi. It was so great because I just miss her so
much! I was so happy to see my old homies! After that we went and we
had a few lessons with some of our lady's in a nursing home type
place. That was really awesome. Then we went and helped a couple start
packing up and boxing their things because they are getting ready to
move to a new apartment. It was fun to be able to help them out, they
are the couple in the picture I sent. I just love them:)

Wednesday we had district meeting and I had to give a training and I
was so nervous. But they said I did good, I'm just so glad it's over!
Lol after that we did some service for brother H. We helped him
do some yard work and it was honestly like working out because we were
putting dirt in a bucket, run down some stairs to put it around the
trees in the back yard. And then repeat. Haha it was tiring! Lol then
we had to carry these big bags of bark down the stairs to replace the
dirt we moved. It was a long process but it definitely helped him out
because he can't move very fast and because he would have been alone.
Lol so it was nice to help him. He kept telling us what hard workers
we were because we were working so fast. Haha it was sweet. Afterwards
we went and stopped by some people and ended up talking to this really
nice man and we shared a little bit about the Book of Mormon and he
told us we could come back to teach him more! So we are excited for
that! Then at dinner we had pie for dessert and I was just so full,
and after dinner we had a lesson and after our lesson they wanted to
give us pie but I was so full from already having some that I couldn't
get myself to eat it. So while they weren't looking I was going to
throw it away but I felt bad so sister D was nice and let me put
my pie on her plate lol. She ended up eating 3 pieces of pie that
night. Haha and then after that we were going to the D's
because they were having mutual at her house and they invited us. They
were making crepes and of course I could pass that opportunity up! I
haven't had a crepe in way to long! Lol so it was really fun to be
with the girls and to eat there food lol. But they weren't as good as
moms;)

Thursday, was a very stressful day. So stressful. Sister Davis woke up
sick, she had a pretty gross cold that gradually got worse and
Thursday it was really bad. We had one lesson early in the morning and
she hardly said 2 words because she wasn't feeling good. After our
lesson was over we went home and she went to bed and told me she
wouldn't be able to go out to our lessons and that we should find
someone to be my companion so she wouldn't get them sick. So as she
went to bed I was calling around to find somewhere for her to go and
rest while I also called around to find myself a companion for the
day. We had 2 lessons that I needed someone to go with me. And it was
also tricky because I couldn't just drop her off and then drive myself
to another members house. Neither one of us could be alone so I had to
plan things perfectly and get to our lessons on time. So I finally got
ahold of some people, sister Davis went to sister B's house to
sleep and sister D came out with me to be my companion. We
drove to her house and then sister D took us to drop off
sister V's. Then me and my new companion went to our lessons. Well
after all of the work I did I make sure things worked out our lesson
ended up not wanting to meet that day, so I was a little bummed. Then
we went to our next lesson and they weren't even home. So both of the
lessons fell through which was so annoying because I worked so hard to
make sure we got there. So after that we went and picked up sister
Davis and we went home and sister Davis went to bed and I watched a
movie, although it was so weird because I felt like I was wasting
time. It was strange.

Then the next day, same thing. She was still sick but since it was
Friday we had to plan the whole day so it was basically me planning
all day by myself. Then I had to do the same thing I did the day
before. Find somewhere for sister Davis to go and find me a new
companion to go to the lessons. Well I did, but then one of the 2
lessons fell through. It's so annoying. Why do they fall through when
I try so hard to make sure that I'm there. Ughhh I was just so sad and
annoyed and just so stressed.

Saturday was a crazy busy day, sister Davis was still sick, but she
wasn't as sick so she came out. We started our day out having
French toast at the D's then we went and helped a lady move in
with some other missionaries in our zone. Then we went to some lessons
and then we did some more service. Then some more lessons. It was so
crazy!!! But good because it went by so fast.

Sunday was good because the girl that got home from her mission spoke
and she did such a great job! The spirit was so strong and I felt a
new appreciation for missionary work. Oh and she is just so sweet! We
already get along pretty well and she's already asking when she can
come out with us. Haha it's great. Oh and we had 10 less actives at
church!!! That was super exciting!!!

And now today, Monday, we went shopping and then just got some doterra
oil massage. It was the best😍

Well I hope to hear from you guys soon!!!
Miss y'all and love y'all to the moon and back!!!
Don't forget to remember me:)

Xoxo
Sister Batey

Oh PS
Happy anniversary to the best parents ever!!!
I miss you guys more than you will know! 28 years is so long but I'm
so grateful that y'all stuck out the hard times and have made it his
long! I love love love y'all!! Have a great anniversary!!!!

Happy Birthday Dad!

McKenzee and friend.

McKenzee painting her nose...

Not sure what to say here...looks like home during conference.

Friends...

McKenzee and friends.

May 23rd, 2016

Hey,

So let's see what happened this week...

Well Monday during pday I don't remember if I told y'all but we went
to lunch again with M, our investigator, and the other Sisters,
Sister Finn & Crawley, Sister Finn and I taught her when we were
companions a while ago. So that was fun to do! She made us pull pork
sandwiches and they were so good! It was nice to just hang out with
her!

Tuesday we were busy all day in lessons, so that's exciting.
Wednesday was really fun because we had district meeting but
afterwards we had a district potluck! We all brought different things
so we could have a big breakfast. It was so great! We ended up having
pancakes but because I've missed having chocolate chip pancakes I
brought some chocolate chips and everyone was so excited! So we had
chocolate chip pancakes, fruit, and bacon. It was just so delicious! I
wish I took a picture to show you guys, the elders did a really good
job of setting everything up while me and sister Crawley made the
pancakes. I just kept thinking that you'd be so proud of me mom;) lol
then after lunch Sister Davis and I went to Sister D to help
her paint her office in her house. That was so much fun! I love
painting! I felt like a normal person! Ha so that took most of our
afternoon. And in between coats of paint I got to go jump on the
trampoline with her kids and play dead man, hahah it was so cute.
Makes me think of when I was little. It was fun!

Thursday we had our interviews with President Taylor! 

Friday, we had weekly planning and then some lessons. We had a lesson
at Sister T's house and then afterwards she played that piano and
organ for us. She is absolutely amazing!!! She has almost the whole
hymn book memorized and just plays and plays. It's just so great!!!
I'm so jealous but my little fingers couldn't handle it. Ha

Saturday we went and did some hard work for a family in another Ward.
And it was so intense!!! They wanted us to pull weeds and the weeds
were taller than I am!!! It was legit like a forest! And it was the
whole back yard and it wrapped around the whole house. Oh my, it was
so much! And it took us almost 4 hours!!! And we had 10 missionaries
helping us!!!! Oh it was crazy!!! But we did it and it wasn't raining
or the sun wasn't out so the weather was really nice. Then afterward
they made us ribs for lunch which was nice! They were pretty good.
After we were done though we were driving home and that's when it
started to rain sooooo hard! It was crazy! Like I don't even know how
to explain it. Like a fire hydrant exploded all throughout the sky!!!
Luckily we had lessons and didn't have to be out knocking doors all
day! And speaking of lessons, we put someone on date for baptism for
June 25th:) oh we were so excited!!!! It was awesome! Then that night
we had our Ward pinewood derby, there were no rules so you could add
anything you want on the car, so that was cool. We didn't have time to
make a car but we went hoping some less actives would show. This one
man in our Ward though put a battery powered fan on his car. It was
pretty fast to say the least. Haha. He ended up winning.

Sunday nothing fancy happened... Sister D came out with us to
our lessons so that was fun! But yeah, we had some really good
speakers in sacrament meeting so that was really exciting!

Well not much, to report on this week! Sorry!

I miss you guys so much and love y'all too the moon and back! <3


Xoxo
Sister Batey

At the Pinewood Derby...

 

More cars...

 

Back with Sister Finn for a day!

 

May 16th, 2016 - 7 months down!

Hello mother, hello father, hello everyone else lol

So this week was a legit roller coaster of events, thoughts, feelings,
and everything else.

YOU GUYS YESTERDAY WAS MY SEVEN MONTH MARK!!!!!!!!!
WOOP WOOP...ONLY 11 MONTHS TO GO!!!!!!

So last Monday we went and played soccer again and I was basically
just running up and down the field just so I could get some exercise
haha. Then after we went to the mission office to email and hang out,
sister Finn and I decided to work out(mostly because no body was
emailing me back!!!) so we went and ran a bunch of laps in the gym
then we did a workout with our workout apps. And boy we were going so
hard, we thought we were going to die but we are both so determined to
get in shape! Lol so I was pretty proud of myself:) haha

Tuesday we had a bunch of lessons and then we went out with Sister
T, she's the one where she will pull over her car when she sees
someone and ask them if they go to church and then give them a Book of
Mormon. Haha so we went out driving with her and talked to a bunch of
people that way. Haha and I was so proud of myself because I've been
eating really healthy lunches lately but I've been craving a cheese
burger but I didn't cave until sister T said she was hungry and so
she went through the drive thru at burgerville and well I ended up
getting one lol, I was so upset with myself but it was so good! Haha
then that night we went to a baby shower for a nonmember in the area.
She is married to a member and so we through her a shower because they
just moved here and we were trying to be friendly. So that was really
fun. We got to visit with a bunch of people in the Ward and it was
weird because it almost felt like home because I knew everyone and it
was like familiar and just comfortable. It was really fun.

Wednesday we had zone meeting which was really good. Then we had some
lessons then we went and helped a lady plant some flowers in her yard.
That was really fun because the sun was shining and we got to wear
shorts and I just loved it. Then we went and did some more service for
a lady in our Ward.

Thursday we went to clean windows which is always fun, and I got a
package from grandma!!!!:) it was such a nice surprise! THANK YOU
GRANDMA!!!! Love you:) then we had a bunch more lessons and S (a
laural who comes out with us) came with and I just love her because
she reminds me so much of Kylee and I just love being around her and
having normal conversations with her. It was fun! Then that night we
had a lesson and afterwards we got our make up done by the little 9 yr
old. She was so funny because she was begging us every week to do it
and finally we had time for her. Haha and then she ends up telling us
we have to pay her 25 cents! Hahaha oh man I was laughing because it
wasn't me that wanted to do it but I had to pay her! Haha the good
thing was I already had makeup on so it didn't show up as much. Poor
Sister Davis wasn't wearing any and I tricked the little girl in to
putting bright green eye shadow on her and she put bright pink blush
on her too. Oh man she looked funny! Hahaha

Friday we had a bunch more lessons and then we helped Sister T
plant some flowers and also we had to move some rocks of hers out of
her neighbors yard. And well it was hot and I didn't have gloves so
she gave me a sombrero to wear and she didn't have gloves so she gave
me pink socks instead hahah. So try and picture this, we had to go on
the other side of the fence (metal fence) and grab the rocks and throw
them thru the holes of the fence. It was the dumbest thing but her
neighbor was mad that her rocks were slightly in his yard. Anyway so
sister T is on one side of the fence and we are on the other and
I'm looking like a Mexican trying to cross the border with my sombrero
and pink socks hahaha. She took a picture, I'll have to try and get it
so I can send it to y'all.  It was honestly funny.

Saturday we went to down town Vancouver to help the van first sisters
move a lady's t-shirt business to a new studio.  And plus we got free
t-shirts:) and that is exciting because I love free shirts! Haha then
we had a lesson with a lady we are helping go to the temple and then
we went and helped weed an older couples yard. Although it wasn't nearly
as fun because the weather took a turn for the worse. It has been so
hot and sunny and amazing and then Saturday it dropped like 20 degrees
and started raining again. So now we are having a week of rain which
I'm no too excited about, and also it's cold again so I have to wear a
jacket again which is weird since its May!!! Haha so yeah, we were
weeding in the rain which was hard because it was very muddy. But it
was still better than knocking on a bunch of doors in the rain!
Then we were on our way to another lesson and this poor man ran out of
gas on the road so we hurried and pulled over and got out in the rain
and pushed this mans car so he could get out of the way. No one else
was helping him, poor guy. But it was okay because we helped him and
he was very happy, only spoke Spanish but still very grateful:)

So yeah, my week was pretty crazy! This week on Thursday we are having
interviews with president Taylor which I'm excited and nervous about.

Well I love you guys to the moon and back and miss you so much!!!!!
Have a great week!
And don't forget to remember me;)

Xoxo
Sister Batey

The missionary crew...

Kenzee getting her makeup done...

The end result...lol



May 9th, 2016 - Day after Mother's Day

Dear family,

Well I don't know what to say haha. Besides the fact that skyping
y'all was the cherry on top of the amazing Sunday we had at church!
Church was just awesome! We had so many less actives show up along
with some investigators which just makes me so happy! Then we had some
bomb lessons and they gave the moms (and missionaries) some bomb
chocolate... haha it was great. Oh and the weather was just perfect,
sunny with a cool breeze. It truly is beautiful up here in Vancouver
and I am enjoying it more everyday.

So after we got off skype we went to our dinner appointment with a
family in the Ward, the wife is from Texas so we get along real well :)
lol they smoked some pork and it was delicious, tried to make it feel
like home:) at least that's what they told me. And mom you'll be happy
to know that I only had a little bit of the food that they offered, so
I definitely wasn't full. Which I was very proud of, but then they
gave us cheese cake and then I got full... dang. I am really trying! Ha
after dinner we played a jeopardy game that they made, which consisted
of a bunch of church related questions. It was really fun and I
actually knew the answers! Haha then we went and heart attacked some
of the mothers in the Ward who are less active, investigators, and
members that help us out. It was a fun service and a nice way that we
can show our love to them.

Rewind to Tuesday night after dinner we went to do some service for a less

active lady in our Ward. That was fun because we got to wear normal clothes.
Wednesday we had district meeting then some service afterwards, we
helped the Van 1st sisters (Finn and Crawley) move a man into a new
apartment. While we were waiting for the stuff to unload I almost ate
a snail, elder Petitta dared me again and he was trying to figure out
what to get me if I did it but then we had to get to work. Lol isn't
it funny to see what I will eat for something nowadays. This time last
year I wouldn't think twice about it. Crazy how much I've changed lol.

Then dinner that night we went to Applebee's. It is so weird being in
normal places again. Music was playing and I just loved it, even
though I recognize barely anything lol. That night we had a lesson
with some cute less actives and they had just gotten ice cream so they
gave us some, it was sweet although I really didn't want anything.
Then they let there dogs out, usually they are lock in the cage but
they let them out because they were crying and this little black dog
snuck up on me, jumped on my lap, and licked my mouth while I was
talking. Gross gross gross. I wanted to throw up. Oh man, I just can't
stand animals lol.

Thursday was pretty boring. We went to clean windows and went and did
a bunch of findings and such.

Friday night was the Johnny Miller fireside and it was so awesome!!!
He's such a cool guy and had great stories and things to share. His
wife also. And the really exciting part was getting to see all my old
homies again. It was just awesome!!! I was so happy to see sister
Richards and Sister Michaud. It was just the best. Did you guys by
chance get an email from a lady with a picture of me and sister Davis?
Someone came up and offered to send a picture to you. Just wondering
if you got it?

After the fireside we went on exchanges with the sister training
leaders. So I went to their Ward and one of them came to Hazel Dell
with sister Davis. It was weird not driving again. Lol and honestly I
didn't really have a good time with them because it's always hard
getting thrown into a new area. I hate not knowing anyone. It makes it
tough. And plus I had to sleep in the bed of the other sister and I
just don't like that... Lol I find it pretty gross haha. And it was
just so hot in their room that I didn't even really sleep the whole
night because I was being suffocated by heat. Haha then we went out
and just knocked doors all day. *yay* this one man hears us know and
instead of coming to the door he just yells come in. Well that would
be awkward if we went inside and then he sees who we are and then
yells at us to get out. So instead of an awkward situation we yelled
and told him who were are but I guess he couldn't here us so he kept
asking if anyone was there, lol it was pretty funny at first. We ended
up just leaving lol. 

 

Oh something that was fun though that we did was
heart attack sister Taylor's house since she lives in the STLs area.
They was a lot of fun. Then it was cray because the people we had
dinner with that night, their son actually lives in fairway village,
my last area. And I actually did a lot of work with him. He was a big
help to S getting baptized. It was way weird, small world.
Then we switched back that night and then Sunday was Mother's Day:)

So yeah, not too much going on here. Lol
Hopefully this next week will be better.

I love you all so much and miss you tons!

Don't forget to remember me;)

 

Xoxo
Sister Batey

McKenzee and a little boy that likes her

 

 

Sister Richard, McKenzee and Elder Funk

 

A Sister Missionary and McKenzee.

 

May 2, 2016

Howdy ho family,

Hmm lets see, honestly not much has happened this week, so this may be
a little boring, I'm sorry in advance haha.

Well for starters, we had spaghetti 3 times this week lol. And then
the rest of the week we had enchiladas, tacos, and also HALIBUT!!! You
guys I ate halibut and didn't even throw up! Haha and something that I
think is crazy is the lady who fed it to us looks just like young
grandma Irene!!! Her husband isn't a member and him and I got along really
well. He's a Cracker Jack for sure but I'm working on him. My tummy was not
a fan of all the Mexican food haha. I just don't care for tacos but every time
I eat them I always think of dad and taco Monday night, EVERY Monday haha.
You would love the amount of tacos we get fed each week dad. Lol

Speaking of Monday, for pday we went to play soccer and boy I thought
I was going to die. Hahah it was so much fun but it was so tough, lol
I'm definitely out of shape but I really enjoyed it!
Tuesday we had a bunch of lessons which was good and we soft committed
M to baptism. He is just so awesome and has so much potential.
Please keep him in your prayers. He is just such a sweetie. So he went
racing this past weekend and so we were talking about racing and it
was funny because all my years of watching NASCAR payed off haha. And
it was so cute he offered for me to take his corvette for a drive and
he said he would take us to a race. Then we had to explain some of our
rules and boundaries but after my mission I'm totally gonna race his
corvette haha.

Wednesday we had district meeting with our new district leader and he
is so intense!!! Haha kind of intimidating. My companion and I gave
the restoration which was pretty good. And Sister Finn gave a training
and it was just so great! She honestly did such a great job and I shed
a few tears lol. Then after we went and did some more service and we
got to use a sledgehammer to break some cement blocks. That was a lot
of fun although so hard! Haha

Thursday we had 7 lessons!!!! Dang it was awesome but I was just wiped
out!!! Lol teaching takes so much out of me by the time I get home I
can barley keep my eyes open! But anyway we had a lot of lessons and
we had a lesson with our investigator Tina and we put her on date for
baptism!!!:) oh we were so excited! She is just so precious and calls
me her daughter because I've been teaching her for like 3 months! It's
so cute!

Friday we had weekly planning and it was so long and I was just going
crazy so we took a slurped break and we took one to Sister Davenports
daughter because she just had her tonsils removed and I promised her I
would bring her something. So it was a win win haha. And it was fun to
talk to someone else for the first time all day lol.. That night we
met with 2 less active families.

Saturday morning we had a missionary meeting with our Ward mission
leader. Then that afternoon we went and pulled some weeds for an older
couple in the Ward. It was fun! It was a really pretty sunny day and
we had a really nice breeze and it was lovely. Then we had a few
lessons and that night we had the adult session of stake conference.
It was fun because we got to see the missionaries in our zone. Anyway
they talked a lot about family in conference, both the Saturday and
Sunday sessions. They really focused on like the power of family
prayer and scripture study and I just can't wait for the day I get to
have that again with you guys!!!!:) they also talked about family
history work and going to the temple to do the work for the dead. It's
so important that we do temple and family history work because we are
doing work for those who have already passed and can't do the work for
themselves. It's such a blessing because when we do the work we are
helping them but also we are being blessed. It's great!!:)

But omg funny story!!!!! So yesterday a lady in our Ward said that she
thinks a dead bunny is in her house because it smells awful and her
cat is known to find Benny's and bring them inside. Haha so she asks
us to come over to try and find the bunny! So after conference we go
over and she was right, it smelt awful!!! Oh man, dad would have
passed out!!! Haha anyway, so we are searching for this dead rabbit
and I'm honestly a little nervous to actually find it because it's
dead!!! Lol but my companion ends up finding it underneath the fire
furnace thing lol. I will send the video of it! It was so funny but
also so sad!!! Haha that was honestly the only thing that really
happened that was exciting.

I'm so sad that I missed Gracees play!!! Hopefully I can see it soon!
This whole weekend I was thinking of her and wishing her luck! This
was the first play in 4 years that I missed! It's so sad because I
remember helping out every year and it was so fun! I hope it was
awesome, I'm sure it was!!

Well today we plan on going to play soccer again oh and also we are
going to lunch with our investigator that sister Finn and I use to
teach in fairway village and that I'm still teaching here in Hazel
Dell. So that should be fun! We are going to have a picnic. It's super
hot today, I was sitting outside in the sun because it was so warm and
I just love soaking up the sun:)
Love and miss you guys tons!!!! 6 DAYS TILL I GET TO SEE AND TALK TO
YALL!!! I'm so happy I might have a panic attack!!!! Hahah
Don't forget to remember me;)
Have faith, have hope, live like His Son, help others on their way.

Xoxo
Sister Batey

McKenzee's new companion, Sister Davis

McKenzee and friends

McKenzee and friends 2

April 25th, 2016

Hello my sweet family,

Honestly not much going on this week. I got a new companion. Her name
is Sister Davis from Prescott Arizona. She comes from a family of 5 I
believe, she is the 4th youngest. She went to Utah state for a year
before her mission and then a semester somewhere in San Diego,
California. She has been out for 5 months, so just a transfer after
me. She is very quiet... Lol although she told
me she loves to talk... She is a journalist which is pretty cool,
maybe I'll start to be better about writing in my journal. Haha

But anyway, last Monday after pday, Sister Richards and I got a call
from a member in our Ward telling us about a less active we were
teaching got in a motorcycle accident. So we went to the hospital with
some members to give him a blessing. It was pretty cool to go to a
hospital honestly. Haha I can't remember the last time I've been in
one! It was definitely a different environment than I'm use to!
Anyway, we went into the less actives room and poor guy completely
broke his leg. He had a bunch of metal stuff sticking out to help it I
guess. He told us what happened and I thought it was kinda cool, he
said he went out to drive his bike on Sunday and he passed the church
and thought to himself that he should go to church, BUT he decided to
keep driving. Well he ended up turning a corner too sharp and one
thing led to another and he broke his leg. Poor guy! Maybe this will
help him want to come back to church? We will see. Then we went to
visit a new move in and we were talking and he told me he use to live
in San Antonio and it turns out he knows Brother Ray Stadler and his
brother!!!! Small world!!!! I just thought that was so funny!

Tuesday we were super busy saying goodbye to people for Sister
Richards last day, that was hard. Then that night as she was packing
we put on face masks (like facials) and it was hilarious because the
one she put on made it look like she was sweating like a sinner in
church and also like her face was literally melting off of her face!!!
Oh man I was dying. I so wish I got a picture of it!!!  So then what
made it even funnier was we were carrying her suitcases, that weighed
like a thousand pounds, up the stairs and into the car and well she
accidentally crushed my hand and now I have a big blue bruise on my
hand haha. I guess it's just something to remember her by.

Transfers were Wednesday and it was crazy when we pulled up because it
was basically all elders. Not very many sisters were getting
transferred. But with my luck I did. :/ it was hard. I was not ready
to be separated from sister Richards. She definitely became like a
sister to me....

So that's when I got sister Davis. And I actually am driver. It was a
little weird to be driving at first but it's like riding a bike! I
have missed it so much. And I actually got a new car. It's crazy! It's
a red 2016 Toyota Corolla! And it only had 16 miles on it when I
started driving it! It's great! Lol I definitely enjoy not having to
be the one in the rain backing up! Haha

Saturday I was asked to give the baptism talk at a little girls
baptism in our ward. So I was a little nervous for that. I ended up
getting a backpack and filling it with cans which represented
different sins and then I explained how after baptism we are free from
all the sins. It ended up being really cute. So that was fun. And then
that family sat with us in church and the 8 yr old that got baptized
has little twin siblings, a boy and girl and they are adorable!!!!!
They are like 5 years old and a handful so we help out the mom by
entertaining them during sacrament. Haha reminds me a lot of being
back home and helping out the different kids. The only sucky thing is
we can't hold them so that stinks. But it's still fun. I miss little
kids!

Oh man I almost forgot! So do you guys know who Johnny Miller, the pro
golfer is? Well president Taylor somehow knows him and he is coming on
May 6th to give us a fireside! So I'm pretty excited for that, ahaha
even though I don't even know who he is really. It should be good
though!

AND YES OMG ONLY 13 MORE DAYS TILL WE GET TO SKYPE!!!!! I am just so
pumped!!! It cannot come fast enough!!!! Oh it's going to be so
awesome!!!! I was thinking about 2:30 my time? We have church at 11 so
that might be the best time? Just let me know what your schedule looks
like!

Well I miss you guys so much and love y'all to the moon and back!!!!

Don't forget to remember me;)

Xoxo
Sister Batey

McKenzee and Beth standing in the same spot...at different times.

 

All the missionaries from McKenzee's area.

All the missionaries from McKenzee's area.

April 18th, 2016

Hey guys,

Well my heart is broken, again. Transfer letters came on Saturday and
Sister Richards is leaving:( It just makes me so sad because I just
love her to pieces and I want her to stay!!! And also because I never
ever get to keep my companions:( I'm constantly getting switched
around and it's just so annoying because we've been getting along so
well and we've been having such great success. Uhhh, it just keeps
getting harder and harder to say goodbye to people. And plus I really
need her. She's been such a great companion and has been my rock this
transfer. We get along so well and it just is so lame she is leaving.
We thought for sure she'd stay, but I guess I have the worse luck
ever. But I do know that we will be long time friends, so that helps
with the broken heart at least a little bit.

Okay well this week was like any other, crazy and busy. We went hiking
Monday and that was just so awesome! It was so beautiful and I'm so
happy we were able to do it while the weather was nice. After the hike
we were just pooped so we just laid on Sister Davenports couch and
watched Meet the Mormons. That was nice to feel like a normal person
and watch a somewhat less churchy movie. Haha #imissnormalmovies Then,
cool story, I'll do my best at explaining it. So then we had to go
grocery shopping and we went to Winco and get all we need and we walk
to the parking lot and we forgot where we parked so we went down an
isle (the wrong isle, this was the miracle) and we see Sister
Davenports van (haha kinda funny since we were just with her) so we
decide to put a few sticky notes on it and raise up her window wipers.
Well as we started putting some sticky notes on the back we see their
iPhone home phone sitting on the back fender or whatever it's called.
So we figured she must have somehow drove all the way to Winco with it
on the car. So we take it because we didn't want anyone stealing it
and we were going to there house for dinner in a few minutes, win win.
So we go and hurry and drop our groceries off at our house and then we
start driving to the Davenports for dinner. Little did we know what
was going on behind the scenes haha.... So apparently her kids had
used the phone to call one of there friends while they were outside
and since they were playing basketball outside they just set the phone
on the back of the car instead of running it inside. Then Sister
Davenport had to run to the store to get some stuff for our dinner and
she had no idea it was there. We later found out that Carson(her
oldest son, reminds me a lot of Eathan) jumped on his bike to try and
chase after his mom/the phone but she was already to far gone. So then
when she returned home the kids were freaking out because the phone
was no longer on the back of the car. So then they all started to
panic because what are the odds that the phone would actually make it
to the store and back. And for someone to not to steal it? Anyway,
since it's an iPhone you can turn the tracking device on so you can
find your phone so that's what Sister Davenport did haha. So then as
we are driving to her house we see her drive past us because she was
trying to tract down the phone that we were bringing back to her. Lol
so we called her and she was just so relieved that we had it. Hahaha
it was so funny but for her and the kids it was the complete opposite.
She later told us that she was praying so hard that she could find the
phone and what do ya know. #hehearsourprayers So I really hope that
made since because it was actually a really good lesson to them in
many ways.

Tuesday we went to see M the mechanic and he is just a little
sweetie. We didn't get to have an actual lesson with him because he
was so busy at work but we showed him the gospel library app which he
just loved and was really excited about. Then we did some service for
a lady in our Ward and we ended up having a really nice breakthrough
with her, so that was bomb. Then we went and read the Book of Mormon
with one of our less active ladies in the Ward(I'm sending a picture
of her, she's the one in orange). After that we went to the church for
the relief society activity/dinner. It was nice. It was a Cinco de
Mayo theme so we had a bunch of Mexican food(yay:/) And the Spanish
branch came and they did some dancing performances, something you
definitely would see down at the river walk. Made me feel at home/miss
Texas. But it was amazing!

Wednesday we did some more service which consisted of more digging and
pulling out tree stumps!! Yippee hahaha. Sister Richards, Sister Finn,
and myself actually managed to pull one out all on our own with no
help from the elders. It was definitely an accomplishment. Lol it was
a little colder this time around so we were wearing coats this time.
Which turned out fine because we started getting hot after a while.
Then while we were taking a break, the elders found some more worms
and they tried throwing them into my mouth hahah. But Sister Richards
was the one to eat one this time! It was so funny! She's a champ
because this one was huge! Haha and made the biggest crunch when she
bit into it! Oh man we were dying. Then our district leader, Elder
Munger ate one! He was less of a champ because he started freaking out
hahah. It was the funniest thing ever. What. A. Weenie. Lol then we
had to run straight to dinner because we were running late and we were
still in our service clothes so we had to change in the car in the
driveway of the people's house. Hahah

Thursday was my 6 MONTH MARK!!!! Wow, I just am in shock because
that's a heck of a long time!!! I feel like it's flown by and then at
the same time I feel like it's been the longest 6 months of my life!!!
So can I come home now? Haha
So we had Zone meeting Thursday and that was good. Sister Richards and
another elder sang and it was so beautiful, although she would say
otherwise. Don't listen to her, haha it was so great! She is so
talented! Then after we went to clean windows and then we went and saw
some people. And it was so cool. The people that we helped moved the
week earlier, I think I told y'all... The man is less active and he
lives with his wife and mother in law who aren't members. Anyway we
stopped by to invite them to the potluck talent show on Saturday and
they were so happy to see us. When we were moving we couldn't tell if
they were interested and so we gave it a few extra days. Anyway we
stopped by and the wife and mother in law were so excited. They were
like, where have you guys been?? We've been waiting for you!!!! It was
so so awesome:) then we went to the Davenports again because it was
Brother Davenports birthday so we came to say happy birthday! And we
also cleaned their dishes haha. But they were so sweet they made us a
cute candy poster. Oh it was just the best!!! I sure do love them.
Then we went to 2 less active houses after dinner and invited them to
come to the pot luck talent show as well.

So then Saturday we helped a man move in the elders Ward and it was
hilarious. While we were cleaning out this mans house we found a blue
and purple wig and we had the elders wear them! Oh. My. Lanta. Hahaha
we were dead!!! Literally the funniest thing ever. They were totally
enjoying them! Way more than we expected. I wish so bad I had a
picture but they wouldn't let us. Then after that we went to a lesson
with a lady we are trying to get to go through the temple! It was just
a great lesson and the spirit was so strong! She's just the cutest
little lady ever. Love her. Then we went to lunch with a lady in our
Ward to Panera. #thatsmynewfavoriteplace then we went to a few
different lessons. And we were about to go to the pot luck to set up
but we had to check the mail just in case and that's when I died.
Transfer letters. Worse thing ever. Ugh still makes me sad. :'(
The pot luck talent show was such a success!! I definitely recommend
it to you guys! Lol we had such a good turn out! We had the less
active man and his wife and mother in law show up and that was huge!
The man was so overwhelmed by the spirit he was almost in tears, he
just kept saying that he feels like he is home! I was so happy! So we
are hopefully going to start teaching his wife and mother in law! So
please pray for that! And we also had a bunch of less active families
come which is a huge step!!!! And the talent show was amazing and so
funny! A guy in the Ward has a band so they played and it was great!

Sunday was also a really good day because M the mechanic, our
investigator came to church!!!!:) along with a bunch of less
actives!!! It was so so great, and plus Mike stayed for 2 hours!!! Oh
it was exciting! Although the talks in sacrament meeting were really
strange and we are worried that he didn't like it... Oh we are just
praying that he will remember the spirit that we felt! Please pray for
that too!

Then after church we went to a barbecue with our district. Some of the
people that we did service for wanted to celebrate and thank us so we
had burgers and that was fun. But then after wards we had another
dinner appointment and so we had two dinners and I was literally so so
sick to my stomach, thought I was going to die. Then we had an
appointment and she gave us ice cream sandwiches:( oh my lanta. I
really felt dead. #toomuchfood

So yeah, haha that was, for the most part, my very crazy busy week. Hahah
I love you guys so much and am so grateful for each one of y'all and
the support y'all give me. Hope to hear from y'all soon!

Oh and don't forget to remember me;)

Xoxo
Sister Batey