McKenzee's Missionary Moments: January 2nd, 2017

Hello and Happy New Year!!!!!!!

I can't believe that it's already 2017!!!!! What a great year 2016 has been! It's crazy to think and say that I have spent a full year of my life as a missionary teaching others about Jesus Christ and His gospel and the happiness and peace we receive from following Him. I'm so grateful for the past year that I've been given to teach others about the Book of Mormon, which is another testament of Jesus Christ. I just love it so much and I love how close I've grown to Him as I've studied it along with the Bible. I love that I've been able to strengthen my relationship with my Father in Heaven this past year through prayer. Prayer is the best and I feel so close to Heavenly Father through many many many prayers. lol. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I love my Heavenly Father. I love this gospel with all of my heart. If I could, I would give everyone I know and love a copy of the Book of Mormon with my testimony because both the Book of Mormon and my testimony are the most valuable things to me. My life has forever changed because of Jesus Christ and I'm so thankful for the opportunity I've had to serve my fellow men here in Washington and Oregon. What an amazing experience I've had and I pray that I will continue to have amazing experiences that will not only help me but help others to find joy, love, and hope. I love you all and am so grateful for the love and support from each of you. Here's to 2017, let's make it a great year:)

Also cannot believe that I only have 4 months (from today) left of being a missionary in the mission field!!!! See y'all soon;)

Well so much has happened since my last letter!

Skyping the family is still one of the highlights of my week, although it was last week haha. Oh well. I just love y'all!

So the rest of Monday night us Sisters spent packing because out of the 4 of us, 3 of us were leaving Mt Scott and only 1 Sister was coming in! So it was pretty crazy trying to make sure we got all of our stuff and didn't take anyone else's stuff. Mostly I just spent Monday moving all of my stuff from our bed room into the living room because I'm the absolute worse at packing! Hahah

Tuesday we lots to do as well and because the best people live in my mission Bethany was able to come help me pack again:) haha she is seriously my life savor! Although now that I'm all the way in St Helens she won't be able to come help me if I get transferred again!!!! Which I'm thinking will probably happen with my luck. I will for sure have two transfers here training my new companion and then they will probably transfer me my last transfer because they usually have the newbie stay in the area. Which is fine, I'm just really tired of packing (or having someone do it for me) and then unpacking just to pack up again! So we will see.

The rest of Tuesday we were visiting and saying goodbye to people in the Ward which was so sad because we just had Christmas! And also because I was only here for one transfer and I was really starting to love it!!!!! It was really sad to say goodbye, if I'm being honest. I hate it so much. Saying goodbye is my least favorite thing and it seems we do it a lot being a missionary.

We went to this one family and I sent you a video, but their little daughter is tiny! But she's in some type of karate and she is really strong and so she pinned me and Sister Crawley and there was no way for us to get out of it! Hahah it was the funniest thing ever! Then we went to teach a Book of Mormon class which was pretty awkward but we made it out alive haha. After we said goodbye to a few more people that we were teaching we went home and finished packing! It's seriously such a chore! All of the last minute things to pack are so annoying.

Wednesday we got up and packed our car with all of our stuff and my suit case was probably 150 lbs, no joke. I couldn't even carry it down our stairs, and the elders even had a hard time getting them into our car. Hahah it was hilarious but also not because I have too much stuff. But I use everything so I can't give anything away. So we get to Vancouver and missionaries start arriving and I got to see Sister Hibbard and a few other of my companions but I was just really nervous because we were about to find out who we would be training, so just letting you know Dad, I was stressed to the max and that's why I didn't stay longer to talk! Hahah my apologies! I will do better!

Anyway, so my companion is Sister Bevan. Sounds like Evan but with a B in front. She's from Blackfoot Idaho and she just graduated high school and now here she is. She's really quiet and she's never been on an air plane except when she flew to Portland. Shes the 3rd sibling out of 4 and yeah. She's very different than me, very much a country girl but things are okay.

When we got in our area, we had to drive for soooo long, we unpacked and such and then tried to figure out our area Book (daily planner) but for whatever reason it wasn't working and so it was just a little stressful because we weren't sure if we had lessons or what since we were both new. Finally after a few days it started working thank goodness. We were able to meet a few people which was good but we still have so many more people to get to know! This Ward is a little bigger in numbers than my last area but I think geographically it's smaller. I'm not positive so don't quote me haha.

Training a new missionary is so different though! It's like a test because I have to remember how things happened 14 months ago and I dot remember all that well haha. I just hope I'm teaching her how to work hard!

For our new year we had to be inside our apartment starting at 6 so we could be safe and we did weekly planning all evening. It went pretty well. We were able to get more familiar with people's names and we were able to schedule some lessons which is super good! Being busy is the best thing ever! Hahah

Sunday we have 1 o'clock church which is the best! As a missionary it's so great because the day goes by so quickly! So we had fast and testimony meeting and of course we bore our testimonies since we were both new but also because my time is running out to bear my testimony! I only have 3 fast Sundays left!!!!! WEIRD!!!!!

But anyway, we met soooo many people and it was a little over whelming because I'm awful at names but for the most part it was good. Just a little different but I think I'm sorta getting the hang of things. And by sorta I mean, I'm not wanting cry anymore hahah. At least today!

But no things are okay! I'm excited for the new year and what is in store! Things should get better as time goes by and as I start to learn more people in the Ward! St. Helens is a cute little town and I'm intensely looking for scenes and places from the twilight movie hahaha.

Well I love you guys to the moon and back ❤️

And I miss y'all TONS!!!!

Please don't forget about me;)

"Have faith, have hope, live like His Son, help others on their way."

Xoxo

Sister Batey