Monday, February 27, 2017

February 27th, 2017

Hello family, 
 
Well what a week. 
 
Anyway, this week went by so fast! 
Tuesday we had our zone conference with a few of the other zones in the mission. This time is was in Rainier so we didn't have too far to drive which was nice. The meeting was so great! I learned a lot and I really enjoyed the spirit. And it was fun because we got a picture with President and Sister McAteer and as you can see everyone wanted to be in the picture haha kinda crazy but I really wanted a picture with them. Sister Foster gave her departing testimony and its just so crazy to see her going home because I know I'm next. AHHH! 
 
After our meeting we drove back to St. Helens, which is about a 45 minute drive, but I can make it in about 35 minutes which I'm pretty proud because I have a little box yelling at me when I speed haha. Anyway we drove straight to community meals, we didn't have time to eat dinner before which is what we usually do, so we go to that and it was so fun, as always, although it was hard because I was starving and I had to serve people. Lol. After that we had like 5 minutes to grab a bite to eat before we had to go to our next lesson. We went to burgerville then we went to the family history center with R, our recent convert and did some family history with him. It was really awesome, he seemed to really enjoy it! And I was able to see people that I am related too, so that was really cool. Me and President Monson are 15th cousins or something like that. Haha pretty cool! 
 
Wednesday we had district Meeting and I actually wasn't asked to do anything, which was surprising haha, so I enjoyed just listening and learning. After that we had a few people to stop by. Then we went with the other sisters to do some service for a lady. We were helping her tie her quilt together. So that was fun. 
 
Thursday we drove to Vancouver to go to a dr checkup for Sister Bevan then after wards we went to Chick-fil-A for lunch!!!!!!!! Ahhh it literally was the highlight of my week:) it was so good!!! I seriously miss it so much! Can't wait to eat there whenever I want! Haha
 
Then after that we went to see some people in our Ward and they took us out to see their horse! So that's the picture of me with him. His name is cloud and he is such a nice horse. But it's so weird because it literally would just lick and lick and lick, it was like a dog! It was crazy! Hahah so weird! But it was fun! 
 
After that we met with our investigator B and she told us she doesn't want to get baptized anymore which is super sad but she still wants to meet with us so we will see how that goes. We are looking for some more people to teach! So pray for us! 
 
Friday, well you know how that went... take that out. 
 
Saturday was busy we had things back to back. Which is awesome! We met with our new investigator T, haha it was pretty funny. He answered the door and said he wasn't feeling good so I asked if we could do anything for him, he jokingly said clean my table and I took that as an invitation and walked right in his house lol. So we started cleaning off his table and he sat down and was telling us all his problems and then in the middle of the table he had a bowl and it had some weeds in it and I thought to myself oh maybe it's not what I think it is, but he grabbed the bowl and was like don't steal my pot! Haha so unfortunately it was what I thought it was. Lol. So we keep cleaning and then he takes off his shoe and sock and he started putting medicine on his big toe. He told us he cut it down too short and it was really hurting him. Then we held up his foot and asked me if his toe was red. Ew, gross. Haha I just said no so he would put his foot down. And mind you this is a 60 something year old man. Haha gross. We were able to share a scripture with him and it was good. He's a lonely old man and we are really thinking the gospel can bless him. Hopefully! 
 
Then that night we went tracting to practice because we had some time and we were looking for a miracle and we met G, she said we could come back and it was just really awesome! We went back last night and she's not interested but we were able to teach her the restoration so maybe one day! 
 
So that's pretty much my week. Nothing too big or special. I'm very tired and just need a nap. Lol. Currently we are at the stake center debating whether or not to go on our hike because it's raining and snowing. It keeps going back and forth lol. So they are making pancakes:) I doubt they will be as good as moms lol. 

Well I'm so grateful for this gospel and the fact that families can be together forever. I'm so so so blessed to have an eternal family and for the love and support that y'all give me! I couldn't do it without y'all. I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and for the atonement that He performed for not only me, but for all of us. I'm grateful that I'm never alone through the hard times and I'm grateful I can share the good times with hose I love. This gospel is true and I know that he Book of Mormon is another testament of Christ and can bring us closer to Him. He is the light and life of the world. Oh how blessed we are. 
 
I miss you all SO FREAKING MUCH.
AND I LOVE YALL TO THE MOON & BACK ❤❤
 
Have the best week ever! 
And don't forget to remember me;) 
 
"Have faith, have hope, live like His Son, help others on their way." 

Xoxo
Sister Batey
 
 
Having fun...

The zone with President.

A blast from the past...a friend from the MTC.

It's what they do best...

Someone is happy to drive...and see the sun.

Happy day at Chick Fa La 


And the licking horse...
 

Monday, February 20, 2017

February 20, 2017

Monday, February 13, 2017

February 13th, 2017

Hello hello! 
 
So I would say happy Valentine's Day BUT tomorrow is something even more important that I will be celebrating, my 16 MONTH MARK! Oh. My. Gosh. Literally cannot believe that it's been 16 months! Some days feels like years, some days I feel like I just got here and still have not a clue what I'm doing haha. But all is well:)
 
So this week has felt soooo long! Tuesday we went to a farm with the sisters and elders and we cut down some bushes and stuff. Nothing too crazy. Then we went to a lesson where we had to wear face masks because this lady was sick and honestly I was happy to wear it because on top of her being sick her apartment smelt like rotting death and I honestly felt very very sick. So the mask was able to block some of the stank out, also I put a piece of minty gum in my mouth to help. It was honestly so so bad. I'm soooo done with these places that smell so bad! It's really annoying and I'm excited for the day when I get to control how my surroundings smell. I'm so grateful that mom kept the house smelling so nice and fresh:) haha it's really the little things in life:) lol lol 
 
Wednesday we had to get all ready for the new Sister. Sister Carrisoza is now training a new missionary. They seem to get along very well, yay for them lol. Anyway, she is from Utah, oh and we have He same first name! Small world lol. She has really cute clothes and it makes me remember way back when hahaha. I'm so tired of missionary clothes lol. It'll be exciting when I can wear normal clothes again:) so we decorated the house and made sure it was nice and presentable. 
 
Omg but that afternoon we had a pretty awful experience with a man we tracked into. I hated it. He was so mean and crude and it was so bad. People are mean but it was cool because I just kept smiling and was trying to be the nicest I could be. And he just kept saying I feel so bad because you're so nice. So it was good that he noticed. 
 
Thursday morning we went to have some hot chocolate with our investigator, R. It was nice:) Then we had interviews with our mission president in Rainier. So we had to drive about 45 minutes to get there and of course we had to stop and take photos of the beautiful view of the city. It was so pretty and it wasn't raining so I had to use this valuable time haha. Then we get there for our interview 15 minutes early like they told us and he comes out of someone else's interview and he says he's hungry and wants lunch. Haha so we ended up going out to lunch with President and Sister McAteer, our zone leaders, our district leader and his companion, and our sister training leaders! It was kind of weird because it's not everyday that we get to eat with them! It was really fun too because we never really get to be with other missionaries since we are so far apart from each other! It was good! So then we go back to the stake center for interviews and my interview was pretty good. It was pretty long, I asked him a bunch of questions and vice versa. Of course there were tears haha from me. Also I got a blessing. I feel better since that happened. I also talked to him about where I will end my mission and I didn't get a definite answer so I have no idea. Sometimes he tells people, sometimes not. So in 5 weeks we will see where I will be. Lol 
 
That night we had a lesson and as you can see, I got to hold a snake. It tried chocking me but I didn't let it hahaha. Then we went to our relief society activity and it was chocolate appreciation night so we had all things chocolate, even a chocolate fountain. It was soooo good hahah πŸ˜‹
 
Saturday was insane. We were so busy from the time we woke up! We had some service then the baptism for R!!:) it was so awesome! And Sister Nilsson got to come back for it so I got to see her and I was SOOO happy! Literally so awesome! It was good. And lots of the Ward came which was the best. It was awesome to see R get baptized. The spirit was so strong at his baptism:) 
 
Then we had another service with the elders and sisters. Then we had to drive back out to Rainier for our adult session of stake conference. And it was amazing! Such a great session! They had a bunch of converts speak and I just loved it! Learned a bunch too. Then afterwards our Ward has a tradition of going out to eat in Longview after the conference and they really wanted us to go with them but it's out of our zone so we figured we couldn't go. But they were persistent and so we told them they had to ask our mission president for permission, and since he was at the conference they went straight up to him and asked him and invited him and his wife! Haha so we end up getting permission and we all go out to dinner with our Ward and president and Sister McAteer! Haha so twice this week we got to eat with President! Haha it was really fun! We really enjoyed spending time with him and with our Ward:) 
 
So that's pretty much our week:) oh and today B came up and visited and it was SO GREAT! I miss my homies so much! Also we went to see Bella's house from twilight and we went to the docks and it was beautiful! I miss the water sooo much and I just can't wait to go on a boat again:) 
 
So I love this gospel. I love missionary work. I love how the atonement can give us strength through anything we go through, literally anything. I've seen it so many times in my life, especially since being in the mission. I love reading the scriptures and learning about my Savior. I know that He died for us and I know that He lives today. I am grateful for my eternal family and for all of my many blessings. Thanks for all the love and support. Can't wait to see y'all in less than 80 days! I promise I'm not counting hahah
 
Miss you guys TONS!
Love y'all to the moon and back!!!!!! 
 
Don't forget to remember me;) 
 
"Have faith, have hope, live like His Son, help others on their way." 

Xoxo
Sister Batey
 
Bella's house from Twilight.

Kenzee wearing her mask.

B came to see Kenzee again.

Thumbs up!

All the sisters with the Presidents wife.

Who is this girl that is holding that snake?

Beautiful day by the Gorge.

R and the sisters at his baptism.
 

Monday, February 6, 2017

February 6th, 2017

Hello hello! 
 
Okay yes, we got transfer news and yes you read it right! I'm very proud of you dad, you are learning the ways of a mission:) Me and Sister Bevan will be staying here in St. Helens and I will finish out her training. One of the sisters we live with in the other St. Helens Ward will be getting transferred to Vancouver and she will be companions with Sister Finn!!!! I'm so jealous! Haha she's killing her! (That's what we call people who are going home, they are dying and their companion is killing them. Mission humor) Anyway, the other Sister who is staying, Sister Carrisoza, is staying here and will be training a new missionary. That will be nice to have someone else who is training. Now I won't be going as crazy! Haha. Plus I really like Sister Carrisoza, we get along really well and she keeps me sane. She's crazy though, we have a good time together! We are really sad though to see Sister Sitala leave! She is so great and we love her! She served in Fairway village as well so we talk about all our favorite people, it's been so much fun! So I'm sad she has to go. Also I'm not over the moon about staying here. I mean it's fine and all but I just miss the city, nothing crazy or exciting goes on out here in the boonies. Also I miss Portland and Vancouver. Those are the best places! I'm hoping next transfer (my last transfer) I will get to go back to either Vancouver or Portland. I'm gonna beg President to let me go back to one of my old areas to die! Haha we will see how that goes! 
 
Tuesday we drove to Vancouver for our Zone Conference. It was a lot of fun! But it was hecka weird because it was the church building that I would bike to every week when I was living with P! We drove right by her neighborhood which was so weird, felt like I was coming home! I wanted to go to her house so bad!!! But we had to go to our meeting. It took us about an hour and a half to drive to Vancouver. But we made it safe and sound:) And it was seriously such a great meeting!!!! The spirit was so strong and I just loved it!!!! Learned so much and had a lot of fun! Oh and I got to see Sister Crawley! That was fun! The way they divide the mission though for the meetings is weird though. It's not the whole mission and so of course all my favorites are in the other zones so I didn't get to see Sister Finn or Sister Hibbard. I was sad about that. And honestly I probably won't get to see them before they go home! This next transfer is their last one!!!!! :( But at this meeting at the end all the missionaries who are going home, (they are going home tomorrow) they get up and give their departing testimonies and all of them I have served around since I've come out and it was just sooo crazy to see these missionaries going home! And it was just so weird and it was just becoming more of a reality for me that I'm soon going to be up there and I started freaking out a little bit! Don't get me wrong, I'm excited to see y'all but I just can't believe that my mission is so close to coming to an end. I still feel like a brand new missionary most days!!! It's just crazy! But the meeting was great! Learned a lot:) also we have car checks and the cleanest car gets a prize and we won!!!:) haha it was kind of exciting! We got a gift card to Taco Bell! Lol. I wish it was any thing but food! Oh well, it was exciting! We spent a little chunk of our time Monday cleaning it so I was really proud:) 
 
Wednesday we went and did some service for a lady in the other sisters wards. It's awesome living with another set of sisters because we get to do services together! Anyway, we went and helped this lady paint her pantry and organize one of her rooms. It crazy how much you can enjoy cleaning when it's not your house and your chores haha. Then that night I had a cool teaching experience with my trainee. We had a few hours of findings and no one we were stopping by was home and to be honest I was getting pretty frustrated. So I told Sister Bevan we needed to pray and ask Heavenly Father where He needed us to be or who He wanted us to talk to and after she said the prayer I asked her what she was hesitant a little at first but I told her to really pay attention to what she felt and she looked around and I noticed a house that we could go to if she didn't say anything and after a few more seconds she looked at this house and she said to go there. So we did and we were able to talk to this girl about the Book of Mormon and ended up giving her one. She wasn't interested at the moment but she had friends who were members and was more willing to talk to us because of that. Anyway nothing big happened but it was just really cool to see something like that when you follow the promptings of the spirit!:)
 
Thursday we went to community meals and I totally forgot to tell y'all about an experience I had a few weeks ago. A man who goes there to eat came up to me and a lady that works there that I was talking to and he grabs my shoulder and looks at the lady I'm talking to and tells her, "I know her parents. Her parents are thieves. You know why I know this?" I'm kind of freaking out at this point like what the heck is this man talking about?! Lol. He goes on to say, "When they were making her they stole the light from the stars and put them into her eyes." Then he walked away laughing. Hahaha it was soooo creepy! Lol lol 
 
Friday was weekly planning and during the middle of it we were going crazy so we went to grab some frozen yogurt real quick and it was so fun! Sorta felt normal for a few minutes! Haha. Plus they were playing music and I loved it!!! lol I sooo miss music! Someone who loves me should make a play list of all the hit songs for when I get home! Hahah
 
Then for dinner that night we went to sunshine pizza, a pizza place with our wards. It's a lot of fun:) that's one of the pictures I sent y'all of all of us at the table!
Then we went to see our investigator, R, and he was getting his baptism interview for his baptism on Saturday and he passed his interview!!!! :) YAY!!!!! So he will be getting baptized on Saturday:) We are soooo excited! I just feel so blessed to have been able to teach him! It's seriously been the best experience! And to answer your question mom, the sisters before us were teaching him and we just picked up where they left off and were able to finish his teaching and get him on date and ready for baptism. It's been so great! And the best part is he's interested because of a member in our Ward who shared the gospel with him! Just goes to show how important members are when sharing the gospel!:) 
 
Saturday was a busy day. We went to the church to help with a relief society activity. They were making hygiene kits for girls in foreign countries and we were helping out, it was fun! Then we had a lesson then we went to visit a man in our Ward who hurt his foot so we went to the care facility that he was put in and we go with our Ward mission leader Brother O and well we walk into his room and welp he wasn't wearing any pants. So we were in there talking to him and the whole time I was so uncomfortable and I made sure that a table was blocking the angle from me seeing anything but his chest. Hahah it was awkward! Lol
 
Then we went to visit another lady in another nursing home type thing. She lives on the memory side care and well enough said. Hahah. We just visit with her for a few minutes and it was hilarious! Haha for about 7 minutes we had the same conversation over and over and over again! Lol. She kept asking us where we were from like back to back because she literally couldn't remember. It was slightly hilarious and slightly awkward. At first we didn't know if she was serious but she was lol. She's a real cutie though. 
 
Sunday we got ready for church and since it was fast Sunday during our lunch break I took a 30 minute nap and it was awesome! Lol much needed. Then when I woke up from my nap it was snowing! So we rush over to church for a meeting and then welcome everyone to church. I'm starting to learn people in the Ward haha. Anyway. We sit in the back with a lady we visit with. She's blind and in a wheelchair so I take care of her. She's adorable. Anyway we sit in the back with her right before it starts and I watch this guy walk in that I've never seen before and he's honestly pretty handsome. Of my 15.5 months of being out I haven't really seen anyone who was cute until then. Haha not that I'm looking but it's nice to know that there are good looking people out there. Lol. Anyway he sat alone and for whatever reason I felt like he was going to get up and give his testimony and low and behold he did! Lol he explained he was just getting off a 13 hour shift and wanted to make sure he took the sacrament and so he looked up the closet Ward and he said he was leaving after he was done talking. He bore a really awesome testimony about the importance of the sacrament and how he wanted to make sure to take it because it's so important. Then he walked out. I don't even know his name! Lol not that it matters at all but I just thought it was funny that it's taken about 16 months for me to see a good looking guy! Lol
 
So then after sacrament we had to talk to a few people and do some missionary things and then we found out that they were canceling church the last hour because the snow just kept coming down and they wanted to make sure that everyone got home safely! It was really weird because we were already at church and we only had an hour left! Haha that's when Brother B sent you the picture mom! Everyone was leaving! We went home and did some studying which was nice!
 
Then we went to dinner and since it was the Super Bowl and we didn't get to watch it our dinner wanted to do something special so for dinner they made us Soup Bowls! We had bread bowls with soup in them. It was a really cute idea! Then for dessert we had sundaes! It was really sweet of them! Haha 
 
So that's my week! Lol
 
I love this gospel and I'm so happy to be a missionary!!!! I'm so thankful for Heavenly Father in my life and the guidance he gives me! I know that when we put our Trust in Him that He will take care of us! I know that Heavenly Father loves us enough to provide a plan for us to be happy and to have hope and peace. I feel so blessed:)
 
I miss you guys so much!!!!! 
Also I love y'all to the moon and back!!!!
 
Don't forget about me!!!!!;)
 
"Have faith, have hope, live like His Son, help others on their way." 

Xoxo
Sister Batey
 
McKenzee and her beautiful smile...

On the tracks...

Still smiling...