March 13th, 2017

Hey hey, 

 

Well as of today I have 50 days left on my mission. Honestly it feels CRAZY! Like I feel like it's just crazy talk and that it's not real haha. So with that being said, I try not to think about it. But what I find even crazier is that tomorrow is my 17 MONTH MARK! (Jaw drop lol) honestly What. The. Heck. Hahah, I remember like it was yesterday getting dropped off at the mtc. I remember perfectly when I was 2 months out. And I remember talking to missionaries who were where I am now and thinking I'll never make it. Well, here I am. Haha. Bam, just like that I woke up and I'm almost at the finish line. It's been the longest, hardest race of my life but I've also had the most amazing experiences out here and I'm just so grateful for all the things I've learned and had the opportunity to go through. I'm such a different person and I like to think a better person, and I'm really thankful for the person Heavenly Father has molded me to be. And I know that He will keep molding me as I live the gospel. This is definitely a gospel of growth and change and hope. And so much more. I love it! 

 

Alright so today has been a good day so far, besides it pouring all day long. Lol. We went to get our hair trimmed and the lady went a little crazy and now I feel like I look like Tarzan... seriously hahahah. I'll have to fix my hair before I send pictures of it up close lol. Then after that we went grocery shopping and then we went to get our toes done!:) it was so awesome! Felt so so good and now my toes look so much better! It was pretty bad before! Haha. The people were so funny though. They were crazy and all over the place. Then the lady offered to take the picture and then she wanted me to show her the pictures she took hahah. So she was yelling at me, "show me picture! (Add Asian accent), MORE!" Then she would chuckle then yell "MORE" hahah. It was really funny. So that was really nice and very much needed:) 

 

So rewind to last week, Monday night we went to visit K (the one that came to church and asked about being baptized! We had a really good visit with her and she said she wants to be baptized July 7th so we put her on date:) it was so great! It was also a hard moment for me because I never thought I would get to the point of putting someone on date for a day that I won't be on my mission. How freaky. I can't even imagine what I will be doing by then but it's weird. Anyway, that was really exciting Monday night! 

 

Tuesday, ehh it was a hard day. It was pouring all day long, go figure. Lol. In the morning we had district Meeting and Sister Carrisoza and I get called on randomly to give the restoration and usually we have time to practice for this but not this time. I was nervous but I've done this like a million times so it honestly wasn't so bad. Sister Carrisoza had a laughing attack in the middle of it though so that was awkward haha.

 

After district meeting we were in a weird mood, like a funk, and we couldn't get out of it. It was a rough afternoon honestly. Our lessons kept canceling and it was really annoying. And I was so mad because our lesson with one of our new investigators, D, wasn't home. So that was a huge bummer. And the rain was only making the day more depressing. So the four of us sisters went to take a mental break and they got fro yo. I just sat and enjoyed my time to think. Also enjoyed the music that the place was playing. It made me happy when a song came on that I knew, and it made me happier when I still remembered the words. Gives me hope that I won't be completely lost when I go back to the real world. Haha. 

 

That evening we went to ARP with a less active we are working with. It was so good! I think everyone should go to ARP regardless of having an addiction. It's very helpful and gives lots of hope. I enjoyed it! 

 

Wednesday night we started this new thing in our Ward with the other sisters and it's a Book of Mormon study class. I sent y'all a picture of who came. So basically it's just like a Sunday school class, we study a chapter of the Book of Mormon every week. We take turns teaching the class with the other sisters and everyone is welcomed. We are really excited to see how it goes. We've talked to a few members and they seem excited about it too. And it was so great because R came and he was really excited and participated. It was good! 

 

Thursday, not really an exciting day. Omg but that night. Ugh. I'm pretty sure that me and my companion got food poisoning because towards the end of our dinner appointment my tummy felt like it was getting stabbed over and over and it was cramping and I was dying. We get in the car and both of us are almost in tears because we both were feeling the same thing. So we ran home to use the restroom but it didn't help at all. We both were still so sick. But we had some lessons so we figure we will go and just make them short lessons. So we drive to our first lesson and they canceled. Then we decide to go to our next lesson early and they weren't home so we decided Heavenly Father was telling us we needed to take care of ourselves so we went home and rested so we could at least be somewhat productive. I felt lazy so I needed to feel like I wasn't giving up. Haha that's the real missionary in me coming out. Anyway, it was a long night and I'm glad it didn't last long. Oh and it was weird because dinner wasn't even bad. We had salad with pasta and some spicy shredded chicken. Maybe it was too spicy? Idk lol. 

 

Friday, we had our relief society anniversary dinner and we got there early to help them set up and we kept asking them how we could help but they basically ignored us and never told us what to do. I was so mad, here we were trying to help, literally we would have don't anything and nothing. It was very rude honestly. I just felt like I didn't matter to them. But the dinner part was nice. Had a pretty good turn out! 

Saturday nothing too exciting happen, oh except that the rain went away in the afternoon and the sun came out!!! It was sooo beautiful! I loved it! And Sunday it was super nice outside too! It didn't rain at all!!!! I was so happy! 

 

But Saturday night we had a lesson with R at the church with Brother O and Brother D. Haha it was pretty funny so I had to take a picture to send to y'all. My Saturday night consisted of a bunch of old men haha. It was cute. 

 

Well that's pretty much my week! I still love this gospel and I'm so thankful for repentance. We had a good lesson with a man this week about repentance and it's really a blessing we have! We get the chance to grow and change ever single week as we take the bread and water. I love Heavenly Fathers perfect plan and the scriptures that teach us. I've had some pretty awesome passages come into my life and they are just amazing! I know that they are inspired and that we can learn so much from them! 

 

I miss you guys so much 

And I 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

 

Getting their toes done...

Book of Mormon class...

Happy as the sun is out...

The "old men" that were at the activity.

 

March 6th, 2017

Hi, 

 

So hmmm, what to tell you about my week...

 

Today, we woke up to a layer of snow... lame!!!!! But the sun is out and so it's already melting. I'm SO DONE with all the snow lol. Also is was raining like all week and I'm so so so ready for the sun to come out and for it to be dry!!!

 

Tuesday night at community meals girl came up to us, her name is T and she said she just moved in and wants to start coming back to church. She's a member but hasn't been to church in a while. So we gave her our info and found a ride for her for church and it was really awesome! Definitely a miracle:)

 

Wednesday we had Zone meeting in Rainier and it was a really good meeting! Then after we went to help a lady with a quilt in project with the other sisters. She told us to create a quilt and it was really hard because she wanted us to make a scene and we just couldn't visualize it but we ended up designing something, well actually she came and designed it and we just found her pieces of fabric. It was pretty funny. Then we had a few lessons that night and they were pretty good! 

 

Omg but we have been doing one killer leg workouts the last two days and dang, every morning I woke up my legs felt like they were going to explode! No joke I was in so much pain I thought I was gonna cry or die! Haha I could barely walk, it was bad!!! Sister Bevan was sweet though and rubbed my legs. They are better now, but it was sooo bad!!!! Lol

 

Thursday morning we went to do another service project with the other sisters. We cleaned one lady's bathroom and it honestly made me want to throw up. I just don't understand how you can let your bathroom get so dirty. Ugh. Then we went to help a lady knit. She taught us how to knit but the way she was teaching was so fast that I couldn't keep up with her! Haha and so I was very confused and just acted like I knew what I was doing haha. It was pretty funny. Then I would hand it to her and she would do a few more stitches or something and then give it back to me, so the blanket is slowly getting bigger but not because of me, but because I kept getting her to do it haha. It was hilarious. Knitting is not my favorite. Lol 

 

Thursday night B came out to take us to dinner!!!:) and it was so great to see her:) made me so happy! So that was nice! 

 

Then that evening, it was so great! Earlier that week, we asked our Ward mission leader, Brother O, to pray for a street for us to tract and he told us 8th street. So after dinner we went to 8th street and we didn't have a lot of time but we knew that we needed to knock a few doors. So sister Bevan and I felt inspired to knock this one house, our first house, and we found a new investigator, D! Then the next house we knock was having a bible study but they were really nice, but the 3rd house we found another new investigator, M! It was seriously such a miracle because it's so hard to find new investigators! So it was seriously soooo awesome!!!:) 

 

Friday night we went to sunshine pizza with our Ward, it's a fun little tradition they do here with the missionaries. Then we had a church tour with Our investigator T, not toe T, this is a different one, and his girlfriend, E. So we cleaned up the church a little to make it look nice and as we were doing that I just thought to myself how blessed we are to have church buildings to meet in. And how awesome it is that we get to worship our Heavenly Father every week as we go to church! Anyway, the church tour was really great! We were really sad because we couldn't find anyone to come with us to our tour but it worked out. I just want y'all to know how important it is to have members help out with missionary work. We really need y'alls help and it really makes it hard when we can't find people to come out with us. So please please please, for my sake, go out with the missionaries!!!! Ask them if they have any lessons this week that they need a member to go with them! It really means the world!!! :) 

 

So anyway, the tour was nice, we showed them around the building and explained what each room was used for and the purpose and such. A church tour is really nice because if gives the people an opportunity to get inside the building and feel the spirit and get comfortable without a bunch of strangers being there. So it was really nice! We are hoping it helps them feel better about coming on Sunday! 

 

Saturday morning we had a child of record baptism, M, and we have been teaching her to get her ready for it because her dad isn't a member and her mom is less active but it was really nice! It was fun to be apart of it! We gave the restoration and it was awesome because a bunch of her family was there and I'm pretty sure they aren't members. It was good. Oh and also I had to lead the music hahah it was pretty funny, I've been trying to learn to lead and it was fun! Although I'm not very good at it! Hah

Oh another miracle happened on Saturday night! So after dinner we were stopping by someone that someone asked us to visit and as we did, we saw the lights on at an investigators house we've been trying to get into. Every time we stop by she's never home. But tonight we saw the lights so we stopped by and she was home and let us in!!!!:)  ahhh it was seriously such a miracle!!!! We were so happy! So we visited with her for a little bit, shared a message and set up another lesson for every week:) which is so big!!!! We are really excited to start meeting with her!!:) oh her name is, ML :) and she told us that she would read the Book of Mormon and she found out that her friend was moving and she didn't have anything to give her so she decided to give her the Book of Mormon and she said her friend said that reading it has totally changed her life! So cool!!! ML is already being a missionary! Haha, so we are really excited to work with her:) I'll keep you posted! 

 

And then!!! Haha on Sunday TR came to church which we were really excited about and she even brought a friend who isn't a member and we were really excited. We introduced ourselves to her and welcomed her. Then after testimony meeting she came up to me and Sister Bevan and asked, "what do I do to get baptized?" Omg I just started smilinggg, it was so exciting for us! We told her that we could help her and now we are going to have a lesson with her tonight at 8:) oh and her name is K :) #miracleshappen So that was super cool:) 

 

For dinner we had stake and potatoes which was really good, but this family had a bowl of skittles on the table and we thought they were dessert but while we were loading up our baked potatoes they put some sour cream and skittles in their potatoes and I was like what the heck hahah. Well they made me try it because they said I couldn't judge until I tried it and honestly it wasn't that bad. Like you had to wait for the skittles to melt but it was good. Haha I felt kinda weird eating candy in my potato so I stopped but it was good! Lol these crazy Oregonians hahaha.

 

Well that's my week! I know that Heavenly Father is aware of each of us as we are each His children. I know that He is always watching out for us and blesses us with the things we stand in need of! I'm so grateful for the gospel and the hope it gives. I truly feel the hope in my life everyday as I love it. Also the peace. I couldn't make it in this life without the gospel! I'm so happy to have it in my life. I'm so grateful that we have a living prophet today and for the continued revelation we get. I know that Heavenly Father is watching out for us and I know that He loves us. I know that miracles happen and that as we pray and look for them we will find them! I'm grateful for my eternal family and for the many things I've learned! 

 

I miss y'all so much and I LOVE YALL TO THE MOON AND BACK! 

 

Don't forget to remember me;)

Have the best week!

 

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

Xoxo

Sister Batey

 

B came to visit and took the Sisters to dinner!!

Member baptism...

What a nice Sister to give McKenzee a leg/foot massage.

 

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...

 

February 20, 2017

Hello hello! 

 

How is everyone doing? Woah, I can't believe we get to find out what Kaz & Jenna are having today! That is so exciting:) I can't wait!!! When is she due again? When is Bri due? So many babies haha. It's gonna be so good! 

 

Wow, I literally cannot believe that you have my flight information. That honestly freaks me out knowing I have an exact time that I should be back in Texas. Don't get me wrong, I'm way excited! But it's just been so far away in the distant for so long that I can't imagine actually ever going home. Ever. Haha. So strange!!! 

 

Oh and Monday was beautiful. I got to see Bethany, we went to see the twilight house aka, Bella's house and we also went down to the piers that I'm pretty sure are the ones in the movie too. Plus it was so nice being around the water and the boats. Makes me excited for the lake💕

 

Alright, so this week I hit my 16 months. On Valentine's Day haha. So it was a pretty good way to celebrate. Haha. Just still feels like I've been out a few weeks. Lol. It's weird, people keep asking me for help and advice and I still don't know what's going on. Lol. Oh well. Some members were really sweet and gave us a basket full of candy and goodies for Valentine's Day. We also were given flowers which made me so happy! I loveeee flowers:) oh and our Ward mission leaders wife gave us chocolate covered strawberries 🍓😋 So sweet:)

 

Oh and before I forget, it's literally been raining every single day and it's been nonstop. It's been awful. So wet and cold, I thought my bones were going to break because it was so cold haha. I'm so ready for the sun!!!! Speaking of, I forgot what the weather is like in Texas in May. Am I going to be cold? Haha it's been too long! 

 

Wednesday was a hard day. It was pouring all day long and we had no lessons so we were out in the rain all day. My body hurt so bad and I was just not having it. 

We went to New Beginnings with the young woman though and that was fun, they were making a cute craft and I really want to copy them haha. That was the highlight of the day lol. Oh and also, that was the day I got my trunky call. My phone call that asks questions about me coming home. It was funny because I figured I would get it soon, especially since y'all kept asking me about it. I'm glad it's over with now haha. Now we wait. Lol just kidding, I like to think I'm still working hard. Im really trying at least! 

 

Thursday we had district Meeting, oh and it was still raining. Hasn't stopped by this time haha. Then we went to visit an older lady in a care home and omg I was so mad. We walk into this place and I noticed I had stepped in poo! Ugh, I literally wanted to throw up and cry. It was so so gross. One of the nurses who works there saw and she was really sweet about it. She gave me some gloves and wet wipes and papers towels and some disinfectant spray and some toothpicks to get in the cracks of my boots. So instead of visiting with the lady we planned too I spent 10 minutes cleaning up my shoe! Oh man, i was trying not to breathe because it smelt so bad! Plus I was mad because what a waste of my time. It was so bad. But luckily I got it cleaned up! #imsodonewithanimals 

 

So then after I finished cleaning we got to visit with Flora for a few minutes but then her husband showed up and it was literal gold watching them. He brought her flowers and chocolate and told her he was so sorry he didn't make it over on Valentine's Day. Flora's face lit up and it was so precious watching them:) melted my heart. Well we left after that and then we had a lesson with our investigator Brianna. She's 16 and is super sweet! Her house is pretty much a zoo. She has 8 bunnies, a few birds, 2 dogs, 2 cats, a snake(that's the one I was holding last week) and a horse. The horse doesn't live there but all the rest of the animals live in her house, it's bad. But it's just her and her mom, so it doesn't bother them. Anyway, we had a bomb lesson with her about Christ and the restoration and we were able to put her on date for March 25th:) It was so exciting:) hopefully all goes well! It was awesome! 

 

Friday was our planning day and of course the day we had to stay inside and plan our lessons was the day that the weather was beautiful! Kinda made me mad, but we opened the windows and tried to take breaks and go outside! 

Oh haha I forgot, so Sister Carrisoza really wanted to have a sleepover with all of us, so Friday night she got all of our mattresses and put them in the living room next to each other and we all slept out there. Haha it was hilarious and silly, but it made her happy. Lol

 

Saturday we went on exchanges with our STLs. Sister Bevan stayed in St. Helens and I went to Rainier with Sister Porter. It was a lot of fun and a nice break! While on exchanges we went to just about every trailer park in their area haha. It was pretty sketchy. But we didn't die. Lol. Nothing like the one time that man in Felida lifted up his shirt to show us his bullet wound. Haha. We did meet a JW and she was trying to convert us hahah. Oh and we went to a baptism for another set of missionaries in Longview and it was so awesome! The spirit was so strong and powerful! It was great! Really cool to watch! 

 

Let's see, that's pretty much it that happened on exchanges. Nothing too crazy. Although the sisters live with a couple and it was so nice to be back in a house, even if just for a night. I miss living in a home haha. Plus the bed didn't squeak every time I moved. It was so nice! Maybe in my next area I'll live with members! Fingers crossed! Lol

 

Sunday was good. It was really raining while we were in church though. And Mom, the person that keeps sending you pictures is Brother Bradford. He is so awesome! His daughter was on a mission and he would get pictures and he loved it so now he does it. He is super sweet! Oh and the weirdest thing about it is he has a daughter names Kylie and a son named Ethan. It's super strange but I like it haha. Two names I don't forget lol. 

 

Anyway, R got confirmed yesterday and so now he is officially the newest member:) it was really awesome! 

 

Then another man that we teach, he is coming back to activity, came to church and he usually always wears jeans but yesterday he was wearing a suit!!! Haha it was so great! Haha everyone kept giving him compliments and asking who the new guy was. It was so funny, he kept threatening that he was going to leave and put his jeans back on. Hahah so we had to get a picture for proof! Lol. 

 

Then that night we went to a lesson and we were a little nervous to go but they called us asking for us to come over, anyway, this house just smelt so much like weed, it was so strong and then they had bongs everywhere! Haha it was pretty weird but the lady is a member and she wants to come back to church so we will start working with her and we are excited! Kinda reminds me of things that happened in Portland haha. It was crazy! I really miss Portland and the thrill of crazy things always happening! Maybe I will go there for my last transfer? Haha I know you would hate that dad but this girl is just not made for a small town!!!! Lol 

Anyway, that's my week. Same ole same ole. 

 

So ready for spring and the sun and flowers. Ready for the rain to go away! Haha 

But nonetheless, the church is still true and I still love this gospel. I'm grateful for the opportunities I get to share it with Gods children. And for the guidance He gives us. I know that prayers are heard and answered, just not in our time table. I'm grateful that families can be together forever. I love y'all with all my heart. And am soooo happy I get to see y'all so soon! Still unreal though haha. 

Have the best week ever and look for an opportunity to share the gospel! It's there.

Don't forget about me;)

 

Miss you guys BUNCHES

LOVE YALL TO THE MOON & BACK

 

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

Xoxo

Sister Batey

Does this even make sense? Haha I feel like it's all over the place but I really tried haha. Sorry😘

 

All smiles behind the wheel...

Celebrating 16 months out...only 2 more to go!!

Well hello there...

Kenzee on splits...

No idea what is happening here...

All smiles with a member of the ward in St. Helen's.

 

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 😋

 

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.

 

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...

 

 

January 30th, 2017

Hello hello, 

 

This week has been busy as usual! Crazy life as a missionary. Lol 

Monday we had a lesson scheduled for right after pday but it ended up canceling a few minutes before pday was over. To be honest I was pretty bummed. But we had backup plans and we decided to stop by some investigators that the previous sisters were teaching. So we show up not sure if we were at the right place and a man answers the door and invites us right in. His wife comes out too and we start talking to them and they tell us that they just finished making dinner and so we figure they want us to leave but they were so sweet and invited us to stay! So we go to their kitchen and we were thinking it would be a little meal but no. Haha we walk in and it's like a ton so food! They made a huge meal. There were ribs, chicken, steak, rice, salad, and KING CRAB LEGS! It's was like we were eating as kings! My mouth dropped open! It was crazy! Haha. But it was soooo good 😋 And of course I had to try a king crab leg and it was soooo GOOD! Lol. I really enjoyed it, after we ate it though I felt bad because they told us how expensive it was, but seriously, LOVE king crab leg! If you haven't had any you should try it! Also while we were eating we found out they were having this dinner because tomorrow was the man's birthday! So we basically were crashing the party! Hahah. Then they brought out a birthday cake and we sang happy birthday to him! Hahah it was so funny! #onlyonamission

 

Tuesday morning we had district Meeting, and of course, you know how it goes, yours truly gave a training to the other missionaries. Hahah. Then we had a few lessons which went pretty well. Then for dinner we went out to eat with an older couple. They took us out to eat Chinese food and it was fine. But as soon as we got our food the man leaned across the table to grab a plate and he lets out a very loud toot. Needless to say my appetite was gone! Lol. Gross. 

 

Then we went to community meals and it was so fun as usual. I passed out oranges haha. And no one really wanted any. It's kind of hard not taking it personally. Lol

 

Then we had a lesson with our investigator, R, who is getting baptized on the 11th:) so we planned out the baptism and everything and it was so good! 

Wednesday we had a missionary broadcast in Rainier. It was being broadcasted from salt lake to missionaries all over the world. It was a good broadcast. Although we had to drive 45 minutes to get to Rainier lol. Oh and I got to see Sister Crawley:) it was a much needed reunion:) anyway, in the broadcast they changed our schedule and also some of the things about missionary work. Nothing too crazy for anyone other than missionaries. We have more time to get ready in the morning which is soooo nice!!!! Haha so I'm happy. Plus we have more time to sleep because we could go to bed as early as 9:30. So I'm very happy about that! 

 

After that we had to drive across the bridge to go to Longview to get our oil changed and tires rotated with the other sisters. Well turns out our car didn't need it so we just wrote our talks while we were waiting for the other sisters. 

 

Thursday morning we went to the farm and we helped a lady brush her miniature horse and her goats. Then we helped her clean out her chicken coops. It was really disgusting. Haha and when I say I helped I mainly held open the bag that they were putting the old eggs and the poop in. Hahah. It was so gross I thought I was going to throw up hahah. 

 

Friday we had Planning but we also had cleaning check so we had to make sure everything looked good. Haha oh and also the sun was out and shining and it almost felt like summer:) it was soooo nice!!!! Then we went to stop by to meet this family we've been wanting to meet since we got here and we go to their house. So we show up and it was so awkward because the bishop was their doing his home teaching so we just crashed his little party. Felt bad, but we were doing our job! Haha 

Then we went to have our lesson with R and we had such a bomb lesson! At the end he was in tears and it was so powerful!!! The spirit was so strong!!!! I just love missionary work!!!!

 

Saturday we were sooo busy!!! We had lesson after lesson then we also had some service too! It was busy! The lessons went well and then for service we went to help a lady pull out her carpet. I felt very strong and it was pretty fun! Hahah although her house was pretty gross. 

 

Anyway, the night we had a lesson with our investigator T and again we had another great lesson:) we talked about the restoration and prophets and the BOM and at the end of the lesson he was like, yeah okay I think I want to start reading it. Which is so big because when we first started meeting with him he was against it! Ahhh it made me so happy to know that Heavenly Father is preparing him! Miracles are happening:) it was awesome! 

 

Sunday, oh boy all morning long I was just freaking out to give my talk! I was super nervous. I timed it and it was about 25 minutes but when nerves kick in you never really know how long it will be. And I was nervous because the only other speakers besides me and Sister Bevan were 2 youth speakers. And since I was last I would have to go long so I was really nervous. Well turns out the youth did a good job and did out 10 minutes each, and Sister Bevan did 10 minutes so I only had about 15 minutes and I kept my eye on the watch and time was going so fast! And I basically had to cut my talk in half! Which wasn't a bad problem to have haha. I think it went pretty well. I felt confident and that's what I kept praying for. And a few members in the Ward said it was good so I guess it wasn't too awful haha. I'm just so glad it's over with:) 

Oh also, a man in the Ward came up to me and Sister Bevan after our talks and he said that we were steak and potatoes since I was from Texas (steak) and she's from idaho(potatoes) hahaha so weird but so funny! 

 

Well, I just LOVE my mission. I love the peace and joy I feel in my life because of the gospel and because of my Savior. I feel so blessed and happy! Seriously, a mission is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Everyone should go. You learn so much about the gospel and also about yourself you wouldn't have otherwise. Missions are the best. Thank you for the love and support y'all give me! Couldn't do it without y'all! 

Also, I love the Book of Mormon. I know that it's true. I know that Joseph smith was a prophet and I know that we have a prophet today. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me enough to send me my Savior. I just LOVE them both. I love my family. I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers and I'm so grateful! 

 

I miss you guys sooooo much!!!!! 

I LOVE y'all to the moon and back!!!!!! 

 

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

 

Oh and don't forget to remember me;)

Xoxo

Sister Batey

 

McKenzee was able to see Sister Crawley this week.

McKenzee and Sister having fun.