Being a missionary is the best life ever.

4 de Augusto

I am, no joke, coming home in 10 days! I can barely handle it. It's the strangest feeling in the world because I really don't want to come home. I would rather just be a missionary forever because I am so happy serving the Lord. Being a missionary is the best life ever. All you do is study and live the gospel, sleep, and eat. It is theee best. It's weird to image doing anything else now. I have been just so blessed with this opportunity to serve and it's almost over. 

A ton has happened this week though. On Wednesday we had transfer meeting and I had to give my "departing testimony" even though I still worked after. haha. That was a little nerve wracking for me. 


But guess what?? Hermana Winters is my companion again!!! How crazy is that??? I am so happy to be with her again. She is so great and we have so much fun together. I could not be happier ending my mission with my best friend.

 We have a baptism coming up this weekend and I am so excited for it. Brianna has been one of my favorite people to teach in the entire world. And what better way to end the mission than by having a baptism?? The Lord really blesses me so much! (:

Love ya'll mucho!! Hermana Bateson

About coming home...

Sister de Hoyos and I at Transfer Meeting!

Sister Nelson and I at Transfers! She taught me yoga so I love her forever. 

My graceful companions(: PS I AM WITH MY DAUGHTER SISTER WINTERS AGAIN!!!! I LOVE HER!!!! (: (: (: I couldn't be happier! 

Elder Koelliker and I(: He is literally my favorite person in the whole world! #number1

Elder "Bennett" and I at Transfers.

About coming home...

I am excited too...a little. Mostly I am just sad though. I just want to be a missionary forever. It's hurting my heart to have to come home. I might be a little sad when I get home for a little bit. 

Love you and I will see you soon(: 

Hermana Bateson

So it's really crazy that I am going home in 2 weeks!

(picture sent by a women who fed them one night)

28 de Julio

So it's really crazy that I am going home in 2 weeks! It doesn't feel like it at all.
 I wish I could just live the mission life forever. It really is the BEST way to live. (:  I might be sad for a few days when I get home but I'm sure I will adjust.

 My last two weeks are going to be awesome though. We already have so much planned. Brianna (our favorite investigator) is getting baptized on August 9th and we are super excited  for that. Pray for her! She is super wonderful.
 
Currently I am reading a lot in the Bible. I am almost done with the Old Testament. Also I'm still reading the Infinite Atonement which is the best book ever. I love learning about Jesus Christ. 

I got my hair done today. I actually really like it. It's a super rich dark brown. and I can't wait for you all to see it because I think it looks pretty. (:

 I love you Hermana Bateson

P.S. Read the "Power of Everyday Missionaries" You'll love it!!

More pictures

My companion and I at the aquarium. (: I love her(: and we found a Harrison Bay sign. That is the name of our ward so we HAD to take a picture by it on the 4th of July(:

At the aquarium!!

14 de Julio

Sorry I haven't written in FOREVER!! I guess you could say I have been somewhat of a "slothful" missionary when it comes to letter writing lately.

So anyways, things over here in Tennessee are going great. We are struggling a little bit to find new investigators but we do have some solid one so we are really excited about that.

Lets see, this week we got to go to the Aquarium on P-day. It was just a really fun adventure. The rest of the week was mostly uneventful. 

We have been doing a lot of service lately which has been such a great source of finding and bringing members together. The members really are the key to missionary work. Without them....missionary work is like not effective. We can teach as many people as we want but it just won't be the same without the members!

So shout out to all the great members out there! We love you!! haha

This letter is super boring but I love you all and I will be home to see you all soon! 

Hermana Bateson

I have been pondering a lot this week about what it means to repent.

July 7 2014

So I have been pondering a lot this week about what it means to repent. I was studying in Preach My Gospel (of course) and in there it tells us that when we truly repent our nature changes and our view of the world, ourselves, and others changes.

 I was thinking about how if you just simply stop doing an action, for instance, if you stop eating chocolate because you are trying to be healthy, then you have made that step, or you have changed your action, therefore resulting in a healthier body... but, has your nature, or your character changed? 

 No. I believe that in order to be able to overcome that or be able to change your nature, you cannot do it on your own. The only thing that can actually change you (your nature) is the Savior Jesus Christ and I believe that is done through prayer.

 This scripture in Ether 12:27 is very popular but I have been pondering a lot about it and I noticed something different that I haven't noticed before. At the end of the verse it says: "And if men humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. " It actually isn't OUR job to make our weaknesses strengths. It is actually the Saviors.

 Our job is to be humble and have faith and HE will make it strong for us. So going back to the chocolate, if you put forth the steps by not eating it, THE LORD will help you to change. 

Actually change. He will make that weakness a strength.

 I don't know if this makes sense to you or not but I am just overwhelmed with a sense of joy right now because WE CAN REPENT. How amazing is that! We can change. And not just change our actions, but through Christ, our very natures/character/temperament can be changed too... leading us to have a fresh view or ourselves, the world, and God. 

What a great blessing that is to know. I think this is my very favorite part about the gospel and I am so grateful for that. (:

Sorry for the overload but I love you(:

Hermana Bateson 

P.S  Our fourth of July was pretty interesting. We just went out to Cheddars (this cute restaurant) and then we went with the Elders to watch fireworks but everyone did their fireworks on the 3rd instead of the 4th so there really wasn't anything too good to watch.

The work is going great and I am super happy(:

Sister De Hoyos

June 24th

So anyways, this week was super different for Harrison Bay. Sister Thiriot got transferred! I knew she was going to because we go home at the same time and so I had to have another comp. So Monday and Tuesday were reallllly super busy and crazy visiting members and investigators for Sister Thiriot's last time. We were able to commit Brianna (one of our investigators) to be baptized on August 9th. She is so great! (: That will literally be like 3 days before I go home. I can't even believe it.  

Wednesday was our transfer meeting and I got a new companion! Her name is Sister De Hoyos and although her name makes you think other wise, she isn't a Spanish sister. It's really great though because she is learning it. She is such a good companion. We look a little funny together though because she is like 6 feet tall and has super long blonde hair. and well... I am the opposite. haha She is such a great missionary though. 

 

So funny story... the night before Sister Thiriot left, she dropped our phone in water so we haven't had a phone for the past week and for those of you who have done missionary work... being phoneless makes it super difficult. Good thing we have some of the best Elders in our mission to take care of us and let us use their phone everyday. hah So we have just been doing our best. 

 

Coolest thing ever... Sister De Hoyos have been making it a super high priority to pray for miracles. and... You should see all the miracles that the Lord has been blessing us with. We were able to teach this one lady named Catherine and she is definitely one of "the elect" and we were able to set up a ton of these appointments one day when our phone decided to work for like an hour. It has been amazing. 

 

 

Faith really is a true principle. We are so blessed over here in Harry Bay. Love it(: 

That is pretty much everything for me. The work is going great and I am super happy(: I love being a missionary and I love the Savior... and I love you! (: Have a happy week!(: 

Hermana Bateson