my new companions name is Hermana Edlund

First things first, Guess what??  I'm training!!! Oh. My. Gosh. For those of you who are not familiar with missionary lingo - training means you get to be with a brand new, fresh off the plane missionary and teach them how to be a "real" missionary! Crazy huh?? But it doesn't stop there everybody! She speaks Spanish too! Hallelujah! (: So my new companions name is Hermana Edlund and she is the sweetest, most genuine doll you will ever meet in your life. She is 20 years old and from Pleasant Grove, Utah! (right around the corner, eh?) I am learning fast though that the "training" thing is definitely more for me than her. I am learning so much, so fast!

***WAIT! News Flash! I saw three wild peacocks on the side of the road two days ago! I had to blink a few times because I couldn't believe my eyes. Yes, they are that beautiful. ***

Okay, back to real life. Amy, Matthew and Matthew are going to be baptized on August 10th! Holy Cow. They are amazing! their faith is so inspiring. I asked Amy if she prayed about the Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and these are her exact, unwavering words: " I know He is real and it happened: WHO SAYS THAT??? I LOVE this gospel. I can literally see their countenances changing the more they study and pray. It's life - changing.

Anyways, I don't have much time pero... I LOVE YOU ALL!     Hermana Bateson

P.S. Shout out to all my peeps following the blog. I hope ya'll get a good taste of Tennessee(:

Brooke is a trainer!

This is my most recent mailbox picture. Its a school bus!! Adorable!! Don't worry, there will be more to come...

Okay so this picture is significant for two reasons:

1. Sonic is probably the best place in the world

2. The train is RIGHT THERE!! It is so dang loud too!

Hermana Edlund  will be trained by Hermana Bateson in Loudon

Brooke's new companion

How in the world is it already July??

How in the world is it already July?? That is crazy! How is the summer in Utah? I miss the dry heat! It's super wet here all the time! Like the air is thick. It's weird because I think I have allergies here. I heard it's been super hot down there! It has been raining for like 4 days straight! The rivers flooded all the parks and there was rivers instead of roads. It's a nice sunny day today so that's nice and fresh. Also there has been a ton of lightning bugs lately. They are so pretty! But there is also mucho spiders and bees and chiggers and ticks and all of that so... I guess you just have to deal with that! It's definitely not a desert out here! haha hmmm... que mas???

We committed a whole family to baptism last night! It was so exciting because they are so prepared! Also, Yamel ( one of the Spanish less actives I have been working with FOREVER) finally came to church! Yayy! and she brought her kids! I had to translate though. That was hard.:/ My Spanish has been getting better though. We have quite a few Spanish investigators. I probably speak Spanish half of the day. It's... good, but still, it's hard sometimes to understand what the heck they are saying to me! haha.

Funny story: so I drink a lot  of aquawithout fail, every person that we go and see comments on it. One day I left my water in the car and the people were like: "We don't recognize you without your water!Who are you??" haha It was super funny!Drink more water! It's good for you! haha

That was really nice what Elder Huffaker said about me. I guess you just never know the kind of effect you have on people. I bet he was just trying to be funny or something. haha You know how boys are these days. haha You just never know what they are going to do. haha

So... for the fourth of July we were allowed to stay out until 10:30! How crazy is that?? haha It felt super weird and I felt really tired the next day. I don't know how I ever didn't get 8 hours of sleep! haha We got to see the fireworks that night over the Suchackis' farm too!! And let me tell you they do not have fireworks regulations here like they do in Utah. The fireworks are crazy!(:

Before I say any thing else I really want to just bear my testimony. I don't share it with ya'll as much as I should. The gospel changes lives and the Book of Mormon is truly the word of God. Every question that we have in this life can be answered by reading it. The people that God calls to be his prophets and apostles are truly what they say they are. Study the General Conference Ensign. It is exactly what we need in our day! Heavenly Father needs us in his work. He needs us to stand strong in this world. For reals, now is the time. I didn't fully realize this back in Utah but truly these are the last days and He needs us. I know these things are true.(:

Entonces... I hope everyone is doing good back in Utah! I miss you! I love you !    Hermana Bateson

This one is of us on the fourth of July. (: Good times. I look like a baby next to her!

This was an awkward day... but whatevs. Just my 6'2" companion and I!

The next one is of me in little Matthew's hat. Can I get any classier? hahaha

Anyways... my companion is from California and she is doing better. I had to spend a week going out with members because she had to rest so I was pretty much a "solo" missionary for a while. That was really cool because I got to know the members of the Loudon Branch a lot better.

But guess what??

We are having transfers this next wednesday and basically... I am training. Soooo.... pretty much that is going to be super hard but I am hoping I get an Hermana to be with me so that I can have someone help me teach in the spanish lessons. That would be super nice.

AND guess what??

I get to stay in Loudon!!!! I am so happy!! I was so worried that they were going to transfer me out of Loudon but they didn't and that just made me so relieved. I am telling you, I just love Loudon and the day that they transfer me is going to be a sad day. haha I hope they don't do it for a while.

BUT... I am still training. Keep in mind that I am being trained right now and on Wednesday I will be the trainer. LIKE WHAT??? I guess who the Lord calls he qualifies. I'm banking on that. haha

Entonces....

Enough of my nonsense! haha I did have a ton of adventures this week going out with some of the members. One member, her name is Sister Cooper. I went over to her house and helped her can for like a life-time.... okay okay, It was more like 3 hours, BUT STILL! hahah It was interesting though and I think I might want to try having a garden when I grow up and stuff because it seems pretty useful and healthy. Also, I went out with Sister Sigerson and she told me about her life and how she has gone through so much and yet she is so strong. I look up to her so much because she really just has her stuff together. haha I did learn though, that everyone has their own story. It helped my to realize that you never know what people are going through so it's important to expect the best out of everyone and to be forgiving and loving no matter what because you honestly don't know what people are going through. Anyways... good times.

Tambien...

I might have told you this already... but we committed Amy and both the Mattthew's for baptism for the beginning of August. That is really exciting. They are probably the most prepared people in this world to recieve the gospel. And seriously, if I told you that already, that is super awkward. My memory is terrible. I feel like I am already an old person or something because I forget EVERYTHING! I can hardly remember what I did yesterday! haha its BAD!!!

Anyways... sorry that my letter's have been a little backed up. I just get so busy and all that so I can never remember to send them off! But don't worry. I will get better. haha

LOVE YOU ALL!!!(:

Hermana Bateson

New companion again

7-1-13
My visa waiter Hermana Harrison got her visa and she left for Peru this morning!
That means I got a new companion. Her name is Sister Manwill.....
-twenty five years old
-is on cruthches
-6 foot 2 inches tall
-pro volleyball player
-VERY confident
Crapola what am I going to do???

ANYWAYS... love the mission. Best times ever but seriously. Can you just keep me with one companion??? Like for reals...
I am the only Spanish speaker in my district! HELP!
 Don't worry about me. I'm doing good even though sometimes it's hard.
 

7-8-13

Today me and my companion are going to the hospital to get surgery on her knee. It is pretty sad for her but it makes it really hard for me because I have to go out with members of the branch so I will basically be teaching solo this week. Plus, I have a few Spanish investigators so I guess I am used to the solo thing. The Spanish is really hard. I have the hardest time understanding the people and I don't have someone to help me with my Spanish so I just feel like I have to do it all alone. I am blessed to be able to learn Spanish though. I feel grateful for that. A lot of missionaries don't get to learn that skill so I really do feel blessed to have that opportunity. But still... It is a little hard. Anyways... sorry, this is not a pity party. hahahah

I miss Utah

This first one is of one of our investigators, Becky. We love her. She needs a lot of help. She is definitely a winner.

So quick question...

Does this not look exactly like Jace?? haha He is the cutest kid! We found him just this week and it's crazy because he looks and acts exactly like him... but... Southern. haha Miss my baby Brother. haha 

 

 

I have missed home a little bit this week. Nothing against Tennessee or anything but I miss Utah people. I miss being around Mormons all the time! I mean I am around them on a daily basis, but there's something about being in Utah. I just miss it.

As for the actual missionary  work... our Loudon Branch is doing great...But, we have a lot of less active work. Like, a lot.

Lets see, our AC went out in the apartment again! haha  Just think of Utah heat, then add 10 degrees, then add humidity, then try sleeping in that... and don't even talk to me about getting ready in it. haha That's the worst part.

So yesterday was a super fun day. We took the "back road" out of Tellico Village ( where all the rich people live) back home. Well this is a dirt road in the woods of Tennessee. It was pretty fun because one of the Elders is from North Carolina so it was practically the best day of his life. haha It was a little scary though because it was like 8:30 at night (which is late for missionaries). haha And apparently just a few weeks ago the cops found a dead body back there.....uh... haha It was a really good time though.