Spanish Conference

Como estan ustedes? So as for my adventures this week...

1) We had a Spanish Conference this Saturday. It was literally the best thing of my life, no joke. It was cool to actually be with Spanish speaking missionaries. haha Also, I got to chill with Elder Antaleo who is strait-up from Chile and he basically answered every question I had. It was dee best. (:

2) Today was pretty fun because we actually did something cool on P-day. haha We went on a bike ride down the river which was bea-u-tiful! (: Oh, and I stuck my foot in the Tennessee River! I mean, who can say they have done that?? I can!! haha We also went to this old cotton mill place which sounds a lot cooler than it actually was but still! I'm just proud of us for actually getting out and doing something other than just sitting around in the mission office and eating brownies. haha 

3) Some lady while we were tracting literally said this to us. Oh wait let me reenact this for you... *knock* 
Us: Hi! How are you today?
Girl: What do you want? *dog bark*
Me: Oh that's a cute dog you have there! What kind is it? Is she nice? *dog barks more*
Girl: It's a pitbull and no, What do you want?
Me: Oh well were just missionaries  from the Church of Jesus Chri...*and more*
Girl: If you don't leave I'm gonna let her out on you... 

Anyways... I was like are you serious lady??? Some people these days...haha Good times in Loudon County everybody....haha

Alrighty.. No tengo mucho tiempo. Hasta Luego!  I Love You! Hermana Bateson

Practicing Spanish

I went on exchange to Knoxville again and check out this picture this lady had on her fridge! (: Hilarious!!

We keep it real in Tennessee(: Just kidding... I just like this sign thing. I seemed old and vintage and I was bored sitting in the car.

Esta semana paso muy rapida. Como ustedes pueden ver, estoy trabajando en mi Espanol. Lo siento si ustedes no pueden entenderlo. Es porque yo necesito practicar! Aunque esta semana paso rapida estaba bien. Yo aprendi mucho. Yo fui a Knoxville para exchanges otra vez...estuvo bien, pero me extrande a Loudon. Loudon es mejor que todos otras lugares! Pienso que pronto voy a ser transferred. pero esta bien porque yo estoy aqui ahora. 
(This week went by fast. As you can see, I working on my Spanish. I'm sorry if you guys can't understand it. It's because I need to practice. Although this week went by fast it was good. I learned a lot. I went to Knoxville on exchange again.... It was good but I miss Loudon. Loudon is better than all the other places! I think I'm going to be transferred soon, but that's okay because I'm here now.)

Okay enough with the Spanish... I have to hurry here. I don't know if I told you this already but I officially started reading the Bible. I figured since I'm in the "Bible Belt" I should probably do that considering we "Bible - bash" like everyday- it's ridiculous.

 So let me say something... The other day (Saturday to be exact) we had like perfect weather. The humidity was like at 5% or something and the sky was blue with a nice light breeze. It was wonderful.(:  It made me miss Utah!!!

The church is true!! Hermana Bateson

I ate crab!!

This is of me pretending to eat crab. hahaha It was so funny because I ate a piece the size of a pea but they all wanted me to take a picture like I was eating the whole thing! And let me clear this up, I would never... never, eat crab.

This one is called "The meal of Shame" haha They made me a burger last night because I didn't want to eat their seafood. hahah I thought it was a good burger. (:

This one is my companion and I the day we got our "crazy Johnny's Gym" hats. What an honor. haha

Como estan? Espero que ustedes tengan una buena semana! Yo ha estada practicando espanol mas porgue necesito apprender mas rapido.  haha Yo apprendo slow. Entonces... nothing to spectacular happened this week expect for one of our investigators vino a la iglesia! Finally someone came to church!! Tambien, El quiere que ser baptizado! Estoy feliz!!(:

Guess what though? Craziest thing of my entire life! Sister Bateson ate crab! I totally ate fish for my very first time!! The piece was like the size of a pea but still, I ate it. It took only like an hour and a half to convince me. haha Then Bro. Cziep took like a billion pictures of me after cuz he was so proud! hahaI'm still in shock.

I have been learning mucho though. I am so grateful to be a missionary even though sometimes it is hard. 

Oh ya... my bike is doing good by the way. haha Just in case you were wondering. I plan on being super fit in like a few weeks. haha  I hope everybody is doing well(:

This past week was one of the hardest on my mission so far.

This was the day Elder Becker and Elder Huffaker left Loudon. I tried to get them to be normal for once but obviously, they couldn't. haha  They are trying a little too hard to be "strong" or "buff" or whatever it is they do these days! haha Miss them!!

These are my two best friends... and they left me :(

This is the most southern license plate ever. I just can't even handle it. haha

The wallpaper in this bathroom. Do I need say more??

Hmm lets see.. I wish I could lie and say this week was super-awesome and a fun filled adventure... but I can't. This past week was one of the hardest on my mission so far. Some of my complaints are (but not limited to):

1. We had to ride bikes with helmets...gross.
2. We didn't have a car.
3. We tracted for 13 hours- Did you know we're a cult now?? haha wow I just absolutely LOVE getting the door slammed in my face... not.
4. Spiders ( not Utah spiders... like real spiders) are literally taking over the South. We kill like 3,000 a day, the bushes look like Christmas trees because of webs, one actually landed on my head when we were walking up to this one door- you can imagine me running around their yard flipping my head around like a cray person, very next house... a spider literally jumped at my face. I screamed bloody murder. I'm so glad nobody was at home. haha Okay enough about spiders... I think you get the point. I hate them. But really.
5. Oh... the humidity. Might as well not even dry off after my morning shower.
6. We got locked out for like an hour a few nights ago. I bawled. I think that was the first time I told my companion I wanted to go home:(    ..... Don't worry I'm fine now (:  
7. So Loudon and Lenoir City are separated by a river and so LC High School and Loudon played last Friday. Loudon lost:( No estaba feliz.


OKAY... ENOUGH. Guess what? Even though it was a rough week I did learn a TON! Ether definitely has got it right in Ether 12:6!  

6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that ^afaith is things which are ^bhoped for and ^cnot seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no ^dwitness until after the ^etrial of your faith.

Finally, Saturday night we were able to find a few new investigators.  The Lord doesn't forget about us. He just doesn't. Even when we think he does. He doesn't.

 Plus, we were able to find the best, I mean best Mexican food  down in Farragut. It's called the "Taco Truck". Let me tell you, they have Quesadillas that are to die for! And the guys all think I'm cool cuz I can speak Spanish. (sorta haha)

Anyways... I know this is super scattered and random BUT I love you!

Hermana Bateson

Lightning strike

It was too precious watching the Elders weed Sister Roner's garden. I was so proud! haha

This is us in the car one day when Elder Huffaker had my camera... 200 pictures later... I finally found a "decent' one. haha

Okay so now that I have the coolest camera this side of the Mississippi, the Elders love to steal my camera and use all my memory with all these lame pics of them being... well... Elders. So here is all I got for this week.

This is me with yet another mailbox. It's not my favorite, but it's definitely up there. This house btw, was evicted. Loco.

This one was when I went on exchange with Sister Preston. She is a cutie that's for sure.

Downtown Knoxville! #boom

More Downtown Knox

Some "bike cops" in Knoxville! hahaha They look like missionaries! (:

Crazy story... okay so guess what?? Hermana and I were walking to an appointment and it starts pouring rain! All of a sudden this huge crack of thunder and lightning went right by us. Like for reals, I saw the lightning. It was so loud, I almost died. So we ran to the peoples house and I bet you will never guess what happened... they weren't home. (shocker...ooh) So we just chilled for almost a half an hour on this random ladies porch. It was so stressful. My companion just started singing and I had myself thinking we were destined to get struck by lightning. I'm glad my companion kept me calm. Needless to say.. we ended up praying and walking back home! We were drenched through. Tennessee rain is hardcore. Scared me to death. 

Also, we have been teaching a lot of people that have some terrible smoking habits. The smell is starting to bug me. I come home and my hair, my bag, and yes my Book of Mormon all smell horrible. It's the worst. Sorry. Venting sesh over. 

Wait! False alarm. Totally not over guess what? All my friends are getting transferred tomorrow!! Elders Becker, Huffaker,  and Mumm are leaving me and I'm so sad. I have been with them my whole mission and now I seriously do not know what to do. It's going to be so different now. No me gusta. I do get to stay in Loudon though so that's a plus. (: But really... I need to start to learn not to be so close with people on the mission. It just makes it harder when we all have to move around. It's the worst tambien. 

One more quick thing... sooo best thing ever happened this morning during my study time. I have been praying to have more love for the people lately. My doctrine of Covenants just fell open to Chapter 112 and I had verses 10-11 highlighted. I read them and I just felt Heavenly Fathers love so strong.

 10 Be thou ^ahumble; and the Lord thy God shall ^blead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.

 11 I know thy heart, and have heard thy prayers concerning thy brethren. Be not partial towards them in love above many others, but let thy ^alove be for them as for thyself; and let thy love abound unto all men, and unto all who love my name.

I was grateful that He really does answer our prayers. He won't ever forget us. It's a beautiful thing. (:

Hermana Bateson