Amy, Matt, and Matt got baptized!!!

This is me the day that I learned how to crochet. Don't let my smile fool you. I had the worst headache in the world after that. Shout out to all those awesome ladies that crochet, this girl is definitely NOT cut out for that. haha I think I will just stick to missionary work from now on. haha

This first one is of all of us at the Baptism of Amy, Matt, and Matt on Saturday! Yay! It was probably the best day of my life. haha

Yep. We found a pony yesterday. Its like not a big deal or anything... haha

This is just Matt, Katy, and I at church yesterday. Katy reminds me of me in little girl form. She never stops talking and her hair always needs to be brushed. haha

Brooke's mission President and his wife are to the left.

Sooo many things have happened this week. I am trying to be exactly obedient and work as hard as I possibly can. I hope you feel my love and prayers. I hope the Lord blesses all of you as much as he blesses me. 

Okay, so I got myself a new camera ( her last camera got dropped and broke) Love It! It's the cutest, littlest white camera. I'm practically obsessed with it. Plus, the guy at Target gave me a $40 discount! (Perks of being a missionary I guess)

I made my first cake this week. It didn't turn out very well but it was super fun making it. The Elders liked it. haha We went to the Knoxville Bishop's Storehouse a few times this week. I love serving I also just love seeing how it works. The church really does have an AMAZING welfare program. If you haven't been able to notice, the church just gets more and more true everyday. It makes me so happy.(:  I actually got to pack all the food and supplies up and send them off to the truck. It goes from there strait to the people. Everyone there talks about how there is an "amazing Bishop's Storehouse" in Utah and everyone wants to visit it. They think I'm cool when I tell them I'm from Utah. hahaha

I have been trying to be more positive in my life lately. I really want to be like the roommate in "Beautiful Mornings". Elder Bruce D. Potter's talk from General Conference. I have been trying to choose to be happy and choose to "live after the manner of happiness" like in 2 Nephi 5:27. But then again, I guess it's not that hard when all you have to do is teach people this amazing gospel. I never knew how the Book of Mormon can literally be your best friend. But it makes me happier than anything.(:

Guess what?? I have wonderful news! Amy, Matt, and Matt got baptized!!! They are the best family ever. They are those people that just get it. They got baptized on the 10th by Elder Huffaker. It was such an amazing experience. I was stressed out of my mind trying to put it all together but it worked out and it ended up being the perfect baptism. that is what it is all about. They got confirmed by Elder Becker yesterday at church. The Lord really did bless me so much by letting me have the chance to teach them. I am so grateful everyday for that family. 

Hmmmmmmm...... que maz????  Ohhhhh yeahhh. The lord has been blessing us with lots of Spanish investigators lately. We teach almost all our lessons in Spanish. It has been so great to finally teach in Spanish regularly. My Spanish is still no bueno, pero it's getting better. It is hard for me to understand it but I know the Lord is helping me.

Okay sorry for being so selfish and so talkative in this letter. I hope it makes sense okay, ust know that missionary life rules. I couldn't be more happy. (Well, maybe if Mom was here haha)

Entonces... I'm super tired.   LOVE YOU ALL!  Hermana Bateson

P.S. South for lyfe!!! Estoy feliz aqui!(:

I finally get to learn how to be a classy Tennessee lady!

This one is of Elder Becker on his birthday making fun of me. Again.

This is one of me by the train by our house. Let me tell you something... when I say "by the house" I mean it. It is literally like 10 feet away. hahah

This might be the classiest picture ever because it just describes Loudon. The water tower. The cancer filled buildings. AND the bridge. Nuff said

This is just the back of my head the other day. I told Hermana to take a picture because I wanted to see what my pony tail looked like. What do you think?? haha

How in the world is it already August??  I figured out that in 1 month and 8 days I will be out on my mission for 6 months already! How did that happen??

I am very very grateful to still be in Loudon though.  I LOVE, LOVE LOVE it here. haha The Lord has definitely been blessing us that's for sure. We are hoping to have Amy, Matt & Matt baptized this weekend. Their faith is so strong. Best thing ever happened this week. We were checking up on their commitments to keep the Word of Wisdom and they walked right into the kitchen and gave us their coffee and tea. It was simply amazing to say the least. Plus, we have found two new families to teach and one is an awesome Spanish family! Yayyy! (: SO HAPPY!

Sometimes as I sit back and look at my life as a missionary and I wonder why the Lord blesses me so much. I have done absolutely nothing and yet, he gives me and grants answers to every single prayer. Really, I just feel so blessed. 

As far as my journeys as a missionary, first of all, crocheting is like a big deal for pretty much all women and so this one lady told us that if she taught us how to crochet, we could teach her the lessons. Which I super excited about because that is definitely a win, win situation! I finally get to learn how to be a classy Tennessee lady! (oh and we get to teach her(: )

Oh and I forgot to mention this but these mosquitos here in Tennessee are literally destroying my legs. I have like 40 on each leg, not including my friends the chiggers. Like really???But for reals, like every house we knock on and in every appt. we go to, someone has to comment on my completely spotted legs! haha it's kinda fun. 

Anyways... nothing too special has happened, and even if it did, I probs wouldn't remember because my memory is so terrible... but, I love you all! Have an amazing semana!
                                                Hermana Bateson

I LOVE the Book of Mormon

Let me tell you something. You are going to hear me say this over and over but the humidity is literally making me crazy. It's like you are sitting in your 2013 Cruze with rockin' AC then you open the door and a wall of wetness just hits your face. 

Most , okay all of you don't know this but Sister Bateson has curly hair! I didn't even know that until the southern summer hit me. Speaking  of my hair, guess what?? We went over to the Foster's for a meal appointment again and she told me my hair was super unhealthy (which I don't even know how that's possible because I NEVER do my hair, like, ever.) So anyways, she cut off like two inches!! LIKE REALLY?? So basically my hair is just curly and short and I never have time to brush it. Yayyy! Look like I'm winning the "cutest" Sister missionary award again... NOT!

Entonces....as for the important stuff, Amy Matt and Matt are doing amazing!Their testimonies are growing so much and their countenances are changing too. It's been such a blessing to see them change so much! They finally were all able to come to church together yesterday. I felt pretty bad though because I ended up having to teach Gospel Principles class- they must get sick of me teaching. haha oh well. You get what you get in the Loudon branch. haha Ohhh Loudon... seriously, I am so blessed BEST area ever! I feel so bad for all the other missionaries that don't get to serve here.

I have definitely learned that the power in the Book of Mormon is so real! I have gotten to really study it and gain a testimony of it lately. You can learn from ever verse. It makes me so happy. I also have come to know that studying to teach is a whole lot different than just studying. I really have to know my stuff out here, especially now that I'm training. Anyways.. the Book of Mormon is true. It really is. These are real people, writing it for us. It makes me feel so loved. I feel as if I am Nephi sometimes in 2 Nephi 4:19-21 when he says that he makes so many mistakes but "NEVERTHELESS, I know in whom I have trusted... and he hath filled me with his love." It's so amazing because it is true. It's true because I FEEL the same way. Anyways, I love this gospel and I love the Book of Mormon. Study it, Learn it, Live it, and Love it(:

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