I have really struggled this week with like, everything.

I hope y'all are doing great. I have been hearing that some of you ( you know who you are) are getting back into church. That makes me so happy. I also know that the Lord is even happier than I am.

So I have to admit that I have really struggled this week with like, everything. For some reason my faith was lacking and I felt sad for a few days. I was praying and fasting for support and most of the people we were teaching were just Bible-bashing with us and just about every door was being slammed in our faces. So for a couple of days I honestly just cried. haha 
It sounds crazy but I felt so discouraged. On Friday I was able to receive priesthood blessing from one of the Elders and guess what happened that night?? We found 7 potential investigators!! That Elder blessed me with and increase of faith and the strength to continue. I know that the Priesthood is real and that the Lord hears and answers prayers, even in the times when we think He is not, (oh and not to mention we found this amazing family tonight and one of our former investigators texted us and said she is coming back to church.)

 I love the gospel. I feel so blessed to be a part of His work. More adventures to come next week. Love you all Muchisimo.(:   Hermana Bateson

P.S. guess what people call me now??   Chaparrita... Look it up (: Apparently I'm super short... haha

Mosiah 2:22 And behold, all that he ^arequires of you is to ^bkeep his commandments; and he has ^cpromised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth ^dvary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do ^ekeep his ^fcommandments he doth bless you and prosper you.

Tracting in this one trailer park

 

 1-13-14

 

 Oh the funniest thing ever happened to me the other day. So we were tracting in this one trailer park we had never been before and we did like three doors and all the people just like slammed the doors or whatever. Then we got up to this one house and there was this girl in there and she wouldn't answer the door and then all the sudden this car pulls up and this lady gets out and she of course just told us to leave. So we start going more and more down the street and so then that lady came out of her house and yelled across the street and was like " I just called the cops on you guys. You better leave because these people don't want what your selling." And then I slowly stepped up a little and was like "we aren't selling anything, we are giving away everything we have." And then she was like "Oh honey I know who you are. Y'all are Jehovah witness and these people don't want to be bothered around here with you knocking on their doors. "  So then I was like" actually we are from the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints" and she was like" well, these people don't want to be bothered and the cops are on their way" ... and so at this point I had two options. 1. keep tracting. these people NEED the gospel. 2. leave to help her to have good feelings about the church.

We went with option 2. hahah

As we were pulling out, we saw 2, not 1, 2... sheriffs cars pulling in. Best. day. ever. hahah Just kidding. It was actually really frustrating but it definitely makes for a good story. haha

Sorry I just wanted to tell that story for some reason. Love you. (:

Brooke Bateson

I made some resolutions for myself

How was everyone's New Year? I hope it was good for all of you. I made some resolutions for myself as I'm sure most of you did. Here are mine: 

1) No more sugar for the rest of my mission! ( and to clarify on that, I mean like sweets and desserts. I am fully aware that there is sugar in most everything we eat.)

2) Stay faithful at memorizing a scripture a day. 1 in English and 1 in Spanish. Anyways what are yours??

This week was a great one. We lost Hermana Horrocks but that's because she is going to be serving in Loudon! She is so lucky! I love and miss that place. Hermana Winters and I have been working so hard though. We have been doing our best teaching and at least for me, my mindset is very different about missionary work, because for some reason September seems so close so I am just working so hard... it feels like I will be home in like an instant! haha loco!

Coolest thing ever... we went to the Barrazas a few nights ago, (like our only dinner this week- yes, the life of a missionary is sometimes so sad haha) and they served us like this special Peruvian food and it was literally the best food I have ever had. It came with this delicious drink se llama Chica Morada. Muy bien! I loved it! They put real black corn and mix it with pineapple and limes. I'm obsessed. 

Never forget the Church is true. I love you all. Hermana Bateson

P.S. One thought that I had all week that just makes me think is this: "Christ is love, light and happiness and hope" and so if this is true... if Christ didn't come we wouldn't have love, light, hope or happiness. What would we do without him???

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Me and Sister Glatz! She got us these cute scarfs and sunglasses for Christmas! It was so adorable(:

Mi companeras y yo el 24 de Deciembre(: Somos bonitas!(:

Look at our cute little tree!(:

Look at this poster!!! Thank you to everyone who signed it!(: I loved it so much!(:

My beautiful companeras Christmas morning(:

El Distrito(:

12-23-2013:

FELIZ NAVIDAD! Well tomorrow is Christmas eve and as you can tell, I'm pretty excited. (:  I guess you will probably get this letter after Christmas so how was it?? I hope ya'll had a really great Christmas. I miss you guys. Especially  I am sad I missed the Christmas Eve party at the Harper's. I look forward to that every year. I really do hope that you guys had a great time and I bet that brand new baby is getting spoiled. haha

So this week was pretty fun. The coolest thing ever happened. So we went caroling around the neighborhood with the Abregu's and the Glatz's and we found some potential investigators. Well Sunday rolls around and guess what? These new people show up at church and I try and talk to them and what do you know, we had caroled at their house! So hopefully we are going to be able to go over and see them tomorrow. So excited! I will take any success I can get. haha

I also learned this week that Dolly Parton has a house in my area! How cool is that! We tried tracting into her house to convert her but there was a gate around it so we couldn't get it. 

My voice also got dramatically better this week. We got into a lot of peoples homes because we just caroled to everyone! haha Good times!
Well, Merry Christmas! Remember the reason for the season.         Hermana Bateson


12-30-13

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! So how are you all? How is everyone's holidays going? I actually had a really great Christmas out here. I woke up Christmas morning and opened our presents (of course) then we had a super delicious Southern breakfast with the Houses. After we got to Skype and that was really good. I was just so happy to see Mommy's face(: Then we went over to the Sheet's house to eat and we ended up playing games and it was a good time. I learned that I'm not very good at these loco mind games. haha Apparently I'm not "smart" WHATEVS!! haha so I ended up having a really great Christmas.

Thanks to all those who support me and send me cards and stuff. I really love it-- even thoughI don't always get a lot of time to right back. So thank you. It means a lot to me. 

Well this week was pretty fruitful. We were able to teach this awesome family, the Madsens. I'm really excited for them to start progressing in the gospel. Also, we are trying to help Tracy stop smoking which I am really excited about. She is getting better but it's a struggle for a lot of people so we are just being patient and loving and working our best.

Well. remember that the Church is true and that HE is the way(:     Hermana Bateson

Pictures

This is me and one of my dear friends(: We got the same scarf at our missionary Christmas party a few days ago and so we had to take a picture together(:

This is probs one of the most awkward pictures I have on here and it makes me laugh everytime. Me and Sister Shurtluff were taking a picture together and all of the sudden Elder Ary, one of our AP's just comes right on into our picture. The best part is is that we are both SUPER short and he looks like a skyscraper next to us... so here you go (: haha

This is Debbie one of my investigators(: We made a poster for her the other day so that she could help all the kids she lives with to follow more rules. haha

 We make pies at Bonnies at least once a week. From scratch. Crust and all. No big deal. haha 

     This is me doing... something. I can't figure out what now that I look at it. haha

The farmhouse we live in! (:

Some of these members shot this REALLY BIG BEAR! (:

We went caroling with La Familia Abregu the other day... it's a little blurry but I thought it was cute. They are the best ever! (:

2 letters

Christmas Zone Conference

4 de Deciembre:  
Well... today I found out my baby sister just had a baby so that's good(: I hope everything went well. I bet she will be a good mother to her. I do feel a little bit out of the loop though.

Today was seriously the cutest thing of my life.. so we went over to this families house called the Stricklands and they are going to be out of town for a few weeks so they had us over for a birthday dinner tonight. (:  They made me this beautiful chocolate cake and I got to blow out candles and everything! I absolutely had such a great night. Also this week was Thanksgiving and we went over to the Sheets and seriously it was the BEST food ever! I didn't even have room in my stomach to try everything there was so much food. Afterwards we played cornhole and dictionary these two "Southern" games. It was such a great holiday (: Also it snowed this week. I was a little homesick. haha Well gotta go! Love you all!   Hermana Bateson

P.S Jacob 4:9    For behold, by the power of his word man came upon the face of the earth, which earth was created by the power of his word. Wherefore, if God being able to speak and the world was, and to speak and man was created, O then, why not able to command the earth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it, according to his will and pleasure?




16 de Deciembre:

Hola Como estan todo? How is everyone's holiday going? The Christmas season is seriously the funnest. We went  to get our nails done today and I got red and gold. I love Christmas and Christmasey things and Christmasey colors and I love Christmas! (:

Well this week went by so fast again but this week was special because it was my birthday week! Yayyy! Monday night was really fun because we had an appointment with this less active family, the Glatz and we were able to teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ and I loved it because they were so excited to learn and I love teaching because actually getting a lesson with someone that is actually expecting you is priceless so it was a great start for the week.

Tuesday we taught this lady who was in this college class who had to write a paper on religion and she chose ours! I think I maybe talked about her but this week was super awesome because we basically taught her all 4 lessons again and then committed her for baptism in McDonald s. Well it was funny because it was totally random but I try to commit everyone for baptism like every lesson I teach and so she was a little confused about how Jesus Christ  creo la tierra bajo la direccion de Dios and so I looke up the answer and explained and then I started to say,  "Will you follow the example...."and she (before I actually asked her to be baptized) said, "Absolutely." And so we committed her to pray and continue to pray but that kind of reaction was amazing. (:

Wednesday was Zone Conference and as usual, the Spirit was there and I was totally uplifted. 

Thursday was my birthday! The cutest thing ever. I was so over whelmed with gratitude because all the people that called, and wrote, and sent packages. I was just filled with gratitude(:
One of our investigators Celeste who is this 14 year old girl, made me a cake from scratch and this other family gave me a card and it was so wonderful. It really was such a nice day.

Well I guess that's about it for me this week. I love ya'll. I am grateful for all the love and support I get from you back home. It means the world to me!
I know that the church is true. I know that it's through Jesus Christ and his atonement that make up the difference when we think or feel we aren't good enough. I also know that by the power of the Holy Ghost we can know all things and I know that this plan of happiness is real. This is his work, and I am so grateful we were chosen to be a part of his church. 

Love you !! Hermana Bateson

I am seriously becoming a master baker here.

Brooke's new companionship

Mission Home

New missionary trainers meeting

( I found these pictures on their mission website and since Brooke didn't send any I thought I'd post these)


Hello Everybody! How was everyone's semana! We're you all able to watch the First Presidency Devotional? I was really excited to watch it. (: 

Guess what? It's my birthday week! I was thinking that I was going to be super excited but honestly all I want is to like baptize someone or something for my birthday. I think that would be the BEST birthday ever.

Anyways, so this week was an interesting one. I woke up Monday morning with strep throat (or at least I thought) and I thought I was going to die. But then I remembered I got this conveniente package from the young women ( thanks girls!!) that has everyting I need to get better. So anyways, I have been sick this week but it's still been okay.

There is the cutest Asian lady that lives in the ward who literally is smaller than me and the funniest lady ever. She told us that when she was a teenager she was incarcerated in these Japanese camps in Oregon. It was crazy!

Our main investigator Bree has been hit really hard by Satan lately. It's really sad because she was supposed to get baptized on December 14th but she has had too much "anti" from her boyfriend and parents that she has decided to "take a break" for a while. Sorry for the bad news but I was a little sad.

There was the coolest thing ever though. I am seriously becoming a master baker here. Everyone says I make the best pies!! We had a ward Christmas party on Saturday and so we made pies for it and... anyways I guess it was just fun to do.

Last night we went over to the Abregu's for dinner. They are from Argentina and they showed us this drink called Mate and it was disgusting but it was cool how they made it from this plant. 

Well I guess that's all for me. I am not sure if I mentioned this but I started memorizing a scripture everyday. It's so hard, wish me luck! 

Love you all. Hermana Bateson