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

It snowed this week!!

Check it out!!! It snowed this week!! (: This is just outside the of our house.

This is a picture of me and my beautiful companeras and we are just eating at the Stricklands who by the way are like the most christlike people in the world. (: They do come in second to my mommy though(: 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! Como estan??  I hope you actually get this letter before or on Thanksgiving. (: I realized today that I seriously have been out here so long and usually it doesn't even seem like it. The past 8 months have seriously flown by! It's the craziest thing to me. I guess I feel like when I get home I am just going to go back and everyone is going to be the same but obviously that's not going to happen. haha   I forget you all are learning and growing too!

So guess what?? As you know, I'm training again!! I got my new Hermanita on Wednesday strait off the airplane although it definitely does not seem like it. Her name is Olivia Winters and she is from South Jordan too.Yep, we know each other. We went to Middle school and at Bingham HS I knew her. Sweet huh?  She is a very nice girl and I am very grateful to be serving with her. What's even luckier is that I get to stay with Hermana Horrocks but I think I already told you that.

Not really anything too exciting happened this week... Oh wait! It did! We got a baptismal commitment out of Bree for Dec. 14th and the coolest part is that date is her birthday! She is really excited but she has a lot of opposition from her family so if ya'll could pray for her to receive an answer, that would be wonderful. Gracias!!

Oh and I would just like to make it known how grateful I am to be somewhat fortunate enough to be a member of the church. There are so may people that don't have it and my heart just hurts for them. Seriously, how lucky are we to have the knowledge we have! Anyways love you!! Have a great week!

Hermana Bateson

going to be training... again

So this week came and went by super fast. As usual. Something amazing happened to me this week. So Wednesday is transfers so we got the transfers call on Saturday while we were doing some service and first we found out that I was going to be training... again. So I just assumed that they were going to take away Hermana Horrocks but then we kept listening and turns out that we are going to train together! I am so excited(:   That means I get a whole six more weeks with  her! I am just super excited about that because we have the best times ever together. I am so grateful. Also, that does mean we have to train which is always such a learning experience because these Hermanas are coming from Mexico MTC now and I love to hear all about that. I hope she is cool. That's all I have to say about that.

My companion is helping to stop me biting my nails and you would be so proud to see how long my nails are now! Also, today we went and got our nails done and the little Asain lady that did my nails took one look and was like, "you bite! You stop bite!" haha it was so funny!

Oh my goodness I have to tell you about the spiritual experience I had today. So our appointment that we had at 8 cancelled because she was sick. So we went to go see this familia that we sorta lost faith in because they weren't progressing or anything so we decided to stop by and it ended up being a total bomb. I have learned to love feeling the spirit work through me. I love sharing my testimony. I am so grateful to be a member in the church. What a privilege and honor it is to be a missionary.

How are you all?? I hope everyone is doing well. I am looking forward to Christmas (: 
Hermana Bateson

2 letters this time

One day, we were driving around trying to contact these people and we found them but they were still at work so we started tracting on this beautiful mountain until they got home and I turned around and saw this... que bonito!(:

This picture is absolutely terrible of me but it's a good one of the district and our Zone Leaders! love them!(:

I know I have been slacking but... I finally got the fish mailbox(:

(oh and in case you were wondering... it was FREEZING that day!

4 de Noviembre

Hello, Everyone, How is everyone doing? I have sure missed Utah lately although I have heard some rumors that it's snowing so maybe I don't miss it that much. haha

Okay two quick thoughts before I forget:
1) I am grateful to mi madre this week because she raised me to be a hard worker. Even when it's hard and you don't want to. I am so lucky  to have the work ethic I have because that truly is what these people out here are missing. I have been thinking so much about that lately. I'm so lucky to have such a good mommy.
2) I love learning. I seriously do. It's my new favorite. I can't believe that it took serving a year and a half in Tennessee to realize that. haha

So this week was Halloween! We had a super fun "Trunk or Treat" out at the church on Wednesday with the ward. I was able to better get to know a lot more people in the branch and me and Hermana bought the same cardigan and dressed up as twins!

Sooo on Sunday I had a bit of an experience. I went to Relief Society and was chosen to be the translator. yayyyy..not.  haha Let's be honest right now, my Spanish is not that good and so I ended up translating Sociedad de Socorro for some Spanish sisters and after I asked them if they could understand and they said "un poco" which means "a little" so basically I need  to step it up and all that I could do was laugh because I honestly and truly did my best. haha slap in the face haha. It is hard when you seriously have no Spanish investigators or anything. Pray for my Spanish It needs some work. haha

Alrighty, well shout out to the Young Women for sending me that adorable package and all the quotes. I love ya'll remember who you are and stay beautiful!!

Love you all!!!

Hermana Bateson


11-13-13

This week was super fun. And by fun, I mean productive. haha Monday was super awesome because my beautiful companera and I got new coats at Banana Republic so now not only do we have the truth... we also look great sharing it(: Thanks Mom! haha Tuesday we spend our time in the mountains... it was beautiful. I think I sent a picture but I swear it is fifty thousand times better in real life! (: Wednesday... I spend yet another day in Knoxville with the Sister Training Leaders for exchanges. I learned muchisimo!(: Knoxville is so boring though. I am totally converted to serving in the country. And by country I mean Tennessee middle of nowhere country where the houses are ten miles apart and the walking up the driveway could easily be taken as scaling a mountain. haha

Guess what?? I played the piano at District meeting!! (: Yayy! It was so exciting, I'm not kidding, I thought I was the coolest. (: I played "We thank thee O God For a Prophet" and "Love One Another" Of course they were in the easy hymn book but still... I played and people sang to it. Goal? Accomplished.

Also, there is this super awesome family in the ward named the Boles and let me tell you... if anyone does member missionary work, it's them. We found a solid investigator through them. Member missionary work. Do it. I mean, this is the work of the Lord guys. How can you not want to be a part of it?? It makes me soo happy(: (:

Um... I think that is all for now. I absolutely am so happy here. No doubt, its the hardest thing of my life but I can't think of anything more rewarding... literally I have tried and there is nothing. haha  I love being a missionary and I love learning and I love the gospel and I love YOU!(:

Hermana Bateson

I'm doing great in Sevierville!

Me by the sign again

Ahhhh Tennessee

Mi companera y yo con masks(:

Mi companera y yo with our mustache pens we found at The Cracker Barrel(:

The leaves are be-a-u-tiful here in Tennessee right now(: Here is a sample

For some reason, we were practicing our sad faces in the car one day so... enjoy. hah

It's so weird because it seems like each day in the mission is like a freakin marathon but somehow, P day comes around sooo fast! It's crazy! But anyways... how are y'all? 

I  am doing great here in Sevierville. It's a great place for me to be. I feel very lucky to be serving aqui. My district is super awesome - all Spanish speakers and I love that. Plus there are actually people in the ward that are Spanish ( or Natives... whatever you call them) and so I love it. 

This week has been awesome. Mi companera is a boss at the piano so thanks to her and my "Hymns made easy " book, I have agreed to play the piano at District Meeting on Friday. I'm super nervous, but I think it will be good for me to get some time in playing with actual people singing along.

 Also, I had to give a talk yesterday in church and it was super awesome because I really didn't have to prepare all that much and I wasn't even nerviosa or anything! I'm thinking that it has to be like a missionary thing because it was always super scary to give talks back home but now, it's just sorta like teaching a lesson or something.

So you guts, the best thing ever happened this week. We were able to teach this girl named Courtni and she gets the Gospel.  Por ejemplo, so we taught the whole restauracion up to Jose Smith and we said that God and Jesus Christ appeared to him ( which to us Mormons that seems like no big deal, right??) Well, it is. She said, "What??? There is God and there is Jesus?" and we were like, "yeah, isn't that amazing?" And she literally sat back and said, "I have always believed that. It just makes sense." It was amazing. (:

Also, I know the priesthood is real. So, the Elders had a baptism on Saturday and she wanted to be confirmed at her baptism which usually doesn't happen but anyways... so Elder Peterson confirmed her and immediately when he put his hands on her head, I just knew, in my heart that it was real  and to sorta tell you why that was so profound, earlier this week we had been totally bible-bashing, like hardcore with this gut who was about to go to "Bible school" -about the priesthood and weird stuff like that. So anyways, that confirmation was just a witness that it is true.

I love the gospel, I love the church, I am just so happy to be a Mormon. We are so Blessed.

Anyways, so this week I got a "compliment" from one of the Elders. I couldn't actually decide if he was trying to be nice or calling me stupid in a nice way. Anyways, he said I acted exactly like Buddy the Elf. I thought about that for awhile and decided to take it as a compliment because seriously... who doesn't like Buddy the Elf??? Am I right or am I right? 

Anyways, okay I love you all! Sorry to ramble. haha   Hermana Bateson