Less than 50 days

Its been a really long week. We just got transfer calls and there is not going to be a change in our companionship! We had lots of lessons this week with some really great people. I love them! M was being taught in orem until she moved to BYU and we taught her her last couple of lessons. She is the sweetest thing and it was so neat to see her at her baptism this week! I really want her to meet Christa because they would totally be best friends! Things are picking up and I forgot how stressful it is to be busy but I definitely prefer it to slow! Heavenly Father has a plan and I am excited to see it unfold. I love you lots and although I miss you I can already tell you its going to be a hard adjustment going back home. Time is flying and i will see you soon! :)


Sister Balero

Captain America is one of our Ward Mission Leaders!

So lots happened this week. Lets see if I can remember all of the important things

Monday. Was supposed to be relaxing but I spent all my relaxing time writing letters. haha. I wrote for 4 hours straight. I got more mail that week than I had for the whole month before. haha. Now I think I am going to have a mail drought for a little. Monday night we had an FHE with a recent convert which was good.

Wednesday we got to teach a couople of seminary classes which was cool. It was neat to testify and share some experiences. It gave me time to refelct and really feel the spirit as I recognized how much I have grown and been led by the spirit on my mission. I really wanted those kids to understand the joy that comes from serving the Lord and how blessed I feel to be a missionary even through all the hard times.

Thursday was a good day. We met with the Mc's and N. I love them both. N was so sweet. Everytime we meet with her she just tells us how much she loves what we teach her and she wishes she had understood it earlier. During the lesson she caught herself taking the Lords name in vain and she asked are we not supposed to say that? And we explained that we use God's name reverently and respectfully. She then corrected herself throughout the lesson. At the end she prayed and crying apologized for taking his name in vain and that she didnt mean it disrespectfully and asked for forgiveness. It was something so simple but so powerful to see how much it meant to her. 

Later we went to the farmers market. There is always people to talk to. One of the venders gave us some fun milk. I got peach milk! haha. It was pretty good but definitely different. We then went to a ward party and ate dinner and talked to some people. We then went to a lesson with J. Last lesson he started to have some doubts and concerns but this lesson he seemed so confident. He kept saying WHEN I get baptized. He is so ready! And I am so happy for him. We then had a coordination meeting with one of our YSA stakes. When getting the names and numbers of the ward mission leaders one of them said his name Steve Rogers.... Immediately I thought...You are captain america and I just got your number! hahaha. He probably gets that a lot. I'm glad I didn't say anything out loud. 

Friday I woke up with a stomach pain. We had a meeting in the morning and a lot of walking in the heat. We had an interview with one of our investigators being baptized. she is so sweet! I love her!  Then we had lots of weekly planning. I didnt feel very great all day. We then realized we had no sister to come with us to our lesson with a new investigator. Since he is male then we can't even teach him unless a female is with us. We were desperate because we have been trying for weeks to meet with him to lots of complications and we finally were. Everyone was busy or on dates so I facebooked Kenedy and said. Please tell me you are free and can come right now to a lesson and she could :) Such a tender mercy. So our area is experiencing a little bit of a drought right now. We feel like we are doing everything we can but we can't find any work and any work we do have, the investigators don't seem to really have a desire or are really slipping away. And it has been super hard. We have been praying and praying for prepared people to teach. We went into S's lesson and he was so prepared. He told us about the temple and how he could feel such a peace on the grounds and how he felt like there was a reason he was in Utah and that he never wants to leave because he loves it. And he told us a lady saw him in a restaurant and asked him if he had ever read the Book of Mormon and when he said no she asked if he wanted to and he said yes so she gave him her personal copy and he knew it must be important. We put him on date for baptism next month and he was so accepting. It was a miracle. The only problem is he is native Spanish speaking even though he is fluent in English and insists on being taught in English he will have to be taught by the Spanish Elders. It was the hardest thing to do. I cried as I prayed for the strength to be obedient and keep the order of his vineyard. I thought I would feel at peace as I texted the elders that they could teach him but I just got the sickest feeling and couldn't sleep all night. I have felt unsettled since. I guess we just have to wait and see now. 

Saturday was really hard. I still wasn't feeling great and we had no lessons planned because our few cancelled. Our numbers were really low this week :( We spent a lot of time trying to contact leadership and recent converts and studying. It was an off day.

Sunday was really good. We got to watch one of the broadcasts of one of the sessions of the Ogden Temple rededication. It was super neat. One thing that really stood out is that it's not just a temple rededication but a time to rededicate ourselves to the Lord. The prophet said we need to Love the temple. Appreciate the temple. And Attend the temple. I hadn't been feeling great all week but yesterday was the worst. I have had this stabbing stomach pain right under where my ribs are. Its beginning to worry me a little. We met a new investigator but he was immediately dropped when he wasn't even willing to pray to know the truth of the things we taught. That was hard. We stopped by a recent convert though and that was super good. She has been having a really rough time and last week got really bad but she shared with us the answers to prayer she finally received and how good things are and how her testimony has been strengthened. I am so happy because I have been so worried for her. She is back on the right track. Tender mercy. We also didnt have dinner so we stopped by the h's and they fed us. WE had yams :) YUMMY :)

Then the biggest tender mercy We got to go to the temple this morning! I have missed it so much. The peace is so strong and I needed that. It was perfect timing right after the dedication and also when not being able to take the sacrament for multiple weeks has started to take its toll.

Well I think that is about all. lots of ups and downs but what is a mission for. I love you all!

Sister Balero

Is September Really Half Over?

This week went by really fast for some reason. The work has been picking up so we find ourselves running round a lot more. 

Monday we didnt stop all day. My companion had a bunch of things that she wanted to do so we didnt even have time to stop and eat dinner. We had FHE with the Ha...'s which was super fun. We shared a lesson and then played Hucklebuckle Beanstalk and totally related it to the message. The kids loved it and it was so much fun to see them love our traditional FHE game. Tuesday there was a big flash flood and then everyone cancelled so although the flooding didnt last very long we were soaking all day and walking all day. 

Wednesday I couldnt walk because of all the walking we did the day before in wet shoes it created a huge blister covering the whole bottom of my foot. ouch. At one point we were walking campus and a girl stopped us and asked if we had a minute. We did so we sat down with her and she started just bawling telling us that she was having a hard time and couldnt feel the spirit and doesnt know why she is here. It was so hard to see her like that but I was so glad she trusted us to see us and talk to us so that she could let out all of her feelings that were overwhelming her. 

Thursday our dinner cancelled on us and that same sweet girl texted us and offered to feed us. It was so sweet. 

Saturday was the sat evening session of stake conference which was really good. The speakers were all great besides the fact that no one got much time because one of the first speakers assigned to talk 7 minutes talked for 25...My patience was being really tried. haha. 

Sunday morning was the regional stake conference. We got to attend at the Marriot center. It was super cool. We heard from Elder Nelson and Elder Scott. They were really great. Elder Scott talked about prayer and our personal communication with God. It was really great :) Then in the evening we taught a couple of good lessons. One of our investigators wanted to go to the temple so after scrambling for a ride we got to the temple walked around and had our lesson there. 

Besides that one of our investigators dropped us after inviting his friend to come and him making a point to prove us wrong and then one of our investigators on date told us he doesnt know if its true and doesnt really care. That was really hard. I feel like I keep giving my everything for these people and each  person I have taught here is so prepared and then they just drop it all. Lots of emotions this week. 

Well thats a very rough draft of the week but thats all I've got. Love you lots!

Sister Balero

Testimony

The weeks are just flying. Its scary to think that we are down to single digits in weeks left. Well it was a kindof a different week. We had some really good lessons, we had some lessons that went not as well, we found a ride in a drive thru, and later drove right out of the mission and amongst all that I got to see my best friend and sister.

 I'll probably just share a couple of experiences today.

 

Good lessons- We had some great lessons with some of our normal people which was good. And then we got a call on Friday from Nicole's husband who said they had invited their friend to take the missionary lessons. He accepted and we met with him first on Saturday morning and then Sunday evening. He is so prepared for this message and we are so grateful for the opportunity to teach him. It's amazing to see all the different ways God works with His children to soften their hearts and prepare them for the message we have. We also had a couple of really powerful dinner appointments which I will share a little about later.

The lessons that didn't go as well as we hoped- It's always sad when someone that you have so much Love for and so much hope in can't see what you see or turns away from the message you have that you know will bless them so much. S was one of those this week. He is preparing for baptism in a couple weeks and now feels like he still doesn't know if God exists but more than that that we can't help him to understand why it matters. He is willing to follow every commandment and do anything necessary. He even wants to pray and be baptized but thinks he can do all of that without God and he wants to know for sure before committing to anything 

 but that's hard when he doesnt even have the desire to really know. 

We found a ride in a drive thru- So we needed a ride to a meeting in Orem. Desperately. We didnt know what to do. We couldnt get a hold of anyone and anyone we thought of was busy. So we decided to just go out and find one. We were by the swig drive thru and I said lets just ask someone they obviously have cars and time. But we felt uncomfortable about it. As we walked by one of the cars the driver frantically rolled down the window and asked sister Howard if she knew her. She replied that she didnt but asked if we could get a ride. They willingly accepted. there were 2 boys in the car both headed out on missions this week. It was so cool to see the hand of the Lord in our life as we were able to find a ride with a stranger but who we knew we needed to receive it from.

Drove right out of the mission- With Permission. haha. On Saturday we got to go to Manti to witness J's sealing to her husband. It was such an incredible opportunity. Every part of it. Lots of little miracles. I found out two days before the sealing that our ride couldn't take us anymore. I was devastated thinking I wouldnt be able to go and I have ben looking forward to this for months. I said a prayer and got on facebook to think of people to ask and saw Sister F who I felt like I needed to ask. I did and she was able to take us. Then there was the sealing in and of its self to be able to know and see the joy that comes from eternal families and temple covenants. Its so cool to have been able to see the baptismal white and how it has led to the temple white.

I got to see Christa! Highlight of the week. I dont even know what else to say. It's crazy how much she has grown but it felt so good to see her and to feel that kind of love and care that only comes from your family. I miss her a ton and I'm so grateful Heavenly Father gave me the opportunity to see her in the perfect way and to have that little tender mercy at a tough time.

Back to dinners- so we had a couple little miracle dinners. Yesterday we didn't have a dinner and as we were walking home one of the sisters in the ward picked us up to give us a ride home and took us to her home when she found out we didn't have dinner. It was so sweet of her. She is a single lady and I was glad we were able to spend part of our Sunday evening with her. She made a homemade apple crisp with homemade raspberry ice cream. It was incredible. :) Later we went to J's appointment and Nicole made delicious peanut butter cup brownies but we were so stuffed after haha. The other dinner was a couple. They took us in last minute as well. We had a mix up with our dinner calendar. He shared an email from his missionary son and then we testified of the Savior. The spirit was so strong. As he read his son's email it made me realize that sometimes I get so caught up on mondays in all that I did that I forget to bear testimony to those who are most important to me.

I KNOW God lives. I know His son Jesus Christ lived and died for us. That's what this is all about. Our Heavenly Father knows and loves us. Our Savior Understands us perfectly because of His atoning sacrifice. He chose to suffer "according to the flesh...that he may know...how to succor his people." He was willing to go through the greatest of all pain that he could help us to know hope. We mean the world to them and we can return to live with them again. We have divine potenial and when we come to understand that we are empowered and strengthened in ways indescribable. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the same church Jesus Christ established himself and that as we follow the teachings of Christ that we find in the scriptures and through prophets we will find immeasurable blessings of hope and peace and direction in our lives. This is only a small part of my testimony but I know it to be true. I wish I could help everyone to have the same conviction of its truth that I have and I know that I can't but as I help the few I have the chance to share this message with that I can feel of His joy. 

I love you so much and I hope that you have a great week!

Sister Balero

Fall is Coming :)

Sep 1

So this week is a big blur.

Monday I had to go to the dentist. I had been having some wisdom tooth issues again but by the time I had my appt it was basically all cleared up so it was no big deal. Then I found out the news about Karen. It was a shock.  President didn't know who it was but that one of my cousins had passed away. It was hard getting the news but I was grateful for the peace that I found in the Plan of Salvation.

That day we did skittle bowling with our district. It was really fun!

Tuesday we went on exchanges which was really good. I was with sister L who I haven't served around since we were in the MTC together :) It made me miss sister Volmer though because I miss having a companion who I was just so comfortable around and could be obedient and focused on the work but have fun as well.

Wednesday we got a new investigator and she is on date for the end of this month :) She is super sweet. She is 15 and I think she has a slight learning disability so it might take a little longer but she wants it and believes it :)

Thursday was the freshman party I believe and since we cover most of the freshman it was a great finding activity. I ran into claire, Sam and Haley there :) We also had a couple of good lessons that night :)

Friday we had zone conference most of the day. Its crazy to think that was my last one! I'm going to miss it! 

Saturday along with all the other days this week we did a TON of walking. Thats when we saw Sandra and she told us about getting to spend some time with you. She gave us the sandwiches which was sweet. I was so full though. On our way back over to the Riv to contact some investigators we ran into Quinn and Conner. It was fun to think back to when we were in sunday school together and all of our missionary role plays we would do and to now see me on a mission and both of them returned and think how much has changed since then. 

Sunday was really good. We went to lots of church and did lots more walking. And we had a lesson with one of our recent converts. She is a TRC investigator in the MTC and she was telling us how she was finding all of her missionaries blogs and reading how each of them thought she was so real and what they said about her. haha. It was so funny! She is amazing though and each time we see her my testimony is strengthened. 

I feel like there was a lot more that happened this week but I cant remember. I am so glad to hear from you and cant wait for more news next week :)

Sister Balero

Training

 

Aug 25

Hey! 

So lets start from the top.

Monday we got the transfer call. I am training. a little bit of an overwhelming statement. definitely excitement though. And then we find out our car is being taken. stress. The day was full of goodbyes for sister Hinkson.

Tuesday was full of lessons and goodbyes as well. Awesome! Except for the fact that that leaves no one else to see the rest of the week. More stress. 

Wednesday was transfers. I am one of 3 english sisters training. Pressure. Anxiety. We had our meeting and then off to work I go with my new companion. Her name is Sister Howard from Florida. The cocoa beach area. We spent most of the day talking to people and indroducing my companion to others. We had a ton of complications with dinner which made me feel horrible. We had the wrong number to confirm and our dinner for this week called thinking she was feeding us and then since we couldnt find a ride I underestimated the time it would take to walk and we were 20 minutes late :( Not the way to start off my comp's first day.

Thursday we spent a lot of time on campus talking to people during ed week. ( this week I ran into the Nelsons and Laurie Mcdonald) In the evening we had a lesson with a new investigator. Her name is V. She is amazing. She was super busy the whole summer so wasn't interested in the Church at all but Sister Hinkson and I have been praying for her for months. a few weeks ago she was given a Book of Mormon and then she finally went to church Last sunday and loved it and really wanted to meet with us before she left. So we taught her the restoration. She just let us in and said thank you so much for meeting with me I have so many questions this is my background. She is Hindi and she is so prepared. We taught her and the lesson was very quick and simple. She loved the message and was so open hearted. We invited her to pray at the end of the lesson and the spirit was so strong. I think it was the first time she had ever prayed. We asked her and she enthusiatically said yes and then asked how she prays. We taught her the format of prayer and she began. At first it started kindof uncomfortably and I was worried as she paused and then she started just crying as she poured out her heart to her Father in Heaven. She thanked him for sending her to BYU and for the faith she has been able to gain. she then told him that she had no faith before she came but now she does and she will continue to learn of him and grow her faith and how grateful she was to him. I cried a little as the spirit in that room was overwhelming. It is something that I will never forget. She was leaving to go home to Pennsylvania the next day but she told us she would give us her info so she could learn more there. I am so grateful for the chance I had to teach her if only one lesson. 

Friday was a lot of walking and talking and planning and phone calls, but a lot was accomplished. We had a lesson that day with A which was better than past ones but still frustrating. 

Saturday we did a lot of contacting and then in the evening we had a really good lesson with S about the Word of Wisdom and Law of Chasity. 

Sunday was good. We were going all day. We ate lunch while walking between church meetings. We then had two lessons one with a recent convert we haven't seen in a while and one with a new investigator. 

So that was basically the week. I am so excited as everyone has started moving in for the work to pick up and to continue to see prepared souls come unto Christ. 

I love this work and love being a missionary! 

I hope you have a great Utah trip and I love you!

Sister Balero

Transfers Bring New Adventures

Aug 18

Another week past and gone. I don't even know where to start. Oh yes I do! haha. Transfer calls were this morning. To our complete and utter shock we actually got a phone call. Sister Hinkson is leaving the area after 7 months of being here and I am staying and training a new missionary straight from the MTC. Holy cow. It is a bit overwhelming but definitely exciting and motivating. I can't believe I have only one more morning of wonder for my mission future.

Well, Monday was a good day. We had absolutely nothing to do. I didn't even have any letters to respond to so we went with sister B (who was trying to escape her family-more details later) to a park in the canyon and just relaxed. Then we went to her home for dinner. All of her family was in town and threw her a HUGE 80th birthday party. It was so sweet. They had memories of her and a how much do you know about our mom game and a table with things that came out the year she was born and some of her childhood favorite candies. It was darling! We then tried to go to a closing ward social but we couldn't find where it was. we eventually made it but it was a testimony meeting.

Tuesday I  don't remember what we did...haha

Wednesday we made zucchini bread with sister Harrison and then delivered it to some of our fellowshippers and people we are teaching :)

Thursday We had some lessons and planning and helped one of our Recent converts move. It was a busy day. 

Friday We had a crazier day. We had DTM in the morning and then we had out first lesson with N :) And then we had a bunch of phone calls to make and surveys to take. Then we started teaching sister Hinksons high school friend over facebook. Then we had dinner with a cute family and ate hawaiian haystacks :) My favorite :) Then we rushed off to S's lesson. We got there and his roommate Na.. said he's just down the hall let me go grab him. But then they couldnt find him. They told us they had talked to him 30 minutes before to remind him and were calling and texting him and scrambling around to find where he could have wandered. Then 15 minutes later Na.. says I'm going to go check his room and there he was sleeping. hahaha. He was home the whole time. Made my night. His lesson went awesome as usual. He has made so much progress! And WE PUT HIM ON DATE!! YAY! We then had two more lessons that night :) 

Saturday we finished lessons with one of our recent converts. We then spent a lot of the time hanging around the Riv. Later we met with a recent convert who we have never met. She is really struggling with her testimony and it just breaks my heart. I wished so bad that I would just have the right thing to say and I hope she was strengthened in some way.  We then went and got snowcones. It was super busy because it was so hot. If the snow cone shack is still open when you get here you need to get one. I've heard the sweetened condensed milk is really good on it or coconut ice cream inside. Da Kine is my favorite flavor :) We then had a really good meal from a family. They had some perplexuses. Those things are so addicting and mind wrapping haha

Sunday we sang with the stake choir :) We were bummed because no one came to church :( Later we found out though that S who wasn't going to go because he had a late night and didnt feel well ended up going for the last 15 minuites of sacrament and the other hours of church! And one of our potential investigators went to all three hours for the first time and told the ward mission leader that she wished she started coming at the beginning of the semester. We are meeting her on tuesday but then thursday she is headed back to Pensylvania. Then we went to dinner and they forgot we were coming and had other plans and told us to come back in an hour. So we went and met a recent convert who just moved here from orem and then went back. We then did a lot of walking and trying to talk to people. 

I think thats about it. It was a great week. We have 3 on date! S and two that the other missionaries were teaching and have now moved into our area :) We almost met all of our goals. We were one lesson short for both nonmember and less actve/recent convert but we did make contact with people for both but didnt have time to share a lesson. I also got permisson to go to Manti for J's sealing! (My recent convert from orem) I cannot wait!

I am excited for this next transfer and hope to see miracles! I love you!

Sister Balero

Plenty of Parties

Hey y'all!

Monday we had a really fun zone activity in Elder and Sister Pratt's backyard. We did Volleyball, mini golf, and zip lining :) I also got Harry Potter stamps! They are the coolest!! That evening we went to a home and ate dinner and sang. Long story. haha When we left there was a mini flash flood. But it was dry by the time we went to bed.

Tuesday we had some lessons. We ran into some college students who had rented a puppy. It was ADORABLE!

Wednesday we had a couple of lessons as well. And then we had lunch at the restaurant one of our former investigators works at. Its called El MexSal. It is Mexican and El Salvadorian food. She is from El Salvador. You're going to have to go when you're in provo. Get pupusas and Horchata :) 2 Pupusas is plenty! Dont be decieved. haha. It's the food El Salvador is famous for :)

Thursday we did some service in the morning and then ate lunch with a less active family. They fed us Cream Cheese Chicken Croissant Puffs. haha. They were so good! It’s a pinterest recipe they said :) Then we did a member visit. It was the home of one of the girls I went to theatre camp with. haha  Then we had another lesson and then planned for the week. In the evening we went to the farmers market they have at the stadium every Thursday. One lady was selling pillowcases and had one with the cutest sister missionary material so I had to buy it! haha Then we spent the evening with the Harrisons. I love them but they are talkers! haha. Our 10 minute stop by turned into a 2 hr visit. 

Friday we had ZTM. And then made phone calls for most of the afternoon. Then we attempted to cover macadamia nuts with chocolate. There were a lot of complications and then when we tried to deliver them they all melted haha. FAIL. We saw a couple of member families in the evening.

Saturday was Party day! Google Fiber throws the best parties. They had a carnival thing and we just went and talked to lots of people. We got free kettle corn and lemonade and cotton candy and there was a steel drum band playing ;) and the photo booth as well. And then we talked to an inactive member for about half an hour and got to testify to him. That was a neat experience. We then went to our dinner appt and no one was home so we went to that malt shoppe that we went to last Education Week we were at. Then we had S’s lesson which was on the book of mormon. It was awesome :) He is really progressing and it’s so neat to see his desires and answers come. We then crashed a YSA closing social.

Sunday we had church. We had a former investigator and less active show up by surprise which was awesome. But a couple people who said they would be there weren’t which was sad. We had dinner with a semi active family which was awesome as well. And then we crashed a stake choir practice. I miss singing! And then we strolled around the Riv bc we always find people to talk to there. If I were to go to BYU I think I would live there. I love the people and wards! :)

Well, I think that’s about all! I love you and hope your week is great! Transfers are next week so I'll let you know then! :)

 

Sister Balero