Weekly

June 16

This week is a blur. We went up to 9 lessons this week. haha 

Monday we shopped and then played a board game with an 80yr old recent convert.

Tuesday we got dropped by one of our only investigators :( And we got our ipads updated which means we can’t get wifi on campus anymore :( But we do get to check our email daily :) We just can't reply until Monday. And we get the Facebook app which is nice :)

Wednesday we had to take our car in to be checked and ate popcorn and tried not to watch the TV right next to us with previews for Maleficent. That night we had bishop meetings to try and find work and the building we were in had insitiute classes going on for Jessicas stake and I peeked my head into the classroom and there she was :) Then afterwards I got to go and talk to her because we needed to talk to her boyfriend who is the Ward mission leader about a nonmember we had just talked to their bishop about. haha. It’s probably the only time I will see her though because now she is moving out of my area.  

Thursday we had a really delicious dinner for the first time in forever! YUMMY! And then we had lessons with Francis and then J.

Francis is good :)

J flat out told us she wouldn’t read the Book of Mormon and will not change religious beliefs but she does like meeting with us and wants to learn more. It broke my heart :( Maybe one day things will change though. Then we had a stake coordination meeting and only 2 WMLs showed up. It was really frustrating.

Friday we planned and heart attacked all day. We were dying because we have nothing to do and are out of ideas! We have no names to even stop by :( I dont know what else to do. It’s hard. We keep getting referrals too and all ones that aren't ours so we keep handing off more work to other missionaries :( That night I got a blessing from a bishop but I feel like It wasn't really for me that I felt prompted. When it was over my comp and his wife both had tears in their eyes. Their daughter is serving in alaska right now and they said she is going through the same kind of thing I am so I felt almost like I was being their daughter they could bless in that moment and my companion was sobbing saying that’s what she needed to hear. Sometimes the Lord works in mysterious ways.

Saturday I was really frustrated and dont even want to talk about it. But we did contact a referral that we found out wasnt ours but she is really cool and seems really prepared. She is from Bangladesh and told us that if she joins our church she wants to serve a mission! haha

Sunday Was a good and busy day! We had bishop meetings and a really awesome sacrament meeting! There was this really incredible talk given by the called that day Ward Mission Leader who we were then told didn’t find out he was speaking until he saw his name on the program 10 minutes before it started. We were all shocked! haha. It was so good and everything touched me so much with what I needed to hear. Then Francis had his baptismal interview so we are good to go for next weekend :) And then taught a couple of lessons :) 

 

So thats the brief version of my long week. I love you and miss you and hope I have more to report on next week!

 

Sister Balero

Little Tender Mercies

Jun 9

Hi family! This week was long but not as long as the past few. Lots happened.
Monday we went to café Zupas. It was delicious! We will have to go there after my mission or maybe when you're here to drop off Christa :) it's soups salads and sandwiches :) a sweet lady who has a missionary paid for us. I also found coconut almonds at our walmart :) who knew what a blessing it would be to have a walmart near my area again. Haha.

Tuesday we did service for Sandra. She is an Argentine lady who needs a lot of help. She is not allowed to lift more than 2 lbs and her sister living with her just had foot surgery and her husband is in Afghanistan. When we did service for her last Saturday I was going to ask her about Argentina and see if there was any connections to Daddy's mission but didn't have the Chance. This time I did though and I told her my dad served in Argentina on his mission. She asked what part and I told her Salta. Then she looked at my tag again and started getting really emotional and was asking me all these questions I didn't have the answer to but we figured out that it had to have been him who was the elder who did her interview for baptism. It's amazing that she still remembers him even though he wasn't even the elder who taught her. She then told her sister who said Elder Balero is your dad? He is my friend. Small world and tender mercy. Their English is not the best though so I typed out the message to send to you and she got your message but said she hasn't had the time to sit down and reply. I might just have to give her your number to call. I hope your Spanish is still good or that you can decipher her Spanglish. Haha.

Wednesday we did a lot of walking around campus and then bought a delicious snow cone :) then we had a lesson with Tharinee. She was my first lesson in the area last week. She is Thai I believe but she served a mission and is fluent in English and doesn't respond to Thai. It has been interesting. We think from what we've heard that she might have a brain tumor which is really sad. We were talking about the Book of Mormon and finished the lesson up and then we asked if there was any questions she had and she said she wanted to learn about the law of chastity. We were kind of taken aback because we don't get that request often so we said we would talk about it next time and she said no now. And so we taught about the law of chastity. I think it went well but I think we were all just kind of in shock. Haha.

Thursday we had some non-member lessons. One was Francis. Now Francis is a former investigator. He was doing everything has had the lessons before but just wasn't ready to commit to baptism and got really busy with tennis. We got a text from him Tuesday that said "if I wanted to be baptized on June 21 what would I need to do." Haha. All in the Lords timing I guess. So I met him Thursday for the first time and the lesson went good with seeing where he was at. He has a hold up about somethings saying that no one can know for certain if those things are true but they can hope and believe 99.9%. Which is mostly true but that's where faith comes in. So I've been praying for him like crazy. We also had a lesson with Julianna. All of these I have talked about are in our YSA stakes. So Julianna we had our first lesson with last week as well and honestly it was a disaster. I don't know what happened but it was a mess so we went through the restoration again and this time was a lot better but still frustrating at times. She is catholic and just has a lot of questions  and is more curious than wanting to know if it's true. I want her to have this gospel so bad. She has a hard time understanding the godhead and apostasy and things like that. At some points I think the fellowshipper got carried away in answering her questions and bible bashing than of just testifying and keeping it simple so she can feel the spirit. I just really hope her heart is softened and she will come to know of the truth of our message. Friday the tender mercy was a light dinner of taco salad.

 We also met someone on campus and as we were talking we saw all the efy kids being escorted around campus headed to the dance which was so loud. Haha. I miss it so much. I can't wait to be a councilor next summer which is totally my plan! :) Saturday morning we did service for Sandra again. She had a bday party. In the canyon. A water party. But no water there. So that why missionaries where told to fill up buckets to put in a uhaul to take there and then carry all the heavy food and water to the furthest area. So we died in the sun hauling things. It took forever! Finally we had to go absolutely exhausted. Then we came back at 2 because guess who was invited to the party?? Alfredo! So I got to meet him. We didn't get to stay very long though so I didn't get to talk with him as much as I would have liked to but it still was a neat experience. As I said goodbye it was a tender moment as he told me how grateful he was to you daddy. That you changed his life. He was almost in tears as he told me how grateful he is that he now has the gospel because you chose to serve at that time. I hope I can have the same Impact on someone here. We then had a delicious dinner of fajitas and then yummy brownies and ice cream and get this...cotton candy grapes... Mind blown. They are grapes that taste like cotton candy. Yum! To prove I am not lying the website it said to go to on the bag is divineflavors.com
Sunday was a long day with lots of meetings. It wasn't bad though. In the evening we taught desciree. This is the first time I've met her. Her hold up is not feeling like she has had an answer to her prayers of whether Joseph smith is a prophet or the Book of Mormon is true. She is so close. I felt the spirit so strong in her lesson and I just want her to recognize it. I know that she will understand it in time though. She is so sweet. So there have been a lot of heartfelt prayers this week.
So basically that is all. I will keep you updated! Love you lots and looking forward to email Christa today because SHES GRADUATED!! CONGRATS! Love ya bunches

sister balero

News From BYU

It has been a long hard week. I found out I was leaving Roosevelt which was really sad but I was super excited to go to a new area and be more involved with the work. So Monday and Tuesday were goodbyes. Tuesday night we spent with the Felkins and cracked open the piñata :) So transfers were Wednesday morning sister volmer isn't allows to lift anything heavy so I packed the car all on my own. It only took me 20 minutes :) and then we had the long drive to the transfer chapel. My new area is BYU central with sister Hinkson. She has been out 7 months. We cover 5 stakes on campus (certain complexes like the riviera, glenwood, Helaman halls, and heritage halls) and one family stake. Because not as many people are here for spring semester the work is extremely slow. We have about 10 people in our teaching pool and we are not actively teaching all of them. It's been a really hard adjustment from my last 2 areas. I guess I got too comfortable because I am now way out of my comfort zone with trying to find. And we have had some interesting dinners all in the family wards...There have been a couple of nice families. There is a bishop's family-the Harrison's-who are awesome :) we helped them make muddy buddies :)

Music Recording

Hola Family!

So this week wasn't a very exciting week. Honestly most of it is a blur. haha

Monday we had a zone activity which was fun. One of the sisters in our district told us funny old stories while she crocheted. haha Then we had dinner at dusty's which was really good.

This week we did the recording. We were going to record for mothers day but then didn't have time but then we got a call from the daughter of one of our fellowshippers who couldn't stop talking about the song that we had sung in church and asked if we could record it for her mom whose sister had just passed away. It was complicated haha. We had a crazy week. But found an hour time slot and had to do it within that time frame. He then asked if we wanted to send it home so we did. Not the best recording but we got it done and it was still a good experience.

Wednesday night we invited some investigators and less actives to come to this free community concert that was Jessie Clark Funk and Daniel Beck so we got to attend with them. One of our investigators-The for sure going one- Sprained her ankle really bad though and couldn't come. We didn't get to stay for the whole thing because we had a coordination meeting but it was sooo good! They are amazing! 

Friday was our zone conference which was really good :) President is so inspired. He always seems to know exactly what each of us needs. We also got asked to sing as we showed up to zone conference so we had to run home and grab some music and sing. haha. Good thing we've sung that song a bajillion times. haha

Sister Volmer wasnt feeling good saturday so we stayed in most of the day.

Sunday we went to church at the villa and each had to speak and then sang. We then went to multiple linger longers and then taught some lessons. After reporting numbers we went to the eddingtons who were having cake waffles and singing after seminary graduation. They were delicious. Just a cake mix in the waffle iron and then a scoop of ice cream and syrups on top. yum yum!

Well, I think thats about it. Love you lots!

Sister Balero

Happy Mother's Day!

So not much has happened this week. haha. Just teaching lessons like we always do.

Wednesday night we did a mutual for a couple young women in whiterocks branch. We played missionary jeopardy. It was super fun. Our ward mission leader was there and was super competitive, It was hillarious. 

Saturday we planted a garden at the Felkins for service which was fun and then we had a steak fry in the evening where everyone tried to give us ALL the extra food and there was a lot of it. No wonder the average weight gain is 60 lbs! haha. 

Sunday we went to two wards. The second one the Laurels class presidency spoke and they all did awesome! I wish I had a copy of all of their talks. And then we handed out some mothers day cards and then in the evening I GOT TO TALK TO YOU! I think that wins for best part of the week. It was hard to say goodbye but I felt so good afterward :) 

But I think that is about it! I love you so much!

Sister Balero

One Year Come and Gone

May 5 

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO!

Well it has been a crazy but really good week for the most part :) And I forgot my notes...again.

WE HAD NO CANCELLATIONS THIS WEEK :) AND ALMOST 100% TRUE FELLOWSHIPPING :) 

Monday was really boring. I ended up falling asleep. oops! We had 3 lessons that night which was good :) One was Dusty the lesson before that I said was my total teaching by the spirit lesson. He said he had a couple of rough weeks but knew it was coming because that lesson was so powerful and has really stuck with him and thanked me again. Really it was the spirit teaching but it is a blessing to see the spirit work through me because I was able to listen and follow it and be worthy to have it.  And our last appt gave us each John Bytheway CDs to listen to and we love them but have realized how much we drive because we are almost done with the first set. haha. A break from the music we are sick of though.

Tuesday was a busy day all day which was awesome :) We read like we do all tuesdays. I love the ultimate gift and am excited to finish it in a couple of weeks. Its hard to have to wait a week to read more. Sometimes its hard to remember we are only doing it for service because we get so excited and in to it. haha

Wednesday we went on exchanges which were good except for the first time we had a bunch of dead time and nothing to do and felt like I was totally lazy. The lessons that day were really good though. My companion for the day and I were really good at equalizing our teaching which was nice. 

Wednesday was my year mark!! :)We first had ZTM in the morning which was good :) We had a dutch oven dinner at the felkins and burned my skirt :) It was awesome! I love them :) We then had two really good lessons in the evening. It was a good day :)

Friday we had our long weekly planning session and then more really good lessons :)

Saturday was awesome as well. We filled our empty day with productive things to do :) We ate lunch at home and then i realized I had no food so I ate a small bowl of cereal and was starving. I remeber saying a prayer that I would be able to find food or last until dinner. We were then invited to the stake baptisms. We were 20 minutes late and they were all over. We were bummed. The girl we were going to the dad is excommunicated and so the priest age son baptized the 8year old. The rest of the family was really active. So I updated some teaching records in the chapel and then the mom saw us and invited us over to lunch. So I got lunch and we got into the home :) It was awesome and an answer to prayer. We then had a lesson with a couple who are impossible to teach. They like to talk and will tell a 10 minute story about a bunny cupcake in the middle of our repentance lesson. True story. But they were quiet and listened and it was short but powerful as they said they needed to go back to church. We then stopped by the Wildas and talked and she made us this strawberry lemonade and chocolate peanut butter ice creams that were delicious! :) Yum! and then we had another lesson that goes about the same as the other couple and it went really well too!

Then Sunday we went to church all day which was really good! WE havent had like ANYONE at church for weeks and so many people came!! It was awesome! There is one less active who took himself to church last week and came again with his wife this week. We werent in his ward but heard he bore his testimony. I taught the restoration to them on exchanges. We had been trying to get into that home but struggling and then we finally did and then last night found out HES NOT A MEMBER! Tender Mercy! We have been struggling to find investigators and we didnt even know we were already working with one who was progressing! We were so happy! Everyone told us he was less active because they assumed he was a member! :) yay! That was neat! We helped the felkins prepare their dinner in one of our dead times and then we headed to dinner...starving...it had been a full 24 hours when we got there and they invited us in and said. so its not done so do you want to just share your thought first? It ended up being 20 minutes later. haha.  Hawaiian haystacks! My favorite! In the evening we went to singing again which was good :) 

So I know there was more than that but that is all I can really remember. 

I love you! have a great week

Sister Balero

It's about to get Real

Hi Family!

I should've brought my notes. Less than a week and I'll have been out for a year! Crazy right? 

Well monday was a pretty relaxing Pday which was nice. I did some crocheting :)

There was a lot of good appts and a ton that fell through this week.

But there were some good things :)

Wednesday I got 5 letters :) Total tender mercy

Thursday I got 2 more from gma and gpa sant :) Thursday night D said the sweetest prayer. Her son passed away and she told Heavenly Father as if she was talking to him that they miss him a lot but they know he is with him helping him out and they cant wait to be with him again. She offered to pray even which is a change from a month ago when she wouldn't even attempt to pray out loud

Friday I got 2 more letters :) One was from sister molina with a bookmark from Sarah Curtis (Mama Curtis's daughter- sister Molinas springville mom) who I have never even met! Total tender mercy again. And so sweet that she would think of me :) And it was inspired. Sister Molina sent me a quote I really needed as well. She writes me at least once a week. :)And saw the H's finding out that Robert was going to get the priesthood sunday :)

Saturday We had NOTHING. So we went to find some service. And we definitely found some. We showed up at the E's ( a member family we love) and the teenage boys were in the middle of trying to saw part of the kitchen island they had. There was a lot of craziness. It was loud, stunk and then the saw caught on fire. hahaha. they got the piece off but it kindof had chunks and pieces sticking out ready to stab you and wasnt very straight. haha. So they taped it and waited for dad to fix it. haha. We then cleaned that kitchen. There was so much saw dust and aired it all out. Sister Volmer and kiana were shaking out a rug when sister E and I hear. oh no. Thats my dad and they ran back inside trying to hide it. We couldnt stop laughing almost to the point of crying. They first blamed it on us saying we were looking for service and so they let us cut the table and then let him know the real story. He was like I leave for an hour! haha. It was so funny. Sister E said you dont have a nice house so that your kids can learn and have experiences. haha. She had a good attitude about it all.

In the end They ended up having to buy a new saw but it looks really nice now that dad fixed it all up! haha

Sunday we sang in two ward which was good. In one of our lessons we read 2 ne 5 and learned about the manner of happiness. it was really good. And then at 8 we went to singing at the E's. It was great :) They do it every sunday where the high school kids are all invited to come over from 8-10 in church dress and sing church music. She has a cupboard of music and the kids take turns playing piano. Its so neat. And the missionaries used to always come over and share missionary messages like how they can share the gospel on facebook but we just found out about it. We want to start something like it at home :) They also use it to invite nonmembers and less actives to come and feel the spirit. During Christmas they practice christmas songs and then carol every week :) I thought it would be awesome if christa and kenedy could do something like it  :) They said sometimes there is a lot of people and sometimes a little but everyone knows about it and just comes when they can. Its awesome :)

Well, I think that is all and I am way over email time but I love you and hope you have a great week :)

Sister Balero