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

Easter Week

Hey!

SO this week was a LONG week.

Monday we went bowling as a district for our last Pday before transfers.  It was really fun :) And then we had some good lessons.

Tuesday and Wednesday were just kindof normal teaching days. We are reading the Ultimate gift at the Villa for our service. IT is so good! :) Way better than the last book!

Thursday night I had an awesome experience of teaching by the spirit. We were going on splits and I thought Sister Volmer was going to that appt so I didnt prepare anything and on the 5 minute drive over was trying to scramble around. It was not good but All of a sudden an idea came and then it continued to build and I know it was exactly what he needed. The spirit was so strong and we had a super good discussion. It was awesome! And I know that it wasnt me but the spirit teaching that night!

Then Friday morning we got to go to the temple because one of the less actives sister volmer was working with before I got here was being sealed to her parents and husband. I was so grateful to be in the temple again. The whole group was all old ladies in wheelchairs and it was so complicated to fit them all in and move them around. haha. It was so funny! But so sweet the happiness on the ladys face as she knew she would now be with her family forever :) Since we were in Vernal we ate at the new Dennys that opened up :) Ive missed Dennys. It was crazy busy though. We got biscuits and gravy with hashbrowns :) And I got the chocolate peanut butter shake because I knew that is what daddy would get :) And I finally found some melatonin (what the mission pres suggested to help me sleep) It has been good and bad. I have been able to sleep really well for about 4 hours but then I wake up and can't fall back asleep because it has probably started wearing off.:( 

Saturday we had the Hackford's baptism which was awesome :) They are incredible :) Honestly I feel a special connection with them because they are so ready and prepared. It's rare to find people like that and from what I've heard gma and gpa Balero were like them and it's almost as if I have had the priveledge to teach them in a way :)

Sunday was easter and their confirmation. Sister Volmer and I also sung in Sacrament. 

Throughout the day we just went and spent time with members and shared an easter message with the because of him video :) It was good :) And the first holiday in a while I havent been sick! Thank goodness :)

For Lunch and dinner we had cheesy potatoes, ham rolls and green beans and for lunch there was even jello :) It made me happy knowing you were probably eating the same thing back home :) The felkins made us a little candy bag when they found out we hadnt gotten anything. It was so sweet. They made us a sack lunch the day before as well when we had our baptism during dinner. 

Overall it was a good week just hard to find fellowshippers because it was spring break and easter weekend so EVERYONE AND THEIR MOM were out of town. haha

Well I love you and hope your easter was great :) 

Sister Balero

Some quotes

Remo in a prayer twice haha "Please bless the people doing transfers that they won't transfer OUR missionaries"

us: So you know why we follow the commandments?

A kid we are teaching: SO no ones a jerk!

And last sunday a woman we are teaching got up and bore her testimony and said I'm grateful that the sister missionaries are coming over and teaching me. It was so sweet :)

Hola! It's TRANSFERS!!!

April 14 

Hola! It's TRANSFERS!!! It's amazing how fast time goes. I have also noticed that every amount of time is now in terms of transfers. That habit is probably going to take a while to get out of off the mission. Haha. So drum roll........

We are staying together :) The only downside is that I won't be able to say goodbye to Sister Tjong-Ayong before she heads home to Suriname.
This week has been pretty low key. The weather has an attitude though. Most of the week it was between 70 and 80 then Saturday it dropped and was super windy but not bad and Sunday the weather was bipolar. It was super warm and then windy then way rainy and the next minute it was hailing and snowing and then warm again. But no roast and potatoes :)
We had bunches of lessons. Still not quite where we would like them though. Yesterday we went to teach The Hunts and Remo made us each bracelets and then in his prayer prayed "Please bless that they won't leave us at transfers please" it was so cute and then he told us that we had to meet before transfers just in case one of us was transferred.
Saturday we went to a ward party and had cotton candy :) and then we watched The Testaments at the Smiths. They are awesome :) we watched Saturday Afternoon conference with them. They fed us again and it was delicious as always :) I forgot how cheesy that movie is. I guess you don't notice as much on a tiny screen. It is the best to quote though.  Haha.
Last but not least the Ha...'s are getting baptized this Saturday :) That will be great! They are truly incredible!

This is a short one but I think that's it for this week :) LOVE YA! :)

Sister Balero

Conference

Apr 7

So I only have like 20 minutes left so I should probably start this! haha.

Its been another long week.

the beginning of the week didnt start too bad. We had far less cancellations and were teaching quite a lot. Then Thursday we went to the temple and then found out that it would be our last time until June :( The 1st presidency has asked that we only go quarterly. I was really bummed that most likely I will only go to the temple 2 more times before the end of my mission when I am used to going twice a month :( I have been blessed to go to every temple in the mission though.

And then I kept being over priced for stuff. That night I got a letter from grandma though and she had sent some money. It was a tender mercy knowing God was looking out for me. I was provided with money the same day that I began to become worried and frustrated with it. 

Friday we had zone training meeting which was really good. We talked about a lot of the things I have been struggling with. We focused a lot on charity and humility and following the spirit and staying positive. Then we had weekly planning which lasted forever and tried to make our t shirts but the iron on material wouldnt iron :( But sat I tried a different iron and it worked but it looked tacky like I had just glued a piece of paper to my shirt! haha

Saturday and Sunday were conference which was amazing :) I wasnt even close to falling asleep in conference until the last session which has never happened before. Sat morning we watched with Robert and Remo and then we went to a less actives home for the afternoon. They also made us a delicious lunch! :) Soo good :) we had burgers :) then saturday night I headed to provo with some of the vernal sisters. While waiting for them we were at a chapel where the priesthood session was going on. And sister Volmer realized she was wearing purple! oops!! haha. So we hid in the mothers room while we waited to meet the sisters. The priesthood session was good! haha

Then we got to provo and stayed the night in the mission home.

Then sunday we were up bright and early and ate breakfast and watched the first part of the sun morn session at the mission home. We then headed to conference.  It was a good experience.  We then headed home and called it a week. haha

I love you and hope you're doing well :)

Sister Balero

PS Next week we get transfer calls. Its been a quick transfer!

11 months out

Hey family! :)I have been out 11 months tomorrow! Crazy huh?
Monday was tiring. We didn't have time to get anything we needed to done. We did wear forte sweatshirts and our forte bright red lipstick :)And we had a zone activity and we ended up playing mafia which was a blast. For dinner we ate pot roast potatoes and carrots. Again. If I never see another pot roast in my life it'll be too soon. Monday evening we taught a couple of lessons which were good and then crashed.
Tuesday we went to get our car looked at because one of our headlight fuses has been out. On Tuesdays we go to a care center and read a book to some of them for service. There is this one lady who sits in and every time when we walk her back to her room she tells us all about her kids and husband and the same story of how her siblings warned her not to marry him because he was from a family of 13 and she would have to have a lot of kids. Haha. We have a lot of freebies. Tuesday we went to subway. And then for dinner we ate...subway.
Wednesday was crazy! We had both car and house inspections and of course the week where on Monday we didn't have time to clean like we normally do. We then taught Vanessa one of our investigators who is hilarious. She is her own person and just says what she thinks. She just barely had a baby. We then went to park side another care center and visited this old man named Lynn who is super sweet and funny. He calls us his home teachers or preacher girls. Haha. We then went on splits for the evening. Wednesday night I kind of had a break down. Feeling really frustrated and inadequate I was grateful to have sister volmer who really helped me with it all.
Thursday we went to the temple and got to do initiatories. Which was a blessing. I haven't done them since the MTC. Almost a year. I got to do the family names that you had sent me so now I can do the endowments. The only sad part about initiatories is not being able to sit in the celestial room. It was good to review those blessings again though. When we go to the temple we also get to do some shopping since there is nothing in Roosevelt. So we went to DI and I bought this beautiful ugly pink velvety skirt to burn at my year mark. Haha. Thursday night we taught Elvis pres...cott. Haha. Him and his wife lost their son and want to be sealed in the temple. He talked about the peace that he felt at the funeral though. The spirit was strong.
Friday was a long day. I haven't been sleeping well at all. I keep waking up often in the middle of the night.  Thursday night I woke up 4 times. 2 from nightmares :( so I haven't been as obedient as I have wanted to in waking up on time. And it's frustrating but I don't feel well and am so exhausted in the mornings. I need to be better. We had weekly planning which was long as usual. And then we saw April and her goats :) one more was born so now along with fractal, brave, and roar (from the songs we used to serenade them when they were supposed to be born) is now Eugene. Hehe :) Wednesday sister volmer had lost her iPad so we continued to search for it Friday afternoon. It was with Lynn thank goodness. And we ran into Virginia while we were there and she asked us to come visit with her so we did. Virginia is the funniest 97 year old lady I have ever met. She makes me so happy. Most of the time she is onry or so she tells us and lately she has just been in the best mood smiling and singing. Haha. Hopefully I can send a picture of me with her next week. We then had two cancellations in the evening
Saturday we had president interviews which are always really good but they lasted forever. We were supposed to be done by 330 and by 4 neither one of us had been interviewed yet. We finally got done at 5 ish and then had to have a super quick dinner with driving time and to make it to the general women's conference. We felt so bad because they prepared this awesome meal and were so excited and we could only stay for 20 minutes. :( the conference was really good. I kept thinking how you were watching it with me just across the country.

Sunday we had a lot of church meetings and spoke too :( haha. It was good though. And then we had every appointment cancel which was really hard. I have been kindof an emotional wreck this week. it has been a tough week for lessons. But we went and found music to perform in sacrament and practiced. It was good to be able to really sing again. 

I feel like there was more but I cant really think of any of it. I hope you are all doing well.

Just a couple of last minute thoughts. I got a letter from lauren last week and she talked about how sometimes we get revelation we dont understand so we have to put it on our faith shelf and tell yourself you wont let it shake your faith and then every once in a while revisit it and see if you have learned anything new. I thought that was really neat as I have applied that this week.

Also, Sister Volmer and I have had a major call to repentance. Since we were put as companions every topic has been on eternal marriage or journal writing. The eternal marriage part I am still trying to figure our but the journal writing sister volmer and I are struggling with. haha.

Well I think thats it for now but I love you!

Sister Balero

A Warm but Frozen Week

March 24

 

Hey!

So I set a new goal to take a picture a day so you've got a lot of pictures a coming :)

Monday was St Patricks day which was fun. We were running around and never really got a break like we had hoped for. A lady gave us some of her used clothes :) New wardrobe :)

Tuesday. Frozen came out. And I wanted to cry. haha. In honor of the day we blasted Let it GO all day! hehe. It was super warm and sunny and then all of a sudden this freak snow storm happened! Hence the video and picures! And then it was warm again and cleared up. We knew it was because of the release of the movie though. On wednesday we were supposed to help birth some goats but the text never went through so we missed it. But we got to hold the babies :)

Thursday we went on exchanges which was really good so I was in Vernal for the day.

Saturday was Robert and Remos baptism. It was really neat. We sang 'Come unto Christ' and the spirit was really strong. Then all of our appointments cancelled and no one was home. It was so hard. I was trying so hard to follow the spirit and felt like I got no where. I just feel like at this point I should know better and be closer to the spirit than I am. It was hard to go home with zero lessons taught.

Sunday was good. We taught some really good lessons :)

I thought there was a whole bunch more to say but I guess not. haha

I love you and hope you're doing great :)

Sister Balero

Adventures in Roosevelt

March 17

hola!

This week has been insane. I am so worn out right now! We have been crazy busy and with sister volmer and I we have been having WAY too much fun! haha. The people we are teaching are awesome! And the spirit has been so strong in some of them! There are truly people prepared. I have been so tired emotionally and physically and spiritually though. I am glad to have Sister Volmer though. She is an amazing companion and it has been nice to just talk and feel like someone cares. I haven't had an appetite at all though. I feel like I'm starving and two bites into my food, I feel like I have eaten a horse and am super sick. I dont know why my body is so off. I haven't been sleeping well either. Hopefully it's just adjusting to a new area. 

We had some funny experiences but they are going to take way too long to type out. Sister Volmer took the time though! So you can look at her blog. haha

We went to the temple which was really good. I will write a letter if I think of anything else. I love you and 8 more weeks and I get to talk to you!! :)

 

Love, 

Sister Balero