Email 9/30/13

haha you can send them to the mission home or my flat what ever would be easier for you. I am going to the Dr. sometime this week or next. I don't want to go but my I had a prompting that I needed to go at the sisters training on Friday so Sister Preston is getting me an apt.

 

This week has been good. We have had quite a few meetings. But it has been good. We had a Sisters Training meeting and that was absolutely wonderful. Being able to see all of the sisters in the mission. We learned about modesty/virtue and how when we realize who we really are (Daughters Of God) then we hold ourselves differently. We learned about budgeting, diet and exercise, Obedience, and Stress Management. Sister Cola King from Rhyl came and talked about Stress Management. It was so good to see her I really missed her. And I was able to get a hug from her. I really miss Rhyl. I hope that I am able to go back one day.

 

The weather has been pretty good and decent but I think it is going to start going back to how it was when I first got here. But I am excited. You really feel like a missionary when you are standing out in the rain getting drenched trying to talk to people and tell them that there is a way that they can be happy in this weather. Funny thing is that they tell you that they don't want to know, but then they complain about how miserable the rain and cold is. Oh I miss the snow capped mountains.

 

I am really looking forward to the Relief Society Conference. And General Conference. I am just excited!!!!

 

That is good to hear that she is doing well. They are a great family. I don't know how or if I could handle it myself.

 

I am glad that he got his birthday card. Is he getting excited???? What is he going to do for his Birthday???

 

Oh I wish I could be there to see their primary program!!!!!! I don't know if they do them here which is sad because the primary have such beautiful testimonies and the are so pure. And you can always feel the spirit when they talk about Christ.

 

Oh I am glad that you enjoyed work. It will take some time but you will get the hang of it. You are a fast learner. Plus you have Heavenly Father on your side. He would not have you go to a new job and then not help you. Just learn all that you can and he will fill in the rest. It is just like missionary work. Do all you can and the Holy Ghost will do the rest. But we have to do our part. You will do great!!!! And I am glad that they are nice to you!!!

 

How is your health???? How is daddy????????????????

 

I am going to be making haystacks next week for a member here because she said that she would like to try them. I am so excited!!!

 

I love you all so much and I am so grateful for all that you do!!!!

 

Love

 

Sister Ballantyne

Email 9/23/13

It has been a pretty good week.

 

He had to do a presentation on the missionary work in this area for some apostles a few years back. He said that he was very interested in Alfred Cordon and that it was sad that he didn't get the credit that he deserved in the church history. But I am just glad that he was apart of it and did what he did. He truly was an amazing man.

 

We have one solid investigator. She is so sweet and excited about learning. Her friend is a member and that is how we got in contact with her. We went over to teach her friend and she was there. After the lesson she asked her friend to get our information for her. So we gave her a pamphlet and got her number and address and set up an appointment. She came to church on Sunday and loved it. She is great!!!!!

 

Oh I am glad that his talk went well.

 

Haha seriously your class sounds wonderful!!!!!!! These young ones really are very smart. They continue to teach me things!!!!!! They are great!!!!

 

I am sorry that you had to say goodbye today!!!!! But God will be with you the whole way!!!!!! I am proud of you for following him. You are stronger then you know. You continue to strengthen me with you testimony and the faith that you have. Where it not for yours and Dads example and faith. I would not be here today. Thank you!!!!!

 

I am looking forward to the broadcast as well. We are going to watch it on the 18th of Oct. Strange that it is so late but I guess it will be alright. I am really looking forward to Conference. It always seems to help me with any questions that I have.

 

Oh that is good that you all got to go!!!!! How is everyone doing???? I am glad that they were able to get custody. It will be the stability that he needs. That is good that he is trying to straighten out his life.

 

Oh I miss those mountains so much!!!!! They are so beautiful. I look forward to seeing them again next year!!!!!!

 

So we had an exchange last week and I went back to Chester. I went on exchange there while I was in Rhyl. While I was there last week we went and taught a woman named Melanie. I taught her when she was first being taught while I was in Rhyl. Well we went in and were going to talk to her about how we can help her quit smoking and drinking, to talk about her getting married before she is baptized, and to push her baptismal date back a few weeks. Well after we sat down she told us that she had her last drink and cigarette 3 days before and she was not going to have anymore. She also said that she was thinking about pushing her baptismal date back a few weeks because she felt that she would not be ready by then. She also told us that she talked to her partner and he said that they could get married at the end of the year due to financial issues with Christmas coming up. Well the last one complicates things a bit. So we talked to her and asked if we found a way that she could get married before her baptism would she do it. She said yes. So we left and I started calling around. We called the bishop and asked him if he knew, He told us to call the Relief Society President and she was able to give us some information. Then it was time to exchange back. So I called on Friday to see if they were able to figure anything out and they told me that the Bishop could marry them for free and that the Relief Society President was a registrar, and all they had to pay was 30£ for the certificate. They just needed to tell Melanie on Saturday. So I called on Saturday and they said that she was so excited when they told her that she called her partner down and asked if they could do that and he said yes. So the Chester Sisters are not only planning a baptism but also a wedding. It is amazing what God can do when you are willing to follow him.

 

I hope that you are all doing well and enjoying the beautiful things in life.

 

My release date is May 7th not April 30 sorry.

 

I love you tons

 

Love 

 

Sister Ballantyne

 

Email 9/16/13

Thank you so much. That will do perfectly!!!!!

 

He is really great!!!!! I am glad that you were able to let Uncle Steve know. It is defiantly a crazy small world. He just put the journals on my USB stick. I just sent them in a different email. I hope that you are able to receive them. Wow that is amazing how it all works out in the end.

 

Well we asked the Zone Leaders to give us a challenge. So they challenged us to sing a Hymn in a lesson we had that day. Well we didn't have any lessons so we decided to do it in coordination. Brother Beeston is the Ward Mission Leader. So we sang Nearer My God To Thee. The Elders sang as well but he picked out my voice and said: "There is a very powerful voice in this room" and then pointed to me. Bahh. So then on Sunday during the Gospel Principles class he was talking about gifts and talents and turned to me and said: "You can sing!! Stand up and sing a verse of I am a Child of God." So I stood up with Sister Fortuna and we sang one verse of I am A Child of God. It is defiantly getting easier every time I have to do it but I am not yet a complete fan of getting up and singing in front of people. We'll see what happens down the road. 

 

That is fine when ever you have a chance!!!!!!

 

The Zone meeting went wonderful. That quote that you sent me that Cassie Jones used was perfect!!!! It went better then I thought. And I was not nervous when I got up there all of my nerves just went away once we started!! I love how Heavenly Father does that!!!!

 

Why do I choose to do what is right??

     I would have to say it is because I know that by choosing to do what is right I know that I will always be protected. That my family will be taken care of. I have seen a lot of people who have not chosen to chose what is right and then wonder why everything seems to be going wrong. Once they find the gospel though it takes some time but it changes them They soon come to realize that by choosing to follow the commandments or just choosing what is right they are happier and things just tend to work out in ways that we could never imagine.

    Keeping the commandments is like a string on a Kite. You are the Kite and it may seem like the string is restricting at first because you cannot fly free. But when you take a closer look you realize that they are helping to keep you grounded. When you break a commandment (Cut the String) you (the kite) falls to the ground and it hurts. The string helps keep you up. The commandments keep us from getting into dangerous situations.

    On a mission everything revolves around being obedient. When you are obedient you see blessings and you can see how your investigators progress more. You can see how your family or ward back home is being blessed. You are able to see so many things differently and you grow a greater respect for your Heavenly Father and your parents. You will also be able to see your progression as well!!! When obedient you grow and learn more about yourself and those around you. You are able to gain a greater knowledge of the material you are teaching others.

 

Oh good I am glad that she is doing well, and that she likes her YSA ward. That really does make all the difference when you love the YSA ward or even the ward you are in. She can really do anything that she sets her mind too!!!! She is stronger and more beautiful then she knows. I am so grateful to have her a my sister!!!! She continues to amaze me with how much she knows and what she does!!!

 

I still like the name peaches!!!!!!! It really does sound like the best bird ever. As for the squawking. That sounds like how I was yesterday. I was getting ready for church and just started giggling for no reason and I just had a Laughing attack for a good 20 min. Sister Fortuna kept asking me why I was laughing and I had no clue why!!!! It was just funny.

 

I am glad to hear that everyone is doing well.

 

OH my goodness Mom that is amazing. I am so happy for you!!!!!! See another blessing for choosing to do what is right. That is great!!!!!! 

 

I got some good news the other day!!!! Graham took all of his piercing out and is keeping them out. And Chez is now teaching in the Young Womens, getting ther patriartical, and taking temple prep classes!!!! So amazing!!!!!

 

I love and miss you all so much!!!!!!

 

Love

 

Sister Ballantyne

Email 9/9/13

Oh my goodness you will never guess what happened. So on Friday we were at a members home for tea. She is really nice and after she dropped us off at the chapel. We started talking to a man named Dave Morris. He is a member of the New Castle ward which shares the same building as the Stoke ward. So we started talking and he asked me what I thought of Stoke so far. I told him that I was so excited to be here because I have family history all over this place. (Stoke is known for its Pottery). He asked who my ancestors were. I told him Alfred Cordon. He told me that Alfred Cordon was one of his hero's and he wrote a paper on him. He also said that he had all 7 of his journals, and that he would get me a copy of them. It is so amazing!!!!! So we kept on talking and he said that when he was on his mission he had a companion with the last name of Ballantyne that lived in Farmington. I asked him where he served. He served in Califorinia in 1990-1992. I asked if his name was Steve. He pulled up a picture of him on face book and it is none other then dad's Brother Steve Ballantyne!!!!!!!!! It ceases to amaze me how Heavenly Father has a hand in every thing and he knows exactly where we are needed and when.

 

In Gospel Principles on Sunday the lesson talked about how we were for ordained before we came to this earth. He already knew that I was to come to England and Stoke-on-Trent. We already had the talents that we have and we just need to find them and develop them. The teacher Brother Beeston (WML). Found out that I can sing on Thursday when we sang at his house, and in the middle of the lesson on Sunday asked me to get up and sing. It was nerve racking but not as terrifying as it normally is.

 

My address is:

Flat 1, Hartshill House

St. Andrews Square

Stoke-On-Trent

STAFFS

ST4 7GD

 

My release date is April 30th. I was just going to have you look and see what I needed to do. I know that I need to work so that I can save some money. This is going to be so much fun. All that I know is that I need to go to school.

 

There are a few investigators. This area is just pouring of our family history!!!!! I love it so much. The ward is great!!! They are so nice and loving!!! I love my companion!!!!! She is so sweet!!! We have so much fun and just laugh the whole time.

 

That quote that Cassie shared is exactly what I was looking for. We are giving a training in our Zone meeting tomorrow and it is on the "power of words". And that will go perfectly with what we were thinking of doing. 

 

Quote:

"Watch your thoughts; for they become words. Watch your words;for they become actions. Watch your actions; for they become habit. Watch your habits; for they become character. Watch your character; for it becomes your destiny."

 

We have been getting some rain as well. We are coming back into the normal british weather.

 

I love that post!!!!! It is exactly what we as Christians should do. We need to be that example and not be ashamed of who we are or who we represent. We need to show to him that we are here to do his work and to help his children come closer to him. 

 

Post:I am a Christian

When I say that "I am a Christian," I am not shouting that "I am clean living." I'm whispering "I was lost, but know I'm found and forgiven.
When I say "I am a Christian," I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say "I am a Christian," I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say "I am a Christian," I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say "I am a Christian," I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible, but believes I am worth it.
When I say "I am a Christian," I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say "I am a Christian," I'm not holier the thou. I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!

 

I love you all so much and am so grateful for all of your constant love and support!!!!

 

Love

 

Sister Ballantyne

Email 9/5/13

Dear Family!!!!!!!!!!

 

I have been transferred to Stoke-on-trent!!! And I am serving with none other then the amazingly wonderful Sister Fortuna!!!! She is from California!! She goes home in 2 transfers. And we have been really close friends since my first transfer when we went on exchange together. She is great!!!! We have been waiting 5 transfers for this. I still cannot believe that we are companions. 

 

Yes I have been taking the pills, using the nebulizer (I have plenty of medicine for the nebulizer), and my inhalers.I have had to stay in the flat for a few hours a day so that I would be able to take the nebulizer. It is just frustrating because I will be out walking around for about 30 min and it is hard to breath. I cannot take deep breaths, It feels like there is someone sitting on my chest. I just don't know what is going on. I don't think that there is anything that she can do from there and I am at a loss of what to do here. I think it is just something that I am going to have to struggle through until I get home. I feel lazy though when I have to go in and use the nebulizer because that is time that I could be out talking to people.

 

Oh I miss football season!!!!! When I get home you will have to tell me who won the super bowl.

 

I don't really need anything but if you really want to send something. Some cute shirts would be good. You really don't need to send me anything.

 

This area is very beautiful and hilly. So I am hopefully going to loose the 2 stones that i have gained on my mission. Ugh so frustrating so many nice members feeding us. (this is not a complaint) I love the tea appointments, just not the weight gain. I have only met a few members so far, but the seem really nice.

 

Haha that is great!!!! Will you copy that letter and email it to me. My companion wants to use it when she goes home so that she can keep doing something. I am just still amazed that they used it and that is has had such an impact. It is amazing to know that when I feel like I am not making an impact in the area I am in now, I am making an impact at home and I never even thought of it like that. It is just amazing that God really does work in round about mysterious ways.

 

I think the home sickness is alright. Still here but I think it has something to do with the whole asthma thing and not being able to do as much as I would like, and investigators not doing what I know will help them. I was just really really stressed for the past two week. I will always miss home, but it was a lot more so this week. I am constantly worried about everything and I am trying to figure out how not to worry so much but it is not really working.

I love you all so much and hope you have a great weekend. I will talk to you on Monday!!!

 

Love

 

Sister Ballantyne