Email 10/28/13

I cannot believe it!!!!!!!!!!! It is crazy!!!!

Oh He will be a great missionary!!!!!!!! He is going to do wonders and miracles!!!!!!

I cannot believe that Potato is a Priest!!! He is growing up so fast. Focus on what he is doing and he will be alright. Tell him to do everything he can and then pray and ask God for help.

That will be good for them to be able to have the Horses

close. I miss those beautiful animals!!!!!!! The Elders keep asking how Kevin is doing??

It is so crazy how things work out like that!!!!!!! I am completely amazed that we keep finding those connections like that!!!!!! It truly is a

small world in the church.

Oh I loved doing make a difference month with her!!!!! It was always so much fun!!!!

Things are going alright. Still pretty much stuck in the flat but I seem to be getting a bit better. The Zone Leaders asked me to organize a

musical number to the Zone meeting that is coming up on Wednesday. So I am excited and nervous for that. I am singing a solo with another

sister. Will see how that goes. The ward is great but a bit stressful. The Elders had a baptism on Saturday and only 3 members showed up and they were a family. They say that they are a close nit ward but they don't really support each other. It is just sad to see. I am praying for a way to help them

We are not really teaching any investigators at the moment. The one we had started hanging around some not very nice people and we

have not been able to get in contact with her. But we are still keeping her in our prayers.  We are working more with Less-Actives and Recent

Converts. It has been a crazy two transfers receiving revelation after revelation of things that I never thought I would get on my mission. I am so

grateful to my Heavenly Father for helping me through those hard times and for know me so much more then I know my self to give me what

I need even when I don't think I do.

Sister Fortuna and I gave the lesson in Relief Society on Sunday. It was on the May conference talk "The Lord Wants To Forgive". That talk was

absolutely wonderful. If you have not read it you should. Because it talks about how he wants to forgive us now not later but now!!!!!!!!!!!! And

that we also need to forgive ourselves!!!!!! It was really good and something that I really needed.

Ya I sent her and Adam a letter. I just had a feeling that I needed to. I miss them like crazy!!!!!!

It has definitely been a crazy year!!!!!! One that I am glad has happened!!!!!!!!  I have learned so much and have been able to change into what

my heavenly father needs me to be. This mission has truly saved my life and changed me for the better

I love you all so much and I am so grateful for each and every one of you!!!!!!

Email 10/21/13

Dear Wonderful Family whom I adore,

 

It has been a pretty good week. Frustrating because I have not been able to go out much. But I know that I need to take care of my health so that I will be able to continue to do the work that Heavenly Father has for me. Yes the medicine has been helping thank you very much!!!! I was asked to give a talk on Sunday on the Importance of Families. I think it turned out pretty well. The whole talk was pretty much on my family and how much I have been able to see them grow in the gospel and closer together through all of the hard times that we have faced and will continue to face. And how I have truly come to realize that the word family does not just mean our immediate family or our extended family. It can mean anyone who means something to us or is there for us when we need them. I really enjoyed giving that talk.

 

No we have not been able to meet with her because she does not have credit on her phone so we are going to have to try and get in touch with her a different way. Hopefully we will be able to soon.

 

I had an interview with President Preston. It was a very good interview. He told me that He has seen me change a lot. I was able to tell him that I am starting to be able to see that change that every one else sees and I am truly grateful for this mission and all it has done for me. I love who I am becoming and I love the testimony that continues to grow inside of me. I am beginning to truly love myself for who I am a Daughter of my Heavenly Father.

 

Wow that is amazing!!!!!! I didn't find any Tree's but I will look for the other names.

 

Haha Yes He will be a good missionary. Tell him congrats for me and good luck He will do great!!!!!! Your class sounds like it was even more fun then usually. Oh I miss the ward Halloween parties. I think the ward here is having one but we are probably not able to go because we will be in the flat on Halloween Night. Oh well I will just have to wait until next year!!!!!

 

OH I wish I could be there for his Concert. Let me know how it goes. How is he doing driving wise???

 

Oh poor thing I hope that she doesn't burn herself out!!!!!!

 

That is very nice of her. I am terrified to go back to school when I get home.

 

I really cannot believe that she is already walking!!!!!! She will be talking before we know it. It is so weird how life just keeps going when you don't really expect it to. I am happy that everyone seems to be doing well.

 

The weather keeps changing here. One day it is sunny then it is raining then it is hot and sunny again and then it is raining again. It is a good thing that I like all weather and am just happy to be able to be here. Why are you having a hard time walking???? Are you going to need the surgery soon????

 

It sounds like a very good meeting. I hope that you are able to enjoy it and take from it what you need.

I emailed her last week. I told her that I am always here for her if she needs to talk. I told her that I have enjoyed watching her grow and that if she trusted in God that I knew she would be an outstanding missionary. Griffin seems to be doing better as well.

 

That bird sounds really funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and really cute!!!!

 

How is daddy doing?????

 

I hope you all are doing well!!!!!!

 

I love you tons

 

Love

 

Sister Ballantyne

Email 10/16/13

It is alright. I had them ask because on Tuesday of last week while I was praying I had a feeling that she had passed away and I just wanted to see if the family was alright. She is happy and is watching over them. I am glad that they were all able to be there with them.

 

I have not been transferred and I am still with Sister Fortuna. YAY!!!!!!!!

 

She said that the lung thing is because it is getting colder and to just keep doing what I am doing. Yes I got the package thank you so much. My favorite candies!!!!! Don't worry I have not eaten them all.  As for the Dizziness she said it was due to hormones. It is called a blood pressure drop. So my prescription for that is Salt and Vinager Crisps or licorish.

 

I see him quite often. He also said that he found more on Alfred Cordon. I have not read it but I might be able to ask him for it. He is so funny. He has even put some music on my Ipod for me.

 

I think the baptism is going to be postponed. Due to not being able to see her for a while.

 

Oh I miss primary programs. I am not sure if they do them here. But I really think that they should.

 

I am glad that He got his card and that He enjoyed his present. He will really enjoy helping his neighbors again. I have such wonderful examples of service in my life. And I am so grateful for each and ever one of them!!!

 

Oh I miss high heels so much!!!!!! It will be great to wear them again when I get home.  Where is he going on his mission???? It is so weird that they are going out now. I still see them as little kids. Weird.

 

Just tell him to be careful cause that is my car when I get home;) Hahaha kidding. I bet he just loves being able to drive himself around. He is a good kid. I have some very smart siblings!!!!

 

Well I am doing alright just a bit I don't even know what I am. But I am hanging in there. Doing what I know how to do and relying on my Heavenly Father for the rest. I am so grateful that I came on this mission and for the changes I have been able to make in my life. It has really helped me know what I want and need in my life. I am go grateful for the wonderful influences I have in my life and for the wonderful parents I have. I don't know how everything is going to work out but I do know that as long as I have my Heavenly Father on my side it will all work out the way he needs it to.

 

Hopefully we will be able to go to the temple here in a few weeks with one of the members in the ward that we have been working with. She is great and she really reminds me of you mom. She even has a craft corner in her Kitchen. And her daughter is crazy like me. It feels so good to finally really be myself. I will forever be grateful to Rhly for helping me start being my self again. I didn't realize that I had lost it before my mission and it feels wonderful to be back.

 

Thank you so much for all that you have and continue to do for me. I love you all so very much!!!!!

 

Love

 

Sister Ballantyne

Email 10/7/13

The week has been pretty normal other then last Monday we played Chair Football (Soccer where you each guard a chair and the other people try to get you out by hitting your chair with the ball. Every one is against each other) with the Elders and I ended up playing like I have never quit and I was pretty sore the next few days but it was so worth it especially when they didn't realize that Sister Fortuna and I could play like that. I didn't realize just how much I really missed it.

 

That sounds like it would have been terrifying.I wish we had snow now but I guess I will just have to wait until January again. The weather has started to get a bit more gloomy but I am just taking it as it comes and making the best of it. Conference weekend was all sun shine though and that was nice. I loved watching conference I wish I would have been able to watch the Sunday evening session but I will just try to be patient. Elder Hollands talk I feel was directed towards me and telling me to take care of myself. I am trying but It is hard when all I want to do is help others around me.

 

Oh I miss decorating the house. I love the pictures!!!!!!! It looks wonderful and I am glad that you both enjoyed time together decorating the house. It is great time for bonding.

 

I love that girl!!!! She is great!!! I love that you talk to her. I have so really good friends that I will forever be grateful for.

 

I tried sending her an email last week but it got sent back to me so I tried sending another one today and it seems like it was sent through!!!!!! Hopefully she will be able to get it. Mom I miss Rhyl so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would give anything to be able to go back one more time. I think I love it as much as Utah and I never thought I could love a place as much as I love My home. It is crazy. I love it more then Chorley.

 

Guess what I made a peach cobbler and an apple cobbler all on my own!!! Just from memory and it turned out pretty well!!!!!! I wasn't a huge fan od the apple cobbler but it was alright.

 

I am glad to hear that you are all doing well. I love and miss you all so much!!!!!!!!

 

Love

 

Sister Ballantyne