Email 2/25/13

I have had a pretty good week. We had another sister with us due to health problems so we have stayed in quite a bit between her and Sister Telefoni, but we have had a blast. Yes this is the week we should get the trainee she should come on Saturday. But we are not sure right now because President Preston might change some things around so we should find out tonight what the plans are. There are a few that the previous elders were teaching that we picked up but most of them only speak Hungarian so it is kind of hard. But I have decided that I am going to learn Hungarian;) We'll see how that goes!!! We haven't had too much snow lately last week we had 5 days where the sun was shining and 3 where we didn't need to wear jackets.

 

Oh I am so excited for them. She is going to be a wonderful mother. I am so sad that I am not going to be there to see them, So I am going to need some pictures!!! Please

 

Haha Camden is so cute!!! He will talk when he feels like he has something to say!!! Plus with our family how could he get a word in we are constantly talking:) He will do it when he is ready!!

 

I miss those horses!!! That might be a good change for them.

 

Your class sounds like one of the best classes ever!!!!!!!! I wish I was in that class I would have so much fun. It is crazy just how much that really do take in!! It is just the sign of the times.

 

I am doing good, Just trying to ignore all of the worry and stress that I have. The other day at Zone Conference I had a feeling that I really should get a blessing. While I was sitting there listening to Elder Kurr of the Area Seventy for our area give a training he said something that hit me and I knew that I needed him to give me the blessing. He said; We need to place our hands in the Lords and he will help us. I have heard that many times before but just hearing it from him it helped. So after Zone Conference I went up to him and asked if he had a few minutes to give me a blessing. We got my Zone leaders and Elder Kurr asked what the blessing was for. I told him that it was for peace and comfort because I have been really stressed and crazy with worries. He gave me a blessing and pretty much said that everything will work out as long as I put my hand in the Lords and trust what he is telling me!! I am so grateful for the Priesthood and for all it does for me and our family. I want to thank you and dad for teaching me about it and for the opportunity to grow up with the priesthood in our home.

 

The MTC here has definitely had an influx. Our next group of missionaries coming in next transfer is 34 new missionaries plus some going to other missions.

 

I love you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful week!!!!

 

Sincerely

 

Sister Ballantyne

Email 2/18/13

I am glad that Lexie  liked the card!!! How was her birthday???

 

Tina is so sweet!!!!! I was so shocked that she had sent me the package. It had a book in it and a chapter from President Gordon B. Hinckley's biography!. It was so kind and thoughtful of her to send it to me. In the letter it talked about her missionary experience. I am glad that she didn't feel any pain. I would have felt really bad if she did.

 

We get Book of Mormons from the mission office. But that is very kind and thoughtful of Sister Brown. I am glad that you now know what white washing is;) My new address is

 

the Mere NO. 9 Bradstone Court

off Brocksby Chase

Bolton

LANCS

Bl1 2JD

 

Kaetlyn is so cute. I am sure that her talk was pretty powerful. Thank you for sharing that with me. The poem is absolutely wonderful.  Seth is funny!! I am sure that he did a great job as well. He is a very good example to the youth. I don't think he realizes it either.

 

Haha you should come prepared next time and know how to make balloon animals;) Didn't you know that is now a requirement to teach primary?? HEHE!!!!

 

I absolutely love my new companion she is so cute and sweet. We have to spend time in the flat some days because she gets really bad stomach pains. I am now starting to realize why President Preston put us together. Because she is going to be training in a few weeks and when she is in bed in too much pain I will be the one training her. I am terrified!!!!!!!!!!!! I so don't want to train!!! I kept hoping that he wouldn't ask me so I wouldn't have to say no. But he has already told me that he is going to need me to train. Baaaaaaa I am so nervous. The ward is really small but I like it and every one here really wants to do missionary work. It is going to be a really good transfer!!! I love Bolton but I miss Chorley!!

 

I love you all as well

 

Love you mostest hostest toastest

 

Sister Ballantyne

Email 2/14/13

This is transfer week so we did not get an email until today.

The Temple was good I was able to go again yesterday. I have been transfered to Bolton we whitewashed in, so it has been quite a bit of fun trying to find our way around.

 

I don't think the burn will leave too much of a scar.

 

It snowed yesterday so it was quite entertaining with all of the suitcases.

 

We had ward conference as well! It was really good they talked all about the Restoration and the Book of Mormon and using them for missionary work. I am sure that yours was just as wonderful!! It is good to be true to yourself.

 

 As of right now I am not coming home. I told President that I was not going home yet. He asked what I meant by that. I l told him that it meant that I am not going home right now but if I happen to get ingured (not planning on it) or if I am told to go home I am not going to be mad I am just going to do what my Heavenly Father needs me to do!!!!!!!!!!!! My new companions name is Sister Telefoni she is from New Zealand. We will be getting a new one in about 2 weeks. She will be coming from the MTC she is there longer because she is learning English. She is from Spain. Her name is Sister Rojas Vela.

 

UMMMM ya I don't think that I like that either. He needs to stop growning right now!!!!!! Haha I am sure that she is excited!!! But I think she needs to stop growing up!!! I don't like this change thing!!!!

 

Love you tons!!!!!!!!!!

 

Sincerely

 

Sister Ballantyne

Emial 2/4/13

Well I have to admit it has been a really rough week!!! I will be going to the Temple Tomorrow Morning. Hopefully that can help clear up my mind of all things. I will hopefully be able to go to the Temple next week as well on Trasnfers. It is so hard having a Temple so close and not being able to go when ever I want. But it is also humbling to be able to turn to my Heavenly Father and seek his guidence.
My hand is doing fine it is starting to peal, but it is healing very nicely. Sister Spencers hand is fine it was better in 2 days. We are meeting with Laura tonight I think she is doing alright, but I know how hard it is. I just wish I could do more for her. Well we were teaching another one but we had to drop her because she wasn't keeping commitments or appointments. I really didn't want to drop her but there is only so much that we can do without beating them over the head. Sports day was fine. I was able to talk to Sister Longmore and Sister Hanson. I wasn't able to do any of the sports because I was talking to them about what I was feeling. It was really good to talk to them I miss them so much. They helped me so much last transfer. I will forever be grateful to them because they broke me and made me talk about feelings blah;) I also got to see a lot of the other sisters that I am friends with. Yes I am surrounded by loving sisters. I got the chance to meet some of the new sisters coming in on the 13. We were leaving church yesterday and they were outside the MTC taking pictures so we offered to take some of all of them together. It was really weird to realize that that was me just a few months ago.
We have one kind of like that in our ward. But he get up as says that he has a tesitmony that Joseph Smith, Boyd K. Packer, and Thomas S. Monson are Prophets. He also read to us from the book of Tobet. ( I don't even know what that book is) It was quite strange.
Your Primary class sounds wonderful!!!!!!!! So much fun. I think I would fit right in;) You should teach them the bumble bee song:) hehe that would be lots of fun.
It has just been regular England weather here for the past few days other than on Saturday it was a Clear Sunny day and i absolutely loved it!!!! Ya I saw pictures of it from some of the Senior Missionaries in our ward. I am so jealious. I prayed for that snow and it didn't come until I left:( What knife did he loose??? I would have loved to see his face when the ice popped!!!! I am glad that he didn't leave his keys in the truck but it would have been really really funny if he did;) hehe.
I hope you have a good week

Love

Sister Ballantyne 

email 1/28/13

I am doing alright. It has been an ok week. I have had a cold so it has been quite interesting. My hand is healing fine. I got the bandage off last Monday at the Hospital. I can't tell you how happy I was. It is healing quite nicely.
I love it here and all of the people. They are so amazing and I didn't think I could grow to love them so fast in such a short amount of time, but I have. It is amazing how fast your heart can grow and let so many people in. 
 
We have had quite a bit of snow here as well on Friday it felt like Utah. I kept snowing until we had about 3 in. of show. We sat in the flat that night watched the cars and told them they were either going to fast and they needed to slow down, or that they were too close to the other cars and they needed to back off;) It was really entertaining cause they couldn't hear us but we kept trying!!! When it snows we are out in it! So we have to bundle up and find those souls who are ready to listen. We use the bus around here. But sometimes I would rather walk especally when it is snowing here. because they don't plow the roads they just put down salt. And the drivers don't really slow down. It is pretty scary.
Laura is doing alright. Her grandfather died last Sunday so she has been with family. We met with her on Tuesday and she told us that her family has really be giving her opposition about the church. We had her lesson at a members home and I think it helped a little bit. I fill so bad for her. I wish there was something I could do for her to make the pain go away. I know how bad it hurts to loose someone you were close to. We have a few other investigators, but they are not keeping commitments which is frustrating because I know how much it can help them, but I can't hit them over the head with it. They have to do it for themselves.
I am not sure what they have planned for sports day. It is the whole mission but they split it in half. Some areas on the 30th and some on the 31st. All of the sisters will be on the 31st. So we will be going to the Manchester Stake building that day. Yes I told them all thank you from you!!! They said your welcome. I know it really is a small world.
I love you tons and | hope you have a wonderful week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will talk to you again soon.

Sincerely
SIster Ballantyne

Email 1/21/13

I think my hand is fine. It doesn't hurt just itches really bad. It is a second degree burn. The Dr. told us that she didn't take care of burns so we went up there for nothing and now have to go back to the hospital today at 2:15. To get it re-bandaged. Its not like I meant to touch the stove. I meant to just hover my hand over the burner but my hand had another idea and touched the burner. We were at the church for Spealized Zone Conference and President Interviews. Sister Spencer took me to the hospital at 9pm because my hand was swollen and I couldn't move it. So I quit being stubborn and let her take me to the Hospital. It is just across the street from our flat. We were there for 3 hours. We didn't get home until midnight and had to go back at 2:15 the next day. It took 3 hours because when they get snow here in England everything shuts down and there were a few accidents that came in to the hospital while I was waiting. Just so you know I really hate the burn dressings!!!! They sting really bad when you first put them on.

I do love this country, the people, my companions, and the work. After the blessing I knew that all of you would be alright, and I knew it even more when I talked to you on the phone at Christmas.

Before I left it was mixed feelings. I wanted to come and do the lords work, but I also wasn't so sure that it was where he needed me or if it was just something that I wanted. So I came out here because I knew that I needed to do something for myself. So I left everything that I love with all of my heart behind. I came out here to find that I could love this place just as much as home and I do. I love everything out here. I have to have faith that he will help me for doing what he has asked of me.

It has and always will be from now on between me and Heavenly Father just like it should have been from Jr. High when I started putting others before myself and ignoring my own feelings to help others. I have come to the realization that no matter what I cannot make everyone happy or fix everyone. I found that out from an experience here it has also helped me gain a bigger testimony of the atonement.

Thank you so much for those thoughts from Stake conference. I have now more than ever been relying on My Heavenly Father. He has helped me so much and I have realized that I have not been giving him the credit or thanks that he deserves. I have learned to trust in him that he will help me through anything and that as long as I listen he will lead me where he wants me. He has already given me the strength to actually listen to what he was telling me. 

All my love

Sister Ballantyne

Email 1/14/13

My week has definitely been better. Not as many meetings;) 

I am glad that you were able to go to chruch last week!!! Church is a wonderful place. Yesterday at church I was talking to Sister Wild the Relief Society President. I told her that I needed a mom hug. (Just so you know they are from you). She laughed and gave me two. Sister Whillans over heard me say this and gave me another one. I felt so loved. The only thing that would have made it better was if they were really from you and if I could get one from dad. We aren't having much luck with our members here giving us refferals either. Most of them are too caught on indexing, or Temple work which is good. But it means that it is harder to do missionary work as well. I am sure that they both did wonderful.

The ward is doing alright we have been meeting a lot of the new ward members. We get lost a lot but end up finding different people that we were not planning on seeing that day. It is crazy how that works. No we have not been able to see Laura. She was on Holiday, and had to come home early because her Grandfather was in the Hospital again. I guess that they told her he probably wont last the next few days. So she has been with family. I have sent her a text asking if there is anything we can do and have not gotten a response yet. So we will just have to be here when she contacts us. She is in my Prayers. I just hope that her and her family are doing alright.

The weather is cold. It snowed Last night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so happy at one point I stuck my head back and opened my mouth and stuck my tongue out;) hehe it was a lot of fun!! I took pictures so I have proof that it snowed. Good thing I did because it was all gone this morning. I knew that would happen while I was gone!!!!! It wouldn't snow because I wanted it to, but when I leave it decides to be really mean and snow so that I cannot enjoy it;( GRRRRRR!!!! hehe. How is lexie liking work???

The shoes are good!!! Yes they are comfortable. But I needed them because of all the walking I had worn holes in the others so they were letting water in. I figured that that probably wasn't a good thing.

Love you tons

Sister Ballantyne