Email 1/27/14

Well my week has been pretty eventful. We had a return missionary come home in this ward. He was serving in the France mission. We went to his homecoming on Wednesday and I pretty much had a complete come apart. It all became too real that it will be me really soon. And I am so not ready for that. I have not become who I want to be yet. Friday night I had to go to A&E (ER) because my shoulder has been hurting me for a good week and a half. I was ignoring it pretty well until it became really sharp pains and there would be times that I could not move it. So we went and we sat and waited to be seen. It was not very fun because I promised myself that I would not to back to one of the British hospitals again. But look where I ended up. The examined it and said that it was an inflamed tendon and gave me so pills to take and a cream to rub on it 3 times a day. I am not to sure if it is working yet but we will see.

We had a miracle this week as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was absolutely amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of our investigators had their aunt come and stay with them for few weeks. So on Thursday night we went over to teach them and she came and sat in the lesson. But before we could even say a word she told us all about her life and a week ago she almost died and that has left her looking for more truth. She listened to every word and was so happy to have her own Book of Mormon. On Saturday we taught them the Plan of Salvation and she told us that it was pretty much everything that she already believed in. And she came to church on Sunday. I think that she is going to help her family progress even more.

We met a family a few days ago and they are now dated for baptism. Hopefully they will come to church next Sunday. They really are a great family!!!!

I have not gotten poorly yet and hopefully it stays that way.

Oh I keep forgetting to tell you that where we live is on an old American Air Base. It is wonderful!!!!

The weather has been about the same. It has been hailing off and on lately. Which is really funny!!!!!!

Why doesn't he want to go on Trek. It will be a wonderful experience. It is camping and hiking. He likes that stuff. Plus he will be able to light fires all he wants. I am sure that he will like it once he gets out there. Wow LJ is going on a mission that is wonderful!!!!

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

Love

Sister Ballantyne

Email 1/20/14

Dearest Family,

This area is absolutely gorgeous!!!!!!!!! And the people are wonderful. Well on Saturday I was asked to give a talk in sacrament because one of the speakers were not going to be there. They told me I could talk on anything I desired but the focus was on Missionary work. Well missionary work is hard but it is a lot harder to talk about. So I gave my talk the then we did a musical number as missionaries. And it turned out really well. We were able to get one of the less-actives to come to church and hear us sing. He said that he would only stay to hear us sing and then leave. But he stayed for the whole thing. It was absolutely wonderful!!!!!!!
We met Liz on a train home from widnes she was just coming home from Liverpool and she was exhausted. We just started talking to her and ended up on the topic of family history. She said that she did a bit but that she was stuck. I was able to share with her about how my family history has been traced back to her 100's with the church website. She said that she had heard of it but had not gone on it yet. We gave her a website card with our number on it and the chapel address and told her that we had people who would be willing to help her with the rest of her family history. We met so many wonderful people and it carried on into Sunday. Sunday night we were able to have 4 on the spot lessons in 2 hours. And 2 of those wonderful souls are potential investigators!!!!! It was so great to watch the spirit work on Abbey. She was just getting home from the hospital visiting a friend when we stopped to talk to her. She said that she was an atheist. We talked a bit with her and asked if we could say a prayer with her for her friend. She said that we could. After the prayer she had tears in her eyes. We asked if we could meet with her again and she said yes. She has such a sweet spirit that is just waiting to shine. 

I am doing alright. But there seems to be a stomach bug going around that I am trying to avoid. I am sorry that every one back home is getting so poorly. That is no fun.

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The 49er's should have won. Oh well it will happen next year.

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

Love

Sister Ballantyne

Email 1/13/14

My dear and wonderful family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You will never guess what I learned yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My companion Sister Steinagel is related to Ezra Taft Benson. He is her great Uncle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was flabbergasted when I found that out. It was so funny because she had no idea why until I told here that my uncle was related to him. It is such a small world. Well my Companion is from Kansas. She has been on her mission for about 9 months. And she is wonderful!!!!!!! She is so kind and sweet and the ward just absolutely loves her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She was here before I got here. This area is beautiful and I already knew some of the members so it has been a really good welcome!!!!!! One of the members asked me if I had a relative serve her a bit ago. I showed her a picture of Kevin and she said that he looked familiar. It is crazy I wonder how many of his areas I have actually been in. I know for sure that he was in stoke but now I wonder about the other areas.

We had a baptism on Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was the biggest turn out I have ever seen for a single baptism so far on my mission. It was absolutely wonderful!!!!! It was so good to see the support that the ward and her less active family gave her. I am really going to love this ward I can just feel it. There are already some people that I know I am here for them and they have no idea what is coming!!!!!!! I can just feel that this is going to be a great area!!!!!!

Brother Beeston seems to be doing alright!!!! He is out of the hospital and we were able to go and see him before I left. He has had problems before. He has to be careful because he developed a chest cold and they didn't want it to turn into pneumonia. But other then that I believe that He is doing better. I didn't skype from there house but I was there before I skyped.

We have not had snow yet and I am beginning to wonder if we are going to have some this year at all.

Crazy Socks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am sure that He is on cloud 9!!!!!!!!! Which car is he driving????? And I can definitely believe that she is having a hard time with letting him drive. Just tell him to be careful and to not take after his sisters!!!!!!!! That would not be a good thing!!!!!!

So I have decided that I am just going to spend time with family for a little while and think about school later. I just have a feeling that I just need to be with the family. Is that alright????? If not then I can definitely start looking into schools when I get home or right before I get home. Just let me know your thoughts!!!!! And I want your honest opinion Please!!!

It has gone by really fast. And I may not see all of the changes in myself that you have seen but I have seen a few and I am happy with them. I am so grateful to this mission for saving my life the way it has. And I know that it is making me stronger then I thought it ever would. I have been able to change into what I was designed to become. I am beginning to understand who I am and why I am here. And what I am to do with my life. (that one is still completely up in the air. I have completely no Idea what to do with my future career.) Hopefully it will come.

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

Love you tons

Love

Sister Ballantyne

Email 1/6/14

I am leaving stoke!!!!! I am being transferred to Warrington. It is right next to St. Helens. And my new companion will be Sister Stienagle (I think that is how you spell it.) It will be good for a change but it will be sad to leave these wonderful people!!!!!!!

 

The weather is sunny with a bit of a chill. It really depends on the day because one day it can be raining and dreary, and the next the sun is shining and there is only a bit of a chill in the air.

 

I am sure that they are completely thrilled to be going back to work and school. That is so crazy that they are getting married!!!!! I am glad that you were able to help her!!!!!! I am sure that she really appreciated it. It is weird to me that they are old enough to get married and that it seems like everyone I know and their dogs are getting married!!!!!!!!!

 

Grandpa is so cute!!!! I am sad that He has to go through that. I wish I could take it from him. One of the members in this ward we have gotten to really know. He is great and He reminds me a lot of dad. Well we were with him and and Sister Tinsley on Christmas Eve and it was a blast. On New Years day we got a text from him telling us that he had, had a heart attack that night and was in the hospital. He had 3 stints put in and seems to be doing fine now. But that was hard to hear. I am so glad that we have this gospel to help us through all of those hard and stressful testing times. I honestly don't know what I would do with out it. I  don't think I could cope.

 

I miss you all so much!!!!!!!! Can you believe that I have made it this far????? It has be one crazy and emotional ride. One that I am and will be eternally grateful for. I love this mission and these beautiful people!!!!!!!! They are absolutely amazing!!!! They just wont see it in their selves. DO YOU KNOW HOW SPECIAL YOU ARE???? I want each of you to know that you are loved and you have been give special talents and gifts that make you who you are. They were given to you by a Loving Heavenly Father who knew and still knows you and knows what you need. Search for those gifts and talents and when you start finding them you start finding yourself!!!!!! YOU ARE SPECIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And don't ever doubt that!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I love you so much more then you will ever know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for all that you do!!!!!!!

 

Love

 

Sister Ballantyne

 

P.S. Thank you for the pictures and the poster!!!!!!!!!! I love you all so much!!!!!!!!

 

Email 12/16/13

This week has been better!!!! We have found new investigators. So that should be good. That is one thing that I don't miss is the stupid inversion!!!!!!!

 

Oh I miss putting up the Christmas village!!!!! I look forward to doing it next year!!!!!! Those sound so cute!!!!!!! I am really cherishing the Christmas traditions we have and keeping them close to my heart. I wonder if he thinks it is like the computer because on mothers day you were trying to get him to talk to the computer screen to me. So he could think that that is what it is. I am sure that it was sad. I miss them a lot!!!! I miss you all a ton especially right now.

 

I am so excited for the Christmas party tomorrow!!!!! It is going to be so much fun. Yes you can send the package to the Mission Office that will be just fine. You are so amazing!!! You really don't have to send me anything!!!! I love you all so much. I don't think I can tell you enough!!! The past week I have just wanted to pick up the phone and talk to you and tell you all how much I love you and am so grateful for you!!!!!

 

Wow I cannot believe that He is already coming home!!!!!!!! That is amazing. He will be home for Christmas!!!!!!! What a great gift.

 

I love Christmas as a missionary. I wish that every one could experience it!!!!!!!! It is a great feeling to be able to focus your whole Christmas on the Savior and serving those around you like he would. I could not imagine it any other way. I know that we do it as a family. But there are so many families out there that focus so much on the commercial side of Christmas and forget the true meaning of it all!!!!!!! And here as a missionary I am able to bring a bit of that spirit into their Christmas. I love it so much.

 

We had a ward Christmas party on Saturday and it was so much fun!!!!!! Santa came and I think my companion was more excited then the little kids were. She was jumping up and down yelling Santa's here!!!! It was quite entertaining. While we were there the Elders had an investigator come and He had been taught before about 2 years ago. He saw my badge and asked if I knew a Ballantyne who served here before. I told him that I had a cousin serve in this mission and He said that He remembered Him. Then later that night and on Sunday I had a few other people come up to me and ask if I knew an Elder Ballantyne. On of them said that He gave him some proper American candies. Will you ask Kevin if he served in Stoke??? Please and thank you.

 

That is so great that He is enjoying what he is doing!!!! I am sure that it is hectic. I remember seeing the kids in High School and how hectic their lives got this time of year. Lexie is great!!! I would just say to keep reminding her how much you love and appreciate her. Spend some one on one time with her or even write her a note telling her how much you appreciate her. I know that a note or a letter goes a long way!!!! I remember getting those from you and dad one girls camp and on trek and they helped me to truly feel loved!!!!!! You are wonderful parents and family and I could not ask for a better one.

 

That bird sounds absolutely great!!!!!!!!! I love you all so much!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thank you for all that you do!!!!!!

 

I love you so much!!!!!!

 

Love

 

Sister Ballantyne

 

Give everyone my love!!!!!!

Email 12/9/13

Dear beautiful Family,

 

This week has been rough but good!!!!! I went on exchange to Congleton and that was fun but emotional. Because it was Tuesday to Thursday the day of the viewing and funeral. I was wishing the whole time that I could be there with you!!! But I knew the only thing I could do was pray for you. I think I said a prayer every minute. And on Saturday I did something you will never believe!!! I sang on a bus. But not just any bus it was a double decker bus that was full of people!!!!!!! My companion and I sang Oh Holy Night. And I had no nerves at all!!!!!!!! The spirit was so strong I don't think they would have lasted long at all if they did come. It was absolutely amazing!!!! I still could not believe that I did it. Sister Brown was saying that it was something that she wanted to do so I told her to do it. But then our bus stop came. So we got off. And started walking. I told her that if we didn't get on another bus now then it probably wouldn't happen. So we said a prayer for her to have the courage to do it. And during the prayer i was told that I had to sing with her. So we waited for the next bus and got on walked up to the top. Sister Brown said that we would like to share a song about Christ. And we started singing. It was an absolutely amazing experience. It made bearing my testimony on Sunday a piece of cake.

 

I knew that that would happen. He was a very loved man!!!!! With a heart of Gold. That poem was in a weekly news letter from president the week before uncle Steve died. And i was telling president that it was one of my favorite poems. And I now remember why it was because Uncle Steve had shared it to me and I could see how much it reflected his life and all our lives. I am so glad that I have that to read now. I am sure that it was absolutely beautiful. And I do have to admit that I think I am still in a bit of shock. And I think that it is going to take some time to really sink in. But I know that I am being taken care of. That there are angels watching over all of us!!!!! And I know that the savior is always with us and helping us along the way. I am so grateful for that knowledge that I have and that even though this is a hard time I am able to serve others and help them know that they are never alone. Thank you for raising me in this gospel.

 

It sounds like it was a great Christmas party. Who was Santa??? Oh I do hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. I will most likely be skyping you at 6pm here which is 11am your time. Is that alright???? 

 

I am so excited for him to go. I miss doing that!!!!!!!!

 

Oh she will be so good at that!!!!!! It is something that she enjoys doing!!!!!! I have always loved her cakes!!!!! Wish I could have one here. Oh well probably wouldn't taste very good by the time that it got here;) That is really funny that they were already doing one of her cakes.

 

We have not had snow yet it has been sunny. My companion says that it has been chilly but I don't feel it quite yet. Pictures of the beautiful snow covered mountains please and thank you!!!!! There was a flood in Rhyl last week. I miss it a lot but I am glad that I was not there for that.

 

I should get the packages next week on Tuesday because that is the day we are going to the mission home for our Christmas party. So I will refrain from opening them until Christmas even though it is probably going to kill me to wait that long. Hehe but I will be patient.

 

I am grateful that I was not transferred as well. This is great ward and have helped me a lot.

 

I love and miss you all tons!!!!!!!

 

Love

 

Sister Ballantyne

Email 12/2/13

Dear Beautiful and Strong Family,

 

It gave me a lot of peace as well. I just had to know how you were all doing. But I had to hear it in your voices!! I am glad that you all have each other for the support!!!!! And I am so grateful that I am here in this beautiful place with these wonderful members who have been so great. I have gotten so many hugs and love from these members. I love this church so much because it is the same. You can find the same love and kindness where ever you go.

 

Please know that I am sorry that I cannot be there but you all will be in my thoughts the whole time!!!!! And I will be praying for you forever!!!! You have so many prayers being said in all of your behalves!!! I wish I could do more, but one thing I have learned is that prayers are so strong and powerful. And to have people that are here with me that are here to help people who better then to have them saying prayers for my family. At first I didn't want people to know because I just wanted to deal with it myself and to continue the work. But then I thought about My wonderful family and how it was selfish of me to not want them to have the comfort that they could receive from the prayers of the righteous follower who put their own life on hold to help those who have lost loved ones or who may be struggling or who need comfort.

 

Please watch after Katie I am afraid that she is going to be strong for her mom but not let herself feel break down when she needs to. Her and I are a lot alike because I do that myself. Please let her know that I love her and that I am always here for her!!!!!! I truly wish I could be there with you!!!!!!!!

 

Tell them all hi for me.

 

We had Stake conference this week. It was really good!!! The adult session was all about missionary work. They had us missionaries as the Choir and I sang in a quartet. It was nerve wracking but I am starting to realize that it is not that bad. My companion Sister Brown is an absolutely amazing singer and she is going to help me work on my voice and lungs and get them back to what they used to be. It should be good I hope. President said that he wants us to go caroling through Stoke. We have already done it a bit and have seen some miracles. We have some potential Investigators from it. I love how the spirit of Christmas changes people and they are a bit more open. I love Christmas time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

My siblings are so amazing, and so very talented!!!!!!!! I am so grateful for them!!!!!!!

 

I would like some Christmas pictures of the family sense I never got them from last year and I mean every one in the family not just a few. Please and thank you!!!!!!!!!

 

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

 

Love

 

Sister Ballantyne