9-29-2014: What Happened to September???

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Hello Family!

This week I absolutely felt the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ.  I've been praying for you all and I'm glad things are going alright.  

So some crazy news, Hermana Lacey George, my current companion is going home on Wednesday! She has finished her mission and she's going back to good ole Orem, UT. :)  ALSO, I'll be training for my last 2 transfers!  Still kind of in shock that I only have 2 transfers left, time just flies by sooooo fast!  Didn't I just get here yesterday??  I guess not... But that will be a good experience, I'm excited!  

Let's see, some good things from this week....We had dinner with this lady Hna Guacaran who is from Venezuela and she told us her conversion story--she was involved in the ministry of another church when the missionaries found her! Nutso, miracles do happen.  She is really cool and has a super strong testimony.  

A cool miracle--we had a member with us to teach an appointment and it turns out that our investigator wasn't home.  So the hermana turns to us and says "you know what? I have a friend who lives just down the street, let's go talk to her!" so we do, and this friend turns out to be the wife of the brother of a member!  Crazy, right? coincidences absolutely do NOT exist.  So we talk to them and they tell us how much they admire their family members that are part of the church and we invited them to learn more and they said YES!  So we'll see how that goes, I'm excited.  :)

We also taught this guy named OM this week--He is married to a less-active member and he has been taught by missionaries for a few years now.  At one point he even had a baptismal date and everything, but for whatever reason he dropped it.  He recently moved into our area so we started teaching him and he came to church on sunday for the first time in a while!  He has real intent and is really searching for an answer from God about what he should do.  We invited him to pray about a date when he could get baptized and he agreed!  We have high hopes for them.

Also, I've decided that Mexicans know how to make good sandwiches.  First they buy special sandwich bread called "Bolillos" and then they toast them, then they put some refried beans, avocado, meat, cheese and mexican crema.  SO good.  I've converted.  

Also, I went to a "New Training Meeting" for the trainers this next transfer and I saw an Elder that is serving in Gainesville! So i asked for updates and he told me about RW who is sooo ready to be baptized and is just waiting to get some paperwork in for something.  (he's one of my black grandpas) man, that is such a cool guy.  

The Women's Broadcast on Saturday was wonderful!  The last couple conferences they've been putting a ton of emphasis on Temples and Covenants and I just reaffirmed the desire I have to be a "temple-going person."  When I'm in Provo, I will probably even be able to go once a week.  Man, I just love the temple so much.  

I'm glad you could go up and visit with Buck and Paula, I'm sure that they felt your love for them and the Savior's love for them.  I hope the time in UT goes well, I wish Daddy and Jake luck in their marathon!  I will be rooting for them from the Hurst Stake Center as I watch Conference.  ;)

I love you SO much.  You are in my prayers always.  

<3

Hermana Sangre

9-22-2014: Sad News...

[Editor's note: Kate's Uncle Lane passed away on Sunday, so it was sad news that we shared with her for her weekly email.  Here is her response.]

Dear Family,

I am so grateful for the joy and peace that the Plan of Salvation brings.  I know that God has a plan for us and that He knows each of us personally and perfectly.  God is a god of Love and of mercy and of light.  I know that Christ suffered everything that is hard and ugly in life so that we don't have to.  Because of Him, death hath no sting and pain has an end.  

I am sorry to hear about Uncle Lane, I love him a lot and I love you all so much.  I will keep him, Buck, Paula, and you all in my prayers.  

Thank you for raising me in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  Thank you for being such great examples to me of Christlike love and kindness.  

This week I had some good experiences where I've been able to feel a small portion of the Love that God has for each and every one of us, and I couldn't even contain myself.  We can't even comprehend how much God loves us, it is infinite, it is real. It is there whether we feel we deserve it or not.  It is simply there.  

I didn't recieve the email from BYU, they must have sent it to my gmail account, if you could send it that'd be great.

I love you all so much.  Sorry I didn't write more.  

Love, 

Kate

9-17-2014: TEMPLE!!!

Sorry, this week it's gonna be a short email.... :)

so we went to the temple today!  It was VERY needed.  man, I love that place.  it is so peaceful and beautiful.  But as a result, due to traffic and such, it didn't leave a whole lot of time for us to do our weekly things!  So we're running and emailing.  :)  

Basically, we had a good week!  S, our 13 year old buddy, is doing really well!  We're teaching her tonight, actually.  She came to church again on Sunday and she's working towards her baptism on November 1st!  She's super cool and uber prepared.  AND super mature.  When we call her to confirm our appointments she says things like, "Of course it's fine, i'll be waiting for you here" *but in spanish. and when we come in to teach she always offers us something to drink and other small things that girls her age don't usually think to say.  She's just super cool.  

We had a ward party on Saturday!  it was la dia de la hispanidad fiesta and it was suuuper fun.  we had a couple less actives go so that was good, and basically it was lots of goooooood hispanic food and some games and a couple people performing traditional dances from their countries and then (of course) it ended in a dance for everyone.  Hispanics LOVE to dance.  we were leaving right as it was starting, don't worry, missionary mantle intact. ;)  

I've never heard of Just serve, it sounds like a good program!  We're trying to do more service in our area too, we might even teach a spanish class to some old fogies at the senior center in our area.  :) Fun stuff.  

Hermana Sangre's previous district

To answer y'alls question about what we do when we don't have appointments, we have LOTS of resoures to use, like, missionaries keep REALLY good track of every single person they've ever talked to or given a pass along card to or shared a lesson with.  So a lot of time we might go follow up on those people, or we might go knock doors around people we know or we'll work with members to see who they know in their area and who they're working with.  Or we'll do service.  But man, there is SO much work to do, it's insane!  And our area is pretty big, so there's lots of people that we need to meet still that are just looking for the gospel!  

sorry if i didn't get to answer all your questions, I'll get them next week!

Keep on Running, Dad.  You got it!  

I love you all so much!  

Hermana Sangre

9-15-2014: temple!

sorry, I'm on just for a second, but I just thought I'd let you know that I'm actually going to be going to the Temple on Wednesday, so that means we had to change our Pday.  SO that means that I will be giving you my weekly update on Wednesday :)  Just a quick note to let you know since I forgot to tell you last week.  have a good 48 hours until then! 

:)

Hermana kates

2014-9-8: What a Wonderful Week!

Hello family!

We had  a wonderful week this week!

One downside, a family that I really love and had been working with the first time I was here basically said "Thanks but no thanks."  Kind of tough, because I love this family a bunch, but it will be OK because I have faith that they'll accept the gospel another time in their life.  We laid a good foundation.

But on a happier note, we saw a TON of miracles this week!  

First off, we met this super young couple V and D this week, and it's actually pretty funny how we met them.  So...once upon a time our apartment complex decided to change all the toilets in all of the apartments, so one time during our studies this maintenance worker comes in to change our toilet.....he was hispanic and asked how we knew spanish, so we got talking about how we were missionaries and what we did and almost immediately we asked him if he knew anyone who could benefit from a message of Jesus Christ.  So then he starts telling us about his son D, and gives us his address and phone number and everything!  Then Monday this week we stopped by and talked to D and his girlfriend V and just shared something small about the Book of Mormon, set up a return appointment for Saturday where we taught the Restoration and then Sunday they came to church!  CRAZY, they are so prepared and searching for a way to grow closer to God and it's awesome!  I was kind of in shock yesterday, because I feel like I have to fight to convince people that they need to come to church or that they need to read, and V and D are just so cool, they already wanted to do those things, they just needed someone to come and invite them!  

And allllllll  of this started with a toilet.  Whodathunk it.

We also brought this girl S to church, she's 13 and she lives with her super catholic grandma, but spent some of the summer going to church with her LDS mom in Mexico!  So we just found her a week and a half ago KNOCKING DOORS and she already wants to get baptized.  It's fine, no big deal.  She is super cool, shes already talked to her Mom and Grandma about learning more and talking to us and getting baptized and they've both said they would support her in her decision! SO. Cool. 

Last Tuesday in my interview with President he told me that he felt very strongly that I was the person that needed to come to Hurst in the Emergency Transfer, that there were people that needed me here--whether new or people that I already worked with.  It was a cool thing to hear.  

ALSO, last night we were knocking doors and knocked into some members that go to the Tongan ward here!  It was cool, they offered us food or rides or whatever we needed ever.  They were just so generous and loving and it was cool to meet them.  

Basically, the Lord is just blessing us so much.  

I'm glad things have been going well this week and that y'all will be able to rest a little bit!  I'm glad BYU is winning (in Ward Council yesterday, Hermana George was wearing orange, just by chance, and the 2nd Counselor in the Bishopric told her that orange was the wrong color because the Longhorns lost, it was good news...hah)  Yay for nat having a roommate!  I hope his classes are going well and that he's calling y'all every sunday night ;)

I love you all so much, have a blessed week this week

:) Hermana Sangre

9-2-2014: Happy Labor Day

OK. So i don't have a toooon of time b/c the library was closed yesterday and we have to run off soon to have our quarterly interviews with President Ames, but i'll try and wrap everything into a nice little bow! :)  

So, long story short: Hermana George (my current companion) was training and her trainee went home.  Not sure completely why, a mix of several reasons including minor health problems and a personal decision, but all I know is that I was in Arlington last monday, recieved a call at 10:15 from one of our assistants saying, "Sister Blood, we need you in Hurst, can you be packed by tomorrow?" 

me: "uhhhhh yeah!  I'll be there."  

I hardly slept at ALL i was so nervous/excited/confused.  But basically Hermana Ford is now in a trio with the other hermanas in the Arlington spanish ward covering those two areas and I came in to Hurst to fill the spot of the sister that went home.  Hermana George is going home at the end of this transfer and she is AMAZING.  She is from Orem and has suuuper good spanish and is 22 and is so energetic and happy and a really amazing missionary.  I have a lot of respect for her and she's handled the whole situation with a ton of grace.   

So i'll at least be in hurst for the rest of this transfer, probably another one after that, and I may even finish my mission here, who knows!  But i love it here, on Sunday it was a big reunion with the ward and the bishop's wife even said, "the prodigal daughter returned home!"  :)  I'm glad the people here consider this place my home and that it's not just me.  We're going to be working with some people that I was working with a YEAR ago when I was here (time goes by waaaay tooo fast!)  and basically it's just going to be suuper super awesome.  I love Hurst.  

Not a lot of time, but we are seeing miracles daily.  We found 4 families this week!  It was really cool.  They all have tons of faith and tons of potential.  It's awesome.  

I'm glad y'alls week has been going well in utah and such! The package arrived safely and I made sure to wear my new fancy BYU shirt to our Pday activity at the church to play basketball and volleyball with some other missionaries in our stake :)  yeah BYU pride!  

In response to your pregunta dad: The book of mormon is SOO key.  Because literally everything our investigators have questions about can be resolved if they know that the book of mormon is true.  I can't remember if i told you this, but our mission is reading the whole book of mormon in 2 months with a specific question in mind, a question we choose personally.  I'm studying the nature of the Godhead but really as i read, I see that this book answers literally any question anyone could have about their life or about God, like, "does God really know me?" or "how can I have better family relationships?" or even "how can i do better in school?"   It is such an amazing book and could only have been written and translated by the power of God. I'm glad that you will be speaking in the spanish ward! say hi to my people :)  

I love you all soooo much!  have a beautiful week!

<3 Hermana Sangre

P.S. I have homework for y'all over the next few weeks: this is for everyone in the family if possible, and anyone you want to forward this on to:  Can you write your testimony and email/send it to me? I want to know what experiences in your lives lead you to know that this church is true.  Basically, y'alls conversions stories.  :)  I know you probably have a million and one things to do, so if it takes some time that's ok, but I was just pondering this the otehr day and thought it'd be a cool thing to have. :)

8-26-2014: New Address!!

Hi Family,

Just a quick note so that you know that my address has changed back to my Haltom City Address, if you plan on sending me anything you can send it to there (I don't remember exactly what it is but it's the 5201 Springlake Pkwy #102 in Haltom City) I think that's what the address is, not 100%.  But without fail, if you send anything to the mission office, it will somehow get to me. 

A sister in Hurst is going home, so President has asked me to go there to fill her spot.  More updates on next Tuesday (b/c I think Monday is labor day?) with details and whatnot.  But just thought you should know. 

love you so much!

<3 Hermana Katie Batie

8-25-2014: Hello Family!

Hello Family! 

This week was amazing. We taught lots of cool people that we love a lot.

We contacted this really cool lady named AH, so apparently when she was like 12 missionaries visited her dad in Ecuador and she met missionaries somewhere recently (she's like 30's)  and told them that story, so they sent us a referral to go visit her!  We called her, set up an appointment and taught a suuuper good lesson about the Restoration, we invited her to church and she was like, "I work sundays...but I can totally ask my boss to change my schedule so that I can come!"  it was great. 

We also taught this cool girl named AG, she's less active but wants to be active!  She's 16 and thinking of serving a mission.  She was talking about church and how she feels the spirit there and really wants to go, just has got to convince her mom.  I just felt the spirit soooo strong when we were teaching her, so I just told her how impressed I was with her and how much God loved her and was proud of her example in her family.  It was great. 

We also contacted a referral from a member in Hurst!  So  (member) Hermana B gave us a ride from Hurst to Arlington after the exchange last week (2 weeks ago...?)  and we were meeting up by an investigator's house and Hermana B was like "hey, my cousin lives in this area and missionaries used to visit her, y'all should stop by!"  sooo we did!  It was awesome.  It's this sweet lady named IR who has suffered from severe joint pain due to an accident she had about 4 years ago so she can't really walk, but she's super faithful and cool.  I'm excited to teach her. 

Alsoooooo I had this thought, and we'll see if it stays or not, but I was wondering about what y'all thought about me becoming a Spanish teacher...???? I'm still so confused, I thought I'd be sooo set on doing Marketing, and I still really like that major/career path but the other day I couldn't get the thought out of my head of how awesome it would be to teach Spanish.  We'll see....

I love you all so much!  Hope all is going well with moving Nattiiebaladiepotatoelenguinispaghettianchovieartichokiekoliepokiebumpo in to BYU.  What classes is he taking this semester?? we'll see if I approve..hah 

Have a wonderful week!

<3

Hermana Sangre