June 13, 2011 Letter

Dear Most Wonderful, Beautiful, and Most Amazing Mother in the Whole Wide World!!!

Hi. Yes, I think Waco has become my home away from home. Luckily, I love the people here and they are all so good to me. They really take care of me. It's nice to have good people. It makes it a little easier to be away from home. I am excited to be here another transfer as well. We are going to see so many amazing things happen. This last week was a little sad. I had to say goodbye to my bestie, Sister Quiroz. I was really sad to have her go. I realized how much fun it is to have a friend. It was so fun. She is the funniest person ever. When we would talk about brothers and sisters she would make a pretend sad face (she’s an only kid). I always told her she could be my sister. And she became my sister. So it was kinda sad for me to see her go. She taught me so many wonderful things too. She had a solid testimony. She helped me see things from an investigator's view point. Of how we as missionaries can help them in ways that I never thought of. But Sister Crossan is great. She does a little better with just the two of us. She kinda struggled when we were in a trio. She was a little bit crazy..............but she seems to be better now.

I hope that Grandpa Ralph is ok. Keep me posted on how he is doing and I will make sure that he is in my prayers.

Well this week we went and helped at a funeral. A member of our ward is a principal at a high school here and one of her students died. It was really awful. He died the day before he graduated. But we were able to help and Sister Reiher said that it did a lot of good. We were glad we were able to help.

We met and taught a lot of great people this week. We are really excited about the people that we are teaching. I am so excited. I think I am finally going to see my first baptism this transfer. It is going to be an exciting day! Did you know that yesterday was my 5 month mark? I was really impressed I made it! I feel like you just barley dropped me off. It has all gone crazy fast. I am also blown away that it is June! That is crazy! It has been hot here since March, so I feel like it should still be March or something! Wow heat......it is something unreal! We are in the high 90s everyday. We have already had 5 days in the 100s this June, and no rain. It has been crazy. But on the bright side, I am getting tan and my hair is slowly changing from dark brown to not so dark brown....

Troy and Sarah are doing so good. With all the crazy things that they have been through because of our crazy members and their crazy friends, I am amazed that they are still interested. But they really want to know the truth! It makes me so happy! They are so great. They are really trying. It is amazing! James is so excited to get baptized. When we asked him to live the Word of Wisdom, he said Tobacco is his problem, but that you have to give something up to get something better. Pretty awesome!

I am sad about Keith. He wants signs. He said if he gets this job, that he will try twice as hard to get his answer and that he will come to church every week because it means that God wants him to. He just doesn’t understand faith. It made me think of Korihor and Alma. I mean he isn't as bad as Korihor, but kinda the same concept. It is really sad. I was reading Jacob 5 today and it talks about how the Lord of the Vineyard wept and said, "What could I have done more?" Sometimes I feel that way about my investigators. I want them to succeed so much and to find this happiness but they just wont do it. And I feel like what more can I do? What could I do more for them? It is hard to see people be that way. But there is nothing I can do excpet teach them and help them feel the spirit and understand. I can't force them to believe and to make the right choices. I wish I could! But I can't, dangit...

Well Mom, I am glad that everything is going well back home. It makes me happy that everyone is so good. It helps me. I love you more than you can know! I think you are the most amazing mom and person in this world. I am so lucky to have you as my mom. Thanks so much for all that you do for me.

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Loves, hugs and kisses,

Sister Bailey

3rd Transfer Down!

I can't believe she has completed another transfer already! She will be starting transfer 4 in Hewitt! It's a good thing she loves it there. :) I am so glad she gets to stay to see the baptisms of her investigators. Life as a missionary is hard, but when you finally get to see someone enter the water of baptism, it sort of recharges your battery and makes you want to go out and conquer the rest of the world! We miss her so much and know that she is being blessed, as well as being a blessing herself to people there. :)

June 6, 2011

Dear Wonderful and Perfect and Prettiest Mom Ever!

So guess what...I am staying in Hewitt! I have a feeling I am going to be here for a little while! Oh well, its a good thing I like this place. Sadly Sister Quiroz is leaving and it will just be me and Sister Crossan. I am really sad Sister Quiroz is leaving. Me and her got along so well. She was so fun and the transfer flew by! I can't believe it is already over; I feel like it just started. It's sad when you make a bestie and they have to leave you. Dang missions! The Lord is definitely teaching me though and trying to make me better. I don't like it when He does that. I just want Him to make my life easier on me! That would be really nice! But he doesn't. I am sad because Sister Crossan goes home at the end of this transfer so I have to "kill" her. I did not want to kill anyone. It makes me sad and wish that I was the one getting on that plane and going home. But I just keep thinking that I have to wait my turn. By the end of this next transfer I will only have a year left. I can do anything for a year. It's just hard to be away from you and the family. Sometimes I really miss you. But I try to be brave. It is kind of mean of Heavenly Father to make us be seperated from our families! Oh well, I do love what I am doing and I love the people I am serving. I am amazed at all the wonderful people here. I love it.

I am way excited that I get to see Alitas baptism! And I get to see Troy and Sarah get baptized! We set a date with them for the 18th! I am so excited! They are so great and very amazing! Teaching people is so fun and it is even more fun to see them progress!

I survived my week of no sugar or bad food. Did I tell you about the deal we made with Keith and Chris? Well if I didn't, we made a deal that they would not drink or smoke, and I would not eat sugar, Sister Quiroz would run every morning and Sister Crossan would not run. Mine was pretty dang hard. Especially when we would go to members houses and they would feed us dessert! Man that was tough, and of course, your package came on Tuesday! I was so sad! But I put them in the freezer to wait. They are now thawing on the counter, and I am so dang excited to eat them! You are the best mother in the world. I don't know if you know how much I love you and think you are amazing. Sometimes people talk about their families and I just think wow I am so lucky! I really am.

I am so glad that Tater-Tot is trying hard to be good. He is such a good kid. I miss him lots. I am always amazed by him and the courage he has. He is so great. What a wonderful example he is to everyone. And I am glad that Suz is having fun! I can't believe she is going into high school! That is crazy! She is so old. Man, it makes me feel old. When I get home she is going to be too cool for me!

I hate losing in shoot outs! That is just annoying! I think Tyson is the real winner. He is so dang cute! Man, I have the cutest siblings in the world. I am jealous you get to see Tosha and Eric and Anna and Wes. I miss them. Oh well, next summer right? Sorry, I know I shouldn't say those things. But sometimes I think them. It's just hard not seeing you all. But I promise I am being tough and I really am good. I do love it here. And it goes by so fast! I can't believe how fast the time goes. It's amazing. This transfer literally flew by. It's like I blinked and all of a sudden they are giving us our transfer calls. I am super sad about Sister Quiroz....sad day. But she is excited to be able to go back to Spanish.

Well, I don't know of anything else exciting to tell you. I am lame. Sorry this letter wasn't very good. I will try and write a better one next week. I think you are the best mother in the world. I love you alot and alot and alot more! Thanks so much for all that you do for me mom. I don't know where I would be without you. I love you!!!!

Loves hugs and kisses,

Sister Bailey

May 31, 2011 letter

May 31, 2011

Dear wonderful, most fabulous, and best mother in the whole world,

I thought alot about our little boys this weekend. It makes my heart bleed too. Don't tell Tosha that though. Does little Jake have a headstone yet? Or is he still sharing with his big brother? Good thing they share better than little Anna does! That is so funny she did that! She knows her mom way too well. She knows that Tosh is a big sucker and will do anything for little Wessey! I love Anna and I miss her a lot. She is so cute and she does the funniest things. I love hearing stories about her. I love hearing about all my little nieces and nephew. When are Tosh and Eric going to visit you? Not soon enough? I am sorry Peyton had to go. Lameness. I don't know why Dave and JaRelle have to be so mean and take her away from you.

I am glad that McKay is going to school this week! That will be so fun for him! He will have to let me know how it goes. I miss hearing from him. Tell that boy that he needs to write his big sister or he is going to be in BIG trouble! Sister Denham told me he looks like he is doing really good. That makes me happy. I just want McKay to be happy. I miss him a lot. I really want to see more of his pictures. I have heard they are amazing. He is so talented it is unfair! I dont know how he got so many dang talents. I feel like he emptied the jar and then left like 2 for the rest of us. I too must have been more shareful than Anna. Hahaha.

Tyson is so dang cute! I hope his team wins this week. I will pray for no snow so it won't have to be postponed again. And plus, I dont want you to move to Arizona. I like Utah. So don't even think about moving!

It is for sure not snowing here in Texas. We are usually in the high 90s. We had a couple of times last week that our car thing read at least 100. Yes 3 digits and it's only May. It is going to be a sad sad Summer. Sister Quiroz said I can't complain because I only have to deal with one full summer. She has to do two. I don't feel bad for her. She lives in Texas! She should be used to this awfulness.

Lauren sounds like she is doing so well. Look out dad...sounds like she likes a boy and he can drive...I can't say anything else on the subject. Sister confedientiality (I think I spelled that wrong). You know how it is.

It was so fun to see Brother and Sister Denham. They are so fun. We saw her everyday pretty much. She came out with us one night and that was a lot of fun. Then She ran with us the next day. Mostly she ran with Sister Crossan. It was Saturday. Saturday is not my running day. It is my "I wish I was still in bed day." She is a great lady. It was fun to hear about all of the changes going on in Farmington. I don't think I am going to be able to recognize it when I come home! Sad, I liked our little town. They told me they talked to you a lot that week and I was a little jealous of that. I want to talk to you. Sometimes Mom...I miss you. But I would much rather have you be my mom too so I can see you forever. I like that a lot more. Eternal happiness instead of instant gratification right? Sometimes that is hard. I like the instant stuff sometimes. Like instant pudding, its almost better than the long waiting stuff.

We had a great week this week. We taught Troy and Sarah--they are so great. Sarah said that she has never seen Troy care so much about a church. He is so interested in the Book of Mormon and everything. She says that alone is testimony to her that it is true. She also said when she prays, she doesn't feel confused and that she doesn't feel bad. And if it was of the Devil she would feel confused. We are so excited about it! I love teaching them. They have a lot of questions, but that is because her friend feeds them a lot of Anti. I am so glad they are willing to ask the questions. They are great!

Keith and Chris are going a whole week without smoking or drinking. I am excited about it. I know they will feel the spirit this week. It is going to be a good week for them.

Alita finally set her own date!! Hallelujia! (once again spelled wrong! Sorry) She is going to get baptized on July 5. She picked the date herself. It is before her wedding, so that is good.

We also had Zone conference this week. It was so good. President Sagers showed us a talk that Elder Holland gave at the MTC the day before I entered. It was an amazing talk! I don't know if you can find it or see it, but it was AMAZING. Elder Holland is amazing. The end is just, wow. I don't even know what to say about it. It still runs through my head. He can really talk.

I am so sad I missed Taylor's wedding. It sounds so pretty. I like the way she did that. She is so sweet. I really love and miss her. She is a fantastic cousin. I am so glad that she is my cousin. He is one lucky guy!!

I can't believe it is already summer! That was such a fast end of the year! Man oh man! It was like we blinked and it was summer. It will be that way with summer as well, and then next thing we know, Lauren will be driving. Poor Lafonda. She will never be the same. Do you still have Lafonda? Also, do you still have the boat? Or did we finally sell it? I know you switched cars. Lots of questions.

Well Mom, I am glad that everything is going well. I miss you lots. I love you way too much! You are truly the best mother in the whole world. I am so lucky to have you! I love you, I love you, I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!

Loves hugs and kisses,

Sister Bailey.

P.S. We get transfer calls again this week! I will let you know next Monday where I will be. Crazy its already they end of the transfer huh?! I LOVE YOU!!!