Sister Ballantyne in Singapore: April 2013

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Singapore Mission pictures

These are all the missionaries in the Singapore Mission:

There's Summer, in the middle!

From Mom: I wrote a letter to talk about this week and sent it but it seems to have disappeared! Oh, well. I'll start again. It looks like you're still in a pretty good-sized city. How different is it from Singapore, besides not hearing English as often? Is your language coming back quickly or are you having to work on it?

I'm almost done with my training for Intuit. I not only get $50/hr for the web meetings we're participating in for training but also the online modules I do on my own time! I've signed up to work 60 hours between the 8th, tomorrow, and 15th, next Monday. I should make over $3,000 in that amount of time, including training. It's a great time for it!!

Michael should be feel ready to forward his mission papers within a couple of weeks. I, of course, am not a very patient person so want it to happen now!! I loved what Elder Anderson said in Conference - that the Thursday after the age announcement was given he was asked to go recommend missionaries. There were already many 18-yr old young men and 19-yr old women who had seen their doctors, interviewed with their bishops and stake presidents and submitted their paperwork to serve full-time missions all in just 5 days! Awesome!

What time do you see Conference? Is it rebroadcast at a normal time for you or do you watch it live, in the wee hours of the morning?

I'm looking forward to having about 5 days with Dad in Draper starting the 19th! I'll leave everyone else here. Karlene has a Saturday rehearsal for Children's Chorus during that time. It will be the only time they rehearse together before the competition (or on the bus). I get back the 23rd and leave the morning of the 25th with Karlene and the choir to go to Seattle. They're singing Kyrie, Lux, Wade in the Water, My Wish for You, She's Like the Swallow, Simple Gifts and Ku-Ku. Should be fantastic!

Crookshanks may not be moving with us. Even after his teeth were worked on he still isn't eating the way he needs to. He seems to be in pain every time he bites wrong so we may need to end his suffering, just as a heads up. Sorry.

Dad seems to like what he's doing now. Things change constantly for them. He may be on his way somewhere and then get a call that they are to meet up with another driver, switch trailers and go somewhere completely different! Fun stuff. He's been all over but not much in New England or the South. The furthest south so far has been Arkansas.

From Dad: I'm sitting here in Des Moines, IA, tomorrow morning we'll be in Chicago and be delivering in about 5 different places. I've seen a lot of roads go by me. I just got done driving and am going to freshen up and then go to bed. Tomorrow morning, at 3am, we'll make our first delivery.

So, are you using the language that you learned? Just out of curiosity, how does Malaysia compare with Singapore? Be sure and have a lot of fun. Enjoy your work!

From Michael: Yes, my papers are still with the bishop for know. Speaking of missionaries there is a young new missionary from Singapore. I already forgot his name. And if you think the missionaries over there are dieing to here my call, everyone over here is dieing to get rid of me. Serves me right for procrastinating so long. so when you watch confrence do you wieght a day or do you get up real early?

From Karlene: I got to stay Deedee's and earned 30 dollors cleaning up mouse chewed and every thing that was destroyed. Cumorah and Ryan came over for Ryan's b-day. We were tomenting Alex while he was in one of the boxes. I also got 20 dollars by helping Sis. Brenikey.

From Faline: One cat was very scared, one was just like "Ok, I guess I'm just going to hang out on the floor." I got to spend some time with Dee Dee. I also got to see my cousin, Whitney, when we went over to their house for dinner. I miss you alot. That's it.

Brett, Dad, next to his truck

Michael and Faline with Alex

Karlene & Cumorah playing with Alex, in the box

Cumorah and Ryan, her fiance, on Ryan's birthday. They have finally set the year for their wedding! May 28, 2014.

I call this "Sleeping with the Enemy" because Alex is forever tormenting Crookshanks, who has hated Alex from the first day!

More from Mom: It must be different for you in Malaysia. I'm guessing that you have to use your language now. Have you remembered what you'd been taught or is it taking a bit to get it back? It looks like you're still in a pretty big city, though.

I'm just about done with my training. I start taking calls Monday morning and have signed up for about 60 hrs from Monday to the end of the next Monday (the 15th). In addition to $50/hr for the training classes, I also get $50/hr for completing the online modules to learn how to do my job. I should be able to earn about $3000 for this last week of tax season! Yay!

Dad is on his way to Illinois, I think. It can change at any moment. He stopped by on his way to Portland Thursday and again on his way back from Tillamook (with a load of cheese) this morning (at 5am). I got to spend a couple hours with him Thursday but only 1/2 hr this morning. At least I get to see him, talk to him and get a nice hug and kiss before he takes off again. Sometimes they get samples and other freebies. They got cheese and icecream in Tillamook. When they got to Snowville, on their way just south of Salt Lake they thought, JD (his trainer) got a call that they were going to switch trailers with another driver and take the new load to Wisconsin. Before too long Dad let me know that they were only taking that load as far as Nebraska, trading trailers with another driver and taking the new load to Illinois. Never a dull moment.

We'll have almost 5 days together starting the 19th. His trainer asked for time off for his anniversary.

Faline spent a few days over at Dee Dee's while I was training. I may send her back next week when I'm on the phones. She didn't want to come home but I swapped her with Karlene so Karlene could earn more money for the Seattle tour and pet deposit.

Did you watch Conference live? or do you watch a rebroadcast at a time that's normal? Just wondering. It would have been on at like 2am for you when I was thinking of that question, during the 1st session. Jeff Erekson sounds like he's the new Area Seventy for us. He was Dad's boss with Beneficial - ran the office in Boise. Hopefully he'll be better at church service than he was running the Boise Beneficial office. Elder Natruss was released.

I'm hoping Michael will be ready to submit his papers in a couple weeks. He is supposed to call Dad every day with a report, kinda like an accountability partner. So far he's called every evening starting yesterday.

I'm going to start writing late Saturday so that we don't miss you. I think that's enough rambling. Till next week.

April 1, 2013

Oh my goodness! We totally forgot to write to you! I remembered about midnight when I was saying my prayers. SORRY!!

So much has happened, we had a busy week. We got to Utah in the middle of a SLC snow storm! It took between 1/2 hr to an hr to get just 16 miles, from Salt Lake to Draper and was very hairy! While we were in Utah we did a couple of things. Monday we went downtown to look at Temple Square and see the Joseph Smith movie. We also took a tour of the Conference Center. It was all decorated for the YW General Broadcast they were having on Saturday, the 30th. We got a few pictures there. On Thursday we went over to Sis Brenneke's and had lunch with her (Chinese). I had Steven meet us there and walk across the street to the Provo Temple to go through a session with me. I asked him to join me in the prayer circle. He was hesitant but said he would. After we were done he said that he'd never done that before. As a missionary he wasn't allowed to be in the circle. Steven said that he was planning to start going to the temple more often since he hadn't been in months! He only lives 5 mins away so this was a shove in the right direction! He was shocked that I really meant that she lived across the street from the temple. He thought maybe a short drive or longish walk but was very impressed with Sis Brenneke's location. We went from Provo to the Tabernacle for the Tabernacle Choir rehearsal. It was fantastic! We were sitting up in the balcony as close as they would let us get (which wasn't very close). Most of the rest of the time we watched videos, played video games and had fun with our internet connection.

We came back to Idaho Saturday but didn't get here in time to go to the Stake Center for the broadcast. We started watching it on the internet and got interrupted by the neighbors, the ones who bought our pregnant goats. If we didn't tell you, they had 11 kids (one died): 2 sets of triplets, 2 sets of twins and a single. They sold Patches because she rejected one of her twins. The guy who bought her was the same guy who bought our bucks and wether. They came over to ask about the poles. I said that they're up for grabs. They took all of them in two loads in a little Toyota pickup. He gave me $40 for it. They also got almost all the spools for the goats to play on.

I wore my bright yellow suit on Sunday and got quite a few compliments on it. I also bore my testimony, which I don't do very often. We went over to Tracy & Heather's after we cleaned up the living room and kitchen (total disaster after trying to frantically pack!). It was fun.

I got a new position with Intuit. Good thing, too and just in time! I get $50/hr for 24 hrs of training and then $30/call I take. This is for the last week of tax season and supporting TurboTax questions. Cool, huh? Tax season is going kinda slow, as you may imagine, since I'm packing and moving. I'll be training every night this week except Tuesday (even Sunday) from 5:30pm to 10pm. This opens the door for future projects, I think.

Crookshanks is not eating. He wants the $2/can food but I'll hold out so he gets hungry enough to eat what's already available. The vet said that there's not much concern until he's gone 2 wks without eating. Hopefully I can stick it out! He seems to want everything we're eating but not what he's supposed to eat. We took the cats when we went down to Utah. Crookshanks handled it better than Alex but Alex adjusted better once we got to the apt.

Karlene is going up to work with Grandma to earn money for her cat deposit.

This is our new bedroom set in Draper

Crookshanks chillin' on the back of the couch

Our new dining room table and dining room

Steven with us in our new apartment in Draper

March 31, 2013

From Summer: You might want to right a little earlier now because now the earliest I'll wright is at 10am. The 1st picture is an investigator back in Singapore named Mike, 2nd is a street with Krookshank's name (yes I rarely spell his name the same every time), and 3rd is the back yard of our apartment here in Kuching. If it wasn't for spell check my emails would be full of miss spellings. Kuching is awesome and full of cat things, I'll try to send pictures of them after I get them.

Kuching is great but I am having a little bit of difficulty riding the bike, only because I'm in a skirt and there are lots of hills. How are your travels going? I don't really know how to play the piano but here for service we teach how to play the piano

.

Are your papers still with the bishop? (to Michael) There are many people here who want to know where you're going and don't worry they're all fellow missionaries or future missionaries.

'Sup? Are you out of the house now or not yet. You guys need to email me earlier so I don't have to wait till next week to get this weeks emails

.

I saw some cool stuff around Kuching and I'll send you a picture as soon as I take them. I'm on a bike now and it can be kind of tricky since I'm in a skirt

. Be sure to look at the pictures I sent to mom, I think you'll like them.

Sign on the MRT

Summer's new backyard in Malaysia

Summer with investigator in Singapore, Mike

Big ad in the mall

Summer's cat is Crookshanks. She found a sign using his name.

March 24, 2013

To Mom: I don't know if you're online or not but today I find out about transfers and at the moment I know nothing and it is so annoying. Things have been busy this last week and a bit rough but hopefully it will get better this week.

To Dad: How is the open road. Today I'm writing a little earlyer than normal because I'm waiting to hear about transfers

and this is the closes emodicon that I can find to fit the situation. This past week has be a more intence roller coaster than last week and I'm not sure when the ride will end.

To Michael: So much news to wait for today. Today we find out about transfers and if I'll still be in Singapore or if I'm going to Malaysia. Plus I'm waiting to hear about your call when you get it so keep me up to date with where you are in the prossess.

To Karlene: Here are some more pictures from pulau ubin. It is a small island of Singapore near Malaysia with mostly biking trails.

To Faline: Last week we played ping pong and we might do that again this week. I think you you l like it. Tell me how school and moving is going what do you think about going to live in Utah?

To Mom: I'm going to Kuching, Malaysia. I'll get to work on my Malay now. Spred the word if I can't email all of them. You already have pictures of my new companion. She is from my district in the MTC and she is in a lot of those pictures. But I'll send more.

Mom: Great! How far is that from where you are? We're in Utah. I just picked up Dad for the night. He turns right around and heads back to New Jersey, where he's gone for the last two trips. We got all our furniture here and have the new stuff delivered on Wednesday. I played in Relief Society today in our new ward. The other person whose calling it was moved and hasn't been replaced. Michael should get his papers in next month. It will be nice in April because Dad's trainer is going to have about 4 days off to celebrate his anniversary so we'll celebrate, just the two of us. I'll get back for a day and then leave to go with Karlene to Seattle. Our concert is on May 11th and then Karlene's last concert for school is May 13th. Anytime after that we can move. Here's one picture of our living room.

I'm keeping this short for obvious reasons. We love you and hope you have fun in your new area.

Dad: Right now, for the most part, it's okay. Weather has been a problem. I've been bouncing around from Utah to New Jersey and back. We did take a trip up to Seattle when I left my phone. Miss your mom and other members of the family while I'm gone. I'm riding with a guy named Jason Gladstone (JD) in the truck assigned to him. The most challenging parts are backing and driving through traffic while pulling a 53' trailer. Don't worry about figuring out who you are. The way to find yourself is to completely forget about yourself and lose yourself in the work. It's through service to others that you will find yourself. I now that sounds cliche but it's true.

We're going to dedicate the new apt tonight. Thought you'd like to know.

By the way, you should know that your self is changing all through your life. Once you think you have it figured out you'll change. You'll also find that this is a search that takes a lifetime but you become more comfortable with the search. How are you getting to Kuching? It will probably be different from Singapore.

Michael: That is great news that you have been transferred. My first transfer wont happen till I go to the MTC. Until then I will say that I am finally visiting the apartment that is up for rent. Some time this week I will need to have them push to go to temple square to see all the church movies they have. I'm getting tiered of not being on a mission. However it was an interesting expereians driving down with Camora.

Karlene: wow that's awesome. You sent really pretty pics. We came back to Utah, but this time we brought the cats. We also brought the piano, the rest of your room, moms dresser, dads drawers, Michael's room, the beds, and Cumorah. We went to our new ward and got lost going home. Michael got a new laser pointer, my cat was interested in the scenery, usualy he likes to play with the pointer, but we found out that he likes to chase his tail.

Faline: Karlene is starting to be a brat. Moving to Utah is okay. I have some cousins here so it's going to be alright. I'm homeschooled right now. I drove down with Dee Dee while Cumorah drove the truck and Mom drove your car. The other two rode with them and the cats.

From Summer: Kutching is in east Malaysia on the island of Bornio and is closer to the Philipins then to Singapore. Oh, this week a family moved in the Clementi ward named Clemente and it is pronounced similar to each other. This next month will be crazy at least I don't have to worry about a bike now, Sis Wilson has given me her bike since she won't need it any more. I'm thinking I'll need to eventually put my pictures on a portable hard drive because I'm down to my last SD card but it will take a while to fill it up because it is the 16GB one.

Way different from Singapore and I'll be flying there. I may pic up some Ebon (tribele language) which is similar to Malay.

You can't spell Cumorah?

The PMG DVD's I have you should watch over and over again so you know them when you come on your mission and your 1st transfer will be when you leave the MTC

Does Krookshanks like the pointer or could he not be bothered by it? I'm so glad that my drawers came, they have survived so much over the years and I don't want to loose them. Maybe I'll get to send you picture of corpse flower because where I'm going is where to find it.

How did the cats like the ride and the new place? I'll be sure to send you lots of pictures of Kutching and kutcing means cat.