Hey Family,
So news flash I like my scooter, I don't really want to sell it cause I will need transportation when I get home. If you guys need a battery any scooter battery should work. One stipulation, if you sell it i'll need you all to provide me with a ride when i get home...deal haha. Yes today is November 2nd and it's my berfday. I'm 20...crap!!! That's old as. I did get my package it was so cool all the little toys you put in there are so fun but I probably wouldn't have as much fun with them if I wasn't a missionary. I gave all the missionaries and some other people heaps of candy. They love it and my box is still chokka blocked full of more. Don't worry you'll get pictures soon enough. I told you guys all about my new area and comp in my last couple of email, it's alright, it's no Tazzy thats for sure but just give it time. I was so excited to go to the temple up here but it got cancelled cause dumb missionaries can't keep there flat's clean. Oh yes it is getting warm, I don't know if you heard about the huge bush fires here this past February but Saturday we went up there to clean up and it was crazy I took tons of pictures. It was 34 degrees celcius that day thats like 97 degrees and with the lack of ozone it feels like 115 it's nuts. I didn't burn cause I covered myself in ash from the fire you'll see. I can't believe Winter is back in swing. I had my first run in with the police here we were walking to our car and these boys we talked to earlier said we should knock this guys door and as we get to his porch he is hiding behind his couch with the police on the phone and when we walk up he screams and says "oh my gosh they're at my door... oh wait it's just the jehovah witnesses!" hahaha I correct him and it turns out he is crazy, so we chat with the guys out front of his house and they're cool then the cops come but we had a tea appoinment so we gapped before they stopped us. it was funny. I got a video of me opening my package i'll send that soon or you guys can wait till christmass next year. Thanks for all the birhtday wishes I love you guys.
-Elder Ballard
Sunday, November 8, 2009
October 26, 2009
Family...
This week was a bit better than last week my ear continued to try and kill me and almost the whole week I couldn't hear out the left one but i'm alright now. Apparently I have no infection or things wrong with my ear but my throat and things in my neck were so sick and swollen that it blocked my ears off so i'm taking antibiotics and now everything is fair dinkum. The week was good i'm still mourning the loss of my last area but i'm getting to know this one fairly well. We have a few people were teaching but nothing too big at the moment. So my new addiction is... Aussie Golf, the same as american golf but in Australia. We went last week and again today, I shot a +8 today on 9 holes.
We tracted for over 20 hours this week so i'm getting pretty tan. We helped some greek lady move 300 pound peice of concrete in our suits while tracting she was so happy, she offered us beer. Also some drunk aussie bloke approached us and he wants us to come over to have tea(dinner) and teach him everything, but not much else happened this week and if it did and I forgot you can just read my journal when i'm home. My new area is 1/20th of the size of the my old area so it's tiny as! My companion is Aaron Gremmert from outside of Seattle. It's all good i'm not in love with the ward yet but it seems so awesome. Happy Halloween every one I love you and be good.
Elder Ballard
This week was a bit better than last week my ear continued to try and kill me and almost the whole week I couldn't hear out the left one but i'm alright now. Apparently I have no infection or things wrong with my ear but my throat and things in my neck were so sick and swollen that it blocked my ears off so i'm taking antibiotics and now everything is fair dinkum. The week was good i'm still mourning the loss of my last area but i'm getting to know this one fairly well. We have a few people were teaching but nothing too big at the moment. So my new addiction is... Aussie Golf, the same as american golf but in Australia. We went last week and again today, I shot a +8 today on 9 holes.
We tracted for over 20 hours this week so i'm getting pretty tan. We helped some greek lady move 300 pound peice of concrete in our suits while tracting she was so happy, she offered us beer. Also some drunk aussie bloke approached us and he wants us to come over to have tea(dinner) and teach him everything, but not much else happened this week and if it did and I forgot you can just read my journal when i'm home. My new area is 1/20th of the size of the my old area so it's tiny as! My companion is Aaron Gremmert from outside of Seattle. It's all good i'm not in love with the ward yet but it seems so awesome. Happy Halloween every one I love you and be good.
Elder Ballard
October 18, 2009
Hey family
This week kinda uh... sucked! I almost died four times. We didn't get to teach any body except one big family who said they would come to church and when we went to pick them up they said they couldn't make it ughh oh well next week. Any ways...
Death escape #1 so we were driving home from an appointment (Alder Page the zone leader) and we yeilded to the traffic before we made a left turn (which is a right turn in american) then Wham!!! We got rear ended! I just yell out "oh my back!!" just for kicks I didn't get hurt and neither did our car they killed themselves on the trailor hitch so funny all they did for the first five minutes was scream the F word I laughed most of the time.
Death escape #2 before the accident we had a vegetable soup with 10 vegetables, and my body did not like that so it decided to get all my inards out as fast as possible, so all day the next day I had exsplosive diharria (SP?), but I survived barely.
Death escape #3 the next morning after filling the toilet with "yoohoo" I woke up with the flu and cold and fever to which I just tried not to rip out my own eyes. But I just read all day.
Death escape #4 after the fever had broke I contracted two ears that wanted nothing to do with my body I tried to rip them off but the blood made it too slipery. hahaha JK
well family don't worry about me i'm fine not dying yet, so yeah thanks for all your words.
love you guys.
-Elder ballard
This week kinda uh... sucked! I almost died four times. We didn't get to teach any body except one big family who said they would come to church and when we went to pick them up they said they couldn't make it ughh oh well next week. Any ways...
Death escape #1 so we were driving home from an appointment (Alder Page the zone leader) and we yeilded to the traffic before we made a left turn (which is a right turn in american) then Wham!!! We got rear ended! I just yell out "oh my back!!" just for kicks I didn't get hurt and neither did our car they killed themselves on the trailor hitch so funny all they did for the first five minutes was scream the F word I laughed most of the time.
Death escape #2 before the accident we had a vegetable soup with 10 vegetables, and my body did not like that so it decided to get all my inards out as fast as possible, so all day the next day I had exsplosive diharria (SP?), but I survived barely.
Death escape #3 the next morning after filling the toilet with "yoohoo" I woke up with the flu and cold and fever to which I just tried not to rip out my own eyes. But I just read all day.
Death escape #4 after the fever had broke I contracted two ears that wanted nothing to do with my body I tried to rip them off but the blood made it too slipery. hahaha JK
well family don't worry about me i'm fine not dying yet, so yeah thanks for all your words.
love you guys.
-Elder ballard
Thursday, October 15, 2009
October 11, 2009 Post Conference
This week was very slow, only one really weird thing happened this week that i'm still kind of in shock about. We were teaching this man named Peter he is 21 and Peter lives in a care-ers home so he can be watched, and just talking to him he seems a little less-accountable you may say but when we sat down with him and taught him about the restoration I have never taught anybody that was so on the ball and answered all our questions perfectly and he just understood so well. So I was all jazzed to go back and teach him. We went back and he was on his porch reading the Book of Mormon, see we had asked him to read the introduction and to pray about it. He did and he also read fifty more pages in two days and we questioned him on what he read and he really did read and understood it all, this kid is a mad one. We start to ask him if he prayed he said he did, and he said he felt undescribable and he knew it was true. Ya I was blown away this kid was ready for baptism so we start to talk to him about baptism, he agree's with the doctrine of it and he said he wants to get out of his bad life he has had before. Then he goes kind of quiet and my companion keeps talking. I imeadeatly feel the spirit leave me and then Peter just blurts out. "I was baptised presbityrian and I don't want to change! Stop trying to brain wash me! Take your book and yourselves and leave before I call the cops!", he thrusts the book at us and leaves. In shock we write our phone number and leave the Book of Mormon. I knew it was coming before it came and it was so far from left feild how could that ever happen. Like I said i'm still in shock but oh well. We also had conference this weekend love hearing from the apostles and the prophet they are turely guided by the lord. If you didn't watch it go online and watch them we all need to know what the lord is saying to us today. My birthday is coming and I bet you guys want to send me things, so a request just things I can share like candy and anything like that. I love you all. I love my mission, but most of all I love the lord.
-Elder Ballard
-Elder Ballard
October 04, 2009
G’day family,
Transfer news has come and gone and you’ll never believe it!! I have finally been transferred hahaha I’m sorry for not emailing last week because I was on a plane bound for the promise land. I’m serving in the Epping ward, in the Heidelberg stake just north of the city. Ok since it’s been two very hectic weeks, the first part of the email is from last week and then I’ll continue with what has happened in the past few days. This week has been a bit hectic but wow it’s been really, really cool. So this last Monday we went to Glen Huon to teach this less actives members wife, she is a non-member, her name is Amy Watson I have been teaching her since March which is long as. But one of the zone leaders and I drove out there to teach her, she has let us know that she will be baptized but after she knows it is true. So we were going to teach recognizing the spirit and also fasting for answers to our prayers. So we get there and we also invited her sister and brother in law whom are members, to help fellowship. We teach her the first part about knowing when you receive the spirit then I teach about fasting and I ask her sister in law to share a spiritual experience about fasting and she does, and it was very good, and then I share about how us as a family fasted and prayed for Kevin and Keagan heaps for them to make it through their first few months. And it was great and right after I shared that Elder Nelson asked how she felt and she kind of danced around saying she felt the spirit but she did, we all did and Eder Nelson asked her again and she just confessed all. She told us this was the strongest she has ever felt the spirit and she knew that what we teach is true, and she has in fact felt the spirit every time she met with us and also every time at church. It was incredible she received her witness right in front of us. The scariest part about it is she said at the end she was going to ask us not to come back after tonight but apparently the lord had other plans, and then later that week I got the call that I’ll need to pack all my things and get ready to fly to the mainland. Finally I made it to Australia!!!! I went to transfer meeting to meet my new companion and I was able to meet all the other 50 missionaries I’ve never met. My new companion is Elder Aaron Gremmert from Seattle,Washington. He is pretty fun he is always happy like me so it’s great, I really really miss Tasmania and my old comp but this place is nuts. My first day was ridiculous. After we cleaned the flat because we were doubled into the area which means both of us are completely new to this place. So after we cleaned the junky flat we went out to track. I first ran into some wino that clamed VB (Victoria Bitter…a beer) is his religion and he was stumbling around everywhere them from there we went to these former investigators house, turns out they didn’t live there but there we met Flip, Flip loves marijuana, I could tell before he opened the door, but he invited us in and had a chat he was gonzo. But before we left he said “hey guys I’m gonna smoke more pot and go to work, you can toke if you want with me or you can go I don’t really mind” so we left. Later that night we then were tracking. We ran into a small gang of biker hoons around 16 years old they were questioning/ poking fun at us but we turned that into a good conversation and had them liking us by the time we left. And then we met Kevin Grise “The Hypnotist” hahaha ya we knocked a door and the lady said “I think my husband wants to talk to you” so out comes Kevin, he is from Montana but lived in South Carolina and he was an executive secretary in the bishopric there, he was crazy, he has apostatized from the church but he likes us he was saying that the Bishops and Stake Presidents are all angry at him for him being a hypnotist but I don’t think that’s the reason, the reason I figure is when he hypnotises people he does it by the laying on of hands the only thing he doesn’t do is say “by the authority of the Melchezedik Priesthood” ya what a loony. But he invited us back for stake so I’ll take that offer. Hahahaha. This area is fun and I’m still learning it but I’m doing great. I also met our ward yesterday there are heaps of Samoans oh man I love it. We ate Samoan food last night I had octopus and while I was eating it I found the eye in the eye socket so I pulled it out teased the sister missionaries with it them ate it, it popped in my mouth and was mm mm yuck hahaha actually not too bad… oh ya we have sister missionaries it’s weird but they're cool. They’re in our ward and they get us meal appointments. Well family that’s it how are all you guys? I love you all and be good.
-Elder Ballard
Transfer news has come and gone and you’ll never believe it!! I have finally been transferred hahaha I’m sorry for not emailing last week because I was on a plane bound for the promise land. I’m serving in the Epping ward, in the Heidelberg stake just north of the city. Ok since it’s been two very hectic weeks, the first part of the email is from last week and then I’ll continue with what has happened in the past few days. This week has been a bit hectic but wow it’s been really, really cool. So this last Monday we went to Glen Huon to teach this less actives members wife, she is a non-member, her name is Amy Watson I have been teaching her since March which is long as. But one of the zone leaders and I drove out there to teach her, she has let us know that she will be baptized but after she knows it is true. So we were going to teach recognizing the spirit and also fasting for answers to our prayers. So we get there and we also invited her sister and brother in law whom are members, to help fellowship. We teach her the first part about knowing when you receive the spirit then I teach about fasting and I ask her sister in law to share a spiritual experience about fasting and she does, and it was very good, and then I share about how us as a family fasted and prayed for Kevin and Keagan heaps for them to make it through their first few months. And it was great and right after I shared that Elder Nelson asked how she felt and she kind of danced around saying she felt the spirit but she did, we all did and Eder Nelson asked her again and she just confessed all. She told us this was the strongest she has ever felt the spirit and she knew that what we teach is true, and she has in fact felt the spirit every time she met with us and also every time at church. It was incredible she received her witness right in front of us. The scariest part about it is she said at the end she was going to ask us not to come back after tonight but apparently the lord had other plans, and then later that week I got the call that I’ll need to pack all my things and get ready to fly to the mainland. Finally I made it to Australia!!!! I went to transfer meeting to meet my new companion and I was able to meet all the other 50 missionaries I’ve never met. My new companion is Elder Aaron Gremmert from Seattle,Washington. He is pretty fun he is always happy like me so it’s great, I really really miss Tasmania and my old comp but this place is nuts. My first day was ridiculous. After we cleaned the flat because we were doubled into the area which means both of us are completely new to this place. So after we cleaned the junky flat we went out to track. I first ran into some wino that clamed VB (Victoria Bitter…a beer) is his religion and he was stumbling around everywhere them from there we went to these former investigators house, turns out they didn’t live there but there we met Flip, Flip loves marijuana, I could tell before he opened the door, but he invited us in and had a chat he was gonzo. But before we left he said “hey guys I’m gonna smoke more pot and go to work, you can toke if you want with me or you can go I don’t really mind” so we left. Later that night we then were tracking. We ran into a small gang of biker hoons around 16 years old they were questioning/ poking fun at us but we turned that into a good conversation and had them liking us by the time we left. And then we met Kevin Grise “The Hypnotist” hahaha ya we knocked a door and the lady said “I think my husband wants to talk to you” so out comes Kevin, he is from Montana but lived in South Carolina and he was an executive secretary in the bishopric there, he was crazy, he has apostatized from the church but he likes us he was saying that the Bishops and Stake Presidents are all angry at him for him being a hypnotist but I don’t think that’s the reason, the reason I figure is when he hypnotises people he does it by the laying on of hands the only thing he doesn’t do is say “by the authority of the Melchezedik Priesthood” ya what a loony. But he invited us back for stake so I’ll take that offer. Hahahaha. This area is fun and I’m still learning it but I’m doing great. I also met our ward yesterday there are heaps of Samoans oh man I love it. We ate Samoan food last night I had octopus and while I was eating it I found the eye in the eye socket so I pulled it out teased the sister missionaries with it them ate it, it popped in my mouth and was mm mm yuck hahaha actually not too bad… oh ya we have sister missionaries it’s weird but they're cool. They’re in our ward and they get us meal appointments. Well family that’s it how are all you guys? I love you all and be good.
-Elder Ballard
September 20, 2009
G’day Family,
Wow this week was so absolutely pointless we did so much work and I honestly think nothing came from it, but at the same time my spirits are unusually high for having zero success. I’m currently trying to think of any thing super cool that happened to me this week. Probably the best thing was our interviews with president; he surprised us by telling us he’ll be having our interviews in our flat, so we had to tidy up real quick before he got there. Our interview was right, we just discussed the current slow down of the work and talk on how we can pick it up, I was a bit bummed that he didn’t give me any hint on whether I’m getting out of here or doomed to stay here for ever, but the best part about it was getting my package from you guys. It was awesome, we sassed the Reece’s and I love the other stuff like the sweet water bottle and the journal. Funny thing I bought a journal last week so I’ll be sweet for probably the rest of my mish. And I don’t think you need to send me anything for my B-day cause those stickers were dang expensive so I’ll be alright. The tape was awesome apart form Chad’s voice, he is not aloud to speak on my tapes anymore...further reason will be provided in my tapes. But yeah like I said the work is super slow at the moment and our baptism that we have this Saturday will be postponed due to our inability to contact this girl. Kind of a bummer cause if I get transferred I will not be here for the ordinance but that’s ok. Like I said I’m not down or discouraged at all. I rejoice in my work and I’m having a wonderful time. My studies are great I truly do love growing closer to our savior through my study and prayer. He’s there and loves us all too. Transfers are next week so next time I’m on will be with the big news. Pray and fast for me, not to be transferred but to but put where the lord needs me most. I love you family and your love and thoughts are appreciated. Take care everyone.
With love, Elder Ballard
Wow this week was so absolutely pointless we did so much work and I honestly think nothing came from it, but at the same time my spirits are unusually high for having zero success. I’m currently trying to think of any thing super cool that happened to me this week. Probably the best thing was our interviews with president; he surprised us by telling us he’ll be having our interviews in our flat, so we had to tidy up real quick before he got there. Our interview was right, we just discussed the current slow down of the work and talk on how we can pick it up, I was a bit bummed that he didn’t give me any hint on whether I’m getting out of here or doomed to stay here for ever, but the best part about it was getting my package from you guys. It was awesome, we sassed the Reece’s and I love the other stuff like the sweet water bottle and the journal. Funny thing I bought a journal last week so I’ll be sweet for probably the rest of my mish. And I don’t think you need to send me anything for my B-day cause those stickers were dang expensive so I’ll be alright. The tape was awesome apart form Chad’s voice, he is not aloud to speak on my tapes anymore...further reason will be provided in my tapes. But yeah like I said the work is super slow at the moment and our baptism that we have this Saturday will be postponed due to our inability to contact this girl. Kind of a bummer cause if I get transferred I will not be here for the ordinance but that’s ok. Like I said I’m not down or discouraged at all. I rejoice in my work and I’m having a wonderful time. My studies are great I truly do love growing closer to our savior through my study and prayer. He’s there and loves us all too. Transfers are next week so next time I’m on will be with the big news. Pray and fast for me, not to be transferred but to but put where the lord needs me most. I love you family and your love and thoughts are appreciated. Take care everyone.
With love, Elder Ballard
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
September 14, 2009
G'day Family
This week was very quick, um my companion fell crook so most of the week we didn't do anything. But I do have one hilarious story. On Saturday I went to another missionaries area for exchanges and while we were over there we got on the bike and were riding from appointment to appointment. We cut through this park to save some time and some legs. Then we pop back out on the busy road. Then the next thing I know is I hear an ear shattering screatch in my ear. and I turn around, and an Austrlaian Magpie is swooping and attacking me. And I can't defend myself because I was currently trying to not fall off the bike because of the noise it made and I was also trying not to be bashed my a car in the road from my swervy manuevers. To avoid this maniac bird hahaha. It swooped me like six times and my comp couldn't hear me cause of the traffic and wind so I was fighting this bird off all alone but it finally left us alone. Apparrently we rode through its territory hahaha. But the best part about all this is on our way back to the flat... sure enough that bird is there waiting for us and it swoops me again so I pedel really fast to get ahead of my comp so the bird can attack him and it worked the bird swooped and hit Elder Ianusi like four time and I was watching it all happen it was so funny. So they borught the packages down today where is mine I thought you all sent a tape! oh well I dont care. We have a baptism in less than two weeks. But were still now 100% but I hope we can get there. All I can say is...go cowboys! and I love you guys.
-Elder Ballard
This week was very quick, um my companion fell crook so most of the week we didn't do anything. But I do have one hilarious story. On Saturday I went to another missionaries area for exchanges and while we were over there we got on the bike and were riding from appointment to appointment. We cut through this park to save some time and some legs. Then we pop back out on the busy road. Then the next thing I know is I hear an ear shattering screatch in my ear. and I turn around, and an Austrlaian Magpie is swooping and attacking me. And I can't defend myself because I was currently trying to not fall off the bike because of the noise it made and I was also trying not to be bashed my a car in the road from my swervy manuevers. To avoid this maniac bird hahaha. It swooped me like six times and my comp couldn't hear me cause of the traffic and wind so I was fighting this bird off all alone but it finally left us alone. Apparrently we rode through its territory hahaha. But the best part about all this is on our way back to the flat... sure enough that bird is there waiting for us and it swoops me again so I pedel really fast to get ahead of my comp so the bird can attack him and it worked the bird swooped and hit Elder Ianusi like four time and I was watching it all happen it was so funny. So they borught the packages down today where is mine I thought you all sent a tape! oh well I dont care. We have a baptism in less than two weeks. But were still now 100% but I hope we can get there. All I can say is...go cowboys! and I love you guys.
-Elder Ballard
September 06, 2009
G’day Family,
This week went really well the funny story for the week is when we were at the grocery store we were standing in line behind a trolley full of baked bean cans. And I just thought it was one of those things were they just throw things into a trolley to organize later because there is no way that some one is gonna buy all those beans but sure enough some bloke walks up and takes a hold of the handle. So I asked him “so You like Baked beans?” and he just starts talking and as soon as I hear one word out of his mouth I know he’s American. And he starts say “Ya man! Dude bro the world is gonna end the worlds ***king gonna end! On September 9th 2009, Dude go and look at Alex Johns on you tube!” okaaaaayy hahaha then I see that he has a Texas tech Jumper on. So I ask him if he went there he said yes he is apparently a biophysicist. Then of course I have to ask him if he is a cowboy fan, he isn’t but his brother is. Them he keeps going on about how the dollar will crash on this Wednesday and he’s been preaching it for 8 years he was nuts and he stunk. But it was funny so be prepared you all for the end of the world hahaha I can’t wait to see him on September tenth. Ya other than preparing for the world to end we were able to set a baptismal date with a girl named Hayley and she is solid as! So good we found her in the former investigators and she has family like cousins in the church all is going well. She’ll be baptized on September 26th. So that will be right before transfers so hopefully I’ll baptize right before I go. Also our other family is going well. We’ll see them tonight and re commit to be baptized so we’ll see. I’m well. I have my good days mostly but some bad but I’ve learned the lord truly does love me and I can call on him when ever he is great support for me and I promise he will be for you. Be safe family. I love you. Be safe especially on September 9th hahaha
-Elder Wesley Ballard.
This week went really well the funny story for the week is when we were at the grocery store we were standing in line behind a trolley full of baked bean cans. And I just thought it was one of those things were they just throw things into a trolley to organize later because there is no way that some one is gonna buy all those beans but sure enough some bloke walks up and takes a hold of the handle. So I asked him “so You like Baked beans?” and he just starts talking and as soon as I hear one word out of his mouth I know he’s American. And he starts say “Ya man! Dude bro the world is gonna end the worlds ***king gonna end! On September 9th 2009, Dude go and look at Alex Johns on you tube!” okaaaaayy hahaha then I see that he has a Texas tech Jumper on. So I ask him if he went there he said yes he is apparently a biophysicist. Then of course I have to ask him if he is a cowboy fan, he isn’t but his brother is. Them he keeps going on about how the dollar will crash on this Wednesday and he’s been preaching it for 8 years he was nuts and he stunk. But it was funny so be prepared you all for the end of the world hahaha I can’t wait to see him on September tenth. Ya other than preparing for the world to end we were able to set a baptismal date with a girl named Hayley and she is solid as! So good we found her in the former investigators and she has family like cousins in the church all is going well. She’ll be baptized on September 26th. So that will be right before transfers so hopefully I’ll baptize right before I go. Also our other family is going well. We’ll see them tonight and re commit to be baptized so we’ll see. I’m well. I have my good days mostly but some bad but I’ve learned the lord truly does love me and I can call on him when ever he is great support for me and I promise he will be for you. Be safe family. I love you. Be safe especially on September 9th hahaha
-Elder Wesley Ballard.
August 30, 2009
Hey Family,
This week went well, I think it flew by honestly the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days. So it's going fast and the work with our families is going really slow due to the language barriers, but we are still working with them and also a Sri Lanken family they are being taught by us now and it's a lot of fun. hmmm i'm trying to think of something good that happened to me. Nothing really funny, but zone conference came and we got to see president and sister Lee which is always my favorite I love them so much I can't wait for you to meet them when they come over for the ruinion. but i've been able to enhance my study of the book of mormon and i'm in my favorite part and thats the stripling warriors and man if I didn't love to work so much I would read the book of mormon all day. So ya it's definately the word of god and I love losing myself in it and learning more than I ever thought and even somthing better is i'm finally being able to recall on scriptures easily while were teaching and alot of it is stuff I learned that morning so I hope that type of learnig and study will continue forever so I can always be able to call upon the words of god when in time of need. well I love you all and hope all is well. and don't forget me down here cause if you do I just may stay.
Elder Ballard
This week went well, I think it flew by honestly the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days. So it's going fast and the work with our families is going really slow due to the language barriers, but we are still working with them and also a Sri Lanken family they are being taught by us now and it's a lot of fun. hmmm i'm trying to think of something good that happened to me. Nothing really funny, but zone conference came and we got to see president and sister Lee which is always my favorite I love them so much I can't wait for you to meet them when they come over for the ruinion. but i've been able to enhance my study of the book of mormon and i'm in my favorite part and thats the stripling warriors and man if I didn't love to work so much I would read the book of mormon all day. So ya it's definately the word of god and I love losing myself in it and learning more than I ever thought and even somthing better is i'm finally being able to recall on scriptures easily while were teaching and alot of it is stuff I learned that morning so I hope that type of learnig and study will continue forever so I can always be able to call upon the words of god when in time of need. well I love you all and hope all is well. and don't forget me down here cause if you do I just may stay.
Elder Ballard
August 23, 2009
Hey Family,
This week was a good one. We worked our tails off, probably spent a total of 30 hours tracting and other finding activities and we found like two semi good people but through our diligent work the lord blessed us in other ways and with other poeple. We had this African family all come to church. It was great we filled a whole row in sarament meeting with investigators. So great! um other than that only two other things happened. One we got a new missionary and he is fresh off the plane from Provo, he lives in Alaska. He look just as scared as I was when I first got here he's not even over the jet lag yet. We also got another missionary been out six months and he is from New Zealand and he is Chad, not resembles Chad, not looks a bit like him, but he is exactly Chad. In all his mannerisms and speach hahaha it's so funny. But the only difference is he is Chad before the mission. He is a big boy like 6'7" and like three hundren maybe 350 pounds he is awesome I love the man. Then a funny story is we found some guy and he seemed keen on learning and so we went back in four days and when we got there his mom told him to tell us to get lost and he came out and we said hey Michael how you doing? and he said "who?" what are you serious dude we know who you are who are you fooling hahah he said his name was Mark and have never met us before hahaha what an idiot it was funny and he just look liked an idiot pretty funny. any ways family all is well in this stake of Zion. miss yall but only a little. Love you guys. bye
-Elder Ballard
This week was a good one. We worked our tails off, probably spent a total of 30 hours tracting and other finding activities and we found like two semi good people but through our diligent work the lord blessed us in other ways and with other poeple. We had this African family all come to church. It was great we filled a whole row in sarament meeting with investigators. So great! um other than that only two other things happened. One we got a new missionary and he is fresh off the plane from Provo, he lives in Alaska. He look just as scared as I was when I first got here he's not even over the jet lag yet. We also got another missionary been out six months and he is from New Zealand and he is Chad, not resembles Chad, not looks a bit like him, but he is exactly Chad. In all his mannerisms and speach hahaha it's so funny. But the only difference is he is Chad before the mission. He is a big boy like 6'7" and like three hundren maybe 350 pounds he is awesome I love the man. Then a funny story is we found some guy and he seemed keen on learning and so we went back in four days and when we got there his mom told him to tell us to get lost and he came out and we said hey Michael how you doing? and he said "who?" what are you serious dude we know who you are who are you fooling hahah he said his name was Mark and have never met us before hahaha what an idiot it was funny and he just look liked an idiot pretty funny. any ways family all is well in this stake of Zion. miss yall but only a little. Love you guys. bye
-Elder Ballard
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Transfer updates! August 17, 2009
Hey Family,
Transfer news came yesterday and the big new this tranfer is!........... I'm am going to be going back to the flat and not packing up cause i'm still staying here in Tazmania hahahahahahahahahahaha Wow am I ever gonna change hahaha it's ridiculous. Five people changed down here and they were all younger in Taz than me haha, but I like it here. I want a change so bad there are 80 other missionaries i've never met and i'm kept from the temple and all that but man my ward is gonna freak when they see me rock up to church this sunday they were convinced i was gone. hahahahaha so funny. Well i'm glad i'm staying cause we have three African families that were working with. One family of six yes six we got to come to church this sunday they are looking so good. Also another African family we taught the daughter about the book of mormon and gave her one like a month ago but rmom took it from here cause she wanted to read it instead and she has never even been taught about it yet. Things are going really good me and Elder Leota are gonna work our tails off this transfer so I can leave Tazzy on a good note cause i'm deffinately going in six weeks. Weather is slightly better but getting better, tracting is going great. Well thank you all everything I love you we'll see ya
-Elder Ballard
Transfer news came yesterday and the big new this tranfer is!........... I'm am going to be going back to the flat and not packing up cause i'm still staying here in Tazmania hahahahahahahahahahaha Wow am I ever gonna change hahaha it's ridiculous. Five people changed down here and they were all younger in Taz than me haha, but I like it here. I want a change so bad there are 80 other missionaries i've never met and i'm kept from the temple and all that but man my ward is gonna freak when they see me rock up to church this sunday they were convinced i was gone. hahahahaha so funny. Well i'm glad i'm staying cause we have three African families that were working with. One family of six yes six we got to come to church this sunday they are looking so good. Also another African family we taught the daughter about the book of mormon and gave her one like a month ago but rmom took it from here cause she wanted to read it instead and she has never even been taught about it yet. Things are going really good me and Elder Leota are gonna work our tails off this transfer so I can leave Tazzy on a good note cause i'm deffinately going in six weeks. Weather is slightly better but getting better, tracting is going great. Well thank you all everything I love you we'll see ya
-Elder Ballard
Aug 09, 2009
Hey Family,
This week was a good one it went very fast but we had lots of good fun especially the last couple days. We had president interviews and everything with me is good. But after the interviews he came and checked our flat hahahaha oh man he wasn't pleased. Now let me get this straight, our flat is clean... very clean. It was just not to missionary standards or something. The curtains were on wrong and we had cut things out of ensigns and put them all over the walls with sticky tack, and he asked us to take them down and move our beds back into the bedroom but the worst thing about it all was he took my pull up ball. I'm so bummed I loved that thing I bought it back in America now it's gone :(. And I tried to plead with him telling him how i've gone from one pull-up to 15 but no dice. Oh well now I have a boring old flat but... plenty of room to wrestle. Then saturday we ate at Margrate's. She gave us Christmas Pudding which is like fruit cake (fruit?...good...Cake?...Great!....Fruit Cake?... Nasty Crap) but this christmas pudding was like fruit cake that has already passed through sombody. Oh man YUUUUUUUUUCCKKKK i'd rather eat Balute Egg. See as a missionary i've become a robot I eat everything in front of me and it's easy but this was the worst thing ever. Oh man Elder Monty and I were gonna throw up big time. That was that day. Then sunday, what a day. First church was good I love Glenhoun, then Glenorchy when we got there, there was a german girl looking for us she said she was a spy (investigator) and was just visiting. She was smarter than any of our converts even she was awesome. And her story is sweet. A missionary on his way to frankfurt from Dallas talked to her for ten hours and got her very insterested. Man good on him. I was scared to death to talk to anyone on the way out to Australia. She also has taught religion in a Catholic school which means she would have questioned that missionary a lot so even more props to him. But it just was the coolest thing, I want an investigator like her so bad. we'll get one don't you worry. Then another thing happened later that night. Elder Ianusi and I went out tracting and we tracted a very small court and it was chokka block full of accepting people but then we get to one house and this lady come's to the door but doesn't open it and says "are you trying to scare me?" in a very high pitched voice. We tell her no we are missionaries then she just starts to hyperventalate like really bad. So I ran next door to see if she has a condition they said she is an alchoholic and skytzo. so we go back and she is like dying infront of us, i kinda laughed but was concerned too. then when we talk with her a while she invites us in but we don't go cause we gotta go. Then we finally tell her we'll be back later in all her hysterics but she says while bawling "i'll be dead by then" wowzer ok so we don't know what to do Elder Ianusi said we should go so we did but it was crazy. We did find lots of other sweet people, we'll see them this week. Thanks every one for your support I love you all.
-Elder Ballard
This week was a good one it went very fast but we had lots of good fun especially the last couple days. We had president interviews and everything with me is good. But after the interviews he came and checked our flat hahahaha oh man he wasn't pleased. Now let me get this straight, our flat is clean... very clean. It was just not to missionary standards or something. The curtains were on wrong and we had cut things out of ensigns and put them all over the walls with sticky tack, and he asked us to take them down and move our beds back into the bedroom but the worst thing about it all was he took my pull up ball. I'm so bummed I loved that thing I bought it back in America now it's gone :(. And I tried to plead with him telling him how i've gone from one pull-up to 15 but no dice. Oh well now I have a boring old flat but... plenty of room to wrestle. Then saturday we ate at Margrate's. She gave us Christmas Pudding which is like fruit cake (fruit?...good...Cake?...Great!....Fruit Cake?... Nasty Crap) but this christmas pudding was like fruit cake that has already passed through sombody. Oh man YUUUUUUUUUCCKKKK i'd rather eat Balute Egg. See as a missionary i've become a robot I eat everything in front of me and it's easy but this was the worst thing ever. Oh man Elder Monty and I were gonna throw up big time. That was that day. Then sunday, what a day. First church was good I love Glenhoun, then Glenorchy when we got there, there was a german girl looking for us she said she was a spy (investigator) and was just visiting. She was smarter than any of our converts even she was awesome. And her story is sweet. A missionary on his way to frankfurt from Dallas talked to her for ten hours and got her very insterested. Man good on him. I was scared to death to talk to anyone on the way out to Australia. She also has taught religion in a Catholic school which means she would have questioned that missionary a lot so even more props to him. But it just was the coolest thing, I want an investigator like her so bad. we'll get one don't you worry. Then another thing happened later that night. Elder Ianusi and I went out tracting and we tracted a very small court and it was chokka block full of accepting people but then we get to one house and this lady come's to the door but doesn't open it and says "are you trying to scare me?" in a very high pitched voice. We tell her no we are missionaries then she just starts to hyperventalate like really bad. So I ran next door to see if she has a condition they said she is an alchoholic and skytzo. so we go back and she is like dying infront of us, i kinda laughed but was concerned too. then when we talk with her a while she invites us in but we don't go cause we gotta go. Then we finally tell her we'll be back later in all her hysterics but she says while bawling "i'll be dead by then" wowzer ok so we don't know what to do Elder Ianusi said we should go so we did but it was crazy. We did find lots of other sweet people, we'll see them this week. Thanks every one for your support I love you all.
-Elder Ballard
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
New member! :) July 26, 2009
G'day Family,
This week was hecktic. Just one big thing we focused on and that was Peter Green. He was Baptised and confirmed this weekend as a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It went so well, I was asked to perform the ordinance of baptism again and it was great! Other than that, we did nothing else this week. Be ready for two more baptisms soon. Love you all. I don't have much time. We went hang gliding with our district and for Elder Ianusi's (ya-noo-see) Birthday. It was fun!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Continuing success July 19, 2009
G'day Fam Damily!
This week went quick and not much else happened other than President and sister lee came down and there were no letters for me. Sad story haha. The zone conference was really good. Me and my comp are doing wonderful. We have a baptism this saturday. It is a 100% this guy is awesome and our ward is wonderfull they are
This week went quick and not much else happened other than President and sister lee came down and there were no letters for me. Sad story haha. The zone conference was really good. Me and my comp are doing wonderful. We have a baptism this saturday. It is a 100% this guy is awesome and our ward is wonderfull they are
fellowshipping him like mad, man it makes our job crazy easy. And also another couple we have set up for baptism is getting ready, we had to get Robert to stop smoking after doing it for 48 years and with the lords help and after seven days he has zero desire to smoke now all they gotta do is come to church and they are getting in that font haha. They are so fun they love us coming by and the things we teach. Last night we were driving in the bush and there were wallabies every where fair dinkum I had to dodge them ever thrity meters.
But as you could have guessed I finally hit one so I backed up to see if I really hit it and it was still moving so I decided to put it out of it's misery so I ran it over again hahaha. I actually feel really bad about it. Well family I love you all and take care. and write me. :)
But as you could have guessed I finally hit one so I backed up to see if I really hit it and it was still moving so I decided to put it out of it's misery so I ran it over again hahaha. I actually feel really bad about it. Well family I love you all and take care. and write me. :) -Elder Ballard
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Scheduled baptisms! July 13, 2009
Well Family this week was a pretty good one. We have been working really hard on a hand full of investigators. We have Peter he is getting baptized this weekend but we might just push it back a week due to hecticicity (ya i made that word up) but just so things run very smooth we're giving ourselves more time to make this day very special for him. Then we have two older couples preparing for baptism... yes family that equals 4 people thats big for my mission hahaha. These people are grear they recognize us as the lords servants and are willing to better themselves to come unto him. So cool, but we have to get over smoking with one of them. But i'm confident in him. Fasting will help i'm sure. Yesterday we went fishing in the ocean it was sweet we caught nothing but I had a blast i'll get the pics by next week. Funny story... Elder Leota and I broke into the zonne Leaders flat and stole there three heaters and left all their windows open and then just left, hahaha and then we got a knock early in the morning and they come in shivering and we are warm and surrounded by seven heaters ahaha it was so funny. Weather is cold still but I love it here. Thank you all for your support. I love you guys.
-Elder Ballard
-Elder Ballard
Transfer updates! July 6, 2009
Hello Family,
This week was absolutely nuts. Well my companion and I were tearing it up, we were told early that we were staying together for next tranfer so we were fine, we just went crazy good at working and did really well. But then tranfer news came and some last minute changes came, Elder Lewis is gone to the mainland, i've killed another one of my companions. I'm still in Glenorchy and it's official out of the first 20 people that were in Tazzy when I came here i'm the last one standing hahaha i've been here so long. My new companion is Elder Leota a Somoan from New Zealand. He's pretty cool. But ya I still feel bamboozled. We went to the snow yesterday you'll see pics i'll send them to mom. Work is good and we have a baptism coming up. I love it here I hope things start picking up more this is great. Love you guys take care.
-Elder Ballard
This week was absolutely nuts. Well my companion and I were tearing it up, we were told early that we were staying together for next tranfer so we were fine, we just went crazy good at working and did really well. But then tranfer news came and some last minute changes came, Elder Lewis is gone to the mainland, i've killed another one of my companions. I'm still in Glenorchy and it's official out of the first 20 people that were in Tazzy when I came here i'm the last one standing hahaha i've been here so long. My new companion is Elder Leota a Somoan from New Zealand. He's pretty cool. But ya I still feel bamboozled. We went to the snow yesterday you'll see pics i'll send them to mom. Work is good and we have a baptism coming up. I love it here I hope things start picking up more this is great. Love you guys take care.
-Elder Ballard
Friday, July 3, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Six months!!
This week was fast and very slow at the same time, thank you guys for the package and for the goodies in it they were great I shared them with everybody. Not much happened this week but we did have lots of time to do finding and we found some pretty sweet newies but I did find out from president interviews that i'll be leaving Tazmania either next week or in seven weeks so my time here is dwindeling. But I had a good run, i'll miss some people here like nuts. The work must go on. Most my info will be in my next package home you'll enjoy this next one. Oh and WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO my Six months is tomorrow yay! I get to burn a tie! Man how fast did that go. Geez anyways I love you and you all take care.
-Elder Ballard
-Elder Ballard
Monday, June 22, 2009
A day at the Zoo! (June 21, 2009)
G'day Family.
This week was good. Last week for P-day we went to a zoo park thing and I got to play with so many animals! I got to play with Deer, Emus, Kangaroos, Albino wallabies, Koalas, Wombats, Tazzy devils and I e
ven got kissed by a Camel... ok mybae I did the kissing, I got heaps of pictures i'll send them soon. Oh and also during lunch one day this week we had some extra time and we had the awesome idea to set up a trap for a Wallaby. The trap is a wheely Bin (trash can) tipped over with an excersise band tied to the lid and the fence. Then we put apples in the bin and fashion a trigger that if the animal puts any weight on the trigger the top snaps tightly shut. It is the best stinkin trap ever but no success yet. There is a picture attatched to the email of the trap. You'll definately know when we catch one. We already picked his name. It's gonna be called dishes so we can say "do the dishes"
as code to say feed the Wallaby. But on the more spiritual aspect of things we found a lot of new investogators this week. One just invited us off the street and we taught the first vision and the lady said I believe that's true. So excited! We see these people some time this week. Anyays love you all take care.
ven got kissed by a Camel... ok mybae I did the kissing, I got heaps of pictures i'll send them soon. Oh and also during lunch one day this week we had some extra time and we had the awesome idea to set up a trap for a Wallaby. The trap is a wheely Bin (trash can) tipped over with an excersise band tied to the lid and the fence. Then we put apples in the bin and fashion a trigger that if the animal puts any weight on the trigger the top snaps tightly shut. It is the best stinkin trap ever but no success yet. There is a picture attatched to the email of the trap. You'll definately know when we catch one. We already picked his name. It's gonna be called dishes so we can say "do the dishes"
as code to say feed the Wallaby. But on the more spiritual aspect of things we found a lot of new investogators this week. One just invited us off the street and we taught the first vision and the lady said I believe that's true. So excited! We see these people some time this week. Anyays love you all take care. -Elder Ballard
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
"I'll call the cops!" (June 8, 2009)
G'day Family,
This week was pretty good. We got a lot of work done but it's still weird being senior Companion I don't like having to do all the work, but some funny stuff happened to us this week. The mo
st recent story.... so you know what tracting is (door knocking) well it gets dark at like 4:30 here so we were doing some night tracting and we knock this door and then they weren't interested then we go to the next one and as we were walking to the next house I see this man just standing there holding somthing, so I decide to go and talk to him. So I throw my hand into a high wave and say "G'day Cobbah how you going?", and then he just screams "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING OUT HERE AT THIS TIME OF NIGHT?!!!" I respond "sir it's 6:35" then he says "GET IN YOUR CAR AND LEAVE, YOUR NOT EVEN ALOUD TO BE DOING THIS." "Actually fella we will not leave cause we are aloud to do this". "YOU LEAVE OR I'LL CALL THE POLICE!!" "You do that please i'd love to have a chin wag with them", then he just waddles up to his house which turns out we never even knocked his door. So why was he so mad, this whole time I was being polite but at the same time kinda rude. Then as he waddled off I said "have a good night" and he flipped me off haha. And as far as i'm concerned no police came. It was funny. The work and numbers are about the same but we haven't got any new investigators in so long. oh well. We're already half way through this tranfer freakin nuts and my six month is just around the corner wow, and Mike has been out a year what the heck it goes too fast I feel I haven't done enough. But all I can do is work my tail off. And mom I didn't forget about you I just only had a half hour yesterday cause the lame queens birthday so we get more time today. ok tell Shelby I miss her and the sunshine and the warmth and all of you. I love you all. bye.
-Elder Ballard
This week was pretty good. We got a lot of work done but it's still weird being senior Companion I don't like having to do all the work, but some funny stuff happened to us this week. The mo
st recent story.... so you know what tracting is (door knocking) well it gets dark at like 4:30 here so we were doing some night tracting and we knock this door and then they weren't interested then we go to the next one and as we were walking to the next house I see this man just standing there holding somthing, so I decide to go and talk to him. So I throw my hand into a high wave and say "G'day Cobbah how you going?", and then he just screams "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING OUT HERE AT THIS TIME OF NIGHT?!!!" I respond "sir it's 6:35" then he says "GET IN YOUR CAR AND LEAVE, YOUR NOT EVEN ALOUD TO BE DOING THIS." "Actually fella we will not leave cause we are aloud to do this". "YOU LEAVE OR I'LL CALL THE POLICE!!" "You do that please i'd love to have a chin wag with them", then he just waddles up to his house which turns out we never even knocked his door. So why was he so mad, this whole time I was being polite but at the same time kinda rude. Then as he waddled off I said "have a good night" and he flipped me off haha. And as far as i'm concerned no police came. It was funny. The work and numbers are about the same but we haven't got any new investigators in so long. oh well. We're already half way through this tranfer freakin nuts and my six month is just around the corner wow, and Mike has been out a year what the heck it goes too fast I feel I haven't done enough. But all I can do is work my tail off. And mom I didn't forget about you I just only had a half hour yesterday cause the lame queens birthday so we get more time today. ok tell Shelby I miss her and the sunshine and the warmth and all of you. I love you all. bye.-Elder Ballard
Russel Falls, slow work, "King of Tazzy!" (May 31, 2009)
Hey Family,
So Elder Tongsumrith is gone. Wahoo my new comp is as you know Elder Lewis he is awesome I have had more fun with him in the past week than I
have had in my whole mission. We just have a great time together but he doesn't like to work so I gotta shape him up and make him realize that life is so much better when your exactly obedient and work hard. We went to Russel Falls you should look it up it's such an awesome place. Oh work got all messed up and so we slowed way down in teaching our people and now since i'm senior companion and all the responsibility is on me. But next week the work will be great only one investagator came we planned on five so many people are gonna get my dissappointed look this week. Other than that we have been challenged to set one Baptismal date this week so we'll see how this goes. Other than that the work is great im still in Tazzy and it seems to be so for the next three months. It's weird to think i'm one of the oldest people in Tazzy now there is nobody that has been down in Tazzy longer than me so people look to me for the way things work down here. haha kinda cool. I'll soon take the throne as the king of Tazzy. Well family love you all and be safe and take care.
-Elder Ballard
So Elder Tongsumrith is gone. Wahoo my new comp is as you know Elder Lewis he is awesome I have had more fun with him in the past week than I
have had in my whole mission. We just have a great time together but he doesn't like to work so I gotta shape him up and make him realize that life is so much better when your exactly obedient and work hard. We went to Russel Falls you should look it up it's such an awesome place. Oh work got all messed up and so we slowed way down in teaching our people and now since i'm senior companion and all the responsibility is on me. But next week the work will be great only one investagator came we planned on five so many people are gonna get my dissappointed look this week. Other than that we have been challenged to set one Baptismal date this week so we'll see how this goes. Other than that the work is great im still in Tazzy and it seems to be so for the next three months. It's weird to think i'm one of the oldest people in Tazzy now there is nobody that has been down in Tazzy longer than me so people look to me for the way things work down here. haha kinda cool. I'll soon take the throne as the king of Tazzy. Well family love you all and be safe and take care.-Elder Ballard
Transfer updates! New companion! (May 26, 2009)
Hey family,
This week was weird a lot of stuff happened but I can't seem to remember a thing. We got tranfer news yesterday and my companion will be flying up to the main land tonight. My new companion is Elder Brayden Lewis so mom you can tell his mom were serving together. I'm now the Senior companion in Glenorchy and i'm the Driver too hahaha scary eh? nah i'm pro. Taught a bit. Sorry everybody our p-day got moved to wednesday this week so a thousand pardons. I got this sweater that Margrete has and I copied it so when we went to dinner with her I rocked up in the same jumper as her it was classic i'll send pics hopefully. This week was long and short but yippee i'm at five months out wozer thats fast. Right so I gotta get going peace family I love you all.
-Elder Ballard
This week was weird a lot of stuff happened but I can't seem to remember a thing. We got tranfer news yesterday and my companion will be flying up to the main land tonight. My new companion is Elder Brayden Lewis so mom you can tell his mom were serving together. I'm now the Senior companion in Glenorchy and i'm the Driver too hahaha scary eh? nah i'm pro. Taught a bit. Sorry everybody our p-day got moved to wednesday this week so a thousand pardons. I got this sweater that Margrete has and I copied it so when we went to dinner with her I rocked up in the same jumper as her it was classic i'll send pics hopefully. This week was long and short but yippee i'm at five months out wozer thats fast. Right so I gotta get going peace family I love you all.
-Elder Ballard
First baptism! (May 17, 2009)
Hey Family,
Man that dinner sounds so good to me, but you know Martgrete ya she gets up in fast and testimony meeting and yells at the ward for not feeding us hahahah I love it out of a whole month we only go about five days without eating. We eat a lot of meat and viggitables the dinners are always so good but when we don't get fed I found somthing like topramen but it makes top ramen taste like donkey dookie. It's called indo mie brand Mi Goreng auhhhh so good. Man I can't wait for you to know what your having Christy it's about time this family has a girl. If you don't no worries cause me and Jos will have all the girls. Man i'm jelaous of you all swimmin I wanna go so bad. There is snow up on the mountains here and were going to it today but its not that cold here. Alls i gotta say is GOOOOOO NuGGGGGs, ya this week was the best my comp and I did somthing nobody has done in a really long time. So we have stats and there are about twelve different catagories like lessons taught, referals recieved, baptismal date, people baptised, people confermed and so on and so the thing that nobody can do is get all of the catagories full but this week we did and it was awesome . So this week we baptised Sky woot woot my first one I did it and it was so exciting. The ward loves her and also we had investigators come which was awesome. Also this week my rib doesn't hurt so bad I can sorta sleep now. But still kills to do anyhting in the morning. Also one of our less actives went to hospital for stints and alchohol poisoning. We got to lay the smack down on him we'll shape him up. Tranfers are next week so pray for me leaving or change of companions cause oh man is work hard with my comp but I love Tasmania. Anyways family, work is great and there is snow up Mt Wellington so i'm going to play in it today. I'll send pics of the Baptism... Hopefully love you all.
-Elder Ballard
Man that dinner sounds so good to me, but you know Martgrete ya she gets up in fast and testimony meeting and yells at the ward for not feeding us hahahah I love it out of a whole month we only go about five days without eating. We eat a lot of meat and viggitables the dinners are always so good but when we don't get fed I found somthing like topramen but it makes top ramen taste like donkey dookie. It's called indo mie brand Mi Goreng auhhhh so good. Man I can't wait for you to know what your having Christy it's about time this family has a girl. If you don't no worries cause me and Jos will have all the girls. Man i'm jelaous of you all swimmin I wanna go so bad. There is snow up on the mountains here and were going to it today but its not that cold here. Alls i gotta say is GOOOOOO NuGGGGGs, ya this week was the best my comp and I did somthing nobody has done in a really long time. So we have stats and there are about twelve different catagories like lessons taught, referals recieved, baptismal date, people baptised, people confermed and so on and so the thing that nobody can do is get all of the catagories full but this week we did and it was awesome . So this week we baptised Sky woot woot my first one I did it and it was so exciting. The ward loves her and also we had investigators come which was awesome. Also this week my rib doesn't hurt so bad I can sorta sleep now. But still kills to do anyhting in the morning. Also one of our less actives went to hospital for stints and alchohol poisoning. We got to lay the smack down on him we'll shape him up. Tranfers are next week so pray for me leaving or change of companions cause oh man is work hard with my comp but I love Tasmania. Anyways family, work is great and there is snow up Mt Wellington so i'm going to play in it today. I'll send pics of the Baptism... Hopefully love you all.
-Elder Ballard
The work continues (May 03, 2009)
Hey guys,
This week was good, normal work had a bunch of exchanges. I went to an area were we got to run on the beach in the morning I felt like I was in the movies. hahaha it was so fun and I also saw a Burmese mountain dog woo awesome. Our investigators are going. This sunday Sky came and she said to another member she wants to be baptised and she bore her testimony in Releif society, so good. And the funniest part is we haven't taught her anything cause she is moving houses and we can't. But pretty sweet. Also I got to call you guys this sunday to forwarn you of my call next week so I called mom... no answer, then Shannon... no answer, then home, then Christy, then Karen, all no answer then I called Chad finally. But i'll be calling next week at 11:00 pm your time so be ready and make sure Jocelyn is there she should be I told her too. Anyways tranfer is half over and I haven't killed my comp so props to me. Anyways can't wait to talk to ya'll this weekend. love you bye
-Elder Ballard
This week was good, normal work had a bunch of exchanges. I went to an area were we got to run on the beach in the morning I felt like I was in the movies. hahaha it was so fun and I also saw a Burmese mountain dog woo awesome. Our investigators are going. This sunday Sky came and she said to another member she wants to be baptised and she bore her testimony in Releif society, so good. And the funniest part is we haven't taught her anything cause she is moving houses and we can't. But pretty sweet. Also I got to call you guys this sunday to forwarn you of my call next week so I called mom... no answer, then Shannon... no answer, then home, then Christy, then Karen, all no answer then I called Chad finally. But i'll be calling next week at 11:00 pm your time so be ready and make sure Jocelyn is there she should be I told her too. Anyways tranfer is half over and I haven't killed my comp so props to me. Anyways can't wait to talk to ya'll this weekend. love you bye
-Elder Ballard
Post Conference (April 14, 2009)
Hey Family,
Kumusta Po, (Hello in Phillipino) All is well in Tasmania. This last week was very eventful. Sorry i'm emailing really late Easter holidays go all week and the library was closed, also next week i'll be emailing on Tuesday so you'll hear from me on Monday evening. First off conference was AWESOME so good. if you weren't able to see all of it shame on you. But you can repent and watch it online hahaha. We had two investigators come and it went well, first off Lee ( the one with the Baptizm date) he came and enjoyed it but the problem is he can't get baptized bacause he loves smoking too much and his friends won't like him if he doesn't smoke ugh!! But we'll get him. Then Valerire came with Maxuell Cave she is a non-member and he is less-active she enjoyed it but she'll be a while till baptism. She actually cried when she heard one of us will be leaving for tranfers cause transfers were this Monday but fortune didn't turn my way cause i'm still in Glenorhcy, but thats fine the only downer is i'm still with my comp, i'm mean we shouldn't bad talk them to anyone but man 4 1/2 months with him is almost too much ugh!!! No worries all is well i'll endure righteously to the end hahaha. Well not much work continues, we taught a Colombian lady who I wanted to just teach her in spanish so bad man I said a couple words to her in her native tongue which is the best language ever. Other than that nothing new, except the mission president and his wife said there is gonna be a mission reuinion in April 2011 so I volenteered our house haha, mom thats why I need you to send pictues of the whole house so I can show these people, Elder Gardner is from Sydney and he says he's livng there after the mish so prepare him a room. Other than that, how's every thing, my nephews, my dog, my girlfriend are you all taking care of her cause if she says your not I will not send you veggi mite hahaha. Ok well love you all and take care.
-Elder Ballard
Kumusta Po, (Hello in Phillipino) All is well in Tasmania. This last week was very eventful. Sorry i'm emailing really late Easter holidays go all week and the library was closed, also next week i'll be emailing on Tuesday so you'll hear from me on Monday evening. First off conference was AWESOME so good. if you weren't able to see all of it shame on you. But you can repent and watch it online hahaha. We had two investigators come and it went well, first off Lee ( the one with the Baptizm date) he came and enjoyed it but the problem is he can't get baptized bacause he loves smoking too much and his friends won't like him if he doesn't smoke ugh!! But we'll get him. Then Valerire came with Maxuell Cave she is a non-member and he is less-active she enjoyed it but she'll be a while till baptism. She actually cried when she heard one of us will be leaving for tranfers cause transfers were this Monday but fortune didn't turn my way cause i'm still in Glenorhcy, but thats fine the only downer is i'm still with my comp, i'm mean we shouldn't bad talk them to anyone but man 4 1/2 months with him is almost too much ugh!!! No worries all is well i'll endure righteously to the end hahaha. Well not much work continues, we taught a Colombian lady who I wanted to just teach her in spanish so bad man I said a couple words to her in her native tongue which is the best language ever. Other than that nothing new, except the mission president and his wife said there is gonna be a mission reuinion in April 2011 so I volenteered our house haha, mom thats why I need you to send pictues of the whole house so I can show these people, Elder Gardner is from Sydney and he says he's livng there after the mish so prepare him a room. Other than that, how's every thing, my nephews, my dog, my girlfriend are you all taking care of her cause if she says your not I will not send you veggi mite hahaha. Ok well love you all and take care.
-Elder Ballard
A nut from a nut! And a baptismal date! (Monday, March 30, 2009)
Family,
ok so wow this week was really eventfull Ihope I can get it all in... so I first got Shannon's package it was awesome I love the Cereal. Also I got the tape I already sent you guys back my response you'll get that probably tomorrow. I also got all Jordan's email and they made me so jeleaous but it's fine i'm haveing some pretty sweet/strange expiriences. I also realized from his emails i'm not sharing enough with ya'll but this one will be better. Thanks mom for getting those addresses sorry but I already had them cause I have the best girlfriend in the world, but no worries I didn't have Scott's so thank you so much. First off hahahaha super funny expirience. I promise no missionary will ever expirience anything like this hahaha. Ok so you guys remember that guy who looked up the chapel in the phone book and called and asked for the missionaries to come and teach him. Well his name is Michael Coneley and so I call the number back and ask for Michael Coneley, they say "Well there is no Michael Coneley but there is a Micheal Hello and he usually goes by that name, do you want to speak to him?" I say ya sure. So they give me his number to reach him and just before I hang up they ask " Do you know where you are calling?" I say no, then they say "This is Melbrook Rise Center, this is a mental institution and Micheal is a patient" I was all "uh... hahaha ok, Bye" Then I call this Michael character he answers and I comfirm that he was the one who called us, he said he was and then asked me "Can we go out?" and not really understaniding him I say Sure. But it wasn't until I hung up till I figured what he meant. I was all "ahh crap he probably thinks we are gonna take him out into the real world!" hahaha oh well, so the next day we drive to where he is at and go in. We talk to a nurse about him and she says were lucky cause he is one of the not very agressive patients hahaha oh boy, do I feel lucky. She also said he has been calling every church in the phone book asking for every church to come teach him. haha ok whatever send him in. And in walks Michael Hello. wearing three pairs of trowsers, two shirts and a suit coat that is two sizes too small and he is half bald with the classic crazy man hair. haha he sits and he asks me "Hows the beaches in utah?" haha no beaches in Utah bud. Then he asks "How many...How many Keys will it take to get into your church?" I said 436 to mess with him hahaha. Then we had a fairly normal conversation and then gave him a Book of Mormon. Then he goes on about some eagle God, and finally we ask if we could say a prayer before we left and I was just about to ask if I could offer it when he just started to pray and this is his prayer to the best of my knowledge "Heavenly father... please bless this food (right there i lost it and busted up laughing) thanks for the grass and the sun _...Some other stuf..._ Holy holy holy holy holy amen" hahahaha what?? Then he stands up infront of me and starts rifeling through his pockets and says "I have somthing for you" oh boy I can't wait to see what is it, he looks through all 2 million pockets and pulls something out hands it to me and says "a nut" hahaha it was a peach pit, and then he turned to my comp and says I don't have anything for you... then we leave and when we get to the parking lot I burst into laughter and say "I got a nut from a nut!" hahaha funniest thing ever! Then one of our members used to know him once upon a time. He drove taxi's with him and I guess he is an amazing artist, so we'll go back to visit. But next story is we went on exchanges I was with Elder Brayden Lewis and we decide to go tract down by the beach so we walk outside and just start walking we see water and just start walking towards it. We decide to cut throught the bush I swear we walked to Africa cause it looked exaclty like the Sarenghetti plains, and the funniest part as we were walking just over the hill were we couldn't see was a bunch of kids at recess banging on drums haha I seriously was africa haha then we get to the water and walk along a road for ten kilometers (about 6-7 miles) and we realize its the wrong way and have to go bcak worst day ever, why would they put two newbies together. hahah anyways also most exciting thing about this week is WE GOT A BAPTISMAL DATE WOOO!!!! Awesome guy his name is Lee we gave him a book of mormon and came back in three days he was already in Omni this guy is golden commited to Bap. on first lesson I can't wait he is awesome only problem is he smokes but who doesn't here. Oh ok assignment read D&C 75:19-21, thats made me very happy cause all the rejection we get so just check it out, hahaha sister Brynes is awesome she taught me all the Aussie slang so I wouldn't be stabbed haha you gotta meet the other ones they are awesome and also a sister from Tazzy will be reporting soon to that mission. Ok so I know how to make the soup I already made it but its ok and it was delicious like always i've made it like 6 times. Oh I can't wait for the Hulmes letters. ok thats about it I love you all, thanks for the support!
-Elder Ballard
ok so wow this week was really eventfull Ihope I can get it all in... so I first got Shannon's package it was awesome I love the Cereal. Also I got the tape I already sent you guys back my response you'll get that probably tomorrow. I also got all Jordan's email and they made me so jeleaous but it's fine i'm haveing some pretty sweet/strange expiriences. I also realized from his emails i'm not sharing enough with ya'll but this one will be better. Thanks mom for getting those addresses sorry but I already had them cause I have the best girlfriend in the world, but no worries I didn't have Scott's so thank you so much. First off hahahaha super funny expirience. I promise no missionary will ever expirience anything like this hahaha. Ok so you guys remember that guy who looked up the chapel in the phone book and called and asked for the missionaries to come and teach him. Well his name is Michael Coneley and so I call the number back and ask for Michael Coneley, they say "Well there is no Michael Coneley but there is a Micheal Hello and he usually goes by that name, do you want to speak to him?" I say ya sure. So they give me his number to reach him and just before I hang up they ask " Do you know where you are calling?" I say no, then they say "This is Melbrook Rise Center, this is a mental institution and Micheal is a patient" I was all "uh... hahaha ok, Bye" Then I call this Michael character he answers and I comfirm that he was the one who called us, he said he was and then asked me "Can we go out?" and not really understaniding him I say Sure. But it wasn't until I hung up till I figured what he meant. I was all "ahh crap he probably thinks we are gonna take him out into the real world!" hahaha oh well, so the next day we drive to where he is at and go in. We talk to a nurse about him and she says were lucky cause he is one of the not very agressive patients hahaha oh boy, do I feel lucky. She also said he has been calling every church in the phone book asking for every church to come teach him. haha ok whatever send him in. And in walks Michael Hello. wearing three pairs of trowsers, two shirts and a suit coat that is two sizes too small and he is half bald with the classic crazy man hair. haha he sits and he asks me "Hows the beaches in utah?" haha no beaches in Utah bud. Then he asks "How many...How many Keys will it take to get into your church?" I said 436 to mess with him hahaha. Then we had a fairly normal conversation and then gave him a Book of Mormon. Then he goes on about some eagle God, and finally we ask if we could say a prayer before we left and I was just about to ask if I could offer it when he just started to pray and this is his prayer to the best of my knowledge "Heavenly father... please bless this food (right there i lost it and busted up laughing) thanks for the grass and the sun _...Some other stuf..._ Holy holy holy holy holy amen" hahahaha what?? Then he stands up infront of me and starts rifeling through his pockets and says "I have somthing for you" oh boy I can't wait to see what is it, he looks through all 2 million pockets and pulls something out hands it to me and says "a nut" hahaha it was a peach pit, and then he turned to my comp and says I don't have anything for you... then we leave and when we get to the parking lot I burst into laughter and say "I got a nut from a nut!" hahaha funniest thing ever! Then one of our members used to know him once upon a time. He drove taxi's with him and I guess he is an amazing artist, so we'll go back to visit. But next story is we went on exchanges I was with Elder Brayden Lewis and we decide to go tract down by the beach so we walk outside and just start walking we see water and just start walking towards it. We decide to cut throught the bush I swear we walked to Africa cause it looked exaclty like the Sarenghetti plains, and the funniest part as we were walking just over the hill were we couldn't see was a bunch of kids at recess banging on drums haha I seriously was africa haha then we get to the water and walk along a road for ten kilometers (about 6-7 miles) and we realize its the wrong way and have to go bcak worst day ever, why would they put two newbies together. hahah anyways also most exciting thing about this week is WE GOT A BAPTISMAL DATE WOOO!!!! Awesome guy his name is Lee we gave him a book of mormon and came back in three days he was already in Omni this guy is golden commited to Bap. on first lesson I can't wait he is awesome only problem is he smokes but who doesn't here. Oh ok assignment read D&C 75:19-21, thats made me very happy cause all the rejection we get so just check it out, hahaha sister Brynes is awesome she taught me all the Aussie slang so I wouldn't be stabbed haha you gotta meet the other ones they are awesome and also a sister from Tazzy will be reporting soon to that mission. Ok so I know how to make the soup I already made it but its ok and it was delicious like always i've made it like 6 times. Oh I can't wait for the Hulmes letters. ok thats about it I love you all, thanks for the support!
-Elder Ballard
A Wrestling match...well almost!
Hey family/Friends,
This week was good, normal work as far as finding goes, a couple of sweet new investigators... like Beverly she is an older woman who has never seen the missionaries before. I was shoked everyone knows and she is cool we'll see her this Thursday, oh hahaha so Iwent on exchanges with Elder Gardner who is an Aussie and by the way mom he will be living in our house after the mission, anyways we were in his area and we went to see this kid named Matt and he has down syndrome and he is so funny. He is like 250 pounds and only five feet tall just a ball and he also loooooves wreslting. so after our lesson with him Elder gardner te
lls Matt that I (Elder Ballard) would love to wrestle him, at first Matt refuses cause he says i'll rip him apart, but then he builds courage and the next thing I know matt's shirt is off and he is hitting his chest with his fist like a stinkin gorilla, and he is ready to pounch, so fearing injury from excess weight on my shoulder I negotiate my way out of being smashed under a butterball turkey. So after surving that how we go and get a deep fried mars bar which was delicious but not as good as a deep fried twinkie or oreo. Oh so when you trian a new missionary you are considered his dad so Elder Tongsumrith is my dad, and the way it goes is nobody can have a daughter cause nobody can train sister missionaries.... oh but we did I love telling everybody I have a daughter. Ya some girl in Glenhoun we went out a full missionary helping and training her it went great she'll be serving in Sydney though. Oh and funniest thing I heard this week was "Whats a Chair lift?" ahahahaha That's all. Love you peace.
lls Matt that I (Elder Ballard) would love to wrestle him, at first Matt refuses cause he says i'll rip him apart, but then he builds courage and the next thing I know matt's shirt is off and he is hitting his chest with his fist like a stinkin gorilla, and he is ready to pounch, so fearing injury from excess weight on my shoulder I negotiate my way out of being smashed under a butterball turkey. So after surving that how we go and get a deep fried mars bar which was delicious but not as good as a deep fried twinkie or oreo. Oh so when you trian a new missionary you are considered his dad so Elder Tongsumrith is my dad, and the way it goes is nobody can have a daughter cause nobody can train sister missionaries.... oh but we did I love telling everybody I have a daughter. Ya some girl in Glenhoun we went out a full missionary helping and training her it went great she'll be serving in Sydney though. Oh and funniest thing I heard this week was "Whats a Chair lift?" ahahahaha That's all. Love you peace.-Elder Ballard
Addicted to teaching the Gospel! (March 2, 2009)
Hello Everyone,
So this week was crazy, it was exchanges and I survived so I at least get six more weeks in Tazmania. Also awesome news we got like an hour ago. One... we got our hour of email back and good thing cause I got like eleven from you people this week so i'm pumped about that. Two... WE GET CELL PHONES! I'm so excited finally all of our cancelled apopointment will not waste so much of our time i'm so excited. Three... My Companion is now the Disrict leader oh man thats so exciting we'll get to go so many more sweet places round Tazzy. And last is Elder Holland is coming in May and i'm excited but kinda bummed cause I figure i'll still be down here in Tazmania and he'll be up at the mainland. Oh well he is awesome and I got to see him in the MTC so i'm not too heartbroken. This last week was also great for finding. We are asked as companionship to find 5 new investigators a week. But we were able to get that many in a matter of three hours we were on five it was great. Also I finished the Book of Mormon for the first time all the way thorough by myself, really exciting for me, and the blessings poured out almost imeadiatley... by the way its a really good book I suggest you all read it too, haha. But seriously read it. So family i'm probably not gonna make it home after two years, i'm proabably gonna die from second hand smoking in about eight months hahah it's so awful it's like they are hot boxing us in there house, but there is an upside to that, I have now become addicted to teahcing the gospel. We met a lot of really promising people this week and some came to church i'll let you know if we get them to progress. I did meet one old man who approached me on the bus and he asked me how my work was going and then he said " So, years ago I met a member of your church, his name was um...? uh... Bruce McKonkie or something." hahaha I was like what you met Bruce R. McKonkie and your not converted? haha ya so I guess that Elder Mckonkie was a mission president here and came down to Tazzy a lot. Really cool though he was hard of hearing and we could chat very well with him, but I hope we find him again. hmm, what else... uh I definiatley think my friends should write me more, especially you Nathan Killpack. Anyways also last week we found a store that sells American products for really expensive but since I couldn't have it, I had to buy some stuff, I bought a box of Lucky Charms for $20 and some pumpkin pie stuff for $10, and a 5$ butterfinger for an investigator and $8 poptarts hahaha ridiculous but I had to have them hahaha...anyways I need letters nobody thinks I have family or friends so write me on paper my emails are filling my time up. Thanks love you all.
-Elder Ballard
So this week was crazy, it was exchanges and I survived so I at least get six more weeks in Tazmania. Also awesome news we got like an hour ago. One... we got our hour of email back and good thing cause I got like eleven from you people this week so i'm pumped about that. Two... WE GET CELL PHONES! I'm so excited finally all of our cancelled apopointment will not waste so much of our time i'm so excited. Three... My Companion is now the Disrict leader oh man thats so exciting we'll get to go so many more sweet places round Tazzy. And last is Elder Holland is coming in May and i'm excited but kinda bummed cause I figure i'll still be down here in Tazmania and he'll be up at the mainland. Oh well he is awesome and I got to see him in the MTC so i'm not too heartbroken. This last week was also great for finding. We are asked as companionship to find 5 new investigators a week. But we were able to get that many in a matter of three hours we were on five it was great. Also I finished the Book of Mormon for the first time all the way thorough by myself, really exciting for me, and the blessings poured out almost imeadiatley... by the way its a really good book I suggest you all read it too, haha. But seriously read it. So family i'm probably not gonna make it home after two years, i'm proabably gonna die from second hand smoking in about eight months hahah it's so awful it's like they are hot boxing us in there house, but there is an upside to that, I have now become addicted to teahcing the gospel. We met a lot of really promising people this week and some came to church i'll let you know if we get them to progress. I did meet one old man who approached me on the bus and he asked me how my work was going and then he said " So, years ago I met a member of your church, his name was um...? uh... Bruce McKonkie or something." hahaha I was like what you met Bruce R. McKonkie and your not converted? haha ya so I guess that Elder Mckonkie was a mission president here and came down to Tazzy a lot. Really cool though he was hard of hearing and we could chat very well with him, but I hope we find him again. hmm, what else... uh I definiatley think my friends should write me more, especially you Nathan Killpack. Anyways also last week we found a store that sells American products for really expensive but since I couldn't have it, I had to buy some stuff, I bought a box of Lucky Charms for $20 and some pumpkin pie stuff for $10, and a 5$ butterfinger for an investigator and $8 poptarts hahaha ridiculous but I had to have them hahaha...anyways I need letters nobody thinks I have family or friends so write me on paper my emails are filling my time up. Thanks love you all.
-Elder Ballard
Lots of different people to teach! (Sun, Feb 15, 2009)
Hey Family,
This week was good and bad at the same time. Every thing is all good down in Tazzy. Except for everybody slamming the door in our faces. We found some yard service to do with some people where we put in cement stepps. I told the lady we were doing it for, " I thought I got out of this work when I left my mom in the U.S." hahaha they are cool people we are hoping to be teaching them soon. Also some cool news is we found some hispanic families to teach and i'm hoping to teach in spanish, i'm getting a spanish dictionary soon so I can brush up. I'm currently trying to learn greetings in 13 different languages. It's coming I got Togalin and Swalhili and a bunch down but there are so many types of poeple here. The bad thing about this week is a lady whom we've been teaching for a couple weeks dropped us yesterday. It broke my heart it felt like I was getting dumped. Oh well though I guess it happens a lot. So ya Margaete is awesome if we ever come back to Tazzy I have to take you guys to meet here she is a hoot 24/7. It's awesome she called you. This week we will be teaching english to refugees from Nepal Sudan and Africa and every where I hope all goes well. All is well thus far, hows the fam, oh and by the way some dumb Greenies (new Missionaries) got on myspace and Facebook and now our email time is down to a half an hour so emails will be getting shorter, sorry, none the less I love you all, take care.
-Elder Ballard
This week was good and bad at the same time. Every thing is all good down in Tazzy. Except for everybody slamming the door in our faces. We found some yard service to do with some people where we put in cement stepps. I told the lady we were doing it for, " I thought I got out of this work when I left my mom in the U.S." hahaha they are cool people we are hoping to be teaching them soon. Also some cool news is we found some hispanic families to teach and i'm hoping to teach in spanish, i'm getting a spanish dictionary soon so I can brush up. I'm currently trying to learn greetings in 13 different languages. It's coming I got Togalin and Swalhili and a bunch down but there are so many types of poeple here. The bad thing about this week is a lady whom we've been teaching for a couple weeks dropped us yesterday. It broke my heart it felt like I was getting dumped. Oh well though I guess it happens a lot. So ya Margaete is awesome if we ever come back to Tazzy I have to take you guys to meet here she is a hoot 24/7. It's awesome she called you. This week we will be teaching english to refugees from Nepal Sudan and Africa and every where I hope all goes well. All is well thus far, hows the fam, oh and by the way some dumb Greenies (new Missionaries) got on myspace and Facebook and now our email time is down to a half an hour so emails will be getting shorter, sorry, none the less I love you all, take care.
-Elder Ballard
First email from Australia! (Feb 1, 2009)
This week went well everyone. We Tracted a lot and got a couple potential investigators. I'm a little disappointed none of you emailed me, anyways go Cardinals! It's monday here and the superbowl is being played but that old lady margarett is letting me come over and watch the end. Ya so you gotta tell wayne to email me.... nevermind i'll email him. I ate sushi the other night and brocceli or however you spell it... HUUU Dum Dum Dum!!! I know I didn't die but it's still awful. Also we have had tea (dinner) appointments about seven times now and we have eaten potato salad and some marshmellow dish six out of the seven time it's funny. I guess everyone eats it. Oh so two nights ago I was eating what I thought to be a chicken drumstick and leg but it turned out to be a five inch spine and a foot hahaha it wasn't bad. Mom i'm sending photos in a package to Jocelyn for her birthday on the 11th so hopefully she'll give them to you if not just call her. Any who we have done a lot of work with some less active memebers and it was really cool when we saw five at church yesterday. hmmm what else? So no baptism dates yet but we hope soon. Hows life in the state? Obama killed you off yet? haha how's the fam... when's Shan's Baby Poppin? Keep me posted.
-Elder Ballard
-Elder Ballard
Hey I Finally got Email (January 8, 2009)
Hey Family,
Ya sorry for not writing last week our P-day is on Thursday and that was our first official day so we skipped the whole day off and jumped right into classes. I wrote you a letter explaining it you'll get it in a few days. So the first few days felt like an eternity but now the days are flyin by. Before you know it you baby boy will be down under. My Teachers are great. They are all fresh off their missions and they know a ton. My District is 12 elders, 7 going to Oklahoma city OK and the other 5 going to Melbourne. They are all so awesome. My Companion is Elder Zabriskie he is tall and a runner he is super funny we are like the same people, except he really enjoys being off task and getting everybody to look at him. It bugs me somethimes but i'm ok with it. We can teach the first couple lessons and just so you know, Chad we have"Preach MY Gospel" now so the lessons are different and its for the better class of missionaries hahaha. Um thanks for the packages they are awesome. I can't wait to go. The food here is making my butt explode daily, um what else oh ya mom be sure to send this around and give this email to Shan and Christy so they can email me..hmmmm what else, so i only get a half an hour on the computer and there is a timer in the corner really stressing me out. oh ya mom I payed for my phone and I gave it to Wayne he can pay for his own service but he gets the actual phone. Um so tell me how everything is the Playoffs, the Family, anything. Much love
-Elder Ballard
Ya sorry for not writing last week our P-day is on Thursday and that was our first official day so we skipped the whole day off and jumped right into classes. I wrote you a letter explaining it you'll get it in a few days. So the first few days felt like an eternity but now the days are flyin by. Before you know it you baby boy will be down under. My Teachers are great. They are all fresh off their missions and they know a ton. My District is 12 elders, 7 going to Oklahoma city OK and the other 5 going to Melbourne. They are all so awesome. My Companion is Elder Zabriskie he is tall and a runner he is super funny we are like the same people, except he really enjoys being off task and getting everybody to look at him. It bugs me somethimes but i'm ok with it. We can teach the first couple lessons and just so you know, Chad we have"Preach MY Gospel" now so the lessons are different and its for the better class of missionaries hahaha. Um thanks for the packages they are awesome. I can't wait to go. The food here is making my butt explode daily, um what else oh ya mom be sure to send this around and give this email to Shan and Christy so they can email me..hmmmm what else, so i only get a half an hour on the computer and there is a timer in the corner really stressing me out. oh ya mom I payed for my phone and I gave it to Wayne he can pay for his own service but he gets the actual phone. Um so tell me how everything is the Playoffs, the Family, anything. Much love
-Elder Ballard
Hey-O (January 15, 2009)
My Mom and Dad, and fam Yup, Four Days. I can’t wait I’m getting super antsy, so ya pretty sure I broke my big toe and my wrist in basketball but oh well the lord will fix me. Um my bed is totally not comfy but and the same time it’s super comfy. No joke I close my eyes at night and a split second later my alarm goes off. I have only dreamt twice since I’ve been here, one was about Martha Stewart, and the otherone was last night, it was about me you dad Christy and Chad were all sitting in like the second row in the chapel and Wayne came up to us throws his mission call down in front of us and walks away with a huge smile on his face. I look down and just see a flag to some country. I don’t know which country but I’ll describe it, ok so it is all red and it has yellow like Arabic writing in the middle, but that’s were he got called. It was cool but that’s all Iremember. I’m thinking the flag was to like Saudi Arabia or something. Any who I’ll give you guys a call at the airport my flight leaves at five but I have asix hour layover in LA so I’ll get a hold of everybody there. Love you all
-Elder Ballard
-Elder Ballard
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