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
Monday, June 29, 2009
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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