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
Thursday, October 15, 2009
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
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