Got to go to the Temple

Hey guys, sorry i am a little late, my p-day was kind of screwed up. So since we are preparing for lunch i thought it would be appropriate to email the family, Thank you for your love and support and your prayers. I can feel some of the weight of my shoulders taken off just knowing that you guys pray for me and that God really is blessing me and you guys (since i do the same for all of you). But just kind of an update, We are seeing the Afalava's tonight and we are going to be teaching them about the temple and how they need to go there because their kids are too cute to not have that blessing of being sealed. And since i had the opportunity to go there on Tuesday, i think i will be able to teach them pretty well. I am getting happier and happier with our area. There are still alot of dope fiends everywhere and alot of them say we don't believe in Christ.. but when they say that i own them with my knowledge. But they are all too stubborn to believe me.

The Old man that i was teaching Boyd, is actually not even an old man.... which i still think someone is pranking me. He is only 55 years old.. but he looks like he is 75. So i guess smoking makes you look way older! So for all those who think smoking is cool and makes you look older.. its true it does... but just not in a good way!!

My mission president is sending an ex zone leader to be my companion for 1 transfer. Then depending on how well i do with him, i will be having a baby the next transfer. (training a new missionary)

So that is exciting, we have some progressing investigators and we are teaching a pretty good number of people so i am excited for the near future. but now i gotta step up and join the big leagues. Kind of stressful, but i will manage. just make sure you guys pray that i will have inspiration and stamina because i hear that this guy i am getting doesn't stop moving till 9 at night.. which i am a good missionary and i go at a pretty good pace but nothing like i hear this kid is like.. i will need all the help i can get.

Oh well.. i love you guys, and i hope you have a fantastic week. And as for Ryan, just read a page of Preach my Gospel EVERY night with him and he needs to make sure he is reading a chapter from the book of mormon everyday and he is praying at least every night, preferably every morning too. If he does those things, the rest will come pretty easy. well i love you guys and i am thankful the lord blessed me by placing me into your family. Although i have many flaws, when i don't think of them i do well.

have a good week!

love,

Elder Ballif

Get to Teach a football player from the Indianapolis Colts

Despite the fact i hate emailing, and I hate sharing my feelings for all to see. I decided that i will out of the sheer love that i have for Momma Bear. And that fact that it "makes her day"...

Anyways my week has been pretty good, i got alot out of church yesterday and I got news that i get to teach Al Afalava # 23 on the Indianapolis Colts once a week because his wife came up to us and asked if we could come over weekly to teach him.. so i am excited for that. (he needs good influences in his life other then Peyton Manning and Austin Collie)

make Ryan watch the little mermaid part where they are in the boat with the lobster and he starts singing.( kiss the girl) Only if he wants to risk getting mono??

We have some free time today so we decided to come to the library so i could email and look at things on wikipedia about other churches. (for doctrine curiosity)

My last couple of weeks has been pretty good. I met some cool people and i also learned some cool things throughout the week. For instance i learned that the Arabs invented the base 10 number system. which took over the use of Roman numerals because it's ability to use high numbers and negative numbers. Anyways, now i can participate on "Are you smarter then a fifth grader".

I met a girl named Casey yesterday and she showed me a minute of undercover brother to show my companion his resemblance to Chris Kattan, and she was making fun of herself because she is a Ginger. And fact that ginger kids have a strand of DNA that is messed up and that is why Gingers usually have no souls. (south park reference) ...but thats neither here nor there.

I just started Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage. It has a lot of words that even i will need a dictionary for.

My companionship is now down to 2 people me and Elder Russon, my homie G. We are a pretty good companionship and our traits and abilities compliment each other pretty nicely; for example he is a more passive person and i am more of a blunt aggressive person so in lessons we do "Good missionary, Bad missionary" and its got a good track record so far. I've only had to push around a few people. My favorite thing to do is basketball now.. but i only get to play once a week. But a few people asked me if i played in college last Monday. That was after i got some ice for their ankles when i broke them. :)

Well, i don't have too much else to say so i will just say i love you guys, and i miss you all very dearly, And don't send me a birthday cake or i'll "throw it on the ground!"

love yall,
Elder Ballif

Letter to Jenn, following pictures from Brynlee's blessing...

Hey Jenn,

Thank you for that email. It managed to make the tears come which has been difficult as of late.

I love you guys, all of you guys. I wish i could be there with all of you and share these memories with you.. But it's ok because time here is temporary and I am growing and changing for the better. I can see the change but I still want to be with you all more.. I think that just shows how much I love y'all.

I am glad everything is working out for all of you guys and everything is peachy. Things here are going alright. I am getting tired of all of these people who are too stubborn to listen to us when we can really change their lives for the better.

Tell your boys i am their self appointed Godfather. And if they ever need anything from me. They can ask. Because when i am rich.. i will have plenty to go around. ;) I love you guys and miss you.

Love, 

Austin

Still working with Boyd to quit smoking

Hey, things are going alright. I'm glad you had a good talk with Elder Marlin K. Jensen (of the 70) about me. I also had a pretty good conversation with him before my areas stake conference. I was the only missionary that got to meet with him so that was pretty cool and he gave me some good advice.

I did watch the Jimmer fest. If BYU is is in the NCAA tournament, i am going to watch it no matter what. :)

About Boyd... we are trying to help him quit smoking still, he is doing very well, but he still has a few concerns about coffee and the prophet that we need to go over more in depth.

Its transfers this week and i am getting a new companion, the companion i like (Elder Russon) is staying with me but the brazilian is getting moved to another companionship in our zone. But we are also getting someone else to come with us... so i am not very excited. Threesomes are killing me.

Love, Austin Ballif

Working with a Grandpa

We are teaching a Grandpa in his 70's. He has a word of wisdom problem with smoking but we have him down to a single cigarette a day from the pack day he use to smoke. We hope to set a baptismal date for him soon!

We got out and did some missionary service--it was raining hard so we had a good mud bath.

 We had a general authority visit over the past weekend. Elder Marlin Jensen of the seventy. I had the chance to talk to him personally which was a great experience.

New Area - Albany, OR -- Address correction!

Elder Ballif was transferred this week. The secretary from the mission office saw Elder Ballif yesterday at transfers and said he looked great!

 Below is the corrected address. Initially the mission office had told me that it was NW rather than SE for the street address. SE is correct as shown below.

His correct new Address is:

Elder Austin Ballif
436 Ermine St. SE
Albany,OR 97321

Transfer this Week- 10 minutes away, but new Zone

Hey, i found out that i am getting transferred tomorrow. And it is only like 10-15 minutes away from my area now.. the only thing that is different is that it is in a different zone. i love you guys and i will tell you guys more when i find out.

i have been praying and fasting for you guys for 2 weeks and i am glad that this last week was GREAT. That was what i was hoping for.

Met a Great Family

Hey,

I am glad you guys got home safely.

I am doing a little better this week,

their is one family I recently met that i really just absolutely love,

and that is the Smith family.. Jon, Brittney and litte 2 year old Kiley.

They are like my all time favorite.

Kiley is so dang cute.. and Brittney is the nicest person i have ever met,

And Jon, he is like the coolest guy ever. They are amazing.

The work has also been a little frustrating, we started teaching someone on thursday but her mom doesn't want her to get baptized yet which is really stupid because the mom herself is a member and its just irritating.

but that is about all i got, i love you..

i am gonna go play some ball!

Love,

Elda Ballif!

Under the Weather

Hey, i had a pretty...... Ehhh week -- i am sick and so was one of my companions so we just kind of sat around and survived. i did read almost all of mark, and i started reading some of the Book of Mormon with reading the bible. that is about all i did that was productive to me..

hey, about my companions, my cool companion is getting transferred this week on Thursday. Not sure whether the other Elder in our trio will stay or not??

My GPS is working great.. i love it.. lifetime maps and lifetime traffic for a pretty dang good price is worth it. well..

I don't want any pretzel rods i am starting to gain weight again since everyone feeds us a big meal and then dessert so i think i am good on the sweets.. 

 

i don't got much to say.. but

 

i know that God loves us and that he restored his Gospel to the earth and if we keep his commandments and love one another as jesus did, we will recieve Eternal life in return. I love you guys and i miss you guys alot.

 

Have a great week.

 

love,

your son.

Christmas Package and a GPS to help with the work

Hey Dad,

 

I got the package. I loved it. we had a good time together.

 

i already watched those movies that you sent.

 

I feel like Lehi was somewhat of an Insense trader.. they followed the reverse insense trade route getting out of Jerusalem.. (of course speculation) but the land bountiful that Nephi built the boat is said to be in the Green dot in the middle east in the south east of the peninsula. and the other movie was cool too.. MesoAmerica is the canadiate for the ancient inhabitants. i liked the one that you guys watched better but the only thing that it didn't have in it that the other one did was Truman G. Madsen. who i really admire. He is very knowledgable. 

 

I enjoyed the CDs and all the random disney songs.. i need my Hercules.. and my Mulan reflections and my phil collins tarzan.. i was hoping for some of that. but i did like the other stuff and i am so glad she put my Florence + the Machine song on there. i love that song. I also catch myself singing Beauty and the Beast theme while i am in the shower..? which i love that movie. i love Belle. I love Gaston. its great. 

 

Oh well.. i have been discouraged from reading as much lately. i was just busy with moving and a bunch of stuff. I am in Matthew 25 now and instead of reading matthews 24 i read JST Matthew.. which i really enjoyed because the 2nd Coming really interests me. And i watched the Christmas Devotional last night and Elder Utchtdorf (forgive me if i spell wrong) my favorite apostle, talked about his coming and how we need to be ready for it and he will come when it is least expected. is at least what the bible indicates. i could go for a while talking about it but i got other people to write and i gotta spread the love.

 

i got the letter from Bishop Balmer and can you just tell him thank you for me, that was cool that he actually wrote me a personal letter and most missionaries i know get a generic letter every month or so and so i was impressed that he would write a personal one and tell him it helped me out and i really enjoyed it and respect him for what his mission was like.

 

We aren't teaching the investigator with the birds anymore.. we found out that they live on our wards boundaries and if they would have lived on the other side of the street we would still teach them.. and even though we have been teaching them for like 5 weeks they had us give them up to the other ward. WHICH MAKES ME ANGRY :( 

 

i would like a Gps, and i found one at best buy.. for a great deal so i think i will just buy it here because we don't have tax here! so that is exciting.. and it has lifetime maps and traffic which i want.

 

anyways enough of this.. i love you and i miss you dearly but i gotta write others.

i will remember to call you guys around 3:15pm december 25th.

 

i love ya,

 

Elder Ballif