Finally Have a Place to Email

Hey Family, Today is a miracle. We have a place to Email!

Last week we tried to email at this place the Zone Leaders found for us but that didn't work out well at all.. It was a Volunteer Library and those computers there were dinosaurs. It seriously took 40 minutes to load up. And the internet was very slow as well, to the point that I was there about an hour and had time to read 1 email. So luckily we had Interviews with the mission president and they allowed us to email there for 15 minutes. And I finally had the chance to watch the video that Jenn and Kim made of the Lolly Pop guild. (the little ones) it was really cute. I miss them so much.. :( They have changed so much since I left. And I cannot wait to see them again. And hopefully see them on Skype on Christmas. (I still don't know if i will be able to skype or just call) but I will try to be able to skype.

I have been opening my gifts for christmas. And I enjoy the things you got me. I made the Christmas tree because Elder Gibson and I decided that our apartment needed a tree. I feel like Tyson will be getting home very soon or he already just got home.. I hope that he will email me a little more when he gets back but oh well.. I only got about 6 1/2 months left and I have been thinking of late about my plans for when I return home which I haven't figured out yet.

Christmas time is a hard time for missionary work here.. because everyone is leaving to spend time with their families and all that jazz. But we are teaching a lot of people.. and we have found a bunch of new investigators and are working hard. We had a lesson with a younger guy that is married and our interests are very similar.. we first met him while he was playing the new Call of Duty. And we came and taught the first lesson to him (his wife was with her family for a few days) but I think it went very well and we have another appointment for next Friday when his wife will be there too. We are excited because they are super nice and awesome people. God is definitely helping me because of my Diligence that Elder Gibson is helping me attain.

I read the Pearl of Great Price in 3 days and I wish there was more. I need to finish D&C and I think I will reread the Book of Mormon a fourth time. Things are going good for the most part, just sort of stressful due to not having a car and never knowing whither we will have a place to email or if we will be able to play sports on P-day but I have gotten a lot worse at sports in this area. I am not good at basketball or football now.. and my confidence is failing me. But I am working on it.. I need to start exercising more often and I think that will take care of that.

I am excited for Christmas and that I will be able to talk to you all again! that will be a good day for my soul. I don't think that it will be the same as last year, Better.

I love you all and can't wait to talk to you all on SUNDAY!

<3 Elder Ballif <3

New Investigators and Things picking up in Eugene

Hey Family,

I hope that you have had a good week, and you are all happy and healthy.

Elder Gibson and I are working hard and the Lord is blessing our work because of our Faith and Diligence. We found 5 new investigators this last week and our numbers were the best they have been since I have been in Eugene. I am pretty excited to have Elder Gibson, he is helping me to be 100% obedient and very hard working. We are currently at the mission home having Interviews with President and his wife and because we didn't get a chance yesterday they have allowed us to email really quickly.

My district is doing pretty good, some of them were transferred and I feel like the new members of the brotherhood (the district) will be good for the work.

We are going to try and set a baptismal date this week so we can get more ward trust and more dinners. ;)

This week is going to be a good one we are going to be teaching a bunch of new people and we are pretty good at teaching people together.

I love you guys and am thankful for the gifts that you have given me. And that package that was sent and my christmas presents. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you people.

The church is true.

I love you,

Elder Ballif

P.s. - For christmas I will call/ skype you guys at around 6:30pm (my time)

New Companion - Elder Gibson

Hey Family, I hope that you guys are doing well and having a good start to your holiday season.
That windstorm sounds crazy. I could have been like Marry Poppins out there. I hope that all of you guys are alright and safe.

This week I got my companion Elder Gibson.. I like him for the most part and I'm glad he is a hard worker.  

I got the packages, the cleats and the assortment of treats. That is terrible that you didn't get to make it to church. But service is the reason we go to church in the first place so that is understandable. Thank you all for that awesome picture that you guys took for me.. I am certainly "feelin" the love. And also Jenn that made my day those pictures and the things that your son said.. It makes me wanna "catch some gatas" with him and his brother. I am excited for Christmas so I can chit chat with you guys..   I love you guys and I am in Ether chapter 2 now and I really enjoy Mormon chapter 8 & 9... good stuff.


Have a good week I love you guys.

(: Elder Ballif :)

Doing Well and Getting a New Companion from Kaysville

Hey Family, I am sorry that I haven't emailed you in 2 weeks. I just didn't have a place to do it. But I talked to the AP's and the Zone Leaders and they are helping us out with finding a more permanent solution. So no I am not mad at any of you or anything like that. I just have been stranded without a computer and Internet.

I miss you guys so very much.. the holidays are definitely are harder time for me because this is the time that was most enjoyable to me back home... not that it wasn't enjoyable when it wasn't the holidays.

Well, my companion is going home in a few days and I will be getting Elder Gibson. He went to high school with me and was on my rugby team. I am pretty excited to be with him, since I have been pretty frustrated this transfer. And I feel like I can have some new beginnings and maybe I won't grow so many grey hairs this time around. I am excited for this package I am hearing about. It sounds very wondrous and magical. I am no longer a "Co" district leader and I am just thee district leader now. Which I am thankful for because when I was partners it was hard to know what to teach and correlate what to do in district meetings and also sending in numbers and going to correlation with the Zone Leaders and all that fancy jazz. So it will not be as complicated for me and I like that. But I will also have to do a lot more stuff.. which will be interesting. I am excited for the challenge though.


I want to thank you for the support you all have given me and that I love you very much and I care about you all more then my love for Jessica Biel. Which is hard to beat. Even though I heard she got back with JT again...... :(

I love you guys, you will hear a lot from me next week.

Elder Ballif

Riding Bikes in the Rain

Hey family, I hope things are going well for you this week.

 

My week has been so so, but that is ok. I just don't really like being in Eugene... It is pretty frustrating, I never know if I will get to email on pday.. no one wants to play sports and we have the biggest zone in the mission.. we ride our bikes all day in the rain and not much comes from it.. just some stress that I have to deal with.

 

 

But it is ok, because I am keeping the commandments and I feel the spirit regularly. Which makes everything a little bit better. I am currently reading "The Miracle of Forgiveness" which is pretty brutal. I thought I was doing pretty good until I started reading it. So make sure you are not depressed when you read it because if you are depressed... it won't make you feel good. I am also on chapter 26 in 3rd Nephi. I really enjoy 3rd Nephi, it certainly makes the tears come if your a sissy like me. 

 

We are working with a few investigators right now, not really much to talk about yet though unfortunately. I think this area is my least favorite so far... (mainly because I have to ride my bike everyday in the rainy cold) ... not a fan. 

 

 

I was wondering if you guys could send me my rugby cleats (the white/black/gold ones) 

we are playing football quite a bit right now and I would like to have cleats so I can further dominate the competition. :) I just wish that we played tackle... And I wish I had a gym pass. But I guess I will just have to work really hard when I get back to Utah so I can play a lot of football and basketball at the top of my game. :)

 

 

Well, I love you guys and I miss you and I can't wait to see you in 241 days from now.. I think... something like that. 

 

God be with you till we meet again.

 

Elder Ballif

Getting Better

Hey family, sorry that I am late writing to you guys. This area is very hard to get to a place to email. I apologize.

But my time here has been getting better and I am working through it. I have started reading a lot lately. I read the entire book "History of Joseph Smith" by Lucy Mack Smith, that was a good book. I really liked her account of Joseph being his mother and she knew him better then pretty much anyone else... give or take a few.

I really liked the pictures of the munchkins. They looked really funny. I quite enjoyed Cameron and Carsen's costumes with the ever so popular look for Cameron (just a different color and with wings) and Carsens very unique "Thomas". Very enjoyable!

My Halloween was pretty boring, we had to come into our apartment at 7pm.. which was not something I would have chosen. But at least it gave me a chance to finish the book. I am currently in the Book of Mormon chapter 14 of 3rd Nephi which I am highlighting pretty much everything. So I am doing pretty well.

Thank you for putting some money into my account Father. I actually need a little bit more then that though... if you could put like another 50.00 that would be wonderful. I need some money to get some things I need like a few sweaters among other needs I need.


I love you guys so much and I cannot wait till I get home and see you lovely people.


-Elder Ballif-

First Week as District Leader

Hey family,

I hope you guys are doing good. My first week as District Leader was a little stressful, lets just say I hope things improve quickly. I don't really know what God wants me to learn this transfer with the situation I have been put in... but I guess I will just deal with it.

I hope that you had a great birthday my momma... I sent something but it might not be there until either today or tomorrow, so a little late.. But better late then never has been a motto of mine for a while.

I love you very much and long for July 2012.. especially right now. Well, I don't really have anything else to say this week. I have been reading D&C, I am in the 66th Section I believe. But I might pause that and read the Pearl.

I love you guys,

Elder Ballif

New Companion and New Calling

Hey my wonderful loving family,

It sounds like you guys are doing well and having a good time. Thank you for your insights and thoughts, I love and do take into account what you all have to say. I have been working on being more teachable. I feel like I know that I am not perfect but then again sometimes I feel like I know best.. frankly, I need to break that ego of mine.

So about transfers, Elder Acuna is getting transferred to Bend. And I am getting a companion that is about to go home next month named Elder Redfern.

Also I have been called as a District Leader for the Santa Clara district in Eugene Oregon. I'm a little worried about some things but I have faith that God will help me as I trust him and do my best. He hasn't failed to disappoint yet.. ;)

The work here is going alright, we just got some referrals and we are working with a few investigators and less actives but nothing too dandy to report. My ward is cool too, my Ward Mission Leader is awesome. I like the members, and the area isn't so bad.

Just so you know, I am NOT getting a flu shot. That has not changed nor ever will change. If they got the nose spray I can consider it.

Well I love you guys and I pray for you all, night and day!

Happy Birthday to you all that have just had one, (Kim, and Ellie) and also Momma, You have a great birthday as well on the 22nd! I love you very much and I miss you like Jacob misses Bella................ what?????????!?

have a good week

(yes I just referenced Twilight...)

love,

Elder Ballif

P-Day Switched this Week

Hey family,

Sorry that this email is a bit late... Our p day was switched around due to Elder Koelliker of the 70 coming to our mission for a visit. Which was a good experience, you can just tell from meeting him that he is a man of God.

Well elder Acuna and I are doing well, that is cool that Josh just left. I love you guys and I will write more next week due to transfers!!! We don't know what will happen..


Love, Elder Ballif

He is Alive!

Hey family,


I hope you guys are doing well! Sorry for the inconsistency of my emailing.. our computer access was very faulty, but we have figured it out so it should not be an issue
anymore.


I am glad you guys had fun at Fish lake, that sounded like a blast! unfortunately I don't think I grew up like fishing too much so trying to get me to go with you guys
will be quite a treat. You guys could bribe me... just a thought. ;)


Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed conference! I know I enjoyed all 10 hours of it. I really enjoyed the Saturday afternoon session. I really liked Elder Uchtdorf's talk.
(about potential)


I got to see the end of the BYU v Utah State game which was quite a journey.. I feel like from what I saw that Jake Heaps is still too young, And that Ryley is a better leader for them this year.. but I'm sure they will be playing Jake Heaps as the starter and he will do marginal like he has been I have heard--so whatever.


We are doing well, we are not hurt or anything. We are getting along famously actually, He is a very nice man child. The only thing that is really frustrating me at the moment is that I can't seem to set up Basketball any of the weeks I have been here except the first and we have the biggest zone in the mission, it makes me want to go climb Mount Hood and cry and punch dance my rage on the top of those rigorously treacherous slopes. Or get a an Ice cream cone.. both would work.


I usually get to go play some ball and it gets my mind off of the other things.. but not here. It hurts my soul. Basketball is what balances out my Ying and Yang! and my zen. Sorry I just got done reading the Art of War. Perfect reading for a missionary! ;)


Anyways I love yall and I pray that God is watching over you all.

Elder Ballif!