Wild Week

Hey Family, Hope everything is going fantastic.

This week was pretty wild, Elder Goodfellow was sent home for medical reasons and I was partially not in my area this week. I am currently working in between my area and Eugene 3rd wards area. And I am feeling a little stressed but it is all good. A bowl of ice cream will fix me right up.

Therefore I believe I will be staying in my area for another transfer.. which means another 7 and 1/2 month area in a row for Elder Ballif. I think that I will be fine though.. Eugene is pretty crazy but we are finding a good amount of people to teach. And Shandra is doing good, she came to church yesterday and we are still working with her, she asked if we could move the baptism back and I am not going to baptize someone who feels like they are not ready for a covenant making ordinance. But she is still progressing, I think the next time we meet with her we will read from the scriptures and teach her about a few of the commandments, possibly that it is a commandment to study the scriptures.

I hope all is well and that you all are happy and safe. I got a really cool spiderman watch for two dollars that I have worn more then any other watch I have ever had. I love it.

Whoa, that's pretty wild that Alan Dixon is home now. Pretty awesome stuff, I can't remember who is next to come home out of my crew.. Probably Quentin or Avery.. I am not sure. Whateva.

My back hurts because I ride a bike that is not meant for a 6'4 7/8 person to ride.. And partially my bed.. I think I just want to buy a back brace or something... I don't know. I am trying to be the least stressful for you guys as I can be.

I like Josh read that talk and I often refer to it when I am trying to practice getting better at teaching. I really like the way he explained how the Holy Ghost specifically teaches to help us learn how to be influenced through the HG to be able to TEACH and help it STICK.

I miss you guys a lot right now especially since it is close to my Birthday... and I can't help little Ellie become like "Pearl the Landlord" (funny or die Will Ferrell video). Just kidding I would never do that unless I was paid really well. ;)

I love this church and a lot of people in it, I am grateful to be here to learn from all the people I serve around. There are a lot of really cool people in the wards that I have served in and I have enjoyed being here to meet these new peeps. I have changed quite a bit from when I was last home but I hope that it shall be a good change for everyone.

All I know is that I love you guys and I miss you a lot, but I still have important work to do and I will see this mission  through so I can say I have finished something good in my life. Then I will just totally be the same person I was and live with you guys till I am 40. :) Sound good?? cool.

I love you guys and I know that God is there and he can hear our prayers and answer them if we are keeping or at least trying hard to keep his Holy Commandments. I know that the Savior lives and he Atoned for our sins so we can all have a chance to come back to the kingdom of God. But we must CHOOSE what we will do in our lives to make sure that happens.

I pray that we can all CHOOSE to Submit to God's will and align our wants with his wants so we can be at peace.

I love you,

Elder Ballif

Good Week

Hey Family, I hope everything is going very well for you all.

Happy Birthday to Brynlee and Ry Ry, I sent a little bit of my love to both of you honeys. :D

Elder Goodfellow and I had a good week, it was a little slow at first but it ended very well. I am glad that I am out here right now and Tyson told me that all the girls back home haven't changed since high school so I don't even feel like I am missing out too badly. I do miss you all very much and my good friends and the good times I have had at home. But I have had a lot of time to change and become a better person which I am happy about. I am also excited for Ryan to have this change because I can tell he acts a lot like I did before I left. But since I have had that change I have seen the error of my ways and I hope that happens for Ryan as well. We had a good pday today, we played some football and then we had a zone picnic. which was pretty fetch. (mean girls)

I have been remembering a lot of the Book of Mormon now.. I love when I read so much I can remember where everything is in the book. That happened to me when I read the New testament as well. My memory is definitely enhanced when I have the spirit.

We have a few people that we invited to baptism this week but they unfortunately they denied the opportunity for now, but I feel like once they are a little more prepared then we will have a better chance of getting a positive response.

My back is still hurting me and my bike is slowly falling apart... so I think I will be needing a little bit of cash to pay for some things to make my life a little easier.

I enjoyed the pictures of Brynlee's birthday, she sure is a cutie, I am gonna love babysitting Jenns munchkins when I get back.. and Ellie if Kim and Todd need a date night or something.

Anyway, I don't have much else to say..  I hope Mitt wins the Republican party vote! I wouldn't mind having the Elders of Israel save this country.

Have a great week, one love!

Elder Ballif

Under the Weather

Hey Family, I hope everything is going well, Things are going pretty good on my side.

We were both sick this week so the working was a little sparce but we did have Shandra and her daughter come to church. And that went really well despite the fact that it was fifth sunday and the high priests talked about family history for the last hour.. it was a little dry I must say. But other then that I thought it was a success.

The only bummer this week was that Elder Goodfellow thought it was a good idea to go and invite one of our investigators to set a baptismal date and totally got rejected.. but that is good too so we can know concerns and know what to focus on.


I don't have much else to say this week..

I love you and next week  I am sure I will have a lot more to talk about.

Love,
Elder Ballif

Set Baptismal Date with Shandra

Hey Family! I hope things are going well for the most part. I love you all so much and CANNOT WAIT TILL I CAN see you again! you guys are "my precious".

This week went pretty well, we have someone that has accepted a baptismal date for Feb 11th, her name is Shandra. And we also had 4 investigators come to church this Sunday which is actually pretty good for our ward here. (very good for our ward).

I am working on trying to become a better teacher and working on loving everyone, which is a very hard thing for me to do. I have become a little bit of a Self Perfectionist. Many people say that I have a lot of potential, So when I am not fully living up to it I get a little frustrated. But that is alright, I am only 20. So I have a long ways to work on myself. it'll be fun.

Anyways, I am reading the Book of Mormon right now. And I am trying to read Preach my Gospel a lot more. I am very grateful that I can be out here to learn and grow through reading the scriptures and prayer. God has blessed my mind that as I pray and have things on my mind and as I read I receive the answers that I need to uplift my soul.

I love you guys very much and I want to be the best Brother, Son, Uncle, Friend, Person I can be when I get home for you all. I want to have a wonderful family of my own, and be sealed in the Holy Temple of God. When I see the world for what it is and what it is doing to families here. I am so grateful for the gospel and the fact that you guys embrace the teachings because they truly lead to more happiness. And forward progression. I have seen many times out here that if the family would have been keeping the commandments they would have "prospered in the land".

I can't wait to see you all again,

Love, Elder Ballif

New Companion Elder Goodfellow

hey family, i hope your week went well.

Elder Goodfellow and I are doing well, we have like 5 appointments setup for tomorrow.. I'm pretty excited about it.

Im currently focusing on Preach my Gospel and reading the Book of Mormon again but I will be going through it slowly and writing down what happens in every chapter so i can explain it in my own words. If Ryan should focus on anything he should read Preach My Gospel chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10. They have really helped me to teach better and know how to teach.

Something I feel like i might need is something for my back.. my back is starting to hurt a lot and i need some "support" for it.

i love yall, and hope you have a good week.. my loves.

Elder Ballif

The Power of Faith

Hey Family, I just want each of you to know that I love you very much and miss you very deeply and pray for you daily. I have been thinking about how I got to see you on Christmas and how great it was to see all of your faces and talk to each of you. Being out here has definitely made me know how great of a family we have and the many blessings that we have individually and collectively in this life. I was talking with some members of my ward this week and they told me they read in a talk given by a general authority of the church and he said that alot of the blessings in our lives, such as great families and opportunities have been given to us because of what we have done in the Pre-Mortal world. And because we have been blessed individually and as a family from God so much! I know that we were great then, and have the potential to be great in this life as well. Each of us, have the potential to be great. Now, I am not talking about material things. But God does bless us with all the material blessings that we will need if we do what he asks of us. And it really is not that hard to do. I have definitely seen God help me again and again out here. And I know that he wants to help us if we will strive to obey his commandments. 

I have learned lately about the power of Faith, and that it really is power. Lately I have been trying to focus on Faith because I have been tracting a lot lately and it is a hard thing to do when no one is open to even listening to what we have to say. But the same thing was happening to Jesus Christ when he came. Many called him a fool, or said he was doing all the wonderful things that he did with the power of satan. Just as people say that I am a servant of the devil and that I preach a different Gospel. I do not, I preach repentance from the false traditions of men and that there is a straight and narrow path that they much enter in to return to God after this life. That is the same thing that Christ did, I have pondered that many times in my mind about the church that he set up when he was here and the church that has been restored because of disbelief and corrupt teachings that came into the world. It is the same pattern, Jesus gathered the elect to him and that is also what I am doing. And that is by Faith, the only way you can truly know that God is real. The only way you can know that the Bible is a true record. The only way you can know if there is life after death. This life is the time for all of us to learn to use the POWER of Faith. 

I love chapter 32 in the book of Alma because it describes faith wonderfully and how we can grow it likened unto a seed in the ground. I love my Father in Heaven for giving us the holy scriptures and restoring his Only Begotten's church to the earth. I love Christ, for I know that he truly came and atoned for each of us so we can become great like him. So that we can all learn from our own mistakes and try and ponder to ourselves "what can I do to or change to become more like Christ". I have made that a habit of asking myself this question on each Sunday. I have been happy when I have done this and as I have prayed and read the scriptures and tried to be as righteous as possible. And as I am trying to live my life for the sake of others and try to be selfless I know that is how I have grown the most in my life. 

I just wanted to let you know that I love you all and I can't wait till I can see you each again. I know that God is real, and I know that Christ was sent here to teach us our potential. This life is time to become great, and following Christs example as best we can is the way. Elder Gibson and I are doing very well and unfortunately he is being transferred this week and I am getting a new companion named Elder Goodfellow, my mission president called me and asked me to help Elder Goodfellow because he has been struggling like I was. And he asked me to help him and to motivate him in this work, I know that it won't be me that does this work but that it will be God. And I am grateful that God thinks that I can do this for him and that I can be an instrument in his hands. I have also been told that I will no longer be the District Leader here so that I can focus on my area and my companion. We have been seeing great miracles this transfer and the work has picked up very much. We have much potential and I feel that the Lord has prepared people for us to be baptized soon. You guys are great and I am grateful that I can call you my family. I tell you that I know that we can accomplish anything we need to do if we ask the Lord in prayer and have Faith that is will happen if we are doing our part and keeping the commandments of the Lord. Let us all hearken to the voice of the prophets and of the Lord and become Great. That is my wish, for all of us.

have a great week, each of you shall be in my prayers. P.s: Heathers Birthday card might be a day or two late.. transfers has made me a little busy but I hope she enjoys my words of love to her. 

love,

Elder Ballif

Enjoyed Christmas

hey family,

This day is our pday. so i shall be emailing yall.

Well, i am very glad i got to see you on christmas--that was a good time.

We are still doing well, we have found some new investigators. they are pretty cool. they should be coming to church tomorrow as well as some other investigators we are currently teaching.

i am reading Jesus the Christ right now, i am getting pretty far and learning alot from it. its a good one.

well.. i dont got much else to tell you.

thank you for the presents, they were wonderous.

love yall.

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 :)