A great Email from Elder Ballanytne

Dear Mom and Dad,

So I have had a chance to read your letters. So I thought I would go through and answer some of the questions you have asked in those letters.

The flight was long and terrible! I couldn't sleep and it was very uncomortable, however, it was really cool to beable to see the sun set and rise in the same flight within a few hours.

My schedule is wake up at 6:30 (11:30 your time) exercise until 7:00am (12:00 am) eat breakfast shower and get ready for the day until 8:00 AM (1:00 AM) then personal study till 9 AM (2 AM) Companion study till 10 AM (3 AM) then after that it's various things like teach lessons to families and find people to teach.

I don't know what the food is like in the provo mtc but the food in the England mtc was GREAT! I was in the MTC with about 50 Missionaries. Some of those were the ones that were from Utah, there were even more of them waiting at the terminal. So i did get to see them throughout the whole time in the mtc.

It was really hot in Atlanta, we didn't go out side but just getting of the plane was really warm! Delta fed us Lunch and Dinner on the flight over the ocean from Atlanta. Dinner was some kind of Alfredo pasta, it was actually pretty good. Yes i did get the money i had converted to english money. I have to say their money system is much better than America's. I can use my card from home. but they gave me a mission card for groceries and cleaning supplies toiletries and things like that.

We already have an investigator getting babtised this saturday! Her name is Kay. And she is very good. she is definately prepared and ready to be baptised. She seems excited to be baptised. we are having family home evening tonight with her.

We have already seen the hand of the lord help us in finding new investigators. Just yesterday Elder Sherrard told me about this guy who called us, saying he didn't seem very interested in learning about the gospel. but yesterday he had a change of heart and said he wanted to give up his addictions and start from a clean state. So we talked about the restoration and commited him to be baptised and he said yes! This is just one of many times we have seen the hand of the lord help us in our efforts.

This is so great so far! The Days are already going by so fast and my companion Elder Sherrard says it will go by even faster as i get further into the mission. He said a mission is like a roll of toilet paper. It seems like it goes slow at first but then as you get closer to the middle of the role it goes away faster.

Anyway i am going to use the rest of the time trying to send out personal emails. by the way dad, sorry i haven't been able to send you a birthday card or anything it has been hectic this first week but i will be sure and send you something soon. but i just wanted to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Anyway Have a good week, And i will do the same. I love and miss you all!
Love,
Elder Ballantyne