Hello Everyone!
This week started out pretty slow. We were talking to a lot of great people. But not having much success with setting up appointments. On Wednesday night just after planning Elder Jolliffe and I discussed what we were doing wrong. We decided it was because we weren't talking to everyone in our path. So that evening we recommitted ourselves to speak with everyone. That Thursday morning we doubled our appointments and taught a lesson on the spot in the one hour of finding we had before weekly planning, and we kept setting appointments up through out the day. So I have gained a strong testimony of speaking to everyone. We may pray that we will be guided to those that are prepared to receive the gospel. How will you know if they are prepared unless you've spoken to them. The people that pass by us could be the ones that the lord has prepared for us.
I am grateful to be staying in Southport! The ward is fantastic, and very helpful! I can see how building the members trust can help us out a lot, In fact it's impossible to do missionary work without the help of the members. We just started "Ask in faith" with one of the families and I can't wait to see how effective this tool can be! I have really grown to know how important members are in missionary work.
Elder Jolliffe and I are still getting along great! We are constantly trying to help each other become better missionaries. We are constantly helping each other out, whether it be serving each other or just giving each other tips to be more effective instruments in the hands of the lord. I am grateful to be serving with Elder Jolliffe and I'm grateful to be learning so much from him.
Thanks for the support and the letters of encouragement! I really enjoy hearing from everyone! Feel free to send me letters whenever you want. :D
Love,
Elder Ballantyne
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
weekly update
Hi Family and Friends,
Things are going great! The ward members are really nice to us! This Sunday they gave us a Cantaloupe! It is making our flat kind of smelly we need to eat it soon. Another Lady gave us Penguins which are like a chocolate Cookie with Chocolate cream in the middle, and the whole thing is covered in milk chocolate. They are delicious! Another lady gave us grape Tomatoes from her garden! I'm excited about it!
This week was pretty slow. We talked to a lot of good people but not many were interested. We decided that the reason we were getting much success is because we didn't have faith in our own area. We kept saying how it's easier in other areas, and I feel that that is the main reason we weren't seeing success. I know that we need to have more faith in our area, and if we do have that faith I know that we will be able to see miracles. This is true for any area we go to. If we have faith and expect great things from our areas I know that we can expect great success.
Something i have been working on is being able to recognize and act upon the promptings of the spirit. Every time i think about it I am always reminded of Elder Bednar said, "Quit worrying about it." Sometimes we worry about whether we will be able to listen to the promptings of the spirit. I have learned, from Elder Bednars Talk, that we shouldn't worry so much about it. We will know it when it comes.
I am excited for this transfer, now that Elder Jolliffe is a District leader I need to do everything I can to make it easier for him because he has a lot of stuff to do, Like plan for district meetings and other things.
With love,
Elder Ballantyne
Things are going great! The ward members are really nice to us! This Sunday they gave us a Cantaloupe! It is making our flat kind of smelly we need to eat it soon. Another Lady gave us Penguins which are like a chocolate Cookie with Chocolate cream in the middle, and the whole thing is covered in milk chocolate. They are delicious! Another lady gave us grape Tomatoes from her garden! I'm excited about it!
This week was pretty slow. We talked to a lot of good people but not many were interested. We decided that the reason we were getting much success is because we didn't have faith in our own area. We kept saying how it's easier in other areas, and I feel that that is the main reason we weren't seeing success. I know that we need to have more faith in our area, and if we do have that faith I know that we will be able to see miracles. This is true for any area we go to. If we have faith and expect great things from our areas I know that we can expect great success.
Something i have been working on is being able to recognize and act upon the promptings of the spirit. Every time i think about it I am always reminded of Elder Bednar said, "Quit worrying about it." Sometimes we worry about whether we will be able to listen to the promptings of the spirit. I have learned, from Elder Bednars Talk, that we shouldn't worry so much about it. We will know it when it comes.
I am excited for this transfer, now that Elder Jolliffe is a District leader I need to do everything I can to make it easier for him because he has a lot of stuff to do, Like plan for district meetings and other things.
With love,
Elder Ballantyne
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Missionsite.net
I made Kevin a thing on the missionsite.net it pretty much the same as this blog.
But if you go in the links (found on the side of the page) you can see other missionaries in the same Mission as Kevin.
You can go to the Mission Site's home page you can find missionaries all over the world.
It's really kind of neat.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Weekly update
We finally got Kevin's Email for this week.
Please Remember to Keep Writing Him.
HIYA FAMILY!
This week started with a lot of opposition, especially yesterday. But whenever i experience opposition I think of what happened to Joseph Smith before God and Jesus Christ Appeared to him in the sacred grove. Satan Knows that something great is going to happen so he does what ever he can to stop it from happening. And that's exactly what happened. Yesterday Evening we were able to Teach someone named Davina, and she is really good! She accepted baptism without a single question. Even after that we were continuing to be blessed, As we were leaving Davina's home, we met two People who came to us, wanting to set up an appt. I know that we were blessed for the opposition we had experienced that morning.
A little while ago a solid investigator, named Terry, dropped us and told us he didn't want to be baptised. But, with the the help of Kay, who was just recently baptised, we got in contact with him again. We were able to discuss his concerns and is now investigating once again! Members are great! Without the help of Kay we probably never would have gotten in contact with him again.
Just so you all know I am staying in southport with Elder Jolliffe! I don't have to move! I am really grateful to be able to serve with Elder Jolliffe for another transfer in southport! I am looking forward to this transfer. I know that we will see miracles this transfer! Because today is Wednesday and because Elder Jolliffe and I are both staying in Southport, we were able to go to the temple! I am grateful for the opportunity that we had to go to the temple today. I always learn so much every time I go.
Any way I'm limited for time today because of our temple trip so i have to cut it short, but thank you all for the support! And thanks for all the letters! I love you all!
With love,
Elder Ballantyne
HIYA FAMILY!
This week started with a lot of opposition, especially yesterday. But whenever i experience opposition I think of what happened to Joseph Smith before God and Jesus Christ Appeared to him in the sacred grove. Satan Knows that something great is going to happen so he does what ever he can to stop it from happening. And that's exactly what happened. Yesterday Evening we were able to Teach someone named Davina, and she is really good! She accepted baptism without a single question. Even after that we were continuing to be blessed, As we were leaving Davina's home, we met two People who came to us, wanting to set up an appt. I know that we were blessed for the opposition we had experienced that morning.
A little while ago a solid investigator, named Terry, dropped us and told us he didn't want to be baptised. But, with the the help of Kay, who was just recently baptised, we got in contact with him again. We were able to discuss his concerns and is now investigating once again! Members are great! Without the help of Kay we probably never would have gotten in contact with him again.
Just so you all know I am staying in southport with Elder Jolliffe! I don't have to move! I am really grateful to be able to serve with Elder Jolliffe for another transfer in southport! I am looking forward to this transfer. I know that we will see miracles this transfer! Because today is Wednesday and because Elder Jolliffe and I are both staying in Southport, we were able to go to the temple! I am grateful for the opportunity that we had to go to the temple today. I always learn so much every time I go.
Any way I'm limited for time today because of our temple trip so i have to cut it short, but thank you all for the support! And thanks for all the letters! I love you all!
With love,
Elder Ballantyne
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
England Pic. Part 2
BOYS WILL BE BOYS!
Elder Ballanytne and Elder Sherrard
Elder Ballanytne and Elder Sherrard
Elder Ballantyne and Elder Jolliffe
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Weekly Update!
Hi Family!
Everything is going great this was a fantastic week. It was really nice and sunny yesterday for once! The weather here is crazy because it could be sunny in the morning and then be pouring in the evening. I think the weather changes more than it does in Utah.
On Monday, we taught Julie about baptism and confirmation to gear her up to enter the waters of baptism this week. She expressed that she was nervous. But she ended up being baptised on the 6th of Aug, even though she was going through a lot of stress from moving house. Right after she had "...Come up out of the water, the Holy Ghost did fall upon [Her]..." 3 Nephi 19:13. I definitely felt the holy ghost as soon as she came up out of the water, Which testified to me that Julie was doing the right thing.
Interviews and training was fantastic! In my interview with the president, He said I was going to be older than 1/3 of the missionaries in the mission by Sept. because there is a big group heading home after this transfer. This made me realize I need to step up my game quicker, so that the culture of the mission can continue, and so i can help all these new missionaries become great missionaries. Also during the Assistants training, it was nice to be able to go over the 2010 mission plan. For me it was the first training i had on it. so it was nice to understand it better. Also the assistants asked us to pray and get a confirmation about it. So I did and now I know that this plan will and does work.
On Saturday, We were able to go on exchange with the zone Leaders. Something i learned from this exchange was that Urgency not only shows the importance of our message, but also can make the work more fun. I noticed during the exchange that this is true. At first i couldn't find joy in street contacting. But running after people Helped me find that excitement and joy into finding.
Everything is going great this was a fantastic week. It was really nice and sunny yesterday for once! The weather here is crazy because it could be sunny in the morning and then be pouring in the evening. I think the weather changes more than it does in Utah.
On Monday, we taught Julie about baptism and confirmation to gear her up to enter the waters of baptism this week. She expressed that she was nervous. But she ended up being baptised on the 6th of Aug, even though she was going through a lot of stress from moving house. Right after she had "...Come up out of the water, the Holy Ghost did fall upon [Her]..." 3 Nephi 19:13. I definitely felt the holy ghost as soon as she came up out of the water, Which testified to me that Julie was doing the right thing.
Interviews and training was fantastic! In my interview with the president, He said I was going to be older than 1/3 of the missionaries in the mission by Sept. because there is a big group heading home after this transfer. This made me realize I need to step up my game quicker, so that the culture of the mission can continue, and so i can help all these new missionaries become great missionaries. Also during the Assistants training, it was nice to be able to go over the 2010 mission plan. For me it was the first training i had on it. so it was nice to understand it better. Also the assistants asked us to pray and get a confirmation about it. So I did and now I know that this plan will and does work.
On Saturday, We were able to go on exchange with the zone Leaders. Something i learned from this exchange was that Urgency not only shows the importance of our message, but also can make the work more fun. I noticed during the exchange that this is true. At first i couldn't find joy in street contacting. But running after people Helped me find that excitement and joy into finding.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Yeah! New Pictures Part 1
Elder Ballantyne, Elder Sherrard, and Elder Hanchett Don't know the others Maybe Kay
Elder Ballantyne and Elder Mecham
Elder Ballantyne and Elder MechamKevin work with him at Dick's. It's a small world. 
Monday, August 2, 2010
weekly Update
Dear Family and Friends,
Things are going great in Southport. I'm am learning so much! And my testimony has grown so much! Missionary work is amazing! The best part is going to bed... not because I'm lazy but because of the feeling of working hard and doing all that i could that day. Just feeling like i deserve to go to bed is great!
This week was pretty good. Although it wasn't very productive, we probably didn't use our time as wisely as we should have. But I think this week we be much better. As we applied the atonement this Sunday. I personally am expecting Miracles this week. As we are pure in heart, Exactly obedient, And preach my gospel, I know we can get the work flourishing in Southport.
We helped the Meadows move to their new home last week. I think it was a successful move. They had a lot of help from the ward. Julie is still doing great! I don't think there will be anything that will keep her from getting baptised this week.
We also got a new investigator to go church this week. His name is Terry. The miracle is that we couldn't get a hold of him on sat. so we didn't know if he would be coming or not. But he showed up just before gospel principles class. I feel like he is pretty solid. He already knows a lot of people in the ward. One of them being Kay, who was baptized about a month ago. She is always telling him how great the church is! That should make him feel pretty welcome in the church. With Kay's help Terry will get baptised!
Sorry this is short. I love All of you! Thanks for your letters, Emails and also the support!
With Love,
Elder Ballantyne
Things are going great in Southport. I'm am learning so much! And my testimony has grown so much! Missionary work is amazing! The best part is going to bed... not because I'm lazy but because of the feeling of working hard and doing all that i could that day. Just feeling like i deserve to go to bed is great!
This week was pretty good. Although it wasn't very productive, we probably didn't use our time as wisely as we should have. But I think this week we be much better. As we applied the atonement this Sunday. I personally am expecting Miracles this week. As we are pure in heart, Exactly obedient, And preach my gospel, I know we can get the work flourishing in Southport.
We helped the Meadows move to their new home last week. I think it was a successful move. They had a lot of help from the ward. Julie is still doing great! I don't think there will be anything that will keep her from getting baptised this week.
We also got a new investigator to go church this week. His name is Terry. The miracle is that we couldn't get a hold of him on sat. so we didn't know if he would be coming or not. But he showed up just before gospel principles class. I feel like he is pretty solid. He already knows a lot of people in the ward. One of them being Kay, who was baptized about a month ago. She is always telling him how great the church is! That should make him feel pretty welcome in the church. With Kay's help Terry will get baptised!
Sorry this is short. I love All of you! Thanks for your letters, Emails and also the support!
With Love,
Elder Ballantyne
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
