Hello Family and friends!
First of all why I'm thinking about it I will say what i have learned from "becoming like him." I am doing it i just keep forgetting to write it in my letters. But because I'm so behind with sharing it all i will just give a brief statement from each.
First of all Faith In Jesus Christ The thing that stuck out to me is when we have faith we trust that he knows whats best for us, so we keep his commandments.
Next if we don't have hope as missionaries to find investigators. Why should be be blessed with them in the first place. The lord will bless us as we have a desire to help.
Charity was probably my favorite one to study so far. When we strive to have charity we... Develop love for every child of god, will be concerned about others will avoid negative feelings, will avoid judging others, will understand people better, will want to help people who are struggling or discouraged.
As was studying about virtue, I was reading in Preach my Gospel about where it talks about out minds being stages and only one act can be on at a time. It's always good to have a hymn or scripture memorized for when the bad thoughts creep in to your mind because the light always prevails over the darkness. then i thought of a dark room, when the lights are turned on the darkness immediately leaves the room.
This was a tough week. I was really grateful for being able to talk to the people we did speak to. But a lot of the people we spoke to just did seem very happy. Only if they knew what the gospel can do for them. I'm really excited for next week because the tough weeks are always followed closely by good weeks.
Elder Hanks is an amazing missionary. I learn a lot from him everyday. We also get along really well. I'm so happy that i get to serve with him here in Colwyn Bay.
On thanksgiving we had a Sports day, it was so fun! I really enjoyed every second of it. I thought i was going to miss the yearly turkey bowl down at the church. But sports day definitely made up for it! It was just as fun as the turkey bowl, if not better. We also had costco pizza. I love Costco's pizza! It is really delicious!
Thanks for the Support! I love you all!
Love,
Elder Ballantyne
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Weekly Update 11/22/2010
Hello Family And Friends
We had Zone conference this week and it was amazing! I love zone conferences! Something that stuck out to me is the love that President and sister Bullock have for each missionary in the mission. I could really feel the love as President was talking to us.
At the zone conference we had a scripture chase. It was a blast! The scripture chase has encouraged me to learn the scriptures on the scripture list. Not only did it make the scripture chase a lot more fun but learning the scriptures has really helped me though out each day. It's nice to have a scripture ready for almost any concern investigators may have.
This week we have been focusing on contacting former investigators. This has really proven effective. On Friday the first two formers we called we were able to set up appointments with them. We have taught them yet but we look forward to teaching them this week!
Yesterday we prayed specifically to teach someone on the spot before we went out. And as we were waiting for the bus we spoke to a man named Dan. We asked him if we could teach him right there at the bus stop. It turns out the bus he was waiting for didn't come for another hour so we were able to teach him the about the restoration. Despite being on the street it was a good lesson. When we invited him to be baptised. He agreed with a very definite yes!
Thank you all for the support!
HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!!!!
Love
Elder Kevin Ballantyne
We had Zone conference this week and it was amazing! I love zone conferences! Something that stuck out to me is the love that President and sister Bullock have for each missionary in the mission. I could really feel the love as President was talking to us.
At the zone conference we had a scripture chase. It was a blast! The scripture chase has encouraged me to learn the scriptures on the scripture list. Not only did it make the scripture chase a lot more fun but learning the scriptures has really helped me though out each day. It's nice to have a scripture ready for almost any concern investigators may have.
This week we have been focusing on contacting former investigators. This has really proven effective. On Friday the first two formers we called we were able to set up appointments with them. We have taught them yet but we look forward to teaching them this week!
Yesterday we prayed specifically to teach someone on the spot before we went out. And as we were waiting for the bus we spoke to a man named Dan. We asked him if we could teach him right there at the bus stop. It turns out the bus he was waiting for didn't come for another hour so we were able to teach him the about the restoration. Despite being on the street it was a good lesson. When we invited him to be baptised. He agreed with a very definite yes!
Thank you all for the support!
HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!!!!
Love
Elder Kevin Ballantyne
Friday, November 19, 2010
weekly update 11/15/2010
Sorry it took me so long to get this email from Kevin on the blog!
HHEEELLLLOOOOO!!!!!
The rest of this week has been pretty stressful being senior companion. But I'm sure it will better when i get the hang of things. With the added responsibility really makes me want to step up. It really requires me to trust in the lord for help. At first I was asking myself why I was called to be Senior companion. I realized that it's not important and that I just need to trust in the lord and the inspiration that President Bullock received, and just work my hardest to be a good senior companion.
Sat. was full of confusion, In my planner I had written down that we were to have a tea appointment with a member family, so we went there and they invited us in and said we had missed tea! We were confused. So they asked if we had anything to eat and we told them no, and they were willing to cook us some chicken. 15 min. later we get a call from another member, asking if we were coming over for tea or not. Everything made since then, that i had written down the wrong family for some reason. I felt terrible! The family we were with rushed us to the other members house. We were able to explain things and clear everything up. And ended up having a really good tea appointment with them.
At that tea appointment we taught Kath from rhyl who said she hadn't been to church for 2 years because she doesn't feel comfortable around people. So we talked to her about strengths and weaknesses and how she can get the help and strength she needs from prayer. By the end of the evening she said she felt a lot more calm about going to church, and told us she would be there! Well Sunday came around and Kath showed up! I was so happy! It was amazing!
Thank you all for the love, support, and prayers!
Love
Elder Ballantyne
HHEEELLLLOOOOO!!!!!
The rest of this week has been pretty stressful being senior companion. But I'm sure it will better when i get the hang of things. With the added responsibility really makes me want to step up. It really requires me to trust in the lord for help. At first I was asking myself why I was called to be Senior companion. I realized that it's not important and that I just need to trust in the lord and the inspiration that President Bullock received, and just work my hardest to be a good senior companion.
Sat. was full of confusion, In my planner I had written down that we were to have a tea appointment with a member family, so we went there and they invited us in and said we had missed tea! We were confused. So they asked if we had anything to eat and we told them no, and they were willing to cook us some chicken. 15 min. later we get a call from another member, asking if we were coming over for tea or not. Everything made since then, that i had written down the wrong family for some reason. I felt terrible! The family we were with rushed us to the other members house. We were able to explain things and clear everything up. And ended up having a really good tea appointment with them.
At that tea appointment we taught Kath from rhyl who said she hadn't been to church for 2 years because she doesn't feel comfortable around people. So we talked to her about strengths and weaknesses and how she can get the help and strength she needs from prayer. By the end of the evening she said she felt a lot more calm about going to church, and told us she would be there! Well Sunday came around and Kath showed up! I was so happy! It was amazing!
Thank you all for the love, support, and prayers!
Love
Elder Ballantyne
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Weekly Update 11/11/10
HEEEELLLLLLLLLO FRIENDS AND FAMILY!
This week was really good. On Sunday, we had the Brother Globel, The High Councilman over missionary work, come and speak to the branch. He got the ward fired up about missionary work. That same Sunday we Got 3 referrals on Sunday all from the same member! What a blessing!
On Wednesday, we had a tea appointment with some some members from new Zealand. She told us how her family came into the church. It was such an amazing story. I feel impressed to share it. One of her relatives had the same dream for several nights. In the dream she saw young men sharing the gospel. So she knew that the things that they were sharing were true so she told the village not to join any church until these messengers appeared. She was even able to quote scriptures from the book of Mormon before she even heard about the book of Mormon. A while later one of the villagers told her that there were two LDS missionaries in the village. She told them to bring them to her. And she recognized the two young men instantly from in her dream. Later on the whole village was baptized. And they are all still really active.
I'm so grateful to be serving with Elder Hanks here in Colwyn Bay! I can tell already that he is a great missionary and I'm way excited to be able to work with him. This is going to be a fantastic Transfer Full of miracles!
Just today in weekly planning we were really discussing what we could do to help the branch grow. We both felt really strongly about working with Less actives. We both felt that if we can get the less actives, active again, the branch will grow. So we decided we are going to get an updated Member list go through and see who hasn't been coming to see if we can rekindle their testimonies. I honestly feel that this is what will get the branch to flourish.
Thanks for all the love and support! I love and Miss you ALL!
Just a little side note:
This week was really good. On Sunday, we had the Brother Globel, The High Councilman over missionary work, come and speak to the branch. He got the ward fired up about missionary work. That same Sunday we Got 3 referrals on Sunday all from the same member! What a blessing!
On Wednesday, we had a tea appointment with some some members from new Zealand. She told us how her family came into the church. It was such an amazing story. I feel impressed to share it. One of her relatives had the same dream for several nights. In the dream she saw young men sharing the gospel. So she knew that the things that they were sharing were true so she told the village not to join any church until these messengers appeared. She was even able to quote scriptures from the book of Mormon before she even heard about the book of Mormon. A while later one of the villagers told her that there were two LDS missionaries in the village. She told them to bring them to her. And she recognized the two young men instantly from in her dream. Later on the whole village was baptized. And they are all still really active.
I'm so grateful to be serving with Elder Hanks here in Colwyn Bay! I can tell already that he is a great missionary and I'm way excited to be able to work with him. This is going to be a fantastic Transfer Full of miracles!
Just today in weekly planning we were really discussing what we could do to help the branch grow. We both felt really strongly about working with Less actives. We both felt that if we can get the less actives, active again, the branch will grow. So we decided we are going to get an updated Member list go through and see who hasn't been coming to see if we can rekindle their testimonies. I honestly feel that this is what will get the branch to flourish.
Thanks for all the love and support! I love and Miss you ALL!
Just a little side note:
Elder Ballantyne was made Senior companion!!!!
Flat Stanley
Carson's teacher has been reading them the Flat Stanley books.
Carson's teacher had them make a Flat Stanley and mail it to someone.
Carson chose to send it to Kevin.
Kevin put Stanley in a suit with an umbrella.
So cute!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
ELDER BALLANTYNS BUMP DAY!
ELDER BALLANTYNE HAS BEEN OUT FOR 6 MONTHS!!!!!!!
18 more to go!!!!!!
Just a reminder if you want to send Kevin a Christmas package it must be mail to the mission office on or before November 20th. Christmas cards can be mail to his flat a week before Christmas.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
WEEKLY UNDATE 11/1/2010
HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!!
Wales is still as amazing as ever!
This week was great, On Tuesday, we had a great district meeting on revelation giving through prayer. We focused on inviting the head of the house hold to say a kneeling prayer. More often then not they will refuse to say the prayer, but we learned a few different ways to resolve their concerns and get them to pray. I can't wait to put it to practice.
On Wednesday, we taught an excommunicated member. We shared a spiritual thought and afterwards she expressed that she wanted to be refreshed with all the lessons! She has such a great family! Her son is a recent convert to the church and she has a daughter who isn't a member who seems interested in the church. I can see great things to come.
On Friday, I went on exchange with Elder Raybould. We had a successful exchange! He is very personable, he really showed me that we need to be personable, and not just be robots. It really shows excitement in the wonderful message we share. The gospel brings happiness, we need to show the people the happiness that it has brought us.
On Sunday, I had the great privilege to give a talk in sacrament meeting. Bro Gobbel from the Stake High council had me talk about the First vision. What a topic to be assigned! I absolutely love teaching the First vision. As I was giving my talk there were babies fussing and a lot of commotion going on. I decided to use the spirit formula. As I quoted the first vision, the babies went quiet an everything seemed to calm down. It was such an amazing experience!
Be sure to keep in touch! I Love and Miss you all!!!!
With Great Love,
Elder Ballantyne
Wales is still as amazing as ever!
This week was great, On Tuesday, we had a great district meeting on revelation giving through prayer. We focused on inviting the head of the house hold to say a kneeling prayer. More often then not they will refuse to say the prayer, but we learned a few different ways to resolve their concerns and get them to pray. I can't wait to put it to practice.
On Wednesday, we taught an excommunicated member. We shared a spiritual thought and afterwards she expressed that she wanted to be refreshed with all the lessons! She has such a great family! Her son is a recent convert to the church and she has a daughter who isn't a member who seems interested in the church. I can see great things to come.
On Friday, I went on exchange with Elder Raybould. We had a successful exchange! He is very personable, he really showed me that we need to be personable, and not just be robots. It really shows excitement in the wonderful message we share. The gospel brings happiness, we need to show the people the happiness that it has brought us.
On Sunday, I had the great privilege to give a talk in sacrament meeting. Bro Gobbel from the Stake High council had me talk about the First vision. What a topic to be assigned! I absolutely love teaching the First vision. As I was giving my talk there were babies fussing and a lot of commotion going on. I decided to use the spirit formula. As I quoted the first vision, the babies went quiet an everything seemed to calm down. It was such an amazing experience!
Be sure to keep in touch! I Love and Miss you all!!!!
With Great Love,
Elder Ballantyne
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