Hello Everybody
This week was a lot better weather wise. It was really sunny for most of the days. Then in the evening it would get really foggy, but it didn't rain on us that much at all this week which is a real blessing.
This was a pretty tough week, we felt like we worked hard but the numbers didn't support that. We discussed the reason why we weren't seeing success. We think it is because we were working hard but we weren't working smart. There are a time when we were street contacting and it just wasn't productive because not very many people were out on the streets, what we should have done is tried knocking doors, what we did was continued to speak with the few people that were on the street.
We received a specialized training on Tuesday and it was great! A new family/ individual mission plan tool was given to us. I have really enjoyed teaching it. We were teaching one of the members and we asked what experiences he had with sharing the gospel, it was so nice to hear the experiences he had. I hope he enjoyed being reminded of those experiences and will want to have more of them.
Thank you all for your support!
With Love,
Elder Ballantyne
Monday, January 24, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Email from Mission President
Dear Parents,
We held a special zone conference the first week in January where we talked about Captain Moroni’s Title of Liberty and how that stood as a standard to the world. We also talked about how a standard is a declaration of who we are, what we believe and what we stand for. As part of the conference, we had each of the missionaries write their own title or standard representing these very things. Prior to that, we gave them quiet time to ponder and pray to prepare for what they wanted to write and declare. Then each of them had the opportunity to stand in front of the conference and explain their title and why they wrote what they did. It was a moving and special event and described by many of the missionaries as a sacred experience in their life.
Attached you will find two pictures of your missionary with their district; one picture as they were writing their standard and the second one as they were completed. We thought you might enjoy seeing these pictures and sharing in the experience.
The mission is doing well because we have obedient, faithful and diligent missionaries. We love them and it is truly an honor and blessing to serve with them.
Warm regards,
President and Sister Bullock
England Manchester Mission
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
weekly update 1/17/2011
> Hello everybody!
>
> This was a really wet week in littleborough, which made it pretty
> tough to speak to people. People just seemed grumpy. At first I was
> trying to blame the rain for making people grumpy. Later on Elder
> Riera helped me realize that the bigger factor was our own attitude
> and that the lord won't bless us when we are murmering all the time.
> We were seeing no success all day until we realized what the real
> problem was. then that evening we were able to see more success. I
> only regret that we didn't realize it earlier in the day.
>
> On tuesday, we had a tea appointment with the Beresfords. The
> Beresfords are a family from southport who were visiting family in the
> littleborough ward for the next few weeks. It was really good to see
> them again and feel their spirit, and to get a taste of southport
> again.
>
> On wednesday, I went on exchange with Elder Saunders. Elder Saunders
> is from Colorado One thing he helped me with was to eliminate yes/no
> questions. particularly while finding. For example not to ask "Is it's
> alright if we walk with you?" but rather just say "We can walk with
> you." Elder Saunders is a great missionary. If i didn't know it was
> his 3rd transfer i would have never guessed.
>
> On, saturday we taught our investigator Adele. She expressed that the
> gospel has really helped change her life around for the better. She
> then thanked us for the work that we do. It was really nice to hear
> that. It increased my testimony of missionary work a lot, and that the
> work we do really does help people have happier lifes. I don't know
> what Adele's life was like before. But i could as she told us this i
> could feel of her sincerity.
>
> This sunday in priesthood, Jordan, a recent convert, taught the
> lesson. The lesson was powerful. He will be a great missionary in the
> future! He has a strong desire to go on a mission! I know that he will
> be great. He doesn't have a preach my gospel nor has he read it and he
> is already using skills that are found in preach my gospel.
>
> I love and miss you all!
>
> Love,
>
> This was a really wet week in littleborough, which made it pretty
> tough to speak to people. People just seemed grumpy. At first I was
> trying to blame the rain for making people grumpy. Later on Elder
> Riera helped me realize that the bigger factor was our own attitude
> and that the lord won't bless us when we are murmering all the time.
> We were seeing no success all day until we realized what the real
> problem was. then that evening we were able to see more success. I
> only regret that we didn't realize it earlier in the day.
>
> On tuesday, we had a tea appointment with the Beresfords. The
> Beresfords are a family from southport who were visiting family in the
> littleborough ward for the next few weeks. It was really good to see
> them again and feel their spirit, and to get a taste of southport
> again.
>
> On wednesday, I went on exchange with Elder Saunders. Elder Saunders
> is from Colorado One thing he helped me with was to eliminate yes/no
> questions. particularly while finding. For example not to ask "Is it's
> alright if we walk with you?" but rather just say "We can walk with
> you." Elder Saunders is a great missionary. If i didn't know it was
> his 3rd transfer i would have never guessed.
>
> On, saturday we taught our investigator Adele. She expressed that the
> gospel has really helped change her life around for the better. She
> then thanked us for the work that we do. It was really nice to hear
> that. It increased my testimony of missionary work a lot, and that the
> work we do really does help people have happier lifes. I don't know
> what Adele's life was like before. But i could as she told us this i
> could feel of her sincerity.
>
> This sunday in priesthood, Jordan, a recent convert, taught the
> lesson. The lesson was powerful. He will be a great missionary in the
> future! He has a strong desire to go on a mission! I know that he will
> be great. He doesn't have a preach my gospel nor has he read it and he
> is already using skills that are found in preach my gospel.
>
> I love and miss you all!
>
> Love,
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
weekly update 1/10/2011
> HI EVERYBODY!
>
> This week was a really good week with zone conference as the high
> light of course. I'm still getting to know more members. Hopefully I
> will get to know them sooner rather than later.
>
> Zone conference was fantastic! We had some personal time where we
> could be alone to study. It was really good to be reminded of the
> great experiences I had while In the mountains during my first zone
> conference, and also to have many more great and powerful experiences
> during the personal time. We talked about Captain Moroni and the title
> of liberty. I really enjoyed it because it is probably one of my
> favorite stories in the book of mormon. We had the opportunity to make
> our title of liberty. I did mine on serving others. Everytime I start
> getting selfish throughout my life, I will see the banner and be
> reminded of the joy that serving others brings.
>
> We recieved a new mission plan for the 2011 year. I already know that
> the mission plan is inspired! I was thinking about the Littleborough
> area as we read it and realized that this is exactly what our
> Littleborough needs! Especially working with the members. I'm excited
> to put the plan to work and see how it helps the area florish.
>
> Yesterday as we were traveling on the bus back from church a man on
> the bus asked me if I had a pamphlet to give him. So i gave him a
> pamphlet and talked to him about it. Then out of no where he started
> getting nasty with us. It turns out he only wanted the pamphlet to rip
> it up! It was a rough experiance. When we got off the bus as we were
> walking I kept thinking about the whole thing, and I was comforted by
> the spirit, knowing that the book of mormon tells us this will happen
> which to me is more evidence that the book of mormon is true which is
> one of the reasons times like this only strengthen my testimony.
>
> Thank you everyone i look forward to hearing from you! I love you all!
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
>
> This week was a really good week with zone conference as the high
> light of course. I'm still getting to know more members. Hopefully I
> will get to know them sooner rather than later.
>
> Zone conference was fantastic! We had some personal time where we
> could be alone to study. It was really good to be reminded of the
> great experiences I had while In the mountains during my first zone
> conference, and also to have many more great and powerful experiences
> during the personal time. We talked about Captain Moroni and the title
> of liberty. I really enjoyed it because it is probably one of my
> favorite stories in the book of mormon. We had the opportunity to make
> our title of liberty. I did mine on serving others. Everytime I start
> getting selfish throughout my life, I will see the banner and be
> reminded of the joy that serving others brings.
>
> We recieved a new mission plan for the 2011 year. I already know that
> the mission plan is inspired! I was thinking about the Littleborough
> area as we read it and realized that this is exactly what our
> Littleborough needs! Especially working with the members. I'm excited
> to put the plan to work and see how it helps the area florish.
>
> Yesterday as we were traveling on the bus back from church a man on
> the bus asked me if I had a pamphlet to give him. So i gave him a
> pamphlet and talked to him about it. Then out of no where he started
> getting nasty with us. It turns out he only wanted the pamphlet to rip
> it up! It was a rough experiance. When we got off the bus as we were
> walking I kept thinking about the whole thing, and I was comforted by
> the spirit, knowing that the book of mormon tells us this will happen
> which to me is more evidence that the book of mormon is true which is
> one of the reasons times like this only strengthen my testimony.
>
> Thank you everyone i look forward to hearing from you! I love you all!
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
weekly update 1/4/2011
Hello Everyone,
>
> Just to go over the week...
>
> This was a good first week in Littleborough. I was able to meet many
> of the members over the new years weekend. I met a lot of them at
> church as well. There are still a few that i need to get to know
> better. But for the most part Elder Riera has been a big help on
> getting to know the members.
>
> On thursday, we had a tea appointment with the Thompson's from the mtc
> presidency. When I was in the MTC I enjoyed a few meals with them. We
> have had some good conversations while eating meals in the MTC
> Cafeteria. It was really good to be able to see them again and to
> enjoy another meal with them. The Thompson's are really nice.
>
> The first two days I have been in Littleborough we got let into two
> doors while tracting. One the first night and the other the night
> after. I have been let into 3 doors throughout my mission and these
> two times were two of the three. So the lord is blessing us with
> miracles right from the start. I feel that miracles like these will
> continue to happen through out the transfer.
>
> One of the doors we got let into was a man named Rhees. At first we
> knocked and he didn't even bother opening the door to tell us he
> wasn't interested, so we carried on tracting down the steet. Later
> Rhees came out and told us to come in. As we spoke to him we soon
> found out that he has had quite a few problems in his life. I know
> that that we were led to him by the spirit through our planning the
> night before. I have grown to have a real strong testimony that
> Nightly planning is when the spirit can guide us the most. It is a
> time when we can sit down and hear the promptings of the spirit more
> clearly.
>
> Thank you for all you support. I look forward to hearing from you. My
> new address for the next few weeks is: 14 The Millhouse, Gale Close,
> Littleborough, England, OL15 9EJ.
>
> With Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
>
> Just to go over the week...
>
> This was a good first week in Littleborough. I was able to meet many
> of the members over the new years weekend. I met a lot of them at
> church as well. There are still a few that i need to get to know
> better. But for the most part Elder Riera has been a big help on
> getting to know the members.
>
> On thursday, we had a tea appointment with the Thompson's from the mtc
> presidency. When I was in the MTC I enjoyed a few meals with them. We
> have had some good conversations while eating meals in the MTC
> Cafeteria. It was really good to be able to see them again and to
> enjoy another meal with them. The Thompson's are really nice.
>
> The first two days I have been in Littleborough we got let into two
> doors while tracting. One the first night and the other the night
> after. I have been let into 3 doors throughout my mission and these
> two times were two of the three. So the lord is blessing us with
> miracles right from the start. I feel that miracles like these will
> continue to happen through out the transfer.
>
> One of the doors we got let into was a man named Rhees. At first we
> knocked and he didn't even bother opening the door to tell us he
> wasn't interested, so we carried on tracting down the steet. Later
> Rhees came out and told us to come in. As we spoke to him we soon
> found out that he has had quite a few problems in his life. I know
> that that we were led to him by the spirit through our planning the
> night before. I have grown to have a real strong testimony that
> Nightly planning is when the spirit can guide us the most. It is a
> time when we can sit down and hear the promptings of the spirit more
> clearly.
>
> Thank you for all you support. I look forward to hearing from you. My
> new address for the next few weeks is: 14 The Millhouse, Gale Close,
> Littleborough, England, OL15 9EJ.
>
> With Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
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