weekly update 10/6/2011

Bonjour Famille!!!! (French this time)

I have been transfered to Stoke-on-Trent with Elder Van Tonder from France (that's why the greeting is in french). It is in the Newcastle Stake/Zone, which is the furthest south zone in the mission. The district consists of Crew, Newcastle, and Congleton. In Crew it is Elder Francis, from England, and Elder Baker, from Northern Ireland. In Newcastle it is Elder Jones, from Salt lake city, UT, and Elder Ashcraft, also from Salt lake City, UT. Last but not least in Congleton it is Sister Alison, from Leicester, England, and Sister Bibb, from St. George, UT.

This week has been pretty unsuccessful with the number of lessons in preston. But the lessons we have had were very good lessons. I was on exchanges with Elder Diaz when Elder Schmid and Webb had a lesson with Alan. They taught about sacrament, and committed Alan and his friends to come to church this coming Sunday, they expressed that it was a really good lesson. They also had a really good lesson with a new investigator.

This week I was able to go on exchange with Elder Diaz. Elder Diaz is a very inspired missionary. Some strengths that I noticed in Elder Diaz are not only just during the exchange but throughout the transfer. They had a rough patch in the beginning of the transfer with no one to teach but because of their diligence they now have 2 dated investigators. One of which will be baptised this coming sat.

This Monday we found a man named Bryan. We tried to teach him in his home twice in the same day, but we kept being interrupted by friends and such. We had an appointment with a member couple that same evening, after some thinking we decided to ask this family if we could teach Bryan in their home, they agreed and we finally had a good lesson with him, 3rd times the charm. Teaching in members homes is so good.

I am grateful to be here in Stoke. I have only been here for less than a day and I have been able to meet a few of the members. This should be a very good transfer. The members that I have met so far are really nice!

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With Love,
Elder Ballantyne