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,

Weekly update 12/30/2010

I still don't know Kevins new address.

Sorry!




> HIIIIYYYYAAAAA FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
>
> I hope everyones christmas was full of excitement and miracles! I had
> a great christmas!
>
> This was a good week. We went and visited Adam, investigator in colwyn
> bay, on Sunday and we met his mom, They are a really nice family. Adam
> is a great Investigator. He has started reading the Book of Mormon
> from the beginning. He is also understanding it very well. I am
> grateful for the chance i had to meet him and his family.
>
> So i'm not in colwyn bay anymore. I got transfered to Littleborough,
> England. I was really sad to leave Colwyn Bay. The members were great
> and the helped us a lot. I will miss being apart of the branch.
> However i'm really excited to be here in Littleborough with Elder
> Riera. Elder Riera Is From Barcilona, Spain. He too just came from
> Colwyn Bay before Littleborough. Some more great news is that Elder
> Jolliffe, my second companion, is my district leader! I'm so excited
> to have Elder Jolliffe as our district Leader again! I can't wait to
> go on exchanges with him.
>
> I have really enjoyed studying the Christlike Attributes and applying
> them. It has helped me have a Christ centered christmas and look
> forward to having all of my christmas's more focused on the real
> reason we celibrate christmas.
>
> Thank you all! Again I hope you all had a great christmas, and wish
> you all a Happy New Year!
>
> With Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
>
> p.s. This computer is ancient it's running Windows 98 and stuff!

Weekly update 12/23/2010

Hello Family!!!

This was a really great week! Our teaching was way up! It was one of the best weeks i have had while in Colwyn bay. Things are definitely turning around here. Colwyn Bay has a great future ahead. On the other side our finding dropped quite a bit.

One of our investigator's named Adam is so Solid! He doesn't have to work on Sunday which is Boxing day. He was able to get it off just so he could go to church! I am so excited Adam he even asked us what music we listen to just to see if the stuff he listens to is appropriate. When we leave a chapter for him to read he reads it a couple time until he can understand what it is saying. Then when we follow up with his reading he is able to give a detailed description of what the chapter was talking about.

There has been a lot of snow the past week, I would say there have been a good 3 in. locals say they haven't seen it like this in years. And it has definitely affected us here. The buses are being cancelled on us. Everything is closing really early, including the libraries which is the reason we are emailing today. The library closed earlier than it was supposed to so we ended up working so that we could email today. It's kind of funny how such a little bit of snow puts a halt to everything here. Snow is not that great for missionary work, but a side from that i love the snow still!

The Christmas Zone conference was great. We got to got through the temple as a mission, I love to see the temple! We also watch Joseph Smith: Prophet of the restoration, it is the one that wasn't realised to the public until recently. When we went to Chorley I stopped in the distribution center to buy the DVD. It should be a good tool to use in teaching.

This Has been a great Christmas season so far! As i study Becoming like him, It has really helped me to look past the commercial way of celebrating Christmas, And helped to focus on the real reason we celebrate Christmas. I can say i am going to have a more Christ center Christmas for the rest of my life.

Thank you every one! and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
With Love
Elder Ballantyne