> Hello Family, Friends, and Family Friends!!!!
>
> This week was probably the best week I have had so far in
> littleborough even though our finding was pretty low. We were able to
> teach Jordana and Caprice for the fist time on Monday, and they are
> great! We taught them again on Sat. and Jordana said she had received
> an answer that the Book of Mormon is true! We then took Jordana and
> Caprice to an investigator baptism in Rochdale. They enjoyed it, and
> the best part was after the baptism Jordana and caprice were both
> talking about their baptisms and asked if they could have theirs on
> the same day! We are seeing miracles!
>
> We had zone conference this week and it was Fantastic! President gave
> a training on prayer. It has really helped me to have much more
> meaningful prayers, I learned a lot! At this zone conference we also
> found out that President Preston is going to be the new mission
> president. He is from Ashton 2nd ward, so he lives within mission
> boundaries. It is very rare that Mission presidents get called to
> there home mission. He lives in the Ashton Stake and I am serving in
> the Ashton stake so I had the opportunity to meet him even before he
> was called to the EMM. He gave a training on using pass along cards.
> It was great I'm looking forward to serving with him.
>
> Elder Mecham is a great missionary! I'm grateful for the opportunity I
> have to serve with him and learn from him. It will be good to look
> back at all the miracles we have witnessed together.
>
> Thanks for everything!
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Finally New Pictures from Kevin
Well its been 5 months since Elder Ballantyne sent home some pictures. So sorry there are a ton of them.
Next time you write to him tell him not to wait as long.
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The Beach
Elder Ballantyne's name tag in Welsh
Elder Ballantyne was able to take a tour of one of the Castles in Wales! 
Fall in England 
This Picture of Kevin really make me miss him.
A really windy day! 
A really cold and wet day in England!
Pictures of the Elders!
Elder Knibbs
Elder Ballantyne and Elder Knibbs
Elder Ballantyne and Elder Mecham not companions at this time.
Elder Ballantyne and Elder Jolliffe 
They do have Dr Pepper in England! 
Boys will be Boys,
even on there Missions!
Elder Ballantyne's hat he bought to stay warm!
The Elders Christmas!
There are a few more pictures on Elder Ballantyne's Mission site that I didn't put on his blog.
So go jump over there.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
weekly update 2/14/2011
> First of all I just want to say the ward mission leader is fantastic
> in the littleborough ward! He helps us with everything, even temporal.
> He has been helping a lot with washing our cloths since we don't have
> a washing machine. (hopefully we will get one this tues.) But more
> than anything he is really excited about missionary work, and he is
> very confident in his plans he has for missionary work in the
> littleborough ward.
>
> Elder Mecham is a really good missionary. The biggest strength I have
> seen in him is he is an exactly obedient missionary. That is just one
> of many great strengths.
>
> On Sunday Mark Simpson was at church again! It is really helping him
> with his challenges, and it's really good to see! Not only is he being
> blessed for coming but also he has expressed that he has been enjoying
> the last couple weeks. I'm really grateful to be able to be helping
> him.
>
> Thanks for everything!
> in the littleborough ward! He helps us with everything, even temporal.
> He has been helping a lot with washing our cloths since we don't have
> a washing machine. (hopefully we will get one this tues.) But more
> than anything he is really excited about missionary work, and he is
> very confident in his plans he has for missionary work in the
> littleborough ward.
>
> Elder Mecham is a really good missionary. The biggest strength I have
> seen in him is he is an exactly obedient missionary. That is just one
> of many great strengths.
>
> On Sunday Mark Simpson was at church again! It is really helping him
> with his challenges, and it's really good to see! Not only is he being
> blessed for coming but also he has expressed that he has been enjoying
> the last couple weeks. I'm really grateful to be able to be helping
> him.
>
> Thanks for everything!
Monday, February 7, 2011
weekly update 2/7/2011
>
> Hello Family and Friends!
>
> The rest of the week was great! We weren't doing so well for finding
> but on Friday we prayed specifically to have success in finding, that
> day we had doubled our QGCs and appointments. Prayer Works!
>
> In other news, we have been teaching a less active for a while now,
> and he finally made it to church this Sunday! Not only did he show up
> but also he bore his testimony in the testimony meeting! It was such a
> blessing to see him there!
>
> Sunday was just full of miracles. We had planned to go to a village
> called Wardle and tract, but seeing as we didn't have time to go to
> Wardle we changed plans and chose a street closer to us. On the street
> we weren't having any success, until we came to Steve and Sarah's
> door. Steve answered the door and saw that we were wet from the rain
> and invited us in! I love the rain! We asked if they had a few minutes
> that we could share the restoration with them. And the responded with,
> "We have all the time you need." So we shared the restoration with
> them. It was a great lesson with them. I think we were blessed with
> this miracle because we were trying to use our time wisely.
>
> Thank you! I love you all!
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
> Hello Family and Friends!
>
> The rest of the week was great! We weren't doing so well for finding
> but on Friday we prayed specifically to have success in finding, that
> day we had doubled our QGCs and appointments. Prayer Works!
>
> In other news, we have been teaching a less active for a while now,
> and he finally made it to church this Sunday! Not only did he show up
> but also he bore his testimony in the testimony meeting! It was such a
> blessing to see him there!
>
> Sunday was just full of miracles. We had planned to go to a village
> called Wardle and tract, but seeing as we didn't have time to go to
> Wardle we changed plans and chose a street closer to us. On the street
> we weren't having any success, until we came to Steve and Sarah's
> door. Steve answered the door and saw that we were wet from the rain
> and invited us in! I love the rain! We asked if they had a few minutes
> that we could share the restoration with them. And the responded with,
> "We have all the time you need." So we shared the restoration with
> them. It was a great lesson with them. I think we were blessed with
> this miracle because we were trying to use our time wisely.
>
> Thank you! I love you all!
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
Thursday, February 3, 2011
weekly update 2/3/2011
> HELLO EVERYBODY!
>
> This was a great week! We had an appointment with our a less active
> and we had arranged to see him at our ward mission leaders house. The
> appointment was great. After talking with the Ward mission leader, the
> less active said he would come back to church! I'm so excited to see
> him there. We have been teaching him for quite awhile, He never lost
> his testimony he just needed a push, and a reason to go.
>
> I'm still here in littleborough. Elder riera got transfered. so i got
> a new companion. He is from bountiful! I worked with him at Dick's
> Market! By now you've probably guessed that my new companion is Elder
> Chad Mecham! I'm so excited about the new transfer! Especially because
> I am serving with Elder Mecham! I can already tell that he is a great
> missionary, with the few hours that i have worked with him so far. I
> am also excited about this transfer because the are is on an uprise!
>
> Thank you all for all you do!
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
>
> This was a great week! We had an appointment with our a less active
> and we had arranged to see him at our ward mission leaders house. The
> appointment was great. After talking with the Ward mission leader, the
> less active said he would come back to church! I'm so excited to see
> him there. We have been teaching him for quite awhile, He never lost
> his testimony he just needed a push, and a reason to go.
>
> I'm still here in littleborough. Elder riera got transfered. so i got
> a new companion. He is from bountiful! I worked with him at Dick's
> Market! By now you've probably guessed that my new companion is Elder
> Chad Mecham! I'm so excited about the new transfer! Especially because
> I am serving with Elder Mecham! I can already tell that he is a great
> missionary, with the few hours that i have worked with him so far. I
> am also excited about this transfer because the are is on an uprise!
>
> Thank you all for all you do!
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
Monday, January 24, 2011
weekly update 1/24/2011
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
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
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
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