> Hello Everybody!!!!!!!!
>
> This week just flew by! It was a pretty successful week as well! It
> probably flew by really quickly because of the mission conference with
> Elder Allen F. Packer, and we had an exchange with the rochdale
> Elders. I was with Elder Smith for the exchange. He is a great
> missionary! He is a fantastic finder, always happy, very kind, pure in
> heart, and he has a strong desire to be exactly obedient.
>
> We were able to witness the baptisms of Allen Williams and Lezlicia
> Kintesh, on Saturday evening. They both seemed very excited to be
> baptized. After the baptism Lezlicia and her friends went and spoke to
> a man across the street and invited him to church. She is already
> doing her missionary work.
>
> We have been teaching Rob quite a bit more recently and he has
> expressed that he has gotten an answer about the book of Mormon. We
> also used the baptismal interview question number 2. And he said he
> got an answer about Joseph smith being a prophet. So Rob is
> progressing quite well at the moment. We just need to figure out what
> to do to get him to church.
>
> As for Elder Sanders, He is doing great! I would say a strength that
> he has is, he is personable with everyone. Including other members,
> missionaries and Investigators. There is a lot to be learnt with Elder
> Sanders.
>
> Thanks for all that you do for us!
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
Monday, May 16, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
weekly update 5/10/2011
> HIYA FAMILY!
>
> This was a good week. I think our strength this week was member work.
> We had the chance to have tea with a lot of the members and to build
> relationships with members that I didn't really know that well.
>
> John and Michelle brought had a friend at their house when we had an
> appointment with them. When their friend found out that we were coming
> she said she was going to pick up and leave, but for whatever reason
> she decided to stay. By the end of the lesson she had expressed that
> she would like to learn more and she was excited for our next visit.
> What a change of Heart!
>
> This week we had both a zone conference and a mission conference. At
> the Mission conference we were privileged to hear Elder Allen F.
> Packer, of the seventy, speak. Elder Allen F. Packer is the brother of
> Sister Bullock, the mission president’s wife, and the son of President
> Boyd K. Packer, of the twelve. Something that stuck out to me was at
> the first of Elder Packers talk when he was talking about learning the
> language of the spirit. He said at first progress is recognizable then
> after awhile the progress isn't as recognizable. He said something
> like when you have one dollar and you add two dollars it is a
> recognizable change, but when you have 100 dollars and add two dollars
> the change isn't as recognizable. After awhile I felt like my progress
> and learning was starting to plateau off. It was really comforting to
> know that I haven't stopped to progress. I just failed to recognize
> it.
>
> Thanks for everything!
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
>
>
> This was a good week. I think our strength this week was member work.
> We had the chance to have tea with a lot of the members and to build
> relationships with members that I didn't really know that well.
>
> John and Michelle brought had a friend at their house when we had an
> appointment with them. When their friend found out that we were coming
> she said she was going to pick up and leave, but for whatever reason
> she decided to stay. By the end of the lesson she had expressed that
> she would like to learn more and she was excited for our next visit.
> What a change of Heart!
>
> This week we had both a zone conference and a mission conference. At
> the Mission conference we were privileged to hear Elder Allen F.
> Packer, of the seventy, speak. Elder Allen F. Packer is the brother of
> Sister Bullock, the mission president’s wife, and the son of President
> Boyd K. Packer, of the twelve. Something that stuck out to me was at
> the first of Elder Packers talk when he was talking about learning the
> language of the spirit. He said at first progress is recognizable then
> after awhile the progress isn't as recognizable. He said something
> like when you have one dollar and you add two dollars it is a
> recognizable change, but when you have 100 dollars and add two dollars
> the change isn't as recognizable. After awhile I felt like my progress
> and learning was starting to plateau off. It was really comforting to
> know that I haven't stopped to progress. I just failed to recognize
> it.
>
> Thanks for everything!
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
>
Monday, May 9, 2011
Mothers Day call
Elder Ballantyne's Call Home
Elder Sanders and Elder Ballantyne
Elder Ballantyne's new wallet
Saturday, May 7, 2011
That was one fast year
Elder Ballantyne has
been in England for
One Year today.
This time next year Elder Ballantyne will be on a plane home to Utah!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Weekly Update 5/2/2011
> Hello Family!
>
> We were given permission to watch the Wedding of Prince William and
> Kate Middleton on Friday. To me it was a very weird experience, 1) The
> wedding itself, and 2) Being able to watch TV. My favourite part was
> all the nice cars that took the people to the wedding. There were
> Loads of Bentley's! :)
>
> This has been a good week we have found two new investigators who are
> really solid! We were tracting a street and we knocked into a man who
> wasn't interested. We asked him for referrals, immediately he pointed
> us to a door across the street, which just so happened to be their
> home.
>
> One of the investigators didn't really have a strong believe in god
> but over the past few days he has gained a testimony. As we shared the
> first vision he shed a tear. The next time we watched the restoration
> DVD, during the first vision he was crying, and when asked about how
> he feels, he expressed that he felt good; we then helped him identify
> the feelings as the spirit testifying to him. So within two visits
> this investigator has gained a testimony of Joseph Smith, and
> everything else that we have shared with him.
>
> The two new investigators came to the baptism of Ethel Simpson. After
> the baptism I went over and said thank you for coming and they said
> that they enjoyed it and that they would continue to going to church.
> I know they felt the spirit at that baptism.
>
> Elder Sander's is a great companion. A strength that I saw in Elder
> Sanders this week is his ability to listen and follow the promptings
> of the still small voice, which comes from the spirit. We have been
> getting along great! It has been good to learn from him in the past
> few weeks.
>
> Thank you for your support! I love and Miss you all!
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
>
> We were given permission to watch the Wedding of Prince William and
> Kate Middleton on Friday. To me it was a very weird experience, 1) The
> wedding itself, and 2) Being able to watch TV. My favourite part was
> all the nice cars that took the people to the wedding. There were
> Loads of Bentley's! :)
>
> This has been a good week we have found two new investigators who are
> really solid! We were tracting a street and we knocked into a man who
> wasn't interested. We asked him for referrals, immediately he pointed
> us to a door across the street, which just so happened to be their
> home.
>
> One of the investigators didn't really have a strong believe in god
> but over the past few days he has gained a testimony. As we shared the
> first vision he shed a tear. The next time we watched the restoration
> DVD, during the first vision he was crying, and when asked about how
> he feels, he expressed that he felt good; we then helped him identify
> the feelings as the spirit testifying to him. So within two visits
> this investigator has gained a testimony of Joseph Smith, and
> everything else that we have shared with him.
>
> The two new investigators came to the baptism of Ethel Simpson. After
> the baptism I went over and said thank you for coming and they said
> that they enjoyed it and that they would continue to going to church.
> I know they felt the spirit at that baptism.
>
> Elder Sander's is a great companion. A strength that I saw in Elder
> Sanders this week is his ability to listen and follow the promptings
> of the still small voice, which comes from the spirit. We have been
> getting along great! It has been good to learn from him in the past
> few weeks.
>
> Thank you for your support! I love and Miss you all!
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
weekly update 4/26/2011
> This was a pretty good week. We have been doing a lot of finding
> thisweek. We have been trying to replenish our teaching pool. We have
> been given permission to work in Rochdale but we try to specifically
> find people from littleborough. We are trying to do whatever we can to
> help the littleborough area grow.
>
> There has been a lot of member referals recently. I think the big
> cause of this are the family mission plans. I think each time we share
> it the members remember someone that they can share the gospel to. For
> example, We shared it with a family and the were reminded of one of
> there friends that had lost a family member and right then he made the
> goal to mark in the Book of mormon anything about Life after death,
> and then give it to them. He asked us to follow up with him on
> sunday. So of course we did and he had said that he had done it, the
> friend that he gave it to expressed that it would help his sister as
> well. I'm looking forward to meeting this friend when the member
> invites him to be taught by the missionaries. The family mission plan
> is a great reminder for the members.
>
> It's been great to be serving with Elder Sanders. I have seen many
> strengths in him. One of the biggest is his dillegence in finding. He
> is a great missionary. We get a long great!
>
> We enjoyed a p-day together yesterday. We decided that we would go
> feed the geese in the rochdale canal. It was probably one of the
> funnest p-days yet. We fed some swans that would come up and eat the
> bread right out of our hands. Some of the geese did the same we
> actually got some of the geese to come out of the water to get the
> bread. There were a lot of nice geese but then there were some that
> would hiss at us when we got near. There will be pictures to document
> this amazing event soon.
>
> Thanks for everything. I love and miss you all!
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
> thisweek. We have been trying to replenish our teaching pool. We have
> been given permission to work in Rochdale but we try to specifically
> find people from littleborough. We are trying to do whatever we can to
> help the littleborough area grow.
>
> There has been a lot of member referals recently. I think the big
> cause of this are the family mission plans. I think each time we share
> it the members remember someone that they can share the gospel to. For
> example, We shared it with a family and the were reminded of one of
> there friends that had lost a family member and right then he made the
> goal to mark in the Book of mormon anything about Life after death,
> and then give it to them. He asked us to follow up with him on
> sunday. So of course we did and he had said that he had done it, the
> friend that he gave it to expressed that it would help his sister as
> well. I'm looking forward to meeting this friend when the member
> invites him to be taught by the missionaries. The family mission plan
> is a great reminder for the members.
>
> It's been great to be serving with Elder Sanders. I have seen many
> strengths in him. One of the biggest is his dillegence in finding. He
> is a great missionary. We get a long great!
>
> We enjoyed a p-day together yesterday. We decided that we would go
> feed the geese in the rochdale canal. It was probably one of the
> funnest p-days yet. We fed some swans that would come up and eat the
> bread right out of our hands. Some of the geese did the same we
> actually got some of the geese to come out of the water to get the
> bread. There were a lot of nice geese but then there were some that
> would hiss at us when we got near. There will be pictures to document
> this amazing event soon.
>
> Thanks for everything. I love and miss you all!
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
weekly update 4/26/2011
> This was a pretty good week. We have been doing a lot of finding
> thisweek. We have been trying to replenish our teaching pool. We have
> been given permission to work in Rochdale but we try to specifically
> find people from littleborough. We are trying to do whatever we can to
> help the littleborough area grow.
>
> There has been a lot of member referals recently. I think the big
> cause of this are the family mission plans. I think each time we share
> it the members remember someone that they can share the gospel to. For
> example, We shared it with a family and the were reminded of one of
> there friends that had lost a family member and right then he made the
> goal to mark in the Book of mormon anything about Life after death,
> and then give it to them. He asked us to follow up with him on
> sunday. So of course we did and he had said that he had done it, the
> friend that he gave it to expressed that it would help his sister as
> well. I'm looking forward to meeting this friend when the member
> invites him to be taught by the missionaries. The family mission plan
> is a great reminder for the members.
>
> It's been great to be serving with Elder Sanders. I have seen many
> strengths in him. One of the biggest is his dillegence in finding. He
> is a great missionary. We get a long great!
>
> We enjoyed a p-day together yesterday. We decided that we would go
> feed the geese in the rochdale canal. It was probably one of the
> funnest p-days yet. We fed some swans that would come up and eat the
> bread right out of our hands. Some of the geese did the same we
> actually got some of the geese to come out of the water to get the
> bread. There were a lot of nice geese but then there were some that
> would hiss at us when we got near. There will be pictures to document
> this amazing event soon.
>
> Thanks for everything. I love and miss you all!
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
> thisweek. We have been trying to replenish our teaching pool. We have
> been given permission to work in Rochdale but we try to specifically
> find people from littleborough. We are trying to do whatever we can to
> help the littleborough area grow.
>
> There has been a lot of member referals recently. I think the big
> cause of this are the family mission plans. I think each time we share
> it the members remember someone that they can share the gospel to. For
> example, We shared it with a family and the were reminded of one of
> there friends that had lost a family member and right then he made the
> goal to mark in the Book of mormon anything about Life after death,
> and then give it to them. He asked us to follow up with him on
> sunday. So of course we did and he had said that he had done it, the
> friend that he gave it to expressed that it would help his sister as
> well. I'm looking forward to meeting this friend when the member
> invites him to be taught by the missionaries. The family mission plan
> is a great reminder for the members.
>
> It's been great to be serving with Elder Sanders. I have seen many
> strengths in him. One of the biggest is his dillegence in finding. He
> is a great missionary. We get a long great!
>
> We enjoyed a p-day together yesterday. We decided that we would go
> feed the geese in the rochdale canal. It was probably one of the
> funnest p-days yet. We fed some swans that would come up and eat the
> bread right out of our hands. Some of the geese did the same we
> actually got some of the geese to come out of the water to get the
> bread. There were a lot of nice geese but then there were some that
> would hiss at us when we got near. There will be pictures to document
> this amazing event soon.
>
> Thanks for everything. I love and miss you all!
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
weekly update 4/20/2011
> Hi Everybody!
>
> "Oh how lovely was the morning! Radiant beemed the sun above. Bees
> were humming, sweet birds singing!" The weather here has been
> fantastic! Beautiful sun, the flowers are blooming and the trees are
> really green! I have to keep washing my short sleeve shirts a lot
> because the weather is to nice to wear long sleeve shirts.
>
> It was good to be able to get out and work everyday now that Elder
> Mecham's foot is getting better. He says he still feels pain but it's
> looking a lot better than before. I'm glad I was able to go on
> exchanges with Rochdale so that I didn't loose my sanitity from
> staying in the flat all of those days.
>
> Rhys has been doing all right, however, we haven't been able to
> contact him the past couple days unfortunately. We will try to call
> him today and see where it goes.
>
> A miracle that occurred this week was a lady named Clair came to us
> and asked if we could teach her again. She said she had been taught
> before, and asked us to continue teaching her. Her friend was just
> recently baptized as well in another ward. So that will be a big help
> for her a long the way.
>
> So on Monday we got the call for transfers! Elder Mecham is going to
> Shrewsbury to be a district Leader there. So I guess you would like to
> know who is my new companion. Well he doesn’t have to travel very far;
> it’s Elder Sanders who was serving in Rochdale last transfer. He will
> still be in the same district. I'm so excited to serve with Elder
> Sanders It completely shocked us when we found out that he was only
> moving about a 20 min bus ride away. We are looking forward to this
> transfer.
>
> It's a great time to be serving in Littleborough while the flowers are
> blooming; Littleborough ward is also starting to bloom. The only thing
> we need now is regular PEC and ward council meetings, which is when
> the Littleborough ward will truly flourish.
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
>
> "Oh how lovely was the morning! Radiant beemed the sun above. Bees
> were humming, sweet birds singing!" The weather here has been
> fantastic! Beautiful sun, the flowers are blooming and the trees are
> really green! I have to keep washing my short sleeve shirts a lot
> because the weather is to nice to wear long sleeve shirts.
>
> It was good to be able to get out and work everyday now that Elder
> Mecham's foot is getting better. He says he still feels pain but it's
> looking a lot better than before. I'm glad I was able to go on
> exchanges with Rochdale so that I didn't loose my sanitity from
> staying in the flat all of those days.
>
> Rhys has been doing all right, however, we haven't been able to
> contact him the past couple days unfortunately. We will try to call
> him today and see where it goes.
>
> A miracle that occurred this week was a lady named Clair came to us
> and asked if we could teach her again. She said she had been taught
> before, and asked us to continue teaching her. Her friend was just
> recently baptized as well in another ward. So that will be a big help
> for her a long the way.
>
> So on Monday we got the call for transfers! Elder Mecham is going to
> Shrewsbury to be a district Leader there. So I guess you would like to
> know who is my new companion. Well he doesn’t have to travel very far;
> it’s Elder Sanders who was serving in Rochdale last transfer. He will
> still be in the same district. I'm so excited to serve with Elder
> Sanders It completely shocked us when we found out that he was only
> moving about a 20 min bus ride away. We are looking forward to this
> transfer.
>
> It's a great time to be serving in Littleborough while the flowers are
> blooming; Littleborough ward is also starting to bloom. The only thing
> we need now is regular PEC and ward council meetings, which is when
> the Littleborough ward will truly flourish.
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
Monday, April 11, 2011
weekly update 4/11/2011
>
> Hello Everyone!
>
> We had Specialized trainings and interviews this week and it was
> great! We talked a lot about member missionary work, specifically on
> not wasting time at church rather to build relationships with the
> members as much as you can. Yesterday I tried my best to apply what I
> learned from studying the Susan Fultcher case study. The Susan
> Fultcher case study is story about Susan Fultcher who was a missionary
> who really set the example for gaining the trust of the members. We
> were told to read and study it before the training. I really liked the
> idea because I think I learned more from studying it than I did at the
> training. I think the person who learns the most, in just about
> anything, is the teacher, or person preparing.
>
> For an update on Rhys he is doing quite well he came to church
> yesterday. He still has a desire to be baptized. I know he can make it
> if he tries his hardest to give up the things that are keeping him
> from being baptized.
>
> Recently we have been stuck in the flat because Elder Mecham tore some
> ligaments playing basketball last monday. So i decided in order to use
> my time in the flat wisely I decided to call some potentials
> Investigators in the area book and we set up an appointment with the
> first person that I called. I know we are blessed when we don't waste
> time even when we are in the flat.
>
> Caprice is doing fantastic! She is really excited to be baptized. We
> passed her over to Elders Jolliffe, Sanders, and Smith, mostly so they
> can fellowship her into the Rochdale ward better. It was hard to pass
> her over but it doesn't really matter just as long as she gets
> baptized.
>
> We are still teaching Rob. A couple weeks before he was only having us
> teach him just because he was curious and wanted to learn about what
> his friends were doing. This week he had expressed to us that he now
> has a desire to get an answer! Now we just have to help him to get
> that answer.
>
> This week was pretty good even though it wasn't the most productive
> finding weeks. I'm just grateful to be able to go on exchanges with
> Elders Jolliffe, Sanders, and Smith, 1) to save my sanity and, 2) to
> keep teaching our investigators.
>
> Thanks for everything. Littleborough is doing great! I love it!
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
> Hello Everyone!
>
> We had Specialized trainings and interviews this week and it was
> great! We talked a lot about member missionary work, specifically on
> not wasting time at church rather to build relationships with the
> members as much as you can. Yesterday I tried my best to apply what I
> learned from studying the Susan Fultcher case study. The Susan
> Fultcher case study is story about Susan Fultcher who was a missionary
> who really set the example for gaining the trust of the members. We
> were told to read and study it before the training. I really liked the
> idea because I think I learned more from studying it than I did at the
> training. I think the person who learns the most, in just about
> anything, is the teacher, or person preparing.
>
> For an update on Rhys he is doing quite well he came to church
> yesterday. He still has a desire to be baptized. I know he can make it
> if he tries his hardest to give up the things that are keeping him
> from being baptized.
>
> Recently we have been stuck in the flat because Elder Mecham tore some
> ligaments playing basketball last monday. So i decided in order to use
> my time in the flat wisely I decided to call some potentials
> Investigators in the area book and we set up an appointment with the
> first person that I called. I know we are blessed when we don't waste
> time even when we are in the flat.
>
> Caprice is doing fantastic! She is really excited to be baptized. We
> passed her over to Elders Jolliffe, Sanders, and Smith, mostly so they
> can fellowship her into the Rochdale ward better. It was hard to pass
> her over but it doesn't really matter just as long as she gets
> baptized.
>
> We are still teaching Rob. A couple weeks before he was only having us
> teach him just because he was curious and wanted to learn about what
> his friends were doing. This week he had expressed to us that he now
> has a desire to get an answer! Now we just have to help him to get
> that answer.
>
> This week was pretty good even though it wasn't the most productive
> finding weeks. I'm just grateful to be able to go on exchanges with
> Elders Jolliffe, Sanders, and Smith, 1) to save my sanity and, 2) to
> keep teaching our investigators.
>
> Thanks for everything. Littleborough is doing great! I love it!
>
> Love,
> Elder Ballantyne
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