Afishi Apa!

Hello everyone! Ete sen? Afishi apa! (How are you? Merry Christmas!!!)

This week was seriously the fastest week of my mission! It was so great and I had many adventures!

At the start of the week, we went to find new people and there were some neat experiences that happened. We were walking in between compounds of houses and we saw this one lady who couldn't speak English, only Ga. We greeted her and kept walking, then as we walked she called for us to come back. We hesitated, but walked back to her. When we got there she called to someone in the house. Then a young man in his twenties came out and greeted us. His name is Gershon. (It was the Lady's grandson) We introduced ourselves and he said "Oh yeah I know what you are, my best friend is on a mission in Benin." So that was a great start. This week we were able to teach him about the Restoration. It was so powerful to teach him because we could relate to his friend teaching the same thing. We were able to say "This is ours and your friend's message to the world, that Christ's true church is once again restored on the earth." It was just a really good lesson. I am so glad that we went back for that lady and that God can direct us. The other experience was right after we taught Gershon. We walked by the side of a busy road full of shops and we passed and greeted this one lady (Everyone has to greet each other in Ghana.) and kept walking, as we kept walking I felt like we should go back, but I told myself, "Oh we'll stop next time." then we kept walking and I kept feeling like we should go back. So I told my companion that we should go back and see her. When we got to her she immediately let us sit down and teach. Her name was Patience. I have never had an experience like that before. God can truly lead you to do things if you put his trust in him. I don't know if Gershon or Patience will be baptized or anything, but I do know that God wanted us to see them and to help them feel the spirit. Maybe our job was to just lay a foundation for future missionaries or something like that, but I know that it was the spirit who helped guide us. That day really helped me feel that "This is why I'm here." and helped me to realize that if you devote all of your time to the Lord you really can become an instrument in God's hands. Success as a missionary doesn't depend on baptisms or people to teach, but it depends on your commitment to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel. (which comes with baptism and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost.). So that is my missionary thought of the week.

Wow I can't believe that it is already Christmas this week! The weather doesn't change here so time just goes so fast! I have really been thinking about what makes Christmas more special than any other holiday. Is it the food? Traditions? Movies? Lights? Presents? We all know that the main focus of Christmas is Christ, and his birth. But during the past few weeks I was able to ponder a little bit about why Christ's birth was so important. Our mission president said that " realize that the love that we have for our dear families, friends, companions, members, and investigators comes from the Savior, who started as the Christ child whom we adore.  Fill your life with goodness and obedience and turning your hearts to the service of others." This really hit me hard. The biggest thing that makes Christmas special is it brings two of the most sacred things together. Which are Family, and Christ. I am so excited for the opportunity to call home this week so that I to can come and be a part of the coming together of family! I think that is the reason the Lord has allowed his missionaries to call home. So that we call fully feel the Christmas spirit. That is my Christmas thought of today.

This week we went to a tailor to fix my companions pants that tore. After she was done I said "Afishi Apa!" (Merry Christmas!) and she was like "Oh for me, I am a Jehovah's Witness and so I don't really know what to say to that." So me and my companion just said "Okay, have a good day." It just made me so sad to think that a Christian religion thinks a holiday about Christ is considered an Idol! It made me so grateful for the gospel we have. Our message is a message of hope and love and it is so perfect. I know it is true and we are so blessed to have it.

Here’s the non-serious part of the letter. This week I had lots of fun quoting the Grinch and Home Alone with other American missionaries. Saying things like "MAX! Fetch me my sedative! Or "Maybe Christmas...Doesn't come from a store!" Or "Keep yer change you filthy animal." or "You know how to knock phlegm wad?" and many more. :)

One more crazy experience. People here for Christmas light off fireworks. So at night I was biking down a sandy hill and saw these guys running away from the road as I kept riding a giant firecracker blew up a foot away from my bike tire! So my ear rang for a while and I couldn't hear for a little. The guys said "Hey America! Sorry-o!"

Well, Thank you all for your emails and love! I am so grateful to be here and to experience Christmas in a whole different world! I hear people here just make lots of food for Christmas and invite whoever passes to come and enjoy. So I think I'll be well fed this week. Family, I am so excited to talk to you and hear your voices. I'm sure I sound very different than I used to. :) So I'll talk to you soon! I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas! Thanks again for all of your prayers and support towards me and all the missionaries!

Talk to you soon!

-Elder Ballard

Snails and Christmas preparation

Merry Christmas Everyone! 

This week went by faster than Bunny after a bath! December always flies by! Especially when your on a mission! Something I noticed is that I have been a missionary for 5 months already :O I can't believe that! When I first came, I was like "fetch, two years?" but now I have really seen that I need to cherish every moment of my mission! It goes by way to fast! I am so excited that next week I get to call!!! We got our little sim card things already so I put it under my Christmas tree along with the Christmas packages that have been staring at me for a month. People here don't really even open presents on Christmas, the main thing they do is just save up enough money to make as much food as possible. (mostly fufu) 

This week was good! We had a zone conference which was fun! We also took two investigators to the temple site for a Christmas program! They even had a couple Christmas lights there and a nativity! (Not as good as Salt Lake but it was still nice.) Another fun thing I did was eat some sea food things with Kwame! They're kinda like little sea snails that you use tooth picks to get out of the shells! (Picture attached.) Kwame just bought a whole bag for me and said "I need the shells, so could you eat as much as you can?" I was a little hesitant but I helped him. They tasted pretty good. Elder Tawodzera refused to take them though. I am so glad that Mom always told me to eat my food even if I didn't like it. It helped prepare me so much for my mission! 

Teaching wise, this week was a little tough, everyone traveled or wasn't at home, but this week we will try to find more people and keep working hard! My companion is doing really well as my son. He rides his bike like a intermediate rider now! He only has trouble with sand and with lots of traffic. This week we were riding with lots of slow moving cars and he slowed down too much and fell sideways. He would have fell in a really deep gutter, but there was 5ft squared wooden pallet that was over right where he fell. He always has had a good attitude when he falls which is good of him. Whenever we mess up, it's okay to laugh (as long as nothing is broken.) and then move on. 

I laughed at myself a lot this week which is always good. Once as I was biking through sand and palm trees, I was singing the lyrics "Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright, the sun all through the day and all the stars at night" from "Melekelekemaka" So that applied to me very literally. Also I was playing out keyboard in our apartment and one of the set songs on it was "O Christmas Tree." so as it played I sang the version on house guest. "Shoobie doobie doobie wabbie do". The thing about quoting movies is that no one who is African knows them, so I thought I would share some of my fun "American Moments" with you. 

One more sweet thing that happened this week was when me and my companion were just walking and this little girl with short hair and earrings just came up and held my hand while we were walking, I looked at her but she didn't even seem like she cared. Then I asked her her name and where she was going. She said her name was Sarah and that she was going home. Kids here are so adorable and I'm not even annoyed when they yell "Obrunie!" all day. I just love being here and I know God knew it was the best place for me. 

Well Christmas is almost here and it's so exciting! I know that this Christmas will be different than others I've had, but I know that I am in the right place. Something my mission president said is that "All the love we feel towards our family, friends, and loved ones comes from the Savior." which is so true. What a joy it is to celebrate the birth of our redeemer and our Lord. I can testify with everything I have that Christ lives and that he loves us. He knows every single bad feeling that we've felt. He knows how to help us. He has given all mankind his light and the knowledge of good and evil. It is only upon Christ that we can be saved. So as this Christmas season keeps moving forward, let's always remember him and try to make everyday to be like Christmas. I know these things are true and I say them in his name Jesus Christ Amen.

PS Congrats Grandma and Grandpa for your mission call! I am so excited for you!!! I'm glad the Salt Lake trip went well! Man, I wish I could have been there to see Dad as a chaperon. :D 

Pictures: Me and Kwame eating "Sea food"

Me with my Christmas tree! Sorry I couldn't get a dark picture, It wouldn't show up.

Thanks again for all of your emails! Merry Christmas Everyone! 

Love ,

-Elder Ballard 

Hello Everyone!!! I am overflowing with gratitude for all the emails received this week! Thank you all so very much! It really does mean so much to me!

This week was way awesome!

This is a picture of a top view of my area! In hamatan it is really foggy! 

First off, teaching was doing great! We started working with more members which helps so much because they can help translate what we are saying really well so they understand! Usually members are always like, "Oh, who will watch the shop?" or "I'm feeling tired." :P We also got two more people to commit to baptism! So things are going great. On Friday, me and my companion were walking outside to buy bread. Then all of a sudden my lips and face just get super dry! I looked at my companion as he slowly stroked his lips and said. "Hamatan...". Hamatan means "dry season." and so we've been hearing about it a lot and it finally came. It actually feels more like home because it is always cloudy which is a blessing, but it's just dry. So I kind of like it just for the no sun aspect of it. I just carry my sunscreen-chap stick with me all the time now. (Thanks Mom!) :)

Something that I really felt this week was love for the people of Ghana. I am sure that every missionary develops love for the people he serves. But for me, I think I am just lucky! These people are the most Christ-like people I've ever seen. This week were teaching a man who has never seen us before. He gave the closing prayer, and in that prayer he said "Father guide them, that they may be under your protection, that they may find those people who have open hearts and who will listen." as I was sitting there, I just felt the spirit so strongly and I felt my love for these people grow.

Another experience I had was when we were biking in a busy rode and I stopped right In front of a taxi driver who just waited for me and smiled. I told my companion: "This would never happen in America." People hear are just born with kindness towards others! Except for that racist Jafar guy who I met a couple weeks ago. I am just so grateful to be among a people who will say when you introduce yourselves. "I can't let the word of God pass buy, so come and sit." It just blows my mind! Anyways, I'll stop boasting :D

This week was also stake conference! Kwame, and Steven Aqua were sustained to have the Melchezidek  Priesthood which made me happy. :D I just love seeing people change their lives for the better so fast! The stake choir was so beautiful! African voices have a special spirit to them. I am so grateful for the chance I have to be here and to help those around me!

This week I also went with Elder Obiarinze to Accra, but as we were waiting for a  tro tro it started raining so much! Good thing I took my umbrella! (thanks Mom!) But the rain was so much that it blew into the back of my pants! Anyways, instead of waiting for a tro tro we just took a taxi. As we were driving, there were times we had to drive through what looked like a river. Sometimes I could feel the water rushing beneath the floor of the car. So that was another great adventure! :D

Then today we went to the beach again! We came and ate fried rice with chicken and drank Fanta and Sprite out of glass bottles (which is normal here! It's nice!).

So this week was a great week, but I still had some personal struggles. But I know that we can only benefit from trials if we deal with it in the right way. If we curse God for our trials, then we won't be blessed. But if we trust in the Lord with all our heart and  acknowledge him in all our ways then I know he will direct our paths. (See Proverbs 3:5-6) I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be a missionary, I know I am in the right place. I am so grateful for all the support everyone has given me. I can't express how thankful I am for the prayers and thoughts towards me! I know that if we can submit to God's will and the trials he sees fit to afflict upon us, that we can put off the natural man and become such a better person that we were before. (See Mosiah 3:19) I love this gospel with all my heart and I am so grateful for the blessing God has given me!

Thanks again for all of your emails! It made me so happy. I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Me at the beach doing a "hang loose". It's just for fun.

Culture Corner: Here around Christmas they light off fireworks! So that has been kinda fun! (I haven't done it myself or anything so ya know.)

Have a wonderful week and Merry Christmas!

-Elder Ballard

                                            Me and my wonderful Elders in the priesthood.

Thanksgiving in Africa

Hello Everyone! :D Wow this week was something! It wasn't as exciting as last week but it was still good. On Thanksgiving I had a great meal! I had to be festive! So I made mashed potatoes and gravy (from home) then Elder Obiarinze helped me cook chicken and I bought some carrots which are kind of expensive but not too bad. :) It was great to taste gravy again! Even though it wasn't even close to Dad's. ;) People don't really eat much meat here so when the other Elders saw me eating so much chicken they were like "What?" but I ate it anyway :D I'm glad everyone encouraged me to be festive! I ate my meal around 9:30 at night so we might have been eating the meal at the same time which was fun to think about!

 Other than that, this week was kind of hard. We went to visit our only investigator who has a baptismal date, but when we found him, he was very very drunk. So that was disappointing. But we are glad we found the problem before he was baptized hah hah. This week was pretty trying for us, but we know that we did our part and that we are always learning to be better. I love being able to learn all the time. Everyday I learn something that will help me be a better person! It is so wonderful that God gives us opportunities to act for ourselves to be better. This week the only investigator who came was Rama who got confirmed. She is going to be very strong in the church! I'm sure she and Shandee would be good friends :) Something our mission president helped us realize is that it isn't our purpose for us to force people to come to church, that would be acting on Satan's original plan. Our purpose is to invite people to act for themselves to follow Christ. We can't pay someone's tithing for them, or repent for them. They have to do it by themselves; and if they do those things themselves, only then will their testimonies be strong, and only then will they be truly converted. 

I am glad that everyone's Thanksgiving went well! Something I realized when I came on mission is that Family is the source of pure happiness. This week I saw Rama's family outside sitting on chairs singing hymns and just laughing together. So I told Rama's older brother that this is what matters most. Being with your family, sharing memories, laughing, and just loving each other. That's what missionary work is about. It is about preparing a way for people to be sealed with their families for eternity. I know now more than ever that "God gave us families to help us become who he wants us to be, this is how he shares his love, for a family is of God." Every time I sing primary songs now I start to tear up haha. I am just so thankful for everything that we have been  blessed with. If we have families, we can always have someone there. Some people might go away and not be able to be there for you. But it comforts me to know that I have a family who loves me and who are sealed with me in the temple. For these thing I am so grateful! No matter what happens we can be with our families and be truly happy for eternity. All we need to do is follow the gospel of Jesus Christ and his commandments. If we do these things I know we can be blessed, for God has promised it in his holy scriptures, and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. 

Another picture of the Temple:

The Temple, Snails, and an Insult

Hello Everyone! First off sorry that I am a day late, we had a zone activity and got home late. We all felt so dead after playing volley ball, and walking most of the way home. Just know that I am doing great and am safe etc. Thanks so much everyone for your emails! I love them so much! Some of them made me laugh out loud for a long time! :D So many exciting things happened this week! Hopefully I can put it all into words! 

First off I received your Christmas packages already! I am so grateful for the mini Christmas tree you guys sent me! What a sweet gift to look up all those scriptures that were on those mini presents and stuff! I marked all of the scriptures in Christmas colors so I can remember the memory :) I also put your "Do not open till Christmas" package under the tree so that's exciting :) The next thing that happened was I got to go a session in the Ghana Temple! Let me tell you that it was so beautiful!!! I love how the temples everywhere are all beautiful in their own way! Going to the temple gave me so much strength to keep going forward! One of the pictures are the Elders who went last week with me. 

Another unique thing that happened was that I was insulted for the first time in Ghana which is really rare. We were just walking then we saw this guy with a twisted beard and a huge hat. (Maybe it was Jafar :O! ) He told me to come over to him then he said "What are you doing in Ghana?" and I said "For us we are missionaries and are here to share a special message about Jesus Christ!" Then he said "No, you go around deceiving people like a serpent! You're a white serpent! Your father sent you here to deceive people!" then i said "Yes, my Father in Heaven sent me here." then he said "Your father in hell!" So during this conversation my companion was really nervous and was  trying to pull me away because he thought the guy was going to punch me or something :) silly lil guy. Anyways it was good to get my testimony tried and to see that there are challenges everywhere you go! 

Another fun thing was that one morning we just found a dove in our apartment... We think it fell through the roof somewhere. So we got to take some pictures of it as well as set it free. I'll send the pictures after the email. 

This week was just full of adventures!  This week I was able to eat some wait for it... Snail! There are these little snails that people put in their soup that you can eat! They are just little spiral shells that you pick up out of the soup then you slurp them out! My companion didn't eat them but I just wanted to be able to say that I ate snail. They tasted just like sea food like clams! 

Anyways this week wasn't boring at all! Lot's of fun things happened :) But I also felt really nostalgic this week, I don't know why but I thought a lot about Mr.Madison, Choir, Movies and other things. But It wasn't so bad. Sometimes I just love to think about things that have happened. Ever since I got that Christmas decoration package I have been singing Christmas songs! (Even though it's November). Once I was riding my bike under the hot sun on a sandy road singing "hoop de do and dickery dock, don't forget to hang up your sock, because just exactly at twelve o'clock he'll be comin down the chimney down!" which didn't fit the scenery at all but made me laugh :) If i want to fit the scenery more i'll sing Mary's Boy Child. ;) 

Since it's Thanksgiving I really want to make a nice meal! I'll try to get some chicken and potatoes. Maybe I will be able to make cabbage salad! We'll see :) but yes I want to be as festive on my mission as possible! 

This week I was just bogged down sometimes with things I can't control or don't understand. I really felt this week that God wants me to know that he is in control and that my "afflictions will be for [my] gain." I also saw a quote from president Monson that said "It is often in the hardest times where we learn the most." and I know that is so true! If there weren't hard times we couldn't know the good ones! I know that God loves and cares about us so much and that he wants us to know that he is in control and that he is there just waiting for us to be patient. I know that this church is true and that this is where I need to be. I hope that God can work through each one of us everyday to bring about part of his will and purpose for his children. I love you all and am so grateful for you! Have a great Thanksgiving and always give thanks to God! 

 

Rama got baptized-she's in the blue dress

Love Elder Ballard.

 

zone activity

Feeling obolo

Hello everyone! Thank you so much for your emails, love, kindness, and joy towards me! It is so weird that it is November! I remember like yesterday that it was August! The weather here is always the same so maybe that is why :) It's fun to talk to Africans about snow! I just try to explain that it's "fluffy ice that falls on the ground." ha ha. 

This week was cool! My companion is very good at his bike now! I was really worried from last week with hitting the old lady and what not. But he's really getting the hang of it. Although, yesterday he fell in the gutter with his bike, it was even his birthday! But It all happens to us at least once and we had a good attitude. When it happened he was even smiling! Those who knew me when I was home (Which is hopefully all of you) know that I don't really get angry... I most often just get sad if something is wrong or I just move on haha. So when I saw that half of his leg was in sewage I just said. "Welp, let's go home and change." and so we went back and everything was fine afterwards. At church we had a new investigator come which was really exciting! We also are having another baptism next week! Her name is Ramma and she's 15 so she reminds me of Shandee! So after church we went to Mama Mensie's, (who i'll send a picture of in a separate email) who is the sweet old lady who always feeds us. She gave us a bowl of fu fu the size of my head. Then when we were finished she added more! Then we finished and she said to me "Drink the soup!" so then i really felt like I was going to die. After that we went and visited Kwame. On the way we saw another recent convert so we said he should come. When we came he said "hey, I made rice for you!" At this point I almost I almost fainted. It was such a blessing to have the other recent convert there to help us eat. Afterwards I felt Obolo (fat). But It was a great memory. I remember that I didn't eat anything else that night. 

This week I had the opportunity to finish the Book of Mormon for the second time! I have prayed about it and I know for a fact that it is true! Being a missionary, I have finally seen how vital the Book of Mormon is to our salvation! It helps us know about the Restoration, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Plan of Salvation! The Book of Mormon truly is another witness that Jesus is the Christ and that God loves us! This week I went on an exchange with Elder Conduanne because our companions were both sick. When we were proselyting we came across a family sitting on the side of the road. When we were introducing ourselves and talking about what we believe they asked us some other questions where we said to ourselves "Fetch, these are Jehovah's Witnesses." I don't know if Aust and Redge ever ran into any of these guys but I think they came about just to make missionary work more of a challenge. But don't get me wrong, they are very devoted, and nice people. They are just a little confused. So everything for them stems off of the Fall of Adam and Eve. They think it was a horrible mistake and that we would all be in the garden right now. So it really tested our testimonies to tell them what we knew to be true. They also believe when we die that is the end, unless your one of the chosen people who will be resurrected. Anyways I'm not bashing on their belief or anything like that, all I am doing is saying that I am so grateful for the knowledge we have and the truth that we have and enjoy! I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon in my life and I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet! I invite all men and women everywhere to read, ponder, and pray about the Book of Mormon. If they do these things with a sincere heart and real intent God will give you a witness of it's truthfulness! I know these things are true! One lesson this week was very special to me, we taught a man named Ben who is a youth leader in his church. We talked more about the Plan of Salvation especially about Adam and Eve. Last week we had a similar lesson but it was more of a bash. This time we really tried to listen and be calm. As we taught, we really tried to explain to him the big picture about the fall and why it was important. When the lesson was done, I forgot everything that I said, and I knew that the spirit was there. Sometimes as people we rely on our own knowledge to much. We need to give ourselves up so that God can work through us. I know that Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy. I also want to testify again that the Book of Mormon is true and that I cannot deny it.

Culture Corner:

Women tie their babies to their backs with a thin blanket. I love African children so much. 

I love you all and I feel your prayers! Thanks for all of your support! Just know I am doing fine and am praying for you! 

Love, Elder Ballard

These are Mama Mensie's grandchildren The light little girl is probably the cutest little girl I have ever seen in Africa :) 

My companion finally can ride a bike!  He has shown me that you can learn anything at all if you put effort and interest into it! 

Na. She's so adorable!

Ramma, who will be baptized this week!

Mama Mensie is like our mission grandma! She cooks for us every Sunday and is so sweet! 

This is our apartment! Elder Obiarinze from Nigeria (the light short one.) Elder Conduanne from Mozambique (Dark buff one.) Elder Tawodzera from Zimbabwe (Short dark one) and Me (yeah) So each of us have different accents to understand! I love our apartment so much! 

Have a great week!

Hot Banku!

Well hello!

Hello everyone! :D Sunday marked me at 4 months which is crazy talk! It's just crazy how fast weeks go here! This week was pretty good. I learned a lot like last week, and I also did some cool Ghana activities!

This week we finally tried riding bikes. Elder Tawodzera is doing great! He just is riding slow and is a little nervous about cars. (Which reminds me of me back in the day ;) So on Wednesday we were riding far to get to our chapel. On the way Elder Tawodzera hit a parked taxi, and an old woman. But the taxi guy was super nice and hilarious; he told him "You are a Christian, and you're afraid of death?!" so that made me laugh. He also said things like "This is a part of life!" and other encouraging things like that. Elder Tawodzera only hit the old lady's cane so she was fine with it. If we were in any other country he would have been toast. But the people of Ghana are seriously the nicest people I have ever seen. I have only been insulted once or twice in my whole mission. I just have come to love them so much! Something that will be really awkward for me when I get back is when I will just greet everyone I see. Here you have to greet or people will get mad and call you back and say "why didn't you greet me? Am I not your friend?" and other things like that :) So when I will be back people will think I’m a weirdo cause I will just say. "Good afternoon!" all the time. Anyways here are some fun things I experienced this week:

 I saw my first cockroach, which was running at me. So I flipped out until Elder Obiarinze the Nigerian elder kicked it across the room and out the door. I felt kinda dumb but it was fun.

I drank water from a coconut then ate the flesh inside! It was pretty interesting but good! There is usually just a guy with a wheel barrow full of them and a machete who goes around to people who want to buy them. I made the best smoothie I’ve ever had in my whole life! It had bananas, pine apple, then I added strawberry milk mix and sugar! It was the best thing ever :D Like I said before, you can't beat the pineapple here! I received the family package with the replacement ipod and spices! I am so glad I have spices and bacon again! (The other package got moldy...) I even got to make mac and cheese which made me so happy! One member gave me Banku and Pepe, which is like the hottest food in Ghana apparently. I finished the whole thing and felt really proud! (the picture is attached.). Banku and Pepe is that fermented dough I was talking about, then you dip it in basically really hot salsa and fish. Then you swallow it! :D It was actually pretty good! My lips were on fire. I just love how much of an adventure I am having!

As for the homosexual baptism thing, I haven't heard anything about it. In Ghana having a homosexual relationship is illegal  In tree they call it "Soupe soupe" which is pretty funny. So whenever we teach someone about chastity they always laugh when we mention those things. Sometimes they say "Well what about your country? It's legal!' so that's kinda dumb.

But on the spiritual side of things. This week was pretty hard with finding and appointments falling through. But I think the Lord is really teaching us patience. I also learned that God doesn't want us to be frustrated. We just have to move forward and deal with it. There are some things we can't control and so we need to be patient. I'm also just learning so much as a trainer! I get to help someone understand and adjust to missionary work. It isn't an easy task, especially when your trainee is four years older than you. :) But I just helped him understand that God qualifies who he calls and so on :) I know that God loves us so much and that he wants the best for us! I am so grateful for this opportunity to be able to help others come unto Christ. Something special happens to you when you study your scriptures everyday, and give all of your time and efforts to the Lord. I am just so glad to be able to be here! I can't believe that I have been out four months already! By Christmas I will be six months! It's just crazy. I am so grateful for all of you and your support towards me. I really do feel your prayers for me, I know that God will bless you for everything you do to help missionaries.

I know that this church is true and that God speaks to his prophets. This Gospel is so amazing and pure. Following the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way to be truly happy! I know this is true!

Thanks for all of your emails and support! I love you and hope you have a great week!

-Elder Ballard

Pictures: Ghana Landscape & Banku and Pepe

Patience

Hello Everyone!!!

Thank you all for your loving emails and insights! They helped me so much!

This week was super crazy, stressful, and amazing!

At the first of the week we went to help with the eye clinic thing in Accra which was good service. Me and my district leader Elder Obiarinze just sat at the front gate and told people to go home if they didn't have the right form for two hours. But it was pretty fun! I love doing service no matter what it is! I can't believe it is already November! What the wacca? I hear it is getting cold there? Well here it is getting into the warmer season! I keep thinking about Christmas and how it is going to be so different compared to my past ones! I thought of Heat Miser on "A Year Without a Santa Clause" saying "I'm mister green Christmas, I'm mister Sun." and so that's what I’m going to get! You think of the most random things when you are on your mission.

 Anyways on Wednesday we were surprised to find out that we could go see a devotional by Elder Bednar in Accra! It was such a great experience! He is such an hilarious apostle and it was sweet to see him walk around the podium and stuff! We even got to bring 2 recent converts with us which was great! That night was already great, but what made it better was that I got to see Elder Bennett Roberts!!! (picture attached) I was so lucky that we found each other and got to snap a picture and talk for a couple minutes! I felt like I was in shock! It was like a piece of home just came out of nowhere and I didn't know what to do! His skin changed, his hair changed, and even his voice changed! But it was so good to see him and to know that lots of my friends are doing what I am doing right now :D It doesn't get better than seeing an apostle and one of your good friends in the same night!

Anyways, this week was also really stressful, a lot of our appointments fell through, and because of going to Accra so much we didn't have as much time as we usually do to proselyte. So I was feeling lots of stress, and felt like I wasn't working as hard as I could. Not a single one of our investigators came to church either. I also just felt stressed about my future! People were talking about What they are going to become when they get home and other things! But as I studied my scriptures I came across a verse that changed my whole view on things. Words of Mormon 1:7 "...And now I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore he worketh in me to do according to his will." This scripture helped me a lot to know that God knows what will happen. It also taught me that all I need to do is do my part and try to accomplish his will. I now know that as long as I try my best and work as hard as I can that God will be glad. I know that if we trust in God that we will be directed! Something else I noticed that you have to learn on your mission or in life is patience. If you can be patient with everyone and everything that happens than everything will work out so much better for you, you will have no stress. But being patient doesn't mean to ignore everything around you. I was a pro at ignoring at home when I was annoyed by someone. Let’s say for example, Teagan and Brig were fighting over who would be able to help Mom wash dishes. (This is just an example) I was good at just waiting for it to stop and let Mom deal with it. But If I was patient, then I would have done something about It but I would still be willing to let them learn and grow. I'm sure since I’ve been gone they have been getting along very well :D

But I also know that being patient is so vital for us to not be stressed or mad at someone. If we are patient we can't hold a grudge, or really get angry! I invite everyone to try being a little more patient. If you wait a little bit, everything will work out! When we die we don't go straight to heaven! We have to wait In the spirit world where we prepare and learn more! It applies to everything we do, and I can promise that If we do that, we will be more happy and less stressed!

It was weird on Saturday to see that it was Halloween! I was like "It's way too hot to be Halloween!" We had a Fufu party with the other Elders who were Americans so I got to tell them "happy Halloween" I dressed up as a zone leader which was fun! I even got some caramels to be festive! (Picture attached) Well done on your pumpkins Shand and Redge! Good heck they're sweet! Same with everyone's costumes!

Culture Corner:

When you are waiting for a tro tro there is a guy who is hanging out the window shouting where it is going to. They even have different hand signals for different places so if you don't hear them you can still see their hand and know where to go! So a recent convert taught me the signals so that'll be fun :) 

I love you family and friends! Thanks for everything! I can't believe next week I’ll be four months! :O I hope you all have a great week!

Fu fu party on Halloween!

-Elder Ballard

Led by the Spirit

Hello Everyone!!! I am so happy to have received all of your emails and support! This week went by very fast for me! It's crazy how fast time goes if you are working all the time! I hope you are all doing well and enjoying life! This is such a great time to live in! I am so glad that I get the chance to be a missionary! It is such a blessing to be able to learn and change by so many spiritual experiences! 

I could finally send these pictures of Elder Tawodzera so you can see what he looks like! He's almost 23, but I’m taller than him which is nice :D

3rd companion, Elder Tawodzera from Zimbabwe

This week was pretty great! Elder Tawodzera is getting more used to things and is doing well. We went finding a lot this week so that we could teach more people which was fun. It's crazy how much the Lord guides you when you are a missionary. This week when our appointment failed and we didn't have anyone to see. I decided to just walk down a road in our area and find people. I felt like Nephi when he said "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." (See 1 Nephi 4:6) So I kept walking not knowing where to go. I just took turns that I didn't take before and just kept moving forward. Then as we came across a more open area we saw a man who was sitting there looking at his phone. I started walking up to him not really knowing that I would talk to him. Then we introduced ourselves, but before we could tell him that we were missionaries. He said to us "Can I get you some chairs?" Then we said yes and waited for him to come. His name was Edward who is a Methodist. He is very intelligent. He told us that his father just passed away and that they were preparing for the funeral. Then we started the lesson on the Plan of Salvation. As we taught and shared scriptures, he said "Wow! I have never seen this before in my life." and was really interested. It is fun to teach him because he asks very hard questions that help us both learn from each other. Hopefully as we continue teaching, he will be able to come to church.

This experience just really showed me that as a missionary, you aren't really relying on your own knowledge. You literally have to give everything you have to the Lord. But as you do that, the spirit can be with you and guide you to see who God wants you to see. I still love to sing the hymn Lead Kindly Light. "Lead kindly light, amid encircling gloom, lead thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home. Lead thou me on! Take thou my feet, I do not ask to see, the distant scene, one step enough for me." This hymn has really helped me on my mission. Especially when I don't know what to do, or if I feel that I am lost. All we need to do is to trust in God and keep taking steps forward. As we do that, God will guide us to where he needs us to be. I have seen this principle work so many times in my life. I know that it is true! Another thing we learned in church is that a principle is something we can do ourselves, but an ordinance is something we need someone else to do for us. We can have our own faith, but we can't perform our own baptism. God is trying to show us that, we can't go to heaven by ourselves, we have to take that pride away from us. We have to learn to rely on Christ. Without relying on Christ, we become as the natural man, who is an enemy to God, and has been since the fall of Adam and will be forever and ever, UNLESS he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man, and becometh a Saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord. (See Mosiah 3:19) So that is my message today. We shouldn't rely on ourselves. As we do all that we can do, we should keep moving forward and let God lead us to where he needs us. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. 

So there were some other funny things that happened this week. I had a dream that me and Tanner were called as office elders, but I couldn't drive stick, so Tanner had to drive everywhere. :D Also Elder Conduanne, is really funny, he is the Portuguese speaker from Mozambique. After he ate a fan ice. (Which is like a little packet of ice cream) He said "I wonder what the expiration date is." and started looking at the back. I'm so glad that I have hilarious roommates to help me keep laughing :)

Culture Corner: The whole Zone went to a member’s 1 year old baby's birthday party and it was crazy! They had a DJ and gave us so much food and soda. They even had a cake! Which is super rare here! But there was lots of people so we didn't get a piece... Just kidding. :) It is just crazy that people have such a big party for someone so young! The party must have cost so much money! But I guess it is just part of the culture!

Well Family and Friends. I love you so much and I am praying for all of you! Thank you so much for your support! You really do make me a better missionary and I am so grateful for that! Have a wonderful week!

-Elder Ballard

Here are some of Sister Grace and Brother Bismark's Kids! African children are so cute! Eve didn't really look happy though. (the little girl.) 

And, here's what I look like, when I’m writing in my journal... You can see that my tan line is quite vibrant... :)

Kwame got confirmed this week! He is such a cool guy and one of my good friends!

A New Companion

Yo! Toyoteh!

Hey everyone! Thank you so much for your emails! I can't imagine doing missionary work without so much support :)

This week has been super stressful, but has been really fun and I have learned so much!

My new companion's name is Elder Towodzera! (You guessed it mom! He's African) He is from Zimbabwe. Out of all the 24 Americans I got one of the 4 Africans that came! So he is a pretty cool guy, he just needs to learn that a mission isn't about him :) He thought Ghana would be the same as Zimbabwe but he was really wrong haha I guess I had more preparation that way because I knew that Ghana was super different. The day before his mission was when he started packing in a rush and he forgot lots of things, like black socks... Haha also when we got to the apartment I found out that he doesn't know how to ride a bike.. :O

So this week I was really stressed but everything is okay, being senior companion is so much fun! You actually feel like you know what you’re doing, and you know the area! So that has been fun. Also he is 23 years old. But I’m pretty taller than him so I can still intimidate him a little ;) just kidding. Something I know I will have to learn while training is discipline. At home when the little boys were fighting, I would just call mom or wait for Dad to enter the room. But I can't do that now. I have to be the Dad! It is so cool to see how many things a mission prepares you for! I've only been out three months but I have learned so much! Especially looking at my new companion, I remember how the food was hard to eat and that it was hot. But now that I am comfortable, I just laugh at so many things! The Portuguese speaker in apartment Elder Conduanne is hilarious! Same with our new district leader who is Nigerian! I'm the second tallest person in the apartment so I feel even older! :D

But yeah, we had two baptisms this week! Kwame, (the photo I sent last time) and Abigeal! (a 14 year old girl.) It was really cool! But I decided not to bring my baptismal clothes this time which was a mistake because the ones they give you are basically just like a sheet cut in the shape of a shirt and pants. Plus it was just like a huge V-neck. So I was trying to cover myself during the first of the service. It was pretty funny though :) I am just so grateful that I can be in a place where everyone believes in God! People's prayers here humble the crud out of you! You just hear them sometimes thank God that they woke up this morning, or that they have another day to live. They even pray that God will protect us the missionaries and to guide us, even if they aren't really interested! I just am falling in love with the people more and more every day! If everyone believes in God then there is hardly any crime or fights! That is how Ghana is! It is just amazing.

I also had goat meat this week which was actually really good! It tastes like beef and chicken at once or something! Another hilarious experience was when I was ordering fufu and the lady who was getting the meat just asked me, "Do you like intestines?" and I about laughed my head off but I didn't, and I was just thinking like "where am I?" haha Missions are such adventures!  We were teaching one lady about the book of Mormon and when we were done she just asked us "So, is it true?" I almost laughed and told her how she could know. It was just funny that she would ask such a blatant question! Then she asked "But, how do you know it is true?" then I told her that it's teachings have blessed my life. Then she said "Like what?" (This lady asks a lot of questions.) Then I showed her in Moroni where it condemns about infant baptism and I got to talk about Carver which is always really special to me.

Sorry last crazy experience. I met my first insane guy this week! He came up to us and said "hey, I know your church! Do you know Jesus Christ in the book of Mormon? That's me but you just can't see it yet!" Then he pointed to a tree and said "Do you see that tree? It is a tree of life! When Adam and eve ate it it was nice, but for this one it is different." Then he opened a garbage bag full of leaves and gave us some and said "The garden of Eden is just over there." as he pointed behind "So what I am doing is I go around and plant these seeds of the tree of life so everyone in the world can live forever!" After that we said thankyou and walked away.

Ah, Such good memories are happening here :D I know this gospel is true and that God qualifies who he calls! I know that if we follow his commandments we will be blessed. I know that if we give everything to God, God will give everything to us.

Answers to questions: Aust: So they do have a lot of different kinds of cloth here, if you saw the blue tie I wore, that is one of them. But yeah they do like classic African designs on their clothes.

I love you so much everyone! Thanks so much for your support! I can't believe Teag already has braces! I'll be praying for Baden!

-Elder Ballard

Last week as Trainee

Hello Everyone!

This week was super challenging but I have learned so much! This week was the last week with Elder Ajayi and I am going to miss him so much! He has taught me so many things and I owe him everything I am as a missionary! But it is exciting that I will get a new companion this week! I'm going to learn so much from training! Anyways, I really felt all of your prayers this week, I was super stressed about learning everything about training and my bike broke in the middle of the road and other crazy things :) But I know that Christ has felt my stress, and my grief. I know that God works in mysterious ways and that he wants us to learn by challenges sometimes! This week, there were some people who insulted me and made fun of me but it was in their native language so I never knew until after. So whenever they did I would just smile and say "good afternoon!" :D so I think that's a good attitude to have in our lives. When people are angry, just listen, then be nice and smile! I'm sorry if this letter is more random than usual :) At church we had 5 investigators show up, which was great! Elder Ajayi bore his testimony and it was just a good Sunday! One of these pictures is of me and Elder Ajayi, then the other is me and Kwame (Quamie) who is getting baptized next week! 

Thank you everyone for all of your letters and support, they mean so much to me and they keep me rejuvenated to serve even harder! Hopefully next week I will have more to write about! One cool thing that happened is that it rained like 15 inches in one day. But the cooler thing is that we helped a little kid cross a canal that was more full because of the rain! He went up to the stepping stones carrying his back pack and umbrella and started to cry. We carried him across and we felt like heroes :D. I love not only being a servant to God, but being a servant to others! I am coming to love the Ghanaian people so much! They are so nice and loving. I love the food too! It will be fun to make fun of my companion this week when he tries to eat the food! just kidding :) I love this gospel so much! It is the only way to be happy. The only way! Missionary work could not function without the help of the Lord. There would be no success without the Lord! I know indeed that Christ not only suffered for our sins, but he suffered for our feelings of stress, grief, heartbreak, and self disappointment! I know that God loves us! He knows what is best for us! All we have to do is follow him! :) In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

By the way I received all of the fam's FHE letters to me and they made my day! Letters are so great because you don't get them on Monday so it's like a reminder that someone is always there! :D

Questions answered:

There is more black missionaries than white, (but it is pretty close and it changes. sometimes.)

No the malaria medicine hasn't given me problems. :)

I don't know what the mosquito nets are made out of!

It is probably like 95 degrees all the time but I have gotten used to it.

I do talk slow and accented with T’s when I teach lessons :)

I haven't gotten an accent, I just use a different vocabulary.

Culture: The hardest culture shock for me was to see that Moms usually beat their children to obey. It's really hard to not stop them sometimes, but maybe that is why everyone is so nice because they listen to their moms? I'm not sure. But most of the time members don't beat their children :D

I love you Family! Keep doing great things! :D Pacho Byo!

Conference!

Pacho Eti Sen!

Hello everyone! Thanks so much for your support and love! I have really felt your prayers this week and I love you all so much. I have so many things to write about so hopefully It makes sense!

This week I took lead, at least for the first few days. It was really hard because whenever i taught i felt like i was being observed and i couldn't be free with teaching. So i kept getting nervous and messing up which was hard on me. I feel like my trainer is like Dad, i want to make him proud! But whenever i tried to do my best i just messed up. But it was really good and i learned a lot! Sorry that i haven't got a picture of sister Grace yet! She got confirmed yesterday and it was a neat experience!

So during the week i got a phone call from the APs... and I got called...  As... *Drum Roll* A Trainer!!!

So I will finish my training this week and at the same time get a trainee to train! When i first got the call i was so scared and felt incapable. I've only been out for three months and i barely know everything about my area. But on Tuesday there was a training meeting that really helped me. President Heid said that God trust us very much to call us as trainers. Then as I watched the new apostles testimonies of Sunday, they all talked about how they felt incapable. Then they said that "God qualifies those who he calls." and so all of their testimonies helped me so much. I am also excited to get to know them better! they seem really awesome, I called that Elder Rasband would be called, but you know. :)

Conference helped me so much, one of my favorite talks was Elder Holland's about mothers and how he compared mothers to the Savior. It made me miss Mom dang bad, but it was really great. :) Also i think that once you go on a mission, the spirit testifies to you so strongly, and you become more emotional. When that primary children choir sang I could barely hold back the tears! Primary hymns have always been in a soft part of my heart. Now whenever I start singing "Love is spoken here." I can't finish it because I get choked up when i sing "I see my mother kneeling, with my family each day, I hear the words she whispers, as she bows her head to pray. Her plea to the father, quiets all my fears, and i am thankful, love is spoken here." Man, I'm tearing up just typing it! Haha I also felt goosebumps when the Tabernacle Choir sang The Spirit of God.  Going on a mission has made me appreciate so many things. Every time I see conference my testimony is reaffirmed that God calls prophets, seers, and revelators. I love and sustain President Thomas S. Monson and the Quorum of the Twelve. I know that God qualifies those he calls. I know that God Loves us and wants us to be happy, and the only way to be happy is to follow him and keep his commandments. I know that prayer is true. I know that missionary work wouldn't function unless it was directed by God. I love this Church and Gospel. I know that we aren't lost, we are in the right place. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Culture Corner: People here love social media, they all have really nice phones but really small houses. It's crazy to see someone who doesn't have a toilet but has an iphone 6!

I hope Tanner is doing okay! That's tough about the pick up!

I love you all! Thanks for all of your emails and support!

Pacho Byo!

-Elder Ballard