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