Patience

Greetings from the home of Banku! 

Thanks for all of your emails and love! It was great to hear from all of you! So today I got stuck with the computer that has a sticky keyboard so if there are spelling errors forgive me. 

This week was a little rougher than last week but who can really complain? It's the Lord's work! During this week, our investigators were more busy and it was hard to find more. But we still had some great lessons and experiences. We got to visit a couple more members who were missionaries and they gave us some great counsel. While we talked with one member I realized that some are sowers in the mission field and some are reapers. Some plant the seeds and some harvest. So that really made me think.

Whenever you don't feel like you are progressing just "Stand still, and see the salvation of God." One of the biggest lessons I am learning on my mission is patience. Patience just solves so many problems, stresses, and headaches. While I was studying in the first section of PMG It talked about the differences in the mission of Ammon and Abinadi. Ammon taught the king and converted his whole people. Abinadi preached and was killed without even knowing that anyone accepted his message. But through him came Alma and Alma the younger, Heleman, and thousands of other converts! So it doesn't matter what part we are doing as long as we try our hardest. Sometimes we don't see the fruits of our labors but all things happen in the "wisdom of he who knoweth all things." I also studied a talk from the ensign this week (thanks for sending Mom!) it also had the theme of patience. it's from Elder Koichi Aoyagi. He said "Put God first regardless of the trials you face. Love God. Have faith in Christ, and entrust yourself to him in all things." So that is what I learned this week and I know It's true! Just keep putting your trust in God and just do your best!

Anyways, this week was also one of the hottest in my life, While I was biking there was just like 4 drops of sweat coming down my face at once! Except today we came out the door and it was super dry again. So I guess the weather is bipolar like Rexburg is sometimes. Mama Mercy almost fed us some giant snails but my companion refused which was probably smart of him. 

So it's a little short this week, but just know that I am doing fine and am loving life! Thanks again to everyone for your love and support and keep trusting in God! I know this work is true and that following the gospel is the only way to be truly happy. We can experience temporary pleasure if we sin, but it is only when we are righteous where we can experience more rice, full, and lasting happiness. I know these things are true because I have experienced it! 

Thanks again everyone! Love you all so much! 

Pics: My companion's bike tire popped so we went to a bike shop. This was one huge bike pile! 

Okay, Talk to you next week!                             --Elder Ballard 

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A Better Week

Hello My Loved Ones!

First off, I want to express my sincere, deep gratitude for your emails. I just felt so much happiness as I went through and experienced all of your support and love. I just can't say how much it means to me to get emails from all of you. Thanks so much! 

This week was so so much better than last week. You might guess why...No food poisoning might be part of it. But this week was just so good! We worked really hard and found new people to teach. Which makes time go way fast! I am so grateful for Dad teaching me the meaning of work! 

Last week I saw what it was like to not work at all. Time went slow, I felt like I couldn't fulfill my purpose etc. But this week it was so refreshing to work and sweat to invite others to come unto Christ. I think God really gives us a little sorrow so we can experience happiness more fully. I think of Adam and Eve and think about how they were "having no joy, for they knew no misery, doing no good, for they knew no sin." (See 2 Nephi 2:23). That is the same with us! We need to know misery to know joy! So I am so grateful that God can put us through trials for us to become stronger through the atonement of Christ.

But this week we were able to work with members more, find new people, get some referrals, and teach good lessons! Missionary work is so much fun! Hopefully we will be having a baptism at the end of the month. His name is Abraham, he was the guy who had the word of wisdom problem but as we visited him this week we found out that he hasn't taken any since we have taught him! The atonement has such power to heal people! So we are excited for him.

This week as I was studying. I thought about my brother-in-law Dylan and how he knew the Articles of Faith very well after his mission. So I wanted to follow his example as well as Elder Perry's example to memorize the Articles of Faith. I can proudly say that I have all 13 Articles of Faith now memorized. But don't think it's a huge accomplishment or that it takes hours of work. All it takes is you reciting it over and over and you will have it down! I can promise you that if you try to memorize them as well that you will be able to, and that it will strengthen your testimony and reaffirm to you what "We believe in." As I studied them I learned so many things and I know that you can too. So that is my challenge to all those who desire :) 

I am so grateful for this opportunity to be in this wonderful country and experience so many experiences that will help me become a better person. I can testify to everyone that we are in the right place. We are on the right track. All we need to do is to do our part, and God will do the rest. I know more than ever that Joseph Smith really was the prophet of the restoration and that we have prophets and apostles just as in ancient times who hold authority from God to guide us. I know that The Book of Mormon is a true, sacred record from God. It gives us the fullness of the everlasting gospel, it disproves false doctrines like infant baptism and gives us further knowledge of why we need to baptized as well as that Christ didn't just die for our sins but that he "suffered pains and afflictions of every kind".(See Alma 7:11) I know that the Plan of Salvation is real, God knew us personally before this life, We have a purpose on this life to learn and to grow and to be tested, and we can see our loved ones again. I know these things are true more than ever. If you are having difficult questions in your mind about these things: "I would exhort you that ye would ask God the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth in all things." (See Moroni 10:4). I know that if you do these things that God will answer you. No matter what question you have, he has made it clear in holy scripture that he will answer you. I know these things are true and can say it in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Thanks so so so much again for your emails. They really do give me renewed zeal to press forward. I love you all and I am so grateful for each one of you.

Culture Corner:

So in Ghana I noticed that they sing different hymns in the hymn book that were a little unfamiliar to me. some of them I kinda knew but some of them I didn't know at all. Here are some of the numbers of the hymns they sing here. If you ever have time, look them up, listen to them, and picture an African congregation singing them with me. :D 

111, 44, 64, 103, 125, 143, 163, 172, 221, 226, 230, 273, and 266

Pictures: People hear go and sell things while carrying them on their heads! The girl on the very right is a member named Sandra and this is her family going to sell cloth. I helped put the laundry basket on her head and saw that it was flippin heavy! It must have easily been more than 100 pounds! Plus she isn't even using her hands! I am just amazed at the strength of even the little girls who can carry it on her head.

Then here is me, A little kid called me "Obolo!" which means "Fat"... So I was feeling self conscious and wanted to send a picture to show I'm not to big or anything. yet ;) just kidding. 

Okay thanks again everyone! I love you all so much!

Wounded

Hello Folks!

Thanks for the couple of emails that you sent! This week was really interesting and slow, but I learned a lot and I'm excited for this upcoming week.

This week Sister Sanders put a picture of me in a hospital bed on Facebook :) before I say anything just know that I'm fine and that nothing is wrong, It's just an eventful story :)

Here's the story:

So it turns out I had food poisoning. I think it was when I made spaghetti and the tomato paste was old or something? I'm not sure. But on Tuesday I started feeling sick and told my companion that we should go back to the apartment. I'm glad I told him that because a half hour after we got there I  felt way more sick and had diarrhea pretty bad. As the day went on I asked for a priesthood blessing so my companion and Elder Conduanne helped with that. In the evening my companion made me rice which was nice of him. But after a couple of hours I threw it up which hasn't happen for a year or so now so that was fun. After that I just couldn't keep anything down and I was really dehydrated so I called Sister Sanders who is such a nice Lady, she carries out her calling so well. She then told me if it keeps up then to take a taxi to the hospital. During the night it was difficult to sleep. I had to get up for the bathroom. After I turned off the light to the bathroom I just lost all my strength and felt really dizzy so I was feeling for the walls and I hit my head on the corner of the wall, then I went through the doorway to my room with lots of noise. My companion woke up, lifted me up and took me to my bed. It was then where I said "Okay, we can go to the hospital." So then we waited two hours and went. It was a really clean, nice hospital! They gave me an IV and after 4 hours I felt good again. I just had a really cool H mark above my eye.

So anyways it healed really fast and everything is okay. :D Such an adventure!

With my sickness I had to stay home for another day then I went out and proselyted. This week was a little hard for that reason but we also found out that some of our investigators moved away without telling us! But we hope to find more people to teach this week. 

Our church is now at 8 am which is interesting! After church we go out just like it's a normal day and teach! Ghanaians love to get up early and there is three different groups in our chapel so that's why we have it at 8. This week that old man named Abraham came to church which was good! We hope to prepare him to be baptized at the end of the month! After church Bismark's family (Who is our favorite family to visit, remember sister Grace?) wanted a picture since it was their baby Destiny's 1st birthday. They are such a great family and they have helped us so much. It was crazy when I got here Destiny was only 6 months! 

This week taught me lots of things. It's really frustrating sometimes where you can't even do what you want to do or if things happen outside of your control. But God doesn't want us to be discouraged, he wants us to become better and learn from our trials. So I am so grateful for all the things I have learned so far and I am so grateful for this 6 months of my life I have given the lord and can't wait to keep serving for another year and a half! Time goes so wacko on a mission! Anyways I want all of  you to know that I know this church is true and that God loves us so much. He is always there to help you along the way. I know these things are true in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Have a great week! Thanks for your support and love! 

 

Bismark's family as well as the ward mission leader behind me.

Love you all! 

-Elder Ballard 

Fireworks and Fufu

Thanks everyone for your awesome emails! This week was sweet! Lots of people gave us food! (Pictures attached of fufu with groundnut soup) We also found a couple of sweet investigators and are excited to continue to teach them.

First off I just want to congratulate my Grandparents on their mission call!!! I can't believe you are both going to Uganda! Woot! It will be sweet to have a relative living and serving on the same continent as I am! It will be such a great bond to share with them the love I have for the African people!

This week was kind of weird but good! Around new year’s people were just shooting off fireworks everywhere! On new year’s eve me and my companion were biking through a busy road and there were fireworks going off at the same time! It was just really funny how crazy everything was! New year’s was fun though some people fed us fufu and there was a fireside at the church. Apparently at midnight on new year’s eve they set off a ton of fireworks at once, but I slept through it! My companion was just saying "You didn't hear that?" it reminded me of when Shandee slept through the fire alarm at the house. It's really funny how tired you can be as a missionary! When your asleep your asleep!

I can't believe I will be out six months this week! That's a big piece of the Pie! It's cool cause I've been in the same area my whole mission so it's been fun. Teshie is a great area, it's where I grew up on the mission, where I learned how to eat, where I spent Christmas, Everything! So It's been great. This week was a little better teaching wise! Elder Tawodzera also finished his training this week so I had him take lead in the area all week. So when lots of our appointments failed he just said "Let's go this way." then we walked up to a compound and knocked on the door. A guy came out with chairs before we even said hello! His name was Nana and is a really humble guy. He really wants to preach the gospel like we are doing so it was fun to tell him that every member of the church is expected to teach their friends and loved ones. While we were teaching like 14 kids surrounded us just to watch me... So that was distracting but fun. I just love how prepared these people are for the gospel. At church this one guy just came to church on his own. No one invited him or anything, he just felt that he should come. He came to sacrament and our investigators class where he participated a lot. Then we saw that he lived in the other ward's boundaries so we gave him to the other missionaries so he got to go to sacrament meeting twice in the same day! The missionaries said that he already wants to be baptized. I just am so amazed that someone can just feel impressed to come to a church that they've never been to before! I am just so grateful to be here! I just wish those kind of people would be in our area. But it's all the same work :)

I really learned this week that God really knows us. He knows what we need to do to become like him. I also found more fully that whatever we do to help people is the same work to build up God's kingdom! Every day I feel my testimony grow. I love being a missionary! I am so grateful for this opportunity and for all the experiences I’ve had and will have! I know this church is true and that God loves us more than we can imagine!

Thanks again for your emails everyone! I love you all so much and I am grateful for the love you send me! Have a great week and try to do a good deed towards someone! Even if it's just to make someone smile! Have a great week!

-Elder Ballard

Pics: Fufu and Groundnut soup!

Mama Mercy's Grandchildren (The lady who feeds us every Sunday)

Happy New Year!

Hello Everyone! Afishi Apa! Apparently here Christmas lasts for a whole week because no one really has time to celebrate it in one day. Afishi apa also just means "Let us be better people than we were last year." So we still say it to people since it's new years.

Holy Cats it was fun to talk to all of you!!! It was so nice! But I have never seen time move that fast ever! It was fun to hear your responses of how I sounded. It was just crazy to hear how all of your voices sounded and all of your laughs! I am so glad that we were able to have a family prayer! The spirit was so strong, I just hope next time I won't sound like a wounded dog :) I am just so grateful to have called home and to remember what everything is about! I am on this mission because I want to help people experience that happiness that I felt in such a short phone call. I know that families can be forever and that they are ordained of God. I don't have much to talk about this week teaching wise, because everyone traveled or was busy. But we still taught pretty well and got to do random acts of service which is always fun :D 

I am so grateful for the presents I got! That bag of jerky and apron are so sweet! Hopefully I'll use it! All I really make here is French toast and egg sandwiches! But i'll still do it for fun :) I am also grateful for those letters and ensign! That will be sweet to have all those conference talks! Christmas morning I made French  toast with jam! It was so nice. I even wore my santa hat and apron while making it (pictures attached.). I love being festive! I decided to just leave out my mini Christmas tree because there’s no way in Kumasi  I'm packing that around for another year :)

Christmas in Ghana was different for sure. But I still felt the same spirit on Christmas day that I have felt at home. Christmas is such a wonderful thing and I am so glad I get to spend two of them in Africa! I am so glad that Christ came to save, redeem, and love us. We are forever in his debt and we should try our hardest to always remember him. We should try to make every day like Christmas. Where we give to others and enjoy time with our family. Being in Ghana has humbled me so much, I know more than ever that I have been so blessed in my life. Most people here can't afford to have Christmas. So let us all remember to be humble and to give to others. I am so grateful for this week and for my family. I can't think of any other people I would want to spend eternity with! (along my future wife and kids) I am so grateful for our father's plan of happiness! If you go on a mission you will realize that true happiness really comes from family! I know these things are true because I have felt them myself. I hope you all had a great Christmas and I hope you will have a happy new year this week! I can't believe it's already 2016!

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

Christmas conference

Christmas morning French toast!

-Elder Ballard