Jeff and Tina Doing Great and getting ready for Baptism

Hey Family!

It sounds like everyone had a great week! I was honesty a bit distracted this week, but as the days went on, it got better. 

Jeff and Tina are doing great. Jeff has a smoking problem to overcome but I have faith that he can do it, and so does he. We gave him a blessing to help him quit, and he has until Saturday to do so. The Zone Leaders are going to be interviewing them for baptism then, and then the following Saturday will be the baptism. 

We actually had some some other people at Church that we were not expecting. Christine and her kids came! I couldn't believe it. We didn't really get to talk to her after sacrament meeting or anything so that was a bit strange. Maybe she's embarrassed or something but oh well. At least she came to Church. I was really happy about that. 

The Lake boys also passed the sacrament and they did great! It was awesome to see. Oh one little funny detail with Jeff and Tina. They have 2 boys, one that is 5 and the other is 4. Anyway the 4 year old somehow always gets loose during sacrament meeting and runs up to the stand and is running around up there while someone is giving a talk. Oh my goodness. So anyways Elder Stubbs and I baited him with candy and he came over and we got him to go back to sit with his parents, only to get loose again like 10 minutes later haha. This happened like 3 or 4 times. Oh man. He'll learn... Hopefully haha. 

Oh and that family we chose for fellowshipping came on time! It was great. That was the first time I've seen them 2 weeks in a row at Church since I've been here. They also sat with Jeff and Tina so that was good. 

We haven't seen Gina Green the past 2 weeks. I honestly am not too upset about that or anything. She won't do anything we ask her to. We can't help her if she can't even help herself. We'll see if that changes anytime soon. We'll probably try to set something up with her this upcoming week, and lay down the law. 

I am so chapped I'm missing my second season of college football. Dangit! Oh well just one more. That's pretty neat they're playing UConn. I got to play basketball again today, as we're in Council Bluffs. I did slightly better than I have been so I'm happy about that. Still have a long ways to go but oh well. I also made some good plays in volleyball, what a shocker. 

Well I'm going to get going. I love all of you guys! Have a great week everyone!

Love,

Elder Ballif

Still in Logan, Iowa - Did not get transferred

ed up about it, but it didn't happen. I am still in Logan, with Elder Stubbs. I am completely fine now and regained composure. Elder Stubbs also being sick on Saturday and Sundayslowed things down a bit. But Elder Stubbs and I are doing great, we're getting along really well, and I am excited to get back to work. 

We actually had 2 miracles this week, and they were both on the same day. And what was even cooler, is that I specifically asked for some miracles the night before. So in the morning around 9 we get a text from Elder Crozier asking if we're teaching anybody with the last name Dozier, and I replied that I'm pretty sure there is someone in the area book with that last name. So I went and checked their first names and it turned out to be the same people attending the Fontenelle Ward with the wife's dad because he is a member. They had moved from the address in the area book, and Elder Crozier got their new address which is still in the Logan Ward, and they said we can start coming over. So I am pretty excited about that. 

And then the other miracle was us finding some lost sheep. So there was this that are members, that ended up moving somewhere else in town and the Church didn't know where to. So anyways, Spencer one of the recent converts that was baptized in May (the son) has a best friend, that we've seen quite often. He came to church with Pam, Eric and Spencer and the bishop recognized him. Turns out he is the son of that family that moved away, and he was never baptized because he was too young and doesn't have a recollection of going to Church. So now we know where this family lives and hopefully will start teaching the son soon, and getting the family back to Church. 

That's good to hear that Austin is doing better. And that's good he's hanging around Todd Smoot again. He's definitely a good kid. 

How's Heather doing? Last I heard she was sick, but I can't imagine that would still be the case. Oh and I forgot to say happy birthday to Jenn so HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I have been pretty crappy at remembering that stuff during emails. 

I've had a good day today. We went down to Council Bluffs again and played volleyball and basketball again. I still am struggling a bit with basketball, but again, oh well, what can you do? 

We saw Gina Green again yesterday. It was probably the best discussion we've had with her. We talked a lot about the Book of Mormon and avoided the polygamy issue fairly well. Basically we said if the Book of Mormon is true, there is no issue. Hopefully she will actually start coming to church. That would be cool. She knows she needs to. She just doesn't so it can be frustrating. 

The Lake family is doing well. Jessup, the second oldest son is being ordained to the priesthood next week so that should be awesome. They're an awesome family. Brother Lake has so many funny stories from his mission. He also wasn't the greatest missionary, what it seems like from the stories, but he still is awesome. He served in Salt Lake City. And I guess he at one time was a really good basketball player. 39 inch vertical, and had a money shot. He is 6'2 and got 10th in the state of California slam dunk contest. Which is saying something for it being all of the states best high school dunkers. 

Sister Lake also holds the Nebraska state record in college for most 3 pointers made in a game and most in a season. Unfortunately for her the WNBA didn't exist when she was in college or she very well could have made it. 

I hope everyone has a great week. I love every single one of you, even though I may not show it all of the time!

Love,

Elder Ballif 

Baptisms

Hey Family!

I hope everyone is doing well. I am doing pretty great. This past week was a very busy one, but it was capped off by an awesome baptism. It was a great service. It was one of the best days of my mission thus far.

This past week was super busy. But we didn't get anything done throughout it. We spent most of our week in other areas. We saw a couple of people on Tuesday, and then Wednesday, we headed up to Atlantic for exchanges, and we ended up demolishing a house, so that was pretty fun. I got a lot of videos of it, and some pictures but unfortunately we're in Council Bluffs and the computers here suck and you can't connect a camera. Luckily Sister Lake sent us some pictures of the baptism so I can forward those. 

On Thursday we had District Meeting in Harlan and then we had to go to Denison so I could interview one of their investigators for baptism. He passed so that was good. He was baptized yesterday so that was pretty neat. And then we drove back to Harlan and then we drove to Council Bluffs, and spent the night there because I had a leadership meeting in Omaha the next day. And that lasted all day, and then Saturday we had the baptism.

All in all I really enjoyed the past week. This transfer has gone by pretty darn fast. This Friday is transfer day. I don't know if I'm leaving yet. I'll find out on Thursday, but I'm not holding my breath. There's a chance I could stay and there's a chance I could leave, so it'll be interesting to see what happens.

That's good Austin moved back from St. George. It'll be good to see him when I get home.

I hope everyone has a fantastic day. We are going to go and do some shopping in Council Bluffs pretty soon. We played volleyball and basketball earlier so that was fun. I absolutely sucked at both, but that's alright. My shot is so off right now.

Oh well there's nothing I can really do about it on a mission. That's pretty sweet about BYU. Record all of the games so I can watch them when I get back. Or I'm sure there will be other methods to do that, but just figure something out.

Have a great week everyone! I love you guys!

Love,

Elder Ballif

Baptismal Preparations and upcoming Transfers

What up everyone!?

How is everyone doing? I hope swell. I'm doing pretty good myself. 

We had ourselves a pretty fantastic week this past week. Jed and Emmy Lake had their baptismal interviews and both passed so now where just waiting till Saturday. Gosh that's coming up quickly! I am pretty darn excited for it. Baptisms are always a "high" on a mission. I'm not sure how much time I have left in Logan, and I have a feeling this could definitely be my last transfer here, so it'd be awesome to go off that note. It should be interesting to see what happens. Transfers are next week. Freakin weird stuff. This transfer has flown by. 

I got the package, Mom. Thank you so much! The beef jerky is already gone and the Hi-Chews are depleting rapidly haha. I did get some help on them from the Zone Leaders though. They were over on Friday night and Saturday for the baptismal interviews. 

Speaking of baptismal interviews, I have to do my first one this week. That should be pretty fun haha. I don't feel super nervous right now, but I'm sure I will when the time actually does come. 

So what else to talk about? Oh Gina Green is still struggling with accepting the whole polygamy thing. Thank you for your input on that Mom. And it's not even the polygamy issue really. I say polygamy because it's related to the issue. Her issue is whether Joseph Smith was involved in it at all. OF COURSE HE FREAKIN WAS! It's a bit frustrating but whatever. They've been told so much crap it's not even funny. Brigham Young made Section 132 up?... What? Everyone and their dog that lived in that time knows and kept record that Joseph Smith was the instituter of that. Too bad the RLDS Church is built on lies. A sandy foundation. And we're seeing the results of what happens when you do that, today. Oh well. Sorry for the rant.  

Anyways, I finally told her to read the section, beginning with a prayer and ending with a prayer, specifically asking if that revelation is from God. So far she has been unsuccessful in doing so. But we'll keep working with her. So anyways she's a tough code to crack. 

Moving on. Pam, Eric and Spencer are doing well. They haven't been to Church lately, due Eric getting a job requiring to work 6 days a week and he gets like 1 Sunday in 6 off. And his truck's breaks went out so he's driving Pam's car so she doesn't have a car. She could still get rides, but we'll stop by today, probably, just to make sure everything is good. 

I'm going to wrap this up. I'll make sure to get plenty of pictures of the baptism on Saturday. Have a great week everyone! I love you all!

Love,

Elder Ballif

Zoo and Trip to Council Bluffs

Hey Family!

So my last week has been pretty good. It was virtually the same as the week before haha. I got sick this week and we were in Atlantic for a day and a half so it was pretty similar numbers wise. Jed and Emmy Lake (the 2 kids set for baptism) are doing great. They were at church yesterday, and we went over for a lesson last night, and it went well. Everything is working out for the August 2nd baptism. I am pretty excited. 

We weren't able to see Gina Green yesterday, but called her on Saturday and set something up for Wednesday so hopefully that works out. Maybe I'll bring that church history book the member we live with has, so she can read that part of the history. The RLDS church is full of shenanigans. 

Oh speaking of that. So the Elder's Quorum President, the ex rlds pastor. So yesterday, in priesthood, he was talking about the sacrament and said that the RLDS church during sacrament gets on their knees and bows, and he said he thinks the LDS Church could learn a few things from the RLDS. Oh man that upset me. I didn't say anything, but goodness that irked me. But whatever. 

The zoo last week was pretty good. The gorillas were being lazy, that was my biggest complaint. But other than that it was good. Before we went to the zoo, we went to Guitar Center and that was really fun. We played around on their techno machines and synthesizers, and man those are fun to play with. 

That's not really surprising that Dante Exum gets lost sometimes. I mean like you said the kid is only 19. He'll get things figured out. But that's pretty sweet about Hood. Hopefully he can keep that up and doesn't turn into a Morris Almond. 

This week should be fun. We are getting a new car tomorrow. I have no idea what it is, but if it is a 2014 Corolla I wouldn't complain a bit. I think those are really nice looking. Or a new Subaru would be sweet. But whatever it is I won't mind. 

We also had interviews with our Mission President this last week. They went really well. He said something which could be taken as a hint that I'm leaving this area soon, but you never know. I am excited about the 2 baptisms coming up, for sure. 

I can't believe I've been blessed to be involved in 5 baptisms in Logan. Who would have thunk? You would think Bellevue would have had a lot more going on, but from what I hear it's worse than it was when I left now. Oh well, all areas go up and down. 

Oh and Mom, about things for that package. Hmmmm. Well you can't forget the HiChews. Also Beef Jerky is sweet. Maybe some giftcards to Walmart, or something. But other than that, I don't mind surprises ;) 

Well I'm going to get going. I hope all of you have a fantastic week! I love you guys!

Love,
Elder Ballif

Teaching Joseph Smith's great great great grandaughter

Hey Family!

I hope everyone is having a fantastic week. My past week was a pretty good one. Elder Stubbs is pretty legit. I like him a lot and we're getting along really well. 

As far as teaching goes this week, it was pretty good, nothing too spectacular. We saw Gina Green again. Joseph Smith is her great great great grandpa I believe. Joseph Smith >
Alexander Smith > Don Alexis Smith > Her Mom > Her. Pretty freakin sweet if you ask me. I guess a while back, those bozo's in the RLDS Church, told them that if "we" the mormon church found any descendants we'd send our "mafia" and kill them. That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. But luckily our Church is smart and had a celebration of Joseph Smith's birthday a while back and invited her and her sister to it and they decided to go to it, and they were treated really really well, so that kind of thwarted the RLDS agenda. We decided to watch Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration with her. She had never seen it and it's probably the best movie the Church has put out. She liked it a lot. She told us she believes that he was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true and that there is no way he could have made that up. That was awesome to hear. She just needs to start coming to church and everything should be great. We will be seeing her sometime again this week so I am excited.

We weren't able to see the Bruck family this week, but that's alright. It seems like they're always out doing something. Oh well, we'll catch them sooner or later. Other than that there's not much to talk about. 

We talk some slightly trashy people. They smoke like chimneys and chew and all that. He has known about the church for quite awhile and was actually involved in the Boy Scout program there when he was younger. He said that the Word of Wisdom is a commandment that doesn't apply to him. And I then asked him, if God himself were to ask you to follow the Word of Wisdom, would you? And he responded "Well it depends on what he looks like"... What duh? What is that even supposed to mean? So that was fun. 

Things are going great with Elder Stubbs. I could definitely spend more than 1 transfer with him. He actually reminds me quite a it of Chappell. Hey quick question. Would any of you guys happen to have the book titled "The Infinite Atonement" by Tad R. Callister. I really want to read it. 

And a member here gave me a copy of Mormon Doctrine. Not a very nice one but it'll do while I'm on a mission. And I also got a $50 book called Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon. It is super interesting. I got it for free. There was this guy that passed away in the ward who had a ton of books (including the entire collection of the Journal of Discourses, a 500 dollar value) and they let me have that book. I wish I could've gotten the Journal of Discourses but that's alright haha. 

Oh and Dad, let me get this straight. I only watched the first 5 picks of the draft. I just heard about Rodney Hood from hearsay with other missionaries, since word travels fast. 

Have a great week everyone! Thank you Mom and Dad, for getting me out on a mission. It has been the greatest thing I have ever done, thus far in my life. 

Well I'm going to get going. I love all of you guys! Oh and by the way could you guys send me Heather's email so I can include her on the send to list or whatever. Thank you!

Love,
Elder Ballif

New Companion - Elder Stubbs

Hey Family!

Sorry this is getting out a bit late, but we ended up going to Council Bluffs this morning and hung out with some other missionaries, played some basketball, went to a restaurant called Longhorn Steakhouse and it has been fun. The Stake President gave us 200 bucks (he's loaded) for lunch so 10 elders went to Longhorn Steakhouse. The final bill ended up being 221 bucks... haha yeah that place was expensive. But really good. It's like a higher quality Texas Roadhouse. So that was pretty sweet haha. It was really nice to play basketball again, as well. My shot has deteriorated a little bit but that's alright. I'll get it back. 

This week has been a good one. It feels like it is just a blur. I can't really remember much but it seemed to go quickly. So the results of transfers. Elder Scarpa is gone! Somewhat of a relief I have to say,  haha. My new companion is Elder Stubbs (kind of close to stud haha) and so far so good. He seems to be really cool. He's been on his mission for about 6 months now. He is from South Jordan, the same place Chappell is from so that's pretty cool. He new Chappell's little sister. He seems to have a lot more in common with me than Scarpa did, which is awesome. It's nice to have someone to talk to again. 

So as far as this week goes with investigators, it was so-so. We didn't get to see Gina Green (she was in Sioux City when we tried to set up a time to see her). We did however get to see Sister Bruck and her daughter again. Marissa said she had been reading the Book of Mormon which is awesome. We just need to set up a time to do an actual lesson again. We got Sister Brucks number so that should be a little easier now. Christine is still being frustrating. It's a long story but to make it short we saw her, for a second talked to her, set up a time to come back when we would have an adult male with us (2 hours later) and she made an excuse and cancelled and we decided to go back a little after the time we set up and we saw her in the window and when she saw us she ducked down and was hiding from us. Yeah I don't know. Oh well. 

That's pretty sweet about the draft. We were actually eating dinner at someones house and it was on in the background haha. Dante Exom should be good. I am kind of hesitant with foreign players though. Kanter was supposed to be good too. And Rodney Payne? I heard Rodney Hood. I heard he's a good shooter. It should be sweet. I'll only miss the first month or two of the season. 

I'm glad the wedding went well. It looks like it was a fun time. I wish I could've been there but I'll live haha. Pastel colors huh? I would've gone with more bright and vibrant colors but that's just me haha. I do like Chris' suit though. And Heather's dress looks nice. 

Well I'm gonna get going. I don't want to be in Council Bluffs for too much longer and I still have some more emails to conjure up. I love all of you guys!! Stay safe everyone!

Love,
Elder Ballif