13-October-2013

Sorry - no letter from 07-Oct-2013
Email to:  jeffrey.ball@myldsmail.net

Mail to:
Elder Jeffrey Thomas Ball
Philippines Urdaneta Mission
LDS Chapel Provincial Road
San Vicenta East, Urdaneta City
Pangasinan
Philippines

Picture from 11-September-2013, upon arrival at the Urdaneta Mission Home
after traveling by train, plane and bus for two days. - Just received this in the mail.

Well, it's been another week and I'm still chugging along! My Mission President is really stressing the need for us to teach less active members because a few years ago the requirements for baptism were really low and pretty much anybody could get baptized. So now, the requirements are really strict because we want quality convert baptisms.

It’s kind of frustrating because someone could have been baptized because the Elders that taught them picked them up every week, took them to church, baptized them, and then they never taught them again. So, our work is really less active focused.

This week was pretty good and general conference was awesome. On Wednesday me and my companion were walking and saw a Patay, which is like a celebration for someone who has died, but they are still not very happy celebrations. Anyway, we were walking and went to go stop by. We were watching from a little way away when some random person from there congregation stood up and came and asked us if we would give a little speech/talk. I was not very excited because it was just unexpected and I had to speak Tagalog haha. I talked about the Plan of Salvation, very generally because none of them were LDS all were born again Christians or Igleis ng Cristo. I talked and the spirit was actually really strong.

After we spoke and after the service lots of people came up to us and asked us questions about what we spoke about and how they can learn more! It was pretty sweet!!  We now have a couple of progressing investigators from that. Then, literally 2 minutes after we left, a dog came out of nowhere and bit my companion, Elder Moreno. I drop kicked the dog in the head and it ran away whining.  It ended up not being a bad bite. It was actually kind-a funny. But, he is okay and no diseases!  

So it’s just crazy experience after crazy experience here!  

Hope everyone had a good week also!

Love you all!

Elder Ball

30-September-2013 Trials and Gratitude

30-September-2013

So another week has gone by! This week I really realized why we have trials and why some of us were born into such good countries and families while others have more trials and are born into families in 3rd world countries.

There is a quote I heard which I’m going to destroy but I will try my best. "Everyone has trials but it’s how we react and deal with them that counts. We can either let them build us up and make us better, or we can let them destroy us."

I am going to strive to let every trial I have build me and make me stronger and look at the things I am able to learn from it.

My testimony of the Atonement and of the Savior is so much stronger and I am so grateful to be able to live with my family forever in the next life. I honestly don’t know what I would do without them.  I am so grateful to be here on a mission and having the opportunity to be here, serving the Lord, and helping others. It has made me reflect a lot on my life and how I can improve. It has really strengthened my desire to be better and not compare myself to others but always look for ways that I can be better and ways that I can improve! I love this Church. I love this Work. And, I love the Philippines! Sorry this is short. I will have more next time!

 

My Mission President is awesome! He is a lawyer and has his own firm.  His wife is from Ogden and they live in California, I think!  

My companions’ family lives in Farmington Utah now. He loves singing and music.  He is way funny!  We teach around 25-30 lessons a week. We are really focusing on less actives because lots of people get baptized, but they never come to church after that so it’s really frustrating!  Everyone here is so nice that anyone you ask “can we come in?” will let us in. It’s kind of hard to find the people who really have potential because everyone lets you in! So, we try really hard to have the spirit with us so we can make an impact on everyone and increase their potential!

Regarding pictures, um don’t be upset but I left my bag with my camera in it at home and we are kind of far away. We don’t bring our bags with us when we are running errands.   I swear upon the holy name of Freestyle Skiing I will bring my camera next week?

I love you guys so much and all I want to do is make you proud! I look forward to Mondays, after I get off from reading your emails every week!   I hope you have a good week and you all are always in my prayers!!!  LOVE YOU!

Elder Ball