No news yet from or about Jeffrey after the Super Storm - Typhoon Hayan -

We will post an update as soon as we hear something.

Hoping and praying for confirmation that our feelings are correct and he is safe!!

As FYI - Jeffrey's cousin Kyler, Elder Newton is serving in the Philippines, Bacolad mission.  His mission president used Facebook to send out updates and let us know he is safe. 

Oct 21st and 28th

21-Oct-2013

This week went by pretty fast which I think means that I am getting over the homesickness and I am really starting to enjoy most things about Missionary life. I am trying new things and am getting into the Filipino culture and life, except for the language. It has actually gotten very frustrating not being able to say everything that I want to say. Because I have things I want to say like personal experiences or examples and I can't say them well or say them at all. The language is coming but it is slow. I have gotten a lot better at listening but speaking is a whole other ball game. But it will eventually come. This week wasn't very exciting. Our Investigators are dropping us and our less actives are not coming to church. It is very disappointing and saddening to see people that are not happy push away and reject the very thing that would bring them happiness and give them a purpose to their life. I really hope that this next transfer will be a lot more successful and we will be able to help a lot more people. I love this work but it is sometimes, like I said, frustrating.

One weird thing. You can buy bathroom tissue paper (TP) here, just no one and I mean no one uses it. If you go into a bathroom at someone’s house or a public restroom, there won’t be any paper in there to use.

Could you send more CTR rings to give away? Or, if you can find them could you send some PAT rings? It stands for "Pumili Ang Tama" or Choose the Right :) The kids like them when they aren't giving me a hard time for my white skin haha!

Sorry for such a short email this week I will try to make this next week more exciting. I love you and hope everyone had a good week also! The Church Is True!

Elder Ball

 

28-Oct-2013

MOM!!!!! First Happy Birthday on Saturday Nov. 2! I wrote you a letter but it won't get there until like 2 weeks after so I am emailing also! I just wanted again to say Happy Birthday and I love all of the updates you are giving me!!!! Thank you so much for writing me so often!!! How old are you now like 32? :) Sorry I know it’s only 29 :)

I love you so much and thank you so much for everything you have done for me and are doing for me! And I got that package you sent me! Thanks for the food!

I actually really like the food we eat here. I am in the heart of the city and so we have pretty much everything. I can get a lot of stuff from America here also. Except for milk. I really miss milk. They just don't have cows here. :(  I never thought I would miss milk. Yeah, but you don't need to send freeze dried food. Thanks, I will enjoy the stuff you sent though!!! :)

1ST TRANSFER COMPLETE!

Wow I am done with my first transfer in the field. It went by so fast but at the exact same time, and especially this past week, it was the slowest of my life. It was slow this week because a bunch of missionaries went home and all I thought about on the day they left was, they are going to see their families in 24 hrs but I am fine again and excited to get started on the next half of my training.

The Philippines is an interesting place. It's cool but in many ways very sad. One thing that gets me upset is it is okay for 12-14 year old kids to walk up to little tindahans or little stores and buy cigarettes and some whiskey and walk around smoking and drinking. It is illegal but nobody cares and the police don't enforce it. It is just accepted and okay. So whenever we see a kid smoking, we stop and talk to them about how bad it is.  Most of the time they just laugh but sometimes they feel bad and drop it. 

This week has been very frustrating. Nobody keeps the commitments we give.  We have 1 progressing investigator and none of the members in our ward want to help even if it is their calling. I just want everyone to have a desire to do something but I guess that's how we will find the elect. If they are willing to act and to follow through. There is this religion here called born again, (Born Again Christians).  They make it so hard for us missionaries. The whole idea of their religion is that if you accept Jesus as your savior you are saved and don't have to do anything else. So they never want to listen to us because they are happy being able to drink smoke and not go to church but say they have accepted Jesus.  I get so upset because I know how much happier these people can be. I know that this is the only true church on the face of the earth and if they would only act. This church is true and has the fullness of the gospel. There is no way around it.

This work is amazing and I hope I can change many peoples’ lives!  Hoping for a better and more commitment keeping week.

Elder Ball
 

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

 

 

September 22, 2013

Urdaneta Area

SO  on my last letter I had a lot on my mind and I couldn't really focus. This week was better but I still got homesick regularly. I am trying to focus on the work and turn out like Christ did. Always thinking of others and never about myself but to tell ya the truth that is harder than I thought, especially when all I want is to see my family. But I know it will get easier.

Tell Katie and Matthew I love them A LOT and Mom I am so grateful for everything you did for me in packing. I got to the Philippines and would find myself thinking. Dang I wish I had some random thing, Then I would go and look in that huge pack of stuff labeled Philippines and it was all there. Everything. I actually kind of got teary eyed because of how little I had appreciated everything that you were doing! You really are the Best MOM in the WORLD! I really do appreciate everything that you did and are doing for me. And Dad, thank you so much for being an awesome example for me and always being so kind and loving and for your words of encouragement and motivation. You really made this week a lot easier. You really are the best DAD in the WORLD!  I love you and miss you all!

So this week started out well with some motivation from my family! Me and my companion Elder Moreno are really getting along well. He is from California but his family has moved to Farmington, Utah since he left on his mission.  I am in the Urdaneta Area right by the mission home and we have been having a lot of success finding investigators and we feel a lot of them have a ton of potential!

Everything I have heard about the people here is true. They are so nice and especially the members of the ward! Whenever one sees us they always want us to come in to their house and just drowned us in food! Its awesome…but it sometimes wastes time that we could be using to find more precious souls. Even non members they always let you in and they will always want to give you a Marienda which is like a little snack. They are so humble.

It is amazing to me that all these people that live in houses with dirt floors with card board for beds and have absolutely nothing are SO happy! I think back to my house and feel so bad about things that I complained about. We are so blessed to live in the country we live in and I am so blessed to have a house back in Utah that can protect us from the elements and be a safe haven. I have already learned so much and know I will continue to learn more. 

On a funny note but also not so funny but still pretty funny. We hit a drunk guy. We were taking a tricycle taxi on our way to our Barangays which is like a neighborhood. We were driving and this drunk guy started to walk into the way. The trike driver honked and the guy paused, looking the other way, so our trike driver kept going and then at the last second the drunk guy walked into the road and we hit him!

I didn't see what happened after we passed because I was in the side car. We stopped, then me and my companion got out and checked on the guy. Some people dragged him out of the road. I thought we had killed him!   In my mind I was like “I just watched a guy die!” But then he started to breath and a few minutes later came to. He woke up and started yelling UUUULLLLLOOOO. ULO which is head in Tagalog. He just got knocked out really good! Some people helped him stand up and then an ambulance came a little later. It was insane! I was glad he was okay. 

So, I will send pictures next week.

And a plus!!!  I now weigh 161!!!! Yay! I gained 10 pounds! Crazy, I know!

Well that is all for this week. Bye. Have a great week!!!

Elder Ball

September 16, 2013 - After the first week in the Philippines

September 16, 2013

So.....The Journey of a couple 18 year olds to the Other Side of Earth.

The plane rides were fine except it was a 15 hour flight but it was okay. We arrived in the Philippines around 1030 at night but didn't get to the hotel we stayed in until 12. Then we had to wake up at 4 so we could make it to our mission home in Urdaneta by 2 in the afternoon. The first 2 days we had training from our Mission President but on Friday we received our Companions. My companion is Elder Moreno. He is awesome and really is helping me with the language which now seems like it is impossible, but that is not bothering me. I know it will come....hopefully haha.

As far as home sickness goes, it is in full force and seems to never leave me. I don't think I have ever prayed this hard. I know this is what I am supposed to be doing but I never realized how much I love my family. But that’s something I am grateful for. I needed this mission to realize how much I love and care about each member of my family. I think about you guys and how I was so bad at expressing my love for all of you!

I'm fine once we get out of our house but in the morning, in studies, I try to focus on investigators and the work but I always find myself thinking about all of you and how you guys are doing. I didn't think it would be that hard but the first day I woke up in the Philippines I think I realized I wasn't going to see you guys for 2 years. I know I will see you guys again, it just seems like it is so far away. I hope it gets better and I am able to focus on the work more and forget myself, but right now I am really having a hard time doing that. I need some advice from anyone on what they did in these beginning stages of the mission. 

As far as the work goes it is okay, I put in my little bit that I can say but it’s really frustrating when you feel the promptings of what to say but it is hard to say or they don’t understand what you said. I knew it would be hard just not this hard.

I love the people! They are so nice and offer so much. I have already had some food that was pretty nasty but my companion said it was good after you have been here for 1 year haha. It was this like cold rice jell-o thing but it didn't taste like rice or any kind of jell-o. It was like the consistency of rotten milk but I ate it and was okay.

I just need to immerse myself into the culture and tell myself that everything is good haha.

Well, hopefully I will have more next week and it won’t be full of my homesickness. haha

-       Elder Ball

31-Aug-2013 - Flight plan received

Write to Elder Jeffrey Ball at jeffrey.ball@myldsmail.net                                       
After September 4th please send written letters to
Elder Jeffrey Thomas Ball
Philippines Urdaneta Mission
LDS Chapel Provincial Road
San Vicenta East, Urdaneta City

Pangasinan

Philippines

24-August-2013

(Starting with a reply to a comment in a letter from Greg about it being funny that Jeffrey looks like the most muscular and biggest of his district)

- Yeah "massive' and "muscular" me - J  Another Elder not my companion the one in the picture who is farthest to the right of the Elders started this work out plan called "plan - get sexy". We got the name from our teacher who did it in the Philippians. Hahah!

The Picture goes from left to right, Sister Crystal, Sister Kirchofer, Me, Elder Giblette ( my companion) Elder Christiansen, Elder Arrington, - My plan get sexy partner -, Sister Warr, Sister Barney, Sister Nicoll, and Sister Hurst!!

 

Me, my companion, and Elder Arrington are going to Urdaneta and 2 others from my old district. The sisters are going to other places in the Philippines and will be speaking Tagalog.

I have seen a ton, too many to count, people I know. It’s almost, kind-a like school but not haha!!

I just wanted to let you guys know that the basketball shoes are awesome and I haven't gotten any more blisters during gym! Dang some of your homemade salsa really sounds good right now haha:)  How are Katie and Matthew doing? Are they excited to start Jr. high and High School!?!?! I wish I could be there for their first day but I know that they understand why I can’t! Haha, yes it is fine to have Mtn. Dew. They allow caffeine on the Campus but they just don't sell it because it’s a BYU thing. I saw an Elder holding a Red Bull drinking it while talking to his Branch Pres. That is pushing it a lot but yeah I can have Mtn. Dew and I was so happy when I saw it haha! 

31-August-2013    "Flight plan - Leaving MTC 2 days early"

I finally got my FLIGHT PLAN!!!! I leave on Sep 9 for the Airport. Our plane will leave Salt lake and we will land in Portland. I will have an 1.5 hour layover. From there we fly to Tokyo Japan on Sep 10, Then have another 1.5 hour layover at Tokyo then will arrive in Manila. From there I don’t know what is going to happen, if I will stay in Manila over night or if I will get right on a bus and be taken to the Mission Home in Urdaneta.

Well, I have really enjoyed the MTC but at the same time I am so ready to leave and get to the Philippines! I love hearing stories and seeing pictures from my teachers but at the same time I hate it because it seems like it’s still so far away haha!

I know it will come soon but I just can't hold my excitement in. Don't take this in a bad way but whatever homesickness I had, I am over it and just can't wait to get over there! And the fact that we got our flight plan this week is not making this week go any faster. The days just seem so long haha!

I miss and Love everyone and hope everything is going okay!

This week we had Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the 12 apostles come speak! It was amazing! 2 Weeks before that it was Richard G. Scott! It had been 6 months since a General Authority had spoken at the MTC and now in the last 3 Devotionals we have had 2.  It’s awesome!

I feel so lucky and Blessed to have had my call pushed back so that I was able to hear both! There is a reason for everything that happens to us and I am so grateful to be on a mission where so much happens and I am able to see that Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ are with me and Each and EVERY one of us the entire way! It seems like every day something else happens and I just sit back and feel so blessed to be able to take part in this wonderful work that is happening around the world and to bring others the Happiness that I have. Even if you are happy with the gospel I can't imagine how much more happy everyone could be and how comforting it is to know that there is someone who has control over everything watching out for us and Helping us!

I haven't even been to the field yet and I can already tell you that I love it and am going to work my hardest everyday for the next two years to help them see how happy they can be! 

I love you all and appreciate all of your support and I can’t wait to begin the Lords work!\

Mahal Kita, Ingat po

-       Elder Ball