8-22-2017

Receive It All & Speaking in Sacrament Meeting

This week just happened!!! I was writing my weekly email last week, and then I blinked, and then I was still writing it, but for this week!!! 

I met so many amazing people this week!! I talked to a ton of people about Christ and faith and about different beliefs of different religions, it's too bad none of them want us to come and share with them the message of the restored gospel of Christ!! One of these wonderful people is Ann!! She is Christian, and was so excited to talk to us about Christ!!! We met her while tracting, and we spoke to her for about 30 minutes on her porch!! She has so much faith, and I LOVE meeting people like that!! Even though they don't have the fullness of the gospel, they Know that Christ is their Savior and all that they have and are comes from Him (like Moroni 10:18 says)!!!!! 

This week I also had the pleasure of speaking in my branches sacrament meeting!!! I actually kinda love speaking in sacrament meeting (but please don't tell Bishop Hancock )!!! I spoke on the talk Return and Receive by Elder M. Russell Ballard, from April 2017!! I LOVE this talk!!! My favorite quote from it is towards the end:

 "I testify there is no greater goal in mortality than to live eternally with our Heavenly Parents and our beloved Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. But it is more than just o

ur goal—it is also Their goal. They have a perfect love for us, more powerful than we can even begin to comprehend. They are totally, completely, eternally aligned with us. We are Their work. Our glory is Their glory. More than anything else, They want us to come home—to return and receive eternal happiness in Their presence."

Because God's knowledge and love for us is limitless, we can return to live with our Heavenly Parents, and our Savior Jesus Christ, without a doubt!! As we turn to our Heavenly Father for guidance in this life, he will give us the direction we need to steadily make it through!!!! 

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!! NEVER FORGET WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU STAND FOR!!!! 

                                             ️/Sister Ball 

️WITH EVERY STEP THE WORK IS PROGRESSING!!! HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE!!! ️

8-15-2017

Smokin' Hot CANADA

On Sunday when we were leaving the church, wet couldn't see the sun!! It was so smokey!! There are so many fires right now in BC, so there is a lot of smoke in Alberta!! But all is well!!!!! 

One of our investigators lives in a small town about 30 minutes away from our apartment, and we have been trying to find her since we got here. She was in our area book, but no one that we were able to talk to about the area had any information on her. Her number wasn't working and we had stopped by a few times, but no one was ever home!! We were about to drop her, but we decided on the speer of the moment to go try her house one last time. We went, and she was home!!!! She was just about to walk out the door, and she is super busy, so it was a miracle that she was home!!! I know that God lead us to her home when he did, because now we have made contact with her and she is ready for the gospel!!! She even told us "maybe I'll actually look into your church now"!!!! 

Another one of our investigators is a family, who are all so sweet and fun!! They tell us stories about the missionaries that were here before us, and it is weird to hear the investigators perspective on the difference between "guy Elder's" and "Girls Elders"!!!  The family likes to call us Girl Elder's, and we love it!! And we also, don't know how to break it to them that our title isn't as "cool" as the boys!!!  (this is the reason for the tie pic) 

3 Nephi 2

   1 And it came to pass that thus passed away the ninety and fifth year also, and the people began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven, insomuch that they began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all which they had heard and seen—

   2 Imagining up some vain thing in their hearts, that it was wrought by men and by the power of the devil, to lead away and deceive the hearts of the people; and thus did Satan get possession of the hearts of the people again, insomuch that he did blind their eyes and lead them away to believe that the doctrine of Christ was a foolish and a vain thing

We choose whether or not we will see the blessings and miracles God has given us!! God will forever bless his children, he loves us and will never hold anything back from us if we choose to receive it!! Our choice is shown in our actions, in keeping the Commandments, doing the little things God has asked us to do, by following Christ's example in all things!! Keep in you heart and your mind always the things that Christ would be doing and the things that God would have you do!!! Look for the blessings from heaven in all things, because they will always be there, we just have to notice them!!! 

I LOVE ALL OF YOU SO MUCH!!!!! NEVER FORGET WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU STAND FOR!!!! 

                                                                       ️️️/SISTER BALL 

8/8/2017 -

Smartphones and proselyting using FaceBook

This week was a way good week!!! We had a ton of trainings and other meetings in Edmonton, so we didn't do too much work in Whitecourt, but what we did do was really good!!! 

We went to a LA members house and hung out with them for a bit!!! We had supper with a recent convert couple, and their investigating daughter!!! We weren't expecting the daughter to be there, so our planned message was geared towards getting the couple to the temple, but it ended up being about our purpose in this life and eternal families. We are excited to help that family eventually get to the temple and be sealed to each other for time and all eternity!!!

After supper We went to an appointment with our branch president and a friend of his!!! It was a way cool appointment!!! We talked about God's hand in his life, and he asked me if I have recognized God's hands in my life.  I told him about being able to contact my friend Aubrey when I didn’t have her updated information, but was able to get in touch with her before she got married.  GOD IS GOOD!!!!!) 

After the appointment Sister Larsen and Sister Tsou came and spent the night with us!!!! It was so fun to see and talk to Sister Larsen again!!!! Also, sister Tsou is from Taiwan, so we were talking about it for a while!!! She told me that a friend of hers had Americans visit her school and apparently had a "thing" for one of the boys!!! I asked if she would recognize this boy if she saw a picture of him, she said yes, so I showed her some pictures of our group.  Sister Tsou and I talked for so long about Taiwan and all things we love about that country!!!!! 

For the trainings, we had training all day for FB and SMARTPHONES!!!!! My mission is changing to smartphones!!!!!! It is all way exciting!!!! All of these things that are going on are prime examples of the Lords’ work being hastened!!!!!  We haven't even had FB for a whole week of proselytizing and our whole mission has already experienced miracles from using it!!!! It is so nice to be able to use social media to share the gospel with the world!!! This is fulfilling prophecy of the gospel reaching every corner of the earth!!!! 

We also had Zone conference!!!! I LOVED the trainings that were given!!!!! And it was so nice to meet more missionaries, and make more mission friends!!!! We also went to the temple!!!!! I missed it so much!!! True example of not appreciating what you have until you lose it!!!! It was such a good session!!!!! I felt the spirit so strongly.  This week we also had meetings for the missionary trainees and trainers!!!  Then, I went on exchanges!!!!!!!!!! My STL's are Sister Hollon and Sister Jarman!!! I LOVE THEM!!!! I was with Sister Hollon and she is so good!!! She taught /reminded me of a lot of things I want to be and be able to do on my mission!!!!! She is so good and I want to be like her!!!!  Be an example and great trainer and example for someone else!!!!!

On Sunday we had a day full of appointments, but we were able to go contacting in a park.  We were able to re-find this one guy!!! His name is Casey and I was so excited to talk to him!!! He has had a rough life, and I knew that I could help him with my experience being on LITE team and with the Gospel!!! But when we called him it was a wrong number!!! We thought he had purposefully given us the wrong number until we ran into him at the park!!! He was so sorry for giving us the wrong number and had been excited to meet with us!!! We also were able to make contact with a former investigating family!!!!! 

On Monday we were able to meet with and teach the family!!!  They are coming to church on Sunday and feeding us on Saturday!!!!! They are so nice!! They seem like they are already members. 

This week is transfers.  Sister Brock and I think one of us is getting transferred. I love it here in Whitecourt and LOVE our investigators, but I will go where the Lord wants me to do. 

8-1-2017 ..

God is Good, and sometimes confusing.

Blowing the jet stream and cool air South, to Utah

Sister Brock and I are trying to figure out what we are supposed to be learning from the experiences we have had in our area!! We are beginning to recognize a pattern with all of our "solid" investigators. We find them, we get pumped, we have really awesome spiritual experiences with them, and then they decide they are fine without learning about the restored Gospel of Christ, and they drop us.... The struggle was real this week, but we are fine!!
This week was full of tracting, tracting, and some more tracting... We had a few scheduled lessons, but they all fell through for some reason or another!! We are hoping that through member missionary work, that will begin to change and the area will start to grow!!!! We did meet a Menanite woman this week and gave her a German copy of the Book of Mormon!! She said she will read it and would like to meet with us, if her husband will let her!!!!! We really hope her husband has a soft heart!!

 It isn't until after the trial of your faith that you receive a witness (Ether 27:6); therefore, we will keep knocking on every door, until we have done all that we can!!! The work will go on, it might seem as though the efforts are in vain, but they never are!!
"That’s not how we do it! We don’t hold back to see what the minimum is we can get by with. The Lord requires the heart and a willing mind. Our whole heart! When we are baptized, we are fully immersed as a symbol of our promise to fully follow the Savior, not halfheartedly. When we are fully committed and “all in,” heaven shakes for our good. When we are lukewarm or only partially committed, we lose out on some of heaven’s choicest blessings." - Elder Gary B. Sabin of the Seventy
I think part of this is smiling, even when we don't want to!!!    I love the thought that even just a smile can change someone's day, so imagine what could happen with a sincere effort to brighten someone's day!!!! This doesn't just apply to missionaries, or to certain people!! This applies to EVERYONE!!! I highly recommend smiling at everyone!!! Even if it is awkward!!! ESPECIALLY if it is awkward😅!!! Smiling makes you happy!! It makes those who see you happy!! There is no downside to smiling!!!!

ALWAYS FIND YOURSELF SMILING IN EVERY SITUATION!!!!
On another note, I tried Donair this week!!!! (Like a Gyro)  10/10 would recommend!!!!!!! NAPAKABUTI !!!  (Filipino song of worship Father God is Good")And we saw Reindeer!!!!, in JULY!!!

July 25, 2017 - Jasper National Park - BEAUTIFUL!!

Last P-Day Sister Brock and I got to go to Jasper National Park!!! SO BEAUTIFUL!!!! This, like Jasper, are a testament of God and His love for His children!!!! Even with a ton of ash/snow in the air from the fires in BC, everything was absolutely awe inspiring!!!!! Every little bit of our trip to Jasper was amazing and was so fun!!!!! I will forever be grateful for the Valleyview sisters that invited Sister Brock and I along for the ride!!!!!!     Also, we saw a bear!!!!!!!!!
Other than Jasper, our week seemed slow and uneventful, until the Golden Day!!!! We hadn't been finding anyone, and we weren't teaching or having discussions for lack of investigators.  So we had the opportunity (which we have most of the time) to tract all day!!! Thursday was no different!!! We tracted from right after studies, until we went to bed!!!! But we found 6 potential investigators!!!!! One of them being super ready for the Gospel, and in need of it at this time too!!!   We haven't had a discussion about the Restored Gospel of Christ yet, but we have visited her a few times, and she is super excited to come to church on Sunday!!!!
I know that the Gospel will bless her and her family's lives, in every possible way!!!! Just as it does all of our lives!!!!! I know that the Restored Gospel of jesus Christ is our path to ultimate joy and happiness in this life and the life to come!!!!! I know that through the doctrine of Christ we can all be made whole and be prepared to meet God again!!!!!!    

I love all of you so very much and love hearing about what's going on in the world back home!!!!!!   You all mean the world to me and I feel your love in my life!!!! Thank you all for being so amazing!!!!!!!!!

<3/Sister  Ball

July 18, 2017 - Red Dot Day!!!

Once upon a time... I was set apart as a missionary over a month ago!!!!! Aaaaaahhhhh!!!!! I love my mission, and I already know that it has been the best decision I've made this far in my life!!!!! I have already learned so much that I wouldn't trade for anything!!!!

This week was LONG!!! Purely because we tracted all day everyday, except for the occasional supper appointment or 1st discussion lesson!!!! My area is so great, except for the fact that we have next to no one to teach... 

My amazing investigator that committed to be baptized had to be dropped because her husband didn't agree and didn't want us coming to talk to his family anymore!!!! It's so sad because he has no idea what he is keeping away from his family! I'm not worried too much though!!! I have faith that the opportunity to accept the gospel will present itself again when he is also ready, and then his whole family can be baptized and begin to grow even closer to Christ!! 

This week while tracting we found a 10 year old boy that LOVES learning about Jesus Christ, so we go and teach him for a bit about every other day!!! He is so excited to learn more about the restored gospel and what it means for us!!!! It also makes me even more excited to be a missionary!!!! 

One of the major things that stuck out to me this week was something I "relearned" while I was preparing a talk for sacrament meeting. Often times we get caught up in whether or thoughts, feelings, impressions, etc are of the holy spirit. That is not what is important!!! What is important is doing good, choosing the right. If it is good, do it. JUST DO IT. If it is good, it is of the spirit!!! 

I LOVE YOU ALL AND AM SO GRATEFUL FOR HOW YOU ALL HAVE BLESSED ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

July 11, 2017 - I'M IN CANADA!!! I LOVE CANADA!!!

I'M IN CANADA!!! I LOVE CANADA!!! CANADA IS AMAZING!!! My trainer is Sister Brock from Texas!! She is so sweet and cute!! She's been here for 3 months... so we are both new!!!! We are serving in Whitecourt which is a cute little town, North of Edmonton, with a population of 1100 people!!! Our area is hugh though, if we were to drive from one end to the other it would take us about 2 hours!!! We are also washing the area, meaning we are both new to it!! And, we are opening the area, there haven't been missionaries in this area for 6-9 months!!! Because of that when we got here we had nothing!! We started from scratch by calling people in our contacts list from our phone to find who our branch president is!! With that information we were able to discover that our branch had a very high percentage of inactive members!!! But most of them are out of town right now, so there isn't much we can do for them, right now!!! Because we are opening this area with very little information, and there isn't a great place for us to go street contacting, we have been tracting a whole bunch!!!!

On Sunday we tracted into a lady named Jackie!!! It took her a long time to answer the door, so when she answered we were walking away!!! We talked to her for a bit and she told us she would love for us to come back and teach her family about Christ!!! We went back last night and had the 1st discussion with her!!!! SHE IS GETTING BAPTIZED ON AUGUST 12TH!!!!!!!! I am SO excited for her and her family!!!!!!! They are SO ready to receive the Gospel and they have such a strong desire to learn!!!!! 

I LOVE BEING HERE!!! This is so amazing!!! I am so grateful for the time that I have to share my greatest blessing with the people of Canada!!!!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!! 

                                    <3/Sister Ball