Hungary Bound

What's up!

So I'm officially Hungary bound! We got our flight plans on Friday and we are heading out a week from today from the Salt Lake Airport to Amsterdam and from Amsterdam to Budapest!! Our layover in Amsterdam will only be about 50 minutes but it will still be kinda cool to stay in the Netherlands for a bit. I'm super excited!!

As for this week I'm taking a new approach at how I teach investigators and it has worked miraculously. Previously I have been trying to stick to the plan to what we teach but I've began to notice that that doesn't always bring in the spirit. Instead I've focused on focusing on meeting the needs of the people I teach. That has worked so much better and I have felt the spirit so much in those lessons more! 

On Tuesday we had Bishop Waddell, second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric come and talk to us and I think having him speak really helped me recommit to turning outward. I was pretty sick this week but I think focusing outward really helped me have a positive outlook throughout it all. I'm just happy I'll be better by the time I leave.

Also on Friday, we had another Skype TRC lesson with a member from Hungary! He is the only member in his family but he has a great knowledge of this gospel after only being baptized three years ago! We taught him about prayer and helping him increase his testimony on prayer and how it is the only true way to communicate with God! 

Yesterday was outstanding! Sunday was my last fast Sunday here at the MTC but I bore my testimony regarding the Savior's love and how I have felt it many times here at the MTC! On fast Sundays at the MTC, we have this thing called a mission conference where all the missionaries gather in the gym and have a devotional where the MTC presidency speaks to us. Me and Fisher Elder got to sit up on the stand because Fisher Elder got to say the closing prayer! It was super cool! I'll be giving the closing prayer during the Tuesday devotional which will be fun! 

At the evening devotional last night I got to usher which was fun and we had the fantastic opportunity of hearing Elder Holland's son, President Holland who is president of UVU, come and speak to us. It turns out his son entered the Mexico MTC on Wednesday so he and his wife were tearing up just looking at us. He gave a fantastic talk about Joseph Smith and his story before he became the prophet. During the talk we got to sing "Joseph Smith's First Prayer." Throughout the song I felt in my heart that Joseph Smith did see God the Father and Jesus Christ. Then the choir, which consisted of about 1,400 missionaries largest in history, all sang "Praise to the Man." There was so much power in the room, when they sang that song, that I cannot put it into words. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I love being a missionary and I look forward to giving it my all for this last week in the MTC!

Love you all,

Elder Ballard