Week 42: Life in the Office!

Life in the office is great! A little bit about what I do: is that I work on sending letters to the parents and stake presidents of missionaries, sending in and uploading baptismal records, finding apartments for missionaries, and updating the missionary roster and mission history.

Elder Shepard is my companion and he is from Salt Lake Utah. He is a Ute but don't worry we are on speaking terms. He works on making sure missionaries stay legal in Hungary. Then there is the office couple, the Bagozzi's and they are on their THIRD  mission in Hungary together! They are super funny and I love working with them! When Elder Kearon was here, he was talking to the Bagozzi's and he was astonished! 

This week, there was a senior conference in Pécs so me and Elder Shepard worked in the office for the whole day on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday but on Thursday we went out and started talking to people and we got a couple of numbers so we are super excited! 

I love Buda because of the hills and the European architecture! The members in Buda are super cool and I am super excited to meet and serve them! I saw some of the members from Kispest and that was cool! 

I hope you all have a wonderful week! For those finishing school, we believe in you!!! Endure to the end! 

Love, 

Elder Josh Ballard

Week 41: Moving to THE OFFICE!

What's up!!

So a lot of things have happened and it has been crazy the past couple of days but the Lord has been with us! On Monday night we received a call from president saying that both me and Elder North are being transferred out of Tatabánya! So we quickly grabbed our stuff and packed the next morning and headed out for Budapest! The office couple came and picked us up so we didn't have to travel by train there. Then president later told me in an interview that I was going to be the next office elder! I am in the office!!!!

So my p-days are on Saturdays so I will be emailing from now on on those days. Basically this week was a lot of training from Elder Stephens, the previous elder. Me and Elder North went on some exchanges and went tracting and streeting. Buda is super pretty!!! That will be our area from now on so I am super excited to be back in the city!! It feels weird being back but I know this transfer will be awesome! My new companion is Elder Shepard. Ill talk more next week about him but everything is doing fine in the big city! I love you all and thank you so much for the prayers and concerns! I am excited to work here and see what the Lord has in store!

I hope you all have a great week!

Love, 

Elder Josh Ballard

Old pictures of the splits with me and Elder Surdu in this village near Pápa!

Next to the oldest tree in Hungary!! At least that is what the sign says!!!

Saying goodbye to Lala!

Cinnamon toast dinner!

Week 40: Working in Tata

Heysztok!

So we have been doing a lot of work lately in Tata, this little city north of Tatabánya, and it has been going really well! We are talking with a lot of people and we have been getting a lot of numbers and names! We are excited to hopefully meet with these people and help them come closer to Christ.

Our new investigator Beatrix is really funny but she is serious in learning about the gospel. She met with other religions and now she is meeting with us! She is starting to read the Book of Mormon and pray so we hope she will receive an answer!

We do have this one potential investigator names Zoli and he is super awesome! I guess we gave him a card a couple of weeks ago and he called the Sisters in Eger and said that he really wants to meet. I called him yesterday and he asked me how he could serve a mission for this church! I was like whhhaaaat??? So we told him about baptism, the Holy Ghost, the temples, etc. It was like a mini lesson on the phone. But he said he is coming to English Class so we will meet with him then!

Thank you for all the prayers on my behalf! I know this church is true and that through believing in Christ we can receive eternal life! Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Josh Ballard

Week 39: Mother's day Skype and Elder Kearon!!!

Hellosztok!!

So this week was incredible! Elder Kearon, from the European presidency, came and he was amazing! I loved his enthusiasm and his love for the work! The spirit he brought into the room was really evident and I learned a lot about what I need to do better and what I can do better!

Yesterday was Mother's day and it was fantasztikus!!! My parents can tell you all about that!

I would like to share a quick experience on Saturday. On Saturday we decided to go work in this village called Tata and it was my first time there. As we begin tracting, several people said we could return later so we told that we would. But a little down the rode we got a let-in and we were super surprised but super grateful for the opportunity to talk about the Book of Mormon! It was a little family and we gave the father a Book of Mormon and he said he will read it! We exchanged numbers and as we were walking out of his door, we waved at this old man on a bike and he stops and asks us to talk to him. He ends up telling us his whole life story and actually asked us to talk to him about our religion! Then, we talked to this other lady who was a bit skeptical about the Book of Mormon at first but as we talked she ended up giving us her phone number and wanted a Book of Mormon! Super cool stuff! This is the Lord's work!

I love you all and thank you for the prayers and everything! Have a wonderful week!

Sok Szeretettel,

Ballard Elder 

Week 38: Boldog Anyák napját!

Heysztok!

So not much happened this week but we had stake conference and it was super uplifting! We stayed in Tatabánya but it was still good! They broadcasted the meeting here. I understood a lot of what was said and I felt the spirit a lot during the messages. The men called to lead the stake and the church in Hungary are truly inspired and I am blessed to be hear and learn from them and other members!

There was an investigator/new convert class afterwards and unfortunately none of our investigators showed up but one lady that we invited from English class came and she loved it! I could tell she was thinking a lot about the messages and things being said! But as I was watching the class, some of the new converts gave testimonies and guess who got up to bear their testimony.....LUCA!!! I was super happy and had almost cried when I saw her giving her testimony!! Serving a mission is super fun and huge blessing! SERVE A MISSION! It is the best thing!

I love you all I apologize for the short email but I hope you all have a great week!

Sok Szeretettel,

Elder Josh Ballard

Week 37: Miracle Week!

Szervusztok!

This week was great! I saw and felt the spirit so much the past couple of days and I know that it is by the spirit that we know that everything is true!

Zone Conference was incredible! Even though President and Sister Szabadkai were gone for a couple of days, the spirit was incredibly strong and I learned so much from the APs and the zone leaders! This week I tried to change my mindset into always having the faith that we will find at least one person that would be interested in the gospel everyday! Elder North and I have seen a lot of miracles! Our talks with people are a lot more meaningful and we can both feel the spirit work through us!

We had a lesson with one of our investigators, Zsofi, who is married to a member. We all felt prompted to talk about the love of our Heavenly Father! The spirit was incredibly strong throughout the lesson and we were able to figure out some of her concerns! We also had a lesson with Krisztofer and his mom! They are both super interested and they both feel that this gospel is true! Krisztofer said he will read the Book of Mormon and pray about it before we meet again!

I have felt the love of the Savior and Heavenly Father a lot throughout this week! I love you all and thank you all for the prayers and support! I hope you all have a wonderful and safe week!

Love,

Elder Josh Ballard

I forgot to send these two pictures but we met with Dudás Lili before I left.  

We found this in the pantry one day...

So...

We ATE it!

Week 36: Back to the Countryside!

Halostok!!

So I am officially back to the countryside and it feels different but I am definitely getting used to it! We have to take trains to Győr for district meetings so that is definitely a big change! But the members here are so nice and funny! The branch is still small but I have hope that it will grow! We have a ton of investigators like more than I have ever had and I have only met with a couple!

So transfers happened and I am with Elder North!!! He is super funny and is from Vernal Utah! He is in his second transfer but he is working like a champ! He is really spiritually sensitive and has a lot of faith! I am learning a lot from him!

This past week was the 30th anniversary of the dedication of Hungary and it was super cool! The members made a video of the testimonies of all the priesthood brethren that participated in the dedication and those leaders that are leading the church in Hungary today! One of the most memorable statements that I heard one of the brethren said was that in a matter of 20 years, a stake was established in Hungary! He said in Europe that is unheard of! The people of Hungary are super special and I am blessed to serve them!

I feel this transfer will be great and I am happy to serve in Tatabánya and to help the branch! Thank you for all the prayers and thoughts on my behalf and I wish you all a great and wonderful week!

Sok Szeretettel,

Elder Ballard

P.S. We got to go to the Terror house on my last P-day in Budapest and it was super cool! We also tried to get a tour in the Jewish Synagogue but it was closed 

It snowed on transfer day... only in Hungary

Austria on the other side of the Duna.

First train selfies.

Back in the countryside so that means WHIPPPING.