Week 54: A New Companion

Soooo....

I am getting a new companion and his name is Elder Bloomer! He is super cool! He is from everywhere haha He has lived in Peru, Kuwait, Virginia, and Utah! Right now we are in a trio because Elder Shepherd has to train him but he is doing well! He will be a natural and I am looking forward to this transfer! 

This week Elder Katics, the new Hungarian missionary, came in and he stayed with us which was super cool! He has a lot of energy and full of the spirit! Sister Szabadkai made some super good breakfast for us when he left for his assigned city. 

On P-day we went to this underground hospital on the Buda side underneath Buda castle. It turns out it was a base for people during WW2 and it turned into a nuclear bunker during the period of Communism. It was super intense but really interesting learning about what happened to Budapest during those times. It is called the Szikla Korház!

We met with Jia You, our Chinese investigator this week! He is super humble and is willing to learn anything about the gospel! When we talked about the Plan of Salvation and bore testimony of it, I thought i saw a tear in his eyes. It was a special moment. I am grateful to preach the gospel and to talk about the Plan of Salvation. It truly is the Plan of Happiness!

I love you all and thank you for your prayers! Have a great and wonderful week and I will talk to you all next week! 

Love, 

Elder Ballard

My new companion on the right!

Week 53: The Role of the Spirit

Kedves Mindenki,

This week was awesome. We got to go to go to the castle behind Hero's square which is a big museum of agriculture. There was a swimming competition there as well which was cool. The pictures describe it better than  how I can haha 

We had two new senior couples come into the mission this week which was really cool! We are having 19 missionaries coming in the next two weeks will be insane! In the office, we are preparing a ton for it right now because it will be crazy! But I am so excited to see all these new missionaries come in and all ready to work! 

I went on splits with Elder Aardema, my zone leader, in Pest and it was super cool! As we were walking home we had encounters with one drunk guy and an almost drunk guy that both thought we were Jehovah's witnesses. It was really cool to see their hearts soften as we talked with them. We ended up setting return appointments for both of them which was really cool! The next day on Wednesday, we worked on talking with everyone and we had a lot of success. I learned a lot from Elder Aardema and I am grateful to have been on exchanges with him. 

President's birthday was yesterday so we made a card and we sang Boldog szüli napot to him last night! Super fun! 

I would like to close with a miracle that happened on Monday as we met with a recent convert. Her husband and children are all members and they all come to church every Sunday. On Monday, her husband, Károly invited his mom and his sister to our lesson who are not members. We talked about the importance of scripture reading and scripture study. At the end of the lesson, Károly's mom asked us why we chose to talk about scripture study and we said that we prayed and felt that we should. His mom then said that she has been struggling with that over the past couple of weeks and was thinking a lot about that. What a miracle it was that we were able to help her realize the importance of the scriptures. I promise that if you follow the spirit you will not be led astray! I know this gospel is true and I am grateful for it! I love you all and have a great week!

Üdvözlettel,

Elder Ballard

Week 52: Welcome to the Jungle!

So we went to the Aquarium for P-day and it was pretty cool.

Lots of animals and other cool reptiles, insects, etc. There was one tank that had all the Nemo fish in it lol 

Anyways, we were in the office a lot this week due to the office couple traveling a lot around Hungary. We did go on exchanges with the elders in Érd, a small town outside of Hungary. While we were tracting and streeting I tried to have the mindset that we were going to find someone that would be interested in the gospel. It was near the end of the day and we talked to this older guy who turned out to be a janitor at a Reformatus school, who was born Catholic, that now says he is an Athiest. Interesting combo of religions but super cool guy! We got his number and will be meeting with him! 

I know that if we believe and have faith then the Lord will see that and will bless us for it. Faith is a principle of power. I know that with faith we can do miracles. Have a great and safe week!

Elder Ballard

Sharks everywhere!

One day I hope I will be as buff as that guy!

Saying good bye to my secretary predecessor Elder Stephens!

Taco Night!

One of the senior couples in my mission visited Romania and look who they found...

Week 51: The Pursuit of Happiness

Soooooo,

Pretty busy week this past week. We had zone conferences here and it was super inspirational! I learned a lot about things I could do better and improve. We watched some clips from Elder Holland and his talk in the mission president seminar from this year! The spirit was definitely there. After conference, me and Elder Shepherd set some goals to what we can do better in discussions and teachings and other situations. 

On P-day we went to the Terror House. This was my second time there but I learned a lot more this time about what went on and just how much Hungary, as a country, went through during those times. It is incredible at how the Lord, through his love and grace, opened the door for us to freely preach the gospel in Hungary! 

We were not able to meet with Bence this week because his job has gotten a lot more busy! Bence will have to work on the week of the Margit Island festival (one of the biggest in Europe) which also happens to be the week of his baptism. We will probably change his date but he still wants to be baptized and still desires it! Keep praying and keep hoping and all will be well! 

I shared a spiritual thought about the pursuit of happiness by Elder Holland! Great talk! If any of you have the opportunity to read it, read it! It talks about how the gospel and our agency influences whether we are happy! I know that if we choose to be happy and be obedient then we will find true happiness and true joy in this life! I love you all and thank you for the prayers! Have a great and fantastic week!

Love, 

Elder Josh Ballard