Week 97: Return to Buda

We returned to Budapest on a weekly split with Elder Lowe and Elder Spencer. It was funny because a member that goes to the Buda ward who lives pretty close to Dunaújváros took us out for lunch on P-day and then the very next day when we arrive in Budapest, she had lunch with Elder Lowe and Elder Spencer and we kind of just joined in.

It was so awesome to work and talk with people in Budapest once more. I forgot how fun it is because there are just so many people to talk with. We sometimes run into people that speak English which is always a different feel because I have to translate the things I plan to say in Hungarian to English. Elder Spencer and I worked on several points from Preach My Gospel and we helped each other, despite rejections, to keep moving forward. Then, the next day after that, we had to come back up for district meeting.

This week there will be a lot of changes in the mission due to Romania coming in and with President Hettinger coming as well. President Szabadkai sent his last email to us today which was a big shock to me. Nevertheless, I am excited for President Hettinger and I am excited to get to know him a bit. 

We have been holding a piano class and a lot of the youth in the branch stayed after church for it. One of them played for priesthood! We are preparing him to play in sacrament meeting soon.

I am so grateful for the members here in Duna! They are so nice and so supportive! This past few weeks have been busy but I am grateful that the Lord is blessing the work right now in Duna. When we believe in miracles, they happen!! Just study Moroni 7 and you will know what I am talking about ;)

Love,

Elder Ballard

While looking through some old documents, we came across a paper that my trainer wrote when we served together in Debrecen during our emergency drill. I can't believe that happened almost two years ago!

Old running track Elder Bloomer and I would run on. 

A post basketball picture. I don't know why I was smiling that way!

Week 96: Soccer, Alexandra's interview, tanulmányozás

Drága Család és Barátok,

I will keep this short because I ran out of time but this week we had a lot of good meetings and appointments. Alexandra passed her interview so she will be baptized on June 30th! We are super excited for her!

During finding we also found a lot of pretty solid people. Also, yesterday we had a woman come up to us and she asked us if she could join the church! That does not happen everyday. It was weird, she didn't want to give us her phone number but she promised she would call us. 

Anyways, we have a lot of promising investigators and we are planning to meet with a couple of other potentials this week. I am grateful that the Lord is blessing the work right now! I love you all and Happy Father's Day to my wonderful father and my Father in Heaven!

Love,

Elder Ballard

Family home evening at the Szabóék!

Week 95: Final Testimony, Final Zone Conference

Drága Család és barátok,

This week was filled with different emotions and feelings. On Tuesday I had my last zone conference of my mission and it was a powerful one. We talked about obedience and working with members from Chapter 13 of Preach My Gospel- perhaps the two most stressed parts of Preach My Gospel in the mission. Me and Elder Martin gave a training on how to work with the ward council and how to increase member/missionary work in each of our units. It was also President and Sister Szabadkai's last zone conference as well, so they gave their departing testimonies and it was so powerful!

After zone conference, we looked up a man who we have been trying to get in contact with for a while and he was at home and let us in! We introduced ourselves and talked about the church with him. We helped address some of his needs by talking about prophets and the priesthood. 

From Thursday to Saturday, there was a series of thunderstorms that were super cool to experience. In Hungary I have seen some of the most exciting/intense thunderstorms. The valley near the branch house was literally a lake afterwards. We had to cross it in order to get home and we kind of had a pioneer moment.

Super cool moment of the week happened on Saturday. Elder Martin and I were heading towards Alexandra's house to share a scripture but we stopped this lady who immediately started telling us she didn't want to talk. Elder Martin was super good in that he started introducing himself and introducing the church. The lady then started explaining that God doesn't exist and that she has felt that no one is out there. We shared personal experiences and bored testimonies of the existence of God. It was super cool because we saw her heart softened in the course of the discussion and she set up to meet tomorrow! Seeing these moments are incredible!

I love you all and I am grateful for all your support and prayers! 

Szeretettel,

Elder Ballard

President and Sister Szabadkai

Rainstorms

Creepy Elevator

Week 94: MLC, Találkozások, Ministering

Kedves Család és Barátok,

This week we were in Budapest twice because of district meeting and MLC but it was good both times. I learned a lot and I am excited to take the things I learned and apply them. Some of the things I learned this week has been in regards to member missionary work and obedience. I have a testimony of ministering and that it will help the church and the members come back to the fold. We will be putting strong emphasis on it in zone conference tomorrow. I am super excited for ministering because it gives me and others an opportunity to become like Christ and be more Christlike in the lives of others. Plus, ministering involves so many things like sending messages, doing service projects, sending scriptures, making cookies, etc. There are limitless things to do to minister to anyone! Filling those minister roles will not only bless the lives of those you serve but your live as well!

This week, I went on splits with Elder Bridges, the district leader. We had several meetings cancel, nevertheless we worked hard and felt the spirit. Nowadays, the cherry trees are blooming and when we walk by, all the Hungarians usually tell us to eat some. Super delicious! One day our appointment canceled and as we were walking, we saw two older ladies picking cherries and so we decided to help. One of them was super grateful and she gave us like 6 handfuls of cherries and fruit! They weren't interested in learning about the gospel but they were determined to call us in case they were in need of service. On side note they referred to Donald Trump as "Trump papa" when they found out we were Americans. Lol!!!

Lately, I have been pondering a lot of what my mission has meant and is meaning still. I think the "accidental" things that have happened have been huge testimonies to me that for each person God has a plan. Exercising faith has been crucial in these past two years and I would say that having faith is crucial in almost every part of life. Being that beam of light in someone's life, or giving service, has brought me so much joy. That is why ministering is such a great thing! The blessings that come from service help us feel closer to Christ and our Heavenly Father. Pray for those opportunities and you will find them.

I love you!

Elder Ballard

The beautiful Magyar sky! 

Elder Martin accidentally bought bad, moldy bread!

Week 93: Ostorozás, Találkozások, Egy jó Top Joy

Kedves Barátok és Család,

We were filled this week with meetings, finding, and work. We had a lot of lessons that went through this week and they were all really good. We also found a couple of new investigators! One of them literally came up to us and said that the church really interests him and he wanted a Book of Mormon. We taught him the Restoration and we exchanged contact information! #miraclesallaroundus

Another investigator we found while we were tracting. Elder Lowe and I were on splits and we went to a ten story and we tracted into a young mother. She let us in and she was super interested in learning about the church. She said that she is Catholic but has felt that something was missing in the church and as a result, she kind of declared herself not really a believer in God. The cool thing  was that she has seen missionaries on the street before and was always curious as to what we were doing here. She kept saying over and over how grateful she was that we came! Truly a tender mercy!

On p-day, we went whipping and got some ice cream, pretty normal day. Alexandra is progressing well. We hope she is understanding the doctrine behind the gospel. She is committed to follow the commandments and she wants to be baptized. We will be reviewing the first three lessons. Also, the Dunaújváros branch is going up to Germany on the week of her baptism so we may postpone it to the following week. We are excited for her nevertheless.

The bottom photo is a picture of a Top Joy that a guy we talked with yesterday bought for us. He was drinking when we were talking but he did agree to exchange numbers to meet again and when we did, we called him on his phone and the number was already saved on his phone with the name "Mormon" on it. Elder Martin and I died laughing.

I love you all and I am grateful for all the prayers. I am grateful for the people here and for the great land of Magyarország!

Here is a scripture for you all to look up ;) Moroni 8:16-17. When we are filled with charity, we will have no fear!

Love,

Elder Ballard

Star Wars in Hungary

Week 92: Zóna Nap, Székes, Meetings

Csaósztok!

This week we kept ourselves busy with meetings, conferences, etc. We got to go on splits and we had to go to the hivatal in Székesfehérvár in order to update Elder Martin's residency card. It was probably my last time in Székes so I took extra amount of pictures. It is a really pretty city and we had good times there. 

Yesterday was a zone day and the Pentecost so that was why we did not email yesterday. We organized some games to play and activities to do. We also watched a movie about a latter-day saint bishop. I also had my last interview with president which was really sad. It is super weird that the time is closing but I am glad I still have a couple of weeks left to try to bring anyone I can to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Elder Martin is super awesome and I am grateful to serve with him.

Alexandra is doing well with her baptismal date. Our zone has several baptismal dates and all seem very promising. I am really grateful the Lord is blessing the work here at this time. 

I thought to share a part from Preach My Gospel that has helped me stay responsible to the Lord in all things.  In Preach My Gospel we can read that "Accountability does not come only at the end of your mission. It is a principle that influences how you begin, how you think and feel about the responsibility the Lord has given you, how you approach your work, and how well you endure". Each one of us will have opportunities to serve and to bless our fellowmen. Accountability helps us grow and improve and correct those mistakes we have committed so that when the next time we face a similar situation, we will know how to react and how to best help. 

I love you all and I am grateful for this marvelous opportunity to serve Heavenly Father.

Love,

Elder Ballard

Another Circus!

Week 91: Anyák napja, Skyping with the family :D, Transfers

Happy Mother's Day!!!

It was so great to see the family yesterday. I love them all so much and I am grateful for eternal families!!

This week we had transfers and I got my new companion Elder Martin! He is from St. Louis, Missouri and plays the violin, piano, and organ very well. Me and him were in the same district in Győr. He has also been following me around the mission. He came in after me when I was in Kispest and he was in my zone when I was in Buda. We served in Győr at the same time and now we are companions. It will be a great transfer!

I said goodbye to my old companion Elder Lister. I am grateful for his example and service. I said goodbye to other missionaries with whom I served around. 

This week has been busy with calls, district meetings, and other activities. We did meet with two more new investigators. They accepted the Book of Mormon. One of them said they already know its true. We will follow up with him on Wednesday. I will keep you updated.

Alexandra is doing well. She came to a ward activity on Saturday and she came to church yesterday. Yesterday's testimony meeting was great!! The spirit was felt and there were a lot of great things said. We skyped at Misi's yesterday who is, according to Elder Martin, the crown jewel member of Hungary. He is the best.

The Book of Mormon is true. My testimony of it grew throughout this week. I am grateful for its pages and the spirit and power within it. I love you all so much! 

Love,

Elder Ballard

Fruit Soup!

Elder Martin, my last companion!