August 25, 2014 - Bangalore

Much much better week this week.  I am so much more adjusted to culture and now i feel much more comfortable.  In fact, I think i can already start to say that i love India.  The people are just so friendly and i figured out that the reason they stare at me so much is because they are fascinated, not weirded out, by my skin color and they would just be thrilled to talk to me. At the least the more mature Indian people are that way.  The kids like it too, but the teenagers all make fun of me apparently.  Elder Bunga says they call me names and make fun of me a lot but i cant understand them because it is in a different language so ignorance is bliss;)  but he said if i went and talked to the ones making fun of me they would be scared and say sorry and then try and act all cool with me so they could talk to a white guy:)  Im getting more used to the food.  It tastes amazing but is still spicy-as! My comp is still so awesome.  He is so good.  We are still a little frustrated with our results though.

Oh by the way, i forgot to tell you that we never wear our nametags in Bangalore...interesting huh? And the other missionaries from my MTC district are struggling a little bit too but are getting better.  Now my frustrations are all about the work and what is happening rather than adjusting.  I do still wake up every morning homesick, but as soon as we leave the apartment and get going, i forget about everything.  It has been so hot this week though! Crazy.

So we played basketball last P-day and that Aussie is pretty dang good.  We have fun ballin together and we are getting to be pretty good friends.  

On Tuesday, we visited a less active named Sister Mahla.  She was baptized seven years ago but has a rough time with the Godhead because some JW's came to her house and confused her...but Elder Bunga and I had a good discussion with her and lately she hasn't called with any questions so i think we helped her when we challenged her to pray every day and pray about her question and also to re-visit her testimony of the Book of Mormon because if she has a testimony of the BoM, then she can know everything the church teaches and everything Joseph Smith taught and received is true as well.  

So we visited Christian and Stephen, two brothers from the Congo.  They are super cool investigators but they had an issue with baptism and the way it is done so we only had 15 mins to explain so it didn't end the best.  We also visited Vincent David and once again the same exact thing happened, but we are still trying with him.

Wednesday: We went to an area with lots of African guys and found four more to teach! Yona and Christian are from the Sudan, and Francis and Isaac are from somewhere in Africa too.  Great guys and they are our new investigators.  Could be solid ones too.  

Thursday: Visited Sis. Mahla again.  Helped her out with the things i said before.  Visited Vincent David and he asked us, why God keeps him alive and why would God care after all that he has done and what is the point of changing.  I just testified to him that God keeps him alive and gives him so many chances because he knows his potential to be an instrument in the Lord's hands.  Which if we can baptize this man, then we can baptize many more for sure.  He was touched but then later went out and did the same stuff.  We will not give up on him.

Friday: Went to zone conference and learned how to keep the eternal perspective in mind, like enduring to the end, when we teach and find investigators.  It was great wisdom from our Mission Prez.  We taught Christian and Stephen and i got the opportunity to answer his question.  He had an issue with the way we baptize in the name of the Father, son, and Holy ghost instead of just Jesus Christ.  I showed him 3 Nephi 11 and 2 Nephi 31 and it answered his question.  So then i extended the baptismal invitation and Christian began to say, "for me...yes" but as soon as yes was coming out of his mouth, his friend Stephen interrupted and said, "i already got baptized in another church so i'm good." Christian then hesitated and said he needed more time.  I think he only said that because his friend was ready.  Christian is ready.  Next time we visit them, i will ask again and hopefully we get them to commit. the date we are shooting for is none other than Sept 13!!:) it would so awesome to baptize a few investigators on my b-day:)  

Saturday sucked because all of our appointments cancelled and it was super hot until the rain decided to drop everything it had on us all at once.  Very rough day.  

Sunday: Went to church and now i guess i am the ward pianist because i played the hymns in sacrament meeting for the congregation and so now i will play every sunday i guess.  Dad will be super pumped about that im sure...Vincent David came to church and was touched and reached out to again so we will see if he takes those things to heart or just lets them go in one ear and out the other.  We have faith in him though.  His family doesn't and he doesn't but we do.  We are determined to baptize this guy.  Us four elders though are super frustrated with our branch and the branch missionaries because we are taught so much to use members so often, but they are never available or they cancel on us, or they make up excuses, and then blame everything on the missionaries and don't ever take accountability for anything.  It is very frustrating, but im learning more patience.

This morning i played cricket for the first time and i am horrible but it is very fun.. Well anyways, much better week but still a little homesick every morning and still could use some more help.  But glad to hear from you guys!

Love you,
Elder Ball

August 18, 2014 - Week 1 in India

Wow. So far that is all i have to say.  This place is absolutely insane.  I got assigned to Lingarajapuram and it like one of the poorer areas of Bangalore. Went to church yesterday and met the Branch, but so far the Branch is frustrating because they aren't that willing or able to help missionaries as members.  They just don't quite understand how important it is to have members present at lessons.  Especially because Pres. Berrett really emphasises using members and we can't do it.  Every day Elder Bunga and i have a goal of teaching 2 lessons with members present but we have not yet hit that mark because it is so hard to get members to come.  Elder Bunga is a great guy.  He is from Hyderabad and speaks pretty dang good English. Occasionally i don't understand him but most of the time i do.  We are kind of struggling right now in terms of success because the last couple days all but one or two of appointments have been falling through.  I think we should just try and get new investigators because the ones we currently have are not progressing at all.

Speaking of investigators, the other day we talked an invest. named Vincent David.  Great guy with lots of knowledge about the gospel but he keep saying he wants to and will change but he is all talk.  He has a huge Word of Wisdom problem especially with alcohol and Gonja.  but hopefully we can help him out.  We also visited a sister named Chantee.  She also has a WOW problem but we had a good lesson and discussion.  she is already a member but has a problem with alcohol now after she was baptized. Another investigator we talked to was named Vijay.  Apparently the only reason he was interested in talking to the missionaries is because he thought we could help him financially.  

So now i will give you the day by day things we have done..

Thursday: arrived India and had much difficulty getting past the security to get into the country.  Met the Pres and wife and others missionaries and had breakfast.  Then we went out with a temporary companion to kind of get acquainted with Bangalore.  Then had orientation and then got assigned to our comps and areas and went back to the apartment.

Friday: Went to a branch activity all day and it was pretty fun.  Except the bus ride was 3 hours there and 3 hours back but it was fun.  We went to a tiny village and played games and just chilled.  In our mission we do this thing called ITLs or Invite to Learn.  it is where we just talk to random people and get to know them and then invite them to learn more.  So on the way home on friday i sat next to a guy holding a bible and the spirit was like exploding my heart to just talk to him so i did and i ended up giving him a reference card and he seemed pretty interested.  He lived in a different area than ours so i might not ever see him again but maybe something will happen i dont know.

Saturday: Visited Vincent David and Chantee

Sunday: took Vincent David to church and in sacrament they asked the two new missionaries to speak impromptu.  Then had sunday school.  Then for elders quorum, we were waiting for it to start when the EQP came up to me and told me that the teacher didnt show up today so he asked me if i could give the lesson on the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  So i did.  Apparently it went really well because my comp told me it was soooo amazing. Had many meetings.  Then tried to visit people but everyone cancelled on us.

Here is a little bit about my lifestyle now.  So my comp was a huge devout Hindu until he was converted at 14.  He is 24 now and has only been out for 4 months.  Great guy.  The other two Elders we are staying with are Elder Kesterson from Wyoming and Elder Basil.  So real quick i guess Wyoming and Idaho are Bangalore mission feeders because there are like 3 Elders from Wyoming and apparently currently there are 5 from Idaho right now and more coming.....crazy.  Elder Basil is from Melbourne Australia dad!!!!!!! he was surprised i knew how to say Melbourne and so i talk to him with an Australian accent occasionally and he says i am good at it.  I love Elder Basil.  He is awesome.  He is a bball player too.  Huge bball fan! His grandparents are Indian but are from Melbourne. Their last name is Basil as well and they started the seminary and institute programs in India on their missions in India.  Not sure if you know who they are or not.

The food sucks.  Very spicy and i have had the runs for last few days.  I'm trying to eat as much american like food as possible. Hard to find it though. The apartment has no A/C and isn't a very nice apartment. But oh well i guess.  Literally everyone here stares at me.  All the time.  It is absolutely insane. They see a white guy and are so intrigued.  It kind of annoys me sometimes. But the people are very nice.  Except there is like no sanitation or personal space anywhere. So crowded on buses and on the streets and the traffic is like nothing you would ever believe. people are crazy here. 

So I have been so overwhelmed so far and even have to get a good cry in because of how hard it has been how much of a shock I am in and how overwhelmed I am.  But I say so many prayers to heavenly father asking him to help me through each day one at a time and each hour.  And he hasn't helped me with a full day yet but he has helped me in tiny ways often.  A couple of examples are from this morning.  When I opened my drawer after praying this morning, there was Dad's envelope of note cards.  I decided to look at them, and the first thing I saw was Dad's letter to me and the way it started was talking immediately about how hard it is but that I can do hard things and stuff like that.  It was pretty dang comforting.  Also this morning Elder Kesterson asked how I was doing and I was struggling but told him I was fine.  I guess he could tell I wasn't.  He told me to grab my shirt and sandals and come with him for a minute.  So Kesterson was in Colorado for 18 months waiting for his visa and now he is on his 25th month because he got an extension.  So we just talked and he made me laugh, and we just joked with each other for awhile.  Then he ended up taking me to a stand on the road and bought me a snickers and pepsi and talked to me about understanding it is hard for me right now and when he is stressed he buys a snickers and pepsi and just chills out.  It helped me so much.  Anyways crazy first week that seems like it is taking forever so hopefully things get better.
Love you guys,
Elder Ball

August 18, 2014 - Week 1 in India

Wow. So far that is all i have to say.  This place is absolutely insane.  I got assigned to Lingarajapuram and it like one of the poorer areas of Bangalore. Went to church yesterday and met the Branch but so far the Branch is frustrating because they aren't that willing or able to help missionaries as members.  They just don't quite understand how important it is to have members present at lessons.  Especially because Pres. Berrett really emphasizes using members and we can't do it.  Every day Elder Bunga and i have a goal of teaching 2 lessons with members present but we have not yet hit that mark because it is so hard to get members to come.  Elder Bunga is a great guy.  He is from Hyderabad and speaks pretty dang good English. Occasionally i dont understand him but most of the time i do.  We are kind of struggling right now in terms of success because the last couple days all but one or two of appointments have been falling through.  I think we should just try and get new investigators because the ones we currently have are not progressing at all.

Speaking of investigators, the other day we talked an invest. named Vincent David.  Great guy with lots of knowledge about the gospel but he keep saying he wants to and will change but he is all talk.  He has a huge Word of Wisdom problem especially with alcohol and Gonja.  but hopefully we can help him out.  We also visited a sister named Chantee.  She also has a WOW problem but we had a good lesson and discussion.  she is already a member but has a problem with alcohol now after she was baptized.  Another investigator we talked to was named Vijay.  Apparently the only reason he was interested in talking to the missionaries is because he thought we could help him financially. 

So now i will give you the day by day things we have done..

Thursday: arrived India and had much difficulty getting past the security to get into the country.  Met the Pres and wife and others missionaries and had breakfast.  Then we went out with a temporary companion to kind of get acquainted with Bangalore.  Then had orientation and then got assigned to our comps and areas and went back to the apartment.

Friday: Went to a branch activity all day and it was pretty fun.  Except the bus ride was 3 hours there and 3 hours back but it was fun.  We went to a tiny village and played games and just chilled.  In our mission we do this thing called ITLs or Invite to Learn.  it is where we just talk to random people and get to know them and then invite them to learn more.  So on the way home on friday i sat next to a guy holding a bible and the spirit was like exploding my heart to just talk to him so i did and i ended up giving him a reference card and he seemed pretty interested.  He lived in a different area than ours so i might not ever see him again but maybe something will happen i dont know.

Saturday: Visited Vincent David and Chantee

Sunday: took Vincent David to church and in sacrament they asked the two new missionaries to speak impromptu.  Then had sunday school.  Then for elders quorum, we were waiting for it to start when the EQP came up to me and told me that the teacher didnt show up today so he asked me if i could give the lesson on the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  So i did.  Apparently it went really well because my comp told me it was soooo amazing. Had many meetings.  Then tried to visit people but everyone cancelled on us.

So here is a little bit about my lifestyle now

So my comp was a huge devout Hindu until he was converted at 14.  He is 24 now and has only been out for 4 months.  Great guy.  The other two Elders we are staying with are Elder Kesterson from Wyoming and Elder Basil.  So real quick i guess Wyoming and Idaho are Bangalore mission feeders because there are like 3 Elders from Wyoming and apparently currently there are 5 from Idaho right now and more coming.....crazy.  Elder Basil is from Melbourne Australia dad!!!!!!! he was surprised i knew how to say Melbourne and so i talk to him with an Australian accent occasionally and he says i am good at it.  I love Elder Basil.  He is awesome.  He is a bball player too.  Huge bball fan! His grandparents are Indian but are from Melbourne. Their last name is Basil as well and they started the seminary and institute programs in India on their missions in India.  Not sure if you know who they are or not.

The food sucks.  Very spicy and i have had the runs for last few days.  Im trying to eat as much american like food as possible. Hard to find it though. The apartment has no A/C and isn't a very nice apartment. But oh well i guess.  Literally everyone here stares at me.  All the time.  It is absolutely insane.  They see a white guy and are so intrigued.  It kind of annoys me sometimes. But the people are very nice.  Except there is like no sanitation or personal space anywhere. So crowded on buses and on the streets and the traffic is like nothing you would ever believe. people are crazy here.

So i have been so overwhelmed so far and almost every night i have to get a good cry in because of how hard it has been and how much of a shock i am in and how overwhelmed i am.  To be honest i wonder a lot why the heck im in India but i say so many prayers to heavenly father asking him to help through each day one at a time and each hour.  And he hasn't helped me with a full day yet but he has helped me in tiny ways often.  A couple examples are from this morning.  So this morning Elder Kesterson asked how i was doing and i struggled to tell him i was doing fine.  I guess he could tell i wasn't.  Because after he asked i went into my closet area and just started crying.  i just started to pray again.  Not even 20 mins after waking up and saying my morning prayers where i already pleaded with God to help me.  I opened my drawer after the prayer and there was Dad's envelope of note cards.  I decided to look at them and the first thing i saw was Dad's letter to me and the way it started was talking immediately about how hard it is but that i can do hard things and stuff like that.  It was pretty dang comforting.  then as i kept reading i got the part about mom and tyler and started crying again. Then all of a sudden Elder Kesterson walks in sits down next to me and just looks and me. I tried to hold it in.  then he left. When i was done i was still trying to destroy the evidence of me crying and as i walked into the kitchen, Kesterson tells me to grab my shirt and sandals and come with him for a minute. So Kesterson was in Colorado for 18 months waiting for his visa and now he is on his 25th months because he got an extension.  So we just walked and he made me laugh and we just joked with each other for a while.  Then he ended up taking me to a stand on the road and he bought me a snickers and pepsi and he just started to talk to me and tell me how he knows its hard for me right now and he says every time he is stressed he buys a snickers and pepsi and just chills out.  It helped me so much.  Anyways crazy first week that seems like it is taking forever so hopefully things get better.

Love you guys,

Elder Ball

August 15, 2014 - Arrival in Bangalore, India

Email from Elder Ball on 8/13/14...

Hey mom and dad!! Just a quick email to let you know that we made it to India this morning and are getting started! Things are so crazy here!!! Very cool place though. Just letting you know! Love you and talk to you later!



Email and pictures received from the Mission President on 8/15/14...

Dear Brother and Sister Ball,

We are grateful for the arrival of you son in the India Bangalore Mission.  He arrived safe and in good spirits.  We have great need for him as a missionary. We felt the strength of his testimony as he shared with us his feelings for missionary work.

Your son has been assigned to work in the city of Bangalore in the Lingarajapuram Branch serving with Elder Bunga from India.  Elder Bunga is a dedicated missionary and we are confident that they will be able to help and support each other in the work of the Lord here in India.

We have attached photos of Elder Ball the morning that he arrived, one with President Berrett and me and one with Elder Bunga, his companion.

Thank you for your help in your son's preparation and your support of him as he serves.  The people of India are so grateful for the truth and knowledge the missionaries share.  I know he will come to love the people with a deep love.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.
President and Sister Berrett
India Bangalore Mission

August 6, 2014 - Provo MTC

Dearest Family,

Wow what a great week in the MTC. This place is absolutely incredible. The Spirit is literally felt like non stop and Satan is like not present at all.  I have learned so much and i think i am already becoming a much better man. The MTC is amazing.  My companion's name is Elder Semadeni and he is the one from Wyoming.  I like him. He is a good guy.  My district as whole however, is the best in the entire MTC i just know it.  I know that we are a select group of Elder's chosen to serve the people of India.  We are already so close and best friends with each other.  We all get along perfectly and our Spirit and focus together as a group is absolutely remarkable.  I love every one of them so much.  There are 8 of us and i will try to send a picture of us. Like i said, we are best friends already and i am not looking forward to leaving them all in a week....i probably will cry no joke and you know me as "not much of a crier" ;)

Elder Semadeni and i are teaching two investigators already as practice and one's name is Nick.  We have gotten so much better at simplifying and relying on the Spirit as we teach and there was a huge difference between our first visit last Thursday and our visit last night.  We almost committed him to baptism.  He said he is willing but just not ready but we believe he is.  We just have to continue to have faith in the slow and sure process.  The other's name is Arnold and he is so cool.  We have only visited him once and the whole time he wowed us with his knowledge of the Bible so we will have to brush up on it in order to keep up with him. But we did commit him to read Alma 34 on our first day so that is great.

Anyways, the food is pretty good but i feel fat haha.  I have played some ball though and played against an Elder from Cali who played at BYU-Hawaii.  I balled him up.  But he was still way good:)  oh yeah and 7 of the 8 of us going to India are going to Bangalore and the other is going to New Delhi.  Their names are Pereira, Parks, Grimmett, Semadeni, Cloward, Martinez and the New Delhi Elder is Shumway.  My new best buddies for sure.  We have learned a lot from our teachers this week and have definitely grown.  I recommend you guys to watch Elder Bednar's MTC talk titled "The Character of Christ." Look it up on YouTube or something it is so incredible.  Like i was blown away and you will love it.  Well, other than that not much to say.  I leave on the 12th and we fly to Chicago, then London, then Bangalore for a total of 41 hours!!!!!!! It's insane.  But more time with my friends:) I love you guys.  Give Tyler lots of hugs for me please.  Every night I ask God to send an angel every once in awhile to give Tyler a literal hug for me because I know that he will and that with Tyler being an Angel, that he has unlimited access to angels. 

Oh and i won't be able to email you until like the 18th or something because of the travel complications but i will let you know.  I am so excited to step foot in India and see what it looks like in person!

Love, Elder Ball

Pictures sent later of the MTC...

Elder Ball & Semadeni, MTC companions

MTC Batchmates headed to India!

Elders Ball, Bovee, Butterfield, from Meridian South Stake

Elder Bovee & Elder Ball (friend from 5th Ward)

Elders Ball & Dildine (bball friend from Middleton)

Elder Ball & Elder Hansen (friends from 5th Ward)

Elder Dennis & Elder Ball (bball friend from Centennial)

July 30, 2014 - Entering the MTC

The drop off at the MTC in Provo, Utah.  Elder Ball was greeted by Elder Butterfield as his first-day host.  He was in the MTC for a short 13 days. 

July 27, 2014 - Mission Preparations

Missionary pictures b/c Mom wants some...

     

 

 

 

There's lots to do to get ready for leaving on a mission!

           June 15th - ordination to an Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood

                   July 8th - own endowment temple trip to Idaho Falls

 

 

 

 



July 27th - farewell talk and open house for family and friends

May 2, 2014 - The Mission Call Arrives!

Ryan's mission call arrived in less than two weeks. 

Dear Elder Ball,

"You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  You are assigned to labor in the India Bangalore Mission.  It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months. 

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, July 30, 2014.  You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language."

Where...India?  Do we even have missionaries there?
What...English?  But I took four years of Spanish...

Elder Ball is very excited to serve the people of India.  The opportunity to serve in a completely different culture is a plus.