March 28, 2016 - Bangalore, Whitefield

Well this was an interesting week.  We actually picked it up a little bit this week.  Not a ton, but a little bit which is a step in the right direction for this area.  We taught Teja and he is doing okay, but just like all of our other investigators, for some reason, he has a major problem...money...so we aren't sure if he is using us for money.  Hopefully not because he is like our best investigator.

Babitha is still struggling...very disappointing.  Again she didn't come to church, so we aren't sure what to do with her.  We might just have to drop her for a little while and let her find out how much she needs the gospel by her lacking it.  We will see what happens.  The Prathapan family is doing quite well. Coming to church, finally reading a little bit.  They are doing well.  They are slow but sure.  Definitely they will get baptized.  Only a matter of time.  Rishmi is having a BIG problem with her husband who went off to a different city a few years back, so a major road block because technically she is still married to him but won't sign the divorce papers.  Very difficult situation. 

We did teach two new brothers this week which was good.  One is a member's father in law and he comes to church now but we will see.  The other is a Hindu guy named Prabhakar who comes regularly but we finally were able to meet and teach him.  HE IS AWESOME.  So willing to learn and very intelligent, and we can speak normal english to him without worrying about understanding.  We don't have to break any english.  Very refreshing.  

We unfortunately didn't get to go to Visak because of some flight booking problem.  But...we went to the cricket match, the whole zone.  President and Sister Berrett were in Sri Lanka so they didn't go.  Australia vs. Bangladesh.  Soooooo fun.  Will send pics as soon as i get them from the person who has them.  Cameras aren't allowed, so one of the india missionaries snuck one in.  Then in the T20 world cup match last night, india had a clutch wild come back win against australia in an elimination game.  Elder Basil is losing sleep over that haha. 

Anyways, yep just 18 weeks to go...but still a long time so that's good:)Elder Coleman leaves tomorrow night.  Elder Bunga goes home in 6 weeks, and yep we get to see all the leaving and incoming missionaries.  

Life is good...still.
Elder Ball

March 21, 2016 - Bangalore, Whitefield

Well another week bites the dust....and another.....BUNK FEST. Hahaha. our area is really struggling right now.  We are working so hard and really doing our best and planning well and doing what we are supposed to, but for some reason things just aren't going our way.  It has been really frustrating and to be quite honest a bit discouraging.  But we are pressing forward. 

We had a couple positives this week though.  We got 7 investigators to come to all three hours of church, and Babitha came for the first hour so that is a step in the right direction for her.  Also Teja came and is doing really well.  He loves meeting with us and feels the spirit with us and at church.  Also the Prathapan family is doing okay.  Coming to church and slowly learning, but still trying to get brother to read.  Also Rishmi came as well but has some family problems still so not sure what will happen with her.

So it is really heating up here in India.  Getting really hot.  But our work, not so much haha.  But we believe as we keep doing our best, God will eventually bless us with some good fruit. 

So this week we are traveling to Vizak to see how they are doing as they seem to be really having good work, so are going to see how they are doing it.  Also next month, from the 9th to 18th, Elder Basil and i get to go to Goa!!! There is a branch there that is part of our mission but no missionaries are there,  They are having an open house for their new building there, so we are going to do some proselyting there for about a week to get less actives and new people to the open house.  Goa is like a vacation place for foreigners and is really nice i heard, so we are super excited.  

Also, later tonight, there is a World Cup cricket match in Bangalore...and we are going.  We are so pumped.  It will be super fun and we will be sitting pretty darn close.  So if you wanted to add a little bit of cash to my account for this game and for Goa, I wouldn't be too disappointed;)

But other than that, not a ton going on.  We are getting seven missionaries back from the Pines so that is good for the mission.  

As far as your questions dad, pondering has really helped me.  It really brings a channel of revelation.  As it says in D&C 9 we have to ponder and study it out in our mind AND THEN ask to get an answer.  I always thought that if we just asked, he would give it.  But we need to do our part and study it out and decide what we think is best.  And then ask God if it is right and if our decision matches with his, and he will tell us.  Pretty cool.  

And mom as for the atonement.  I always love to share Alma 7:11-13 but im sure people have already shared about that.  It is one of the best scriptures to share about the atonement.  

Love you guys a ton!
Elder Ball

Elder Ball & Elder Basil

 Kumar Family

Elder Ball & Elder Coleman with Manoj

Assume the railroad track is their form of sidewalk

March 14, 2016 - Bangalore, Whitefield

Hello fam!!! 
Well to be quite honest this week was kind of a bummer.  We had a rough week.  We really worked hard and did what we were supposed to, but we got BUNKED again.  Pretty frustrating.  And it just seems like everyone we teach has some sort of problem.  Babitha again didn't come so we have no clue what to do with her.  

The Prathapan family is actually doing pretty well.  Slowly but surely they are progressing and learning.  It will take quite some time, but they are doing good.  We found a new investigator this week named Teja, and he is pretty dang good.  A little bit weird but a good investigator.  He came to church again and committed for baptism, so he seems to be the best we have right now. 

Other than that, we have been struggling to find new people and teach the current people we have.  We struggle to find because we have pretty much door knocked every place possible, so we are running out of places to door knock.   So we are pushing our finding efforts more to visiting members now to try and get referrals.  So we are still chuggin along and pushing through, but been a difficult last couple of weeks.  So hopefully we get some more things going this week.  

So yeah we actually have a planned travel coming up in early April but i am not sure if i can tell you that yet, because it is something different that hasn't happened in a long time.  It will so cool and fun.  

Thanks for the bracket!! Only trunks me out a little bit;)  Haha yeah dad i am working out.  There is this thing that a lot of missionaries do called 6 months to sexy.  Last 6 months they will like go on a diet and work out.  So i have been working out, and next transfer Elder Basil and I are going to hit the P90X and the basketball court pretty hard every day.  

Bangalore is actually getting pretty dang hot.  Bangalore does get hot despite what people say about it.  It was super hot this week and is going to continue.  India only has two types of weather: hot and super hot.  But that is about it as far as things go here.  Enjoying and working hard and really praying and hoping that the work picks up here as we are struggling a bit.  But as long as we do what we can i guess that is all God expects of us right? 

Love you!
Elder Ball

March 7, 2016 - Bangalore, Whitefield

Hello fam!!!!
This week was an interesting one.  We had MLC this week and learned some great things from President Berrett about weekly planning.  He taught us really well, and so we are hoping that our planning was really effective so that we can have a better week this week.

Our week wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.  We got BUNKED. Hard.  We did spend a day in Coimbatore on Friday which was cool.  Pretty cool place.  Fairly big city but with a small town feel, so the people are super nice.  Except i guess there have been some issues there again with the missionaries and the RSS.  Hoping we can get all of that sorted out.  But i left my camera on our trip to coimbatore so i didn't get any pics....oops.  But Elder Basil has a few, so i will try and get some from him.  Other than that, Thanush was confirmed.  He is the shorter kid in the baptism clothes in the pic im sending.  He also received the priesthood which is cool.  Babitha didn't come again so that is super disappointing, but we are going to have to figure out what her real concern in.  Another one of our investigators named Rishmi made some nice progress this week, and Preethi's friends Sindu and Swathi are doing great.  In the near future it doesn't look like any baptisms for us, but we have a bright future for the April time period.  

So yeah we have been pretty busy.  I have been really bad about writing in my journal lately too because i just don't find time with all the things we have to do.  So yeah it will be quite different when the new mission president comes.  I probably will still be Assistant when he comes, so that should be interesting...

So answers to Pa's questions: Elder Coleman is from Layton, UT.  Preethi's fellowshipper is Irene Lobo.  We live like a 5 minute walk from the mission home and office.  Literally next door.  We don't go there very much though.  APs used to be in the office a ton, but now President Berrett has us out in the field all the time which is nice.  We don't see President Berrett a ton.  He travels a lot.  I have so much respect for him.  He is amazing.  Blows my mind how awesome President Berrett is.  I firmly believe he is the best mission president in the world.  

Thanks for the sports update..cool that at least MV made state.  NBA's going to be insane this year.  Also March Madness starts next week i think...send me a bracket???:)

Thanks for all of your support.  It's crazy being at the point i am now also, because i realize how much weakness i have and how much i still have to improve on, so this is a great opportunity to learn a lot.  And with great companions and the best mission president, seems like a pretty good situation to me.  Loving it.

Elder Ball

Thanush Baptism